《The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order》 Chapter 1 ?Chapter 1: Prologue (I) A bloody war raged on in a remote corner of a large continent. However, it would be more fitting to call it a genocide due to the significant military superiority one side had over the other and how they did kill every man, woman, and child in their path. Heavily equipped soldiers in blue military uniforms, alongside tanks and other forms of armored fighting vehicles carrying guns, invaded a large city, butchering its people. The city, whose streets were stained red with blood, was the home of the Crimson People, a race known for their characteristic white hair and eyes with red irises. Crimson People were a reclusive race that reached the desert hundreds of years ago. Despite the harsh environment, through their hard work, they managed to thrive, constructing a country that resisted the passage of time. Unfortunately for the Crimson People, the desert they occupied drew the greed of the Great Star Kingdom. Previous Star Kings had never cared for those territories since they believed it was impossible to make them habitable, but the Crimson People did it. Now that the desert had value, the current Star King, Sunit the Great, decided to take it. The Crimson People have proven to be too tenacious and hard to control, so he chose a more direct approach instead of wasting time making them part of the kingdom. At first, the Great Star Kingdom implemented a diplomatic approach, but the Crimson People would never accept the kingdom¡¯s conditions since it basically degraded them to slaves. ..... The Star King knew that would happen. After putting on a charade for the masses, vilifying the Crimson People, and making it clear that diplomacy was no longer an option, he took a random excuse and began a war of extermination. Although the Crimson People fought bravely, they were no match for the enormous Great Star Kingdom, and in less than a month, the enemy army invaded their country¡¯s capital. A boy no more than five years old sat on a nearby mountain. His white hair and red eyes made it clear he was part of the Crimson People. He saw everything that happened in the city. The brutality and atrocity of any war could create deep psychological wounds in any adult, so that horrible scene should have been too much for a small child to handle. Yet, the boy showed nothing. Those small eyes showed no fear, no hate, no sadness, nothing at all. Footsteps alerted the child, and he turned to the right only to see five men clad in military uniforms rise through the mountain edge and reach his location. He saw their weapons and how some of the soldiers had smiles full of madness and bloodlust, but even then, he showed nothing. After giving the five a glance, he turned his eyes toward the city. ¡°Here is one of them. Let¡¯s finish this small rat.¡± One of the soldiers raised his rifle and aimed at the boy. A twisted smile emerged as he pictured what would happen once he fired the bullet. ¡°Stop!¡± Another soldier yelled to his fellow countryman while pushing down the rifle aiming at the child. This man¡¯s eyes were so full of rage and guilt that he could not hide it even if he wanted it. Seeing how someone dared deprive him of his fun, the soldier with the twisted smile burst with rage. ¡°What do you think you are doing, Jona? Our mission is to kill every single one of these rats!¡± The guilt and rage in the soldier named Jona only grew stronger as he heard that. ¡°They order us to kill women and children. How the fuck can we obey such insane orders!¡± ¡°You should know the price for going against our orders!¡± The soldier with the twisted smile was relentless and would not give up. ¡°We can say we did not see him. There is no need to keep falling into this depravity.¡± Jona did not let go of the rifle as he turned toward the child. ¡°Child, run now!¡± The child did not move and kept looking toward the city. Anyone that saw such behavior would think that the child¡¯s mind had broken and could not process what was happening. ¡°You see, he has lost his mind. It is best if we end his suffering now.¡± The soldier, full of bloodlust, managed to push Jona away and aimed the rifle at the child. Before the soldier could pull the trigger, the boy aimed his hand toward them before clenching his fist. Immediately after that, earth spikes emerged from the ground, impaling the five soldiers and killing them instantly. The child killed both the good and the bad with that mere hand movement. Just like seeing his people dying did not cause anything on him, killing those soldiers also failed to generate a reaction. Now that the distraction was over, the boy concentrated on the city again. ¡°Had I dominated this power sooner, I could have saved them.¡± Those words sounded like a man riddled with guilt, but the boy expressed them without emotion. He was merely stating a fact, nothing more and nothing less. He gave one last glance to the city before standing up and leaving. As he walked away, he aimed his hand toward the dead soldiers, pulling the blood out of their bodies and toward him. Blood streams moved around the child¡¯s body before solidifying and forming a red robe. There were two words in the back written with milky white threads. ¡°RED KING.¡± At the tender age of four years and three days old, the Red King saw how everybody he ever knew perished. Chapter 2 Chapter 2: Prologue (II) A little over ten years after the Crimson War of Extermination, a vast military parade occurred in the Great Star Kingdom¡¯s capital, Neptuno. There were fireworks, music, and cheers as soldiers in blue garments crossed the streets. Fathers raised their children on their shoulders to see the soldiers, and no one among the crowd did not smile and respectfully salute those men. Most soldiers smiled and kept their heads high as they marched, but there was a considerable portion whose eyes betrayed the shame hidden in their hearts. While for the Great Star Kingdom¡¯s people, the Crimson War of Extermination was a cruel but necessary conflict to get rid of a race whose goal was to invade their lands and kill their families, the soldiers part of the war effort knew the truth. Only one term could correctly describe the Crimson War of Extermination. Genocide. Suddenly, people began to exclaim with shock as they saw a young man walking on the pristine street where hundreds of soldiers were marching. ..... No one should be in that street other than the military, but that was not really important. The young man¡¯s appearance truly shocked the soldiers and civilians of the Great Star Kingdom. He was a majestic and handsome young man with a fearless aura and a body that thrived with vitality. However, his white hair and red eyes were the most important features responsible for the upheaval. No one could believe that a member of the Crimson People, the exterminated race, would appear inside the Great Star Kingdom, much less during the parade that celebrated the war in which the army eradicated his people. The young man calmly walked through the immaculate street toward the soldiers, and as people looked at the back of his robe, they could see two words. RED KING. Silence reigned as some of the civilians could not adapt to the bizarre scene before them, and they were the lucky ones. While ordinary people only saw a young man, the soldiers felt they faced a natural disaster, an emotionless force of destruction that would erase everything in its path. A young soldier could not resist the psychological pressure projected by the Red King, and he hastily loaded his gun before firing it. ¡°Boom.¡± The Red King stopped walking after the soldier fired the gun. Unlike what people expected, the bullet did not harm or even ricocheted out of his body. That small piece of metal remained suspended in the air less than five centimeters away from the Red King¡¯s head. Under the shocked sight of soldiers and civilians, the Red King grabbed the bullet with his fingers before making it glow with a crimson light. The Red King focused on the soldier that fired the gun at him and threw the bullet. ¡°BOOOM!¡± A blast like the one made by a tank firing its cannon occurred when the Red King thrust that crimson bullet from his hands. Due to the bullet¡¯s kinetic energy, dozens of soldiers, including the one responsible for the shot, were blasted to pieces. ¡°?AHHHHH!¡± People began to cry due to that gory scene, but they did not do it for long. The Red King slapped his hand on the ground, making a crimson light cover the earth for hundreds of meters around him. That crimson light was the last thing those civilians and soldiers saw before earth spikes rose from the ground and killed them all. No emotion appeared in the Red King¡¯s eyes after that carnage. He knew that was only the beginning, and he focused on fighting jets that appeared in the sky. What happened next could only be described as a clash of military technology against supernatural powers. Explosives, missiles, and high-power bullets rained down on the Red King, and this one responded by unleashing fireballs, lightning arcs, storms, acid rain, and many more supernatural abilities. Like during the Crimson Extermination War, where one side controlled much greater power than the other, there was no doubt who the winner would be. Neptuno, the crown jewel of the Great Star Kingdom, a city with fifty-five million people and renowned for the planet¡¯s highest military power, was reduced to ashes in less than fifteen hours. Only two people were alive in the city, and both were in the sky watching the flaming ruins. One showed no emotion, while the other had fallen into utter desperation. Sunit the Great saw everything he held dear destroyed and could barely speak. His body had already given up, not that it mattered much since he only remained in the sky thanks to the Red King¡¯s tight grasp on the back of his neck. ¡°Monster...¡± The Red King turned toward Sunit, as that was the first word the Star King pronounced since the moment of his capture. ¡°Monster, demon, hellish creature sent to destroy my godly kingdom!¡± The Star King began to yell all his strength. It seemed that the shock of losing everything drove him crazy. The Red King only shook his head as he heard Sunit¡¯s words. ¡°Mysticism and fairy tales. The tools of the weak and stupid to explain something beyond their understanding. Three days after my birth, I could already understand words and perceive my surroundings. One week later, I acquired the ability to talk and solve advanced mathematical problems. Of course, I hid all that from my progenitors, as I knew an existence like mine could incite fear in ordinary people. During my first birthday, I perceived the force that permeated every corner of this world. Before I was three, I learned how to use it to unleash elemental spells and strengthen my body.¡± Sunit could not understand what force the Red King was talking about, but that did not matter, as the young man never expected feedback. ¡°You... You are a demon. God will punish your unholy existence for what you have done to my people.¡± Those words provoked nothing in the Red King, and he only shook his head. ¡°So in your mind, ordering the extermination of the Crimson People followed God¡¯s desires, but exterminating your kingdom goes against his divine will. Ahh, I thought the king of the largest force in the world would be better, but you are yet another hypocrite.¡± The Red King said nothing else before letting go of the Sunit. ¡°Ahhh!¡± The Star King of the Great Star Kingdom screamed as he fell from the sky before clashing with the ground and shattering every bone in his body. Ten days before his fifteen birthday, the Red King destroyed the Great Star Kingdom, the mightiest power in the world and responsible for the extermination of the Crimson People. The Red King stared at the broken city and understood he had become the mightiest entity in the world, but that only made him feel shallow. The night had reached its end at that moment, and the sun came out. As he felt the warmth of that majestic heavenly body, a goal that genuinely passionate him appeared in the Red King¡¯s mind. ¡°This world is too small for me.¡± The Red King stared at the mighty heavenly bodies that covered the firmament as a smile emerged on his face. Chapter 3 Chapter 3: Cain Laurifer (I) A young man with black hair and green eyes walked through the halls of what seemed to be a school. He was one meter and sixty-five centimeters tall, very high considering he had just recently turned fourteen. Although the boy was not particularly handsome, he had a stoic expression, and his eyes glowed with a resolute light. That, plus his well-defined body, should have made him pretty attractive. However, all those who saw him walking through the hallway stared at him contemptuously. Some even make mockery remarks and do not bother to lower their voices. The young man was used to those stares and did not let them affect him as he kept walking to the exit. Unfortunately, someone shouted from behind just as he was about to leave. ¡°Cain, are you leaving without saying hello to your old friend?¡± The one that shouted those words was a skinny young man. He was not even one and a half meters tall, and his constant smirk made his face quite unpleasant. ..... Unlike their behavior with Cain, when the other students saw that skinny young man, they all adopted respectful expressions, with some people even bowing. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he turned around and stared at the skinny young man. He saw two people accompanying this one, and his eyes landed on the only woman before looking away. ¡°What do you want, Jonathan?¡± Cain¡¯s voice was cold, clearly showing how he felt about that skinny young man. Before Jonathan could answer, one of the people accompanying him shouted with rage. ¡°Garbage with a Low Tier 1 Wave Talent, how dare you use that tone with Lord Jonathan!¡± The youth that roared had a large body. He wanted to initiate a fight, but Cain did not even look in his direction and kept focusing on Jonathan. Being ignored only angered the youth even more, and he was about to jump toward Cain when Jonathan raised his hand. ¡°There is no need to be hasty, Kiron. But I must say, Cain, that your coldness harms my feelings. We used to be close last year, so I wanted to say goodbye now that school has finally ended.¡± Jonathan¡¯s words sounded nice, but everybody saw how the smirk on his face only grew nastier. ¡°By the way, are you going to enroll in some Wave University? The Hellblazer University has already accepted me. They did me a favor, allowing me to bring Cinthy with me.¡± Jonathan grabbed the waist of the girl by his side, and his eyes were full of mockery as he stared at Cain. When the girl felt Jonathan¡¯s grasp, she only giggled. However, when she stared at Cain, the same disgust the other students had in their eyes appeared in hers. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that. Just the previous year, the three were very close friends. He used to protect the skinny Jonathan from everybody, and his relationship with Cinthy was not as simple as friendship. However, all of that changed when they turned thirteen and took part in the Wave Talent Test. Unlike Cain, who scored a Low Tier 1, Jonathan reached an impressive Peak Tier 3. As a reference, the second-highest score in the school was Middle Tier 2. Cain did not believe their relationship would change just due to some score, but he was too naive. In this cruel world, where humanity was in a constant war against supernatural forces, being weak was the same as being a waste of space. As soon as Jonathan realized he would no longer need to depend on Cain for protection, he showed his true colors. It was not enough just to sever their friendship. He made sure to torment his old friend and influence the rest of the school to do the same. Before Cain could answer, Kiron began to laugh and did not lose the opportunity to mock him. ¡°Hahaha, Young Lord. How can this trash enter a Wave University? His only path is to join the Imperial Military Force, and even then, he will become nothing more than a war pup just like his father...¡± Kiron had not even finished speaking when his eyes widened, and a sense of utter danger assaulted him. He saw a fist coming to his throat, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Luckily for the large youth, a sky-blue mantle covered Jonathan¡¯s body before the attack could land, allowing him to display a speed an average human should not be able to achieve. Cain¡¯s punch almost reached Kiron¡¯s throat, but Jonathan¡¯s palm clashed with his chest first, pushing him with so much force that he crashed against a wall. Cain threw up a mouthful of blood. He did not scream, but the expression on his face showed the agony he felt. ¡°Hmph, you dare to attack one of my people without any form of provocation. I am a mighty Level 2 Wave Warrior, and you are nothing but trash. Consider yourself lucky I went easy on you.¡± Jonathan had a self-righteous expression on his face as he shouted those words. Everybody knew that Cain acted due to Kiron insulting his father, but no one dared to contradict Jonathan, and they remained silent. Since he had already got his fun, Jonathan walked away accompanied by Cinthy and Kirin. The trio was laughing, but the last one had an insidious light in his eyes as he gave one last glance at Cain. It took almost twenty minutes for Cain to gather the strength to stand up. He cleaned the blood from his mouth and walked out of the school under the students¡¯ scornful stares. Cain felt pain with every step he took but did his best to walk straight. He knew that attack would be useless with Jonathan present, but there were no regrets. More than a year of mockery and bullying had tempered Cain¡¯s will, and there were many things that he could resist. Still, no matter what, he would never accept someone disparaging his father, the man he respected more than anyone. As he walked to the train station, the buildings around him were all not only incredibly high but featured futuristic characteristics that proved the tremendous technological advance of humankind. Cain was not in the mood to admire those buildings. He took the train, which levitated and did not need any tracks. Despite the train¡¯s speed, the youth still required around an hour to reach his residence. He was one of the last people to get out, and after walking another fifteen minutes, he saw his home. Cain lived in a small apartment, and unlike the futuristic buildings near his school, this one appeared ordinary. Despite the decrepit exterior, everything inside was immaculate and tidy. After entering his home, the first thing Cain did was head to a small shrine with the picture of a man. The man had black hair and green eyes full of resolution. He was wearing a black military uniform. ¡°Good day, Sir.¡± Cain kneeled in front of the picture and bowed for an entire minute before sighing. ¡°A.I. Chip, analyze my body.¡± Right after that, Cain heard a robotic voice in his mind. [Bip... scanning host.] Chapter 4 Chapter 4: Cain Laurifer (II) [Bip... Scanning host.] The A.I. Chip deployed a stream of information in front of Cain¡¯s eyes two minutes later. It was like a virtual screen that only he could see. [Scanning completed. ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer ¡ª Stats: ..... -Strength: 0.8 -Vitality: 1.1 -Agility: 0.9 ¡ª Note: The host presents multiple internal injuries. The two lower left ribs have fractures, and there is also internal bleeding and torn muscles. There is no direct threat to the host¡¯s life at this moment. Suggestion: Seek medical attention immediately.] The A.I. Chip that Cain had used was nothing special. All children have one implanted in their brains during their infancy. While extremely practical in day-to-day life, their computational abilities were not impressive. Cain only shook his head as he heard the A.I. Chip¡¯s suggestion. He barely had enough money to eat and pay the rent, so while the hospital¡¯s installations would help him heal his wounds in minutes, he could not afford it. The youth went to a cabinet and took a bottle of pills with ¡®Soldier Drugs¡¯ written on the label. After taking a couple, the expression on his face eased as he felt the pain diminishing. ¡®Father¡¯s Soldier Drugs¡¯ are impressive. However, it makes sense for them to have such a fantastic effect on me since the drugs are for Wave Warriors, and I am yet to enter Level 1.¡¯ Cain sighed as he thought about his lack of talent but did not let those emotions bother him for long. He could not do much until his wound healed, so he began to look through the house for something to do, and his eyes fell on a small bookshelf. Only three books were on that shelf, but each was in pristine condition. While the A.I. Chip digitalized the information long ago, Cain enjoyed reading those solid books as he found it relaxing. The three books were History of Godslayer Humankind, Introduction to Wave Cultivation, and Soldier Military Manual. Cain¡¯s father obtained those books during his time in the Imperial Military Force, and while they were not precisely valuable, a commoner would find it very hard to get them. Cain took the first book, History of Godslayer Humankind, and began to read it with an excited smile. ¡ª Humans lived on a small blue planet more than ten thousand years ago. It was the birthplace of humankind and granted all we needed for hundreds of thousands of years. Its original name was purposely forgotten through the ages and was now only known as Old World. Unfortunately, due to humankind¡¯s greed and lack of control, we poisoned the Old World and made it uninhabitable. As the planet reached its end, many of the brightest human minds saw a path to survival in the stars, leaving our ancestral home for a new world. However, one man, one absolute genius, did not look into the stars for salvation and instead put all his effort into an even more daring path. Using his immense wisdom, he created a portal into a new dimension. At first, the leaders of humankind were thrilled with that discovery. After all, the path to the stars would only allow a few to survive, while that new dimension was much easier to access. Sadly, humankind did not enjoy that happiness for long. A team of soldiers and scientists were the first to cross the portal. Their mission was to explore the new dimension and see how hard it could be to terraform it and establish the first human settlement. Less than half an hour after the human expedition crossed the portal, a horrible monster attacked and decimated them. Things went from bad to worse as the monster crossed the portal and lay havoc in the Old World. Thousands perished before the military finally managed to end the creature¡¯s life. Not even a day after that, the leaders of humankind commanded the armies to shut down the portal and destroy all research about it so that catastrophe would not happen again. As for the great genius behind it, he went from a hero to a sinner. Some humankind leaders wanted to incarcerate him, while others demanded even harsher sanctions. However, that great man refused to give up on his dream. He saw in that horrible creature capable of fighting entire armies not only a path to survival but something much greater. Before humankind leaders could use him as a propaganda tool to further their agendas, he crossed the portal into the new dimension. People thought the man had gone crazy, and since there was no way he could survive in that dimension, everybody gradually forgot about him. Ten years later, as the Old World reached a precarious period and civilization was about to crumble, the great genius returned. Not only did he survive a decade in the other dimension with all those monsters, but he had obtained supernatural abilities. He could fly, destroy tanks with his bare hands, and even endure the explosions of bombs point-blank without suffering any damage. He informed the people of the Old World about the force that permeated the new dimension named Wave. It was an incredible power that would allow humankind to grow stronger and expand their lifespan. The new dimension was full of danger, but it was also heaven. Humankind could be fearful, but if there was a word that described our essence, it was greed. A new world where we could gain supernatural powers and have the chance to obtain immortality. The masses immediately rallied behind the great genius, but things got complicated soon. Humankind leaders saw the dangers of that dimension. How could they control people with supernatural powers capable of decimating their armies? They enforced harsh laws, so those trusted by them would be the first to benefit from the new dimension. Those actions would harm humankind as a whole but benefit those politicians and leaders, so they did not hesitate to take that path. Unfortunately, they failed to understand how much that great genius had changed after returning. When the man saw those leaders¡¯ plans, he acted fast and without mercy. Thousands perished in less than a week, and the entirety of humankind fell under his control. That massacre transformed that man into the Emperor of Humankind. Chapter 5 Chapter 5: Godslayer Humankind Under the guidance of the Emperor of Humankind, the political and military structure of the Old World changed immensely. Paper money lost its value since it would be useless in the new world, and the true value of a man fell into his mind and brute strength. Strategists, generals, and soldiers became the most significant figures of the new world. Politicians and the likes found that rallying the masses mattered little when one man could kill all of them with a single strike. After spending almost a year raising talents and teaching people the basics of the new world and the Wave, the Emperor of Humankind led humanity out of their ancestral home and into a new world. Thanks to the Emperor of Humankind¡¯s protection and the rise of soldiers that mastered the Wave, humankind obtained a foothold in this new world. One of the first hurdles of the new world was the approach toward science, as the physical laws of this new world were different from the Old World, making the current technology useless. However, humankind persevered. Our territories expanded, and the creatures that were unstoppable monsters became nothing more than food. Seventy-six years after leaving the Old World, humankind learned two pieces of crucial information. ..... The first was that the new world had the name Aether, and we were currently in the Gaia Continent. The world¡¯s size remained a topic for discussion, but the Gaia Continent was one thousand times larger than the Old World. The second information was the presence of other sentient races as wise as humans and who mastered the Wave to a much higher level. A bloody war began soon after meeting those new races, and although humankind was powerful, we were still too young. Our lack of power and the enemy carnage pushed humanity to the brink of extinction. We called them Dark Races, and their leaders responsible for humankind¡¯s setbacks were known as Gods. Unlike the deities of our Old World, the Dark Races¡¯ Gods were not mere ephemeral entities that no one could touch or see. They were supernatural life forms with the power to crush mountain ranges and burn oceans. Just when everything seemed lost, humankind did the best they knew how to do. We destroyed. After almost one hundred years of research, humankind managed to adapt one of the most potent weapons of the Old World to work in the new world. The weapon we used was named H-Bombs. A nuclear weapon can trigger an explosion capable of unleashing heat one hundred times higher than the Old World¡¯s sun¡¯s core, and H-Bombs could be one thousand times deadlier! The Emperor of Humankind and his most trusted generals tricked the Gods into marching toward the territories of humankind. When the Dark Races¡¯ armies and the Gods reached the core of humankind¡¯s territories, the only thing they found was empty lands. And one thousand H-Bombs! It was night, but the blast of those H-Bombs illuminated the sky for fifteen minutes. Such an explosion would have doomed the Old World, but Aether managed to endure without a problem. Millions of Dark Race¡¯s warriors perished along with a great number of Gods. And while some Gods managed to survive, none of them did it without suffering horrible wounds. The Emperor of Humankind knew that the H-Bombs¡¯ trick did not mean they had won and would only give them some time to improve their power. Humankind went into hiding and slowly improved their strength while the Dark Races healed. Peace reigned for five hundred years until a new war erupted. However, this time, it was not the Dark Races that started it, but humankind. We came out of our hiding and marched toward the Dark Races. Humankind warriors could match their counterparts, but against the Gods, they were nothing. Yet, while the Dark Races had their Gods, humankind obtained its own spiritual leaders, the Titans! As for the first and mightiest of all Titans, he was no other than the Emperor of Humankind. It was brutal and bloody, and hundreds of millions perished, but after almost one thousand years of war, humankind expelled the Dark Races and got total control of the Gaia Continent. That war was known as the War of Supremacy and canonized humankind as the Godslayer Humankind! ¡ª Cain always felt excitement running through his heart as he read the book. While that period was bloody, it was also a time of legends and myths. He closed the book and read the words in the back, which was the motto of the Godslayer Humankind, making his heart beat faster. We can comprehend the supernatural. We can dominate the supernatural. We can kill the supernatural ¨C Adam, Emperor of Humankind, The First Titan. Cain returned the book to the shelf and took out Introduction to Wave Cultivation. For the Godslayer Humankind, the most basic Path of Power that almost all followed in Wave Cultivation used a Sacred Organ located in the lower belly named Evolution Core. In its natural state, the Wave finds itself as Life Wave. One must draw it into the Evolution Core, which will transform into Essence Wave. The faster one can draw Life Wave into your Evolution Core, the greater your talent would be. Someone like Cain with a Low Tier 1 Wave Talent would need ten years to become a Level 1 Wave Warrior, while those with high talent like Jonathan only need a few months. There were methods to improve one¡¯s Wave Talent, but obtaining them without background and extraordinary wealth was impossible. Cain read the book for almost an hour and only stopped when he felt how the pain finally subdued. Although there was still some damage left in his body, it would heal alone and won¡¯t bother him during his training. Before leaving his home, the youth ate something and gave one final bow to the small altar. He began to run at full speed toward a small forest not too far away from his location. Cain was too engrossed in his training and failed to notice two eyes looking at him from the shadows. Chapter 6 Chapter 6: Fighting a Wave Warrior Cain ran for almost an hour before reaching a secluded part of the forest. He enjoyed training here due to the serenity of the location. After resting for around five minutes, Cain took a couple of rusty weights covered by the roots of a large tree and continued exercising. Another hour went like that, and then the youth performed a series of martial arts moves. The improvement granted by physical exercise could not compare with Wave Cultivation, but Cain knew that being in peak physical condition helped the body draw Life Wave faster. While the help it provided was minuscule, it was the only method someone like Cain could get access to. For his final training, Cain put arm guards and leg guards before adopting a martial stance in front of a large tree and began to strike it. Cain¡¯s attacks were precise and carried great control, proving how diligent he was with his training. Performing those blows put significant pressure on Cain¡¯s body, making a sharp pain appear in his ribs where Jonathan had punched him, but that only made him put more strength into his strikes. ..... The sharper the pain in his ribs, the more strength Cain put in his punches. He only stopped after feeling blood leak through his arm guards. ¡°Dammit!¡± Cain yelled with all his strength as he finally expressed the rage that had built inside him. ¡°I train so hard, so why do I have to be so weak!?¡± He may present a stoic front and do his best to ignore all the bullying done to him, but Cain was still fourteen years old. How could he accept that despite his hard work, he would never succeed? Rage and frustration burned inside him, but Cain¡¯s eyes showed his resolution and that no matter how hard the path ahead was, he would not surrender. The youth took a deep breath to calm his raging heart when a feeling of utter doom suddenly assaulted him. He threw himself to the ground just in time to dodge a spear. Cain saw how the spear had pierced the tree he had been striking, and cold sweat ran through his back as he imagined what would have happened if he had not dodged. ¡°I guess even garbage can have good instincts.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard those words. He stood up and turned around to see a bulky youth walking toward him. The attacker was none other than the youth accompanying Jonathan through the school in the morning, Kiron. ¡°What the hell do you think you are doing!?¡± Cain¡¯s voice was full of rage. That spear would have killed him had he moved one second later. ¡°Hmph, is not obvious? I am here to teach you a lesson. How can I let garbage like you offend me and do nothing?¡± Kiron spoke in such a relaxed manner as if he saw Cain¡¯s life as nothing important. ¡°Do you think you can just kill me, and nothing will happen to you?¡± Even if the Godslayer Humankind Empire accepted that power reigned above everything, society still had codes and rules. Otherwise, civilization would have fallen a long time ago. ¡°Hahaha, who will notice if orphan garbage were to disappear. Besides, no one will know what happened here.¡± Kiron¡¯s smile grew wider as he spoke those words, and he took a black metallic orb out of his pocket. Cain got a bad feeling as he saw the orb, and when he attempted to use the A.I. Chip to call the authorities, he found some form of interference. ¡®That orb must be projecting an electromagnetic field that blocks signals from going out.¡¯ Despite the danger in which he found himself, Cain remained calm. Unfortunately, what happened next totally shocked him since it meant the danger in which he found himself multiplied exponentially. A sky-blue aura emerged from Kiron¡¯s lower belly and soon covered every corner of his body. It was similar to the aura Jonathan had used to reinforce his body but much weaker. Cain clenched his fist as he saw it since it meant that Kiron was a Level 1 Wave Warrior. ¡°How do you like my Wave Cloak? Now that I have it active, your little tricks are useless.¡± Kiron lunged toward Cain as soon as he finished speaking, covering the more than forty meters between them in four seconds. Despite the immense danger in which he found himself, Cain did not let fear cloud his judgment. Turning around and running away would be the same as suicide since there was no way he could escape from a Level 1 Wave Warrior. Cain used those four seconds to calm his heart and analyze his next movement. At the last moment, he put his back against the tree and dodged the blow toward his head. Kiron¡¯s punch made the tree tremble, and splinters blew everywhere, blocking his vision. It was then that he felt a fist land directly in his temple. Kiron only felt a little disoriented thanks to his Wave Cloak¡¯s protection, but things grew worse as a sharp pain assaulted his leg when a kick landed on his right knee. Cain knew he lacked the brute power to overcome Kiron¡¯s Wave Cloak, so he aimed at points where a little strength was enough to weaken someone¡¯s ability to fight. While a newly advanced Level 1 Wave Warrior was capable of superhuman prowess, that was only when they had activated their Wave Cloak. Once their Essence Wave ran out and they could no longer project the cloak, there was not much difference between them and an average human. Cain immediately pulled back after striking Kiron¡¯s knee, avoiding a sudden blow to his chest, before kicking his opponent¡¯s jaw. Kiron¡¯s felt his senses weakening again due to that kick, and rage flooded his heart. Those blows would have been enough to incapacitate him if it weren¡¯t for his Wave Cloak. How could someone as narcissistic as Kiron accept that his martial arts were inferior to those of someone he considered nothing more than garbage. ¡°Fucking trash!¡± Kiron roared, and there was nothing left from the arrogant smile he arrived with. He attacked like a madman, sending blow after blow. Chapter 7 Chapter 7: Absolute Life Form System Cain dodged those punches while taking advantage of any opening to deliver precise strikes that gradually weakened Kiron¡¯s onslaught. Although it seemed that Cain had the upper hand, nothing could be farther from the truth. His attacks did not really harm Kiron, and the moment one of those punches coated in sky-blue aura landed, it would be game over. Cain and Kiron fought for more than five minutes, reaching their limit. The first had landed more than one hundred strikes while the other none, but neither showed visible injuries. That should be enough to tell you how mighty a Level 1 Wave Warrior was. Finally, Kiron¡¯s Wave Cloak began to fluctuate and show signs of instability, meaning that his Essence Wave was about to dry out. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed, and when he ducked to the ground to dodge a fist, he took the opportunity to grab something. Kiron knew he had little Essence Wave left, so he lunged toward Cain with arms wide open like an enraged animal. Such an attack had a wide range and made it almost impossible for Cain to dodge it, but it also left Kiron totally exposed, which the first did not hesitate to take full advantage of. ..... Cain punched toward Kiron¡¯s right eye, and hidden between his fingers was a sharp rock. If the Wave Cloak was at full potency, the rock might have difficulty piercing the tissue, but it buried itself very deep due to Kiron¡¯s exhaustion. ¡°AHHHHHH!¡± Kiron screamed due to the horrible pain, but his body still carried on with immense momentum, striking Cain right in the chest. Cain felt as if a car had just run over him. That crash sent him flying away while puking blood. ¡°Ahhh, my eye!¡± Kiron continued screaming as his sight stained with red. He finally reached his limit, and his Wave Cloak vanished, making him feel he would pass out at any second. Still, Kiron¡¯s rage allowed him to remain awake. He stared at Cain, who lay on the ground with his eyes closed, most likely unconscious due to the internal damage. ¡°I will kill you!¡± Kiron roared as he threw himself toward Cain, with both hands aiming toward this one¡¯s neck. Just as Kiron was about to choke him, Cain opened his eyes, raised his wais, and wrapped his legs around his enemy¡¯s neck. Before Kiron could get past his shock, Cain grabbed one of his arms and twisted it until it broke. ¡°Ahhh,¡± Kiron screamed again, but it lacked strength due to the pressure on his neck. The exhaustion and pain, plus the disruption of his blood flow due to Cain¡¯s legs, made him pass out in seconds. Cain unlocked the triangle choke only after seeing that Kiron¡¯s turned blue due to the lack of oxygen. Just breathing was painful, and blood filled his mouth due to the severe internal trauma he had endured. Despite all that, a smile emerged on Cain¡¯s face as he realized what he had just achieved. He defeated a Level 1 Wave Warrior! After almost half an hour, Cain finally gathered the strength to stand up, using the help of a nearby tree. He went through Kiron¡¯s clothes and grabbed the small metallic sphere jamming his A.I. Chip signal. Cain was about to turn off the metallic sphere so he could call the authorities when he froze. ¡®I call them. The authorities will take out our testimonies, but what then?¡¯ Cain slowly came to a realization. He could denounce Kiron¡¯s attack, but it would be his words against the word of a Wave Warrior. There was no one to back him up, and Kiron suffered even more severe wounds than him, with the right eye of this one gone. Of course, if one were to make an effort to analyze the circumstances around the battle, it would not be hard to see who the initial attacker was, but why would the authorities do that. Who would side with Cain, an orphan with no background and zero talent, against a Level 1 Wave Warrior? As for the truth? Cain was not a child and knew that the truth meant nothing without the power to back it. Things could go on an even more dangerous path, with the authorities taking Kiron as the victim and prosecuting him. ¡°Ugg.¡± Cain trembled as he heard Kiron¡¯s groan. Time was running out, and he needed to make a decision. Deep down, Cain knew the path he needed to take, but his sense of morality pushed him back. As he questioned whether or not to do it, he remembered the first line of the Soldier Military Manual. It was then that he stopped trembling, and all his doubts vanished. ¡®To be kind to your enemy is to be cruel to yourself.¡¯ Kiron regained consciousness, and the first thing he saw was a kick coming to his face. It pushed the rock in his eye deeper into his head, all the way to his brain. The youth trembled for a few seconds before his brain stopped working, and he perished. Cain began to breathe faster and faster as he saw the dead body lying at his feet. However, he heard a voice in his mind before he could process all of that. [Congratulations, human! You have fulfilled the conditions and are worthy of becoming the Vessel of the Absolute Life Form System.] Cain was shocked by the new voice in his head. It was similar to the A.I. Chip robotic voice, but something told him this was unique. Unfortunately, a horrible pain assaulted him before he could ask any question as he felt his A.I. Chip melting and fusing with something deep inside his mind. The pain was so immense that he fell to the ground and passed out. Chapter 8 Chapter 8: Apex Night had already fallen by the time Cain woke up. He felt dizzy as he stood up and cleaned the dust out of his body. When he felt the blood in his clothes, his eyes widened, and he remembered all the things that had happened. Cain was confused as he saw how there were no wounds left on his body, but the corpse next to his feet pushed away that concern. ¡®Yes, I killed him.¡¯ The youth began to tremble as he remembered that he was a killer now, but there was something else that happened before he passed out. ¡®Was that voice an illusion?¡¯ ¡°Not illusion at all, brat.¡± Cain almost jumped when he heard that voice. It was a male¡¯s voice, and although it sounded young, he could swear he felt a sense of ancientness in it. Like the A.I. Chip¡¯s voice, while it sounded like a voice reaching his ears, only Cain could hear it since it originated inside his mind. ..... Cain opened his mouth and was about to speak, but he stopped at the last minute. A meaningful light appeared in his eyes, and he remained silent. ¡®You can read my mind.¡¯ Cain made that thought appear, and that was not a question but a declaration. ¡°Hmmm, brat, you are smarter than you look. Yes, I can read your thoughts. Not that it makes any difference since there is no way a child like you could trick or hide anything from me.¡± The voice carried a tone full of certainty. He was not boasting or bragging, just stating a fact. ¡°Before you start with your endless barrage of questions, I explain what happened to you.¡± Cain did not particularly like the man¡¯s bossy tone, but there was not much he could do, and he was full of questions, so he listened attentively. ¡°First of all, congratulations on becoming the Vessel for the Absolute Life Form System. As its name suggests, the system¡¯s goal is to raise you to the world¡¯s highest stage. As for me, I am the Absolute Life Form System¡¯s Spirit. You can call me Apex. My mission is to guide you and assess whether you are worthy of being the Vessel. I would have normally fused the system directly into your soul, but I take a detour since you had an A.I. Chip. First, I fused with the A.I. Chip, assimilating it and creating the [A.I. Chip Module] before going into your soul. Through the Absolute Life Form System, you can access all the functions of the A.I. Chip, but now they are improved and will continue growing as your soul becomes stronger. As I waited for you to regain consciousness, I used the [A.I. Chip Module] to access the Godslayer Humankind Empire¡¯s Digital Network. I only managed to scratch the surface, but the amount of data I have collected has taught me a lot. Regarding your wounds, I used the little energy I brought with me to heal them. That was my introduction, brat. Now, you can ask me three questions, and no matter what secrets they hide, I will answer them.¡± Any other person would be thrilled at obtaining a supernatural system that could raise him from a carp into a dragon, but Cain took a deep breath and did not let his emotions get out of control. Cain walked away from Kiron¡¯s corpse before taking a meditative position. He stood like that for almost half an hour, but Apex seemed to have no hurry at all. ¡®Why was I chosen as a Vessel for the Absolute Life Form System, and what would happen if you were to consider me unworthy?¡¯ The cruelty of this world had shown Cain there was not such a thing as a free meal, and everyone had their agenda. Apex did not let the youth waiting and replied immediately. ¡°Those are technically two questions, but I will take them as one since they involve the same subject. First, the reason the system chose you as the Vessel is quite simple. You fulfilled the criteria. You have a strong and resolute will capable of facing adversity and a ruthless heart capable of making the hard choice when needed.¡± Cain immediately frowned when he heard that. He did not sell himself short and knew that his willpower was impressive for a fourteen-year-old man, but if that was all it needed, there were surely thousands of others that could become the Vessel. Apex knew the doubts in Cain¡¯s mind, and what he said next made things clearer. ¡°And most importantly of all, you are a Reincarnator. That makes your connection with the Eternal River of the Afterlife flawed, allowing the Absolute Life Form System to work.¡± Utter disbelief appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he heard those words. ¡®A Reincarnator?¡¯ ¡°Oh, I see. You have yet to awaken your memories. Yes, you are a Reincarnator, a unique soul that resisted the purge of the Eternal River of the Afterlife. That is why your willpower is so strong and your mind so keen despite your young age.¡± Apex gave Cain a moment to process his words before continuing. ¡°I presume you have experienced vivid dreams of different worlds or ages from a very young age.¡± Cain instinctively nodded as he heard that. He had experienced recurring dreams but felt so distant and always found it hard to remember anything specific about them. The most explicit memory of those dreams was a destroyed city and sunlight reaching his face. Everything else was foggy. ¡°The memories of your past life will eventually come back, but whether or not that is a good thing is hard to say. You might not like what you see.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed. Being a Reincarnator sounded very good, but what if your mind could not endure the darkness of your past? Apex once again gave Cain some time to adjust to the information before continuing to answer the original question. ¡°Regarding what will happen if I found you unworthy. That is also simple. I will command the Absolute Life Form System to devour your existence and look for a new Vessel.¡± Chapter 9 Chapter 9: Genetic Coder Module A rueful smile appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he heard that. The system that seemed to have the keys to a great future could kill him if he failed to prove his worth, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. If he were to ask for someone¡¯s help, they would either think he was crazy or dissect him to take the system away. Not to mention that Apex could read his thoughts, so trying to hide anything from the System Spirit was virtually impossible. Cain sighed and shocked his head before a calm expression appeared on his face. ¡°Who created the Absolute Life Form System, and what purpose do they have in mind?¡± According to Apex, the Absolute Life Form System¡¯s purpose was to make him stronger, while the System Spirit¡¯s purpose was to determine the Vessel¡¯s worth, but Cain knew that was not necessarily the creator¡¯s purpose. The purpose of food on a farm is to feed the chickens, but the farmer did not do it out of kindness. ¡°The universe created me, and my goal is to raise a perfect warrior that will one day stand for what is right and just.¡± ..... Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard Apex¡¯s answer and immediately knew there was something flawed with it. He did not understand some of the terms the System Spirit used, but Apex spoke about something called the Eternal River of the Afterlife and that the system worked due to a flaw. If the universe created the Absolute Life Form System, why would it need the help of a flaw to work? Cain knew Apex knew the thoughts crossing his mind, but he chose to ignore that fact since there was nothing he could do about it. ¡®Final question. Tell me, Apex, how can I know you are telling me the truth and not just full of shit?¡¯ Unlike previous times, Apex did not answer immediately. It took around five seconds before Cain could hear the System Spirit¡¯s voice again. ¡°Hahahaha, brat, you are indeed smart. Only a fool would trust the words of someone they have recently met just because they told them they would be honest.¡± Apex laughter resonated through Cain¡¯s mind, and the youth could see there was no anger in it. If anything, Cain felt a sense of approval in the System Spirit¡¯s tone. ¡°Ok, there is no way for you to be sure what I say is true, but you will see with your own eyes how the Absolute Life Form System makes you stronger. As for my killing you, if you are unworthy, that will also happen. Regarding the answer about the universe being my creator, that was a total lie.¡± Cain did not really like being subjected to someone else. Still, he at least discovered something about the Absolute Life From System and, more importantly, about Apex, the one with the power to end his life at any moment. ¡°Now that is over, you should get familiar with the system. You can command it similarly to how you did with the A.I. Chip. You can take this chance to make a scan of yourself.¡± After hearing Apex¡¯s words, Cain nodded and called for the Absolute Life Form System. ¡®System, scan.¡¯ Immediately after that, Cain felt an electric current move through his body at a shocking speed before a virtual screen appeared in front of him. [Scanning Vessel. ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: None Lineage: Human Wave Talent: Low Tier 1 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.02 Agility: 0.04 Vitality: 0.01 Wave: O.0 ¡ª Arts and Skills: Soldier Cultivation Technique. ??? ¡ª System Modules: -A.I. Chip Module: ¨C Pseudo Cellular Analysis ¨C Basic Data Gathering and Analysis ¨C Basic Virtual Simulation ¨C Basic Scan Force Field ¨C Basic Hacking -??? -??? -??? -??? ¡ª Destiny Force: 10.2 points] Cain was surprised by the amount of information and how fast the Absolute Life From System acted. It took the system less than one second to do what the A.I. Chip did in minutes. He took a moment to process things, and only after having a clear picture did he start to ask Apex questions. Although the System Spirit was arrogant and aloof, Cain was sure that Apex would not slack off and do his best to help when it came to the questions regarding the system. ¡°Apex, why does the system show my stats so low? I did an analysis yesterday, and the numbers were much different.¡± Cain was right that Apex would help him, but the System Spirit did not lose the opportunity to bother the young man. ¡°Brat, the A.I. Chip used mortal parameters to analyze your stats. Thanks to the [Basic Hacking] tool, I recollected helpful information. The system uses the parameters of your Godslayer Humankind Empire to determine Wave Cultivator¡¯s stats. I must say I am surprised. Your stats are in the three digits.¡± Although Apex did not laugh, Cain could hear the teasing tone in his voice. The youth was slightly annoyed, but he was also amazed. For the Godslayer Humankind Empire to give mortals such a lower number meant that Wave Cultivators were monstrously more powerful. Cain could not even imagine the prowess of someone with ten points in strength could achieve. He did not let his fantasies run wild and focused before asking a new question. ¡°Apex, what do the question marks in the virtual screen represent?¡± ¡°Regarding the one in the [Arts and Skills]. That is a unique ability that came with the system. It will manifest itself when the right time comes, or maybe never.¡± Apex gave a moment for Cain to understand his words before continuing. ¡°As for the ones in [System Modules]. Those are the modules saved in the Absolute Life Form System.¡± Cain got so excited by the new modules that he momentarily forgot his last question. The [A.I. Chip Module] did not seem that impressive, but the youth was sure it would benefit him in the future. Not to mention that, according to Apex, it would grow stronger along with him. ¡°How can I activate a new module?¡± ¡°You can activate a new module in each primary cultivation stage. You already have obtained the [A.I. Chip Module] in this stage, but due to the unique circumstances of this one, you can still unlock a new one.¡± Cain could not help but smile at the idea of getting a new module. The Absolute Life From System¡¯s goal was to make him stronger, so he was sure the new module would be of immense help. There was one problem. Cain had no idea what module to choose. Apex knew the youth¡¯s predicament and explained. ¡°The Creator ordered the modules according to how useful they would be for you during each cultivation stage. Of course, you can choose a different one, but since you lack the ability to perceive the system and the sealed modules, you would only be tempting your luck.¡± Cain was not dumb enough to ignore Apex¡¯s words and choose a different module out of curiosity or a sense of rebellion. ¡°System, activate the next module!¡± Cain almost yelled those words. The next second, he felt a sense of immense heaviness, but soon it vanished, and he heard the system¡¯s robotic voice. [Genetic Coder Module activated] Chapter 10 Chapter 10: Bloodline [Genetic Coder Module activated] Cain was surprised and confused by those words. As a member of the Godslayer Humankind and having access to an immense amount of scientific knowledge, he knew what genes were. Still, he had no idea what this new module would do for him or why the Absolute Life Form System¡¯s Creator thought it would be good to have it at the start of his journey. Luckily, a moment after Cain activated the module, the Absolute Life From System gave him a detailed explanation. [Genetic Coder Module: Module meant to grant Vessel the means to control life¡¯s fundamental building blocks. -Tools: ¨C Basic Genetic Stimulation ¨C Basic Genetic Suppression ¨C Basic Genetic Enhancement] ..... Although Cain got an idea of those tools¡¯ purpose by their names, he was still full of doubts, but a voice interrupted his train of thought. ¡°It is late, and remaining here is not a good idea. Get rid of the body, destroy the jamming sphere, take the weapon, and burn your clothes before returning home. I will guide you since it¡¯s your first time using the [Genetic Coder Module].¡± Apex¡¯s voice drew Cain back to reality, and he stared at the corpse close to him. When he decided to kill Kiron, he already shredded any idea of involving the authorities, so he followed the System Spirit¡¯s instructions. Cain did his best to harden his spirit and grabbed the corpse before running for almost two hours. He reached a cave home to some wild beast and threw the corpse. No one should know that Kiron came here. After all, how could that youth go telling people he would go to kill someone. By the time someone found his body, he would be nothing more than animal waste. After that, Cain went to a river where he started a small bonfire. Before washing his body, he burned all his clothes, destroyed the sphere, and threw the pieces in the water. After ensuring there was no iota of Kiron¡¯s blood or DNA, he returned to his training center. He started a controlled fire to burn any sign of struggle and evidence left from the battle before going toward the spear still embedded in the tree. As soon as Cain touched the spear, he felt an electric current emerge from his body into the weapon. ¡°Done. I have erased the serial number and any digital information about it. You can use it freely now.¡± Cain was surprised by Apex¡¯s words. He trembled for a moment as he imagined what would have happened had he shown this spear on the outside. It would be like shouting to the wind that he had killed Kiron. As for how Apex did it, Cain guessed that he used the [Basic Hacking] tool from the [A.I. Chip Module]. It took a lot of effort to bring the spear out of the tree, but once Cain did it, this one shrunk to a small rod less than twenty centimeters long. Next, a somewhat bizarre scene occurred, as a naked youth ran through the forest before sneaking back into his home. Luckily, it was night, and few people were on the streets, so he went unnoticed. Cain put on some clothes, and after making a reverence to the altar with the picture of his father, he sat down and adopted a meditative position as he figured out all that had happened. Apex allowed the youth to rest and spoke only after seeing Cain¡¯s eyes regain their usual firmness. ¡°Pay attention, brat, as I don¡¯t like to repeat myself. You have unsealed the [Genetic Coder Module] and accessed three tools, including the [Basic Genetic Stimulation]. According to your Empire Science Academy records, members of the Godslayer Humankind have different types of bloodlines latent inside your bodies. Your ancestors obtained those bloodlines in many different ways. However, due to the descendents¡¯ lack of training, they were diluted and slowly became dormant, with only some genes left, so weak that they were incapable of expressing their might. The [Basic Genetic Stimulation] will locate and activate those hidden genes, allowing you to awaken a dormant bloodline.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he heard that, and he could not help but tremble as excitement filled his heart. There were many ways to improve one¡¯s Wave Talent, and bloodlines were one of the most common and effective ways! ¡°Before you get too excited, unlike the [A.I. Chip Module], which was part of you from the beginning, to use the [Genetic Coder Module], you need to spend Destiny Force.¡± When Cain heard that last term, he immediately remembered the last question he had about the Absolute Life Form System. Apex knew the question that appeared in Cain¡¯s mind, so he began to explain what Destiny Force was. ¡°The Absolute Life From System is not omnipotent, brat. Everything must come from somewhere, and the system uses Destiny Force as fuel. To understand Destiny Force, you must first grasp the concept of destiny. A life form¡¯s destiny can be considered the amalgamation of his entire existence. Its core components are talent, willpower, perception, background, and even luck. Destiny is not static. It grows and weakens according to your actions and decisions. When you decide to enter a danger zone searching for a treasure, and against all odds, you manage to return alive, that will evolve your destiny. And when you chose to escape as fear overcame your will, that would also change your destiny. Lucky changes present themselves at all times. Whether or not one takes them is what separates shooting stars from mere moths. Thanks to the flawed connection between your soul and the Eternal River of the Afterlife, the Absolute Life Form System can transform your destiny into a quantitative force, useful for its modules. You are lucky as the system came with 10 Destiny Force points, which will be enough for the first activation of [Basic Genetic Stimulation].¡± Although the concept of destiny still felt illusory for Cain, he understood enough of it from Apex¡¯s explanation. Still, there were two questions in his mind. ¡°Will the Absolute Life From System give me missions to obtain more Destiny Force? Also, you say the system came with 10 points, but I have 10.2, so where the rest from.¡± ¡°Hmph, brat, do you think the Absolute Life From System is your babysitter, guiding you by the hand? If you want Destiny Force, go out and get it. Only garbage needs others to tell them what to do when the answer is right in front of them.¡± Apex¡¯s tone showed that he clearly had a negative picture of those who refuse to take their lives into their hands and let others decide for them. He made a slight pause before continuing speaking, and this time his voice carried a sense of viciousness. ¡°As for the extra 0.2 points. While lucky chances are the most effective way to obtain Destiny Force, they are not the only ones. You can steal destiny, and the way to do it is very straightforward.¡± Cain froze as he figured out the hidden message behind Apex¡¯s words. ¡°Hahaha, that is right, brat. You can steal the destiny of others by killing them! The one you killed before was garbage, but his destiny was still great enough, so killing him granted you that 0.2 Destiny Force.¡± Killing a man who wanted to take his life shook Cain to his core, yet the Absolute Life Form System wanted him to go on a killing spree. ¡°Brat, the world is cruel and full of danger. Killing is a part that no one can avoid. Showing mercy to your enemies will only bring you suffering. You should learn that soon, or else you will regret it.¡± Cain did not attempt to argue with Apex since he knew he would not win. He took a deep breath before stabilizing his emotions, and then he sent a command to the Absolute Life Form System. ¡°System, activate [Basic Genetic Stimulation].¡± [Basic Gene Stimulation requires 10 Destiny Force points. Does Vessel want to continue?] ¡°?Yes!¡± [Activating Basic Genetic Stimulation.] Cain felt how his blood and flesh began to burn the next second. A sense of utter exhaustion assaulted him, and he fell asleep. As the power of the Absolute Life From System through the [Genetic Coder Module] changed the essence of his body, Cain began to dream. He had lost his body and was now mighty lightning that moved through storm clouds. All creatures beneath him lower their heads, except for one. A giant gorilla, the size of a mountain, roared at the sky. However, it did not do it for long, as a lightning pillar descended and split its body in two! After the lighting pillar butchered that massive gorilla, it began to condense into a majestic two-meter tall wolf. Cain¡¯s size was nothing compared to the gorilla, but he managed to kill the latter in a single strike. There was blood all over his fur, giving him a terrifying look. Chapter 11 Chapter 11: Lineage Cain woke up the next day and immediately noticed that something had changed. A surging strength ran through his body, and some of his senses worked exceptionally well. The youth went to his bathroom and was shocked by the picture in the mirror. He was five centimeters taller, had larger muscles, and his eyes turned blue. ¡°Your ugly face won¡¯t change no matter how much you look at it.¡± Apex¡¯s voice woke Cain up. He took a deep breath and called for the system with a mixture of nervousness and excitement. Since he had awoken a bloodline, his Wave Talent should have changed. As for how much it did, that was the mystery he was about to solve. ¡°System, scan!¡± [Scanning Vessel ..... ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: None Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Low Tier 4 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.04 Agility: 0.06 Vitality: 0.06 Wave: O.0] Cain could not help but tremble as he saw the change in his Wave Talent. Jonathan could bully him due to having a Peak Tier 3 Wave Talent, but now he was superior. He even saw how his stats had improved, with his vitality that used to be the lowest, reaching a shocking level. After taking a moment to calm himself, Cain noticed how his Lineage had changed from human to Lightning Lupus, which drew some confusion. Initially, the youth had not given too much importance to the Lineage section, but it seemed that would be a mistake. ¡°Apex, can you explain to me what a Lineage is?¡± Like always, when it came to something related to the system, Apex did not slack off and gave Cain an accurate description. ¡°Lineages are unique constitutions. One can obtain them in different forms, the most common through a bloodline. Technically, all bloodlines are Lineages, but not all Lineages are bloodlines.¡± While the description was not long, it solved Cain¡¯s doubts. Before, he was a pure-blooded human, but thanks to [Basic Genetic Stimulation], he awakened a bloodline and obtained a Lineage. ¡°As for the Lightning Lupus Lineage. According to the Empire Science Academy¡¯s records, it is a mighty one, but also tagged as flawed.¡± Cain grew worried when he heard that last part. A flawed bloodline was not a small matter, as it essentially meant there was a flaw in his body. Luckily for the youth, Apex did not make him wait and explain what he meant by flawed. ¡°A bloodline can be considered flawed for many reasons, but yours fell in that category because it has an emotional instability. There will be times when your emotions go out of control, and whether or not you can control yourself will depend on your willpower.¡± Although emotional instability was dangerous, it was not that bad. Cain was more than willing to accept that defect in exchange for such a fantastic Wave Talent. Not to mention that he still had the [Genetic Coder Module], which might help him fix that. ¡°Anyway, now that you have fixed your Wave Talent, you should focus on training. According to the information I have recollected, it won¡¯t be long before you have to go to the Imperial Military Academy.¡± Apex¡¯s words reminded Cain of something very important, his military service. All members of the Godslayer Humankind must spend one year of military service in the Imperial Military Academy, except those entering a Wave University. Sending fourteen-year-old boys to military service would have caused an uproar in the Old World, but no one found it odd in the Godslayer Humankind Empire. They were in perpetual war, so the culture made everybody strive to become stronger. ¡°I have two months before embarking on the Imperial Military Academy. I need to take advantage of every second.¡± Cain was eager to train and test his Wave Talent, but Apex stopped him. ¡°Wait a moment. Since you have awakened a lineage, instead of embarking on the Essence Evolution Path of Power, you should consider taking the Astral Rebirth Path of Power.¡± Cain was utterly oblivious to the term Astral Rebirth Path of Power mentioned by Apex, something the System Spirit knew. ¡°Usually, most commoners have no actual knowledge about the Astral Rebirth Path other than knowing of its existence, so you should not feel bad for not knowing what I am saying. I am about to share what I obtained from hacking the Empire Science Academy, but there is no need to worry. It is basic information that anyone in a Wave University would learn, so there is no problem if people know you have it.¡± Apex gave Cain a moment to process his words, and after seeing that the youth was focused, he carried on. ¡°As you already know, Wave Cultivation consists in drawing the Wave, which finds itself as Life Wave in the environment into our bodies and using the Sacred Organ that is the Evolution Core, to transform it into Essence Wave. That is the Essence Evolution Path of Power. The most common for humanity and the one everybody has access to. Those that have a Lineage have also awakened their Rebirth Hearts. That is the second Sacred Organ of the Godslayer Humankind and the one that allows you to transform Life Wave into Astral Wave. Of course, I am talking about the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. Unlike the Essence Evolution Path of Power, which focused on controlling elements, the Astral Rebirth Path of Power takes the body as its core. Both are strong, but the Empire Science Academy accepted that the second is more powerful. Of course, the Astral Rebirth Path of Power is also more challenging, and the resources you will need in the future will be much greater than those in the Essence Evolution Path of Power. So, you need to consider what path you want with caution.¡± Cain¡¯s expression showed how much importance he gave his next decision. Still, it did not take long for him to make a decision. He sat down and used the Soldier Cultivation Technique to draw Life Wave into his body. However, instead of sending it into his Evolution Core, he sent it to the Rebirth Heart. Since when did hard work ever scare Cain Laurifer! Chapter 12 Chapter 12: Astral Wave Warrior The sun had just come out when a military truck levitating above ground entered the slums and reached what seemed like a dilapidated apartment complex. Usually, such an expensive vehicle would draw the attention of the worst kind of people in the slums, but no one dared to get close to it. The reason was the words on the side of the truck. Imperial Military Force. No one was dumb enough to try and steal something from the Imperial Military. There were easier ways to kill yourself. Two men with bulging muscles left the vehicle. One was bald, while the other had a large scar around his neck. ¡°That is Cain Laurifer¡¯s home, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ..... After that small exchange, both men began to frown. Cain should have received a message that someone from the Imperial Military Force would pick him up, so he should have been waiting for them, yet no one was in sight. The Imperial Military Academy was a branch of the Imperial Military Force. Most of the instructors were seasoned soldiers, so the fact they would have to drag people out of their homes was not something they were fond of. Just as the duo determined who would have to enter the department, one fat youth came out of the truck and approached them with a servile smile on his face. ¡°Sir Tristan, Sir Lodon, there is no need for you to dirty your hands. If you allow me, I could go and bring that man. I know him, and one could say we were schoolmates.¡± Tristan and Lodon were soldiers who had experienced war, and there was no way they would not notice the intent in the youth¡¯s eyes. He clearly wanted to cause problems for Cain. Usually, the duo would not entertain such silly games, but since Cain failed to obey the instructions given days ago, it meant a lack of discipline, which was not allowed in the military. So they let the fat youth do it. Once he saw the soldiers agreeing, the fat youth¡¯s smile grew wider, and he ran toward Cain¡¯s apartment. He did not even bother to knock on the door and just gave it a clumpy kick, busting the lock. ¡°Hey garbage, how dare you make Sirt Tristan and Sir Lodon wait!¡± The fat youth roared those words and entered the apartment as if it was his. However, he had taken less than three steps before being sent flying away while vomiting blood. Lodon and Tristan were surprised by the sudden events, but they immediately acted, with one of them jumping toward the fat youth to catch him, so he would not suffer more. The bald soldier, Tristan, narrowed his eyes as he noticed how someone charged out of the department and lunged toward the fat youth in London¡¯s arms. Tristan¡¯s sky blue Wave Cloak manifested as he jumped in front of his comrade before aiming a hand toward the incoming target. A blast of super-compressed air emerged from his palm and struck the assailant, sending this flying away. Cain crashed against the ground and rolled a few times but managed to reincorporate himself. His eyes then focused on Tristan as his Wave Cloak burst. Tristan and Lodon were once again surprised as they saw that, unlike theirs, Cain¡¯s Wave Cloak was dark-purple, meaning he was an Astral Wave Warrior! According to their records, Cain was just an average youth from the slums. The only remarkable thing about him was his absolute garbage Wave Talent. Yet now they found out that he was not only already a Wave Warrior, but one that took the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. Although the duo found it impressive for Cain to have awakened a Lineage, they were not that shocked. Humans have bloodlines sleeping inside their bodies, and there are times when these would spontaneously awaken. While it was not exactly common, it was not unheard of either. Despite their surprise, Tristan and Lodon¡¯s gazes immediately grew cold when the duo saw the savagery in Cain¡¯s eyes. Tristan¡¯s aura grew multiple times stronger, and blades of air that cut the ground beneath his feet began to manifest themselves. Cain¡¯s instincts kicked in as he felt the danger of a warrior who had experienced the brutality of the battlefield, allowing him to grow calm and overcome the emotional outburst from before. As he regained control, Cain began to frown. The fat youth surprised him during his training, drawing his wrath at the worst possible moment. His emotional instability acted. He might have killed the fat youth if Lodon and Tristan had not protected this one. ¡®I need to do something about this emotional instability. It is not so simple to subdue it by sheer willpower.¡¯ Cain took a deep breath and deactivated his Wave Cloak before giving a slight bow to the soldiers. ¡°I am sorry for my behavior. I let my anger and fighting drive get the worst of me. ¡± Cain apologize to the duo, giving an excuse. Of course, he would not reveal the flaws of his Lineage to strangers. Tristan and Lodon glanced at each other and knew that Cain was hiding something, but it was not their job to screen the recruits. ¡°Gather your things and get in the truck.¡± Tristan only spoke that before turning around, but someone else began to shout. ¡°Sir Tristan, that garbage attacked me. You should punish him!¡± The fat youth had difficulty breathing, but he still gathered the strength to scream. How could he accept that someone like Cain, who everybody bullied in school, harmed him? In his mind, Cain was a nobody that no one would help, so the soldier should immediately side with him. However, things did not go the way he expected, and Tristan and Lodon looked at him like they were looking at a clown. ¡°He is a Level 1 Astral Wave Warrior. I wonder how great your talent is to call him garbage?¡± Those words made the fat youth¡¯s face grow pale. He and his friends used to insult Cain, and now that this one was powerful, he could not help but tremble at the idea of future retaliation. The truth was the fat youth was overthinking things. Cain was not contemplating any form of revenge against this one, not because he was merciful, but because the fat youth did not even enter his sight. Before getting in the truck, he went to his department and gathered his most important belongings. Chapter 13 Chapter 13: Abnormal Cain¡¯s imposing body and sharp blue eyes drew the attention of everybody in the military truck. Some women looked at him with coquettish smiles, but he did not care. His experiences with Cinthy had left a painful mark, and he was not particularly interested in things like romantic love. After Cain and the fat youth were in the military truck, this one rose above all the houses and flashed away incredibly fast. Despite its speed, the people inside felt nothing due to the inertia gadget. Some of the recruits were mesmerized by the view, but Cain did not lose his time with it. After finding a conformable location, he immediately restarted his cultivation. As soon as Cain began to train, all the youth noticed the change in the surroundings, and they were not alone since even Tristan and Lodon glanced at him. While the youth only noticed something different, the soldiers were the ones that perceived the change in the Life Wave. Cain was like a black hole and devoured everything, leaving nothing for the others. ¡°This brat¡¯s talent is definitely above Tier 3.¡± ..... ¡°Yes, who would have imagined that there were geniuses even in the slums.¡± Cain was utterly oblivious to what happened around him. Before obtaining his Lineage, the feeling he got when training was as if drops of water fell on his head, but now it was as if he stood at the end of a mighty waterfall. The feeling was intoxicating, and he could not get enough of it. Of course, Cain did not let his guard down since he did not know anyone. That is where the [Basic Scan Force Field] came in. Using that tool, Cain projected an electromagnetic force field around his body that worked as a form of sonar. He commanded the system to wake him if anyone invaded his personal space. The [Basic Scan Force Field] also could jam signals and electronic communication, but Cain did not activate that function as it would draw suspicion. Cain began to smile as the military truck got closer to its destination. 72 Sectors formed the Gai Continent, and the closer you were to the core of each one, the mightier the density of the Life Wave would be, which would manifest itself as an increase in the speed at which you improved your cultivation. The Sector that Cain lived in was the Hellblazer Sector, and after more than a day of travel, the military truck finally arrived at Hellblazer Military Base. After they arrived at the location and the military truck¡¯s door opened, Cain woke up from his training and glanced at the base, and what he saw shocked him. ¡°Go into that Star Cruiser. Once all the recruits have arrived, we will march.¡± Cain was shocked by that and was not alone, as all the recruits looked at the soldiers with doubt. The Star Cruiser resembled a futuristic aircraft carrier and was beyond massive. Tristan did not bother with the recruits and left soon after saying those words, but Lodon took a moment to speak to them. ¡°The Imperial Military Academy has many bases, but none in the Hellblazer Sector. Therefore you will be traveling to the Collapsing Lightning Sector.¡± The Gaia Continent was immense, and traveling from one Sector to another was like traveling between planets in the old universe, so there was no surprise none of the youths ever left the Hellblazer Sector. Many of the youths showed fear at the idea of leaving the Sector. Cain was trembling, but there was no fear on his face. He did not know why, but the idea of exploring and traveling large distances filled him with a sense of thrill and excitement that was hard to control. Cain smiled as he began to walk toward the Star Cruiser, and the others soon followed behind him. Tristan had already reached a zone where many more soldiers had gathered. ¡°Hahaha, Tristan, you are one of the last to arrive. How did the cadets you brought end up to be?¡± A large man, almost two meters tall with tan skin and large scars all over his face, spoke loudly. Although he wore a simple military uniform, it was clear to all how high his status was by how the other soldiers behaved around him. ¡°Vice-Captain Josef, you sent us to the worst parts of the Sector. Those brats either lack talent, or their willpower is too weak to make proper soldiers. They are not fit for the battlefield.¡± The soldiers only nodded after hearing those words. Unlike the Old World wars, where humans fought humans, the battlefield against the Dark Races was countless times bloodier, and few could handle that. ¡°We did find one that is promising.¡± Lodon had reached the group and spoke a few moments after Tristan. Josef¡¯s eyes narrowed after hearing Lodon¡¯s words, and he focused on the recruits that arrived with the duo. It took him a moment, but his eyes finally landed on Cain. ¡°I suppose you are talking about that brat.¡± As soon as Josef saw Lodon nod, his eyes grew colder and projected a powerful intent. Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he felt that a beast targeted him, and then without hesitation, he unleashed his Wave Cloak and made his aura explode. The dark-purple Astral Wave drew the attention of everybody, but Cain could not care less as he turned around and adopted a battle stance. He did not know what happened but felt incredible danger. However, the danger vanished the next second, leaving Cain extremely confused. He looked at the surroundings but did not find anything. In the end, he just shrugged his shoulders and walked into the Space Cruiser. ¡°Good, very good. That brat did not hesitate before unleashing everything the moment danger arrived. I can not say much about his power or martial skills, but when it comes to perception, he doesn¡¯t fall behind a Second Lieutenant.¡± Josef smiled and nodded, something the other soldiers did as well. While talent and martial skills were crucial, you could quickly die on a battlefield if your perception was weak. Cain had no idea of the soldiers¡¯ discussion and found a place to sit in the Star Cruiser. He was about to resume his training when he noticed something and focused on the cruiser¡¯s entrance. A youth with a body equally imposing that of Cain entered the Star Cruiser. He was very handsome, with black hair and fiery red eyes. Unlike everybody else in the cruiser, the youth wore expensive clothes, and there was a majestic red ring on his right hand. He ignored the gazes of everybody and sat down before closing his eyes. Cain¡¯s interest in the youth grew as he noticed how this one began to draw massive amounts of Life Wave. After some consideration, he decided to use one of the [A.I. Chip Module] tools. ¡®System, use [Pseudo Cellular Analysis] on that man.¡¯ [Pseudo Cellular Analysis] was the tool Cain used to make a scan of himself, and he could also use it on others. Of course, there were several restrictions if employed that way. An electromagnetic force emerged from Cain and reached the red-eyed youth. It did not take long for a virtual screen to appear before him. [Scan of target completed. ¡ª Name: ??? Race: Godslayer Humankind Lineage: ??? Path of Power: Astral Rebirth ( Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior) ¡ª Stats: Strength:0.49 Agility:0.29 Vitality:0.54 Wave:0.41] A serious expression appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he saw those stats. ¡®So he is one of the Abnormals.¡¯ Chapter 14 Chapter 14: Secret Trial ¡®So he is one of the Abnormals.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he focused on the youth¡¯s stats. The Imperial Military Force used the term Abnormal for those with more than enough talent to enroll in a Wave University and still chose to enlist in the Imperial Military Academy. There are many reasons, the most common being children of Noble Families that sought to make a name for themselves. That was something Cain learned from the information Apex gathered with [Basic Hacking]. Cain saw how more and more cadets entered the Star Cruiser before some officers made their way in. He only recognized Tristan and Lodon. Finally, the gates of the ship closed down, and everybody received a message through their A.I. Chips. The message contained information about the cots and the day-to-day life on the ship. Still, the archives named Imperial Military Guide, Wave Beast Compendium, and Dark Races Compendium drew all of Cain¡¯s attention. Those archives had a lot of helpful information, but they carried a warning about any form of unauthorized copy or distribution. Not long after the gates closed, the Star Cruiser rose thousands of meters above the ground before flashing at supersonic speed. While invisible, a force field around it would protect it from damage. ..... Although Cain spent most of the days focused solely on his cultivation, he had to stop from time to time to eat and would use those small windows to learn more about the Imperial Military Academy and read the compendiums. Of course, the information he had access to was basic but was still extremely interesting and valuable. Cain and the red-eyed youth were not the only ones cultivating, but their training had a diametrical effect on those around them. The duo drew the Life Wave with so much strength that it generated a vacuum, forcing the cadets in cots around them to move away. That drew the ire of many, but since Cain and the red-eyed youth were more powerful and possessed greater talent, no one dared to offend them. After four weeks of travel, the Star Cruiser finally reached its final destination. The youths looked through the windows, and even Cain was no exception. He saw a massive metallic city at the center of a tremendous forest. The most impressive of all was the tower at its center that rose for more than ten thousand meters! Such structure would have been impossible in the Old World but not in Aether. As for the name of that tower, Cain knew it. ¡®Titan Tower.¡¯ The name may sound simple, but the implication was something that made Cain tremble. In it, there was a Titan, a member of the Godslayer Humankind with more power than a nuclear bomb! Cain saw many Star Cruisers come in and out of the city. However, his cruiser diverged from the others and headed to an isolated section of it. As Cain felt the Star Cruiser landing safely, he could not help but show a funny smile. When he first saw the ship, part of him thought that something epic would happen on the journey here, but he understood that those thoughts were too naive. Their borders would be a joke if the Godslayer Humankind Empire could not protect its ships while moving inside the Gaia Continent. Under the guidance of the soldiers, the thousands of cadets left the Star Cruiser. A beautiful woman was waiting for all of them, clad in an immaculate uniform. Cain was just about to walk toward her when a loud voice echoed. ¡°All those that had become Wave Warriors must come with me. Lady Sonia will handle the rest of you.¡± The one speaking was the same Vice-Captain Josef that had tested Cain. Despite the sound of the Star Cruiser¡¯s engine, everybody heard him clearly. Although most did not know what was happening, no one dared disobey the man, and all those who had already become Wave Warriors walked toward him. Of the more than five thousand cadets inside that Star Cruiser, only forty-two walked toward Vice-Captain Josef. The ratio was abysmal, but no one found it odd. Unless your Wave Talent was above Low Tier 2, reaching Level 1 Wave Warrior in less than a year was almost impossible. Everybody adopted a military stance in front of Josef, but this one did not give any more instructions and remained silent. Yet, none of the cadets could relax as the man unleashed a pressure that made all of them uncomfortable. Half an hour later, after the Star Cruiser that left Cain in the city departed, a new one arrived. Like before, Vice-Captain Josef summoned the Wave Warriors toward him before remaining silent. Four hours passed like that, and only after the number of cadets surpassed two hundred did Josef give new instructions. ¡°Follow me!¡± Josep said nothing else before turning around and starting running. Some cadets knew what happened, but most of them were oblivious. Still, both sides did as Josef told and followed him. At first, it was easy, but things grew harder as Josef¡¯s speed increased with each step he took. Less than twenty minutes after the race started, around half of the cadets summoned their Wave Cloaks to keep up. Many cadets even threw their luggage as the extra weight pushed them down. Cain was lucky since he had only brought a small military backpack. Cain¡¯s figure soon drew people¡¯s attention. Not only did he look fine despite the speed, but his clothes made it clear he was a commoner. While the Essence Wave enhanced an individual¡¯s constitution, its effect could not compare with the brought by the Astral Wave. However, Cain was still just a newly advanced Level 1 Astral Wave Warrior, so he was also forced to summon his Wave Cloak by the time the race continued for more than an hour. Once again, Cain drew people¡¯s attention as they saw his dark-purple Wave Cloak. He was not the only Astral Wave Warrior but was the only one that did not come from a Noble Clan. If everybody were not so focused on the race, people would have already approached Cain with all sorts of questions. After one and a half hours of running, Josef seemed to have finally reached his destination. He looked to the cadets and saw that everybody else had used their Wave Cloaks other than the red-eyed youth, and many of them barely had any strength left. Cain had difficulty catching his breath, but at least he remained standing. He glanced at the place where Vice-Captain Josef brought them and saw it was a massive gate that led out of the city. Right next to the gate, there was an old man. He had a military uniform like Josef, but his¡¯ was all worn out. Unlike the imposing Captain Josef, the old man¡¯s body was skinny and seemed to lack any strength. Yet, when he opened his eyes, all the cadets felt a crushing pressure. Luckily the pressure did not last long, or else most cadets would have lost consciousness. ¡°So these are the brats?¡± The cadets trembled since the old man did not open his mouth, and they all heard those words directly inside their minds. Even those that came from Noble Families were not an exception. ¡°Yes, Sir Oliver.¡± Josef¡¯s words gave the cadets an idea of how high the old man¡¯s status was. Oliver gave a soft nod before closing his eyes again. All the cadets wondered about this old man¡¯s might, but they soon regained focus as they heard Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s words again. ¡°Listen up, brats. Since you are already Wave Warriors, you have the right to participate in the Military Academy Secret Trial. Behind that door is a Tier 0 Danger Zone, with hundreds of Wave Beast, some of which even reach Level 2.¡± Wave Beast was a term everybody understood by now. Those were animals that mutated after obtaining the ability to observe Life Wave. However, unlike humans with their Sacred Organs, they can not refine it. Therefore, a Level 1 Wave Warrior would usually have no problem defeating a Level 1 Wave Beast. Josef gave the cadets a moment to process his words before continuing. ¡°There are also treasures, some of them including Wave Artifacts.¡± The words Wave Artifacts made the eyes of all the cadets glow. Even the most crappy one was worth more than what a commoner family could earn in their entire life. A cold smile appeared on Josef¡¯s face as he saw the greed in the cadets¡¯ eyes. ¡°Oh, before I forget. Other than Wave Beast, there are also Dark Races¡¯ Wave Warriors in there. Some of them very powerful.¡± Those words erased the cadets¡¯ smiles, and some even began to tremble. Although Wave Beasts were not easy to kill, they were sure to at least be able to escape with their lives in the worst-case scenario. However, if they fought Dark Races¡¯ Wave Warriors, there was a decent chance they could die. Chapter 15 Chapter 15: Alone The Godslayer Humankind taught its children how to hate the Dark Races from a young age, depicting them as horrible monsters. While that did the trick, making every human loathe them, it also generated a great fear in their hearts. All the youths present were Wave Warriors, but none of them was a proper soldier, so the idea of facing the Dark Races still scared them. Even those coming from Noble Families that seemed to have an idea of the Military Academy Secret Trial adopted solemn expressions. ¡°Do we... Do we have to take the test?¡± Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s eyes grew immensely cold as he heard that and focused on the one who uttered those words, making the youth tremble non-stop. Although Josef was angry, he noticed how that was a question many wanted to ask, so he only sneered. ¡°Hmph, the Imperial Military Academy can offer you even better resources than Wave Universities, but if you want them, you have to take them. Background doesn¡¯t matter here. Only your strength does!¡± Josef¡¯s aura exploded as he uttered those words, and a furious dark-purple Wave Cloak emerged from him. It unleashed so much power that it almost sent some of the youth flying away. ..... ¡°Those too scared to face the danger ahead should get the fuck out of my sight right now!¡± After Josef uttered those words, several cadets lowered their heads and left, reducing the number that would take the Secret Academy Test by a quarter. Vice-Captain Josef did not bother to glance at the cadets leaving and focused on the ones remaining before nodding and waving his hand, making rectangular flying drones fly to every cadet. ¡°Since you have decided to take the Military Academy Secret Trial, I will give you the instructions, but before that, you must hand over all your Wave Artifacts and treasures. You can also leave your belongings there so they do not disturb you during the test. Make sure to take out the special military backpack. It has Soldier¡¯s Drugs and survival equipment and can be used even in battle.¡± No one dared to disobey Vice-Captain Josef and did as he told them. Although some Noble Families¡¯ youths would have liked to keep their treasures, they knew there was no way they could trick the Imperial Military Academy. Cain took out the special military backpack and deposited his belongings in the drone. He was about to leave the spear he stole from Kurin but stopped and looked at Josef. ¡°Can I keep this? It is not a treasure nor a Wave Artifact.¡± Josef stared at the spear for a moment before nodding. It was not against the rules to bring something like the spear since it was not of much use for a Wave Warrior. Some commoners could not help but show envy as they saw that, but none of them brought something like that. Those of Noble Families were close, if not at Level 2, and a weapon like Cain¡¯s was useless for them. Josef saw how the cadets had stored their belongings and carried on. ¡°While there are dangers, and I encourage all of you to test your limits, there is a difference between courage and stupidity. The power of the enemies you will face inside is proportional to how deep you go into the Danger Zone. Of course, accidents can happen, but as long as you remain less than fifty kilometers away from the entrance, you should not face anyone above Level 1.¡± Cain and the other cadets smiled as they heard that. A safe zone made things easier, and it seemed that as long as they were careful and did not overestimate their capabilities, they would be fine. If the cadets that left knew that, they might have chosen to remain, but since they were too scared to face the prospect of danger, there was nothing they could do other than blame their weakness. ¡°During the Military Academy Secret Trial, the Imperial Military Credits you obtain will be multiplied by ten. Also, your final scores will determine the Secret Test Rank, with those at the top obtaining a bonus.¡± Imperial Military Credits were something Cain had already familiarized with. The folder given to him after entering the Star Cruiser described it as the currency used by the Imperial Military Force and one of the main currencies of the Godslayer Humankind Empire. Obtaining it was very hard for a commoner, and its uses were almost endless. Not to mention it also worked on calculating the merits one individual obtained through his career in the military. ¡°The gate into the Danger Zone will open in five hours when the sun comes out, and the trial will last for three months. You need to use your A.I. Chip to record your killings. Are there any questions?¡± ¡°Is there in-fighting allowed?¡± Josef and the other cadets immediately focused on Cain when they heard that question. Although the cadets frowned, Vice-Captain Josef smiled as if showing approval toward that question. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t kill or maim someone, in-fighting is allowed.¡± Cain nodded before closing his eyes. The idea that because they were all humans, they would fight together was something extremely naive, and he had already learned that. No one else asked questions, and they all began replenishing their strength. However, the atmosphere grew tense since they knew that if a treasure were to present itself, chances were that a fight would happen. Cain did not care about the others and instead used one of the techniques in the Soldier Military Manual, Internal Breathing. Of course, he also used this opportunity to command the system to scan all the other cadets. He drew Life Wave into his Astral Heart. Still, instead of using it to improve his cultivation, he circulated it through his body, replenishing his strength and diminishing his fatigue. Josef shook his head as he saw some cadets trying to improve their cultivation, but he smiled as he focused on Cain and saw the youth using that basic military technique. ¡®Smart brat.¡¯ From time to time, roars coming from inside the Danger Zone would reach the youths. Although it would have been easy to block that noise, the wall purposely allowed them to pass so they could generate physiologic pressure in the cadets. The first thing that breaks in war is not the body but the mind. If a soldier could not endure some roars, what use would they have on a battlefield? When the first ray of sunshine reached their faces, all the cadets opened their eyes. Some could not rest due to the roars, but most were at their peak. The gate into the Rank 0 Danger Zone opened, and all the cadets marched in. Once the last one crossed it, the gate closed. Less than fifty meters ahead, a massive forest packed with trees blocked everyone¡¯s view. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw groups forming. Some were small with only two people, while others were larger. Those larger had members of Noble Families as their core, with some commoners added to the mix. It did not take long for someone to approach him. Cain saw the youth coming with a smile, but he also noticed the hidden scorn in this one¡¯s eyes. ¡°Hmph.¡± Cain only sneered and did not wait for the youth to get close to him before flashing into the forest. Although there was safety in numbers, Cain knew those nobles would only be using him as a pawn, so he did not bother them. The scion that had walked toward Cain showed immense rage when he saw this one run into the forest. Although part of him wanted to chase and teach a lesson to the commoner that ignored him, he did not dare to leave alone. Other than Cain, someone else had marched into the forest moments after the gates closed, the red-eyed youth. Many nobles would have liked to have someone with such power in their teams, but the red-eyed youth was too strong, and they could not control him, so instead of giving the leadership, they preferred to avoid him. Chapter 16 Chapter 16: Earth Lion Cain walked forward at full speed, yet his movements made little sound. Once again, the youth used one of the techniques from the Soldier Military Manual. This time it was called Silent Step. It did not precisely involve Wave, but an average human would find it very hard to use it due to the high physical requirements. He was not walking blindly, as he had already picked up a scent and was approaching it. ¡°System, scan me.¡± [Scanning Vessel. ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer ..... Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 1) Lineage: Lightning Lycan Wave Talent: Low Tier 4 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.13 Agility: 0.17 Vitality: 0.14 Astral Wave: O.12 ¡ª Arts and skills: Soldier Cultivation Technique. Soldier Skills Lycan Physiology Lightning Conversion ??? ¡ª System Modules: -A.I. Chip Module: ¨C Pseudo Cellular Analysis ¨C Basic Data Gathering and Analysis ¨C Basic Virtual Simulation ¨C Basic Scan Force Field ¨C Basic Hacking -Genetic Coder Module: ¨C Basic Genetic Stimulation ¨C Basic Genetic Suppression ¨C Basic Genetic Enhancement -??? -??? -??? ¡ª Destiny Force: 0.2 points] Cain was satisfied with his current stats and abilities and was sure they would be enough for this test. It did not take long for him to reach the origin of the scent he followed. He did not reveal himself and carefully approached the creature without being noticed. The youth realized the scent he had picked belonged to a Wave Beast that resembled a two-meter-tall lion with brown skin. Due to this being the first time he met a Wave Beast, Cain was a little surprised, but he managed to focus soon. Thanks to the Wave Beast Compendium, he knew the beast was an Earth Lion, known for its sturdiness. ¡®System, scan the target.¡¯ Like before, an electromagnetic force emerged from Cain and soon reached the Wave Beast before a screen with its information appeared in front of him. [Target scanned. ¡ª Race: Wave Beast Lineage: Earth Lion Path of Power: Wave Beast (Level 1) ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.16 Agility: 0.13 Vitality: 0.21 Life Wave: 0.19] Even if this was not Cain¡¯s first life-and-death battle, it was still the first time facing a Wave Beast, so he was nervous. Luckily, once again, the [A.I. Chip Module] came handly. The Wave Beast Compendium had all kinds of information about each Wave Beast, including this Earth Lion. Alone, that knowledge was not very helpful, but after the [Pseudo Cellular Analysis] scan, Cain got all the data needed to use the [Basic Virtual Simulation]. ¡®System, use [Basic Virtual Simulation] to simulate a battle between the Earth Lion and me.¡¯ [Using Basic Virtual Simulation] Cain did not have to wait for long before virtual simulations appeared in his head. It was like watching a movie. All sorts of scenarios were presented, such as a direct attack, using a more furtive method, and even drawing the Earth Lion to a different location. Of course, the simulations were not flawless, and things could differ from reality, especially if they involved more intelligent life forms. However, with a Wave Beast, their trustworthiness was around 95%. Cain took a deep breath and waited for the creature to close its eyes before taking out and arming his spear. His Wave Cloak emerged, enhancing his strength but also alerting the Earth Lion. The Wave Beast immediately rose from the ground and turned toward the origin of the danger. A green Wave Cloak was about to manifest when a spear was embedded in its neck. ¡°Hhhhh.¡± The Earth Lion attempted to scream, but the spear impeded it. An immense agony assaulted the Wave Beast, but it did not last for long as a youth clad in dark-purple Astral Wave lunged toward it and kicked the spear¡¯s end, pushing it deeper, and killing the beast. Although the battle was extremely short and easy, the [Basic Virtual Simulation] tool showed Cain how easily things could have gone wrong. So, he was agitated and found it hard to relax. Luckily, it did not take long for Cain¡¯s mind to focus, and he acted. First, Cain took out the spear, then used it to open the creature¡¯s chest and remove the heart. A Wave Beast¡¯s body could be considered a treasure, but Cain could only carry a limited weight, so he kept the most valuable part. After storing the heart in the backpack, Cain spread dirt on his weapon and hands to mask the scent of blood and left. Cain made sure to move far away from the dead Earth Lion, and only after almost half an hour did he focus on another scent and follow it. Once again, the scent belonged to an Earth Lion, but Cain found two of those Wave Beasts now. Before choosing whether to take the two beasts at once, Cain analyzed them and used the [Basic Virtual Simulation] tool to see how good his chances were. After ensuring his chances were good enough, Cain took a deep breath and waited for the Earth Lions to look in the opposite direction before attacking. Cain invoked his Wave Cloak and sent the spear to one of the Earth Lions. Like before, his spear found its way to the beast¡¯s neck, but there was another threat he needed to handle this time. Unlike its partner, the other Earth Lion managed to fully invoke his green Wave Cloak, raising its offensive and defensive might exceptionally. Cain knew he could not just wait, so he lunged toward the unharmed Earth Lion. As the [Basic Virtual Simulator] had shown him, a claw aimed at his head. Following his plan, Cain slipped through the ground, dodging the claw and appearing right beneath the Earth Lion¡¯s belly. Cain¡¯s fist clad in Astral Wave buried itself in the Earth Lion¡¯s belly, causing severe internal damage. He immediately rolled away, avoiding the Wave Beast¡¯s body from stumping him. ..... Without losing momentum, Cain rose and fired another blow, this time, he aimed at the Earth Lion¡¯s shoulder, breaking it and, in doing so, crippling the beast. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± The Earth Lion screamed in pain, and blood leaked out of its mouth, showing the internal damage it suffered. Cain¡¯s eyes grew cold as he heard the beast¡¯s scream since it alerted everyone in the surrounding of a battle occurring. He immediately jumped over the Earth Lion, tightened his legs around the beast¡¯s neck, and began to bash the back of its head. It took less than five blows for Cain to kill the Earth Lion. He then gave the final blow to the agonizing Wave Beast before taking out his spear. Cain used the spear to take the heart of one Earth Lion before his eyes narrowed as he detected the scent of a group approach. ¡®Humans.¡¯ Cain immediately stored the heart and spear and flashed away. He had no intention of interacting with other cadets, especially if they were in a large group. Although he left one Wave Beast¡¯s heart behind, it was better to avoid conflicts for the time being. Chapter 17 Chapter 17: Fighting a Level 2 Wave Beast A few minutes after Cain had left, a group of eight cadets arrived. The one leading it was a handsome youth with green hair and eyes. He stared at the two dead Earth Lions, and his eyes narrowed at the lack of wounds. ¡°Whoever killed them, they did it fast, and all their attacks aimed at vital points. Their knowledge about these Wave Beasts¡¯ physiology and martial skills are vast.¡± The youth with green hair did not expect any feedback from the others, and he was just thinking out loud. After that, he glanced at the three people behind the group. ¡°What are you three waiting for?¡± The trio trembled as they heard the man¡¯s cold voice. Their status was inferior to those of the rest of the group, which did not seem to be a problem initially since they all treated them very well, but once they were alone, the group dynamic changed significantly. Unfortunately, even if they regretted their decisions, there was nothing they could do. ..... The group¡¯s leader did not care about the trio¡¯s thoughts, and his eyes focused on the direction where Cain had left. ¡ª Cain ran for almost an hour, changing routes from time to time and doing his best to hide any sign of his presence. Only after making sure no one was near him did he escalate to a large tree and sit on a branch. All the running and the battles had awakened his appetite. No one provided them with meals for this test, but there was food all around them. However, Cain did not plan to eat the fruits in the surroundings. He took out one Earth Lion¡¯s heart and bit it, taking a large piece into his mouth. A Wave Beast¡¯s heart had a large concentration of Life Wave, something beneficial for any Wave Cultivator. There were downsides, such as the possibility of food poisoning, but that was not something Cain had to worry about, thanks to his Lycan Physiology. Of course, there was also the fact that cooked meat was much better, but Cain would not risk revealing his presence with fire just to satisfy his palate. Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he felt the surge of Life Wave inside him, and without hesitation, he adopted a meditative position and began cultivating. While Cain focused on his cultivation and had chosen a location where no one should bother him, he did not let his guard down. The [Basic Scan Force Field] never stopped working and would alert him if anyone entered it. Cain did not stop cultivating until the last surge of Life Wave transformed into Astral Wave. The day had ended by the time he came out of training, but that was not a problem for him. Wolfs had always been great night-time predators. Cain¡¯s night vision allowed his field of view to be around 80% as good as during the day. He quietly descended the tree before picking up a scent and following it. It did not take long for him to see a group of Wave Beasts. They were five rhinoceros-like creatures with spikes all over their bodies. Just two Wave Beasts pushed him to the limit, so fighting five of them was not something Cain would do. Still, that did not mean he would just leave. ¡®System, scan targets.¡¯ A few seconds later, a virtual screen appeared in front of him. [Target scanned. ¡ª Race: Wave Beast Linage: Porcupine Rhinoceros Path of Power: Wave Beast (Level 1) ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.14 Agility: 0.07 Vitality: 0.20 Life Wave: 0.18] While there were slight variations, the five Porcupine Rhinoceros had around the same stats. As Cain analyzed them, he realized those beasts were a perfect example that stats did not fully represent the danger of an enemy. Porcupine Rhinoceros had lower stats than Earth Lions, but Cain would find it much harder to face them due to their racial traits and his lack of long-range attacks. Cain left without alerting the Porcupine Rhinoceroses and soon reached the location of another Wave Beast. This time the beast was only one, but he did not take it lightly as the feeling it gave him was that of immense danger. The Wave Beast resembled a two-and-a-half-meter tall gorilla with sinning metallic fur. After the system showed him the beast¡¯s stats, Cain understood the reason for the dangerous feeling. [Target scanned. ¡ª Race: Wave Beast Linage: Metall Gorrilla Path of Power: Wave Beast (Level 2) ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.42 Agility: 0.22 Vitality: 0.51 Life Wave: 0.41] The Metall Gorilla was a Level 2 Wave Beast, surpassing Cain in everything, especially in strength. Cain knew that facing a Level 2 Wave Beast would be dangerous, but he also knew that he would not always be able to fight easy enemies, and running away from every danger would only harm him in the long run. Of course, that did not mean he would blindly charge toward the Metall Gorilla. Using the information gathered by the [Pseudo Cellular Analysis], he projected the battle inside his mind with [Basic Virtual Simulation]. He spent almost half an hour going through the simulation, and only after considering everything did he decide to fight. Even then, he waited another hour for the Metallic Gorilla to lower its guard and generate an opening. Just as the Metallic Gorilla stretched its body due to boredom and tiredness, a sense of danger assaulted it. A burst of aura appeared near it, and from that same direction, a spear flashed toward it. The Metallic Gorilla managed to move in the last second, stopping it from piercing its chest, but it still landed on its shoulder before it could unleash its Wave Cloak. Cain emerged from the trees¡¯ cover, and his eyes narrowed as he saw how the spear barely managed to penetrate the Metallic Gorilla¡¯s flesh. While the simulation showed that outcome, he was still surprised by the beast¡¯s resilience. ¡°AHHHH!¡± The Metallic Gorilla roared with pain and anger as it saw the one responsible for its wound. Its Wave Cloak burst with power and increased the amount in its right arm as it attacked. Chapter 18 Chapter 18: Abyssal Demon Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that giant fist enhanced by Life Wave approaching him at a shocking speed. He managed to dodge the attack while continuing advancing and used the momentum to strike the spear¡¯s rear, pushing it deeper into the Metallic Gorilla¡¯s shoulder. ¡°AHHHH!¡± The Metallic Gorilla roared in pain as the spear practically drilled through his shoulder. However, just as Cain was about to continue his onslaught, he saw the Waver Beast¡¯s left arm coming at him. According to the simulation, that attack should have crippled the Metallic Gorilla¡¯s left arm, giving Cain enough time to break some of the beast¡¯s ribs, but things did not go that way. Cain only managed to form a cross with his arms, using them as a shield against the beast¡¯s slap. Although the slap sent Cain flying away, it did not harm him other than numbing his arms. While the [A.I. Chip Module]¡¯s simulation was not perfect, it was correct that the spear would greatly hinder the Metallic Gorilla¡¯s left arm. Cain¡¯s eyes focused, but he was still a little shaken. This experience showed him that he should only take the simulations as a guide and not blindly trust them. ..... ¡°Wave Burst!¡± Cain pronounced those words as his Astral Wave output increased exponentially. The ability Wave Burst was something all Wave Cultivators could use, just like Wave Cloak. It allowed one to increase their Wave output, enhancing their strength but affecting their stamina and the amount of time they can have their Wave Cloak active. ¡°AHHHHH!¡± The Metallic Gorilla roared, this time not with pain but rage, as it also used Wave Burst. Cain and the Wave Beast flashed to each other, with the first taking a turn to the beast¡¯s left in the last second. Not only did Cain dodge the Metallic Gorilla¡¯s attack, but he landed a heavy blow on the beast¡¯s knee. That strike was enough for the Mattalilic Gorilla¡¯s legs to bend, allowing Cain¡¯s kick to land straight in the back of the beast¡¯s head. Such a blow in the back of the head caused massive trauma to the Metallic Gorilla¡¯s brain, which Cain took full advantage of. Cain used all his strength as he began to strike the Metallic Gorilla¡¯s liver, making the creature feel immense pain while at the same time taking away its focus and drive. Although he only used his fist, Cain was an Astral Wave Warrior, so the might of his punches was stronger than what an Essence Wave Warrior could provoke by striking with a hammer. Of course, only low-level and weak Essence Wave Warriors that lacked skills and technique would use their Essence Wave like that. The liver was the largest gland and a center of blood circulation, and unlike the heart, it lacked a rib cage to protect it, so one could imagine the amount of damage it would take by receiving Cain¡¯s blows. The Metallic Gorilla felt it suffocated, while blood did not stop emerging from its maws, forcing it to get down on all fours. Cain¡¯s eyes became cold as he saw that, and he immediately jumped on the beast¡¯s back. He grabbed the Metallic Gorilla¡¯s head with his left hand and began to strike the upper section of the spine with his right one. ¡°?Boom!¡± ¡°Crack!¡± The sound of crashes and cracks emerged from the impact area as Cain shattered the cervical vertebrae and severed the spinal cord, killing the Wave Beast. Cain felt his blood burning due to the thrill of battle and the flaw of his Lineage, but luckily he managed to calm down fast. The youth deactivated his Wave Cloak as a sense of exhaustion assaulted him. The battle had been short but using Wave Burst took a toll on his endurance. He took his spear out of the beast¡¯s body, opened its ribcage, and extracted the heart before flashing away, only stopping once he was sure there was no one close to him. The following month went like that, with Cain hunting down Wave Beasts and using the hearts he obtained as both food and a source of Life Wave to improve his Wave Cultivation. Every day, he went deeper into the forest, and like Captain Josef told him, the enemies¡¯ power grew. Sometimes he would find a pack of Peak Level 2 Wave Beasts. Of course, Cain was not suicidal. Other than scanning them and marking their location, he did nothing to those packs. Cain picked up a sulfur smell on the thirty-nine day inside the Military Academy Secret Trial. As soon as he did that, he pushed his focus to the limit. The reason was that the sulfur smell did not come from a Wave Beast. According to the Dark Race Compendium, that was a characteristic of the Infernus Daemon Race, one of the Dark Races! Cain made sure he was in peak condition before following the scent. After twenty minutes, he was able to see his target. It was a man with a large muscular body, obsidian skin, and an expression full of savagery and chaos in his eyes. There was a scar on his chest, but other than that, he seemed in perfect health. He stood meditatively in a deforested zone next to a river. While that made it hard for him to hide, it also forced opponents into revealing themselves to attack. That display of strategy alone was a testament to why a member of the Dark Races was so much harder to handle than a Wave Beast. As soon as Cain¡¯s eyes landed on the member of the Infernus Daemon Race, he felt hatred. He had never seen one and much less interacted with them, but as a member of the Godslayer Humankind, he was taught from a very young age to see them as the enemy and loathe them. And if the Godslayer Humankind Empire indoctrination was not enough, Cain felt resentment because he lost his father in the war against them. ¡®System, scan him.¡¯ Cain even slowed his breathing as he focused on the enemy and waited for the system¡¯s analysis. [Target scan successful ¡ª Race: Infernus Daemon Race Lineage: Abyssal Demon Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 2 Wave Warrior) ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.61 Agility: 0.33 Vitality: 0.54 Astral Wave: 0.51 ¡ª Note: There is a foreign object hidden inside the target¡¯s body] Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw those stats, and by the amount of Astral Wave, he deduced that the Abyssal Demon was already at Peak Level 2. As for the foreign object inside the Abyssal Demon, while it drew some interest, it was not Cain¡¯s main concern right now. ¡®System, scan me.¡¯ The Absolute Life Form System followed Cain¡¯s command, and a new virtual screen appeared for him, this time with his data. [Scanning Vessel ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 1 Wave Warrior) Linage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Low Tier 4 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.15 Agility: 0.20 Vitality: 0.17 Wave: O.16 ¡ª Arts and skills: Soldier Cultivation Technique. Soldier Skills Lycan Physiology Lightning Conversion ???] The system showed Cain the immense difference between their stats, but that did not mean he would give up. First, he used the [Basic Virtual Simulation] tool to project the outcomes of a battle between him and the Abyssal Demon. In most of the simulations, he died or had to run away with severe injuries, but there was a path he could take that would allow him to win. Cain took a deep breath, hid in the shadows, and waited for the right time. ..... The chance presented itself after five hours when the Abyssal Demon took a moment to begin circulating his Astral Wave. He had just started training when a spear flashed toward his back. Chapter 19 Chapter 19: Killing Abyssal Demon The Abyssal Demon felt the incoming spear. The ambush forced him to suddenly stop his revolving Astral Wave, which made a metallic taste appear in his mouth, and he turned around while a dark-purple Wave Cloak manifested. He fired a punch toward the spearhead, making the weapon burst into pieces. However, his eyes widened as he saw the youth that managed to get next to him by hiding in his blind spot. Cain had not activated his Wave Cloak to thrust the spear, which is why the Abyssal Demon managed to intercept it with such ease. Nevertheless, that also allowed him to hide his presence until he was ready to strike. The youth manifested his Wave Cloak and aimed his palms at the Abyssal Demon¡¯s face before part of his Astral Wave mutated into arcs of lighting. ¡°AHHHHH!¡± The Abyssal Demon screamed in pain, and the lightning arcs exploded in his face, igniting his eyes. A cold smile appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he saw that, but it did not last long as a blow landed in his stomach, sending him flying away while puking blood. Cain felt immense pain but did not have the luxury of resting as a tremendous sense of danger assaulted him. He clenched his teeth and gathered his strength before jumping to the right. ..... ¡°?Boom!¡± The youth did it just in time to avoid the Abyssal Demon crashing down on his previous location. Even then, Cain continued retreating as the enemy lunged toward him. Cain found it hard to believe the incredible tenacity of the Abyssal Demon. The Abyssal Demon¡¯s eyes were useless, but he used his other senses to follow Cain. His attack lacked precision, but their strength made it so that one was more than enough to break several bones. Despite the immense danger, Cain was able to keep a cool head. He made his way back to the trees, and once there, he deactivated his Wave Cloak and hid his presence. ¡°AHHHH!¡± The Abyssal Demon roared as he began to destroy the trees around him but could no longer feel Cain¡¯s presence. Cain slowly moved away from the Abyssal Demon. He was having difficulty breathing and was sure there was internal damage. If another blow had landed, he might have lost the ability to fight and perish. As the Abyssal Demon continued to destroy everything around him in rage, Cain returned to where the spear had broken and retrieved its head. Cain focused and did his best to ignore the pain as he approached the Abyssal Demon. He activated his Wave Cloak, enhancing his strength before throwing the spearhead. That projectile lacked any skill. Not to mention dodging it, the Abyssal Demon could have stopped it with bare hands if he was in peak condition. Unfortunately, due to the state of his eyes, the Abyssal Demon only managed to block it by putting his arms in what he perceived could be the spearhead trajectory. The Abyssal Demon felt a sharp pain in his arms as he blocked the spearhead, but that was all, and it did not manage to harm him. Sadly for the Abyssal Demon, the spearhead was only a distraction, and the next instant, he felt immense pain as a kick had just landed on his right knee, shattering it. ¡°Ahhh, you disgusting human!¡± The Abyssal Demon cursed as he waved his hand like a madman, but he hit nothing. Things went from bad to worse for the Abyssal Demon. The next second, a punch landed on the base of his skull. Cain saw how his attack momentarily paralyzed the Abyssal Demon and continued punching. Savagery appeared in his eyes as he felt his blood burning. Even when the Abyssal Demon landed on the ground, Cain did not stop his relentless attack and carried on until he felt his Wave Cloak about to vanish. The youth regained his composure after the emotional outburst passed, and his eyes widened as he saw the bloody paste that was once the Abyssal Demon¡¯s head. ¡®It is fine. He was a member of the Dark Races.¡¯ As soon as that thought crossed his mind, Cain heard Apex¡¯s voice ¡°So those are your thoughts after killing another intelligent being.¡± Apex took Cain by surprise. Although the youth was a little shaken by the bloody scene, there was not the guilt or psychological pressure he felt when he ended Kiron. ¡°There is no mercy for the Dark Races.¡± Cain clenched his bloody fist as he replied. ¡°If that is all you have to say, then I must compliment your Godslayer Humankind Empire for their indoctrination.¡± Cain did not know why, but the System Spirit¡¯s words irritated him greatly. ¡°Did you not say that killing is a part one can not avoid!¡± Apex did not immediately reply to Cain¡¯s words and waited for the youth to calm down. ¡°Brat, there is nothing wrong in killing someone, but do not let others¡¯ beliefs affect your heart. You took that man¡¯s life because you wanted to. Own it, and do not hide behind excuses like a coward!¡± Those words shock Cain¡¯s spirit. He knew Apex was correct. As soon as he saw the corpse, he attempted to distance himself from the act. Cain stood up and did not take his eyes away from the Abyssal Demon¡¯s bloody corpse. ¡°I killed you because you were my enemy!¡± Chapter 20 Chapter 20: Wave Artifact ¡°Don¡¯t waste time. Take out the Abyssal Demon¡¯s heart and search for the foreign object inside his body.¡± Apex did not comment on Cain¡¯s words, nor did the youth expect the System Spirit to do it. Cain did not expect a pat on the back. He spoke those words because he believed them. He picked the deformed spearhead from the ground and used it to open the Abyssal Demon¡¯s chest. By cutting over the scar, Cain did things much easier and faster. Just like Wave Beast¡¯s hearts were valuable, so were Dark Race¡¯s as they contained a tremendous amount of Astral or Essence Wave. After saving the heart in his backpack, Cain searched for the foreign object and soon found it. ¡°What is this?¡± ..... Cain took a black orb the size of a fist out of the Abyssal Demon¡¯s abdomen. ¡°So this is where those soldiers hid them.¡± Apex¡¯s words only confused Cain more, but luckily he continued speaking. ¡°Do you remember the Vice-Captain¡¯s words about Wave Artifacts inside this place? We have been here for more than a month and explored a lot yet found nothing.¡± Cain did not need Apex to say anything else to understand where he was heading to. Of course, he remembered the part about Wave Artifacts. It was one of the main reasons why he wanted to enter the Military Academy Secret Trial alone. A commoner would find it almost impossible to get a Wave Artifact. Even Level 4 Wave Warriors considered them as treasures that could save their lives, and it seemed that the orb in his hand was one of them. Cain felt an electromagnetic current emerge from his hand and reach the orb. The next moment, a virtual screen appeared in front of his eyes. [Wave Artifact branded through A.I. Chip Module. Displaying information. ¡ª Name: Kinetic Gauntlets Grade: High Bronze Details: Artifact meant for Astral Wave Warriors, able to protect the hands and forearms. Active Ability: -Kinetic Blast: Once you charge enough Astral Wave, it can fire a blast of kinetic force on impact. It has three levels.] Along with that description, a detailed explanation of the Kinetic Gauntlets¡¯ abilities and how to use them reached Cain¡¯s mind. ¡°Normally, one would brand and get the information out of the Wave Artifacts through a digital data package left in it through the A.I. Chip, but you did it through the system.¡± Apex made a slight pause to make sure Cain understood before carrying on. ¡°To activate the Wave Artifact, just channel your Astral Wave into it.¡± Cain could not wait to test the Wave Artifact, so he immediately followed Apex¡¯s words and sent his Astral Wave into it. A large smile appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he saw the orb glowing before melting and transforming into gauntlets covering his hands and forearms. Although Cain was eager to try the gauntlets, he knew that his fight with the Abyssal Demon drew some attention, so he hid his presence and left immediately. Cain ran for at least an hour and hid his presence before climbing a tree and resting. He used Internal Breathing while devouring a Wave Beast¡¯s heart and consuming Soldier Drugs. Three hours later, Cain¡¯s body regained vigor and his internal wound diminished, but he could not say the same about his mind. The surveillance and fight with the Abyssal Demon had pushed him to the limit, so he needed a proper rest. After tying a rope around his waist and then to the tree, Cain began to sleep. Only someone like Cain, who had the [Basic Scan Force Field] at his disposal, could sleep so calmly while taking this trial alone. Cain woke up in the middle of the night after sleeping more than ten hours. He felt refreshed but still felt some pain around his abdomen. The first thing he did was survey his surroundings, and only after making sure there was no one near did Cain test his Wave Artifact. As soon as he activated his Wave Cloak, Cain noticed the effect of the Kinetic Gauntlets. They automatically channeled and condensed the Astral Wave around them, enhancing both offense and defense. Cain began to strike a large tree. Thanks to the data gathered by the [A.I. Chip Module], he discovered that his punches were 17% stronger now. That was just the Kinetic Gauntlets¡¯ passive ability. Following the instructions of the Wave Artifact, he fueled it with a significant amount of Astral Wave, activating a matrix. Cain saw that the Kinetic Gauntlets¡¯ ability was ready and punched the tree. He was almost pushed back and felt his arms numb, but that mattered little after he saw the might of his attack. A large hole appeared in the tree, and this one then fell. That attack carried a greater force than the Level 2 Abyssal Demon displayed. And that was only the first level of Kinetic Blast! Of course, such might did not come cheap. Cain noticed that the first level Kinetic Blast charging on both gauntlets had drained half of his Astral Wave. Cain¡¯s excitement did not diminish after seeing Kinetic Blasts¡¯ cost. He was still a Level 1 Astral Wave Warrior, so it was no wonder his reserve drained so fast. After resting for a little more, pushing his body back to the peak, Cain picked up a familiar scent and followed it. It was not long before the youth saw a pack of three Porcupine Rhinoceroses. He scanned the Wave Beasts and discovered they were all Level 1. Before, just fighting one would have been a challenge, but now that he had a Wave Artifact, things were different. Cain could almost not believe the images shown by the [Basic Virtual Simulation] tool, as they were incredible. He did not lower his guard and quietly approached the pack before flashing toward the one in the rear. The Porcupine Rhinoceroses entered battle mode, activating their Wave Cloaks as Cain flashed toward them, but before they could do anything, the youth had already reached one of them. Cain fired a fist toward the Porcupine Rhinoceros¡¯ side. His right gauntlet glowed as the matrix activated and Kinetic Blast fired. ¡°AHHH!¡± The Wave Beast yelled in pain as the punch completely disregarded its Wave Cloak and physical defenses, blasting a bloody hole and sending it flying away. Shock appeared in the Porcupine Rhinoceroseses as they saw their companion¡¯s fate. Cain would have reacted the same if not for the simulation, but since he did not, he could take advantage of the Wave Beasts¡¯ distraction. He reached the next Porcupine Rhinoceros and punched with his left arm, firing another Kinetic Blast. This time the Wave Beast did not yell as the strike landed on its head, killing it instantly. It still sent it flying away, crashing against the last Porcupine Rhinoceros. Cain saw how the last Porcupine Rhinoceros crashed to the ground after being struck by its companion¡¯s body. He ran toward the beast and, before it could stand up, began to hit its head. Seven blows were all that Cain needed to kill the final Porcupine Rhinoceros. As Cain saw the state of the battlefield, he could not help but feel shocked. He killed the three Porcupine Rhinoceroses in less than thirty seconds and suffered no damage! That was enough for one to understand the mighty Wave Artifacts! Chapter 21 Chapter 21: Hell Devil Cain did not lose much time being amazed by the might of his Kinetic Gauntlets. He took out the spearhead, which was now only useful as a blade, and removed the hearts of the Wave Beasts before flashing away. Obtaining that Wave Artifact was like giving wings to a T-rex. Cain¡¯s killing speed increased exponentially, and he could now confidently face Level 2 Wave Beasts. His rush stopped after he again picked up a sulfur scent for the second time. Unlike Wave Beasts, facing a Wave Warrior of Infernus Daemon Race was difficult, even with his Wave Artifact. Cain followed the scent, which led him to a large mountain. It came from a cave, which immediately drew some problems for him. Since Cain could not establish eye contact, using the [Pseudo Cellular Analisis] tool became much harder. He would have to get close enough so that the Infernus Daemon could enter the range of his [Basic Scan Force Field]. As he silently approached the cave, the system sent a warning signal. [Warning. Warning. ..... ¡ª Basic Scan Force Field has detected several magic matrices in the surroundings. If touched, they will trigger a spell. ¡ª Magic matrices locations marked] Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed, and his alertness spiked as the system marked invisible magic matrices hidden around the cave. ¡®Abyssal Demons, while intelligent enough to put traps, usually disdain to do it, so the one inside the cave must be a Hell Devil.¡¯ Just like the Godslayer Humankind had many Lineages, the Infernus Daemon Race also had more than one. According to the Dark Race Compendium, the Infernus Daemon Race had three main Lineages, and the Hell Devils were fond of traps and schemes. Cain dodged all the magic matrices and got close enough to the cave for the [Basic Scan Force Field] to cover the Infernus Daemon. It did not take long for the system¡¯s voice to appear in his mind. [Target scan successful. ¡ª Race: Infernus Daemon Race Lineage: Hell Devil Race Path of Power: Essence Evolution (Level 2 Wave Warrior) ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.14 Agility: 0.19 Vitality: 0.27 Essence Wave: 0.48 ¡ª Note: There is a foreign object hidden inside the target¡¯s body] As Cain suspected, the one inside the cave was a Hell Devil. As for the fact it had taken the Essence Evolution Path of Power despite having a Lineage, that did not surprise him. Not because you have a Lineage, you would necessarily embark on the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. Some chose not to take it because of its harshness, and others had Lineages that were more suitable for the Essence Evolution Path of Power. ¡®Just marching inside the cave would be suicide. A barrage of spells would come to greet me before I could even get close to the Hell Devil.¡¯ Cain began considering the best path forward and ran many simulations with the system. It did not take long before a plan appeared in his mind. He got next to the mountain that held the cave and began to strike it in several locations before charging the matrix in his right gauntlet and giving a final blow. Those strikes were not thrust randomly since the system marked them as weak points. A second after that, Cain connected a Kinetic Blast, and the cave began to tremble. It was a matter of time before it collapsed. Since running into it would be suicide, he forced the Hell Devil to come out. A beautiful humanoid woman emerged from the cave. She was similar to a human, other than her red skin and horns. Despite her appearance, the woman¡¯s eyes were cold as she surveyed the surroundings. The Hell Devil felt the Astral Wave and knew an enemy was near. She quickly discovered the youth covered in a dark-purple Wave Cloak flashing toward her. ¡°Wait, please don¡¯t do this!¡± The woman¡¯s plight and the sad expression on her face could have moved anyone¡¯s heart, especially that of a youth. Yet, Cain¡¯s expression remained resolute no matter what he heard or saw. It was not that he did not find the woman attractive. If he was honest, the red color of her skin hit the right spot. Unfortunately for the Hell Devil, Cain would not back down now. He had decided to join the Imperial Military Force in the future, which would mean killing members of the Dark Races. While he no longer hid behind an excuse, letting the indoctrination of the Godslayer Humankind Empire guide him, that did not mean he would show any mercy. The woman saw that her words did not work, and her sad expression turned cold as she raised her hand and fired a fireball. That spell was fired almost instantly from her hand because she had been preparing it from the moment she saw the youth. Cain had expected such an attack and was ready to counter it. His left gauntlet glowed as he connected a Kinetic Blast to the ground, triggering an explosion that fired dozens of large rocks forward. The rocks and the fireball counter each other, allowing Cain to appear right before the Hell Devil. Just as he was about to send a blow toward her neck, he heard the system¡¯s voice. [WARNING! INCOMING SPELL FROM 8 O¡¯CLOCK] Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he heard that. He had made sure to survey the surroundings before the battle started, but he found no one, and if not for the [Basic Scan Force Field], he would have never known until it was too late. ¡®I can not dodge it nor form a proper defense in such a short time.¡¯ Cain¡¯s mind worked extremely fast, searching for a way to survive, and he found it. He continued advancing, but instead of striking the Hell Devil¡¯s throat, he grabbed it and her waist before turning around. The youth used the Hell Devil as a shield against the spell. Dozens of small shadow blades landed on the Hell Devil¡¯s back, cutting the flesh like nothing and leaving deep lacerations in the spine. Due to the hasty defense, some blades also landed on Cain. Cain clenched his teeth as he endured the pain and focused on where the attack came from. Surprise and rage emerged in his eyes as he saw that the attackers were not members of the Dark Races but humans. A man and a woman walked out of the trees¡¯ cover. A shadowy aura emerged from the latter that covered both. Chapter 22 Chapter 22: Overcoming burning rage The duo was a man and a woman, and their dark-purple and sky-blue Wave Cloaks revealed the Path of Power they had taken. ¡°Oh, I am sorry for those wounds. I did not see you. Luckily you were able to react to my Shadow Blades.¡± Cain saw the woman smiling toward him, but the evident disdain in her eyes told him all he needed to know. He felt his rage growing stronger and was doing all he could to stop himself from lunging toward them. Without saying a word, Cain raised the Hell Devil by the neck and calmly began walking toward the cave¡¯s entrance. Although Cain¡¯s composure surprised the duo, they never cared about his response. What mattered to them was the dying Hell Devil in his hands and the Wave Artifact. ¡°Filthy commoner, how dare you to ignore Lady Nira, a member of the Viscount Kilor¡¯s Household.¡± The man roared, showing a righteous expression as if they were doing Cain a favor by talking to him. Nira¡¯s smile vanished as she saw Cain¡¯s coldness, but she remained calm. The Hell Devil was mortally wounded, but if they wanted the Imperial Military Credits for her death, they needed to be the ones that gave the final blow. ..... If they charged toward Cain, this one might break the Hell Devil¡¯s neck before escaping, which was not good. ¡°Hand over the Hell Devil and the Wave Artifact you stole, and we will let you leave unharmed.¡± Nira¡¯s words were harsh and seemed not to leave room for discussion. She never considered the Wave Artifact as Cain¡¯s property, as a commoner could not possess something like that in her mind. Cain felt his rage soaring without control as he heard how those two spoke to him. It reached the point he had to bite his tongue to remain calm. Luckily Cain did not have to endure for long since once he reached a specific point, he activated Wave Burst. Nira and the man thought Cain wanted to fight and sneered since not only did they outnumber him, they were both Level 2 Wave Warriors. However, instead of attacking, Cain used his enhanced strength to break the Hell Devil¡¯s neck and bury his hand in her stomach. Cain¡¯s coldness and savagery surprised the duo, giving him enough time to extract the Wave Artifact and run away. ¡°You dare to run!¡± The man roared as he saw Cain escaping and immediately chased. Sadly, he walked over a magic matrix, which triggered an explosion. ¡°James!¡± Nira had just started to charge her spell when she saw the blast. While the explosion seemed mighty, spells engraved on the ground in the form of magic matrices were not particularly strong, so James was only sent flying away with some burn mark over his body. Nira walked over to James and helped him stand up. Both of them could still fight, but Cain had already vanished. ¡°Filthy commoner!¡± James roared in rage as he felt his skin burning. ¡°It is not worth bothering with him. Let¡¯s explore the zone and see if we find something valuable.¡± Nira was also furious, but since Cain had already vanished from their sight, it would be almost impossible to track him down now. ¡ª Cain ran through the forest for more than an hour before stopping. His face twisted due to the immense rage that filled him. It was as if his blood was burning, demanding him to fight. The way the duo looked at him as if he was a mere insect that should happily bow down to them sickened him. He rose to a tree and adopted a meditative position, focusing on resting and calming his fury. It took him a while, but as night fell, he finally relaxed. ¡®That woman¡¯s shadows. Not only did it hide the presence, it even covered the scent.¡¯ Cain was able to quickly deduct how the duo was able to get so near without him noticing them. As for how they located him? That had many answers, with one being pure bad luck. They might happen to stumble upon him by chance. The truth was that the reason did not matter. Those Shadow Blades almost killed him, and Cain was not the forgiving type. ¡®According to the scan I did before entering the trial, they were both Level 2 Wave Warriors, with the man having advanced recently.¡¯ Fighting a single Level 2 Wave Warrior almost cost him his life and was when he had a plan and was able to set an ambush. Fighting the duo with his current strength was suicidal. Cain shook his head as he threw away the notion of fighting the duo inside the Military Academy Secret Trial. He could not win in a direct battle, and unlike Nira and James, he was not willing to break the rules about killing other humans and infuriate Vice-Captain Josef. He took out a Wave Beast¡¯s heart and Soldier Drugs, and after a session of cultivation and healing, he focused on the Wave Artifact taken out of the Hell Devil. [Wave Artifact branded through A.I. Chip Module. Displaying information. ¡ª Name: Fire Sword Grade: High Bronze Details: Artifact meant for Essence Wave Warriors. Able to enhance spells with fire attributes. Active Ability: -Fire Burst: Once you charge enough Essence Wave, it can fire a two-meter tall arc of fire capable of crossing one hundred meters in three seconds.] Cain was surprised by the Wave Artifact¡¯s information. Not only about its power, but the fact that Essence Warriors would use something like swords. ¡°It is more common than you might think.¡± Apex¡¯s voice surprised Cain. The System Spirit usually spent all his time using the [Basic Hacking] tool to gather information, so they have not talked a lot recently. ¡°Can you elaborate?¡± Although all the information Apex obtained was at his disposal, Cain would prefer not to go through millions of files right now. Luckily for Cain, Apex did not leave him in suspense. ¡°Essence Wave Cultivators are not the typical mages of your fairy tales. If that were the case, their usefulness on the battlefield would be limited. Although Essence Wave Warriors do focus on long-range attacks, they can deploy impressive mele skills, especially those that train some auxiliary body refinement techniques.¡± Cain nodded to Apex¡¯s words and proceeded to save the white orb in his backpack. Using the sword without proper skills was useless, especially since the damage he could do with his fists was higher. Chapter 23 Chapter 23: Light Boots Cain spent the next few days going deep into the forest, killing all the Wave Beasts he found in his path. It was not up to five days after the encounter with the duo that he found another dangerous target again. He followed the sulfur¡¯s scent and discovered an Abyssal Demon resting in an area full of broken trees. To his surprise, this one seemed severely injured, and the youth figured out a large fight had occurred by the blood pattern across the ground. Cain did not waste too much time and immediately scanned the Abyssal Demon. [Target scan successful ¡ª Race: Infernus Daemon Race Lineage: Abyssal Demon ..... Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 2 Wave Warrior) ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.54 Agility: 0.30 Vitality: 0.47 Astral Wave: 0.44 ¡ª Note: Target is heavily wounded and can not fully deploy his battle power. There is a foreign object hidden inside his body] Not only was this Abyssal Demon weaker than the one Cain faced a month ago, but he was severely injured, making things even easier. There were many paths Cain could take to handle this Abyssal Demon, and due to the broken trees, setting a sneak attack was not hard. Nevertheless, as he saw the fearless expression on his enemy¡¯s face, his eyes glowed with determination. The Abyssal Demon was doing his best to recover his energy when he saw a youth coming out of the trees¡¯ cover and walking to him. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the surroundings but detected no one else. ¡°Hahahaha, finally, one of you is not a coward and fights heads on!¡± Cain did not say a word, but his aura exploded as he used Wave Cloak and Wave Burst at once. ¡°Let¡¯s do this!¡± The Abyssal Demon roared as he also triggered Wave Cloak and Wave Burst before charging toward Cain and firing a fist. Cain countered with his own fist, making the sound of a small shock wave appear due to the strength they unleashed. None of them could surpass the other, but Cain did not remain still and fired a kick that landed straight in the Abyssal Demon¡¯s jaw. Before Cain could get too happy, a fist had landed on his chest, sending him flying away. The Abyssal Demon would have wanted to chase, but that kick shook his brain, temporarily paralyzing him. Cain used those seconds to step up from the ground as a metallic taste appeared in his mouth. That punch was hurtful but not enough to reduce his battle power. ¡®I lowered my guard after my attack landed. The damage would have been much worse if he was not so wounded.¡± One of the reasons Cain chose to take a direct approach was to train himself. He would not always be able to count on ambushes or sneak attacks, nor would he always have time to simulate the battle beforehand, so he had to learn how to adapt at the moment. The Abyssal Demon shook his head as he regained his focus, just in time to a fist bathed in Astral Wave fired toward his throat. He raised his arm just in time to block it, but a kick landed directly on his knee the next second. Cain had just landed that kick before jumping back, dodging an elbow strike that targeted the top of his head. Like that, the battle carried on with both exchanging blows. Cain¡¯s attacks and reactions became faster, but the Abyssal Demon could not say the same. The Abyssal Demon¡¯s wounds worsened as the battle continued, making his movements sluggish. ¡°Kinetic Blast!¡± After three minutes, Cain ended the battle as he connected a fist right in the center of the Abyssal Demon¡¯s chest and triggered Kinetic Blast. The Abyssal Demon trembled as the impact caused massive internal trauma and pushed him back a few meters. He fell to the ground and no longer stood up as his heart stopped beating. Cain approached the Abyssal Demon and was surprised to see a smile on this one¡¯s face. ¡®A good death is its own reward. I guess what they say about Abyssal Demons is true. They live for the thrill of battle.¡¯ Cain nodded toward the fallen enemy before using the spearhead to take out the heart and Wave Artifact. He left and rested after running for at least thirty minutes. First, he rose to a tree, took out some Soldier Drugs and a Wave Beast¡¯s heart, and recovered. Although the fight was not easy, he did not have broken bones, at most some bruises. Once Cain was fully rested and managed the worst of his injuries, he inspected the Wave Artifact. [Wave Artifact branded through A.I. Chip Module. Displaying information. ¡ª Name: Light Boots Grade: Medium Bronze Details: Artifact meant for Astral Wave Warriors. Able to enhance Wave¡¯s density around legs, improving the force put into the ground, propelling your body forward with greater strength, therefore increasing your speed. Active Ability: -Burst: Once you charge enough Astral Wave, it will propel you forward with great speed.] Cain could not be happier with the Wave Artifact. Even if the Light Boots lacked an offensive ability, he could use Burst in many ways. It would help him during a battle and also improve his survival skills. Taking advantage of his resting, Cain called for the system to show him his current Destiny Force. [Destiny Force: 0.2] As soon as he saw those numbers, Cain frowned. ¡®Apex, didn¡¯t you say that I could steal destiny by killing others. Why did I obtain nothing from the Abyssal Demons and the Hell Devil I killed?¡¯ Cain was sure there was no difference between races for the Absolute Life Form System, so he did not believe that only humans could work regarding stealing. ¡°Brat, when it comes to stealing someone¡¯s destiny, there are two points to consider. The might of their destiny and how high is yours compared to theirs. If your destiny is much higher than the ones you kill, you will get nothing no matter how much you slaughter. The reason you get nothing from those inside the Military Academy Secret Trial is simple. Just what kind of destiny could those Abyssal Demons and Hell Devil have?¡± Cain immediately understood Apex¡¯s words. Every member of the Dark Races inside the Secret Military Trial was bound to die, so their destiny was basically zero. Chapter 24 Chapter 24: Atrox Immortus Race Cain spent the next couple of weeks hunting Wave Beasts and faced two Hell Devils during that time. All the Dark Races¡¯ warriors he found were part of the Infernus Daemon Race, which told Cain that those warriors were packed together according to their races. He also detected humans multiple times but avoided any meeting. ¡®There are less than two weeks until the trial is over. I will keep exploring for a couple more days before returning.¡¯ That thought just crossed Cain¡¯s mind when he detected a human¡¯s scent. Coldness emerged in his eyes since he knew the owner. It was the same duo that almost cost him his life. Cain felt his blood burning as his desire to kill grew stronger. Remembering how the duo looked at him still made him feel an endless fury. ¡®Not yet.¡¯ Cain calmed himself and began walking in the opposite direction of the duo. Although he had grown stronger, he was still a Level 1 Wave Warrior, and facing two Level 2 would be suicide. Not long after that, Cain picked up a strong smell of blood. Due to the killing, he was used to it, but the scent was too potent and fresh. ..... Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he hid his aura the best he could as he approached the scent¡¯s origin. It did not take long for him to find the source and what he saw drew an absolute dread in his heart. In the youth¡¯s vision, there was a man with silver armor made of thousands of blades beneath a waterfall. There was destruction all around him, and the water reaching his waist was pure red. That color came from the almost twenty bodies lying impaled around him. Most of them were Wave Beasts, but there were three that belonged to cadets! ¡®Atrox Immortus Race!¡¯ Cain remembered the words he read in the Dark Race Compendium about them. As he focused on the cadets impaled in the rocks around the waterfall, his eyes widened with sheer terror since he saw they were still alive. Just like humankind earned its title through their massacre of Gods, the Immortus race gained theirs due to the terror they infused on their enemies. Cain felt his heart beating faster and faster, forcing him to do his best to control himself. There was no way he would face that monster, but still, he commanded the system to scan him. [Target scan successful ¡ª Race: Atrox Immortus Race Lineage: ??? Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 3 Wave Warrior) ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.75 Agility: 0.69 Vitality: 0.19 Astral Wave: 0.66 ¡ª Note: Target¡¯s vitality is in a state of severe disarray. There is a foreign object hidden inside his body] Absolute shock appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he saw those stats. He could not believe that the soldiers had let a Level 3 Wave Warrior inside the Military Academy Secret Trial, even worse, one of the Atrox Immortus Race! The fact that the Atrox¡¯s vitality was in disarray meant nothing for Cain as he knew that if they were to fight, he would die before landing even a single blow. Without second thoughts, Cain slowly made his way out of the vicinity. He had moved for less than one hundred meters when it happened. ¡°Eeeeee!¡± The sound of a screech made Cain¡¯s entire body tremble. He turned to the side and saw a Wave Beast with the form of a hawk looking at him. The Wave Beast was outside his [Basic Scan Force Field] range, and Cain failed to pick up the scent because he focused solely on the Atrox. Cain couldn¡¯t care less about the Wave Beast. What mattered to him was that he felt two eyes focusing in his direction, making his instinct scream like crazy. ¡°Eeeeee!¡± The Wave Beast screeched again as it lunged toward Cain, but the youth¡¯s boot glowed before he flashed away like a lightning bolt. ¡°?AHHHHHHH!¡± Less than three seconds later, Cain heard that horrible scream of pain, making his blood run cold, pushing him to run even faster. He was burning his Astral Wave like a madman and constantly activating his Light Boots¡¯ ability. ¡°That man already discovered your presence. After he finishes with the Wave Beast, he will come for you. Running will not help since he is several times faster than you. You should think of something quick, brat, or else you will die.¡± Cain heard Apex¡¯s voice and knew he needed to think fast, but there was a problem. He could usually react to a dangerous situation very fast, but right now, fear clouded his mind. What he saw near the waterfall terrified him, and the idea that it could happen to him affected his reasoning. Luckily for Cain, the System Spirit seemed to have recognized his plight and decided to give him a hand. ¡°Members of the Atrox Immortus Race are inclined to inflict intense pain on their opponents. That Wave Beasts will buy you a few seconds, but if you want a chance, you need to give him a prey he wants as much as you.¡± A cold light crossed Cain¡¯s eyes as he heard those words and knew what kind of prey could give him enough time. ¡®Other humans.¡¯ If he guided the Atrox toward another cadet, Cain could obtain enough time to escape. Just like when he decided to kill for the first time, uncertainty appeared in Cain¡¯s eyes, and just like back then, he remembered his father¡¯s words. ¡°What is the point of surviving if you do it full of regret!¡± Cain yelled those words. He did it to reaffirm his heart, as he would never take that path. ¡°Hahaha, well done brat. You are right. People willing to sacrifice the weak and innocent so they can prolong their disgusting lives are worse than garbage!¡± Apex¡¯s voice was full of thrill, but viciousness appeared as he continued. ¡°However, not everybody here is innocent.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes grew cold as he heard that, and there was no hesitation in them this time. He focused on his sense of smell and found the scent he was looking for. He made a sharp turn to the left and ran with everything he had. The muscles on his legs were burning, but he did not care and kept pushing harder. Suddenly, a sense of absolute doom assaulted Cain. He felt a presence about to reach his back. Just as fear was about to freeze his mind, his eyes glowed with red light. Cain felt all the fear vanish, and his mind suddenly heightened, making everything around him move extremely slowly, and mobilizing his Astral Wave became several times easier. He did not know what happened, but that did not matter, as he found a way to survive. He arched his body and turned around as the matrix in the Kinetic Gauntlets shone. By the time he had fully turned, a fist was about to land on his head, but Cain smiled since his attack landed first. ¡°Crack!¡± The sound of bones breaking echoed through the forest as the Atrox received a double Kinetic Blast right in the chest. The Atrox puked blood before being sent flying away, piercing through a tree on his path! Cain did not resist the recoil and instead used it to propel his body away. His mind returned to normal, but there was no time for questions as he continued running. That attack harmed the Atrox, but Cain knew it would only buy him a few moments, nothing more. Luckily, that was all Cain needed, as after jumping past a small river, he found the ones he was looking for. Nira and James were surprised to see Cain appear out of nowhere. Before the duo could react, the youth only showed a cold smile and used his Light Boots to flash away. ¡°That trash got another Wave Artifact!¡± James¡¯ eyes showed his greed, as did Nira. ¡°?Boom!¡± However, both froze the next instant as they heard a small crash behind them. The duo turned their heads and saw a three-meter tall man covered in blade armor. Chapter 25 Chapter 25: Level Cain heard the sound of cries and explosions behind him but did not look back and just continued running. He did not know how long the Atrox would spend with the duo, so he needed to use this time to get as far away as possible. His Astral Wave finally depleted after five more minutes of running, but he kept going forward despite feeling he would pass out from the exhaustion. An hour later, Cain had finally reached his breaking point, and with the last strengths left in him, he climbed a tree before falling asleep. Ten hours later, Cain¡¯s eyes slowly opened. At first, there was drowsiness, but when the memories of what just happened reached his mind, he almost jumped from the branch and focused his senses. Cain calmed only after ensuring he was alone and there was no one in the vicinity. A smile appeared on his face as he looked at his arms and remembered the blow he landed on the Atrox. However, along with that happiness, there was also confusion. Cain did not understand how his mind reached such a heightened state and why his Astral Wave mobilized so smoothly and fast all of a sudden. ¡°Apex?¡± The youth knew that Apex constantly used the [Basic Hacking] to obtain information from the Godslayer Humankind Network, so he hoped there would be some insight into his previous state. ..... ¡°Sorry, brat. Although there are some mentions of your state in the Empire Science Academy, the data I have collected is too shallow. I might come up with an answer after more digging. If I do, you will know.¡± Cain sighed and nodded toward the System Spirit¡¯s words. It seemed he would have to wait. After using some Wave Beasts¡¯ hearts as food and replenishing his Astral Wave, Cain got down from the tree and continued his journey back to the entrance. He did not distract, avoided all fights, and just ran. It took Cain almost one week and a half to race back to the entrance. He was surprised to see many cadets already present, and there was also Vice-Captain Josef standing there. Cain¡¯s appearance drew a lot of attention due to the Wave Artifacts in his arms and legs. Many showed greed, but not even those cadets from Noble Families would dare to do something with Vice-Captain Josef present. Although Cain felt those stares, he did not bother with them. After finding an empty spot to sit down, he began to take Wave Beasts¡¯ hearts to train and eat. Once again, Cain drew attention. Since the cadets all hunted in groups, none of them had Wave Beasts¡¯ hearts left. Some cadets got near Cain to see if they could buy the hearts, but the youth did not even glance at them. He was just too engrossed in his training and had no interest in selling something so beneficial for him. A few days later, Cain body trembled and felt a rush of strength as his Wave Cloak manifested on its own, growing stronger. Vice-Captain Josef turned toward Cain, and a small smile appeared on his face for a second before returning toward his stoic expression. Cain opened his eyes and could not help but smile as he understood what had just happened. ¡®Level 2!¡¯ The eyes of many nobles focused on him as they saw that. Although they could not be sure, they had deduced that Cain entered the trial as a newly advanced Level 1 Wave Warrior. So, for him to advance so fast, his Wave Talent was above Tier 3. Cain couldn¡¯t care less about the gazes of the cadets and immediately commanded the system to scan him. ¡®System, scan me!¡¯ [Scanning Vessel ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 2 Wave Warrior) Linage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Low Tier 4 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.19 Agility: 0.25 Vitality: 0.22 Wave: O.21] ¡®Awesome!¡¯ Cain was thrilled with his advance and improved stats. ¡®Had I been this strong at the start of the trial, my gains would have been much higher.¡¯ Cain did not linger too much on those thoughts since they did not matter. He closed his eyes and continued training. While the feeling of strength was great, he did not forget the immense might of the Atrox and how close he came to losing his life. After a few days, a metallic sound woke Cain out of his training, and he saw how the gates out of the Danger Zone were opening, and many soldiers crossed it. Most of the cadets were already here, and soldiers would explore the Danger Zone to catch the Wave Beasts and warriors of the Dark Races still alive, and they would also pick up the corpses of the dead cadets. Cain stood up with a smile on his face. He had grown a lot in this trial, both in body and mind. Just as he was about to reach the open gates, he heard a voice that shocked him. ¡°YOU!¡± That voice belonged to someone Cain was sure was dead. He turned around and saw Nira¡¯s frail figure. Large wounds were all over her body, and her right arm was gone. ¡®Fuck!¡¯ Chapter 26 Chapter 26: Atone for my sins Nira¡¯s pitiful figure did not just call Cain¡¯s attention, as everybody from the cadets to the soldiers on their way to explore the Danger Zone, and even Vice-Captain Josef turned to her. The first one to walk toward Nira was a handsome young man with pale skin, dark hair, and yellow eyes. Despite his somewhat thin appearance, there was a powerful aura around him. He was not alone as a group of nine cadets followed behind him. Most were nobles, but at least two came from a humbler background. ¡°What happened, Lady Nira.¡± The man¡¯s voice was soft yet possessed a powerful sense of authority. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that pale youth. He had already scanned him, and after the red-eyed man, he was the strongest of this batch of cadets. Unlike Cain¡¯s cautious gaze, Nira¡¯s eyes glowed with happiness as she saw that pale youth. However, that happiness vanished as soon as she focused again on Cain. That was visible to all, and clearly, there was a story between them. ..... ¡°It is all that man¡¯s fault. He led an Atrox toward James and me. He did not even give us a warning before running away, leaving us to face that monster on our own.¡± Nira began sobbing before throwing herself toward the pale youth¡¯s chest. Still, that did not mean she would stop speaking. ¡°We only met once, but he left after we refused to take him as part of our team. How could we have imagined that he would be so spiteful to do such a thing? Poor James used all his strength to give me a few seconds to escape. He is now...¡± Nira began to cry at that moment. Although she did not finish her sentence, everybody could imagine James¡¯ fate. Cain¡¯s eyes grew incredibly cold as he heard Nira¡¯s words. It was alright if she told everybody about him guiding the Atrox to them. He felt no regret or shame for his actions, but her lies made him furious. ¡°I am Zamir Jarken, third son of Count Jarken. You use fellow humans as a shield against members of the Dark Races. There can be nothing more despicable than that. How do you plan to atone for your sins?¡± Zamir¡¯s face carried a sense of rightful indignation, making all the other cadets look at him as some sort of hero. Cain froze for a moment as he heard Zamir¡¯s words. This one demanded that he atone for his sins, declaring him guilty without even bothering to listen to his side of the story. The other nobles remained silent, but it was clear with whom they would side. As for the few commoners present, they all stick with their groups. Vice-Captain Josef saw all this and did not interfere. Still, his eyes had a profound light as he waited for everything to play out. Cain could explain everything that happened with the duo. How Nira and James ambushed him when he fought a Hell Devil and almost killed him. The [A.I. Chip Module] recorded everything through the [Basic Data Gathering and Analysis] tool. Nevertheless, as Cain saw all the scornful stares the other cadets gave him, he knew it would be futile. ¡®They have already found me guilty. No matter what I say, even if I show definite proof of Nira¡¯s wrongdoing, they would just twist the truth and turn it against me.¡¯ As realization reached his mind, all the growing doubt and fear in his heart vanished, and Cain stared back at all those cadets with nothing but calm in his eyes. Zamir¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that look. He secretly wanted Cain to rebel and yell at them, allowing him to display his diplomatic skills to all those watching, but things didn¡¯t go his way. ¡°Victor, go and arrest him,¡± Zamir spoke to a cadet in the back of his group. The one that received the command was a tall youth, almost one head higher than the others, with commoner clothes. Despite his size, he was among the weakest as he was still a Level 1 Essence Wave Warrior. ¡°I?¡± Victor unconsciously shook his head as he heard that command. Cain was a Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior. How could he possibly handle someone like that? Of course, the tall youth did not dare to refute. He knew very well what Zamir was capable of. ¡°You are carrying out my orders. Anyone that goes against them is my enemy. Do it, and you might get his boots.¡± Zamir did not hide his words and made sure everybody heard them. He displayed his managing skills and how those who followed him could benefit, even if they were commoners. As soon as the tall Victor heard those words, all his reluctance was pushed away by greed. He almost ran toward Cain, fearing someone else would take his job. As he was about to grab Cain, a nasty smile appeared on his face. The fact both came from a similar background did not matter, as the only thing in his mind right now were the boots. He was sure that this one would not dare to resist after Zamir¡¯s words. The moment Victor put his hand over Cain¡¯s shoulder, his entire body froze as he saw two cold eyes that seemed capable of piercing his soul. Before Victor could do anything, Cain grabbed his head and blasted him against the ground. That scene shocked everybody, and before they could even process it, Cain stamped Victor¡¯s chest, making this one puke blood, before unleashing his Wave Cloak. ¡°You want me to atone for my sins? Make me!¡± Cain spoke those words and put more pressure on Victor¡¯s chest. Cain¡¯s savagery shocked everybody. Only Vice-Captain Josef could see the calmness behind those actions. Had Cain truly lost control, he would activate his Wave Cloak before stomping on Victor¡¯s chest, which would have resulted in the death of this one. Zamir was taken back by the sudden events, and things only grew worse as he saw how all the cadets turned toward him for guidance. Everything went smoothly up to this point, but now that an unexpected change had occurred, he did not know what to do. Just like one would expect from someone so young and inexperienced as Zamir, he chose violence in the first setback. Unfortunately for Zamir, Cain spoke before he could do anything. ¡°Take one step forward, and I shatter his ribcage.¡± Cain put even more pressure on Victor¡¯s chest, making agony appear on this one¡¯s face. ¡°Of course, if you don¡¯t care about the fate of the man following your orders, go ahead.¡± Cain knew that he could not defeat Zamir in a physical contest, so he targeted this one¡¯s ego and reputation. He hit the right spot since Zamir froze and dared not move a single step. The other nobles looked at the soldiers in the nearby area, but none of them dared to move without Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s orders. Now that Cain had handled the masses, he took a deep breath and was about to talk to Vice-Captain Josef. There was no point in speaking with the other cadets, and he no longer cared about their opinion. Cain had just opened his mouth when his eyes narrowed, and he focused on the trees, only to see the red-eyed youth emerge from them. Large wounds on the red-eyed youth¡¯s body gave everybody an idea of the battles he endured. The worst injuries were a deep cut on his right leg and an ugly bruise on his right shoulder that indicated broken bones. The tense atmosphere shattered when the red-eyed youth appeared due to the shock that assaulted everybody when they saw the body he dragged. It was an Atrox. Chapter 27 Chapter 27: Levi The young man with red eyes resembled a mighty hero, standing there with a stoic expression on his face and the body of an Atrox in his hand. Cain was even more shocked than the others as he recognized the Atrox. It was exactly the one at Level 3 that almost killed him. Zamir¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw the red-eyed youth. He had stood away from this one before as he enjoyed being the center of attention, but now he smiled. The situation was out of his control, but he could not just back down, so Zamir chose to rely on the red-eyed youth¡¯s momentum to handle the situation and pressure Cain into submission. ¡°Brother, it is good that you are here. The situation might seem strange, but what happened...¡± Zamir had just started speaking when the red-eyed youth stopped him. ¡°First of all, don¡¯t call me brother. And second, I heard all of it. Your yelling was hard to ignore.¡± That short exchange enraged Zamir. He was being polite, and yet the red-eyed youth practically insulted him. Had anyone else done that, he would teach them a lesson, but things were not so simple this time. ..... The red-eyed youth calmly walked toward Cain while dragging the Atrox¡¯s body. His face showed nothing, and after Zamir¡¯s fiasco, none of the nobles dared to talk to him. Cain¡¯s breath slowly as he prepared to handle anything. The red-eyed youth was undoubtedly more powerful than him, but that did not mean he would just give up. The distance between the two reduced until they were five meters apart. That length was nothing for Level 2 Astral Wave Warriors, and silence reigned as everybody waited to see what would happen. ¡°My name is Levi. I know for a fact that you did guide the Atrox toward the duo. Could you tell me why you chose those two specifically?¡± Levi¡¯s words shocked all those present. He assured that Cain did indeed guide the Atrox toward Nira and James, but not only was there no sense of rebuke in his words, he even politely asked for an explanation. ¡°Lord Levi, he did...¡± ¡°Speak to me again, and I will break your jaw.¡± Just like with Zamir, Nira could not finish her sentence because Levi interrupted her. However, the red-eyed youth¡¯s behavior toward her was much colder. Levi did not bother to hide his emotions, and his eyes showed evident disgust as he stared at the woman. Nira was surprised by that. She had never met the red-eyed youth, yet this one clearly had a bad impression of her. Despite her anger, she did not dare to antagonize Levi and kept quiet. Cain was surprised by the sudden events. He had already given up on explaining what happened to the other cadets since they would never support him, but since Levi gave him a chance to speak, he took it. ¡°I did guide the Atrox toward them. I needed to use someone to distract that monster, and since they did not have a problem attacking me while I fought a Hell Devil, I chose them.¡± ¡°LIAR!¡± Cain had barely finished speaking when Nira yelled at him. However, before she could continue, she felt Levi¡¯s cold eyes focus on her neck. Levi¡¯s gaze was full of savagery as he stared at Nira, but calm down as he focused on Cain. ¡°Do you have proof that what you say is the truth?¡± Cain nodded toward Levi and sent a file from his [A.I. Chip Module] to the chip of this one. Levi closed his eyes for a moment as he went through the video recorded by Cain that clearly showed Nira and James attacking this one during the fight with the Hell Devil. Once Levi went through the video, he turned toward Nira and sneered. ¡°Hmph. You attacked him before and almost took his life, yet now you are crying because he did something similar to you. I wonder how hypocritical can someone be?¡± Nira froze and saw how the nobles who before looked at her with pity slowly moved away. If Cain had shown the video before, she would have just said it was fake, and the others would have backed her, but no one dared side with her against Levi. She even saw how Zamir let go of her. The pitiful expression on her face vanished, and a poisonous hatred emerged in her eyes. ¡°So what if I use him! He is just a lowly commoner. Die to help someone of a Noble Family like me should be an honor to him. James¡¯ death is all his fault!¡± Everybody was shocked by Nira¡¯s words. Her twisted mentality surprised even the nobles, and all the goodwill they had toward her vanished. Although many of the nobles did indeed see commoners as inferior, none of them would dare to say those words out loud, especially in the military. Commoner made up the bulk of the Imperial Military Force, and many Captains and other higher ranks came from such backgrounds, so Nira¡¯s words severe any path she might have in the military. Many of the commoners felt rage at those words, but the most potent killing intent did not come from them but from Levi. A burning Astral Wave burst out of the red-eyed youth as he stared at Nira, and without saying a word, he walked toward her. Nira froze as she felt that killing intent and saw Levi approaching. All the nobles had already moved away, and there was no way one of the commoners would step up to help her. Luckily for her, someone did intervene, and not even Levi could handle that man. ¡°The Military Academy Secret Trial is over. You are not allowed to harm someone unless it is in self-defense.¡± Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s words reached everybody, and they knew things would not escalate anymore. Levi¡¯s eyes narrowed as he turned around and stared at Josef. Unlike the others, there was a calm smile on the man¡¯s face, showing that the youth¡¯s fierce aura caused nothing on him. Nira took a breath of relief after hearing Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s words, but when Levi focused on her again, this time with a cold smile, she knew something horrible would happen. ¡°I know he led the Atrox toward you because I had been lurking in the shadows waiting for a moment to attack this Level 3 Wave Warrior. I was honestly surprised by the sudden events, but I adapted and chased while remaining hidden. Meaning that I was also there when the Atrox attacked you and that man named James. Do you want me to show everybody what happened during that battle?¡± Levi¡¯s words confused people as they saw Nira¡¯s complexion grow pale. ¡°Please, no.¡± Nira¡¯s plea did not stop Levi. The next second, everybody received an archive through their A.I. Chips. Curiosity made it so that all opened the archive containing a video. In it, the cadets saw how Nira and James fought against the Atrox. At one point, Nira fell to the ground, and James jumped in front of the Atrox to protect her. Instead of showing gratitude, the woman fired a shadow blade toward James¡¯ leg. That allowed Nira to run away, certain that someone would be left behind to entertain the Atrox. That is how the video ended. What happened later, including the battle between Levi and the Atrox, was omitted. The cadets could only assume that James perished and that Levi managed to perform his ambush, allowing him to kill the Atrox. If before the nobles stood away from Nira to not be dragged down with her, now they did it as they could not stand her presence. Chapter 28 Chapter 28: Silver orb Nira did not know what to do. She became an absolute pariah in a second, and no one bothered to hide their scornful looks. ¡°Lord Zamir.¡± Nira attempted to get closer to Zamir, but this one gave him one final look full of disdain and walked away. The woman crumpled to the ground as despair filled her eyes. She was alone, and her life in the military was over before it even started. However, no one cared about her. Those despicable actions and mentality had already pushed both commoners and nobles away. Zamir walked toward Cain with a smile on his face. There was nothing of the scorn he had shown before. He even gave Levi a polite salute when he got near the duo. ¡°I had been deceived. I hope you can forgive my small mistake, but I could not simply ignore the words of a fellow cadet in her times of need. Anyway, you are a proud warrior, so what do you say if you let go of Victor and we get a fresh start? I am sure that a County¡¯s assistance will greatly help someone like you.¡± When the other cadets, soldiers, and even Vice-Captain Josef heard that, they all gave one meaningful look at the duo. Zamir was smart enough to adapt to the circumstances. He apologized while wisely putting all the blame on Nira and even mentioned his County¡¯s assistance, hinting that he could mobilize some of that wealth to help Cain if this one was smart enough. ..... Cain saw Zamir extend his hand, and he knew that if he were to shake it, he would get access to great opportunities. Of course, that would also mean putting himself beneath the scion. There was a broad smile on Zamir¡¯s face as he was sure that Cain would accept his apology and prove to the others he could handle things without the need for violence. ¡°True friendship is valuable because very few are worthy of it.¡± Those words confused Zamir, but Cain did not care as he was reciting some of his father¡¯s teaching. Cain then stared at Zamir¡¯s palm, and a disgusted expression appeared on his face. ¡°What kind of man would I become if I accepted the shallow friendship of someone who a few minutes ago was insulting me.¡± The idea of shaking Zamir¡¯s hand and accepting to become part of this one¡¯s group vanished before it appeared. Cain took his foot out of Victor¡¯s chest, finally allowing the poor cadet to lapse into unconsciousness. He did not do that to quarry favor with Zamir but because he no longer needed to have a hostage. Zamir¡¯s eyes twitched as he saw his hand still extended, yet there was no one to shake it. In all his life, he had never found himself in a situation quite like this one. Even though Zamir¡¯s status was inferior to that of his two older brothers, he was confident that his time in the military would be smooth due to his background. He even dreamed of the moment that his status would rise to the level he could control Jarken County. However, everything went out of control, and whether or not he could recover from this setback was unknown. ¡°You!¡± Zamir yelled as he activated his Wave Cloak and fired a fist toward the one he considered the origin of all his problems, Cain. Cain had predicted that such a thing would happen. That is why he did not deactivate his Wave Cloak. However, a smile appeared on his face as he felt a wind of air reach his back and knew he would not have to act. ¡°Boom.¡± A small blast occurred as Zamir¡¯s punch clashed with Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s palm. All the cadets were surprised to see Vice-Captian Josef move at such striking speed without even needing to activate his Wave Cloak. ¡°I warned you all. None was allowed to harm someone unless it was in legitimized self-defense.¡± ¡°CRACK!¡± The cadets heard Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s words before the sound of broken bones echoed. ¡°AHHHH!¡± Zamir yelled in pain while Vice-Captain Josef shattered the bones on his hand. Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s face showed nothing as he kept squeezing, making the sound of shattering bones louder. The scion fell to the ground, and he did his best to stop tears from rolling down his cheeks. ¡°Rules are something we soldiers take very seriously.¡± Vice-Captain Josef spoke to the cadets as he squeezed Zamir¡¯s fist into a bloody mass. He then focused on Nira, and his eyes grew cold. ¡°Had you and James killed Cain, I would have cut your heads after the trial ended. If you think a measly Viscount could have protected you, you are even more stupid than I thought.¡± Nira trembled when she saw those eyes. She had initially thought nothing would happen to her if she broke the rules because of her background. All the nobles adopted a solemn expression as they reconsidered their understanding of the Imperial Military Force. The weight their background carried around here was much smaller than they thought. Vice-Captain Josef finally let go of Zamir¡¯s hand before turning around and walking toward the gate. ¡°Everybody must gather in an orderly fashion outside the Danger Zone in ten minutes.¡± No one dared to disobey Vice-Captian Josef¡¯s words, and they all walked toward the gate. Some nobles helped Zamir, and a few commoners did the same with Victor. Cain was walking toward the gate when he noticed something coming toward his chest, and he caught it. His eyes narrowed as he saw a silver orb, similar to the ones he found in the Dark Race¡¯s warriors he killed. ¡°The main reason I managed to defeat the Atrox was the severe lung trauma your attack caused on him. I always pay my debts, so that is yours. We are even.¡± Levi said those words to Cain before walking away. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he found the red-eyed youth extremely odd, but he said nothing and stored the orb before walking toward the gate. Chapter 29 Chapter 29: Collapsing Lightning Military Academy Ranking All the cadets gathered outside the Tier 0 Danger Zone and formed orderly following Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s instruction. Even Zamir was not an exception, as the scion was terrified of what would happen if he disobeyed again. Vice-Captain Josef glanced at the cadets and nodded as he saw how the eyes of many had lost their original naivety. ¡°Normally, the first three months in the Imperial Military Academy involve an intense program of martial arts, physical exercise, and Wave Cultivation, but you took the route of the secret trial. However, from now on, you will be together with the rest of the cadets. You will only have three classes for the next three months. They are Military Tactics, Dark Race Assassination, and Wave Mastery. The schedule and other miscellaneous information should have already reached your A.I. Chips.¡± Seeing how Vice-Captain Josef made a slight pause, the cadets acceded their A.I. Chips and saw all that information. ¡°Now, you have access to the Imperial Military Academy Network. You can find our armory, stores, missions, and many other things in it. You can also use it to monitor your Imperial Military Credits.¡± Josef paused again. He even signaled the cadets to enter the Imperial Military Academy Network this time. Cain was excited thinking about all the treasures that the Imperial Military Academy Network might have and immediately accessed it. He wanted to head into the stores directly, but a message appeared when he entered the network. [Welcome Cadet Cain Laurifer to the Imperial Military Academy Network. Please select a code name that will work as your online I.D.] ..... Cain frowned as he heard that message. There was no real problem with it, but what bothered him was that he had always sucked at creating names. It was only after almost a minute of contemplation that Cain¡¯s eyes glowed as a name came to his mind, one he was sure was awesome. ¡®Saint of Killers.¡¯ As soon as Cain chose that name, the robotic voice appeared again in his mind. [Welcome, Saint of Killers, to the Imperial Military Academy Network. ¡ª Primary Interface: -Personal Information -Classes -Stores -Missions ¡ª Imperial Military Credits: 282] Cain took a moment to review the information in the Imperial Military Academy Network. After seeing the Wave Artifacts, he was surprised by their variety and price. The military credits obtained by killing all those Wave Beasts and Dark Race Warriors in the Military Academy Secret Military Trial were multiplied by a factor of ten, meaning what he gained in those three months of killing was just 28.2. And the cheapest Wave Artifact that Cain could find in the stores was worth thirty Imperial Military Credits. Out of curiosity, he looked for his Kinetic Gauntlets. To his shock, they were worth 950 Imperial Military Credits! To buy them through the store, Cain would have to kill thirty times the amount of Dark Race Wave Warriors he did inside the Military Academy Secret Trail. ¡®No wonder commoners find it almost impossible to get Wave Artifacts. They are incredibly expensive.¡¯ ¡°Brat, why did you choose the word Saint for your I.D.?¡± Apex¡¯s voice woke Cain up from his thoughts, and that question made him frown. ¡®Can¡¯t you read my thoughts?¡¯ ¡°I can, but there is a moment when an idea comes into birth, and even I can not reach that level of precognition. I want to know what impulsed or inspired you to use that word. Was it a feeling or something else?¡± Cain felt a level of seriousness in Apex¡¯s words that confused him greatly. The Absolute Life Form System seemed to be a miracle of the universe, and as the System Spirit, Apex was also a unique entity. For him to act this way due to a word was strange. Although Cain was curious about the reason behind Apex¡¯s reaction, he was sure the System Spirit would not reveal that information. So, he chose just to tell the reason. ¡®Honestly, it just sounded cool.¡¯ ¡°I see.¡± Apex only said that before remaining silent, leaving Cain full of questions. Cain kept exploring the Imperial Military Academy Network when suddenly, a new message appeared. [Saint of Killer, upload all the documentation regarding your killing inside the Military Academy Secret Trial.] Cain followed the instructions, uploading all the videos and pictures to the Imperial Military Academy Network. Of course, he only showed the final blow. There was no need to reveal any more of his abilities. The [A.I. Chip Module] uploaded the videos extremely fast, and less than a minute later, Cain saw a new section appear in the Imperial Military Academy Network. [Collapsing Lightning Military Academy Ranking] Cain selected it, and a screen with several names appeared. [Collapsing Lightning Military Academy Ranking: -1. Blood Inferno (864) -2. Ice Lotus (856) ... -9. Saint of Killers (282) -10. Beasts Master (264)] Cain was a little surprised to see his name in the ranking, but after some thought, it made sense. Unlike the others, he did not have to share his Imperial Military Credits, and thanks to his Wave Artifacts and the [A.I. Chip Module], his killing speed was pretty fast. Vice-Captain Josef saw that everybody had enough time to go through the Imperial Military Academy Network and watch the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy Ranking. ¡°All of you should have already seen the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy Ranking. The cadets with the ten highest accumulations of Imperial Military Credits are in it. Each month, those in the ranking will get 500 Imperial Military Credits, with the top three getting an additional 500.¡± Desire appeared in all the cadets¡¯ eyes as they heard those words. 500 Imperial Military Credits was a lot, and when they read the name at the N¡ã1 position, they all turned toward Levi. Although their batch of cadets was not the only one taking the Military Academy Secret Trial, they assumed Levi to be Blood Inferno due to the fiery nature of his Astral Wave. Levi felt the gazes of the cadet but showed nothing. He had the strength to back up his position. ¡°You have all the information needed at your disposal for your stay in the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy. Use the time to familiarize yourself with the city if you wish. Classes will start in two days.¡± Vice-Captain Josef said those final words before turning around and leaving the cadets on their own. Chapter 30 Chapter 30: Fiend Devourer All the cadets had already formed groups among themselves during the Military Academy Secret Trial, so they remained in them. Even those commoners who were unhappy with how things went inside the trial preferred to stay together. There were only three people that were utterly alone. One of them was Levi, whose powerful and hostile aura kept people away. The other was Nira, who was a complete pariah. And the last one was Cain, who had no intention of making friends with the people who had rallied against him. Cain¡¯s experience with Jonathan had taught him a harsh lesson, and although he did not believe everybody was the same, he would not offer his friendship easily. Since he had nothing to handle with the cadets, Cain read the information regarding his residence and headed to it. He took the chance to explore the surroundings on his way but did not find anything remarkable. It made sense when he got a better understanding of the city. This massive metallic structure built with a Titan Tower at its center was the Lightning Imperial Fort. As for the place where Cain and the other cadets stay, that was an isolated section. The youth were not stuck together with the rest of the army. ..... Cain reached the building where he would stay after almost an hour of walking. It was nothing impressive, and the entrance led directly to a series of elevators. Less than two minutes later, Cain reached his apartment. It was very simple, with a bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. Of course, it was a palace compared to his home in the slums. The first thing Cain did was head into his bedroom, where the drone that took his belongings before the trial started was supposed to be. ¡®Good, nothing happened to it.¡¯ A smile appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he took out the picture of his father. He went to an empty cabinet and formed a small shrine, similar to the one he had in his house. ¡°I am sorry for spending so many days without showing respect, Sir. However, the Military Academy Secret Trial was not a place where I could get distracted.¡± After speaking those words, Cain bowed to the altar for five minutes before standing up. Cain went to the bathroom, took a shower, ate some food that was not raw meat, and then collapsed in his bed. Those three months inside the trial had forced him to spend every second on high alert, and now that he finally relaxed, his mind needed proper rest. It was ten in the morning when Cain finally woke up. He slept for roughly twelve hours, a lot considering his powerful vitality. ¡°Brat, you have rested enough. It is time to focus on your next step.¡± Apex¡¯s words made Cain focused, and a serious expression appeared on his face as he went to the living room and ordered his belongings. ¡°I have five Wave Artifacts. The Kinetic Gauntlets and Light Boots are very useful for me. The other three use Essence Wave, so I should sell them.¡± Cain had killed five Dark Race¡¯s Wave Warriors inside the Military Academy Secret Trial, two Abyssal Demons, and three Hell Devils. He got his gauntlets and boots from the Abyssal Demons, and from the Hell Devils, he got a sword, dagger, and armguards. ¡°You can directly sell the Wave Artifacts you don¡¯t want to the Imperial Military Force, and you will get fifty percent of their selling price.¡± Cain could not help but frown when he saw that. If he sold them that way, he would lose a lot of Imperial Military Credits. ¡°There is a second path we can take. That is through barter with someone else in Lightning Imperial Fort.¡± ¡°Oh, is that legal?¡± Although the idea of barter interested Cain, he was not willing to risk angering the hegemon that was the Imperial Military Force. He knew that Wave Artifacts were important for the military and did not know what type of market you could find outside of the Imperial Military Force. ¡°We can consider it a gray area. While barter is somewhat shady due to the massive amount of stolen goods moved in that way, we will be fine if we don¡¯t meddle with those highly regulated. The most important part is to find a reliable broker in the Godslayer Humankind Network, which I already did while you slept.¡± Apex¡¯s explanation handled many of Cain¡¯s worries, and after a moment, he chose to go down that path. The duo soon found someone interested in the dagger and armguards and managed to exchange them for full body armor. As for the Fire Sword, he kept it for the time being. Cain deposited the two Medium Bronze Wave Artifacts in the drone and put in a series of coordinates before letting it out of the building through his window. If everything goes well, it should return in a couple of hours with the armor. After handling that, Cain took out the silver orb that Levi had handed to him. He had made a quick scan and knew it did not contain a Wave Artifact but something else. Cain used the [A.I. Chip Module], and soon a virtual screen appeared in front of him. [Fiend Devourer: Astral Rebirth Path of Power Cultivation Technique. -A total of ten levels. The first nine levels correspond to Astral Wave Warrior Level 1 to Level 9. The tenth level focuses on the advance to Wave Champion. -Allow the user¡¯s digestive system to consume flesh and blood of Dark Race¡¯s Wave Warriors to strengthen the body and extract Wave for cultivation. -If branded, the device will transfer the cultivation technique¡¯s information to the A.I. Chip¡¯s database. The unauthorized distribution of this information is considered treason and punishable by death.] Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he saw that information, and in the next second, a smile appeared on his face. Of all the things the silver orb could have contained, a cultivation technique was the best. Chapter 31 Chapter 31: Wave Cultivation Of everything available in the Imperial Military Academy Network Interface¡¯s stores, the most expensive was not the Wave Artifacts but the techniques, with cultivation techniques reaching a sky-high price. After taking a moment to get over the excitement, Cain went into the network and searched for the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique, and the price shocked him. It was worth 3500 Imperial Military Credits. Almost four times more than a High Bronze Wave Artifact like his Kinetic Gauntlets! Until now, Cain had been using the Soldier Cultivation Technique, which only guided his cultivation up to Level 4. That severely limited him, although, to be fair, going from Level 3 to Level 4 was a significant bottleneck, which would mean the end of most people¡¯s Path of Power. Cain was sure he wanted this new cultivation technique, but just as he was about to brand it and access its information, he heard Apex¡¯s voice. ¡°Not so fast!¡± Cain froze as he heard Apex¡¯s voice and did not dare to brand the silver orb. ..... ¡°What happened? Is there a hidden threat?¡± As he got over the shock, coldness appeared in Cain¡¯s eyes as he guessed that Levi had left a trap in the silver orb. ¡°Don¡¯t let your imagination fly, brat. There is no trap or anything else inside the silver orb. It is just that I want to try something. Wait for a moment.¡± Cain felt waves after waves of electrogenic energy emerge from his hand and enter the silver orb. It went on for five minutes before he heard Apex again. ¡°Ahhh, I guess it would not be this easy.¡± Apex¡¯s words confused Cain, but this one clarified things the next second. ¡°I wanted to use [Basic Hacking] to get the information about the cultivation technique without the need to brand it. That way, you could sell it later on. Unfortunately, the [A.I. Chip Module] lacks the strength to do it. If your soul force were higher, things might be different.¡± When Cain heard that, he also sighed. Although he knew hacking the silver orb should break some rules, it harmed no one, and no one would find out. If that was the case, why not do it, and get an extra 1750 Imperial Military Credits? ¡°I could use Destiny Force to temporarily improve the might of the [A.I. Chip Module], which should be enough to hack the silver orb. It would only cost three points.¡± Cain smiled for a moment before sighing again. ¡°I only have 0.2 points.¡± ¡°Your understanding of destiny is still too shallow, brat. Check out your Destiny Force.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened when he heard that, and without hesitation, he commanded the system to show him his Destiny Force. [Destiny Force: 16.7] ¡°How did my destiny grow so much!? I did not kill anyone, improve my talent or get a high upgrade in my cultivation.¡± Destiny was too ethereal, and even after Apex¡¯s explanation, Cain still failed to understand it truly. ¡°Brat, you survived the Military Academy Secret Trial, stood firm against all those other cadets drawing the attention of influential people, obtained an excellent cultivation technique, and gained fame through the Collapsin Lightning Military Academy Ranking. Something would be wrong with the universe if your destiny did not improve after all that.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened as a flash of enlightenment appeared in them. Destiny was much more than just brute power. ¡°Now, do you want to spend three points of Destiny Force to hack the silver orb?¡± There was no hesitation in Cain¡¯s mind as he accepted that trade. Although he needed to save Destiny Force to get rid of his bloodline¡¯s flaw, [Basic Genetic Suppression] cost fifty points, so he would rather get the 1750 Imperial Military Credits now. There was no point in saving wealth if he perished before he could use it. ¡°Do it.¡± [Vessel wants to spend three points of Destiny Force to temporarily enhance [A.I. Chip Module]?] The robotic voice of the Absolute Life Form System appeared in Cain¡¯s mind, and as soon as this one nodded, his Destiny Force diminished by three points. The next moment, the electromagnetic force that emerged from his palm grew exponentially more potent. Apex hacked the silver orb and transferred all the information into Cain¡¯s [A.I. Chip Module]. Cain did not lose time and immediately started analyzing the information. The introduction was somewhat similar to the Soldier Cultivation Technique, but this one was much more detailed and profound. The first rank of Wave Cultivation took the name of Wave Warrior. At this rank, the Body Rebirth Path of Power and Essence Evolution Path of Power follow similar routes. From levels 1 to 3, the Wave Cultivator would draw Life Wave into their Sacred Organs, refine it, and then use it to form meridians. Those meridians will emerge from the Rebirth Heart in the case of those following the Astral Rebirth Path of Power and from the Evolution Core for those that took the Essence Evolution Path of Power. The meridians will encompass all the thorax viscera and work as a circulatory system for Wave, just like veins and arteries with blood. A Wave Cultivator only needed to supply Life Wave to their Sacred Organs, which would handle the meridians¡¯ formation on their own up to Level 3. However, to advance to Level 4, the Wave Cultivator had to guide the meridians and make it so that they penetrated inside the bones. That process was incredibly complicated, and only those with a solid foundation could take it since weak meridians could never achieve that feat. After your meridians have penetrated the bones, to enter Level 5, you must brach them and make it so that they reach the muscles. Once you enter Level 6, your meridians would have fully pierced your skin, allowing the distribution of your Wave from the Sacred Organ to the outside many times faster. Next came Level 7, which involved branching your meridians again, generating an entirely new set that would originate in your skin and return to your Sacred Organ. At that point, your entire body automatically drew Life Wave from the surroundings, making your recovery speed much faster. At Level 7, a Wave Warrior could try to evolve to the next rank and become a Wave Champion. The amount of power they have is extraordinary, with some achieving supersonic speed. When Cain read the last part, he was shocked. Even the most modest estimate of supersonic speed would mean that someone could move 343 meters per second. The Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique had two more levels for Wave Warrior. You did not need to take them, and entering them was even more challenging than evolving into a Wave Champion, but they would help you solidify your foundation. After increasing his knowledge about cultivation, Cain focused on the uniqueness of the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique. Chapter 32 Chapter 32: I am sorry Cain adopted a meditate position and began to train in the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique. He would have to start from the first level of the cultivation technique despite being already a Level 2 Wave Warrior. Of course, the process would be much faster since his cultivation was higher. The Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique taught him how to make his meridians wider and thicker, allowing them to contain more Astral Wave and for this one to flow faster. That, of course, translated into a higher amount of Wave needed for each level, but that is where the uniqueness of the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique came into action. It allowed humans to consume flesh and blood from Dark Races¡¯ Wave Warriors and obtained refined Astral or Essence Wave from them. Cain followed the instructions of the cultivation technique and gathered his Astral Wave inside his stomach, making it revolve faster and faster. Once the Astral Wave reached a temperature that made Cain feel his intestine was ablaze, he took something from his military backpack. ..... He took not a heart but a container where all the blood dripping from them had gathered thanks to the backpack¡¯s special filters. There was no need to use something so packed with Astral Wave like the heart for the first part. Cain felt sick when he first consumed that blood, but that burning Astral Wave purified it. Soon the new energy reached the meridian formed during Level 1, improving them. Other than eating and sleeping, Cain did nothing else until it was time to go to his first class. He was about to leave when he noticed the drone waiting for him in the corner of his room. ¡®The armor!¡¯ His training had engrossed him so much that he almost forgot about the armor. He opened the drone and found a black orb almost twice larger than the one containing his Kinetic Gauntlets. Without hesitation, he accessed the information inside the Wave Artifact. [Wave Artifact branded through A.I. Chip Module. Displaying information. ¡ª Name: Nullity Armor Grade: High Bronze Details: Artifact meant for Astral Wave Warriors. Able to enhance Wave¡¯s density around the body, improving physical defenses. Active Ability: -Nullity: By consuming significant amounts of Astral Wave, the armor can project a force field capable of nullifying a percentage of the strength behind an attack by Wave Warriors. Attacks with Level 3 battle power would find 85% of their damage nullified. Attacks with Level 5 battle power would find 35% of their damage nullified. Attacks with Level 7 battle power would find 12% of their damage nullified.] Cain smiled as he sent his Astral Wave into the black orb, making this one melt before reaching his back and forming a metallic structure protecting his spine. That was its inactive state, but it would take less than a second to be ready for battle. It did not take long for Cain to exit his home, and then he followed the instructions through the [A.I. Chip Module] to reach the building where the class would take place. The building was an auditorium, and many cadets were already seated. Cain looked around and noticed that many of the cadets that took the Military Academy Secret Trial with him were in the auditorium. There were around two hundred people in total, and there were none that did not manifest a dangerous aura. ¡®I see, so we were divided according to our skill. I guess it makes sense. After all, it would be pointless for someone who had yet to enter Level 1 Wave Warrior to have the same classes as me.¡¯ He noticed that most people were in groups, but some sat alone. Like in the secret trial, Levi¡¯s aura rejected those around him, and while the cadets glanced at him from time to time, none dared to get closer. Cain found an empty seat in an area without many cadets and sat down. He did not think of sitting beside Levi since even if he had a good impression of this one, calling it a friendship would be an overstatement. All of a sudden, Cain noticed an uproar in the auditorium as everybody focused on the entrance. He also did it, and what he saw shocked him. At the entrance stood a beautiful woman. She had a small face, sky-blue eyes, and short white hair. There was not a question in Cain¡¯s mind that the woman was the most gorgeous he had ever seen in his life. ¡®Fuck!¡¯ Cain almost yelled that word as he felt his blood burning. His emotional instability did not just affect him when he was full of wrath. Lust could also do the trick. He rose from his seat so fast that it almost sent it flying away, drawing everybody¡¯s attention. The woman also turned to Cain, and when she saw those eyes full of unrestrained lust, a monstrous coldness appeared on her face. She was not just a pretty face. Anyone who thought that would surely regret it. Cain felt a powerful desire to jump toward the woman, but before taking a step, he bit his tongue with so much strength that blood filled his mouth. The pain allowed Cain to regain his focus, but his previous actions had already made a ruckus. Many men looked at him with mockery, while the women showed disgust. Those gazes reminded Cain of his time in school, but instead of feeling depressed, a smile appeared on his face. ¡®I have grown.¡¯ Unlike in school, he did not ignore those eyes full of disdain. There was no need since they could not affect him. However, Cain soon focused, and a stern expression appeared as he approached the woman. The woman¡¯s coldness did not vanish, and she saw how Cain stopped ten feet away from her. Cain looked at her directly before bowing and shouting so loud that his voice echoed through the entire auditorium. ¡°I am sorry for my rude behavior!¡± Chapter 33 Chapter 33: Wave Champion ¡°I am sorry for my rude behavior!¡± Those words echoed through the entire auditorium, and everybody heard them clearly. The one most surprised by those words was the beautiful girl. It was normal for men to lust over her. Even when they did their best to hide it, she always knew it. Of course, once they faced the girl¡¯s cold and indomitable aura, they would shrink and remain silent. Some would apologize when caught, but they always did it in secrecy away from the eyes of the public, and even then, it was clear they had a hidden agenda. Never before had she encountered someone like Cain who would apologize in public and whose words were full of sincerity. There was no hidden meaning, nor was he trying to get closer to her through them. He sincerely regretted his rude behavior and immediately apologized. ..... A wisp of interest appeared in the girl¡¯s eyes as she saw how Cain straightened his body and turned around. Cain apologized to the woman because he was sure being stared at like a piece of meat must have been aggravating. His father always told him that a true man recognized his mistakes and did his best to fix them. After returning to his seat, Cain felt that the eyes of everybody remained in him, and he allowed some of his bloodline¡¯s wildness to emerge. ¡°What the fuck are you looking at!?¡± Those imposing words and Cain¡¯s savagery made most cadets look away. Of course, some powerful scions remained focused on him, like Zamir, but Cain did not back down. ¡°Hahahaha!¡± A burst of laughter broke the tense atmosphere in the auditorium, and everybody saw how Levi stood up from his seat and approached Cain. ¡°Is this seat taken?¡± Cain was slightly surprised by Levi¡¯s actions, but since there was no reason to say no, he just shook his head. Levi sat down and stretched his hand toward Cain, to which this one responded, and they shook them. The duo seemed about to speak when something that drew surprise in the entire auditorium happened. The duo felt how the cadets¡¯ gazes focused on them, but after a moment, they saw it was actually on the beautiful girl that had just sat at Cain¡¯s left. She did not say a word and just sat there, completely ignoring the stares of the rest of the cadets. However, she did look at Cain and Levi after a moment. ¡°What, do you two have a problem with me sitting here?¡± Cain and Levi immediately shook their heads. They had no reason to reject her. It was just that they were surprised since they had never spoken before and were sure that the actions of the first had offended her. Before any more chatter or commotion could happen in the auditorium, everybody saw a skinny middle-aged man approach the podium. As soon as he did, a giant virtual screen appeared above him. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that middle-aged man. He could feel an immense power inside that skinny body, much greater than his. ¡°My name is Wink, and I will be your teacher for Wave Mastery. I will start with some basics and explain the main difference between those that follow the Astral Rebirth Path of Power and the Essence Evolution Path of Power.¡± Wink had just finished speaking when a noble youth began to shout. ¡°What do you think you are doing? We all took private lessons before coming here and learned about the basics. What is the point of wasting time on them!?¡± Many other cadets surrounded the scion that shouted, and there was a smug smile on his face. Clearly, he wanted to draw attention, but things didn¡¯t go as he expected. Wink did not show anger, nor did he raise his voice. He only lifted a finger and aimed at the scion. ¡°AHHHHH!¡± The scion began to cry the next second, as a bloody hole appeared on his shoulder. Terror, shock, and awe appeared in the eyes of all the cadets as they saw that, or more accurately, they did not see it. None of the cadets saw the attack. Their eyes only perceived Wink pointing at the scion¡¯s shoulder before a bloody hole appeared in it. Their hearts grew cold as they imagined what would have happened if the middle-aged man had pointed at the youth¡¯s head. Cain was equally shocked as the other cadets, but he saw how Levi and the cold beauty by his side reacted differently. Levi saw the curiosity in Cain¡¯s eyes and sent a message through his A.I. Chip. [User Levi Inferno wants to establish a communication channel. Does Vessel accept?] Cain immediately accepted, and the next second, he heard Levi¡¯s voice in his mind through the [A.I. Chip Module]. ¡°For someone to accurately teach Wave Warriors about Wave Mastery, that person could not be in the same rank.¡± Although Levi did not say the words, Cain understood their meaning, and a solemn expression appeared on his face as he stared at Wink. That skinny middle-aged man was a monster that could live for hundreds of years and tear down Old World¡¯s skyscrapers with his bare hands. The reason no one saw that attack was simple. It moved faster than sound. If that middle-aged man wanted, he could kill anyone here with a wave of his hand. ¡®?A Wave Champion!¡¯ Chapter 34 Chapter 34: Four Wave Arts ¡°Those who interrupt me will be disciplined. There will be time for questions at the end of the class. Until then, remain quiet.¡± Wink spoke with a lazy voice, but no one dared to utter a single word in his presence. Cain¡¯s eyes could not help but glow as he saw the change in the auditorium. That display of power was better than any speech. ¡°Now, the basics about the Astral Rebirth Path and Essence Evolution Path of Power.¡± The virtual screen above Wink showed two identical humanoid figures. However, one had Wave emerging from his Rebirth Heart while the other emerged from the Evolution Core. ¡°Astral Wave is known for its brute power and the incredible degree to which it can temper the mortal body. It not only improves your offense and defense but also grants immense stamina and regenerations abilities.¡± The virtual screen focused on the man with a dark purple aura. Everybody saw simulations where this one destroyed huge buildings with his hands and resisted the might of tornadoes and other natural disasters with nothing but his bare body. ¡°Those following this path can fight for much longer than their Essence Evolution counterparts. Wounds that could prove deadly for an Essence Wave Warrior would only leave the Astral Wave Warrior temporarily incapacitated. ..... The Empire Science Academy stated that Astral Wave Cultivators are stronger than Essence Wave Cultivators. Of course, that is during the battlefield, and in a one-on-one battle, things are not so simple.¡± Next, the virtual screen focused on the humanoid with the sky-blue aura. ¡°People who follow the Essence Evolution Path of Power have an easier path than those that follow the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. For starters, our talent doesn¡¯t need to depend on our Lineage. We can constantly improve it through several methods, the simplest being the perception and understanding of the elements and natural phenomena.¡± On the virtual screen, the cadets saw how the humanoid stood in the center of a wildfire, and soon, his Essence Wave began to burn with the same intensity while at the same time growing mightier. ¡°Essence Wave lacks the physical enhancement and vitality of Astral Wave, but it improves our connection with the Wave in its raw state, allowing us to comprehend it. Not to mention that Essence Wave can mutate into different powers and elements with little effort, unlike Astral Wave. There is also the fact that Essence Wave Cultivation can use it to fire long-distance attacks, something highly complex for Astral Wave Cultivators.¡± That information was something almost every present already knew but was new for Cain. Both Paths of Power had unique qualities, and depending on how you use them, it would determine the battle¡¯s outcome. Thinking that an Astral Wave Warrior could defeat an Essence Wave Warrior as long as they were at the same level was extremely naive. Cian saw how the virtual screen above Wink changed for the second time, and now, the humanoids began to fight. They stood one hundred meters apart. When the battle started, the Essence Wave Cultivator immediately began to shoot fireballs while keeping the distance between him and the opponent. The Essence Wave Cultivator initially restrained the Astral Wave Cultivator, forcing this one to dodge the fireballs while shrinking the distance. It was hard at the beginning, and some attacks landed, leaving ugly burn wounds. The Astral Wave Cultivator persevered and reduced the distance to less than three meters. That was nothing, and he could send a blow with ease. However, the Essence Wave Cultivator stumped the ground at the last second, generating a large wall of fire in front of him that rose for more than ten meters. Unfortunately for the Essence Wave Cultivator, the Astral Wave Cultivator lunged past the wall, granting him horrible injuries but also giving him the chance to land a devastating blow. The Essence Wave Cultivator could do nothing, and a punch carrying a horrible power landed square on his chest, sending him flying away while puking blood. ¡°As you can see, the battle¡¯s outcome was not determined by their Path of Power but by their tenacity. Had the Astral Wave Cultivator not dared to cross the wall of fire, the Essence Wave Cultivator would have had time to put distance between them and give the final blow.¡± Wink gave the class a moment to process his words before carrying on. ¡°For those that follow the Astral Rebirth Path of Power, you must keep in your mind the word foundation. As for those that follow the Essence Evolution Path of Power, remember that the key to advance is your perception.¡± After explaining the basics, Wink again modified the virtual screen, and four humanoids appeared this time. ¡°Now I will explain the Four Wave Arts. You have already come in contact with these arts, and they will accompany you forever. Even god-like life forms like Titan must train them. I am talking about Wave Cloak, Wave Burst, Wave Focus, and Wave Transmutation.¡± Chapter 35 Chapter 35: Wave Cloak Cain¡¯s attention reached a peak as he heard Wink¡¯s description. He already practiced Wave Cloak and Wave Burst in the Military Academy Secret Trial, but his understanding of Wave Focus and Wave Transmutation was almost null. ¡°First, I will start with Wave Cloak. You all understand it as releasing our Wave out of our Sacred Organs before forming a protective mantle around our bodies. Practically everybody who becomes a Level 1 Wave Warrior knows how to deploy this art. According to the Empire Science Academy, the reason for that is a genetically specified latent memory, similar to the one in birds that allow them to fly.¡± Many in the auditorium could not help but open their eyes as they heard that information. The last part regarding the genetic factor was something some scions from lower Nobles Families were unaware of. The virtual screen above Wink focused on one humanoid, who unleashed Wave Cloak. It manifested as a flaming colorless aura. ¡°First of all, the most basic and primordial training of Wave Cloak is to make it evenly distributed around the body and condense it. That is called Synergy Flow.¡± As soon as Wink spoke those words, the Wave Cloak in the humanoid stopped its erratic movements. Slowly, it began to rotate evenly around the body while condensing, reducing its length. ¡°In that state, not only are our Wave defensive capabilities improved, but the amount we needed to maintain Wave Cloak active is lesser, allowing us to fight for more time.¡± ..... After those words, the screen above Wink showed a melee battle between a humanoid that mastered Synergy Flow and one that did not. The victor was obvious, but the fact that the first overwhelmed the other surprised many. ¡°The second training of Wave Cloak is called Free Flow. It allows our Wave to lose its defined state, letting it flow freely. This exercise enables us to push our Wave to its limits, slowly improving its quantity and thickness, despite not having improved our cultivation. Think of it as body training, when once the muscle is pushed to the limit and allowed to recover, it will grow larger despite the number of muscle fibers not changing.¡± Unlike before, the screen this time did not change, and everybody saw how Wink¡¯s Wave Cloak manifested. It was sky-blue, and the amount of Essence Wave in it was roughly that of a Level 4 Wave Warrior. It was clear that the middle-aged man was not showing his true power. The one thing that drew the cadets¡¯ attention was how dense and evenly distributed the Essence Wave was. ¡°It is better to show it in person if you want to understand the battle use of Free Flow.¡± Wink said nothing else, and his Wave Cloak lost its defined state, transforming into a fog that covered the entire auditorium. All the cadets frowned since the Essence Wave in that fog state exerted tremendous pressure on them. Similar to the pressure of being at the bottom of a river. Their bodies felt incredibly uncomfortable, and things only worsened as Wink began unleashing more of his Essence Wave. Soon it reached the point where the cadets had to trigger their Wave Cloak to resist, and that was all they could do. Fighting in that state was impossible. Some of the cadets failed to control their nausea and puked. Luckily small drones would come and pick it up as soon as it happened. Wink retracted his Essence Wave after a minute. By then, all the cadets had cold sweat running through their backs. They were more than two hundred so-called geniuses, but Wink could have killed them without moving a muscle. That showed the power of a Wave Champion and the might of Free Flow. ¡°Free Flow is also an exercise all of you should master. Not only will it improve your Wave, but its use on the battlefield and against crowds is phenomenal.¡± Wink gave the cadets a few minutes to rest as he saw that some almost fell unconscious. Had he continued for longer, there was a good chance he would have killed them. After ten minutes and seeing that most cadets regained their focus, Wink continued. ¡°Now, I will teach you Directed Flow for the final Wave Cloak exercise. Its essence is enshrouding an object with your Wave, enhancing its offensive and defensive capabilities. Due to its malleability, Essence Wave is much more suitable for it. This ability is key in using Essence Wave Artifacts like swords and daggers, so all Essence Wave Warriors must pay special attention to this exercise. Astral Wave Warriors can not neglect it. Directed Flow has excellent uses, and if you grasp it, there is nothing that would stop you from using melee Wave Artifacts. Of course, you should first master a weapon to the same level as your arms, or else there would be no point in it.¡± The virtual screen above Wink focused on the humanoid with the Wave Cloak again, and everybody saw how a sword appeared in his hand. Slowly the Wave Cloak that was limited to his body expanded to the sword. Next, the virtual screen saw how two humanoids carrying swords fought. One of them used Directed Flow while the other did not. The weapon clad in Wave broke the other in less than ten strikes. Wink saw how the might of Directed Flow failed to impress the class as Free Flow did, so he waved his hand, and a small steel marble appeared in it. He poured his Essence Wave into the steel marble before throwing it against a wall. ¡°BOOM!¡± An explosion that resembled that of a tank cannon echoed through the room. The steel marble encrusted itself in the wall, and massive cracks appeared around it. ¡°If you can pour enough Wave in an object, even a simple steel marble could compare with a cannonball.¡± Chapter 36 Chapter 36: 1000% Wave Burst ¡°As you can see, we Essence Wave Cultivators can achieve the same brute destructive might that Astral Wave Cultivators.¡± When Wink spoke those words, many cadets could not help but show a smile on their faces. They chose the Essence Evolution Path of Power but were still youths, so the idea of unleashing destructive power made their blood burn. ¡°Of course, if an Astral Wave Cultivator managed to master Directed Flow to my same level and injected the same amount of Wave into that steel ball, that person would have pierced the wall. After all, they would have combined their physical might plus the enhanced object.¡± Now it was the time for the other cadets to show smiles. They all understand that to match an Essence Wave Cultivator in Directed Flow was incredibly difficult, but it did not stop them from adopting cocky attitudes. ¡°Now, those are the three basic exercises of Wave Cloak that you all shall practice. Every time you raise the amount of your Wave, you will have to perfect them again, meaning they will accompany you forever on your paths of power.¡± Wink gave a couple of minutes for the entire class to digest the information he had just passed them before the virtual screen above him focused on the second humanoid. ¡°Now I will explain Wave Burst.¡± Unlike when Wink began with Wave Cloak, this time, there was not a single cadet that did not pay full attention to his words from the beginning. ..... ¡°Now, the principle behind Wave Burst is straightforward, you improve the output of Wave, enhancing your Wave Cloak and all that came with it.¡± Everybody saw how the humanoid in the virtual screen deployed Wave Cloak. On the humanoid right side, the cadets also saw a bar signaling the amount of Wave, which was decreasing steadily. Next, the humanoid used Wave Burst to increase the amount of Wave leaving the Sacred Organ. That made the Wave Cloak almost double in size, but the rate at which it depleted nearly tripled. ¡°Wave Burst improves not only our physical might but also the speed at which we can deploy spells and their power. However, as all of you that have used it should know, there are drawbacks.¡± The virtual image on the screen focused on the edge of the bursting Wave Cloak, and the cadets saw how some Wave left and dispersed. ¡°During Wave Burst, it is harder to control our Wave, increasing its depletion due to the higher output and our inability to keep it inside our Wave Cloak.¡± Wink¡¯s words made it clear to everybody why the amount of Wave in the humanoid reduced so fast. All the cadets had used Wave Burst, but none ever felt Wave loss like that. ¡°There is also the physical stress put on our bodies. Our body automatically regulates the might of our Wave Cloak when we unleash it, so it doesn¡¯t exert more pressure than it can safely handle. During Wave Burst, we ignore that limitation, affecting our stamina.¡± Cain could not help but nod as he heard that explanation. He remembered how tired it felt to use Wave Burst and the soreness of his muscles. ¡°Now that I explained the drawbacks of Wave Burst, I will demonstrate its might.¡± Those words pushed the cadets¡¯ attention to their peak. Wink¡¯s demonstrations were visually striking, and they were sure this one would not be different. A Wave Cloak covered Wink¡¯s body, and the amount in it was not impressive at all. ¡°I regulated the Wave in my body to be around the same as a newly advanced Level 3 Wave Warrior. Now I will show you 200% Wave Burst.¡± Wink¡¯s Wave Cloak improved its power. It was still far from being shocking, but what happened next showed everybody how mighty Wave Burst was. ¡°400%¡± As soon as Wink uttered those words, the Wave Cloak grew even mightier, and it was far from over. ¡°600%¡± The air inside the auditorium began to move chaotically due to the might of Wink¡¯s bursting Wave Cloak. ¡°800%¡± Wink¡¯s Wave Cloak was so powerful that the platform beneath his feet was trembling. ¡°I have currently unleashed a Wave Cloak that could match that of a Level 4 Wave Warrior who themselves is using a basic Wave Burst.¡± That statement made the eyes of the cadets show some level of shock. Everybody already knew that from Level 3 to Level 4, there was a significant watershed that many could not pass. Wink saw how the entire class was now full of expectation, and he did not disappoint. ¡°1000%!¡± ¡°?Boom!¡± A minor shock wave occurred when Wink unleashed 1000% Wave Burst, and cracks appeared beneath his feet. ¡°In this state, I have the power to kill a newly advanced Level 4 Wave Warrior incapable of deploying 200% Wave Burst in a direct battle.¡± Although it would not be inconceivable for a Level 3 Wave Warrior to defeat someone at Level 4, that was if they used sneak attacks and the likes. Winning in a direct battle was impossible. Or at least that was what Cain thought until he saw the might that 1000% Wave Burst could unleash. ¡°The time a Level 3 Wave Warrior could fight in 1000% Wave Burst was extremely short, not to mention their bodies would crumble unless they were training some high-grade auxiliary technique. I must also say how hard it is to surpass 400% Wave Burst. Using the full power of my Wave Cloak, I can barely reach 350% Wave Burst.¡± Chapter 37 Chapter 37: Wave Focus Wink gave the class a few minutes to assimilate the new information before carrying on. ¡°Due to the Astral Rebirth Path of Power¡¯s Sacred Organ being the heart, which increases its functions according to the body¡¯s requirement on its own, it is easier for Astral Wave Cultivator to master Wave Burst.¡± Wink¡¯s explanation made perfect sense for the cadets. The Rebirth Heart had always regulated the body¡¯s blood flow, increasing it when needed, so it was not odd for it to increase the output of Wave more efficiently than the Evolution Core. ¡°As for the flaw regarding our inability to keep all the Wave inside the Wave Cloak during Wave Burst. That is where combining the arts came into place.¡± The cadets saw how the virtual screen above Wink showed two humanoids. One was using Wave Burst, while the other trained in Synergy Flow. Next, both figures fused, and the class saw how the bursting Wave Cloak grew thicker and its edge denser. ¡°By mastering Synergy Flow while using Wave Burst, we can limit the amount of Wave dispersed. Of course, training Synergy Flow while your Wave Cloak is bursting is much harder.¡± ..... Shortly after that, the virtual screen focused on the third humanoid. ¡°Now that we are over with Wave Burst, it is time to tackle Wave Focus. This art¡¯s main principle is focusing our Wave on a single point. If done during Wave Cloak, we will enhance a specific part while diminishing the amount covering the rest of the body.¡± The virtual screen showed how the humanoid used Wave Cloak before increasing the amount in the right fist. That made the Wave covering the rest of the body grow thinner, diminishing the amount of protection it could provide. ¡°That is the most basic use of Wave Focus and one that Astral Wave Cultivators must master as it heavily influences a melee battle. However, you are sorely mistaken if you think Wave Focus is just that.¡± Wink raised his right hand and opened it, showing the palm to the cadets before cutting it with his left index finger. The cut was deep to the point it almost reached the bone. The virtual screen above them showed a magnified version of the palm, making the edges of the cut clear for everybody. ¡°Pay attention to the screen and see the might of Wave Focus.¡± Wink said nothing else before his Essence Wave began to gather in the wound, and not long after, under the awed gaze of the cadets, the cut started to heal with speed visible to the naked eye. It took Wink less than a minute to heal that wound! ¡°I used Wave Focus to speed up the regeneration process by giving the tissue more vitality and hyper-activating the red blood cells.¡± Next, Wink focused his Essence Wave into his eyes and focused on the cadets, making all of them feel that this one could see every corner of their bodies. ¡°If I focus my Wave into my eyes and the optical nerve, my eyesight improves to a level surpassing that of Old World¡¯s telescopes. And the same goes for my other senses such as smell and hearing.¡± The cadets understood the might of Wave Focus after that description and how amazingly useful it was, both in battle and out of it. ¡°Wave Focus can also be used for defense, as we can enhance the amount of Wave in our arms before using them to cover our bodies from an attack. Those in higher cultivation ranks can deploy extremely refined uses of this art, which are incredibly powerful.¡± Wink saw the cadets¡¯ attention had peaked and proceeded to deploy a Level 3 Wave Cloak and 200% Wave Burst. Then under the utterly shocked sight of the cadets, all that Wave focused on his right hand. ¡°If I conjure a fireball using my right hand, it will be several times more potent than if I were to do it without Wave Focus. And a Level 3 Astral Wave Warrior would have enough strength to land a blow that could surpass the defenses of someone at Level 5!¡± Silence reigned in the auditorium as the cadets heard Wink¡¯s words. They could not help but wonder how powerful could mastering Wave Focus could make you? Of course, in that state, the rest of their body was defenseless, but did not using traps and ambushes solve that? As long as they land one blow, it would be game over for the enemy. ¡°That was Wave Focus. There is no difference between the speed of training of Astral and Essence Wave Cultivators regarding this art. It all depends on your individual talent and hard work. Now I will explain the last of the Four Basic Wave Arts, Wave Transmutation.¡± Chapter 38 Chapter 38: Wave Transmutation The virtual screen above Wink focused on the last humanoid. This one first triggered Wave Cloak, then used Wave Burst, and finally employed Wave Focus to concentrate most of his Wave in his right hand before finally shooting a fireball. ¡°That is Wave Transmutation. In a nutshell, it is the conversion of our Wave into something else. It can be simple elemental forces like lightning, fire, water, or even more complex like gold or poison.¡± Wink raised his hand and focused Essence Wave in it before making fire, water, and even earth appear. ¡°This art plays a fundamental part in the use of spells. Not only does it improve our proficiency in them, but it also diminishes the amount of Wave we need to use them. Of course, although anyone could change their Wave into flames, someone that does it following the principles taught in a technique can show much greater destructive power.¡± The Wave in Wink¡¯s hand transformed once again into a ball of fire, but while the amount of Wave was the same, the power in it was greater. ¡°When it comes to proficiency in this art, Essence Wave Cultivators have a much higher innate talent, which can increase even more as our cultivation advances, and our perception develops.¡± Those words did not surprise anyone. Essence Wave lacked the enhanced vitality and durability of Astral Wave, but it was more malleable, so it made sense for it to be easier to transmute. ..... ¡°Astral Wave Cultivators usually focus on the element related to their Lineage since, at least in it, they do not fall behind their counterparts. Some with powerful Lineages can even transmute their Wave at an intuitive level.¡± Cain nodded as he heard that. Among the skills learned after obtaining his Lightning Lupus Lineage, there was Lightning Conversion. Transforming his Astral Wave into lightning was not hard, but he found it highly challenging to do it with any other element. As for things like poison or gold, that was simply impossible for the current Cain. ¡°Those are the Four Basic Wave Arts. As all of you should understand by now, the word basic is not a reference to their power but the fact that everything else emerges from them. They are the essence of spell casting and any battle style.¡± Wink waved his hand after that, and all the cadets received a file through their A.I. Chips. ¡°In that file is all the information I just gave you about Wave Mastery. While you have it at your disposal at all times, sharing it without consent from the Imperial Military Force is a crime. Now put some distance between yourself, and we will train Synergy Flow, Free Flow, and Directed Flow. There are three hours left, and we will use one for each exercise. I will monitor you and advise you when I see the need for it.¡± Cain, Levi, and the cold beauty stood up and moved away before unleashing their Wave Cloaks. The men¡¯s Wave was dark purple, but the woman was sky-blue, meaning she followed the Essence Evolution Path of Power. Cain did not lose time and immediately focused. According to Wink¡¯s teachings, Synergy Flow consists in making your Wave dense and evenly distributed. The file mentioned it would help you think of your Wave as a river. It was a wild force you needed to use your mind to bring into order, making it steadily revolve around your body while condensing it. Cain¡¯s Wave Cloak gradually lost its flaming state, becoming more defined and smaller. Wink advised some cadets and guided those that were having difficulty. Despite his seemingly carefree attitude, he was very diligent in his work. After an hour passed, it was time to exercise Free Flow. Cain found it a little easier than Synergy Flow, as he only needed to focus on making his Astral Wave expand as far as possible. According to the file, it was good to visualize your Wave Cloak as a pool of water losing its atomic density and transforming into vapor. The auditorium filled with dark purple and sky-blue fog during the next hour as the cadets trained Free Flow. Since they were all Level 2 Wave Warriors, none of them felt discomfort by the Wave of the others. Finally, it was the turn of the cadets to train in Directed Flow. Everybody got a small steel marble, and the goal was to extend their Wave Cloak into it flawlessly. As expected, Essence Wave Cultivators had a much easier time in Directed Flow than Astral Wave Cultivators. Cain managed to extend his Wave Cloak into the steel marble, but he constantly had to focus on it, and a lot of Astral Wave dispersed due to his inability to control it once it left his body. ¡°Ok, that is all for today!¡± Wink¡¯s voice echoed through the auditorium, and all the cadets sat. All those youths were exhausted, but they were also smiling. The cadets felt that their mastery over Wave Cloak had increased significantly. As long as they kept training Synergy Flow, Free Flow, and Directed Flow, their power would increase even if their cultivation did not. Chapter 39 Chapter 39: Beelze Cain, Levi, and the cold beauty had just risen from their seats as Wink left the auditorium when they saw a youth walking toward them. He was a man with black hair, almost one meter and eighty centimeters tall. It was impressively tall, considering the youth was just fourteen years old. And that was not all, as the scion¡¯s skin was green. Those characteristics would have been considered a disease in the Old World, but the Godslayer Humankind thought differently. Clearly, the scion had a powerful bloodline running through his veins. Neither Cain nor Levi recognized the green youth, but they saw a familiar face in one of the people walking behind him. Among the three people following this one, there was Zamir. Cain and Zamir locked eyes, and the second showed a vicious smile for a moment before regaining his composure. Although Cain did not know what this was about, he got a hint when the green youth did not even bother to look at him and instead focused on Levi and the cold beauty. ..... ¡°I am Lumir Huren, second son of Count Huren. I will advise you two to stay with your own kind.¡± Lumir did not lower his voice, so he soon became the center of attention for the entire auditorium. Cain¡¯s eyes grew cold as he heard those words and saw the disdain with which Lumir treated him. Of course, Cain did not care about the green scion taking him into the nobles¡¯ social circle, but the way Lumir spoke made it seem he was not worthy of breathing the same air. Levi only smiled when he heard those words, and the cold beauty remained indifferent. ¡°Oh, and what will happen if I choose to do the opposite.¡± Lumir¡¯s eyes narrowed when he saw Levi¡¯s carefree attitude. ¡°You are of noble breed. Mixing up with commoners lowers not only yourself but all of us.¡± Levi¡¯s smile grew wider as he heard those words, but everybody felt how the auditorium temperature began to rise. It was clear those words upset him. ¡°I did not know you could be lower than a piece of shit.¡± Those words surprised not only Lumir but everybody else, since the way Levi put it, all nobles were shit. Lumir also grew furious as he heard Levi¡¯s words, but he did not lose his composure and instead turned toward the cold beauty. A flash of lust appeared in his eyes, but he hid it quickly. ¡°My Lady, do you share the same thoughts as this heathen?¡± Everybody focused on the cold beauty, including Cain and Levi. The duo knew almost nothing about her, so they could not help but be curious. Having the eyes of more than two hundred people on her did not disturb the cold beauty. She looked at Lumir and showed a pleasant smile. ¡°Status is extremely important, and everyone should focus on it.¡± Cain and Levi were slightly disappointed when they heard that, unlike Lumir, who showed a radiant smile. However, before the green youth could open his mouth again, the cold beauty spoke again. ¡°Of course, I am referring to the status you earned with your own effort and not one passed down to you. Your so-called status is only due to your whorish mother opening her legs and letting your father hump her.¡± Silence reigned for a moment as none of the cadets could believe that such a refined girl like the cold beauty could utter such outlandish words. ¡°?Hahaha!¡± ¡°?Hahaha!¡± Cain and Levi began to laugh with so much strength that it almost made them shed tears. And while they were the only ones that did not bother to hide it, many other cadets in the auditorium giggled. Lumir¡¯s eyes twitched. He came with such grandeur, and the only thing he got was becoming a laughing stock. ¡°You dare to insult my family. You little wh...¡± Lumir roared with rage, but he was unable to finish his sentence and much less take a step toward the cold beauty as he felt two pairs of eyes focused on his neck and chest. Cain and Levi had stopped laughing, and their eyes were full of killing intent as they targeted Lumir¡¯s neck and heart. Lumir did not doubt that the duo would attack him full of murderous intent if he dared to carry on. He was confident in facing each of them alone, but he might die if Cain and Levi attacked simultaneously without regard for the consequences. Of course, there were more scions behind him. Each was a Level 2 Wave Warrior, but that would mean starting an unprovoked fight and going against the Imperial Military Academy¡¯s rules. ¡°Hmph!¡± Lumir did not dare to bet and just sneered at the trio before walking out of the auditorium. ¡°Oh, my heroes.¡± Cain and Levi could not help but puff up their chests with pride when they heard those words coming from the cold beauty, but when they turned and saw the expression on her face, it was clear she was mocking them. The duo felt embarrassed for the childish behavior but immediately shook their heads and got over it. ¡°I could have handled that garbage easily, but thanks for having my back either way. My name is Beelze.¡± Chapter 40 Chapter 40: Razmun Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard the cold beauty¡¯s name. ¡°Wait, your name is Beelze, like in Beelzebub?¡± Biblical names were not only not strange but pretty standard in the Godslayer Humaking due to the name of the First Titan of Godslayer Humankind, Adam. Cain himself was a perfect example, but Beelzebub was a demon in the Old World, so he found it odd and was not alone as Levi thought the same. Beelze noticed the weird look the duo gave her, and some irritation appeared on her face. ¡°Stinky geezer.¡± She spoke those words quietly, but Cain and Levi heard it. Clearly, she also did not like the name her father gave her too much. ¡°What. Do you have something to say about my name?¡± ..... Cain and Levi immediately shook their heads as they saw the piercing gaze of Beelze. Even if they were ten times braver, they would not dare to mock the girl¡¯s name. ¡°Anyway, I am Levi, and he is Cain. We should leave.¡± Cain and Beelze nodded, and the trio exited the auditorium. Once outside, they separated. Cain went home while the other two headed to different parts of the Lightning Imperial Fort. On his way home, Cain thought of something and triggered his Wave Cloak before using Wave Focus to direct most of his Astral Wave into his legs. He intended to increase the Astral Wave around his legs to run faster. In theory, that made sense, but as Cain stomped the ground, he found himself jumping more than a meter before falling and rolling. It was not hard for Cain to understand what happened. The sudden rise in the strength of his legs made it so that instead of putting enough force to impulse his body forward, it was high enough to propel him into the air. In essence, Cain had the strength but could not use it properly. ¡®Strength without control is useless on the battlefield.¡¯ That thought crossed Cain¡¯s mind before hearing laughs from a distance. Some cadets were laughing about his mishaps, and while it made Cain slightly embarrassed, he did not care too much and just flashed back to his home. Once there, he bowed to the altar with his father¡¯s picture, took a quick shower, and ate some food. While he would like to begin cultivating immediately, he was exhausted, so before anything else, he took a nap. An hour later, Cain awoke full of energy. An average human would have needed much more time to recover. However, not only was he a Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior, but he also possessed a powerful Lineage that granted him vigorous vitality. Cain headed into the living room, took a container with Dark Race¡¯s blood, and continued training the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique. The hours passed as Cain trained, and he felt his meridians growing stronger. He only stopped after almost eight hours before going to sleep. Although cultivation was boring, for someone like Cain, who spent month after month working hard the past years while receiving nothing, there was nothing better than feeling his cultivation increase by the hour. Besides, there were few things to do inside the Lightning Imperial Fort, especially for cadets. Cain woke up when the first ray of sunlight appeared. He washed his face and ate something light before marching into the auditorium. Levi was already in the auditorium and sat in the same place yesterday. Cain headed there and nodded to the red-eyed youth before sitting by his side. A few minutes later, Beelze entered the auditorium, and to the dismay and envy of many cadets, she chose to sit by Cain¡¯s side just like before. Cain and Levi nodded to Beelze before closing their eyes. The duo was using the time to cultivate. While many others could consider their behavior rude, Beelze liked it. She was sure that everybody else would barrage her with all sorts of questions. Not because they care about the answer but to get closer and force some kind of relationship. Compared to that, the duo, whose minds seemed to care only about cultivation, was a breath of fresh air. In the end, the trio sat silent as they enhanced their Wave until the teacher finally arrived. The one that arrived was not Wink but someone else. A short man, not more than one and a half meters tall, with a robust body full of muscles. His long brown beard and bald head made him look like one of the dwarfs of the Old World¡¯s fairy tales, but the truth was that just like Lumir¡¯s green skin, those physical characteristics were an effect of his bloodline. He stood in front of the auditorium and remained silent for a moment as he stared at the cadets. Despite his short stature, he unleashed an imposing aura that made everybody adopt a solemn expression. ¡°My name is Razmun. I will be your teacher for the Dark Race Assassination Class.¡± Chapter 41 Chapter 41: Nether Fiend ¡°My name is Razmun. I will be your teacher for the Dark Race Assassination Class.¡± When Teacher Razmun spoke those words, a solemn aura invaded the entire auditorium. Even Noble Families did not dare to be arrogant when it came to the Dark Races. Razmun nodded as he saw the expression of the cadets. Next, he waved his hand, and the virtual screen above him showed three groups of obscure figures. ¡°As all of you should know by now, when we talk about the Dark Races, we refer to the Infernus Daemon Race, Legio Eldritch Race, and the most dreaded of all, the Atrox Immortus Race.¡± Cain clenched his fist as he heard that last part. The image of that Atrox still hunted him, and the idea of what would have happened had he not managed to escape terrified him. He did not feel ashamed since, even with all that fear, he remained courageous in the face of danger and refused to sacrifice an innocent person. ¡®Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.¡¯ ..... That was a quote his father mentioned several times to Cain. The one who uttered those words was a great man from the Old World. Cain was not lost in his thoughts for long as Razmun carried on soon after. ¡°To know how to kill someone, you must first understand them. I will begin with the Infernus Daemon Race. When it comes to Godslayer Humankind, they are the most similar in both physiology and culture.¡± Above Razmun, the screen focused on the first group of obscure figures before they came to light, showing a bulky Abyssal Demon, a petite Hell Devil, and a third figure. The last ones had silver skin, and on his forehead, there was a third eye. ¡°The Infernus Daemon Race has three main Lineages. The Abyssal Demon, Hell Devil, and Nether Fiend. Each of those Lineages has countless subbranches, but that is not the topic of this class. If you want to learn about them, you can use your military credits to purchase books from the Empire Science Academy.¡± Cain and many other cadets focused on the last Infernus Daemon Race¡¯s Lineage that Razmun mentioned. They all took part in the Military Academy Secret Trial, so most faced Abyssal Demons or Hell Devils, but none ever encountered a Nether Fiend. Razmun noticed the curiosity of the cadets regarding Nether Fiends, but he made the virtual screen focus on the large man with obsidian skin. ¡°This is an Abyssal Demon. Due to the characteristics of their Lineage, 99.9% percent of them embark on the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. Regarding their behavior, they are ferocious warriors that usually disdain any form of traps or schemes and would instead embark on a frontal battle.¡± Following that, Razmun began to show different images of the Abyssal Demon¡¯s anatomy. He explained the position of the heart and other vital organs, the best way to cause massive damage to them, and how to defend in case of a counterattack. The explanation was boring and somewhat repetitive, but all the cadets put their full attention into it as it could save their lives in the future. ¡°Now that we are over with the Abyssal Demons let¡¯s begin with the Hell Devils.¡± The virtual screen focused on the petite woman with red skin and small horns. ¡°Hell Devils usually embark on the path most suitable for their Lineage. That is why all those you face will surely be Essence Wave Cultivators. Unlike Abyssal Demons, Hell Devils are fond of schemes, making them hazardous targets. They might feign weakness, only to draw you into a death trap.¡± Just like he did with Abyssal Demons, Razmun explained the anatomy of Hell Devils, their weak points, how to land deadly blows, and the most suitable defenses against them. Once Razmun was over with the Hell Devils, it was finally time to focus on the last of the three main Lineages of the Infernus Daemon Race, the Nether Fiend Race. ¡°When it comes to battle strength, the Nether Fiend Lineage is the weakest of the three, but make no mistake, they are dangerous. Their power comes from intelligence and innate talent in professions like Wave Crafters and Rune Masters. The creations at their disposal are incredibly deadly.¡± Razmun¡¯s face showed a level of seriousness even greater than when he spoke about Hell Devils and Abyssal Demons. ¡°You will not usually find them on the battlefield, not because they are cowards, but because they are better at strategy. If you ever storm the enemy¡¯s encampment, do your best to kill as many of them as possible. Believe me when I say that every Nether Fiend kill is worth as much as ten of their counterparts.¡± Cain could not help but show awe as he heard that. Nether Fiends were the weakest regarding battle strength, but their impact on the battlefield made them the most dangerous. Razmun explained the best way to land deadly blows in a Nether Fiend. He was much more detailed in this information than the one related to Abyssal Demons or Hell Devils and took a lot more time as well. By the time Razmun finished with the Nether Fiends, the class had ended, and everybody headed back to their rooms. Chapter 42 Chapter 42: New and familiar faces Cain trained in the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique and was ready to call it a day and go to sleep before the next class when his body trembled. The youth opened his eyes, and a smile appeared on his face. He had finished the first level and could finally advance with the second, not longer just solidifying his foundation but also improving his cultivation. Although tired, excitement filled Cain¡¯s body and commanded the system to scan him without hesitation. ¡®System, scan me!¡¯ [Scanning Vessel ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer ..... Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 2 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Low Tier 4 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.19¨C>0.19 Agility: 0.25¨C>0.25 Vitality: 0.22¨C>0.23 Wave: O.21¨C>0.22] Although there was not a shocking improvement in his stats, Cain expected such a thing. At the lower level, one could not see much difference between techniques, but as his cultivation advanced, those improvements accumulated and showed an incredible effect. Cain went to bed the next minute with a happy smile. As usual, he woke up with the first ray of sunlight and headed to the auditorium where his class would take place. He was just about to enter the building when he noticed Beelze in the distance. She was speaking with a handsome blonde man around twenty years old. The man was striking not only in looks but also had a powerful aura and vibrant vitality. His attire also drew attention, resembling that of a high-class butler. Suddenly, the man¡¯s eyes grew cold, turning toward Cain. When he saw those eyes, Cain¡¯s entire body trembled. That gaze had the power to freeze his mind, but then a flash of red light appeared in his eyes. Cain did not know what happened, but all the fear vanished, and a sense of absolute certainty appeared in his eyes as he stared back at the man by Beelze¡¯s side. Now, it was time for the blond man to be surprised. There was shock on his face as he saw Cain¡¯s eyes full of determination and absent of any fear. However, before the man could do anything, he turned back toward Beelze and saw the girl¡¯s cold stare. He gave Cain one final glance before nodding toward Beelze and walking away. Cain¡¯s eyes did not leave the man until this one vanished from his view. He then turned to his side and saw that Beelze was already there. ¡°Who is that man?¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t tell me that you are jealous?¡± A small smile appeared in Beelze, but she noticed Cain¡¯s stoic expression. ¡°He is very dangerous.¡± When Beelze heard those words and felt the concern in them, her smile became more natural. ¡°You are right. That man is dangerous, but there is no reason to worry. He works for my family.¡± Cain was slightly surprised when he heard that. The fact that Beelze¡¯s family could infiltrate a person in the Imperial Military Academy meant their background was truly impressive. Since Beelze told him the man was no danger and she seemed fine, Cain did not dig anymore. The power of her family was not something that he cared about. ¡°What are you lovebirds doing?¡± Cain and Beelze turned around and saw Levi walking out of the auditorium. The duo only sneered when they heard his words, but the silver metallic structure covering his spine drew their attention. ¡°You got full body armor. It is a High Bronze Wave Artifact?¡± Since Levi did not have it activated, Cain could not see the appearance of the armor, but it seemed composed of silver blades. ¡°Haha, even better. It is a Peak Bronze Wave Artifact.¡± Levi was very pleased with his armor, but his good mood did not last long. ¡°You know what they say about people that like to show off their belongings. Are you overcompensating for something else?¡± Beelze did not specify, but Levi and Cain understood what she meant. The first one¡¯s face almost grew red, while the second did his best to contain his laughter. ¡°You...¡± Levi stared dagger at Beelze, but this one only kept smiling. Clearly, the girl was not the forgiving type and was taking revenge on the youth¡¯s previous remark. ¡°Hmph.¡± In the end, Levi only sneered and did not say anything else. Although he seemed angry, he was not a child that would lose control over his emotions for something so trivial. ¡°Anyway, you two better get in. The teacher arrived early, and he is someone you and I know.¡± Cain was curious, and when he walked into the auditorium, he saw a bulky man with scars all over his face. ¡°Oh, Vice-Captain Josef.¡± ¡°I take it that you two had encounters with that man before.¡± Levi and Cain nodded to Beelze¡¯s words, and the second began to relate the events at the end of the Military Academy Secret Trial as they walked toward their seats. Overall, Cain had a good image of this strict, cold, yet fair man. ¡°I see.¡± Beelze nodded toward Cain¡¯s words and said nothing else. She reserved her opinion of Josef for herself. Vice-Captian glanced at Cain and Levi but said nothing else and silently waited until the class finally started. ¡°My name is Josef, and I will be your teacher for the Military Tactics Class.¡± Chapter 43 Chapter 43: A bloody lesson ¡°My name is Josef, and I will be your teacher for the Military Tactics Class.¡± Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s voice echoed through the auditorium, and all the cadets paid full attention. Although his aura seemed weaker than that of Wink and Razmun, its ferocity was something he could only gain on the battlefield. ¡°The Imperial Military Force works in military units. These are similar to the Old World, but those at higher ranks not only reached that level due to merits but also brute power.¡± Although the idea of granting military ranks according to brute power might seem idiotic in the Old World, even the cadets could understand the reasoning behind that. As humans advance in cultivation, it¡¯s not only their bodies and destructive power that grow stronger. Their cognitive ability and speed of thought also improve. There are indeed cases of people with an innate talent for warfare, but most of the time, those with experience and greater intelligence create better plans. Not to mention that a Wave Warrior would find it very hard to give order to a Wave Champion, especially once they are far from the domains of the Godslayer Humankind Empire, and the rules are harder to discern. ..... Following that short description, the virtual screen above Vice-Captain Josef showed different military units and the different roles available such as combat, engineering, medical, and more. Josef was diligent, accurately describing how all those moving parts work together and sharing his experiences in the army. All that information was monotone and, unlike Wave Mastery and Dark Race Assassination, failed to make the cadets¡¯ blood burn. However, Cain and many others were paying full attention, as they understood that information could save their lives and help them understand their roles once they entered the battlefield. Once that part of the class was over, the virtual screen above Vice-Captain Josef changed. ¡°When it comes to the battlefield where Wave Champions participate, Wave Warriors beneath Level 4 would only be sending themselves to their death if they step in. That is especially true for those that follow the Essence Evolution Path of Power, as the shock waves would be more than enough to harm your bodies.¡± Soon the cadets saw the picture of what seemed to be a futuristic rifle on the virtual screen. ¡°That is why those at Level 3 and beneath who take a combat role will use these Wave Rifles. It is a very common and practical Wave Artifact used by the Imperial Military Force. It has a power cell that can be charged with Wave and fire a very concentrated energy beam. They have no recoil and can fire up to dozens of shoots per minute.¡± The virtual screen soon showed the cadets the Wave Rifles¡¯ power. It did not take more than five shots to blast a large tree to pieces, and a dozen of them could destroy an Old World building in less than a minute. However, those with good battle awareness soon realized the grave problems with the Wave Rifles. ¡°As some of you might already notice, there are flaws in the Wave Rifles. The attack pattern is too rigid and depends too much on the soldier¡¯s aim and speed of thought. They have limited use against a battalion of Level 5 Wave Warriors.¡± A smile appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he saw the Wave Rifle. It was the same weapon Cain¡¯s father used during his time in the military. ¡°Cannon fooder¡¯s weapon.¡± A youth sitting next to Zamir and Lumir uttered those words as he saw the Wave Riffle. He spoke in a low voice, but everybody could hear him due to the auditorium¡¯s silence. There was a smile on the youth¡¯s face as he did not care that the other would know his thoughts. It made sense since many among the scions saw soldiers that used Wave Rifles that way. Cain¡¯s eyes widened when he heard that, and his blood began to burn as his Astral Wave burst. Levi and Beelze were surprised by Cain¡¯s reaction. Although the duo felt the scion¡¯s commentary disgusting, their response was far from reaching Cain¡¯s level. The reaction was a combination due to Cain¡¯s rage and his bloodline¡¯s emotional instability. And, unlike in previous cases where it happened, the youth did not intend to control it and was ready to attack. However, someone acted faster than Cain. The scion still smiled when someone appeared before him and slapped him with so much strength that it sent him flying into a wall. All the cadets were shocked as they saw the unconscious cadet bleeding on the ground. Luckily the scion was a Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior, or else that slap would have shattered his skull. Fear appeared in the eyes of the cadets as they turned to the responsible for such a ferocious attack, Vice-Captain Josef. ¡°May this be a lesson for all of your brats. Anyone that dares to mock my brothers and sisters who risk their lives for the safety of the Godslayer Humankind will pay the price. And next time, I will not be so merciful.¡± Chapter 44 Chapter 44: First mission (I) A deadly silence reigned in the auditorium as the cadets heard those words. That youth bleeding next to the wall had a strong background, or he could not have sat next to Lumir and Zamir. Yet, it was clear that Vice-Captain Josef did not care at all, and the cadets did not doubt they would suffer the same fate if they uttered disrespectful words. Vice-Captain Josef stared coldly at Lumir and Zamir before turning elsewhere. The cadets followed his eyes and were surprised to see Cain¡¯s bursting Astral Wave Cloak and killing intent. Cain sat in a desolate area of the auditorium, and since the cadets were all focused on Vice-Captain Josef, no one besides Levi and Beelze noticed his outburst. When Cain saw the bloody figure of the youth that dared to call people like his father cannon fodder, he calmed down and dispersed his Wave Cloak. Vice-Captain Josef did not say anything about Cain¡¯s actions and calmly walked toward the podium. As for the wounded scion, no one dared to help him. ¡°What I have spoken up to this point is the standard distribution and roles of the Imperial Military Force. Specialized military units fulfill missions where an army¡¯s notoriety would be a disadvantage. I will not give details of these since unless you become a Level 7 Wave Warrior, you will never interact with them.¡± Vice-Captain Josef carried on with the class as if nothing had happened. It was clear that he did not fear retaliation for his actions. ..... ¡°That was all for today¡¯s class. For the next one, we will discuss battle formations and information about our allies in the Deus Behemoth Race and the Anima Mechanicus Race.¡± Cain could not help but grow excited as he heard that last part. The Godslayer Humankind was powerful, but they were far from being able to contend against the Infernus Daemon Race, Legio Eldritch Race, and Atrox Immortus Race alone. Once Lumir saw Josef leave the auditorium, he went toward the wounded scion and helped him out, marching immediately to the hospital. Cain noticed that but did not care and left the auditorium with Levi and Beelze. Just as they were about to split apart, the red-eyed youth spoke. ¡°Cain, your Lineage grants you enhanced tracking abilities, right?¡± Although Cain found that question odd, it was not a secret, so he nodded. ¡°Great, I intend to take on a mission, and I need the help of someone like you.¡± Levi naturally knew that Cain would want to know what the mission was about, so he used his A.I. Chip to send a folder with all the information. There were only three classes in the week. Most cadets spent the rest of the days taking advantage of the high Wave density in the Lightning Imperial Fort, but those like Cain and Levi had the strength to leave and carry out missions. Before Cain could analyze the folder, the duo felt a freezing chill. ¡°Oh, I am not invited. Do you think I am too weak?¡± Levi and Cain grew tense as they felt the cold gaze of Beelze. The red-eyed youth raised his hand and immediately explained. ¡°Haha, nothing like that. Actually, I could handle the battle component of this mission alone, but my tracking abilities are not very good. That is why I asked for Cain¡¯s help.¡± Beelze¡¯s eyes narrowed, and after seeing the duo grow even more nervous, she smiled and walked away. When the duo saw that, they could not help but grow annoyed. Clearly, Beelze did not care about the mission and was just making fun of them. After that minor interruption, Cain finally analyzed the folder and saw the contents of the mission. ¡®It is a combination between product recovery and detention or killing. We should not face anyone above Level 3, so Levi is right in that our combined power is more than enough to handle it.¡¯ Cain considered everything, and after a moment, he nodded. ¡°Ok, I accept. I assume we will use the Merit Ruler to determine the Imperial Military Credits each will get.¡± The Merit Ruler that Cain mentioned was a tool accessible in the Imperial Military Network. When a group performed a mission, the ruler could objectively quantify the completion percentage of each individual. ¡°Of course. We must leave soon, as it will take around seven hours to reach Rouk City. That, plus the time to travel back, would only leave us three days to complete the mission.¡± Levi had already analyzed all the information and had developed a plan. ¡°We should leave at midnight. That way, we can rest on the road and arrive at Rouk City as the sun comes out.¡± Cain did not have a problem and accepted Levi¡¯s proposition. The duo went to their homes to gather their belongings and pack rations for the trip. Chapter 45 Chapter 45: First mission (II) Back in his room, Cain bowed to his father¡¯s altar, took a shower, and ate a meal before arranging things for the mission. He packed a second set of clothes, his Soldier¡¯s Drugs, and a container with Abyssal Demon¡¯s blood. There was not much else to load in the military backpack since the mission would only take around three days. As he glanced at the Soldier¡¯s Drugs, a contemplative expression appeared in Cain. While extremely useful during the Military Academy Secret Trial, he was a Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior now, and their effect would not be as good as before. After some thinking, Cain used the Imperial Military Academy Network and searched for new drugs, one suitable for his level. It did not take him long to find something useful. [Warrior Pill: Heals non-lethal wounds, improves wakefulness, decreases the sense of fatigue, and increases the ability to concentrate. Fully effective up to Level 5. Warning: Only Wave Warrior above Level 1 can use them without severe side effects. Cost: 25 Imperial Military Credits.] ..... Their effect was impressive, and so was the cost. Cain also found the Soldier Drugs in the Imperial Military Academy Network, and a batch of ten costs only 5 Imperial Military Credits. Although Cain had more than 2000 Imperial Military Credits, that did not mean he could just spend them without care. He was actually saving them as he wanted to buy something that would be useful for his foundation, but there was no point in having wealth and not a life to spend it. Even if the mission did not seem that dangerous, they would still face Wave Warriors, who would want to kill them. So, after some deliberation, Cain bought three Warriors Pills. Instead of waiting for the package to arrive, Cain adopted a meditative position and began training in the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique. Following the cultivation technique, Cain¡¯s meridians grew larger and extended over his chest. Time flew by, and before he knew it, the time to depart arrived. The package with the three Warrior Pills had arrived while Cain trained. He put them in his backpack and left for the south gate. Levi was already there, waiting by the side of a military truck similar to the one Tristan and London used as they picked up the cadets. The red-eyed youth nodded to Cain, and the duo got up in the truck before approaching the gate. Cadets could not simply leave, but once Levi showed the mission code, the soldier in charge opened the gate and let the duo go. The military truck could drive on its own, and since they were on a secure highway, neither Cain nor Levi worried too much about dangers despite the dense forest surrounding them. Godslayer Humankind had more than enough power to destroy those forests and pave everything, but there were two main reasons for not following that path. One was the teaching of the Old World about how to live in equilibrium with the environment. There was also a selfish component as a loss in wildlife correlated with a decline in the Wave¡¯s density. The second reason took into consideration the Wave Beasts. Although the Godslayer Humankind had a hostile relationship with them, it did not reach the point of mutual destruction. If they destroyed the forest and left no one with enough power to protect whatever they built in those places, powerful Wave Beasts would level any construction as retribution. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as the military truck had left the Lightning Imperial Fort and glanced at Levi. The red-eyed youth returned the gaze and nodded. Both Level 2 Wave Warriors send a small amount of Astral Wave into the artifact protecting their spine, and soon every piece of their bodies was covered by armor. Cain¡¯s Nullity Armor was utterly black, made of hundreds of light scales. A black glass also covered his eyes, and a membrane refined the air he breathed. It did not hinder his movements and fused with his Light Boots and Kinetic Gauntlets, leaving no opening. Levi¡¯s armor was shockingly similar to the Level 3 Atrox that Cain saw in the Military Academy Secret Trial. It also covered the entire body, leaving no opening an enemy could take advantage of. ¡°Inferno.¡± ¡°Saint.¡± Their Wave Artifact distorted the duo¡¯s voice as they uttered their code names. They did not know who they would face, and it was best to hide their real identities. Besides, during this mission, they only needed their status as cadets of the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy. The duo slept after ensuring everything was fine, and there were no dangers in the surroundings. The military truck had a scanner that would warn them of any threat. Of course, they kept a light sleep and were ready to act in case of any danger. It will take Cain and Levi less than a second to mobilize their Astral Wave. If the attacker were so fast that they could kill them before that, it would not make a difference even if they were fully awake. Chapter 46 Chapter 46: I am Zamir Jarken When the first ray of sunlight appeared, Cain and Levi saw Rouk City in the distance. It had a giant wall around its perimeter, and in the center, there was a large tower. That tower barely reached five hundred meters, nothing compared with the striking ten thousand meters tall Titan Tower of the Lightning Imperial Fort, but it provided energy for the entire city. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as they approached the gate and saw the soldiers stand there with Wave Rifles. Rouk City was a somewhat small city with a population of nearly one million people. It was under the Lightning Imperial Fort¡¯s sphere of influence. Its defenses were enough to keep its people completely safe from Wave Beasts and other dangers. Of course, there were mighty Wave Beasts that could overcome Roku City¡¯s defenses, but just like humans, those creatures grow brighter as they grow stronger. They are intelligent enough to understand that if they attack the city, the Lightning Imperial Fort will send Wave Champions after them. The military truck stopped outside the gate that led into Rouk City. A soldier approached the passenger seat and froze for a moment as he saw the two people covered in Wave Artifacts. Not only were the duo¡¯s armors visually impressive, but the soldier was smart enough to understand that anyone capable of having something like that could not be simple. ..... ¡°Identification, please.¡± Levi handed the soldier a card with the information about their mission and status as cadets from Collapsing Lightning Military Academy. The soldier¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw the duo¡¯s status, but he did not dare to look down on them. Even if they were just cadets, there was a great chance they could be powerful scions that chose to enter the military academy. Levi and Cain saw how the soldier stood in silence for a moment as he possibly used his A.I. Chip to pass the information to get the clearance for the duo to enter. There should have been no problem since even if Cain and Levi were not in a Collapsing Lightning Military Academy¡¯s mission, they could enter Rouk City. However, out of nowhere, a look of surprise and confusion appeared on the soldier. He did his best to hide it as soon as possible, but Cain and Levi saw it. ¡°Mmm, I am sorry, there has been some disturbance in the city. You two will have to wait for a moment before passing. Don¡¯t leave the military truck for the time being.¡± The soldier handed Levi the card, and before they could ask anything, he walked back to his post. Levi and Cain stared at each other and frowned as they did not know what had happened. If there were a problem with their identities, the soldiers would have arrested them or told them to go away if they were too afraid to do that. However, the soldier just told Cain and Levi to wait. As for the disturbances, it was almost certainly a made-up excuse. All that, plus the fact that the soldier was surprised to hear that he should not just let the duo enter, made it clear that there was something fishy about their mission, and someone was trying to keep things quiet. Cain stared at the soldiers guarding the gate and commanded the Absolute Life Form System to scan them. Surprise appeared on his face as he saw that all the soldiers were Wave Warriors, many at Level 2, and even one who seemed to be the squad¡¯s leader reached Level 3. ¡®What, since when are Wave Warriors so common!?¡¯ Before obtaining the Absolute Life Form System, becoming a Wave Warrior was a dream for Cain, yet now he found one at Level 3, working as the guard of a small city¡¯s gate. ¡°Brat, shouldn¡¯t you have gotten smarter after reaching Level 2?¡± Cain was surprised to hear Apex¡¯s voice in his mind. The System Spirit had been quiet the last few days, mainly focusing on his hacking efforts. ¡°Listen, in your old home where the Wave¡¯s density was shockingly low, so only those with great talent and backing could become a Level 3 Wave Warrior, but here is different. Their Wave in the air is much higher, so their cultivation is easier. All those people entered the military academy just like you and learned the cultivation basics. After decades, in a Wave-rich environment, it is not odd for someone with even little talent to become a Level 3 Wave Warrior.¡± Cain calmed down and began to analyze everything with a more critical mind. He saw how the squad¡¯s leader appeared to be a man in his fifties. ¡°Of course, those that cultivate like that have horrible foundations and find it almost impossible to cross bottlenecks. Not to mention the after-effects of their cultivation stagnation.¡± When Cain heard that last part, he focused on the stats of the squad¡¯s leader. [Scan of target completed. ¡ª Name: ??? Race: Godslayer Humankind Lineage: Human Path of Power: Essence Evolution ( Level 3 Essence Wave Warrior) ¡ª Stats: Strength:0.13 Agility:0.11 Vitality:0.22 Essence Wave:0.24] The physical stats of the squad¡¯s leader matched those of a Level 3 Essence Wave Warrior with a Human Lineage, but his Wave was too low. A Level 3 Wave Warrior usually had above 0.5 of Wave inside their bodies, yet the squad¡¯s leader had less than half of that. ¡°The lack of advance on his cultivation atrophied his meridians, which led to that state. The other soldiers should be in the same condition, if not worse.¡± Cain nodded and better understood the different types of Wave Warriors. Apex learned all that from hacking the Empire Science Academy. ¡°Of course, even if they are weak, it would be hard for you and the other brat to defeat them since they outnumber you and have those Wave Rifles. Not to mention that things would only grow more complicated for the two if you use force.¡± A profound light appeared in Cain¡¯s eyes as he heard Apex¡¯s words. In the Military Academy Secret Trial, he used brute power to handle all his problems, but things were not so simple now. Suddenly an idea came to Cain¡¯s mind, and he almost laughed as he thought of the implications. Levi attempted to figure out a way beyond this point when he saw how Cain got out of the military truck and walked toward the city¡¯s gate, only for the soldiers to grow alert and raise their Wave Rifles. ¡°Stop right there. Who do you think you are to disobey our commands!¡± The squad¡¯s leader yelled at Cain as he pointed his Wave Rifle. Cain knew his Nullity Armor¡¯s ability would be able to block most of those blast¡¯s power, but he would still end up injured. Nevertheless, he did not lose calm and looked at the soldiers without pure contempt and disdain. ¡°Who do you think you are pointing your punny weapons to? I am Zamir Jarken, third son of Count Jarken!¡± Chapter 47 Chapter 47: Time to shine ¡°Who do you think you are pointing your punny weapons to? I am Zamir Jarken, third son of Count Jarken!¡± When the soldiers at the gate heard those words, they all trembled and lowered their weapons. For a family to become part of the nobility in the Godslayer Humankind Empire, they needed more than just powerful backing and military merits. They also required incredible brute power. Although none of those soldiers knew how strong Count Jarken was, he was definitely someone that even Wave Champions, entities capable of moving at the speed of sound, would dread. Even the squad¡¯s leader, who was shouting orders a moment ago, grew nervous. Of course, the idea that the cadets were lying crossed his mind, but he immediately discarded it. He did not believe that someone who was not a scion could wear such impressive Wave Artifact armor. ¡®God dammit. How did I get involved in this? They told me to delay them for at least a couple of hours, but how am I supposed to do that now?¡¯ Just as the squad leader was trying to figure out what to do, the cadet turned around and walked back to the military truck. ..... ¡°Open that gate now! Unless you think you can bear the responsibility of delaying me during my mission.¡± Cain¡¯s voice carried a narcissistic tone, similar to the one Zamir used with him when they first met. The moment Cain got in the truck, Levi immediately commanded the military truck to move forward, forcing the squad¡¯s leader to make a hasty decision, not giving him any time to call for assistance. In the end, the squad leader did not dare to test the duo and commanded for the gate to be open, allowing the military truck to enter the city. Levi immediately headed for the City Hall as soon as they entered the city. Places like Rouk City, with a population beneath ten million people, were ruled by a group of civil officers, with the mayor at the head. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw the city and its people, most of whom were Wave Warriors but suffered from the same meridian atrophy as the soldiers at the gate. Still, he did not lose much thought and focused on the mission. His lies might have easily fooled the soldier at the gates, but it would not be so easy with the mayor. Those civil officers might not have impressive battle power, but most of them were extremely cunning. Levi glanced at Cain, and when he saw this one focusing, he chose to remain silent. While using Zamir¡¯s name could end up blowing in their faces, there was nothing he could say since he failed to devise a better strategy. In less than an hour, the duo arrived at the City Hall. It was a large pristine building, with people coming in and out. After parking the military truck, Cain and Levi head into the building, drawing the attention of many people in their way. They did not speak with anyone and walked as if they owned the place. Initially, the duo¡¯s approach would have been much smoother, but they had adopted the facade of the arrogant scion and needed to stick to it if they wanted this to work. Just as they were about to barge into the mayor¡¯s office, a woman appeared in front of them. She was around twenty years old and had an attractive figure. ¡°Young Lord Zamir, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Vina Serin. I welcome you to Rouk City. Had we known someone of your status would come to our humble city, we would have prepared a proper welcome.¡± Vina spoke pleasantly and stretched her body so Cain could get a better look before turning toward Levi. ¡°And who could this gentleman be?¡± Cain was a healthy man and would certainly get aroused if an attractive woman got so close to him. However, compared with the drive Beelze generated when he first met her, this was nothing and could not cause an emotional outburst. ¡°That is not something someone like you should care about. We are going to speak to the mayor.¡± Vina¡¯s gaze changed for an instant as she saw the evident apathy of Cain. She hoped to distract the duo for a moment and stir the conversation away, but things had a rocky start. ¡°I am sorry, Mayor Clacius is currently in an important meeting and can not be disturbed. I can arrange some company for the two of you as you wait. I am sure the trip from the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy was boring, and you would want to have some fun.¡± ¡®Another delay.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes grew cold as he saw the woman¡¯s scheme. ¡°I was not asking permission.¡± Cain grabbed the woman¡¯s shoulder and moved her out of his way before barging into the mayor¡¯s office along with Levi. As soon as the duo entered the office, their expressions grew solemn. There were already two people inside, one fat man sitting behind a desk, presumably the mayor, and another standing by his side. It was the second man that made them nervous, and once Cain scanned him, he saw that he was a Level 4 Wave Warrior! Cain took a deep breath and pushed his focus to its peak as he smiled. ¡®Time to shine.¡¯ Chapter 48 Chapter 48: Fear and coldness As soon as the fat man noticed the duo barge into his office, a sharp light appeared in his eyes. Mayor Clacius¡¯ Wave Talent and fear of battle made it he barely reached Level 2, but that was also a testament to his sharp mind. Or else, there is no way he would have become the mayor of a city with almost a million people with such poor personal strength. Cain and Levi¡¯s mission consisted of hunting down a group of criminals that broke into the city¡¯s armory, stole military goods, and killed a guard. All that took place two days ago, and the criminals had since vanished into the forest beyond the city¡¯s walls. Rouk City had soldiers and a well-structured police force, as one would expect. Still, while they were enough to keep order inside the walls, sending them after the criminals into the forest would result in significant casualties. Not to mention that it could provoke chaos among the city¡¯s population. The Imperial Military Force handled all problems beyond a city¡¯s scope to avoid unnecessary losses. Those missions helped train their soldiers in other aspects beyond the battlefield, so it was a win-win situation. The fact they were detected and forced to use violence made it clear that the criminals were beneath Level 4, which is why the higher-ups assigned the mission to cadets. As the mayor, Clacius should have been doing everything in his power to assist the cadets so that they would resolve the crime in the shortest amount of time possible, but anyone could see by now that things were not so simple. Although Cain and Levi looked imposing with their Wave Armors, there was no fear in Clacius¡¯ eyes. The Godslayer Humankind Empire had rules, and even if not, there was still the Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior by his side. ..... ¡®Damm brats, how dare they barge into my office like that.¡¯ Clacius was furious but did not dare his emotions to show themselves and greeted the duo with a cordial smile. ¡®Those Wave Artifact are definitely at the High Bronze grade, with would make sense for scions, but it is odd for someone of the Jarken Family to take a mission like this one. Those of powerful Noble Families usually disdain anything that would require investigation and the likes.¡¯ All those thoughts crossed Clacius¡¯ mind when the squad leader guarding the gate informed him that Zamir Jarken had marched into the city. Although part of him did not believe the duo, he needed to be careful as the wrath of the count¡¯s son was not something he could endure. That is why he had already crafted a plan to search for the truth, and even if the duo were not lying, it would buy him time. Unfortunately for Clacius, before he could open his mouth, Cain marched toward him and slammed his desk with so much strength that it almost broke it. ¡°How dare you make us wait like that?¡± Clacius was slightly surprised, but that sudden outburst did not prove anything. However, what happened next changed things. ¡°Less than two months ago, you beg the Jarken County to solve an internal problem, yet now you dare to make me wait. You really know how to repay a favor!¡± Cain spoke with a voice full of certainty and arrogance. Although it was just a small phrase, it immediately changed the attitude of Clacius and the Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior. It was not that they cared about the favor, but the fact that the cadet knew about it meant that he was privy to secret deals between Rouk City and Jarken County. Cain was still furious on the outside, but internally, he was thrilled. After using Zamir¡¯s name, he immediately asked Apex to dig up secret information between Rouk City and Jarken County. The System Spirit focused all the power of [Basic Hacking] tool on that task, and just as the duo got out of the military truck and headed to the City Hall, he got that information. ¡°Every minute you make us wait is another minute those criminals have to run. Are you ready to answer for your sins to my father if we fail our mission!?¡± Even with his voice distorted, Cain made a perfect copy of the tone Zamir used when they first met. Clacius¡¯ face grew pale as he heard that threat. He could not bare to offend a scion, much less a Godslayer Humankind Empire¡¯s Count. ¡°There... there is no need to do that. I had just canceled my previous appointment when I learned that Young Lord had come into my city. Vina will guide you to the crime scene, and I will send a detailed report of the events of that day to your A.I. Chip immediately.¡± Clacius did not dare to delay and called the woman, who walked into the room shortly with surprise on her face. Cain could see that Vina was confused by the sudden change in Clacius¡¯ attitude toward the crime, but he did not care. While furious at the mayor¡¯s corruption, he did not have the luxury of time. ¡°Hmph, you should have done that from the beginning. I wonder how someone so incompetent as you got a mayor¡¯s position.¡± Cain left those final words as he and Levi walked away under Vina¡¯s guidance. Despite being insulted, Clacius only smiled toward Cain. However, rage appeared on his face once the doors to his office were closed. ¡°Has everything been taken care of?¡± ¡°We took care of all the visual evidence and tracks but did not complete the decontamination process. It required a total of seventy-two hours, so we were forced to leave the job half done.¡± The Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior spoke in a solemn tone. A sharp light appeared in Clacius¡¯ eyes as he heard that. After a few seconds, he took a deep breath of air and relaxed. ¡°That should be more than enough. I refuse to believe that a couple of brats could solve it. Still, it is better to be cautious. If they find anything, we will erase any trace of our involvement. I assume you know what to do in that case.¡± Clacius¡¯ eyes were cold as he uttered those words, just like those of the Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior. Chapter 49 Chapter 49: Intelligence Cain and Levi follow Vina to a large building less than ten minutes from City Hall. Two guards were at the entrance but moved away once they saw the woman and allowed the trio to enter. On the outside, the armory resembled a little one-story building, but once they entered, Cain understood that it was an underground facility with many sublevels. The trio took the elevator and went down one floor. As soon as the gates opened, Cain and Levi saw a corridor with large shelves containing all sorts of boxes. Each of them was tightly closed, and the only designation was a barcode, making it hard for anyone to know what was inside. Vina was about to speak when a loud and cold voice interrupted her. ¡°Leave!¡± Cain did not even bother to turn to the woman as he shouted that order. He and Levi then walked to the place where the murder took place. A flash of rage appeared on Vina¡¯s face as she stared at the duo¡¯s back. As Mayor Clacius¡¯ assistant, she enjoyed quite a bit of power in the city, yet Cain treated her as an annoyance. ..... However, no matter how angry she was, the woman did not dare to defy them. Even if she did not count their background, she was just a Level 1 Essence Wave Warrior, and either could kill her. She returned to the elevator and left the duo alone. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw the woman leave. Of course, they were not alone as several cameras were on the walls. He was sure that the fat mayor saw every movement they made. Unfortunately for them, Cain already had a way to handle that. If they were outside, it would have been more complicated, but since they were inside, Apex could use the [Basic Hacking] tool to trick the cameras, showing made-up footage. ¡°We can speak freely for the time being. I have hacked the cameras, and we will be fine if we don¡¯t move too much.¡± Levi was slightly surprised to hear that, but it all made sense. Like in the Old World, there were hackers in the Godslayer Humankind Empire. ¡°So that is how you learn that information about Jarken County. Well done. Since time is short, let¡¯s research the place and see if we find any clues.¡± ¡°There is no need for that. We will find nothing visible to the naked eye. That fat asshole might seem incompetent on the outside, but he sure is crafty. He definitely erased all visual evidence and tracks.¡± Levi¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard that. He would have to be a fool not to see that Clacius was trying to hide something, but people always make mistakes and might find something if they look carefully. Cain knew that Levi would be doubtful of his analysis, so he proceeded to explain things. ¡°This is not the first time they do this sort of thing. Rouk City can be considered a warehouse for the Lightning Imperial Fort, so it is not odd that many materials are stored here. No matter what type of organization, one can always expect some level of corruption. Some losses from time to time would not raise suspicion as long the culprit hides their tracks and is not too brazen. Clacius is in the perfect position to do that, and since there have not been incidents reported in the past, it is easy to see that he knew to hide them. Of course, the lack of reports could also mean that no one stole anything, but there is no way that greedy ball of grease would not do it.¡± Surprise appeared in Levi¡¯s eyes as he heard all that. He trusted his intelligence and was confident he could arrive at that conclusion given enough time, but never as fast as Cain did. ¡°Then this time was different because...¡± ¡°The folder with the investigation Clacius sent us is mostly useless. Video surveillance did not capture anything, and the witness reports are full of contradictions. The only helpful thing is the information about the victim. He was a man named Mark Junson, a Level 1 Wave Warrior. According to the schedule, a woman named Karen Finner should have guarded this level that night, but she conveniently reported being sick at the last minute. Therefore no one should have been here, but a human error put Mark Junson on guard duty at this level that night. The higher-ups could turn a blind eye to some goods gone missing, but not the death of a guard. That incident forced Clacius to report the theft and homicide. Had he not done it, he could have lost his position as mayor.¡± The surprise in Levi¡¯s eyes only grew stronger. Although the Godslayer Humankind worshiped brute strength above everything, intelligence was still worthy of respect and admiration. ¡°I must admit that I am impressed. You have a tremendous scheming mind. It makes me wonder just what kind of background you have.¡± Levi smiled. He was curious but was smart enough not to ask about it. Everybody had their secrets, and he was not the exception. When Cain heard that compliment, an odd smile appeared on his face. Although his father taught him a lot, none of it was related to investigations and the like. Those skills were related to his state as a Reincarnator. ¡®I wonder just who I was in my past life?¡¯ That was a question Cain had been pondering from the moment Apex revealed the truth about his dreams. Still, Cain did not lose too much time on unnecessary thoughts and focused again. ¡°Anyway, Mark Junson was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Investigating him or his acquaintances would be useless.¡± Cain¡¯s voice could sound cold and detached as he spoke about the victim, but he did not find it odd. Why would he be sad about the death of someone he had never met? ¡°Since the fatso handled all visual evidence and tempered everything else, what do we do now?¡± Levi did not have a problem handing Cain the lead in this part of the mission. If the other party excelled in something, why get in the way? Of course, not everybody thought that way and was capable of such maturity. Many would rather do a mediocre job and take all the glory than share the spotlight. Cain¡¯s helmet vanished, showing his face just before his Wave Cloak manifested. He pushed his focus to its peak and used Wave Focus. Levi saw how Cain¡¯s Astral Wave began concentrating around the nose. Even if his wisdom did not reach that of the Reincarnator, he was still smart enough to understand what was happening. ¡®Visual evidence is easy to handle, but particles in the air that form a scent are harder to erase.¡¯ After almost a minute and having used a great amount of his Astral Wave, Cain opened his eyes, and a sharp light appeared in them. ¡°I found it.¡± Chapter 50 Chapter 50: Two vs fifteen (I) Mayor Clacius stood at the gates of Rouk City with a large smile as he waved the military truck leaving. There was a poisonous contempt on that smile, but there was also genuine happiness. After wandering around the armory for almost ten minutes, spending a few hours searching the city, and going through witness statements, Cain and Levi decided to give up and leave. Of course, Mayor Clacius kept his facade of a fearful civil servant and accompanied the duo to the exit. ¡®Hahaha, fucking brats. You came waving your background, yet leave with your tail between your legs.¡¯ Cain and Levi had no idea what Clacius was thinking, although they could get an idea. But, none of them cared as they readied themselves inside the military truck. Once Cain and Levi were beyond the scope of Rouk City¡¯s surveillance, the duo jumped out of the moving vehicle and into the forest. The military truck was racing at almost 400km/h. Still, they landed without problem beneath the cover of the trees. Cain had found the criminals¡¯ scent and could easily track them, but if he hinted that he had a way to solve the crime, there was no way to say what Clacius would do. That is why he and Levi performed that small show before leaving. ..... Even after the duo jumped out, the military truck kept advancing. Neither Levi nor Cain knew of the reach Clacius had. While he couldn¡¯t influence the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy, there was the chance Rouk City¡¯s mayor could get intel on the vehicle¡¯s coordinates. Due to the central server of the Lightning Imperial Fort storing the military truck¡¯s data, not even Cain could hack it. That is why they would let it move on its own and only call it back after they finish the mission. Cain and Levi did not waste a moment before marching back to Rouk City, now under the camouflage of the forest. They moved at a shocking speed, easily surpassing the 100 km/h. They could move much faster if they wanted, but they would grow exhausted. In the Old World, the fastest human alive could reach a speed of approximately 50 km/h. Levi and Cain were Level 2 Astral Wave Warriors, and even without their Wave Cloak, they were more than six times faster. Cain stopped just as the duo was about two-thirds of the way back to Rouk City. His helmet vanished, and a focused expression appeared on his face. ¡°What is happening?¡± Levi knew they needed to return to Rouk City¡¯s edge so Cain could pick up the criminals¡¯ scent and, from there, make their way into their camp. ¡°It seems that luck has finally favored us. I picked up the scent. It seems that garbage is not too far away from here.¡± Levi smiled as he heard that, and then under Cain¡¯s guidance, the duo headed west for around a couple of hours. It was night by the time they approached a cave by the side of a large mountain. The duo stared at each other and nodded before making their best effort to hide their presence and slowly made their way into the cave¡¯s vicinity. It was almost half an hour before Cain and Levi returned to their previous position. Not wasting time, the duo shared the information they collected. ¡°What did you find?¡± Levi could see that Cain¡¯s eyes had a special glow, usually found in those with night vision, so he wanted to know his assessment first. ¡°There are a total of fifteen criminals. All of them are Essence Wave Warriors. Eight at Level 1, five at Level 2, and two at Level 3. Almost all suffer from meridian atrophy, so their battle strength is mediocre. However, one Level 3 is fully capable and has no sign of meridian atrophy.¡± Cain spoke all of it calmly, but he saw the shock in Levi¡¯s face. Although he could have hidden that information, this was a life-and-death situation, and failure was unacceptable. Of course, there was no way he would reveal his secrets, and he had already thought of an explanation. ¡°I have a Wave Artifact that helps me measure people¡¯s cultivation and the density of their Wave.¡± Levi¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard that. There are indeed Wave Artifacts with such functions, some even available in the Imperial Military Academy Network, but they were extremely expensive. He knew that Cain was hiding something but did not dig in. Levi knew that Cain had already shown him enough trust by sharing that information. ¡°Ok. Facing them head-on is not a good idea. We are Astral Wave Warriors, and thanks to our Wave Artifacts, we could overwhelm them if we take them by surprise. It seems they are preparing to leave in a large cargo truck, which I assume has the stolen goods. I will handle the two Level 3 Wave Warriors, and you will take care of the others. I propose we assault them while they are in motion. Taking advantage of the commotion, we strike fast and strong, neutralizing as many of them as possible in the shortest amount of time. What do you say?¡± Although Cain would be fighting thirteen Wave Warriors and Levi only two, those at Levels 1 and 2 with atrophied meridians would be unable to overcome his armor¡¯s defenses as long as he kept Wave Burst active. On the other hand, the Level 3 Wave Warriors could do much damage, especially the one that is in peak condition. Cain nodded without hesitation, and then the duo began focusing on their plan¡¯s details. Chapter 51 Chapter 51: Two vs fifteen (II) Deep into the night, a large truck began to move out of a cave less than a day away from Rouk City. Despite its size, the vehicle made no noise and silently moved through the forest. Two men were sitting in the cab. One was very old with a large scar over his left eye, while the other resembled a middle-aged man with dark hair. Unlike the elder¡¯s stoic expression, the younger smiled as he watched the trees passing by. ¡°You sure are relaxed. It is your fault that we need to move so fast. You could have incapacitated the guard but immediately went for the kill.¡± The older man spoke harshly, but the middle-aged man kept smiling. ¡°Of course that I ended him. Although it was unlikely, he might have caught a glimpse of my face. Unlike you, I don¡¯t intend to waste my life as a lowly criminal. My only goal is to get enough resources to enter Level 4 and get a comfortable life as a guard in some Noble Family.¡± The middle-aged man spoke mockingly and did not bother to hide his disdain. ¡°Haha, what family would hire someone with your taste as a guard.¡± The old man¡¯s special emphasis on the word taste hinted there was a hidden meaning to it, and the cold reaction of the middle-aged man affirmed it. ¡°Hmph, I never leave evidence, and you should watch your mouth unless you want to become one.¡± A tense atmosphere formed between the duo as the middle-aged man issued that threat, but then, out of nowhere, their eyes widened as they felt a powerful aura coming to them. ..... Before the duo could do anything, a man covered in blade armor and enveloped in flames reached the truck¡¯s cab. And at the same time, another man with black scale armor attacked the trailer. Cain used Light Boots¡¯ Burst and Kinetic Gauntlets¡¯ Kinetic Blast to achieve an immense speed and struck the truck¡¯s trailer with such strength that it deformed it. Levi¡¯s body was like a giant fireball that crashed with the cab at more than 400 km/h. The cadets¡¯ military truck could have easily resisted an impact like that, but the criminal¡¯s truck was like a dried branch. With Cain hitting it on the right and Levi on the left, the truck made an ugly sound before splitting in two. The trailer only rolled a few times, but Levi sent the cab holding the two Level 3 Wave Warriors flying away for almost twenty meters. Levi and Cain glanced at each other briefly before flashing to their targets. The red-eyed youth had already decided to take care of both Level 3 Wave Warriors, and since both of them were in the cab working as lookouts, it made everything easier. Cain was impressed by Levi¡¯s attack. The truck¡¯s cabin must weigh around fifteen tons, so one could imagine the strength behind that lunge for it to fly for more than a dozen meters. Still, Cain did not let his thoughts wander and focused on the battle ahead. He jumped over the trailer and put his hands over its metallic surface before using Lightning Conversion. The Astral Wave on Cain¡¯s bursting Wave Cloak transformed into lightning that soon spread inside the trailer. He did not contain at all and unleashed the full power of his skill while making sure the charge would not disperse in the ground. Although the mission would end with a better score if they managed to trap the criminals alive, neither Cain nor Levi were naive enough to hold back during a life-and-death battle, especially when outnumbered. ¡°?Boom!¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as someone blasted the trailer¡¯s doors, and six figures flashed out from it. It was not a surprise for him that the Level 2 Essence Wave Warriors could make it, but it seemed that one of the eight at Level 1 managed to endure the crash and electric waves. If the rest of the Level 1 Wave Warriors had the strength to fight, they would have left the trailer when the doors were busted open, so Cain stopped sending his lightning and flashed to the group. Before any criminal could get over the shock and get used to the dark surroundings, Cain had already appeared among them. He sent a vicious punch to the throat of Level 2 Essence Wave Warrior with the highest stats. The Level 2 Wave Warrior could not even scream, and if it weren¡¯t for his Wave Cloak, that attack would have broken his throat, drowning him in his own blood. ¡®One down, five to go.¡¯ That thought was the only one to cross Cain¡¯s mind as he saw the Essence Wave Warrior falling to the ground. When the other criminals saw that, they immediately triggered Wave Burst to the maximum they could achieve and moved away from Cain. An Essence Wave Warrior would always put some distance when fighting an Astral Wave Warrior. The criminals would then attempt to surround Cain before firing all their spells. Their strategy was good, but they were too slow. Before the five Essence Wave Warriors could move more than twenty meters away, Cain used his Light Boots¡¯ Burst to reach the second strongest criminal. The criminal was able to react this time, forming a cross with his arms before a layer of dense ice covered them. Regular attacks would have required a few seconds to cross that cover, allowing the other criminals time to fire their spells. However, Cain only sneered as his right Kinetic Gauntlet glowed, allowing him to fire a Kinetic Blast point-blank in the ice shield. ¡°Crack!¡± The ice shield shattered, as did the bones in the Level 2 Wave Warrior¡¯s arms before being sent flying away. ¡®Two down.¡¯ Chapter 52 Chapter 52: Two vs fifteen (III) Cain had just sent the Level 2 Wave Warrior with the ice shield flying away as the earth beneath his feet began to liquefy. He was honestly surprised that one of the criminals could do that. The criminal that did it was the only Level 1 Wave Warrior conscious. He had pierced his hands in the ground and used his Essence Wave to control the earth and release the spell beneath Cain¡¯s legs. ¡®His Wave Talent is mediocre, but it seems his mastery over the Four Basic Wave Arts is the strongest of the six.¡¯ Cain had initially thought that the Level 1 Wave Warrior would be the easiest, which is why he focused his attention on the strongest of those at Level 2. Unfortunately, that proved to be a mistake. The other criminals smiled, ready to rain down their spells on him. ¡®I need to be more careful. Well, it is not like I can not overcome it.¡¯ As those thoughts crossed Cain¡¯s mind, his Astral Wave had already filled the Light Boots, allowing him to stomp with so much strength that he was able to overcome the swampy ground. That was not all, as he directed his body toward the Level 1 Essence Wave Warrior. The smile on the criminal¡¯s face vanished, and before he could summon a wall of earth, Cain¡¯s body clashed against him. ..... Cain¡¯s weight with his armor surpassed 100 kg, and his Wave Cloak, in a state of almost 200% Wave Burst, exponentially enhanced the hardness of his body. One could imagine the fate of the Level 1 Essence Wave Warrior after colliding with that at a speed of over 200 km/h. Cain sent the man flying over 20 meters, and whether he was still alive or not was hard to say. However, that did not matter to him, and he sent a kick to a middle-aged criminal that was near him. Unfortunately for Cain, a fireball clashed on his chest before he could connect the attack. The criminals smiled as they saw that and were sure the attack would incapacitate the black demon long enough for them to counterattack. Nevertheless, their hopes shattered the next second. That fireball that could have exploded an Old World¡¯s car barely pushed Cain five meters before this one stamped the ground and regained control over his body. That fireball was powerful, and it could have done real damage to any other newly Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior, but not only was Cain in a state of Wave Burst, but his Nullity Armor focused on defense. Cain felt a metallic taste on his mouth, and viciousness appeared in his eyes as he flashed back to the fray. ¡°Fucking monster, die!¡± One of the criminals shouted in fear as his Wave morphed into five arrows of air and shot toward Cain. Cain did not back down or stop his march. Instead, he dodged the arrows by getting down on all fours and, in that position, continued marching forward. A criminal saw with horror how Cain¡¯s body propelled toward him like a spear. A shoulder collided with his stomach, making him puke blood and thrusting him to the ground, right before a punch almost cracked his skull and sent him into unconsciousness. Cain did not lose his momentum and jumped forward, sending a kick into a criminal that was trying to fire a spear of earth. With that one, he had already incapacitated five criminals. He then turned to the last Level 2 Essence Wave Warrior and dashed toward this one. ¡°Wait, I surrender!¡± The criminal screamed and raised his hands, signaling he no longer wanted to fight but was answering his plea of a fist to the temple. Cain did not contain himself. That punch sent the criminal crashing to the ground, and there was no doubt this one would suffer a severe concussion. ¡°Well done, brat. That garbage was trying to mobilize his Essence Wave quietly and would have surely attacked if you stopped.¡± Cain heard Apex¡¯s voice in his mind and nodded. He did not know whether the criminal was willing to surrender or trying to trick him, but there was no way he would lower his guard in a life and death battle just because of some words. He acted the same when he fought the Hell Devil female in the Military Academy Secret Trial. When it came to an enemy, their race made no difference for him. After taking care of the six criminals that managed to escape the trailer and using the [Basic Scan Force Field] to ensure the others were unconscious, he turned toward the battle between Levi and the two Level 3 Essence Wave Warriors. Immediately, Cain adopted a solemn expression as he saw the might of that battle. The old man had a large staff that allowed him to fire earth spells fast, while the middle-aged man had a blade bathed in a green wind. On the other hand, flames flowed through Levi¡¯s armor, and explosions would blast from his feet, allowing him to move all over the battlefield. Chapter 53 Chapter 53: Victory Levi¡¯s armor had small lacerations and minor indentations, but they were nothing. On the other hand, the two Level 3 Essence Wave Warriors were full of wounds. The old man had the left side of his body thoroughly burned, and the left arm was so twisted that you could see bones through the skin. Levi provoked most of those wounds when he clashed against the truck¡¯s cabin and sent it flying away. The middle-aged criminal was luckier, as he was on the opposite side of the clash. Still, Levi had burned half his face and left a fiery fist print in his chest. Unlike the other criminals, the duo not only was at a higher level, but they also had Wave Artifacts that allowed them to fire spells faster and with greater precision and power. Yet, they had barely been able to touch Levi all this time. Levi¡¯s fists and legs would shoot explosions that allowed his offensive power and speed to reach an incredible level. Those were not effects from his Wave Artifacts but a skill that perfectly used the power of his fire Lineage. The middle-aged man saw how Levi flashed toward him, and the power of wind burst around his body, allowing him to move back at great speed. That was not all, as a wall of reinforced earth appeared between them. Of course, the responsible for the wall of earth was the old criminal. Although they did not like each other, they were smart enough to understand that working together was the only way they could win. ..... The middle-aged man smiled as the green wind on his Wave Artifact grew more potent, ready to unleash a barrage of wind blades. Unfortunately, the duo had already used that trick before. Levi smiled, and instead of pushing through the earth wall, he flashed to the side toward the old criminal. Panic appeared on the old criminal¡¯s face as he saw Levi¡¯s imposing figure coming toward him. Creating a powerful earth wall took time, which he did not have, so instead, he used his Essence Wave to shoot earth spearheads. Levi raised his guard and gathered most of his Astral Wave in his arms through Wave Focus, allowing him to take the spearheads head-on. The middle-aged man also panicked as he saw Levi getting near the old man, but there was nothing he could do in such little time. In a last desperate act, the old man gathered his Essence Wave around his staff, making this one glow with a brown light, and waved it toward Levi¡¯s head. Essence Wave enhanced the staff, and sharp earth spikes also emerged from it. A direct strike could surpass Levi¡¯s armor defenses. However, before the old man could wave it down, an explosion emerged from Levi¡¯s feet. His staff was still in the air when Levi clashed against him, shattering many of his bones. The middle-aged man¡¯s eyes widened as he saw the old man flying through the air while puking blood. ¡®I need to run!¡¯ That was the only thought that crossed his mind as he saw his comrade¡¯s fate. To take care of the old man, Levi had gotten far from the middle-aged criminal, giving this one a chance to run, and since he specialized in wind spells, his agility was impressive. Sadly for the middle-aged criminal, a figure emerged from his blind spot and dashed to his back. He had been so focused on Levi that he failed to perceive the sneak attack until it was too late. ¡®DAMMIT!¡¯ There was nothing he could do other than try to mobilize as much of his Essence Wave to his back as fast as possible. Cain¡¯s punch landed point-blank in the middle-aged man and used the last bit of Astral Wave left to fire a Kinetic Blast. ¡°AHHH!¡± A cry of agony emerged from the middle-aged criminal as he felt his spine cracking under the Kinetic Blast. Had he not mobilized most of his Essence Wave, the attack could have killed him. And things only worsened as the attack sent him flying in Levi¡¯s direction. Still mid-air, the man received a kick from Levi, which cracked his skull and knocked him down. ¡°Well done. Luckily you finished your side fast, or else that man could have escaped.¡± Cain only nodded to Levi¡¯s words. Although they had decided to divide the targets, he would obviously come to help. Of course, since he took part in the defeat of the Level 3 Wave Warrior, his completion percentage would increase, distributing more of the mission¡¯s reward toward him. If Levi had been the type of person that would rather fail a mission than lose Imperial Military Credits, Cain¡¯s interference could have been a problem. Without wasting time, the duo began gathering the criminals, and then Cain stared at Levi with an inquiring gaze. Since this mission involved capturing criminals, the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy had to give them Sleep Tiaras. A Sleep Tiara was a special type of Wave Artifact that could induce a deep state of unconsciousness. Levi should have obtained it when he took the mission. Levi extended his right hand, and Cain saw how a red ring glowed before several Sleep Tiaras appeared out of nowhere. ¡°Space ring!¡± Cain was surprised to see that Levi had a space ring. That was a Wave Artifact without offensive power but useful in and out of battles. ¡°There is no need to be surprised. For truly powerful Noble Families, these are so normal that they give it to any child.¡± Levi acted like nothing and began to put the Sleep Tiaras on the criminals. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard that, but he did not attempt to dig for information and helped with the tiaras. The Wave Artifacts began to glow once in place, using the Wave of the criminals to work. That would have been enough, but Cain and Levi went the extra mile and dislocated the criminals¡¯ arms and knees. Sleep Tiaras could fail, but without working extremities, they could neither fight nor run. Just like that, Cain and Levi went against fifteen Wave Warriors and came out victorious without suffering significant wounds. Chapter 54 Chapter 54: Bitter end After taking care of the criminals, ensuring they could not pose a threat or contact anyone, Cain and Levi removed several metallic containers from the truck¡¯s trailer. Levi scanned the barcodes and confirmed that those were the ones stolen from Rouk City. A smile appeared on the duo¡¯s faces once they confirmed that. Now that Cain and Levi had apprehended the criminals and recovered the stolen goods, their mission was over. They needed to return to the Lightning Imperial Fort and reclaim their reward. ¡°It will take some time for the military truck to reach this place, and they will not go anywhere. We should check the cave where they came from.¡± Cain could see the greedy light in Levi¡¯s eyes, and the same thing appeared in his. The criminals were in a hurry to escape and might have left something valuable hidden inside the cave. Although neither Cain nor Levi dared to think of taking something from the containers, the possessions of these criminals were entirely different. Levi¡¯s space ring already contained the staff and sword from the Level 3 Essence Wave Warriors. Levi and Cain had large smiles as they flashed toward the cave. Even if the chances were small, the idea of great wealth enticed the youths. ..... However, the moment they entered the cave, the smiles of Cain and Levi were replaced by utter shock. The cave was mostly empty, except for two bodies. The criminals had thoroughly burned them, leaving nothing but their bones. Cain and Levi had seen their fair share of death, so it was odd for some corpses to affect them that way. Their minds froze because those bodies were small, really small. Cain took a deep breath and attempted to calm himself as he used the [Pseudo-Cellular Analysis] tool on the corpses. Just as the information was about to reach him, he heard Apex¡¯s voice in his mind. ¡°Are you sure you want to know?¡± Apex¡¯s words only made Cain¡¯s suspicions grow, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes as he nodded. After obtaining the confirmation, the System Spirit no longer interfered. [Scan of targets completed. ¡ª Both corpses belong to female humans. The bone analysis puts one¡¯s age at ten years and the other at eleven. Severe damage to the pelvic bones on both bodies. Most likely the result of ra...] ¡®Enough!¡¯ Cain shouted in his mind, not letting the Absolute Life Forms System continue. His heart beat faster and faster as a sense of absolute bloodlust invaded his mind. Cain was trying to control himself as the desire to kill burned in his veins. Yet, when he detected a scent in the bodies, his emotions went out of control, clouding his mind. Bloodlust overflowed his eyes as he flashed out of the cave. He reached the criminals very fast and immediately detected the one whose scent had impregnated those bodies. Cain appeared next to the unconscious middle-aged Level 3 Essence Wave Warrior and stomped his head. ¡°Crack!¡± The sound of bones shattering echoed through the forest. The man was still alive, but his face was completely deformed. Nevertheless, that was far from enough to calm Cain, who raised his leg again, intending to shatter the middle-aged man¡¯s skull with the next stomp. Just as Cain was about to kill the criminal, someone grabbed his shoulder and threw him back. Cain regained control over his body immediately. The bloodlust in his eyes exploded as he saw Levi standing in his way. Levi¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw Cain¡¯s killing intent. The feeling he now got from the blue-eyed youth was that of a feral beast. Deep down, Cain did not want to contain that rage. That is why his emotional outburst was so strong as to be willing to go through Levi to kill the middle-aged man. Levi frowned as he saw where things were going. He could win against Cain since he still had around twenty percent of his Astral Wave left. However, the battle would not be easy, and he was certainly not willing to risk it for someone that disgusted him. ¡°Death is too easy. Remember the price people like this garbage pays once convicted.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he heard Levi¡¯s words, and a cold smile slowly emerged on his face as the bloodlust in his eyes vanished. The Godslayer Humankind Empire was a well-developed civilization, and different crimes carried different sentences. Theft and the likes where no one perished would only give you a few years of prison and forced labor. As for things like what the middle-aged man did to those children, the price for that was something that the Old World would punish with death or at least a life sentence. The Godslayer Humaking Empire would not waste resources incarcerating garbage until they died of old age. However, they would neither kill them. Their fate was much, much worse. Cain had forgotten that fact due to the rage that clouded his mind, but once Levi mentioned it, he calmed himself. The desire to kill was still there, but it could not overcome his willpower. Clarity returned to Cain¡¯s eyes after a few seconds, and he sighed. ¡°Ah, I am sorry for that. I could not...¡± At that point, Cain made a slight pause, and resolution appeared in his eyes as he corrected himself. ¡°I did not want to hold back.¡± Cain knew he had made a mistake by not resisting the emotional outburst but would not use excuses. He would learn from his mistake and accept the consequences. Levi stood silent for a moment before also sighing and shaking his head. ¡°I understand where that came from, so let us pretend nothing happened. After all, I would have done the same if I thought this garbage would not regret being alive.¡± Levi did not criticize Cain. The duo then returned to the cave, took out the corpses, and dug a grave for them near a large tree. In the Godslayer Humankind Empire, being buried in the forest where your body would return to the world was considered a good final rest. The military truck reached their location an hour later, and the duo loaded the container along with the criminals before getting in the cabin and setting off. Cain and Levi remained silent the entire way back into the Lightning Imperial Fort. The excitement they felt after completing their first mission was over. The only thing either could think about were those two small bodies. Chapter 55 Chapter 55: How to deal with cancer The military truck containing Levi and Cain did not have a problem returning to the Lightning Imperial Fort. After advancing a little deeper into the area restricted to cadets, the duo got down. Levi used his A.I. Chip to give a detailed report about the mission, including the behavior of Mayor Clacius, along with the state of the stolen goods and criminals. Then, the military truck moved on its own, heading to the Titan Tower, where the higher-ups would check the containers and interrogate the criminals before clearing the mission and sending the duo their reward. ¡°I was thinking of handing over the two Wave Artifacts to the military academy. They will give us half their market value, but since we obtained them during a mission, those Imperial Military Credits would count in the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy Ranking. Of course, if you have a better idea, I am listening.¡± Levi explained to Cain his plan to handle the staff and sword they got. Since neither was an Essence Wave Warrior, they did not have use for them. Cain could use Apex¡¯s connections in the Godslayer Humankind Network to barter the two Wave Artifacts, but in the end, he preferred Levi¡¯s idea. He already had full armor, gauntlets, and boots. Although he could obtain pills, drugs, and cultivation resources through barter, he was not willing to consume shady substances from an unknown origin. ..... ¡°Fine, let¡¯s do it your way.¡± ¡°Good. Merit Ruler will automatically distribute Imperial Military Credits, so we don¡¯t have to worry about it. I will be going now.¡± Levi shook Cain¡¯s hand before departing, leaving the second alone. Cain did not dally and made his way home. Although his face showed little, his mind was in turmoil. No matter how hard he tried, the image of those two bodies did not leave him. Things only grew worse as he pictured the horrible fate they endured before their deaths. ¡®Apex, why did the report sent by Rouk City¡¯s Mayor not mention those children?¡¯ Cain heard the voice of the System Spirit immediately, but it did not give him an answer. ¡°You already know why.¡± Apex¡¯s voice was cold and detached. One could misunderstand that the System Spirit did not care about those children, but the fact that he showed coldness told a lot to Cain. And the System Spirit was also right in that Cain already knew the answer to the question. It was just that he loathed it so much that part of him refused to accept it. ¡®Clacius could not hide the death of an Essence Wave guard, but there was no problem if he made some children disappear from an orphanage.¡¯ ¡°That is right, that grease ball could have just altered some documents, and it would be like those children never existed.¡± Cain clenched his fists as he kept walking to his residence. The idea of Mayor Clacius enjoying the pleasure of life while condemning little children to a horrible fate made his blood boil. ¡®What exactly will happen to the criminals?¡¯ Cain had an idea, but Apex would surely be more informed as he spent all his time investigating all aspects of the Godslayer Humankind Network. ¡°According to my understanding, the Imperial Investigation Force is in charge of criminal investigations related to Wave Cultivators. Among their methods is the ability to read minds, so there is no way that garbage could hide any information. There is a good chance they will find some relation between the Mayor of Rouk City and criminal activities, but I doubt that will make a difference.¡± ¡®What? Why!? How could they turn a blind eye to something like this!?¡¯ Cain could not believe that the Godslayer Humankind Empire could be so rotten as to allow something like what happened to those children to go unpunished. ¡°It is not so simple. Clacius surely hid his involvement very well, and even if there were suspicions, the Imperial Investigation Force would only act if they found irrefutable evidence. After all, that fat bastard is nothing, but the one above him must have some background. In the end, a combination of apprehension and lack of evidence will allow Clacius to get away with it. They will, at most, send a letter of reprimand, trying to scare him into not doing it again. I suppose you could find some consolation in knowing that the middle-aged man that harmed those children will become a Tier 0 Criminal along with all the other garbage you captured.¡± According to the severity of their crimes, the Godslayer Humankind Empire classified people according to tiers, and becoming a Tier 0 Criminal was the worst punishment possible. The Empire modified them with drugs and machinery, transforming them into living puppets useful for dangerous and even suicidal tasks. Such behavior would have drawn outrage in the Old World, but no one would dare to defy the Godslayer Humankind Empire for a bunch of killers and rapists. People like that, who would choose to fight for the rights of the lowest type of garbage while the entire race was in a war for survival, were nothing but clowns. Since they did not value the life of their race¡¯s children, they lost the right to call themselves humans. That is the way of the Godslayer Humankind! Cain knew that all those criminals would regret having been born. That is why he overcame his desire to kill them on the spot back in the forest. After hearing everything Apex said, Cain began to walk slower and slower until he finally stopped. The guard¡¯s death at the hands of the criminals did not truly bother him. That person was an adult and mature enough to understand the consequences of choosing that sort of job. Yet, children were different. They were innocent and should be protected until they could bear the weight of their decisions. ¡®So, I should just accept the judgment of the higher-ups and pretend I don¡¯t know the part that the bastard had in those little girls¡¯ death?¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes were full of murderous rage, scaring all the cadets walking near him. Apex did not reply immediately, and it was only once Cain¡¯s wrath was about to explode that he spoke. ¡°There are people who behave no differently than cancerous cells. They consume everything good and never have enough.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard that, and his attention focused entirely on the System Spirit. ¡°Only fools and cowards think that you can reason with cancer. There is only one path. Kill it and everything infected by it!¡± Those words full of killing intent calmed Cain, and a cold smile appeared. ¡®Apex, hack into Clacius¡¯ agenda. I want to know every move he makes and when he is most vulnerable. Also, search the Godslayer Humankind Network for a Wave Artifact that could hide my identity and any trace of my presence.¡¯ ¡°I will begin the hacking immediately. As for Wave Artifacts of that kind, some in the form of helmets can hide your appearance from most high-level recording devices and even alter your Astral Wave in some way.¡± Apex was extremely efficient and followed Cain¡¯s instructions without wasting time. ¡®Great. Please inform me when you complete your analysis of Clacius¡¯ patterns. As for the helmet, if you can, get one red.¡¯ Chapter 56 Chapter 56: Three types Cain returned to his room, and after paying his respect to his father¡¯s altar, he took a quick shower and went to sleep. Although he wanted to train, he needed to rest properly. In the following days, he spent every free moment training the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique. Using the Dark Race¡¯s blood still proved effective, allowing him to save the hearts for a higher cultivation step, where the amount of Astral Wave needed would be higher. Cain had decided to kill Clacius, but although taking care of that man in a one-on-one battle would be easy, there was no way a mayor would not have protection. He would likely have to face that Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior he saw in Clacius¡¯ office, so he needed to grow stronger. He had just woken up on Monday and was ready to march into the auditorium for his Wave Mastery class when a message arrived through the [A.I. Chip Module] [Saint of Killers, you have been awarded 950 Imperial Military Credits for fulfilling mission C-23. ¡ª Saint of Killers, you have been awarded 520 Imperial Military Credits for handing over Wave Artifacts found during mission C-23.] ..... Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard those messages and saw his Imperial Military Credits skyrocket. Part of the reason he gained so much was an extra reward for the criminals being captured alive. Besides, all missions that involved investigation had a bonus. Although seeing so many Imperial Military Credits was exciting, Cain did not let it go to his head. The mission paid a great deal, but you have to consider that they faced several Wave Warriors, and a wrong step could have meant their death. It did not take long for Cain to reach the auditorium, and he sat alongside Levi and Beelze. The trio made some small talk when Cain suddenly noticed someone. Cain glanced to a corner of the auditorium and saw a woman completely isolated. No noble or commoner wanted to be anywhere near her. Beelze and Levi noticed the coldness in Cain¡¯s eyes and turned to the woman. The first showed nothing, but the second released a small killing intent. The woman noticed their gazes but remained calm and kept looking forward. ¡°I assume that the two of you know her.¡± Beelze could see the coldness and killing intent, which incited her curiosity. ¡°Her name is Nira Kilor. I did not see her during last week¡¯s classes. Part of me thought she had found a way out of the military academy, but it seemed she had been recovering.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes focused on the woman¡¯s right side and saw a new arm where a stump used to be. Recovering a lost extremity was not impossible, but the amount of wealth needed was immense. Not to mention that the stronger your body was, the higher the price. Nira could count herself lucky since she trained the Essence Evolution Path of Power and was only a Level 2 Wave Warrior. ¡°Oh, so that is the infamous Nira Kilor. The one loathed by everybody.¡± Beelze did not have many friends, but even she heard the rumors about the treacherous cadet that sacrificed her friend to escape. ¡°Yes.¡± Cain nodded, but as he saw Nira sitting by herself, he felt odd. Of course, Cain did not feel guilty, sad, or anything else like that. If given a chance, he would have ended the woman. What bothered him was the cold and reserved aura he now felt from Nira. It was unlike her arrogant and impulsive personality in the Military Academy Secret Trial. ¡°She has become dangerous.¡± Cain was surprised to hear Apex¡¯s voice and frowned. ¡®That new arm must have drained a lot of vitality, affecting her cultivation. I¡¯m confident in killing her if we fight.¡¯ ¡°Brat, her battle power is not what makes it dangerous. In most places, you will find three types of people. There are those like you and the other two brats by your side. You don¡¯t hide your power, and while you don¡¯t seek the spotlight, you neither hide from it. Others like Lumir and Zamir are in constant pursuit of the spotlight, and they tend to overestimate their capacities. You will find many people like that in your path, but they are mostly fools. The third type could be considered the most dangerous. This type is the one that keeps a cold head and maintains a low profile, saving their strength until it is time to strike.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as a flash of enlightenment appeared in them. The trauma had turned Nira from the second type to the third, making her much more dangerous. ¡®I need to do something about her.¡¯ Cain was sure that Nira had not forgotten about him. Sadly, there was little he could do inside the Lightning Imperial Fort. Total silence reigned in the auditorium once Wink appeared. No one would dare to show disrespect to the mighty Wave Champion, who could unleash attacks faster than the speed of sound. ¡°I hope all of you have trained during these few days. Today we will focus only on Wave Burst. We will use the first half to test our Wave output. As for the second half, we will combine Wave Burst with Synergy Flow.¡± Wink said nothing else before making the cadets stand up and train. He would move through the auditorium, giving hints from time to time and fixing flaws of anyone having a hard time. As Wink told them, the first half was about improving the amount of Wave they could unleash. Cain¡¯s maximum was a 205% Wave Burst, while that of Levi¡¯s was 211%. Beelze was an Essence Wave Warrior, so she had a more challenging time in that art and only reached 178%. However, she proved to be much more talented than the other Essence Wave Warriors cadets since the second-best only achieved 161% Wave Burst. Wink gave the class a half-hour break before going to the second half. Using Synergy Flow with a normal Wave Cloak was already hard, but using it with a bursting Wave Cloak pushed everybody¡¯s concentration to the limit. Once the class ended, every cadet was both physically and mentally exhausted. Cain and Levi were sweating a lot, like everybody else. The duo and all the other males did not have a problem with it, but it was harder for women, as not only did they tend to care more about those things, but the sweat affected their clothes. Many males threw furtive glances at some women, doing their best to hide their lust, and the center of their attention was the one sitting to Cain¡¯s left. Sadly for all of them, Beelze continuously unleashed a cold breeze that kept her body clean. Still, she gave all those that looked at her a piercing gaze. Cain and Levi only shook their heads toward the other cadets. Once the class was over, the trio returned to their residences. Like that, the second class of Wave Mastery ended. Chapter 57 Chapter 57: Legio Eldritch Race Like usual, Cain returned to his residence after the class, where he dedicated all his free time to cultivating. The feeling of growing stronger was better than any game, so he had no problem spending his entire day on that. Cain continued training deep into the night until he finally went to bed and rested for the following day. He woke up with the first ray of sunlight and raced toward the auditorium, where he sat in his usual spot alongside Levi and Beelze. The trio did not have time for small talk as Razmun soon entered the auditorium and reached the podium. The dwarf-like teacher stood silent until the virtual screen manifested above him. ¡°The last class focused on the Infernus Daemon Race, and today we will do it on the Legio Eldritch Race.¡± Razmun had just finished talking when the virtual screen showed a group of life forms with appearances resembling the combination of insects and Old World¡¯s dinosaurs. Those creatures had a ferocious appearance, but they were all respectfully surrounding two individuals at the center of the horde. ..... One seems to be a two-and-a-half-meter male with four arms and a red shell covering most of his muscular body, including his face. The second had a smaller and slender body, with a bulging, ridged, elongated head that resembled very much that of an octopus. ¡°When it comes to the Legio Eldritch Race, there are two types of warriors, Eldritchs and Drones. The difference between these two groups is whether they have an ego and the ability to cultivate. Eldritchs represented less than ten percent of the entire race population, but since they are the ones with intelligence and wisdom, they are the leaders. Besides their individual fighting power, they can also control Drones, manipulating them as if they were an extension of themselves. Unlike most races, there is a striking difference between their males and females. Males had muscular four-armed bodies, while females had slender bodies and octopus-like heads. The difference does not end in their appearances, as males, while physically stronger, can control fewer Drones simultaneously. On the other hand, females had weaker bodies, but the number of Drones they could command was almost three times larger. Their lack of ego makes Legio Eldritch Race¡¯s Drones fearless killing machines. They will follow the commands of their Eldritch master without hesitation. Nevertheless, Drones have a fatal flaw. Without the control of an Eldritch, they are no different than wild beasts, with some types so savage that they kill each other. In a fight against Legio Eldritch Race members, the best path forward is to kill the Eldritchs instead of wasting time with the Drones. Of course, an Eldritch would not hesitate to sacrifice every Drone in their control to save their lives. There are more types of Eldritchs, like those in charge of generating the Drones, but you will never find them on the battlefield, so we will not waste our time with them.¡± After that explanation, Razmun began to describe the anatomy of every single Drone and that of the Eldritchs. He explained in detail the position of the heart and vital organs. The virtual screen also displayed all sorts of simulations, showing the cadets how to take advantage of their weak points and defend against attacks. Fighting against Eldritchs almost always meant fighting Drones, so unless your battle power could overwhelm the enemy, humans needed to form groups. Razmun also explained in detail the best battle formations against the Legio Eldritch Race. Cain¡¯s focus did not slip for a single second during the class. As he saw all that, he had to admit that he liked the male Eldritch¡¯s battle style. An overwhelming brute power while manipulating Drones to block the enemy¡¯s movements. ¡®Control everything with your mind.¡¯ When that thought appeared, a red light flashed through Cain¡¯s eyes, but it vanished instantly. After the class ended, Cain went back to his residence. He paid respects to his father¡¯s altar, but instead of starting his cultivation immediately, he entered the Imperial Military Academy Network and began to scroll through the missions. Tomorrow would be the Military Tactics class, and he would be free for the rest of the week, so he was planning his next move. Not much Dark Race¡¯s blood was left, so Cain needed cultivation resources. Although he still had the Dark Race¡¯s hearts, he wanted to save them for Level 3, where they would benefit him the most. In the end, Cain chose a mission that consisted in collecting special herbs used in the creation of drugs. The mission paid little, but it took place in a Tier 0 Dangers Zone where there would be a great deal of Wave Beast that he could hunt. Although Wave Beast¡¯s hearts would not be as good as Dark Race¡¯s hearts, they would be more than enough for a Level 2 Wave Warrior like Cain. Having secured the mission, Cain began with his cultivation. Chapter 58 Chapter 58: Deus Behemoth Race and Anima Mechanicus Race Cain sat alongside Levi and Beelze as Vice-Captain Josef entered the auditorium and reached the podium. He unleashed a fierce aura, shutting down any noise before starting with the class. ¡°The Godslayer Humankind is strong. Although someone like me would not dare to assume the full might of our power, you should know that a Duke controls each Sector. And there is no one with the title of Duke whose strength is beneath that of a Titan!¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he heard that. A Titan was someone whose supernatural powers defied logic. They could stand on the surface of the Old World¡¯s sun! The Godslayer Humankind Empire controlled the Gaia Continent and had 72 Sectors, meaning there were at least 72 Titans! ¡®Are we that powerful!?¡¯ Although that information was not news for many cadets coming from Noble Families, it came as a shock for someone like Cain. Before Cain could enjoy the feeling for long, Apex¡¯s voice echoed inside his mind. ¡°Hmph, brat, you felt proud of that measly number? If I were a member of the Dark Races, I would be pleased to hear that. It would mean I need to kill 72 individuals to end your entire race. ..... From what I have managed to gather, the population of the Godsalyer Humankind is more than forty trillion. Despite that massive population, the number that became Titans is not above one hundred. No matter how you see it, that is pathetic.¡± Cain frowned and clenched his fists as he felt irritated by Apex¡¯s words, but although he did not like it, he had to admit there was truth behind them. There was nothing to be happy about from a success rate beneath 0,000000001%. ¡®Why do you tell me all this?¡¯ ¡°Simple, so you don¡¯t get too complacent. There is nothing wrong with being happy at your race achievements, but only garbage blindly relies on them. You have the Absolute Life Form System fused with your soul, so only your power should matter.¡± A flash of enlightenment crossed Cain¡¯s eyes after hearing Apex¡¯s words. Like every human, the threat of the Dark Races always loomed over his head and was a great source of inspiration to grow stronger. However, when Cain heard there were at least 72 Titans, that pressure intuitively reduced since he knew powerful life forms were protecting the Godslayer Humankind Empire. Luckily, Apex acted fast, or else that train of thoughts would have affected him. ¡®Instead of relying on others, rely on yourself. Your power and hard work will never betray you.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes regained their sharp light. Still, he grew a little confused since he now knew Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s words were harmful to the young cadets. Josef solved all of Cain¡¯s doubts the next moment. ¡°Yes, we have 72 Dukes, and the number of Titans might reach 100.¡± Josef let the cadets show a proud smile before speaking again, this time somberly. ¡°But, the number of Dark Races¡¯ Gods easily surpasses the 400!¡± Those last words shocked everybody, even members of the Noble Families. It made sense that their elders would like to brag about the power of the Godslayer Humankind Empire but would not be so open about the power of the Dark Races. Vice-Captain Josef was a seasoned soldier, and it was clear that his understanding of human psychology was not shallow. He would not have made the mistake of taking away a source of motivation for the cadets. ¡°If we were to enter a full-out war against the three Dark Races, the Godslayer Humankind would be massacred. Luckily we are not alone. Just like the Inferno Daemon Race, Legio Eldritch Race, and Atrox Immortus Race form a coalition, we have our own with the Deus Behemoth Race and Anima Mechanicus Race.¡± The mood of the cadets improved once they heard that. The dread and fear of hearing that there were currently over 400 Gods clouded their minds, but now they remember the Godslayer Humankind was not alone in this war. Vice-Captian Josef waved his hand, and the virtual screen above his head showed two groups of individuals. One was composed of humanoids with metallic bodies and blue flames in their cristal eyes, while the other was full of dragons, phoenixes, unicorns, and all sorts of mythical creatures. ¡°I will first start with the Anima Mechanicus Race. Despite humans being biological life forms and Animas mechanical, we are considered brother races. The reason for that is that their Ancestor is related to ours. The Godsalyer Humankind¡¯s Ancestor is Adam, the First Titan. The Anima Mechanicus Race¡¯s Ancestor is no other than the First Titan¡¯s A.I. Chip, which gained sentience and a soul. Members of the Anima Mechanicus Race can only train the Essence Evolution Path of Power, but that does not mean their bodies are weak. They reform them after every advance in their cultivation.¡± Josef made it so that the virtual screen would display several videos of Animas fighting, and everybody was amazed by their abilities. ¡°Now, let¡¯s talk about the Deus Behemoth Race. They have been in Aether before we even put a foot in Gaia. Some might wonder why they look similar to the Old World¡¯s mythical creatures.¡± Cain and many other cadets nodded. Dragons and phoenixes were part of the Old World¡¯s fables, but they were supposed to be inventions of humans and not an actual race of another dimension. ¡°Scholars have asked themselves that question, and the best explanation was related to the power of our dreams. In a nutshell, while our bodies could not enter this dimension, we could glimpse it through our dreams. That is how the Deus Behemoth Race became part of our stories and fairy tales.¡± Although that explanation had a lot to desire, the cadets knew that would be the best they would get from Vice-Captain Josef. ¡°The Deus Behemoth Race is extremely arrogant, but they are also direct and loath any form of deception. If a Behemoth gives you their word, you can trust they will keep it. The amount of bloodlines in their race is immense, and those born with powerful ones have an extremely high status. When it comes to their bodies, they are incredibly gifted from birth. That is why at least 80% chose to take the Astral Rebirth Path of Power.¡± After giving that brief explanation about the allies of the Godsalyer Humankind against the Dark Races, Vice-Captain Josef gave a lengthy description of the different types of battlefields and how to take advantage of each. Chapter 59 Chapter 59: A great danger The first ray of sunshine appeared in the sky when Cain got into a military truck and left the Lightning Imperial Fort. He spent the previous day preparing and resting before leaving for the Tier 0 Danger Zone, where his mission took place. Once the military truck crossed the gates and left the fort¡¯s line of sight, he activated his Nullity Armor. After setting the coordinates, he closed his eyes and began meditating, ensuring his body was in peak condition for future battles. Less than half an hour after Cain¡¯s departure, another military truck left the Lightning Imperial Fort. It drove for less than twenty minutes before its sole passenger got out and flashed into a nearby forest. The individual was shrouded in shadows, but upon a closer look, it was clear that it was no one else but Nira, the scion that fell in disgrace during the Military Academy Secret Trial. It did not take long for her to reach a small pond deep in the forest where a young man was waiting for her. Admiration and love appeared in Nira¡¯s eyes when she saw the man. ¡°Brother Dimitri!¡± Nira¡¯s eyes almost teared up as she thrust herself into the young man¡¯s arms. ¡°There, there, I am here now.¡± The young man gently caressed Nira¡¯s head. ..... The pressure Nira¡¯s felt the past few weeks were crushing for someone so young, and it was only now that she could finally relax a little. Yet, her sadness did not last long, as poisonous hatred appeared in her eyes. ¡°Brother, let¡¯s go. I know where he will be in the next couple of days. I want to pay him back all the suffering he caused me.¡± When the young man heard that, he frowned. ¡°Little sister. Even if he is a commoner, his current status is that of a Collapsing Lightning Military Academy cadet. We would be in serious trouble if we killed him and someone found out you were responsible.¡± The young man did not see a problem with ending a life but did not want to leave any evidence behind. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, brother. I used a broker to obtain information about his mission and made sure to hide my tracks even then. I also solicited a mission far from his location, and the military truck would drive there before returning on its own, giving me a good enough alibi. Besides, that man also enraged many other scions, like Zamir Jarken, whom I heard is currently going on a mission near him.¡± When the young man heard that analysis, his eyes widened. They have been together all their lives, but he found it hard to reconcile the cold and calculative woman in front of him with his short-tempered and wild little sister. ¡°You have changed.¡± ¡°Uh.¡± Dimitri spoke so low that Nira did not quite hear those words. ¡°Nothing. Let¡¯s go. We will need to go on foot to hide any trace of our presence.¡± Nira nodded to Dimitri, and the duo ran to Cain¡¯s location. ¡ª Cain had no idea of the threat approaching, and his mind focused solely on the mission. After almost five hours of travel, he finally reached the Whisper Forest. In it, there was a Tier 0 Danger Zone with many Wave Beasts between Levels 1 and 3. His mission consisted in gathering Blood Rose and Dark Lilies found across the Whisper Forest. Both of them were useful in the creation of all sorts of drugs. Cain got down from the military truck and got deep into the forest. He had commanded the Absolute Life Form System to use the [Basic Scan Force Field] to pick up any trace of the herbs. Meanwhile, he used his sense of smell to track down Wave Beasts. After almost three hours of running, he finally prepared for a battle. On the way here, he picked up many herbs and found some Wave Beasts, but they were all at Level 1, so he chose to avoid them. Less than one hundred meters from Cain, there was a pack composed of four Level 2 Earth Lions. Cain took out a Warrior Pill and put it inside his mouth, between his checks. He could consume it in case anything unexpected happened. Slowly he approached the pack. Once he was near enough, he activated his Wave Cloak and triggered Wave Burst. The Earth Lions rose from the ground as they felt the burst of Wave near them. Before they could get battle ready, Cain was already next to one of them and landed a punch in its neck. Cain¡¯s right gauntlet glowed as it fired a Kinetic Blast, destroying the Earth Lion¡¯s neck and killing the creature instantly. ¡°ROAR!¡± ¡°ROAR!¡± ¡°ROAR!¡± The three Earth Lions roared as they saw their comrade die and lunged toward Cain, full of killing intent. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw the massive Wave Beasts charging toward him. Instead of moving back, he used his Light Boots¡¯ Burst to flash forward, bypassing the Earth Lions on his left and right and crashing with the one at the center. The Earth Lion weighed easily over two tons, but the moment it and Cain clashed, the winner was the human. Cain¡¯s momentum was higher than that of the Earth Lion, and he used Wave Focus to direct as much of his Astral Wave as possible into his arms, so when the punch and claw collided, he came up victorious. ¡°AHH!¡± The Earth Lion screamed in pain as the punch pushed it back with a broken paw. Cain did not let go of the Earth Lion and jumped forward, sending a kick to its head. The beast trembled due to brain trauma and lost consciousness. Cain only needed one more attack to kill the Earth Lion but instead jumped past it, avoiding the two claw strikes coming at his back. Immediately, Cain turned around and concentrated Astral Wave in his right leg, kicking the unconscious Earth Lion toward one of the two still awake. With one of the Earth Lion temporarily incapacitated, Cain focused his full power on the other. Cain saw a claw heading to his head but did not dodge. He used his left arm to block it and the right to land an uppercut on the Earth Lion. The Earth Lion froze as its brain shook inside its skull and could not avoid a ferocious blow to its throat. It could not move nor breathe, and the next punch to its head ended its life. Cain had just landed a blow to the Earth Lion¡¯s temple when he turned to the right and saw the last one lunging toward him. He could not dodge it and was only able to raise his arms before the beast clashed with him. The Earth Lion pinned Cain down and attempted to bite his head off. He held onto the beast¡¯s maws with one arm before connecting a Kinetic Blast point blank on its neck. ¡°Crack!¡± It was so close that Cain could hear how the Earth Lion¡¯s neck shattered. After that, the Earth Lion¡¯s eyes lost their light and perished. Cain got the creature out of him before immediately dashing to the unconscious Earth Lion and killing it. He then used his hands to open the Wave Beasts¡¯ chests and took out their hearts before storing them in his military backpack. Not wanting to find out whether his battle drew any attention, Cain ran away. Cain kept picking up herbs and getting deeper into the Whisper Forest, finding more powerful Wave Beasts. After two days in the forest, he reached a shallow river and did not advance any further. That was the dividing line that marked the end of the Tier 0 Danger Zone and the beginning of a Tier 1 Danger Zone. Before coming, Cain had investigated the Whisper Forest and knew he could find Level 4 Wave Beasts beyond that point. It was already night, so he rose to a tree and began to rest before going to sleep when a message startled him. [Warning: Two individuals entered the Basic Scan Force Field range. One of them is Nira Kilor.] Chapter 60 60 Forging his legend [Warning: Two individuals entered the Basic Scan Force Field range. One of them is Nira Kilor.] Cain¡¯s eyes widened, and his heart began beating faster as his body prepared to face the incoming threat. [Unknown target is a Level 4 Essence Wave Warrior.] That following message from the Absolute Life Form System made Cain¡¯s instincts scream danger. He almost ran away with all his strength. ¡°Calm down!¡± Luckily for Cain, Apex¡¯s voice echoed in his mind, allowing him to focus and not act purely by instinct. ¡°Think, brat. Those two just enter the [Basic Scan Force Field]¡¯s range, implying they are exactly fifty meters away from you. They have not yet attacked, so they are reducing the distance to ensure they can kill you in a single blow. You can use that to your advantage. You will not win this relying on your strength, so the only path ahead is using your mind. Unlike your encounter with the Atrox, you are their sole target, so they will not get distracted. An open fight will mean your death, but your Nullity Armor could endure one full-power attack from that Level 4 Essence Wave Warrior if you take him by surprise.¡± Apex paused at this point before carrying on with a solemn tone. ..... ¡°Cain, no one will come to help you, and you can only depend on yourself to survive this. If you fail, you will be like countless others who fade away, inconsequential. However, if you succeed, this experience will be engraved in your body and soul, and you will take your first step to forge your legend. I have already helped you more than I should. From now on, I will remain silent. Good luck, brat.¡± Cain could not help but be surprised to hear that Apex would not offer guidance now that he needed it the most, but he soon understood why. He was the Absolute Life Form System¡¯s Vessel. It was not the host or heir but a mere vessel, and if he perished, the system would jump to a new one. After all, there was no way he was the only Reincarnator in the entire universe. The fact that Apex guided him out of his state of panic was already a lot. Cain knew that he failed to keep control, and if not for that voice commanding him to calm down, he would have run, and the Level 4 Wave Warrior would have killed him. Cain took a deep breath and calmed his raging heart as he analyzed all the information at his disposal. ¡®The fact they are so careful meant they could not handle the repercussion of anyone finding they killed me. I can sense neither of their presences, so the Level 4 Wave Warrior must be using a shadow ability similar to that of Nira, but at a higher level.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he thought of that last point and communicated with the Absolute Life Form System. ¡®Absolute Life Form System. Can you mark the exact location of the duo?¡¯ Apex, the System Spirit, might not help him during this ordeal, but Cain could still use the full power of the Absolute Life Form System. [System can show targets¡¯ exact locations to Vessel as long they are within the Basic Scan Force Field range. Do you wish for the system to do it?] ¡®Yes.¡¯ [Adding sensory input to Vessel.] Less than a second after hearing those words, two figures appeared at the periphery of Cain¡¯s vision. The duo was slowly making their way toward the tree where he rested. Cain did not make the mistake of looking directly at the duo. ¡®System, is there a jamming signal in the area?¡¯ [No jamming signal has been detected... Upon closer examination, a form of interference is present. All in and out electric communication must pass through it. Basic Hacking can easily overcome it, but those that put the interference in place will find out. Vessel wishes to break through it?] ¡®No.¡¯ Cain immediately refused that idea. If he broke through the interference, there was a good chance the duo would attack right away. Not to mention that up to this moment, he had no evidence of the duo doing anything wrong, despite their intentions being as clear as water. Besides, how would he explain the presence of the [Basic Scan Force Field]? ¡®The Level 4 Essence Wave Warrior alone should be enough to kill me, so Nira must have come to see me die.¡¯ After analyzing everything and going through what he learned from the Whisper Forest, a plan finally formed in Cain¡¯s mind. Cain adopted a sitting position on the tree¡¯s branch before summoning his Wave Cloak. The cloak of Astral Wave made the duo suspicious, but when they saw how Cain did not activate Wave Burst, Dimitri and Nira relaxed. If Cain had discovered their presence, he would have unleashed his Astral Wave¡¯s full power and run as fast as possible. None of them could fathom that a Level 2 Wave Warrior would be so calm after knowing that a Level 4 was less than fifty meters away from him and ready to kill. Cain then used Wave Focus to direct most of his Astral Wave into his legs, leaving his chest full of openings before jumping forward. Dimitri and Nira saw how Cain jumped over the shallow river and onto another tree. Once again, some suspicion appeared in the duo¡¯s eyes as they saw the youth marching into the Tier 1 Danger Zone. However, in the end, Dimitri and Nira conclude that Cain was simply training his Wave. Although they were angry about losing their chance, there was nothing they could do other than follow him. Cain continued advancing deeper into the Whisper Forest, seemingly training Wave Focus, jumping from one tree after another. Dimitri and Nira were growing impatient, not to mention that even for the young man, a Tier 1 Danger Zone was not somewhere he could just play around. It came to the point that Dimitri hastened his speed, diminishing the distance between him at Cain. Right then, Cain straightened his back and looked toward the duo. He did not look directly at them but instead at their general vicinity. Anyone seeing that would think that Cain detected someone but could not pin down their exact location. ¡®Dammit!¡¯ Dimitri cursed in his mind. Once he saw Cain¡¯s Wave Cloak bursting at full power, he gathered his Essence Wave in his legs to chase after this one. Dimitri was sure he would catch Cain fast and land a deadly blow, but to his utter shock, this one did not run away but turned around and jumped toward his location. Although Dimitri was surprised by Cain¡¯s unexpected behavior, there was no fear in his gaze. He was a Level 4 Essence Wave Warrior and was sure he could handle a Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior in a melee battle. Since Dimitri had mobilized most of his Essence Wave into his legs, it took him a little longer to prepare his attack, which he would fire from a small dagger in his hand. Still, he would have more than enough time to land the attack, but then it happened. While still mid-air, Cain pointed his palm forward and unleashed a blinding light from bursting lightning arcs. Dimitri closed his eyes for a moment but still managed to fire his attack in Cain¡¯s direction, unleashing a barrage of shadow blades. The Level 4 Essence Wave Warrior was sure part of his attack landed but still prepared to receive Cain¡¯s charge. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Nevertheless, what Dimitri received was not a physical blow but a cry of help, and once he looked back, he saw Cain holding the back of Nira¡¯s neck. There was a deep cut on Cain¡¯s left leg, ribs, and shoulder, but his eyes were full of killing intent as he clenched his hand around Nira¡¯s neck. ¡°YOU DARE!¡± Dimitri roared in rage, but what answered was Cain using his free hand to grab Nira¡¯s right arm and pulling with so much strength that he tore it out. ¡°?AHHHH!¡± Nira¡¯s scream of extreme agony and Cain¡¯s savagery froze Dimitri. ¡°Take one step closer, and I shatter her spine!¡± Chapter 61 61 Level ¡°Take one step closer, and I shatter her spine!¡± Dimitri was about to jump forward, taking advantage of the chaotic situation to attempt to save Nira, but it was clear that Cain would not hesitate for even a second to kill the woman if he did that. ¡°AHHH!¡± Nira could not stop screaming as the pain of having her newly regrown arm torn off was just too much for her. Her mind could barely process what was happening, much less mobilize her Essence Wave and fight back. ¡°Calm down, just calm down!¡± Dimitri shouted as he saw Cain¡¯s savagism and could not decide what to do next. He had never faced a situation like this and simply did not know what to do. ¡°Do I not look calm?¡± Cain said those words as he threw Nira¡¯s right arm to the ground and used lightning to cauterize the wound, stopping her from bleeding out. Cain¡¯s eyes were so cold that anyone that saw them would not think they belonged to a fourteen-year-old man but an ancient monster who had bathed in the blood of countless enemies. Deep inside, a red dot of light was growing stronger by the second. Dimitri did not even bother to learn more about Cain when he discovered this one was a commoner. In his mind, someone like that could never be a threat to a genius like him, but he had lost complete control of the situation. ¡°Hear me out...¡± Dimitri attempted to talk his way out of this predicament, but Cain interrupted him. ¡°I don¡¯t care. I will gouge her eyes if I see you following me.¡± Cain¡¯s voice was absolutely calm, making the apprehension in Dimitri¡¯s heart only increase. He then jumped into a large tree¡¯s branch before flashing deep into the Whisper Forest. ..... Cain advanced at a shocking speed despite the deep wounds on his body and having to carry Nira with him. He could resist those large lacerations that reached to the bone so well because of the Warrior Pill he consumed before all this ordeal even began. Although there was no sign of Dimitri, and the [Basic Scan Force Field] did not detect this one, there was no doubt in Cain¡¯s mind that the man was following them. That did not bother Cain since he was counting on that. Cain was not advancing randomly in the Whisper Forest. There was a place that the reports about the Tier 1 Danger Zone marked as a particularly dangerous place, and he headed to it. In less than ten minutes, Cain reached a large mountain, and his eyes noticed a large cave. [System has successfully hacked into target¡¯s A.I. Chip, preventing any communication with the exterior] That message from the Absolute Life Form System appeared just in time, making a smile appear on Cain¡¯s face. He was sure Dimitri would not ask for help, but there was no way to say what Nira would do in her current state. From the moment Cain captured the woman, he used [Basic Hacking] to stop any communication, and now the effect would remain even if she left the [Basic Scan Force Field]¡¯s range. Now that he shut down the communications, Cain carried on with the next phase of his plan. First, he gouged one of Nira¡¯s eyes, making her screams of agony reach a whole new level. Anyone seeing that would think that Cain was torturing the woman out of pleasure, but nothing could be further from the truth. Cain generated that gory and gruesome scene to affect Dimitri¡¯s mind, which in turn provoked a flaw in the shadow ability of this one. His eyes narrowed as he detected the young man¡¯s scent roughly seventy meters to his right. ¡°You want to be a hero?¡± Cain¡¯s voice was full of mockery as he punched Nira¡¯s spine, not killing her but generating so much damage that she could no longer control her body. ¡°Then be a hero!¡± Those were the last words Cain said before throwing Nira into the cave and running away in the opposite direction of Dimitri. As soon as Cain threw Nira away, Dimitri¡¯s figure became visible. His eyes were burning with fury, and there was nothing he wanted more than to hunt the one responsible for harming his beloved sister. ¡°ROAR!¡± Unfortunately for Dimitri, a feral roar put his dream of revenge on hold. He turned to the origin and saw that it came from deep inside the cave where Cain threw Nira. Dimitri unleashed the full power of his Essence Wave, and he flashed toward Nira as fast as he could while dark armor covered his body. His eyes narrowed as he saw a figure lunging toward his sister, and he would not be able to reach her in time. He waved his dagger, unleashing two streams of shadows, one of them turned into dark blades that clashed with the beast while the other covered Nira¡¯s body and hid her presence. The creature received the shadow blades point-blank, leaving several lacerations, and now it had lost its first target. Still, it did not hesitate before jumping out of the cave and charging toward Dimitri. It was a Wave Beast that resembled a two-and-a-half-meter-tall hyena with fur made of metal. Dimitri¡¯s Shadow Blades that almost killed Cain only left minor lacerations in the creature, proving its outstanding defenses. Dimitri¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw the Wave Beast and recognized it as a Metal Hyena. By the amount of Life Wave in the creature, he assumed it was at Level 5. Although he wanted to save Nira, if he entered the cave and fought the Metal Hyena in such a reduced space, he could very well die. ¡®I need to kill this beast if I want to retrieve Nira.¡¯ Dimitri¡¯s eyes narrowed as he sent another wave of Shadow Blades toward the Metal Hyena. He lured the Wave Beast away from the cave into a forest, where he would have an easier time fighting it. Two eyes looked at the battle from the darkness, waiting for the right time. Chapter 62 62 Killing a Level 4 Wave Warrior The battle between Dimitri and the Metal Hyena destroyed the trees around them. One was a Level 4 Essence Wave Warrior, while the other was a Level 5 Wave Beast. Each of their full-power attacks could compare with the destructive power of an Old World tank, so it was easy to imagine the collateral damage they generated. Although the flora and earth of Aether were much more resilient than those of the Old World, this was just a Tier 1 Danger Zone. Dimitri had the upper hand thanks to his spells, skills, and Wave Artifacts but the Metal Hyena was still a challenging enemy. While impressive in terms of cloaking power, his abilities had no outstanding offensive power. That, plus the Metal Hyena¡¯s robust defenses, prevented Dimitri from performing deadly blows, transforming this into a battle of attrition. Dimitri¡¯s battle style focused on using shadows to hide his presence and confuse the enemy, firing barrages of Shadow Blades, and generating Shadow Whips that would hinder the enemy¡¯s movements. The Metal Hyena had immense strength, so the Shadow Whips could barely hinder its movements for a few moments, but it was enough for Dimitri to put distance between them whenever the battle seemed to turn into a melee encounter. Dimitri had just fired a large Shadow Blade that left a deep cut on the Metal Hyena¡¯s shoulder when the hair of this one rose as if they were thousands of metal needles. Dimitri knew the name of the Wave Beast, so it was logical that he would also know the racial ability of the Metal Hyena. ..... The Wave Beast could charge his Life Wave into its fur, increasing its hardness and sharpness before shooting them with immense power and speed. Dimitri had just fired a potent attack and would not be able to dodge those metal needles. He could only raise his arms before directing most of his Essence Wave into the frontal portion of his body to protect himself. On their own, each of those metal needles had little power, but together they could pose a deadly threat for even a Level 4 Essence Wave Warrior. If it wasn¡¯t for Dimitri¡¯s armor and him using Wave Focus to enhance his defenses, the damage those attacks caused could have proven deadly, forcing him to run away. The Metal Hyena used all its power in that attack, as its instincts warned it that the battle would soon turn deadly if it did not turn the tables soon. Although the Metal Hyena felt a dangerous aura coming from Dimitri when it first saw this one, its bestial nature got the best of it when it noticed someone charging into its territory. Now it reached the point where its life was on the line. A small smile appeared on Dimitri¡¯s face when he saw the barrage of metal needles about to turn off. There was not much Life Wave in the Metal Hyena, and he prepared to fire a killing strike next. Sadly for the Essence Wave Cultivator, just as the barrage of metal needles was about to finish, someone charged to his back. Dimitri¡¯s eyes widened with pain as Cain¡¯s entire body clashed on his back. Due to him using most of his Essence Wave to protect the front, the attack almost shattered his spine and thrust him forward toward the Wave Beast. Things only worsened for Dimitri since the Metal Hyena saw the opportunity and lunged toward him with its maws open. Dimitri could only move his head, avoiding the Metal Hyena from shattering his skull, but the maws still closed down on his right shoulder, crippling his arm. ¡°AHHH!¡± Dimitri screamed in pain as the Metal Hyena¡¯s teeth pierced his armor and began to destroy the muscles and bones. In desperation, he started firing Shadow Blades from his left hand. The dagger was on Dimitri¡¯s right hand, so he could not use it, and without the Wave Artifact amplification, the Shadow Blades lost a significant portion of their power. Still, they began to worsen the Metal Hyena¡¯s wounds. There was still a chance Dimitri could survive if he could endure until the Metal Hyena succumbed to its injuries. Sadly for the Essence Wave Warrior, that last glimmer of hope vanished once Cain landed a blow on the back of his head. Dimitri¡¯s mind stopped working for a second due to the massive brain trauma, generating instability in his Wave Cloak. Without the enhanced defenses granted by the Wave Cloak, Dimitri¡¯s body could not resist the power behind the Metal Hyena¡¯s maws. Cain saw how the Metal Hyena¡¯s maws shattered Dimitri¡¯s body, generating a fatal wound. After making sure the Level 4 Essence Wave Cultivator did not send any message through the A.I. Chip, he ran away from the battlefield. He and the Metal Hyena had fought together against the Level 4 Essence Wave Warrior, but there was no doubt in Cain¡¯s mind that the creature would turn on him once he finished with its current prey. ¡ª Nira was still inside the cave, and her face was full of utter terror and desperation. She could not move her body due to Cain destroying her spine. The only reason she could hold a sliver of sanity despite all that happened was the belief that her brother would come to save her. Footsteps echoed inside the cave, making Nira turn her head toward the entrance. She expected to see her brother, but the only thing visible in that darkness were two eyes that glowed with red light. ¡°You... impossible...¡± Nira could not see his face, but she knew to whom those eyes belonged. Cain walked toward Nira before kneeling to her side. Wounds covered his body, and his face was pale due to the loss of blood, but despite all that, he showed a terrifying calmness. If Cain had shown rage or madness, Nira would not have been so scared. But the calmness in those red eyes terrified her to a primal level. It was like the fear a rabbit would feel in a wolf¡¯s presence. One was prey and the other predator. They were just different types of life forms. ¡°I can...¡± Nira could not even beg for her life before Cain slapped the top of her head and killed her. Chapter 63 63 Obtaning a space ring As he stared at Nira¡¯s corpse, Cain stood up and found the situation odd. He could not stop trembling the first time he reaped a human life with his own hands, but now his heart and mind were in a state of absolute calmness. However, as the red light in his eyes began to fade away, all that calmness vanished, and his heartbeat began to rise incredibly fast. That affected his ability to think and worsened his injuries, as he had already lost a lot of blood. ¡°Calm down. You won, and now is the time to reap the benefit.¡± Luckily for Cain, he once again heard Apex¡¯s voice inside his mind. ¡°You are speaking again.¡± ¡°Of course I am. Actually, I am a little impressed by your scheming mind. You manage to force a fight, but instead of escaping, you return to give the final blow, getting rid of future problems. Well done, brat.¡± Apex spoke with a serene and rhythmic tone that helped Cain calm his heart and mind. ¡°Anyway, you not only got rid of two threats but also entered the cave of a Level 5 Wave Beast and found some hidden treasures.¡± The words hidden treasures made Cain¡¯s eyes widen with greed, excitement, and also confusion. ..... ¡°What do you mean by treasure?¡± ¡°Haha, brat, the reason the Metal Hyena protected this place so much was precisely due to those treasures I am talking about. The beast hid them, but it was easy for the [Basic Scan Force Field] to detect them. Take them fast and leave before something unexpected happens.¡± Cain did not waste time, and using the [Basic Scan Force Field], he found the treasures that Apex mentioned, looted anything of wealth in Nira that the Wave Beast might not devour, and left the cave while hiding his tracks. Although Cain was already sick with the Whisper Forest, he did not leave but instead traveled back to where the Metal Hyena and Dimitri had fought. He had left less than twenty minutes ago, but the Wave Beast had ripped Dimitri¡¯s armor to pieces and devoured most of the corpse. Just like humans saw Wave Beasts as an excellent source of nutrients, there was nothing a Wave Beast enjoyed more than the flesh of Wave Cultivators. The Metal Hyena consumed more and more of the corpse, but it was clear it was something bothering it, so after devouring the entire heart and most of the inner organs, it ran back to its cave. Cain was sure that the beast would be enraged once it saw that he had stolen its treasure, but he did not care too much. Once the Metal Hyena was out of sight, he flashed toward Dimitri¡¯s bloody corpse. Cain was sure that the Wave Beasts would do a much better job handling the corpses of Dimitri and Nira than he, but those beasts would not eat the Wave Artifacts of the duo, so he needed to take care of them. Nira was surprisingly poor, with Cain only finding a small bracelet that seemed to enhance the firing power of her spells, which she never had the chance to use. After some thought, Cain speculated that the woman had spent almost all her wealth paying for her arm¡¯s regeneration, leaving her only with a weak Wave Artifact. On the other hand, Cain found a lot more on Dimitri¡¯s corpse. He took out the metallic object attached to the corpse¡¯s spine, a dagger, and to his immense delight, a space ring. After ensuring he had everything, Cain packed things into his backpack before running away as fast as he could. Although using the space ring would have been nice, he still needed to test it and ensure everything was right. ¡°ROAR!¡± Cain had run for less than five minutes when a ferocious roar echoed throughout the Whisper Forest. It was clear that the Metal Hyena found out his treasures were gone. Although that roar pushed Cain to move even faster, it also drew a smile on his face. There was no way he could have entered the cave of a Level 5 Wave Beast on his own, but he found a way. In essence, he turned a deadly ambush into a massive lucky chance! Cain kept running for almost ten hours and only stopped once his body began to fail. He could still run, but that could drain every last bit of energy left in him, which could prove deadly. Before he could no longer remain conscious due to exhaustion, Cain rose to a tree¡¯s branch and began to consume Wave Beast¡¯s hearts while using Wave Focus to direct his Astral Wave to his wounds to enhance their healing. After almost one and a half hours, Cain could no longer endure and fell asleep. The [Basic Scan Force Field] would warn him in case of any danger, so he was able to relax a little. More than twelve hours passed by the time Cain woke. All his body hurt as the analgesic effect of the Warrior Pill was gone, but luckily the lacerations on his body were no longer bleeding. Despite all that sleep, Cain still felt tired since everything that happened took a significant toll on his body and mind, but there was no time to waste. First was the space ring he took from Dimitri¡¯s corpse. ¡®Apex.¡¯ ¡°I already analyzed it when you were sleeping. Dimitri¡¯s A.I. Chip had branded it, which was not a problem since it was easy to override. What was a little troublesome was the failsafe that would have sent the information of any new A. I. Chip that interfered with the space ring. Luckily, I found it and used the [Basic Hacking] tool to handle it. You can now use it without worry.¡± Apex spoke with a calm voice, but his abilities were something it would have shocked most hackers of the Godslayer Humankind Empire. Not that the System Spirit really cared about the opinion of a bunch of humans. ¡°Great!¡± Cain shouted as he put the space ring on his hand and branded it with the [A.I. Chip Module]. Chapter 64 64 Blood Refinement Art ¡°Great!¡± Cain shouted as he put the space ring on his hand and branded it with the [A.I. Chip Module]. As soon as Cain branded the space ring, the [A.I. Chip Module] generated a virtual image that showed the Wave Artifact¡¯s interior. It was not empty as it contained many Wave Beast¡¯s hearts, some healing drugs, and finally, a small gray crystal the size of a palm. When Cain saw the gray crystal, surprise appeared in his eyes. ¡°That is a wave crystal. Even if it is one from the lowest grade, it is still amazing!¡± Cain¡¯s excitement was understandable as wave crystals were indeed incredibly useful. Most people in the Godsalyer Humankind Empire that failed to ascend to the true ranks of Wave Cultivators use paper money as currency. Still, for those who became Wave Champion, that was meaningless. There are two main currencies in the Godslayer Humankind. One was the Imperial Military Credits backed by the empire; the other was wave crystals. As long as the Godslayer Humankind Empire stood firm, the Imperial Military Credits would have value, but one could say that wave crystals are even more valuable as they have worth on their own. Wave crystals are mined in unique locations known as wave mines. Each of them had an incredibly pure, thick, and refined Life Wave, making cultivations dozens of times faster than even the one you would achieve by consuming Wave Beast¡¯s hearts. ..... Of course, that was under the premise you could take full advantage of the wave crystal, meaning that the amount of Wave you consumed during cultivation was equal to the upper levels of the Wave Warrior stage. ¡°That brat must have wanted to use the wave crystal after reaching Level 5, enhancing his foundation all the way to Level 7. Even if he had a strong background, getting hold of it would not have been easy, as this crystal should have cost around 10.000 Imperial Military Credits. Well, now he is dead, and all his belongings are yours.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard Apex¡¯s words, and a flash of enlightenment crossed his eyes. ¡°I stole his destiny.¡± ¡°Haha, that is right, brat. Belongings are part of someone¡¯s destiny; you are essentially stealing their destiny by killing and stealing. Of course, that is a very crude way of looking at things.¡± Cain nodded as his understanding of destiny grew slightly. He did not lose time and commanded the Absolute Life Form System to show him his current Destiny Force. [Destiny Force: 87.2] Once again, Cain was shocked, and the smile on his face grew immensely. The fact that he obtained those by killing two humans did not bother him in the slightest since the duo came with nefarious intentions after him. There was enough Destiny Force to use [Basic Genetic Suppression] and get rid of the emotional instability of his bloodline, but after some thought, Cain chose against it. For some reason, despite all the chaos and dangers Cain faced, he somehow managed to retain calm every second, so instead of using his Destiny Force, he chose to save it in case he really needed it. ¡°Did killing Dimitri and Nira get me more than 60 points of Destiny Force?¡± Cain¡¯s previous Destiny Force was slightly over 20 points, so the fact the duo got him so much was surprising. ¡°It is not so simple. All the events that led to your conquest over the duo, stealing their belongings and the Level 5 Wave Beast¡¯s treasures, generated that Destiny Force. Even I find it hard to quantify destiny. You just need to understand that the higher your achievements, the more Destiny Force you will get.¡± Apex¡¯s words made it clear that destiny was an ephemeral force even for an entity like him, making Cain wonder just who the Absolute Life Form System¡¯s Creator was. Cain did not waste time before taking some medicines from the space ring, applying them to his wounds, and directly consuming some. Once Cain made sure he treated his wounds to the best of his current capabilities, he began to order things. First, he stored all the Wave Artifacts he stole from Dimitri and Nira in the Wave Ring and the Wave Beast¡¯s hearts in his backpack. Although it would have been possible to store the entire military backpack in the space ring, that could draw suspicion, and it was better to keep it in the open in case of anything. After that, Cain analyzed the treasures he obtained from the Level 5 Metal Hyena¡¯s cave. They were a fruit the size of fists and a golden skull with some tissue. ¡°What are they?¡± Cain asked Apex, and this one did not disappoint. ¡°I used the [Pseudo Cellular Analysis] tool on the fruit, which seemed to be a Fire Heart. It is especially useful for Astral Wave Cultivators with fire-oriented bloodlines, capable of increasing vitality and enhancing foundation. Fully grown, they are worth even more than the wave crystal you obtain from Dimitri, but since you took it before it fully matured, it lost much of its power.¡± Cain released a small sight once he heard that. It was a shame that the Fire Heart lost most of its power, but there was no way he could just leave it there. By the time he returned with the strength to defeat the Metal Hyena, this one would have already eaten the fruit. ¡°I understand the Fire Heart, but why did you make me bring this skull?¡± Cain could feel that the golden skull must have belonged to a powerful Wave Cultivator that perished a long time ago due to the radiation this one released. While that energy would have been very beneficial at its peak, it seemed many years passed after the death of the Wave Cultivator, and most of it was gone. As for how the corpse of someone with this power found itself in the cave of a Level 5 Wave Beast, that was something Cain did not know. ¡°I asked you to get the skull to obtain the information in its A.I. Chip.¡± ¡°What!? How is that possible? After your death, your A.I. Chip deletes all its information and self-destructs, so it should only be a useless piece of metal, even if it is still there.¡± A.I. Chips could record every movement and action you take, so it made sense that it would erase itself the moment the host perished. ¡°The A.I. Chip should have self-destructed but did not, possibly due to a malfunction. Most of the data was erased, with no record of the corpse¡¯s personal life, but there is a large file that is exceptionally useful for you.¡± Cain could not control his excitement as he heard that since if Apex gave it good remarks, it should be terrific. ¡°I recovered part of an auxiliary technique called Blood Refinement Art. Although I don¡¯t know its full power, you can train it even after surpassing the Wave Champion rank.¡± Chapter 65 65 Problems arrived ¡°I recovered part of an auxiliary technique called Blood Refinement Art. Although I don¡¯t know its full power, you can train it even after surpassing the Wave Champion rank.¡± It was common knowledge that the higher the level cap of a technique, the mightier it was. Even if it was just an auxiliary technique, the Blood Refinement Art might be better than the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique. Cain did not lose time and reviewed the information already stored in the [A.I. Chip Module]. [Blood Refinement Art: Auxiliary technique meant to boost the body¡¯s physical capabilities. Useful for Astral Wave Cultivators. Absorb the enemy¡¯s blood to refine and temper your own body. The stronger the enemy, the more valuable the blood obtained. Four levels in total. First level: Focus on thoroughly tempering your flesh and muscles. It can increase your chances of achieving a high percentage of marrow washing. Second Level: Focus on increasing your blood vitality and the generation of blood energy. Your cultivation must have reached the Wave Champion rank to enter this level.] After that brief description, there was a large file with the essence of the technique. ¡°Apex, what about the rest of the information?¡± Cain could not help but ask. According to the description, there were four levels, but in the [A.I. Chip Module], there were only two. ..... ¡°The information about the third level is somewhat corrupted. I will try to retrieve and fix the missing pieces with the [Basic Data Gathering and Analysis] and [Basic Virtual Simulation]. As for the fourth level, that is completely gone.¡± Although Apex¡¯s words disappointed Cain a little, instead of focusing on what he did not have, he focused on what he had. His body was still tired, so he concentrated on understanding enough to begin practicing the Blood Refinement Art. The amount of information was immense. Just the part about the first level took Cain more than ten hours to comprehend the basics. After that, Cain stood up, picked the scent of a Wave Beast, and went after it. In less than ten minutes, he had the beast in his line of sight. Luckily it was alone and just a Level 2 Wave Beast, so Cain dashed at it from its blind spot and punched its neck before triggering Kinetic Blast. ¡°Crack!¡± The sound of bone cracking echoed before the Wave Beast could even know what happened, and the light on its eyes vanished. Cain did not wait a second before burying his hand in the Wave Beast¡¯s body. He did not try to take out the heart, instead mobilized his Astral Wave according to the information in the Blood Refinement Art. It did not look long for the Wave Beast¡¯s corpse to tremble as all its blood was refined and sent into Cain¡¯s flesh and muscles. In less than ten minutes, the corpse had lost all its blood. Cain took his hand off the corpse and could not help but frown. He felt the energy nurturing his flesh and blood all the time, but he also knew that he lost a lot of blood due to his lack of proficiency during the purification. There were many ways to improve the effectiveness of the Blood Refinement Art, but Cain reached the correct answer immediately. ¡®If I improve my comprehension of the Blood Refinement Art, I will lose less blood during the purification, and the greater the effect of the energy would be in my flesh and blood.¡¯ ¡°Well thought, brat. That is the right path. Others would have considered shortcuts like buying blood of stronger beasts, but in the end, that would cripple your training in the Blood Refinement Art.¡± Cain heard Apex¡¯s voice in his brain and showed a smile before nodding. Hard work would create a good foundation, which was always better than short-term gains. Before the Blood Refinement Art, Cain wanted nothing more than to leave the Whisper Forest, but now the Tier 0 Danger Zone was like a paradise for him. It was not until Sunday that Cain left the Whisper Forest, got on his military truck, and returned to Lightning Imperial Fort. Once he was back inside the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy, Cain left all the herbs inside the military truck and sent this one on its path. Since the mission only involved recollecting herbs, there was no need for Cain to deliver them himself. The military truck would go to the deposit, where drones would take care of the menial work. Cain returned to his residence, bowed to his father¡¯s altar, took a shower, and went to sleep. He only woke up when the rays of sunshine appeared through his window, and the first thing he received was a message from the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy. [Saint of Killers, you have been awarded 208 Imperial Military Credits for fulfilling the mission D-23] The Imperial Military Credits that Cain obtained from this mission were less than a quarter of what he received from the one he took with Levi. Of course, that made sense since the previous one involved investigation and fighting Wave Cultivators. Cain did not care about the Imperial Military Credits, as what he obtained from this trip was something money could not buy. The experience of surviving this ordeal was something that would accompany him for the rest of his life. A large smile was on Cain¡¯s face as he went to the auditorium for the Wave Mastery class. He was one of the last to arrive and sat between Levy and Beelze. Cain greeted the duo before glancing around the auditorium and seeing how all the cadets were very chatty. ¡°What is happening?¡± Cain did not hide his curiosity and asked Levi about all the conversation. ¡°Oh, have you not heard? There is a rumor that two Level 7 Wave Warriors from the Kilor Family came to the military academy. At first, it did not matter since they could have come for multiple reasons, but now there is no sign of Nira, so maybe things are not so simple after all.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he heard that, and all the bliss he was enjoying faded. Chapter 66 66 Stronger bond ¡®What the hell! Not only did they send someone to investigate incredibly fast, but they even sent two Level 7 Wave Warriors.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes widened, and his emotion went into turmoil. He knew the Kilor Family would investigate Nira and her brother¡¯s demise but did not expect them to be so fast. ¡°Focus!¡± Apex¡¯s voice echoed inside Cain¡¯s mind, and immediately all signs of distress on his face vanished. The worst thing he could do right now was to act suspicious, as that would focus the investigation on him. Even if there was no concrete evidence, if the Kilor Family grew too suspicious, there was no way they would not act in the darkness to find out the truth. Cain believed in himself, but he was not so arrogant as to think he could face two Level 7 Wave Warriors with his current power. The best path forward was taking things one step at a time and not rushing things. Although Cain managed to hide his shock from almost everybody else in the auditorium, two people saw everything. A meaningful light appeared in Levi¡¯s eyes as he stared at Cain and began to speak with this one through his A.I. Chip. ¡°My mother used to read me fairy tales when I was little. I still remember one about a righteous king and a tyrant. They did not like each other, but there was a pact of non-aggression between them and their forces.¡± Cain was confused by Levi¡¯s words but did not interrupt and let this one carry on with his tale. ..... ¡°One day, a knight from the righteous king went to explore a mine, and a servant from the tyrant ambushed him. The knight was brilliant and managed to kill his enemy, but things did not end there. Even if the knight acted in self-defense and did not break the pact of non-aggression, the tyrant would not accept that.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he figured out the hidden message between those words. The righteous king was no other than the Imperial Military Force, and the tyrant was the Kilor Family. ¡°The righteous king was known for protecting his people, and as long the knight proved innocent, he would not hand him over. Unfortunately, the tyrant was an excellent liar, and even if that did not work, this one was famous for getting rid of annoyances in the dark. I don¡¯t remember very well how the story carries on. Do you think the knight was smart enough to erase any sign of his presence?¡± Levi stared at Cain for a moment, and both nodded as they reached a silent agreement. ¡°Of course, the knight did it. He ensured the servant could not communicate with the outside and handled the corpse so no one could find a trace of his presence.¡± The duo smiled after that, and none of them carried on. Cain already said plenty; anything else would not benefit any of them. Nevertheless, as they were about to change the subject, Beelze sent an invitation to the duo so they could talk through their A.I. Chips. Cain and Levi looked at Beelze¡¯s calm expression and accepted her invitation. Both expected many things, but the woman took them by surprise. ¡°Are you guys talking about Cain¡¯s involvement in the disappearance of that trash name Nira?¡± Cain frowned as he heard that message. Unlike Levi, Beelze¡¯s words were too direct, and no matter his answer, they could put him in trouble. Beelze was not bothered by Cain¡¯s irritation and carried on as if nothing significant had happened. ¡°If the enemy is one of the Level 7 Wave Warriors, you can count me out as I will not help you.¡± Cain did not say a word and just nodded. Although he showed nothing on the outside, his attitude toward the woman took a sharp turn. Or at least, that was until he heard what Beelze said next. ¡°However, if the one coming at you is a Wave Champion, I would not mind giving you a hand.¡± Cain and Levi were confused and surprised by Beelze¡¯s words. She had just told them to forget about her if they encountered a Wave Warrior but that they could ask for her help if the enemy was a Wave Champion. ¡°Don¡¯t you have things backward?¡± Levi could not help but ask the woman. ¡°Hmph, you are talented Astral Wave Warriors with powerful Lineages, fully equipped with Wave Artifacts, and under the protection of the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy. If, with all that, you can not handle a couple of Wave Warriors, then you are trash, and I am not friends with those. However, if an old geezer wants to use their age against you two, I will not mind showing them the might of my background.¡± Beelze spoke with a righteous aura, and her dignified expression made it seem like she wanted to show might. Cain and Levi almost laughed as they saw all that, but neither of them did, as Beelze¡¯s cold gaze terrified them. In the end, the duo just nodded before smiling. Although Beelze¡¯s mentality was a little odd, neither Cain nor Levi found no problem with it. Time was precious, and thinking of forming friendships only with those that could accompany you on your journey was not wrong. That conversation between the trio was short but strengthened their bond. None of them spoke again a few minutes later as Wink entered the auditorium, and they were not the only ones to become quiet as none of the cadets dared to disturb the Wave Champion¡¯s class. ¡°Today, we will concentrate on Wave Focus. You will form couples. One will use the art for offense, while the other will use it for defense. We will take a break every hour, and then you will exchange roles.¡± The cadets did not waste time and began to form teams. Cain and Levi were together, and Beelze coupled with another female cadet. By the time the first hour went by, all the cadets were exhausted, and there was still a lot of class left. Chapter 67 67 Answer When Cain returned to his residence, he bowed to his father¡¯s altar before falling exhausted to the ground. His breathing was rough, and he was having difficulty not passing out. The training of Wave Focus not only made him deplete every iota of Astral Wave inside his body but also put his mind under immense stress. It took all of Cain¡¯s strength to wash his body and eat a meal before plummeting into his bed and falling asleep. Cain woke up in the middle of the night, and the first thing he did was eat again, but this time he devoured a Wave Beast¡¯s heart. As he engulfed it, he also communicated with Apex. ¡°Apex, did you finish the investigation?¡± Cain was sure he covered his tracks, but there was a chance people would find out or at least suspect his involvement in the demise of Nira and her brother. He wanted to be ready for that day, so he asked Apex to investigate the Kilor Family. ¡°Yes, I did. Since the Kilor Family is a Noble Family, I could not find information about them open to the public. Luckily, it only has a Viscount title, so it was pretty easy to hack my way into their records. The Kilor Family is a Noble Family more than two hundred years old. Their fiefdom is in the Collapsing Lightning Sector and has more than twenty million people. It has three Wave Champions, with the Patriarch being James Kilor. The other two are Rick Kilor and Unur Kilor, the son and cousin of the Patriarch, respectively. ..... Their family is known for practicing the Silent Shadow Cultivation Technique, and they are very good at assassination and ambushes. According to recent information, James Kilor moved away from the Family Head position due to his old age and handed over the role to his son Rick Kilor. Unlike his father, Rick Kilor is still in the prime of his life at only 89 years old. Since he is a Wave Champion, and his lifespan reached 300 years old, his body is far from starting to decline.¡± Apex began with a broad description, giving Cain an idea of who he would be dealing with before going into details. ¡°Rick Kilor has sired many children over his life like most nobles. Nira is one of them, but there is no sign the man does care about her. She entered the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy to make a name for herself in the military, not that it worked. If you had only killed Nira, then maybe Rick Kilor would not even bother to investigate. The problem was her brother. Dimitri Kilor was a talented Wave Cultivator that entered the Collapsing Lightning University. He and Nira had a close relationship since they shared the same mother. That is why he did not hesitate to leave the university for a few days to help her deal with you. Rick Kilor had many hopes for Dominic to be his successor and had poured plenty of resources into this one.¡± Apex¡¯s briefing ended there, but it gave Cain a lot to think about. ¡°I see. After being unable to communicate with Dimitri, Rick Kilor must have used his full power to launch an investigation. The Level 7 Wave Warriors figured out Dimitri came to see his sister. Since their fiefdom is in the Collapsing Lightning Sector, it is no wonder they reached this place so fast. Now that they confirmed that both are missing, they will look at Nira¡¯s life inside the military academy, and my name will surely come out.¡± Cain frowned, and a complicated expression appeared on his face. He did not know how to handle those two Level 7 Wave Warriors. ¡°Actually, you don¡¯t need to be so worried.¡± Cain was surprised when he heard Apex¡¯s words and immediately refuted them. ¡°What!? How could I not worry? Even if they can not find evidence, there is no way a Noble Family would just ignore some of their scions dying at the hands of a Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior commoner.¡± ¡°That is exactly why you should not worry so much. The moment those two members of the Kilor Family read your profile, they will discard you as a suspect. After all, who would think a Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior without any background could kill a Level 4 Wave Warrior?¡± Apex reasoning made Cain¡¯s eyes widen as enlightenment appeared in them. He smiled as he understood that his lack of power and background was helpful this time. ¡°Their flawed logic and the military academy will work as a shield for the time being. I plan to join the Imperial Military Force, so even if they were to suspect at some point in the future, they could not be so brazen with their methods.¡± Cain made a slight pause at that point when coldness appeared in his eyes. ¡°Still, all that would just grant a frail veil of protection. I need to become strong, so strong that even Rick Kilor would fear me. By then, I could admit that I killed Dimitri and Nira, and no one would dare to say anything about it.¡± ¡°Hahaha, that is right, brat. It is not wrong to hide when your enemy is too strong, but you cannot do that forever. The only way to truly fix things is to grow so powerful that even if they knew what you did, they could do nothing other than hope you will not kill them too.¡± Apex was clearly pleased that Cain concluded that power was the answer to his problem, not hiding and just waiting until the enemy found out what he did. There were still a couple of hours until the class started, so Cain began cultivating. Although Cain could still practice the Blood Refinement Art without fresh corpses, the effect would be minimal. Instead, he focused all his time on the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique. He had already decided to take on a mission involving Wave Beasts and would use that opportunity to train his auxiliary technique. Chapter 68 68 Atrox¡¯s assassination Cain, Levi, and Beelze were in the auditorium as Razmun headed to the podium to begin his class. There was a solemn expression on Razmun¡¯s face as he stared at the cadets and waved his hand, making the virtual screen above him show two figures. The figures belong to a man and a female with blade-like armor covering their bodies. It was a sight that drew coldness in the cadets¡¯ hearts. Razmun remained silent for a moment as he wanted the pressure of those images to affect the cadets. ¡°According to ancient records, when Adam, the first Emperor of Godslayer Humankind, became a Titan, his power was so immense that none of the Gods from the Infernus Daemon Race or Legio Eldritch Race could face him. They could only run or die beneath his might!¡± The cadets were a little surprised to see how the class started, but none dared to lose focus. ¡°It was a time of glory. Our Godslayer Humankind could have conquered not only the Gaia Continent but also part of the Atlas Continent located north of our domains. However, when the Dark Races found themselves cornered, the Atrox Overlord made his move. That man traveled a distance you would find almost impossible to comprehend and fought against our Emperor. Their battle was so destructive that it shattered the sky and sank part of the Atlas Continent!¡± Some cadets could not help but clench their fists as they imagined how glorious that battle was. ..... ¡°Although our Emperor was known as an absolute powerhouse and maybe the strongest entity in the entire Aether World, our forces returned to the Gaia Continent after that battle.¡± Razmun saw the surprise in the cadets as he uttered those words, and he understood their feelings. For the Godslayer Humankind, the First Titan was a divine figure. Learning our forces pull back from the Atlas Continent after a battle against the Atrox Overlord came as a shock. ¡°Our Emperor did not defeat the Atrox Overlord, but that did not mean he lost. The price for victory was too high, and the Godslayer Humankind was too young and could not afford it. I narrate this story so you can understand how mighty the Atrox Immortus Race¡¯s Overlord was.¡± Razmun nodded after seeing that the cadets understood his message, and only then did he begin with the class¡¯s core. ¡°Today¡¯s class will focus solely on the Atrox Immortus Race. Unlike us, their fertility is much lower, but they transformed that weakness into a strength. Due to their low number, each member of the Atrox Immortus Race had a much higher number of resources at their disposal. From a young age, they have a bio-armor that grows with them. Their population is roughly 1/1000 of ours, but the number of them that embark on cultivation and choose the battlefield path is also 1000 times higher than ours. One point that all should remember very well is that like Devils are crafty, and Demons are wild, Atroxs also have a tendency.¡± Some of the cadets could not help but tremble as they heard that. Every one of the people present was aware of what type of tendency the Atrox Immortus Race had. If the Godslayer Humankind was greedy, then the Atrox Immortus Race was cruel. ¡°I can see that all of you are aware. The members of the Atrox Immortus Race are known for their immense cruelty against their enemies. If they capture an enemy alive, they will submit that person to unbelievable pain. Scholars had studied the reason for their sadistic tendencies for a long time and concluded that it was part of their culture. Just like we humans would feel greed if faced with treasures, Atroxs felt the desire to torture all those they consider enemies.¡± Although some of the cadets showed disdain as they heard the Atrox Immortus Race¡¯s sadistic culture, Cain did not find it that odd. Humankind was known for its desire to punish criminals with harsh sentences in the Old World and even arranged chambers for people to see their executions. The Atrox Immortus Race is more open about it and with an innate predisposition. Of course, Cain would not defend the culture and mentality of one of the Dark Races. After that description of Atrox Immortus Race¡¯s culture, Razmun waved his hands, making the virtual screen show the two figures without their bio-armor. Atroxs had the basic male and female biological configurations. Their skin was similar to gray leather, and there was no hair on their bodies. ¡°I will now explain their weak points and how to reach them, along with the best battle formation to face members of the Atrox Immortus Race.¡± Razmun explained all forms of facing members of the Atrox Immortus Race in the next few hours. He was incredibly detailed and answered all the doubts of the cadets. Cain, Levi, and Beelze left the auditorium. The last one spoke just as they were about to leave for their residences. ¡°Cain, I have a mission and would like you to accompany me.¡± Bliss would have filled the heart of any other male cadet at the chance of taking a mission with such a beautiful woman, but Cain was not like the others. ¡°I am sorry, but I already have a mission in mind.¡± ¡°Oh, are you sure you want to take a mission on your own and not with me?¡± Beelze showed a beautiful smile as she uttered those words, but it froze the next second. ¡°Yes, I am sure.¡± Levi almost began to laugh as he heard Cain¡¯s answer and saw Beelze¡¯s frozen expression. However, when the woman glared at him, he hid his smile and walked away. He knew better than to bother her. After glaring at Levi, Beelze turned toward Cain and smiled again. She liked that he would not blindly accept everything just because of her beauty. ¡°If possible, I want to know what mission you will take.¡± Cain did not have a problem revealing that information, so he told Beelze. ¡°A herb collection mission. However, my true goal is to hunt Wave Beasts, as I need their fresh corpses to train.¡± Beelze did not find anything odd with Cain¡¯s goal since a myriad of techniques required Wave Beasts¡¯ corpses. ¡°If that is indeed what you are after, then we can still work together. My mission involves finding a deserter hidden deep in a Tier 1 Danger Zone. I am sure there will be plenty of Wave Beasts in our path. What do you say?¡± Beelze did not rush Cain to answer, but she would not insist and was ready to look for someone else if this one refused. Cain considered everything for a moment before nodding. Working together would reveal some of his possessions, like the space ring he kept hidden and his Blood Refinement Art, but Beelze knew he killed Dimitri and Nira, so there was no real danger. ¡°I will work with you.¡± ¡°Good, we will leave tomorrow as soon as the Military Tactics Class ends.¡± Chapter 69 69 Improvement Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s Military Tactic Class went as usual. He taught the cadets several battle formations and showed videos where the human armies won and lost. In each case, he explained each scenario in detail, and more importantly, he gave guidance based on his experience handling unexpected threats and changes on the battlefield. Those were insights that no book could give, and all the cadets gave it their full attention since it could save their life in the future. As soon as the class ended, Cain and Beelze said goodbye to Levi before getting into a military truck and leaving the Lightning Imperial Fort. Just like during his mission with Levi, once the military truck left the fort¡¯s range, Cain glanced at Beelze, and both activated their armors. Scales formed both armors, but while Cain¡¯s was black, that of Beelze was sky-blue. ¡°Saint.¡± ¡°Lotus.¡± The Wave Artifacts distorted Cain and Beelze¡¯s voices as they uttered their code names. After that, they both went silent and focused on maintaining themselves at peak conditions. This trip was not a date but a mission where they would hunt a murderer. Cain had already familiarized himself with the mission¡¯s details. They were after a soldier who traveled to a nearby city named Korin City as part of a squad dispatched from the Lightning Imperial Fort tasked with erasing some gangs. ..... The deserter in question was the squad leader, a young Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior named Salar Jones. He fulfilled his mission and killed the gangs¡¯ leaders, but he raped and killed a few of the gangs¡¯ female henchmen. Although the Godslayer Humankind Empire was not known for its leniency toward criminals, acts like those of Salar Jones were not permitted and punishable by branding you as a Tier 0 Criminal. The fact that the man was part of the military only worsened his case since the Godslayer Humankind Empire would not let anyone defile the Imperial Military Force¡¯s name, especially its soldiers. Once Salar Hones found that his acts would come to light, he fled from Korin City and headed deep into the forest that contained a Tier 1 Danger Zone. Cain and Beelze¡¯s mission did not involve apprehending Salar but only finding out his whereabouts. They were not the only ones since this was an open mission, and other teams made of cadets or even soldiers could participate. Of all the information that Cain obtained for the mission, one thing bothered him. According to Salar Jones¡¯ personal file, the man was somewhat unruly but did not seem capable of such heinous acts. There was the chance someone used Salar Jones as a scapegoat, but Cain doubted something like that would happen. After all, there should be no one in Korin City that could have the type of background needed to incriminate a Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior. ¡®I should not waste my time with useless assumptions. I will follow my heart if something unexpected happens.¡¯ Cain glanced at Beelze as the military truck led them to Korin City, and he commanded the Absolute Life Form System to scan him and her. He scanned himself to have an accurate measurement of his power. As for doing it with Beelze, there was no ill will behind that, but he also wanted to know just how strong she was as they would fight together. [Scanning Vessel ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 2 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Low Tier 4 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.19¨C>0.26 Agility: 0.25¨C>0.32 Vitality: 0.23¨C>0.33 Wave: 0.22¨C>0.28] Cain was a little surprised by the rise of his stats, especially those of strength and vitality. However, it made sense after taking into consideration the Blood Refinement Art. [Scanning target. ¡ª Name: Beelze Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Essence Evolution (Level 2 Wave Warrior) Lineage: ?? Wave Talent: ?? ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.15 Agility: 0.19 Vitality: 0.31 Wave: 0.56] Beelze¡¯s strength and agility were typical of an Essence Wave Warrior with a Lineage, but her vitality and Wave were surprisingly high. Cain was sure that, just like him, Beelze trained a high-level cultivation method that allowed her to have a larger reservoir of Wave and an auxiliary technique to improve her vitality. That did not surprise Cain at all. After all, it was evident that Beelze came from a strong background. Once Cain learned Beelze¡¯s weak and strong points and knew how to help her during a battle best, he focused again on his cultivation. It did not take long for the duo to reach Korin City. Unlike Cain¡¯s experience with Roku City, this time, everything went smoothly. He and Beelze did not even have to enter Korin City as the Mayor¡¯s assistant waited for them with all the evidence and some of Salar¡¯s blood and clothes at the city¡¯s gates. Korin City¡¯s Mayor¡¯s efficiency improved everything for the duo as time was of the essence. After thanking the assistant for the evidence, they entered the forest and advanced in the direction where the city¡¯s guards saw Salar escaping. Cain and Beelze ignored the Wave Beasts on their path since not only were the beasts too weak to be of any value, but there were only a few hours left of daylight, and they should take advantage of them. Cain was in the lead since his body was stronger and his armor more suitable for defense in case of a surprise attack. He was following Salar¡¯s scent that he learned from the clothes the Mayor¡¯s assistant gave. Salar committed his crimes on Monday and escaped the night of the same day, so his scent was clear and strong, making Cain¡¯s job very easy. The duo had run for less than three hours when the sun went down and night arrived. Cain had night vision, but that did not mean he could see as well as during the day. As for Beelze, her armor helped her in that aspect, but her sight was even worse than Cain¡¯s. In that condition, running deeper into the forest at full speed was not wise, but that did not mean they could only wait. Cain¡¯s eyes grew sharp as he caught the scent of a pack of Wave Beasts. He made a sign to Beelze, and the duo went after it. Chapter 70 70 Fighting a pack A few hundred kilometers from Korin City, a forest contained a Tier 1 Danger Zone full of Wave Beast. There was a pack of five Earth Lions in it, and they were devouring corpses of other Wave Beasts when something happened. ¡°Crack!¡± The sound of the ground cracking echoed through the forest as a male humanoid figure stamped and propelled his body with immense momentum toward the pack. The man emerged from a blind spot and was able to reach the pack before the Earth Lions could get battle ready. He got near one of the Level 2 Wave Beasts before landing a blow on its body and triggering a blast, shattering the beast¡¯s ribs and lungs. He had just neutralized one of the Earth Lions when the rest of the beasts lunged at him. Without hesitation, he moved back, dodging the claws that sought to dismember him. It was easy for him to dodge the Level 2 Earth Lions, but there was one among the pack that reached Level 3 and managed to keep up with his speed. He saw how the Level 3 Earth Lion dashed forward and was about to lunge toward him with its maws open, but his gaze had no fear or concern. Just as the Level 3 Earth Lion was about to reach the man, six fifty-centimeter-long ice spears emerged from the distance and crashed on its body. ¡°Ahhh!¡± The Earth Lion howled in pain due to the projectiles. The ice spears did not kill it due to its resilient body but managed to interrupt its attack and push it away from the man. Seeing the ice spears thrust its leader away disoriented the rest of the pack, something the man took full advantage of, flashing toward them and landing a direct blow on one of the Level 2 Earth Lions, triggering another blast that killed the beast. ..... ¡°Roar!¡± ¡°Roar!¡± The last two Level 2 Earth Lions roared as they saw their comrade die and attacked the man ferociously. Unlike before, the man did not run but dashed forward, entering a melee battle with the Wave Beasts. The Level 3 Earth Lion stood up, full of rage, as it gazed in the direction from where the projectiles emerged. The ice spears pierced its body, but they only managed to penetrate around twenty centimeters, so they did not threaten its life. It was ready to flash forward when it felt a burst of Wave, this time from the opposite direction. Clearly, the assailant had moved around the forest, changing their position to take full advantage of the darkness and that their enemy did not know their location. A single ice spear almost four times larger than before flashed toward the Level 3 Earth Lion. The projectile this time was much more powerful but lacked somewhat in terms of speed. The Level 3 Earth Lion prepared to dodge it when the spears piercing its body exploded into a freezing fog that paralyzed it and hindered its sight. There was nothing the beast could do as the giant ice spear landed right between its eyes, destroying its entire head. Less than two minutes after the death of the Level 3 Earth Lions, the man killed the other two Wave Beasts. Once all the Wave Beast were killed, the hidden shooter emerged from the darkness. Beelze¡¯s body emitted a cold aura, and the gauntlets covering her hands glowed with blue light, each with a thirty-centimeter-long ice blade. Cain saw how Beelze got near the Level 3 Earth Lion and removed the beast¡¯s heart. Since she killed the Wave Beast, he had nothing to say about it and instead went ahead with his training. He buried his hands into the fresh corpses and began to practice the Blood Refinement Art. Beelze¡¯s eyes narrowed as she saw how Cain mummified the Wave Beast¡¯s corpse in just a few minutes before doing the same with the other three. Once Cain finished with the four Level 2 Earth Lions, he turned to the one at Level 3. Although Beelze took the beast¡¯s heart which contained the highest purity of blood, there was still a lot left in the rest of the body. ¡°Can I?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have use for the corpse, so go ahead.¡± The corpse did not belong to him, so Cain asked for permission, and Beelze gave it immediately. Cain devoured until the last drop of blood in the Level 3 Earth Lion before the duo left the zone and continued their hunting. It continued the entire night, killing Wave Beasts and slowly advancing through the forest. Beezle and Cain were Level 2 Wave Warriors, so spending a day without sleep was not a big deal and could not affect them. When the first ray of sunlight appeared, the duo stopped their hunting and again advanced at full speed. They used the time to replenish their Wave, ensuring they were full of energy in case of anything. After another two hundred kilometers, Cain and Beelze reached a swamp. The area affected Cain¡¯s sense of smell, but he could still perceive the general direction in which Salar went. The scent became really strong after a few more hours, meaning Salar was not far away, but since it became night, Cain and Beelze chose to stop their march. Together, they were not afraid of a Level 4 Wave Warrior, but that did not mean they could take the enemy lightly, so they decided to rest and continue their chase the next day after resting properly. Since it was a fact that the enemy was close, they would sleep in turns. Despite having the [Basic Scan Force Field] tool, Cain went ahead with the plan. A Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior could cover fifty meters in a second, which is why Cain would not let his guard down. ¡°You take the first turn. By the way, if you try anything...¡± Beelze did not finish her sentence, but she put her hand on a small branch and froze it before shattering it. Cain instinctively crossed his legs and nodded with strength. Not even if he was ten times braver would he dare to test Beelze. Chapter 71 71 Immaturity Beelze had been sleeping for almost two hours when she felt a hand covering her mouth. Her eyes opened, and a flash of killing intent appeared in them. It did not matter the friendship that formed between her and Cain. She would never allow anyone to abuse her. However, when Beelze saw Cain¡¯s eyes, there was no lust in them, only an intense sense of worry and a wisp of dread. She immediately understood that things were not as simple as they seemed and focused. The first impulse in Beelze¡¯s mind was to use the A.I. Chip to communicate with Cain, but she understood that there must be a reason why the young man did not do that. Cain nodded once he saw Beelze remained calm and took his hand out of her mouth. He pointed to the distance, to a shallow swamp. Beelze¡¯s eyes widened, and the same worry that Cain showed appeared in her eyes. Near the shallow swamp were two older men, one of them was bald and with a large body, while the other had gray hair and a skinny complexion. The reason for the duo¡¯s worry was that despite the distance, they could feel a sharp aura from them, meaning that their cultivation was, without a doubt, above Level 4! It would take everything of Cain and Beelze to face a single Level 4 Wave Warrior, assuming this one did not have Wave Artifacts. However, the two men were not only above that level, but the metallic structure covering their spines made it clear they had powerful armor. There was no way Cain and Beelze could defeat the duo; to make things worse, they had no idea why they would show themselves in a place like this. Although the mission to hunt Salar Jones was open to cadets and soldiers, there was no way something like this would draw the attention of people at the duo¡¯s level. ..... Cain and Beelze remained silent as they stared at the men. There were around three hundred meters between them, so they should be safe from detection. Still, neither cadet used their A.I. Chip, as there was no way to say if the men had some artifact capable of detecting electromagnetic waves. Curiosity burned in the eyes of Cain and Beelze. Things grew odder as a man rose from the shallow swamp near the two old men. The duo immediately recognized that person as their target, Salar Jones. Salar showed no fear at the two old men and even had a cocky smile on his face as he looked at them and began to speak. Unfortunately, due to the distance, neither Cain nor Beelze could hear what they were talking about. Cain and Beelze looked at each other. Neither understood what was happening. Why would the two older men show such deterrence to Salar, a Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior with no background that the Imperial Lightning Fort considered a criminal? Cain¡¯s mind was extremely sharp, but even he could not clearly understand what was happening since there were simply too many missing pieces. The one clear thing was that Salar Jones¡¯ background was not as simple as the Imperial Lightning Fort made them believe. Under the protection of the two old men, Salar could leave this Tier 1 Danger Zone without a problem. Even if Cain and Beelze could inform of this right now, it would be a while before someone with enough power to overcome the trio arrived at this location. The only way forward was to get away from this place and head back into the Imperial Lightning Fort. They could then inform of what they saw and let the higher-ups decide what to do. Suddenly the scranny old man talking with Salar made his Essence Wave burst and raise a hand, generating a small tornado in it! The pupils of Cain and Beelze narrowed as they saw that and were ready to push their Wave to the limit and run with everything they had. However, they did not do it, as the scranny old man shot the tornado in the opposite direction. The tornado destroyed some of the trees in its path, but the two figures that dashed from the branches and began to run at full speed were the old man¡¯s true goal. Cain could barely discern them, but they were clearly soldiers by their clothes. They were a man and a woman, and by the might of their Wave Cloaks, neither had reached Level 4. The soldiers attempted to escape, but they were too slow. The man ran for a few seconds before a barrage of wind blades descended from the sky and cut his body to pieces. Utter sorrow appeared in the female soldier¡¯s eyes as she saw her comrade¡¯s fate, but she did not have time to worry for others as the bald old man appeared in front of her. The one that went after the female soldier was an Astral Wave Warrior, and he was about to destroy the woman¡¯s head when a voice echoed through the forest. ¡°Do not kill her!¡± The one that shouted those words was Salar Jones, and there was a vicious light in his eyes. The old Astral Wave Warrior noticed the intention of Salar, and instead of a punch, he sent a palm strike forward. The attack sent the female soldier crashing against a tree, making her puke blood, but she was still alive. Salar showed a lustful smile as he saw the wounded female soldier and began to walk toward her location. He did not hurry up as he wanted to see the look of horror on the woman¡¯s face once she understood her fate. It was all part of his twisted game. Cain¡¯s eyes widened with shock as he saw what had just happened. Even if he had wanted to help soldiers, there was no way he could have covered the distance before the man perished. Cain took a deep breath and forced himself to take control of his emotion as he focused on the woman. He knew what Salar would do to her, and it made his blood burn as a furious killing intent began to grow inside him. ¡®I can not allow it!¡¯ Everything inside Cain told him he needed to help that woman, as he could not allow something like that to happen on his watch. The desire was so strong in Cain¡¯s mind that he almost jumped forward when a hand grabbed his shoulder. He turned to the side and saw Beelze looking at him with cold and emotionless eyes. While Cain¡¯s eyes burned with fury, killing intent, and a sense of justice, Beelze¡¯s were cold and saw the picture from an entirely pragmatic point of view. Beelze did not say a word, but the meaning in her eyes was unmistakable. Flashing forward would only mean death; even if Cain was fine with it, her life was also on the line here. Cain knew that trying to help that woman would most likely end in his death, but the idea of letting Salar carry on with that depraved act made him sick. Rage, hatred, and finally, disappointment appeared in Cain¡¯s eyes as he nodded. He was not alone, and even if he was willing to bet his life, he did not have the right to gamble Beelze¡¯s as well. Beelze nodded as she saw Cain calm down and glanced at the trio in the distance. She signaled Cain that they should get to the ground and leave now that Salar and the other two were distracted. Cain followed Beelze¡¯s guide and quietly descended from the tree before running away. He could not believe they had just left and done nothing to stop Salar. A sense of impotence assaulted his heart, and he clenched his fists so hard they began to bleed. They had run for less than thirty seconds when Beelze¡¯s Wave Cloak emerged. She gathered a tremendous amount of Essence Wave before firing a cluster of shining ice to the sky, right above where Salar and the two old men should be. Cain was surprised by Beelze¡¯s actions and saw how the cluster burst into a glowing sphere of ice that illuminated the sky. That would draw a lot of attention to Salar¡¯s location, forcing this one to move, and there was no way he could do it while carrying a wounded woman. The female soldier would definitely die, but thanks to Beelze¡¯s actions, she would at least do it with dignity and not have her last moments of life as the toy of some depraved bastard. Cain did not hide the admiration he felt for Beelze, but along with it, there was a sense of shame. His immaturity put him and Beelze in great danger, and if not for the old men focused on the soldiers, they might have detected his killing intent and gone after them. There was nothing that Cain could do right now other than to learn from this mistake, but the look in his eyes made it clear this was not something he would get over easily. Chapter 72 72 Answer (I) Cain and Beelze made their way out of the forest without much problem. Even if Salar and the two old men knew of their presence, they would not risk chasing after them. No matter how high Salar¡¯s background might be, it could not be higher than that of the Imperial Military Force, so he had to be careful since he was a wanted man. The duo went to their military truck and headed back to the Imperial Lightning Fort. Neither Cain nor Beelze uttered a word in the entire journey. Once they were back in the city, they split apart. Beelze would inform the higher-ups what happened. While they technically fulfilled their mission since they reported Salar¡¯s location, it would be a while before they got a reward. As Cain saw Beelze go away, he could not help but sigh. Although the woman did not say a word, he knew she was angry with him and did not blame her. He was selfish and risked both of their lives. Cain returned to his residence, bowed to his father¡¯s altar, and took a shower. Once he was out, he adopted a meditative position and attempted to cultivate. Unlike previous occasions, Cain felt that his Wave was like mud, and it was incredibly hard to draw it into his body and make it revolve around it. He could not focus as, in this moment of silence, the picture of the two soldiers appeared in his mind repeatedly. To cultivate, you don¡¯t only need a powerful body in optimal conditions but also a clear mind. It was not odd that a traumatic event would haunt a genius¡¯ mind and halt their progress. Some ancient texts from the Dark Races called that state Heart Nightmare. Cain¡¯s rational mind understood that there was nothing he could have done to save them, but that did not make the annoying feeling in his mind go away. ..... From the moment he began to understand the world around him, his father engraved a sense of justice in his heart, so just running away and leaving someone who needed help was not something he could ignore. ¡°You should get used to it. The world is not a fairy tale. You will not be able to save everybody, and there will be times when the ones lost are not random strangers but people you care about.¡± Apex offered those few words before going silent. This mental blockade was a trial that Cain needed to surpass and was just as important as his fight in the Whisper Forest against Dimitri and Nira. After three hours, Cain¡¯s face began to twist as rage flooded his heart, and then his Wave burst with power as he began to slam the floor with his bare fists. ¡°DAMMIT!¡± Cain shouted with rage. The frustration in his heart finally exploded. Cadets¡¯ residences could resist attacks from high-level Wave Warriors, so instead of harming the floor, Cain¡¯s fist ended up being hurt. Cain struck again and again with so much strength that his fists started the bleed, but it seemed he did not realize it and kept going. Only when a flash of red light appeared in his eyes did his emotions get under control, and he finally stopped slamming the floor. Cain¡¯s breathing was rough due to the wild release of his Astral Wave. He saw his bleeding hands, but there was no sign of pain on his face, and he just cleaned them up before beginning to train in martial arts. Carrying on with his cultivation would be futile, and since martial arts had a soothing effect on his mind, Cain decided to focus on them. Monday finally came, and Cain headed for the auditorium. Bags beneath his eyes made it clear he had not slept well over the past few days. Cain reached the auditorium just as the class was about to start and nodded to Beelze and Levi before sitting down. Levi¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw Cain¡¯s condition, and he glanced at Beelze with a questioning gaze, but the woman just shook her head. Although he still had questions, the class had already started, and he did not dare to interrupt Wink. Today¡¯s class was about achieving synergy between the Four Wave Arts, which was essential in determining the battle power of a Wave Cultivator. Every cadet paid full attention to the class except for one. Cain was doing his best to remain focused, but the days had only worsened the pressure on his mind, so he could not help but get distracted. None of the cadets noticed Cain¡¯s absent-mindedness, but it did not escape from Wink¡¯s sight. ¡°You!¡± Wink¡¯s voice echoed through the auditorium, and everybody focused on the target. Cain¡¯s eyes widened, and his entire body grew tense as he felt a dangerous beast focus on him. He took a deep breath before rising from his seat. ¡°Yes, Teacher Wink?¡± ¡°Hmph, at least you have some manners. Anyway, since you are so distracted, I take it that you already understood all I was saying. I needed someone to do a practical demonstration, and you just volunteered. Come here.¡± Cain did not say a word and only nodded before walking toward Wink. Many of the cadets threw him mocking smiles, but he ignored them. The harsh light in Wink¡¯s eyes grew a little weaker as he saw Cain¡¯s attitude. Of course, that did not mean he would go easy on this one. In the military, insubordination and lack of focus were not allowed as that would mean the death of many, not just yours. Wink took a deep breath as his Essence Wave grew incredibly weaker until it matched Cain¡¯s Astral Wave in quantity. ¡°I have sealed my Essence Wave to equal yours, and I will also restrict my battle skills. We will begin a melee fight, and I will show everybody just how mighty the Four Wave Arts are, as they will allow me to defeat you.¡± For all the cadets, it was an unwritten rule that no Essence Wave Warrior could defeat an Astral Wave Warrior in a melee fight, but Wink was ready to shatter that perception. ¡°Although I am an Essence Wave Cultivator, my body has already gone through multiple stages of tempering, so you will not be able to hurt me even without my Wave Cloak¡¯s protection. Attack me with all you have; as long as you connect a direct blow, you will win.¡± Wink did not say anything more before his Wave Cloak emerged, and he made it burst. Although it would have been easy for him to push it to an outrageous level, he limited himself to a 400% Wave Burst, the standard for a genius. Cain adopted a severe expression as he saw Wink¡¯s Wave Cloak, which was not only bursting with great power but highly concentrated. He took a deep breath before unleashing his Wave Cloak and immediately made it burst. It became clear to everybody how far apart Wink and Cain were in terms of mastery over the Four Wave Arts. Not only was Cain¡¯s Wave Burst weaker, but he also had a more challenging time keeping his Wave Cloak¡¯s form. Wink stood straight, not adopting any battle stance whatsoever, increasing the pressure he generated over Cain. Cain did his best to develop a battle strategy, but he could not find any opening. In the end, the only path was the simplest, a direct clash forward, taking advantage of his superior strength and Astral Wave. Cain directed as much Astral Wave as he could into his right fist before sending a punch toward Wink¡¯s chest. That punch carried great strength, but Wink managed to stop it with his palm. He not only did not move a single step but not even his stance changed. Wink gathered a significant amount of Essence Wave on his palm and morphed it, granting it a sponge-like consistency, significantly weakening the power of Cain¡¯s punch. Cain was shocked by that feeling. The fact that the Four Wave Arts could allow an Essence Wave Warrior to stop an Astral Wave Warrior¡¯s punch was shocking. Of course, it was near-impossible for a Level 2 Wave Warrior to display that level of mastery over the Four Wave Arts. Cain continued attacking, throwing punches and kicks with all his power, but Wink blocked all of them with his palm without any effort. As the battle continued, a sense of impotence began to assault Cain. The feeling of weakness and futility reminded him of what happened with those soldiers. Rage started to emerge in his heart again, making his attack clumsier. Wink could see Cain¡¯s lack of control and shook his head. Someone that could not keep calm had no room on the battlefield. His eyes grew cold as the cadet jumped forward and threw another punch. All of Wink¡¯s Essence Wave focused on his palm, and once it collided with Cain¡¯s punch, it sent him flying away with so much strength that he clashed with the auditorium¡¯s wall, hitting the back of his head. ¡°?Boom!¡± Wink sighed as he saw that. He got a little carried away as Cain¡¯s behavior reminded him of many people he met in the army who did not understand that it was not just their life on the line. Still, he was not cruel and understood that Cain was still young and could improve. Just as Wink was about to call Levi to help the unconscious Cain, he saw the cadet beginning to stand up. ¡°Oh, you can still stand up? I guess you have a hard head, right ki...¡± Wink¡¯s voice froze when he saw Cain¡¯s eyes. Cain¡¯s eyes lacked focus, hinting he wasn¡¯t fully conscious, but there was a red light in them, unleashing a monstrous coldness that shocked even the Wave Champion! Chapter 73 73 Answer (II) Silence reigned in the auditorium as all the cadets felt a coldness assaulting their hearts. Those with weak wills could not even look at Cain¡¯s eyes, as that red light in his eyes terrified them. However, that silence did not remain long as a blast echoed the next second when Cain¡¯s Wave Cloak emerged, bursting with immense power. The Wave output surpassed Wink¡¯s from the beginning and kept growing stronger. ¡®450%, 500%. What! His Wave Burst has already reached 600% and is still rising!¡¯ Wink¡¯s eyes widened as he calculated Cain¡¯s Wave Burst percentage. Cain¡¯s talent could be considered among the best of the class, but it was very far from what Wink was seeing now, not to mention that red light rose along with the power. It was not only an incredible level of Wave Burst that Cain was showing, but his Wave Cloak remained steady, showing an extreme proficiency in Synergy Flow. The higher the Wave output, the harder it would be to control it, but even when Cain¡¯s Wave Burst reached 800%, the Wave Cloak showed no sign of instability or leakage. A blast of dense air blasted in every direction once Cain¡¯s Wave Cloak reached 1000% Wave Burst! None of the cadets said a word, as they could not even process what was happening. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with a red light, and he showed a level of proficiency over the Four Wave Arts that seemed to surpass that of Wink. Cain¡¯s eyes were still not fully focused and seemed to be in automatic mode, but that did not affect his movements. In a second, all of his Wave concentrated in his right fist, reaching a might that could destroy a Level 3 Wave Warrior with a single strike! ..... ¡®It¡¯s not only Wave Cloak and Wave Burst that reached a shocking level, but also Wave Focus. What is happening with this boy!?¡¯ Wink was full of curiosity, which is why he let things play out. Even if Cain began to act wild, he still could immobilize this one without a problem. ¡°?Boom!¡± A small blast echoed through the auditorium when Cain stroked the wall behind him. While that attack had great strength, it was not enough to harm the structure. It made sense. After all, the building could endure the might of Wave Champions, and no matter how much strength Cain had gathered in his fist, it did not reach that level. Wink and the other cadets did not understand Cain¡¯s goal with that attack, but this one was unable to explain. He looked around the auditorium before walking to the closest bench. The cadet near the bench was terrified and moved away, but Cain did not care, and with that fist that contained all of his Wave, he shattered it. Unlike the auditorium¡¯s walls, the bench and chairs were ordinary and could not endure the might of Cain¡¯s fist. The confusion in their eyes of everybody only grew as they saw Cain destroying the bench before bending. The cadets and Wink could only see his back, so they did not know what he was doing, but once he rose, his hands were full of pieces of steel. All of Cain¡¯s actions became clear the next second as he turned toward Wink and shot one of those steel pieces. Wink immediately put his hand on the path of the steel piece. There was a tremendous amount of Essence Wave with a sponge-like consistency in his palm, so the object should not even touch his skin. However, as the steel piece reached his palm, a sense of utter awe assaulted Wink. His Essence Wave diminished a significant amount of the steel piece¡¯s momentum, but this one still managed to reach his flesh! Of course, there was no damage, as Wink¡¯s body was just too powerful for something like that to harm him, but that did not diminish the shock that assaulted his heart. Before Wink could get over the shock, Cain shot another piece of steel toward him. Like before, he managed to block it, reducing most of its power with his Essence Wave but was unable to stop it from reaching the flesh. Cain began to walk toward Wink as he shot more and more of those pieces of steel. After blocking the teenth piece of steel, Wink finally understood the reason behind their power. ¡®He used Direct Flow to cover the steel pieces with his Astral Wave before using Wave Transmutation to grant it lightning properties. What kind of monstrous talent is that!¡¯ Wink¡¯s shock and awe have already reached an unprecedented level. Direct Flow and Wave Transmutation were arts that Astral Wave Cultivators found very hard to perform independently, much less simultaneously. Still, Cain was doing it as if they were as normal as breathing. The closer Cain got to Wink, the faster he shot the steel pieces. However, Wink still managed to block them with nothing more than his palms. Wink might have sealed his Essence Wave and restricted his martial arts, but his speed of thought was still working unhindered. Cain¡¯s attacks moved in slow motion for a Wave Champion like him, so it was easy to block them. Cain¡¯s face showed no facial expression from the moment he stood up, and that did not change for the fact that Wink blocked every one of his shots. Once there was less than a meter of distance between them, his Wave Burst grew even stronger, and he shot one steel piece from each hand before flashing forward. Wink had just used both palms to block the steel pieces when Cain appeared in front of him and sent a right punch to his face. If that punch landed, even if it did no damage, he would lose according to his rules. Cain saw how Wink managed to grab his right wrist, stopping his fist, but then he shot a new piece of steel that he had hidden between his fingers. Wink¡¯s eyes widened as he saw that, and he moved his head to dodge the steel piece, putting it in the path of Cain¡¯s left fist. Like before, he grabbed the arm¡¯s wrist, stopping the attack, and again, Cain shot a hidden piece of steel toward his head. Wink easily dodged that second sneak attack since he expected it, but then it happened. Cain¡¯s head moved forward, getting extremely close to his, and he saw it. Cain¡¯s lips split apart, showing a final piece of steel between his teeth. This one had much more Astral Wave infused in it, and arcs of lightning surrounded it, hinting at its extremely piercing power. He shot that hazardous project straight toward Wink¡¯s right eye! Wink¡¯s instincts began to scream danger. Even if he was a Wave Champion with an extremely powerful body, there was no way his eye could resist that attack! Redirecting all of his current Essence Wave to his eyelid would still not be enough, as that steel piece could pierce it. ¡®DAMMIT!¡¯ Wink could not help but curse in his mind before hastily breaking the seal over his Essence Wave and making it explode with the full power of someone at the Wave Champion rank. An immense amount of Essence Wave blasted out of Wink¡¯s body, sending Cain flying away. Cain clashed with the ceiling before falling to the ground, and this time he seemed to have been thoroughly knocked out. When the cadets stared at Wink, they could not believe what they saw. Wink¡¯s right eyelid was bleeding! A Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior made a Wave Champion bleed. No one would believe such a thing to be possible, yet it happened. Wink was doing his best to remain calm, but his heart still beat like crazy. Had he not released the full power of his Essence Wave, that steel piece would have destroyed his right eye and possibly reached all the way to his brain. ¡®He never intended to win by landing a direct blow. Everything he did from the moment he stood up was done with the sole purpose of killing me!¡¯ A flash of dread appeared in Wink¡¯s eyes as he stared at the unconscious Cain. Someone so young, with such monstrous talent, scheming mind, and ruthless heart, was destined to be a horrible monster. As the dread vanished and his heartbeat began to slow down, a vicious smile appeared on Wink¡¯s face, one that he had never shown to the cadets before. The cadets were surprised by Wink¡¯s change. Before, he gave them the feeling of a great beast in slumber, but now he resembled a monster ready to jump into a killing frenzy. That was a sight of Wink that only those that had fought by his side had seen. ¡®This brat, if he manages to survive the tribulations in his path, will become a true monster. Excellent!¡¯ The reason for Wink¡¯s murderous aura was the picture he had of Cain butchering members of the Dark Races. There was no more beautiful scenery for a soldier of the Imperial Military Force than that. Chapter 74 74 Answer (III) Cain opened his eyes, and there was confusion in them as he attempted to remember what had just happened when a horrible pain assaulted him. It was as if someone had just split his brain in two. ¡°AAAHHH!¡± Cain grabbed his head with an expression of utter agony. ¡°What the hell!¡± The pain almost made him pass out again, but luckily it did not last long. After a few seconds, it was gone, and he heard a voice. ¡°Are you fine?¡± Hearing a voice at any time was not odd for Cain due to Apex¡¯s presence, but the one speaking was a woman. He stood up and saw that he was in his residence, and Levi and Beelze were with him. ¡°What are you two doing here?¡± Cain was perplexed about the entire situation. The last thing he remembered was his training with Wink, but after that, everything became blurry. There were memories, but it was like trying to remember an old dream. Levi and Beelze looked at each other before nodding. The first one adopted a solemn expression as he began to speak. ¡°After you black out, we offered to bring you to your residence. As for what happened before that.¡± Levi paused before sending a video to Cain through his A.I. Chip. Cain was full of questions, so he did not hesitate before opening the video. Shock immediately appeared in his eyes as he saw the power and skills he displayed in that semi-unconscious state. ..... It was just too outrageous, and not just his domain over the Four Waves Arts, but his scheming mind and tactics reached an incredible level. ¡°This is really me?¡± Even though the video clearly showed him, Cain found it hard to fathom the one fighting against Wink with the current him. ¡°You are not the only one surprised. Your actions shocked the entire class, including us. We were wondering if you had some secret skill, but by your expression, it seemed that you didn¡¯t know what had just happened.¡± Beelze spoke calmly, not hiding her curiosity about Cain¡¯s condition or interest in that state. Neither she nor Levi would pressure Cain to obtain information about that state, but that did not mean they would pretend they did not care or were interested. Honesty was the main pillar of any true friendship. Cain stared at the duo for a few moments before sighing. ¡°In the past, there had been times when my mind became extremely clear, granting me absolute control over my emotions, heightening my senses, and improving my control over my Astral Wave. In all of them, I was conscious, and my skills never reached such an outrageous level as displayed in the video.¡± Levi and Beelze showed a small smile when they heard that, and their posture became much friendlier. The information Cain gave them would grant them nothing, but it was proof of their trust in each other. ¡°You should be careful from now on. Many envious people would think that you have some secret treasure or ability due to your actions, and they could target you.¡± Beelze¡¯s voice grew cold as she spoke those words, and her attitude affected the other two. Being a monstrous genius and lacking background was never a good combination. It would not be that odd if some Noble Families attempted to kidnap Cain to look for the secret behind his abilities. Cain frowned as he heard that, since from now on, he could not simply leave the Imperial Lightning Fort. The lack of power again restrained his movements, just like with Salar Jones. However, unlike before, when he felt a crushing pressure assaulting his mind, enlightenment appeared in his eyes, and he smiled. ¡®Hahaha, how did I not see it before? It is simple. I just need to grow stronger.¡¯ A flash of red light crossed Cain¡¯s eyes as he found the answer to all the problems that had been assaulting him. POWER. It might sound simple, but it was not. Of course, the idea of solving his problems with raw power crossed Cain¡¯s mind before, but he never truly entertained it since it was not something he could achieve by just wanting it. However, in that video, he deployed a battle power that could have allowed him to face a Level 5 Wave Warrior. That meant he had the strength and potential to solve his problems with his fists. The blockade in Cain¡¯s mind shattered after that, and he felt an inner peace that relaxed his entire body. Levi and Beelze had no idea what was happening in Cain¡¯s mind, but they noticed the flash of red light in his eyes and how his entire demeanor changed. It had a calm surface, but a force was ready to burst beneath it. ¡°Since you are fine, we should be leaving.¡± Beelze stood up as she said that, but then her eyes caught the sight of a small altar. She and Levi had been in the room for almost an hour, but they were entirely focused on Cain and did not have the time to look around. The man had green eyes and black hair, just like Cain, but that was where the similarities ended. Beelze even noticed physical characteristics that made her narrow her eyes. ¡°Is that your father?¡± Cain noticed Beelze¡¯s expression as she asked that question, and he smiled. ¡°Yes, that man is my father, the only one I have. That will always be true even if we do not share blood.¡± Cain stood and went to the altar before perming a deep bow. ¡°I am an orphan. According to what my father told me, he found me in a forest near a battlefield. From that moment, he cared for me and raised me to become the man I am today.¡± Levi and Beelze were a little surprised to find out the almost mythical origin of Cain. After that, the duo did leave for their residences, leaving Cain alone. Once he was alone again, Cain adopted a severe expression. The way he behaved in the video was incredible and showed immense power, but while Cain would not hesitate to kill someone on a battlefield, he would not do it in mere training. If Wink had acted a little slower, that piece of steel would have pierced into his brain. Even a Wave Champion could not endure such a traumatic injury. ¡°Apex, did you or the Absolute Life Form System have anything to do with that behavior?¡± Apex¡¯s attitude toward Cain had always been one of superiority, but this time he did not dally or play games. The stronger you were, the more importance you gave your ego and personality. ¡°The Absolute Life Form System can not act without your commands. Although I have the power to kill you, I can not directly affect your personality. The cause for your state during that video was neither of us.¡± Cain nodded as he understood there was no reason for Apex to lie to him, not to mention that the actions displayed in the video were not exactly wise. No matter how exceptional his talent was, had Cain killed Wink, nothing good would have happened. ¡°Then what just happened?¡± Cain had always been curious about the odd state he entered when pushed to his limits. Since they had never affected his personality, he did not worry too much, but things had changed. ¡°I have been doing some research from the moment that first happened during your encounter with the Atrox. While I have found records in the Empire Science Academy containing some clues, the information that could give us a clearer answer is out of reach for the current [Basic Hacking] tool.¡± Cain could only sigh as he heard that. There was not much he could do if things were like that. He would just have to wait for the [A.I. Chip Module] to grow stronger or find another way to get that information. For the time being, Cain focused on the things he could control, like his cultivation. Now that his mind had finally regained its peace, he could train with complete calm. Cain felt his Astral Wave revolving around his body even faster than before, nurturing every cell of his body and increasing his energy pool. After a few hours, he stopped cultivating, ate a large meal, took a long shower, and slept comfortably. The next day, like usual, Cain went to the auditorium for his class, but he noticed how many people kept looking at him on the way. It was clear that yesterday¡¯s events had already spread around the military academy. Cain simply ignored their glances. None of them had the power to do anything to him, and even if they had, none would dare to attack him inside the Imperial Lightning Fort. As Cain was about to reach the auditorium, he noticed Levi in the distance. He got closer to this one and immediately noticed something odd. Levi¡¯s head had no hair left, and his skin looked smooth like a baby¡¯s. Although those characteristics could draw some laughs, Cain was actually amazed. ¡°You went through marrow washing?¡± Chapter 75 75 Pillar of Mind (I) ¡°You went through marrow washing?¡± Cain did not hide his amazement as he realized Levi¡¯s accomplishment. What Cain referred to as marrow washing was a process in which a Wave Warrior expelled the body¡¯s impurities. Not just that accumulated in the skin but those that reach the marrow. It was an excruciating process but also a tremendous lucky chance, especially for Astral Wave Warriors. Astral Wave Cultivators need to pay special focus to their foundation, and in the Wave Warrior rank, marrow washing played an essential part in it. ¡°Hahaha, that is right. I entered Level 3 yesterday during the night, and that rush of Astral Wave running through my body allowed me to go through marrow washing.¡± Levi¡¯s face showed immense pride as he uttered those words. It made sense; after all, the sooner you begin to experience marrow washing, the greater your future cultivation prospects will be. Even talented individuals find it hard to experience marrow washing before Level 4. The fact that Levi experienced it just as he entered Level 3 meant that he would almost definitely become a Level 7 Wave Warrior and would not have a hard time becoming a Wave Champion. Cain was not surprised that Levi managed to enter Level 3, as this one already stood very close to that level once they left the secret trial. Cain and Levi did not waste time and entered the auditorium. Many cadets were already seated, and the duo immediately became the center of attention. The cadets¡¯ gazes carried many emotions. Some were curious, others amazed, but many also showed envy and jealousy. Cain and Levi ignored those gazes and went to their usual seats, where Beelze was already waiting. ..... Whispers filled the auditorium for a few minutes, but once Razmun arrived, everybody became silent. The dwarf-like teacher stared at Cain for a moment once he reached the podium but did not dally for long and began the class. ¡°Today¡¯s class will focus on the use of poison. Since the physiology of the Dark Races varies, some toxins are incredibly effective against some while doing almost nothing against others.¡± Razmun¡¯s class about poison was not very exciting, but all the cadets understood its value. As for the notion that using those methods was not honorable, that was a foolish and naive way to look at things, and war swallowed all those that thought that way. Once the class ended, Cain returned to his residence and did the usual. He paid respect to his father¡¯s altar, trained, ate, showered, and slept until the next day. Once Cain woke up, he went to the auditorium to attend Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s Military Tactic Class. ¡°We will focus today¡¯s class on the use of destructive methods to break apart the enemy¡¯s chain of command.¡± Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s strict aura did not change as he began to impart his knowledge to the cadets. The chain of command was critical on any battlefield, and any flaw could cause thousands of deaths. Learning how to disrupt it was imperative, and every cadet knew it. Cain, Levi, and Beelze paid full attention to the class. Once it was over, the trio left the auditorium. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Before the trio could disperse, Levi spoke to the two of them. ¡°I am going to the Pillars of Trial and wanted to know if you two would like to accompany me.¡± The Pillars of Trial was not a foreign concept for Cain since it was in the information given to him by the military academy regarding the Imperial Lightning Fort. They were special facilities with trials that members of the military could take. The pillars were not in the cadet section of the Imperial Lightning Fort but in the central part, where soldiers resided. Cadets could test their abilities in the Pillars of Trial, and there was even a ranking designed for them, but unless you reached Level 3, going there was inviting mockery. ¡°Actually, I was already planning to go to the pillars,¡± Beelze allowed a wisp of her aura to reach the duo, allowing them to see that she had also achieved Level 3. Levi and Beelze turned to Cain to see what he would do. Although his strength was too weak to achieve anything in the pillars, there was no problem in checking them out, so he agreed. The trio went to the gate that connected the cadet section and the main part of the Imperial Lightning Fort. Once they reached it, they found a familiar face. The one guarding the gate was an old man with a skinny body, the same one Vice-Captain Josef addressed as Sir Oliver when Cain and Levi took part in the secret trial. Oliver opened his eyes once he saw the trio arrive, and a small smile appeared. Cain, Levi, and Beelze felt those eyes could pierce into their souls. Even Wink could not make them feel that way. ¡°You two reached Level 3 and want to use the Pillars of Trial. Aaaa, the youth.¡± Oliver said nothing more before waving his hand and opening the giant gate. The trio gave a respectful bow to the man and were about to cross the gate when they heard him speak again. This time his target was not Levi or Beelze but Cain. ¡°You are too weak for the Pillar of Strength, Pillar of Destruction, Pillar of Resilience, and Pillar of Speed. However, I advise you to take the Pillar of Mind.¡± Cain was a little surprised by the advice and was full of questions, but Oliver closed his eyes the next second. In the end, he just nodded and carried on. As soon as the trio crossed the gate, they detected many powerful auras. Unlike in the cadet¡¯s section, where you would find it almost impossible to see Level 3 Wave Warriors, they were common in this place. The trio did draw attention, as Levi¡¯s sign of marrow washing and Beelze¡¯s beauty were odd, even for those soldiers. However, the trio stayed focused and went straight to the Pillars of Trial. It did not take long for the trio to arrive at the pillars, as they were purposely placed close to the cadet¡¯s section. It made sense since they were one of the few facilities cadets could use in the main part of the Imperial Lightning Fort. Cain was amazed by the Pillars of Trial. Each of them was a gigantic structure that rose for hundreds of meters, purely black and equal in every sense except for the words engraved on their surface. Each pillar had written the type of trial they performed in glowing words, and beneath them were two lists. One list was the Soldier Ranking, and the other was the Cadet Ranking. ¡°Ok, I will go first. I will use the Pillar of Strength. It won¡¯t take long.¡± Levi showed a confident smile as he walked to the massive black pillar. There was no queue, as multiple people could use the Pillar of Strength simultaneously. Levi just put his hand over the pillar¡¯s surface before vanishing. There was no way for Cain and Beelze to see what Levi did inside the Pillar of Strength, but they could have an idea of just how well he did by looking at the Cadet Ranking. The Cadet Ranking had ten places, and at the bottom, there was the name Stellar Wrath with the description Mid Level 3 Strength by its side. Most of the names were cadets of previous generations, and since they managed to engrave their names in the ranking, they were incredibly talented. Even the N¡ã10 position was a great honor, and it would also grant them a reward in the form of military credits. After ten minutes, a change happened in the ranking. The name Stellar Wrath vanished, only to be replaced by Blood Inferno, and the legend by its side had Late Level 3 Strength. There was always a great number of people paying attention to the ranking in the Pillars of Strength, so seeing a change in it drew a lot of attention, even if it was in the Cadet Ranking. Levi exited the pillar a few minutes later, and everybody focused on him. He just smiled as he got back to Beelze and Cain. Beelze did not say a word before going to the Pillar of Destruction. That trial focused on the destructive power that a Wave Warrior could achieve. Just like with Levi, once Beelze touched the pillar, she vanished. Cain and Levi focused on the Cadet Ranking of the Pillar of Destruction, and after a few minutes, they saw how the N¡ã10 position also changed. Beelze managed to take that spot, and the pillar classified her destructive power as Late Rank 3. Levi¡¯s smile froze as he saw Beelze walking toward him. He had shown such bravado just now, and she achieved the same. Cain only smiled as he saw the duo exchange challenging glances and walk toward the Pillar of Mind. He put his hands over it and vanished. Chapter 76 76 Pillar of Mind (II) The moment Cain was teleported into the Pillar of Mind, a message arrived at his [A.I. Chip Module]. ¡°Cadet, prepare yourself. The Trial of Mind will begin in two minutes. The trial will submit you to increasing levels of mental pain, measuring your willpower. The test will last until you ask for the trial to stop or fall unconscious. The more you last, the higher your ranking will be. We advise you to end the trial once you feel you can no longer endure it, as passing out could lead to some minor brain trauma.¡± Cain nodded once he heard the robotic voice and adopted a meditative position before emptying his mind and calming his heart. As he waited, he went through his understanding of willpower. It was a very abstract concept in the Old World, but now that the Godslayer Humankind¡¯s knowledge reached such an immense level that even embarked on the soul, many scholars have studied it. Of course, the level of information that Cain could access was too shallow, and he only knew two important facts. One was willpower being part of an individual¡¯s soul, and the other was that cultivation had an enriching effect on it. Wave Cultivators did not suffer from ailments like post-traumatic syndrome and the like because their cultivation improved their willpower, allowing them to cope better with war trauma. Cain began to feel mental pressure after two minutes, just like the message said. However, it was so weak that he barely detected it. ..... ¡®I guess it starts really slow in case a Level 1 Wave Warrior would be so dumb as to test the pillars.¡¯ Cain did not overthink the slow starting point and remained focused. However, after half an hour, Cain felt almost no real pain. For a moment, he thought that the Pillar of Mind had malfunctioned. Only when the hour mark arrived did Cain begin to feel real pain. It was not too severe but enough to make him frown. As time went by, the pain kept growing stronger until the point it truly pushed him to his limits. Cain had no way of knowing just what level he had reached, but he did not want to quit. At least, he hoped to gain a mark that would put him at Level 3. Ten minutes later, when Cain¡¯s time inside the Pillar of Mind almost reached two hours, he could no longer endure it. ¡°Stop!¡± The pain assaulting his mind vanished as soon as Cain uttered those words. He was pale and cold sweat soaked his body. Cain fell to the ground as he felt he had no energy left. His body was in perfect condition, but if his mind could not operate it, then there was not much he could do. ¡°Apex, exactly how long did I spend inside the trial?¡± ¡°One hour and fifty-seven minutes.¡± Cain could not help but show an odd expression. Levi and Beelze took around ten minutes in each trial and reached Late Level 3. ¡®Although the Pillar of Mind should be different from the others, since I was inside for so long, maybe I reached Level 4.¡¯ A smile appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he thought of that. Once he could finally stand up properly, he sent the command, and the Pillar of Mind teleported him outside. The first thing that received Cain¡¯s sight after the teleporting was a massive crowd. Hundreds of soldiers were waiting outside the Pillar of Mind, and he became the sole focus of their eyes. Cain could see the shock in their gazes and did not understand what was happening. Levi and Beelze immediately appeared by his side, and the duo¡¯s expressions were no different than the soldiers. An idea came to Cain¡¯s mind, and he turned to the Cadet Ranking to see just what level he had reached. As he saw the position of Saint of Killer in the ranking, he could almost not believe it. N¡ã1 Saint of Killers. However, that was far from enough to cause so much shock. Everybody looked at Cain as if he was a monster because of the legend next to the title. Late Wave Champion Willpower. ¡®WHAT!¡¯ Cain could not believe what the Pillar of Mind¡¯s Cadet Ranking had written. Even if the cultivation was not primordial in determining your willpower, it was still a core component. Finding a Level 9 Wave Warrior with willpower at the Early Wave Champion would raise massive havoc. So one could imagine how surprised people would feel with a Level 2 Wave Warrior that reached the Late Wave Champion. The only reason Cain could think for his incredible level of willpower was his identity as a Reincarnator or the fact that the Absolute Life Form System had fused with his soul. Unfortunately, he did not have time to focus on an answer as he was in grave danger. Having a high ranking should be great for him, but it was too high and would definitely draw envy. Cain did not have a background that could act as a deterrent, and while his name did not technically appear in the Cadet Ranking, it could not belong to anyone else but him. Suddenly, Cain¡¯s instincts began to scream danger as a handsome soldier with blonde hair and a tall body walked toward him. ¡°Cadet, your actions inside the Pillar of Mind raised too many suspicions. Do not resist and come with me!¡± The man spoke those words with a righteous expression as if he was some hero of justice. The actions of the blond man caused many soldiers to frown, as they were curious about Cain¡¯s feat, but none dared to defy him. Cain could see the greed hidden in the blonde man¡¯s eyes and knew nothing good would wait for him if he went with this one. Asking for help did not seem like a choice, as that man had some level of background by the way the other soldiers acted around him. ¡®Apex!¡¯ The System Spirit knew what Cain wanted and immediately used the [Pseudo Cellular Analysis] tool on the blond man. [Scan of target completed: ¡ª Name: ??? Race: Godslayer Humankind Lineage: ??? Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 7 Wave Warrior)] ¡®He looks so young and is already a Level 7 Wave Warrior. Just what kind of talent is that!¡¯ Cain clenched his fist as the Absolute Life Form System showed him that information. There was no way he could face a Level 7 Wave Warrior. Of course, even if the opponent had so much power he could never defeat him, Cain would not just surrender. No matter how futile it might be, he would fight. Levi and Beelze did not move from Cain¡¯s side. There was no fear in their eyes as they faced the blond man. Although even together, the trio had no way of defeating this one, they could at least make things hard enough so the higher-ups in the Imperial Lightning Fort could not simply turn a blind eye to what happened here today. Seeing the defiance in the trio made the blond man¡¯s eyes show coldness and a flash of killing intent. Yet, soon a smile emerged, as he was sure he could defeat them without much commotion. Unfortunately for the blond man, a sky-blue fog flooded the terrain before he could get close to Cain. It affected all the soldiers but generated a vacuum around the three cadets. When Cain saw that fog, he remembered Wink¡¯s Free Flow. However, this one had greater control and power, pressuring all the soldiers while avoiding harming him, Levi, and Beelze. ¡°Who was the one that dared to question the Pillar of Mind!¡± Everybody focused in the distance and saw an old man walking toward them. His body seemed very weak, yet he was the origin of the sky-blue fog that restrained all the soldiers. Cain immediately recognized that old man as Oliver, who advised him to attempt the Pillar of Mind. Oliver walked until he was right in front of the soldiers and focused on the blond man doing his best to stand straight. ¡°You were the one that insinuated that a Level 2 Wave Warrior could trick the Pillar of Mind?¡± The blond man was not even able to give an answer before all of the sky-blue fog concentrated on him, pushing him to the ground while coughing blood. Oliver glanced at the blond man for a moment before turning toward Cain, Levi, and Beelze. ¡°I think you three fulfilled the purpose of your trip here. Return to the cadet¡¯s section. No one would dare to stop you now.¡± Cain, Levi, and Beelze stared at the old man for a moment before giving a deep bow and walking away. Things would have been much harder had it not been for Oliver¡¯s arrival, so they were truly thankful. Cain was full of questions for the old man since it seemed this one knew something like this would happen. But now, it was not the time. Just as the trio was leaving, Cain heard Oliver¡¯s voice in his mind. ¡°Brat, I will come to visit you at night. There is someone very interested in meeting you.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard that. He turned toward Oliver and nodded before continuing to walk. Chapter 77 77 Lord Zarak When Cain, Levi, and Beelze returned to the cadet¡¯s section of the Imperial Lightning Fort, they took a deep breath and finally relaxed. The trip to the Pillars of Trial was supposed to be fun, but it turned into a dreadful one. Cain showed an odd smile as he remembered the legend written in the Cadet Ranking. He had willpower equal to a Late Wave Champion, meaning his talent in that aspect was overwhelming. Unfortunately, monstrous willpower would not offer any form of protection to the envious people that wanted to dissect him to know the secret behind his abilities. As the pressure of the world came crashing down on Cain, he remembered a phrase his father had told him. ¡®There is no way to change the past. Accept it with serenity, and find the courage within yourself to mold the future according to your will.¡¯ Cain clenched his fist, and a red light appeared in his eyes as he pushed all doubts and fears away. No matter what, he would take everything the world sent him and rise above all his tribulations. ¡°You are not alone. We are with you.¡± Beelze uttered those words as she put a hand over Cain¡¯s right shoulder. ¡°That is right. As long as we grow powerful enough, even a Wave Champion would not dare to mess with us.¡± Levi¡¯s eyes glowed with determination as he patted Cain¡¯s left shoulder. Cain could not help but show a radiant smile as he saw the duo. True friendship is very hard to get; once you obtain it, you must cherish it with all your heart. ¡°Thank you both. I should rest. I will not take any mission for the time being. Although it would hurt my credits, it is better to be safe.¡± Cain did not mind the lack of credits as he already had plenty, but the missions were also a great way to train. ..... ¡°Indeed, you should not take missions, but I don¡¯t think you would need to worry about credits for the time being. After all, you took first place.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened when he heard Levi¡¯s words. Indeed, entering the Cadet Ranking would grant military credits, and the higher you were, the more you would obtain. ¡®System, show me my military credits.¡¯ The Absolute Life Form System followed Cain¡¯s command, and soon he learned just how many military credits were in his possession. [Vessel¡¯s military credits: 29340. ¡ª The Imperial Lightning Fort sent twenty-five thousand military credits to Vessel twenty-two minutes ago.] Cain could hardly believe what he saw. Twenty-five thousand military credits were more than most cadets would gain in their entire journey in the military academy. Just as a framework, some Wave Champion¡¯s cultivation techniques cost less than twenty thousand military credits. ¡°It is almost thirty thousand.¡± Levi and Beelze were surprised by that number, and an odd expression appeared on their faces the next second. ¡°Good luck with your riches.¡± ¡°Yeah, we won¡¯t entertain your filthy rich grace.¡± The duo left but not before uttering those mocking words to Cain. Cain almost laughed when he saw the duo¡¯s comic behavior and shook his head before returning to his residence. He bowed to his father¡¯s altar before focusing. ¡°Apex, are you or the system the reason for my abnormal willpower?¡± ¡°My presence and that of the Absolute Life Form System do have some effect on your willpower and mind, but the real reason should be your identity as a Reincarnator. Your soul and mind are special since you are an entity that managed to endure the purging force of the Eternal River of the Afterlife, so it makes sense for your willpower to be outrageous.¡± Cain nodded since Apex¡¯s words made sense. There was no way the soul of something that managed to reincarnate would be simple. There were many things Cain could do right now, such as training or searching through the Imperial Military Academy Network for treasures to assist his cultivation, but he did not. Instead, he closed his eyes and calmly meditated. It was already midnight when Cain opened his eyes and walked toward the door before opening it. Oliver stood on the other side with a smile as he stared at the young cadet. ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Would it make a difference if I say no?¡± Oliver was surprised to hear Cain say that with such a carefree attitude. He smiled before shaking his head. Cain nodded, and the duo left the residences. Once they were outside the building, Oliver grabbed Cain¡¯s clothes, and before he could say anything, they rose into the sky. Cain was shocked to see that. Although flying did not seem that impressive considering all the strength powerful Wave Cultivators could unleash, it was still an amazing feat. He focused on Oliver and saw how this one slightly kicked the air with his feet, allowing him to move in a three-dimensional frame. Although Cain would have liked to analyze that skill in more detail, Oliver flashed through the sky at an incredible speed once they were high enough. The duo left the cadet¡¯s section in less than a minute and crossed into the main part of the Imperial Lightning Fort. Once there, Oliver continued flying, and Cain¡¯s eyes widened as they saw the direction they were heading. ¡°The Titan Tower!¡± Cain was shocked to see their destination. Although the tower had more than the Titan, anyone who could reside in it was a powerhouse capable of destroying entire cities. Most of them focused solely on their cultivation, and while they marched into war, they only took part in battlefields containing millions of soldiers and were considered trump cards. Oliver remained silent the entire trip and only spoke once they reached the Titan Tower. ¡°The one you are about to meet is my Master, Lord Zarak. Just answer truthfully, as there is no way to hide anything from him.¡± Cain could feel the respect and awe in Oliver¡¯s voice as he spoke about Lord Zarak, making it clear just how imposing that person was. The duo descended to the ground and entered the Titan Tower through the main gate. There was no one in there, only a large hall. Oliver and Cain walk forward until they reach a teleportation matrix. It glowed before making the duo vanish. The teleportation forced Cain to close his eyes, and when he opened them again, he found himself in a massive room. The wall to his right had hundreds of skulls belonging to different creatures, and on the left were all kinds of broken weapons. The skulls and weapons unleashed an aura that made Cain feel immense pressure. However, they were nothing compared to the middle-aged man sitting on a large throne at the end of the room. The man had blue hair, a large body roughly two meters tall, and wore a red martial robe that perfectly fit his muscular complexion. He stood there with his eyes closed, but the pressure of his existence made the surroundings tremble. ¡®Lord Zarak.¡¯ It was clear to Cain that the imposing man was Oliver¡¯s Master. Lord Zarak slowly opened his eyes, and when Cain saw them, he was shocked. ¡®He is blind.¡¯ That thought crossed Cain¡¯s mind when a blue light emerged from Zarak¡¯s eyes, and he felt an immense pressure on his mind. It was so powerful that he immediately fell to his knees and almost passed out. Luckily for Cain, the pain faded again in less than a second. He was gasping for air on the ground when a terrifying realization struck him. ¡®That man could kill me with just his gaze!¡¯ Whatever Zarak did, it did not involve Wave and struck directly into Cain¡¯s mind. ¡°So your willpower truly equals that of a Late Wave Champion. Interesting.¡± That voice echoed through the room, making Cain feel they were spoken directly to his ear. ¡®That was a test. Had I cheated on the Pillar of Mind, who knows what could have happened?¡¯ Although Cain did not enjoy being put on trial, he did not let his emotions get out of control and calmly stood up. Anyone else would have vowed in the presence of someone with so much power, but Cain remained straight. What kind of man would he be if he lowered himself with a man that almost killed him? Despite Zalar¡¯s eyes being those of a blind man, it was clear he had perfect awareness of his surroundings. When he saw Cain¡¯s refusal to vow in his presence, a smile appeared on his face. ¡°Good, you have an unwavering spirit. By the way, I would not lower myself by killing a mere Level 2 Wave Warrior. If you had cheated somehow in the Pillar of Mind, I would only have sent you to prison.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard that, and after a moment, he performed a small vow out of respect for such a warrior of the Godslayer Humankind. ¡°I am very busy and like to get straight to the point. I made Oliver bring you here since you are one in a billion. You are a life form born with a Sacred Organ other than the Evolution Core and the Rebirth Heart.¡± Chapter 78 78 Ego Eternal Path of Power Cain was shocked to hear those words. The Sacred Organs were the most incredible gift humankind possessed and were what made them rise above beasts and other lower life forms. The Essence Evolution Core and the Astral Rebirth Heart allowed a simple mortal to rise to a level where they could unleash the same power as a weapon of mass destruction. Access to a third Sacred Organ could only be considered a divine lucky chance, especially if it could achieve synergy with the other two. Cain focused and made sure to engrave every word of Zarak in his mind. ¡°Before I tell you about the third Sacred Organ, I would like to know your understanding of willpower and its importance in cultivation.¡± Zarak¡¯s voice was calm, but there was solemnity in it, making it clear just how important that question was. Cain did not answer immediately and took a moment to review all the information he had gained up to this point. Only after five minutes did he speak. ¡°Willpower is related to our mental fortitude and born of the hardship and tribulations a man experiences through his life. It can improve our ability to endure spiritual and mental attacks. And from a certain point of view, it is necessary to endure the long and solitary journey through cultivation.¡± Cain¡¯s words made sense and were what most cultivators believe regarding willpower. A practical force for defense against mental attacks and which would make the cultivation path easier. ¡°WRONG!¡± Zarak shouted with so much strength that it almost burst Cain¡¯s eardrums. Cain felt his surroundings tremble, and Zarak¡¯s power again shocked him. There was no Wave fluctuation, yet those sound waves almost made him pass out. ..... ¡°Your answer is extremely flawed. If willpower only helped us defend against mental attacks and persevere through our cultivation journey, why would we waste so many resources to create the Pillar of Mind?¡± Zarak took a deep breath as he raised his right hand, and the next second, a massive sphere of Astral Wave emerged on top of it. Cain was shocked to see the massive sphere of Astral Wave and was sure that if Zarak fired it at him, there would not be a single trace of his body left. ¡°Focus!¡± Zarak shouted that word before his eyes glowed with blue light again. The next second, that sphere of Astral Wave transmuted into raging water streams, and immediately after that, it became a blazing fireball. It began to change between the five elements at a shocking speed, but that was far from all. Zarak¡¯s eyes glowed with even greater blue light before that massive sphere morphed into a mighty serpent dragon that flashed through the room. Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he saw the level of control that Zarak¡¯s had over his Wave, especially over the Wave Art that Astral Rebirth Cultivators found most difficult of all, Wave Transmutation. Suddenly a sense of enlightenment appeared in Cain as he saw that the mightier Zarak¡¯s control over his Astral Wave became, the more blue light appeared in the eyes of this one. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with red light as his Wave Cloak emerged and began to burst with incredible might, instantly reaching 450% Wave Burst and rising faster and faster. Oliver¡¯s eyes widened as they saw Cain¡¯s actions, and not even the mighty Zarak could hide his shock. With that simple demonstration, the cadet figured out one of the key secrets behind the importance of willpower. The red light in Cain¡¯s eyes vanished after a few seconds, leaving his Wave Cloak in disarray and reducing the might of his Wave Burst. A sharp pain assaulted his mind, but that did not stop him from smiling as he finally figured it out. ¡°Willpower can be considered an energy wave born from the soul and can grant you overwhelming control over your Wave!¡± The force that saved his life when he faced the Atrox inside the secret trial, allowed him to overcome Dimitri and Nira¡¯s scheme, and granted shocking mastery over the Four Wave Arts was his willpower! ¡°Hahahaha, not only are you incredibly talented, but your mind is also extremely keen, and with a simple demonstration, you figured it out. You are right. Willpower can allow you to display an incredible mastery over the Four Wave Arts, which would translate into a massive boost in battle power.¡± Zarak smiled as he uttered those words and was pleased with Cain¡¯s capabilities. ¡°However, that is just the beginning.¡± Zarak made the serpent dragon disappear before raising a single finger and generating a small sphere of Astral Wave. Cain focused on the sphere and saw it had so little Astral Wave that he could easily form one. The small sphere of Astral Wave morphed into a fireball. It had so little power that even a Level 1 Wave Warrior could take it head-on. However, everything changed once Zarak¡¯s eyes glowed, and that blue light began to fuse into that tiny fireball. That fireball burst with immense power, and just the heatwaves it unleashed forced Cain to trigger his Wave Cloak. ¡°I can infuse my willpower into the Astral Wave to strengthen any spell or ability. If his willpower is strong enough, a Level 2 Wave Warrior could easily shoot a fireball that could kill a Level 7 Wave Warrior.¡± Zarak made the sphere disappear after a second before taking a deep breath. ¡°Up to this point, I have shown you how your willpower can help your Wave show greater power, but what comes next involves a radical change.¡± Cain felt how every trace of Zarak¡¯s Wave vanished, and the blue light in his eyes reached its zenith. Zarak opened his palm before slowly beginning to close it. ¡°RUMBLE!¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened as the entire room began to tremble as if an invisible force was crushing it. It did not take long for cracks to form in the walls. They were in the Titan Tower, a structure that, in theory, should be able to endure the destructive power of a nuclear bomb. Yet, Zarak generated cracks on it by simply closing his fist. ¡°If your willpower is strong enough, it can affect the world around you, allowing you to display a power that could crush a Peak Wave Champion to a pulp!¡± Cain could not hide the awe assaulting his heart. There was no reason for Zarak to lie to him, which meant that if he developed his willpower to a certain point, he would be able to achieve that same level of destructive might. Zarak relaxed his fist, and the room stopped trembling. His face grew a little pale, making it clear that achieving that level of might by only relying on his willpower was not simple. ¡°I have shown you the might of willpower, and now I will explain how to train it.¡± Zarak sent a stream of Astral Wave that formed a giant brain with flaming pathways that crossed every corner of it. ¡°Everything revolves around the third Sacred Organ. I am talking about the one in our brain, the Ego Eternal Matrix. With it, we have access to the Ego Eternal Path of Power.¡± Cain could see that those flaming pathways were intertwined with the brain to such a point that it was impossible to split them apart without destroying both of them. ¡°In theory, every human has access to the Ego Eternal Matrix, but to activate it, one needs to achieve willpower equal to a Late Wave Champion. Almost everybody needs the help of their Essence Evolution Path of Power or Astral Rebirth Path of Power to improve their willpower to reach that level.¡± Cain listened to Zarak¡¯s words attentively, as he knew they were crucial for his future cultivation. ¡°However, unique cases like yours exist where the Ego Eternal Matrix is activated from birth. That meant that the energy wave unleashed from your willpower was at the Late Wave Champion level from the beginning. For those that train the Ego Eternal Path of Power, the strength of our willpower takes the name of Ego Wave. Our eyes usually glow with a strange light when we use it.¡± Cain saw Zarak and Oliver¡¯s eyes glowed with blue light, making him remember the red light that appeared in his from time to time. ¡°Although your Ego Eternal Matrix is activated, you have yet to enter the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power. That is why your Ego Wave acts erratically, and when you use it for too long, your brain is hurt.¡± Zarak waved his hand, making a crystal card appear before throwing it toward Cain. Cain focused on the crystal card and found out it had overwhelming information. ¡°In it, you will find the basis for the Ego Eternal Matrix and Ego Eternal Path of Power. Once you enter the First Realm, I will take you as a core discipline.¡± Thrill filled Cain¡¯s heart when he heard that. Having a powerful master was always a good thing. ¡°For those who focus on the Ego Eternal Path of Power as our primary source of strength, tribulations are not just important but fundamental in our growth. I already spread the news that you are under my protection, so no powerhouse would dare to put his hands on you. Of course, that will only protect you from attacks in the open. You will have to depend on your own strength for the rest.¡± After those final words, Zarak signaled for Cain and Oliver to leave. The duo performed a deep bow toward Zarak before walking back to the teleportation formation. Zarak¡¯s eyes glowed, and a flash of blue light reached Cain¡¯s body before this one vanished. A meaningful gaze appeared on his face before he returned to his cultivation. Chapter 79 79 Dragon Blood Grass Cain and Oliver left the Titan Tower and returned to the cadet¡¯s residences. Both of them remained silent the entire trip, which was fine for Cain as many things were going through his mind. It was after they were back at Cain¡¯s residence that Oliver spoke again. ¡°Lord Zarak is an extremely important character in the Empire, and becoming his student is a great lucky chance. That is all I can say about that. Good luck, young man.¡± Oliver rose to the sky and vanished after that. A meaningful light appeared in Cain¡¯s eyes as he analyzed Oliver¡¯s words and entered his residence. Less than an hour had passed since he left, so nothing had changed. ¡°Apex, have you found any record of Zarak?¡± Cain was not someone that blindly trusted people. While having a powerful master would be good for him, following someone without knowing anything about them could lead to disaster. ¡°Unfortunately, no. Whoever that man is, there is not a single public record of him, so he is very reclusive and powerful.¡± Cain expected such an answer and nodded. There was still some time to sleep, so he began analyzing the crystal card Zarak gave him. There was a systematic approach to the Ego Eternal Path of Power in that crystal card. The first line he read made it perfectly clear how essential willpower was for those who trained on that path. ¡°Willpower is your limiter. No matter how high your talent or how fast your Ego Wave increases, without strong willpower, you will never thrive in the Ego Eternal Path of Power.¡± ..... It was not hard for Cain to understand the meaning of those words. He could access the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power at such low cultivation because his Ego Eternal Matrix was activated, granting him willpower equal to a Late Wave Champion from birth. If Cain does not increase his willpower beyond that point without external help, he will be stuck in the First Realm until his cultivation in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power surpasses the Wave Champion rank, improving his willpower. Nevertheless, taking that path would drive his Ego Eternal Path of Power to a supplementary role. According to the information in Zarak¡¯s crystal card, most Wave Cultivators use the Ego Eternal Path of Power as a supplementary one, not having access to it before reaching the Middle or Late Wave Champion rank. You would have lost most of your potential if you accessed the First Realm at that point. ¡®Wink must be one of the Wave Cultivators that doesn¡¯t take the Ego Eternal Path of Power as a primary power source. He should not even be aware of the Ego Eternal Matrix, or else he would not have been baffled by my use of Ego Wave during the training.¡¯ Cain spent the next five hours going through the information in the crystal card, and even then, he only scratched the surface, but the most important part for him was how to access the Ego Eternal Path of Power¡¯s First Realm. There were two requirements, the most simple yet hardest being the activations of the Ego Eternal Matrix. One must develop willpower through hardship and pain until the energy wave it generated could match that of a Late Wave Champion. Your cultivation in either the Essence Evolution Path of Power or the Astral Rebirth Path of Power would immensely help develop your willpower. Nevertheless, if you overly rely on them, your Ego Eternal Path of Power will never be more than a side path. Cain was incredibly lucky since he was born with his Ego Eternal Matrix activated from birth, most likely due to his identity as a Reincarnator. However, the second requirement had nothing to do with luck and all with self-realization. You must detach yourself from all outside perceptions and find your true nature. Most people see themselves as reasonable and fair, but that is because they live in a world with rules, laws, and cultures that stop them from allowing their true nature to flourish. What would you become if nothing stopped you from following your deepest heart¡¯s desire? After understanding that, Cain put the crystal card away. He knew there was no way he would reach the level of enlightenment needed to enter the Ego Eternal Path of Power¡¯s First Realm by simply meditating. As Zarak said, tribulations are fundamental in the growth of those who want to have the Ego Eternal Path of Power as a primary source of strength. ¡®I need to take on missions that push me to my limits. However, I must not be careless either. The first thing should be improving my battle power.¡¯ Cain used the military network to search for two things. One was a skill that could improve his speed, and another a treasure that could improve his cultivation. It did not take him long to find what he was looking for. [Lightning Armament: Transmutate your Astral Wave into lightning that can cover your body. It also uses lightning to stimulate your nervous system to improve your reaction speed. -A total of three levels -Useful up to the Early Wave Champion rank Cost: 2500 Imperial Military Credits.] Cain was very pleased with Lightning Armament. Although costly, it was among the best skills for Wave Warrior as it improved speed, offense, and defense. Although Cain already had Lightning Conversion, a skill that helped transmute his Astral Wave to lightning, it was too rigid and could only cover the body¡¯s outer layer. If Cain were to use it to affect his nervous system, he would end up severely harmed. Lightning Armament was the skill that would improve his speed. As for treasure that would assist his cultivation, that was much more expensive. [Dragon Blood Grass: Herb nurtured by the blood of a dragon. It has immense blood vitality and blood energy. Excellent for tempering the body of those that follow Astral Rebirth Path of Power and has a high chance of triggering marrow washing. -Due to the calm nature of its energy, anyone above Level 1 Wave Warrior can use it. -Normally used for Level 7 Wave Warriors to improve their chances to advance into the Wave Champion rank. Cost: 25.000 Imperial Military Credits] The Dragon Blood Grass was a single-use item, yet it cost more than ten times what Lightning Armament, but Cain did not find it odd. Cultivation was the base of all strength, and something that could help you rise from a Wave Warrior to a Wave Champion was bound to be costly. Of course, Cain did not intend to buy it just to keep it locked until he could advance to the Wave Champion rank. He would use it now, hopefully triggering his marrow washing, and improving his strength and talent. It did not take long for a drone carrying a crystal card and a small chest to arrive at his residence after Cain paid for the articles. Cain took the crystal card and branded it, transferring all the information into his [A.I. Chip Module]. Thanks to his Lineage improving his talent regarding lightning, it was not hard for him to learn Lightning Armament¡¯s first level, allowing lightning to cover his legs and affect his nervous system, improving his reaction speed. There was still a long way before Cain mastered the first skill level, but his current proficiency improved his speed by at least twenty percent. Although he wanted to keep training and take a look at the Dragon Blood Grass, it was already too late, and he was exhausted. Only after a long sleep and waking up refreshed and full of energy did Cain pick up the small chest and open it. As soon as he did that, a strong smell of blood inundated his residence, and he saw three slivers of red grass. Originally Cain intended to consume the slivers of grass immediately, but when he detected the blood energy flooding the room, an idea came to his mind. Cain made sure to shut down his room tightly, so no iota of the blood energy coming from the red grass could escape before adopting a meditative position and using the Blood Refinement Art. A large smile appeared in Cain as he felt how the blood energy in the room was entering his body under the Blood Refinement Art¡¯s guidance and began to nurture his flesh and blood. Just the residual energy that the Dragon Blood Grass naturally released proved to be better than what Cain would obtain from using the hearts of Level 3 Wave Beasts! Cain kept practicing the Blood Refinement Art for over nineteen hours until he finally consumed all the residual energy released from the Dragon Blood Grass. There was a feeling in Cain¡¯s heart that if he consumed just one of the slivers of grass, a massive change would happen to him, and without hesitation, he did it. The moment that sliver of red grass entered Cain¡¯s mouth, he felt a wave of blood energy reaching every corner of his body. Chapter 80 80 8% marrow washing Cain did not waste a second before circulating his Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique to handle the sudden rush of energy that flooded his entire body. He was doing his best, but there was simply too much energy, and he could not use it fast enough. It made sense that Cain would face such a problem. After all, the Dragon Blood Grass was a cultivation resource meant for Level 7 Wave Warriors. Those were individuals with much higher energy consumption than someone at Level 2. If Cain did not do something fast, a significant amount of the energy flooding his body would begin to disperse. That was something he could not accept. Using the Blood Refinement Art could help Cain handle that excess energy, but he was already focusing all his mental capacities on the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique. Determination appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he took a deep breath and focused on his brain, trying to perceive the Ego Eternal Matrix. Although he was still far from achieving real control over his Ego Wave, now that he knew its location and principles, Cain found it much easier to use its power. Of course, since he had yet to reach the Ego Eternal Path of Power¡¯s First Realm, there would be side effects, but that was not something that worried him. After a few seconds, a red light appeared in Cain¡¯s eyes, and everything around him became slower. His speed of thought and cognitive abilities rose to a new level, allowing him to achieve what a typical Level 2 Wave Warrior could never do. Cain made his Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique revolve at an even higher speed, driving even more energy into his Rebirth Heart, pushing his cultivation higher. At the same time, the Blood Refinement Art took all the excess energy, allowing Cain to temper his flesh and blood. With both top-tier techniques working in conjunction, not even an iota of the Dragon Blood Grass¡¯ energy went to waste. Cain felt how the energy reached deeper and deeper into his bones, all the way to the marrow. For Cain, it was as if hundreds of tiny needles pierced his bones. It povoked excruciating pain, making the process harder, but he kept focus and revolved both techniques with even greater force. ..... A black and foul substance soon emerged through Cain¡¯s pores. The pollution entered his body through the air he breathed from the sky and the food he consumed from the ground, and now he was finally beginning the process of purging it. Seeing the black substance leave his body only pushed Cain¡¯s determination higher. Blood leaked from his ears and nose due to mental stress, but he refused to take things slower. According to the information in the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique, marrow washing was classified according to percentages. It was impossible to eliminate all the body¡¯s pollution in the first one, so a Wave Warrior must go through it multiple times. That is why the sooner you begin, the better your cultivation prospects will be. If a Wave Warrior achieved a Flawless Marrow State, meaning they had completely purged all pollution from their body, they would have built a foundation capable of driving their cultivation to the Peak Wave Champion rank without a problem. However, the Flawless Marrow State was incredibly difficult to achieve, with geniuses from powerful Noble Families finding it almost impossible to obtain without great lucky chances. The red light in Cain¡¯s eyes would vanish from time to time as he stopped using the Ego Wave. The mental distress was too great, forcing him to shut it down for a few moments before triggering it again, or else he would pass out from the pain. That meant there would be small windows of time when the Blood Refinement Art stopped working, but the energy loss was minimal. If it were up to Cain, nothing would be lost, but he could not achieve perfection in every task. He was not a divine existence after all. Finally, after an hour of excruciating pain and feeling that his head would split in two, Cain consumed all the Dragon Blood Grass¡¯ energy and could rest. Cain wanted nothing more than to jump into his bed and go to sleep, but his enhanced sense of smell could not tolerate the black substance spread all over his body. He dashed to the bathroom and began to wash his body. It took him over an hour to clean every spot. When he looked into the mirror after that, he almost found it hard to recognize the person in it. All his hair was gone, and his skin was like a newborn¡¯s. Although somewhat comical, Cain could not stop smiling, as the feeling of freshness in his body was overwhelmingly relaxing. As soon as Cain¡¯s body touched the bed, he fell asleep. The mental and physical pressure was too much, and he needed to rest before anything else. Cain slept for more than ten hours, a very long time considering that thanks to the strength of his body, he needed less than half of that to be fully alert during the day. The first thing Cain did after waking up was figuring out his current marrow-washing percentage. There were special facilities that could help Wave Warrior do that, but he had a tool capable of achieving that engraved in his soul. ¡°System, show me my current marrow-washing percentage.¡± Like always, the Absolute Life Form System carried out Cain¡¯s command without delay. [Scanning Vessel¡¯s marrow. ... ... Marrow washing: 8% completion] Although 8% sounded very small, Cain could not stop smiling when he saw that number. A 4% completion was considered very good for your first marrow washing, with 6% something only geniuses could achieve. As for 8%, that was a feat reserved for the best of the best. Cain¡¯s talent in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power was good but far from exceptional. However, using his Ego Wave allowed him to undergo marrow washing using the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique and Blood Refinement Art. This feat only made the desire for Cain to thrive in the Ego Eternal Path of Power even greater. ¡°System, scan me.¡± [Scanning Vessel. ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 2 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Low Tier 4 ¨C> Middle Tier 4 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.26¨C>0.27 Agility: 0.32¨C>0.32 Vitality: 0.33¨C>0.38 Wave: 0.28¨C>0.31 ¡ª Destiny Force: 157.2] Waves of shock assaulted Cain as he saw the information granted by the system. First was the rise of his Wave Talent to the Middle Tier 4. There was no fundamental change in his bloodline, but marrow washing improved the ability of his body to draw Life Wave. Then came the boost in his stats. The last time he checked them was a week ago, yet it rose so much, especially his vitality. Cain figured out it had to do with a combination between his marrow washing and the fact it was the first time he had used a treasure like the Dragon Blood Grass. He was sure that while the other two slivers of red grass would help his body, they would not have such an impressive effect. Finally, the greatest shock came from his Destiny Force, which had increased almost two-fold. It did not take a genius to figure out the reason behind such a massive improvement. ¡®Even though Lord Zarak had yet to formally take me as a discipline, I am under his protection. That made my background, which was virtually non-existent, rise to the sky.¡¯ The background was an important factor in an individual¡¯s destiny, and Cain now had a very powerful one. It would be easy for Cain to use part of that Destiny Force to fix the emotional instability, but he did not do it before, much less now. Fighting his instinctive desire and keeping a cold head would help Cain¡¯s willpower. Cain could still use the Destiny Force to improve his bloodline by using [Basic Genetic Enhancement], but he did not let his sudden wealth blind him. ¡°Apex, how do I improve the tools of the system¡¯s modules?¡± The System Spirit had told him many times before that his [A.I. Chip Module] would improve along with the force of his soul, but he never said that the same thing would happen with his other modules like the [Genetic Coder Module]. ¡°Other than the [A.I. Chip Module] that will grow with your soul, you must improve the other modules using Destiny Force.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard that answer. It was clear to him now that he should only use Destiny Force when absolutely necessary. ¡°Why did you not tell me that before?¡± ¡°Why should I? I am not your babysitter. If you are too stupid to ask questions and prefer short-term benefits instead of looking at the bigger picture, that is your problem.¡± Cain could only sight as he heard that very Apex-like answer. The System Spirit would not stop him from making mistakes. Chapter 81 81 Gaia¡¯s invasion Cain knew arguing with Apex would be futile, so he did not waste his time on it. Besides, he knew this one was right, and it was up to him to figure things out. He spent the next few days cultivating and increasing his Astral Wave. There were still two slivers of the Dragon Blood Grass, but he was not ready to use them yet. When Monday came, Levi and Beelze were surprised to see Cain¡¯s appearance, as it told the duo that he underwent marrow washing. Although they were astonished because Cain was still a Level 2 Wave Warrior, it made sense once they connected it to the massive reward from the Pillar of Mind¡¯s Cadet Ranking. Cain did not hide the information about the Ego Eternal Path of Power and Zarak from the duo. There were no downsides in sharing it, as his unique Ego Eternal Matrix only belonged to him, and no one could take it. Besides, the events in the Pillar of Mind were public knowledge, and he was sure that every powerhouse in the Collapsing Lightning Sector already knew of his uniqueness. The fact that up until now, no one from any Noble Family even dared to contact him gave Cain an idea of just how powerful Zarak was. Of course, he never thought of blindly trusting his safety to a stranger. Not to mention that for those that focused on the Ego Eternal Path of Power, being under the constant protection of someone else was diametrical, as if crippled their willpower. With all the major problems handled, Cain began a sort of routine. He would go to the auditorium from Monday to Wednesday, improving his understanding of the Wave, Dark Races¡¯ assassination, and military tactics. As for the rest of the week, Cain focused all that time on missions in which he would have to face strong and ferocious Wave Beasts. He made sure to pick the ones that would push him to the limit and where there was a real chance of death. If Cain wanted to push his mind and ego to a point where he could achieve the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, he needed to put himself in a position where his life was truly in danger. The only way Cain could free his mind from all external perception and find his heart¡¯s desire was through life and death trials. More than once, the enemies were so powerful that they forced him to run away. ..... As the weeks passed, Cain¡¯s aura became sharper, and a sense of dangerous bloodlust emerged from his body due to all the death he unleashed. ¡ª Cain returned to the Imperial Lightning Fort in the middle of the night. His hair had grown back, and while his skin kept its smoothness, there were minor wounds around his body due to the multiple battles. Cain got down from the military truck in which he arrived and sent it on its way with several corpses that he hunted down for his mission. As he saw the vehicle going away, a reflective light appeared in his eyes. ¡®Next week will mark six months since I arrived at the Collapsing Lighting, and the academy curriculum will change.¡¯ The first three months of the military academy involved cultivation and physical training, but people like Cain took a different path through the secret trial. Next came the formative stage, which involved the three major classes Cain took every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. After three months, he had already learned everything Razmun and Vice-Captain Josef could tough him regarding Dark Race¡¯s assassination and military tactics. Wave Cultivation classes were different as you would never have enough training in the Four Wave Arts, and the ones imparted by Wink carried on. However, it was no longer mandatory for the cadets to assist them. People like Cain, who had already mastered his Astral Wave, did not need more classes as it would prove futile. It would be better for Cain to train his abilities with enemies that truly went after his life. The following six months were known as the Golden Months, as the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy¡¯s cadets got access to great wonders. There were all kinds of courses available for them that would allow them to embark on Professions, such as Wave Crafters and the like. If you proved talented in any profession, a fate full of wealth awaited you. Anyone could take those courses and prove their abilities and talent, but while they accepted everybody, they also asked for payment. Other than the access to professional courses, the Gold Months also granted a chance for the cadets to train in Military Specializations. Unlike the Professions courses, which you would enter just by paying the fee, the Military Specialization courses were free, but only a few could access them. They would test your talent in that field, and only the best of the best would get the quotas. For the cadets who neither had the money to take the Professions courses nor the talent for the Military Specializations¡¯, they would spend the rest of their time in the military academy doing missions before returning to their homes. Cain ignored the Profession courses as he did not have time to spend on them, nor the desire to learn them. However, things were different when it came to Military Specializations. There was one that really drew his attention. ¡®Military Specialization: Assassin.¡¯ According to the course description, the class would teach you how to infiltrate secure locations, keep a low profile, and the best and more practical ways of killing a person. Cain did not forget what happened in his first mission and how he swore to take Mayor Clacius¡¯s life. And since he did not want the Imperial Military Force branding him a criminal, he could not leave any evidence. He was walking toward his residence when his eyes widened. The reason was that light began to shine over the entire city, and was the middle of the night. A feeling of utter and absolute danger assaulted him as he looked to the sky and saw something he would never forget. A man was standing in the sky, bathed in golden flames that illuminated everything around him. Despite the immense distance between Cain and that man, this one unleashed such a terrifying presence that he felt they were right next to each other. However, what truly frightened him was the fact that the person in the sky was not a human but an Atrox! Less than a second after his golden flames shone over the entire Imperial Lightning Fort, that man raised his hand and generated a massive meteorite. That meteorite was not only more than 500.000 meters wide, almost half the size of the fort, but golden flames also covered every corner of it, setting the oxygen in the sky ablaze. Cain could only watch as the Atrox waved his hand down, firing that massive golden meteorite toward the Imperial Lightning Fort. ¡°?BOOM!¡± It moved so fast that it instantly broke the sound barrier, generating a sonic boom. Cain had already faced death multiple times and found a way to survive every obstacle in his path. Still, seeing that golden meteorite about to crash into the Imperial Lightning Fort, he found no way out. There was nothing Cain could do. He would die once that meteorite clashed, regardless of how much he wanted and strived to survive. ¡®I am dead.¡¯ That was the last thought that crossed Cain¡¯s mind when the golden meteorite was an instant away from crashing into the Imperial Lightning Fort. ¡°?BOOOOMMMM!¡± A massive explosion occurred, but unlike what Cain expected, the meteorite could not reach the Imperial Lightning Fort, as it crashed into an invisible force field that covered this one. Golden flames blasted in every direction as the meteorite shattered into thousands of pieces. ¡°CRACK!¡± Although the force field managed to endure that attack, cracks still appeared on its surface, making part of the blast¡¯s power and heat reach the Imperial Lightning Fort. The blast sent Cain crashing toward a building as fires started all over the fort. There was a metallic taste in his mind, but that mattered little as he could not take his eyes away from the sky. The Atrox raised his hand and was about to form another one of those city-killer spells! Cain¡¯s brain was still having a hard time processing what was happening when a stream of black lightning emerged from the highest level of the Titan Tower. It moved too fast for Cain to discern anything from it, but it clashed with the Atrox, generating a blast of golden flames and black lightning before shooting into the distance. Cain was just rising from the ground, still having difficulty figuring out what to do next, when explosions and flashes of light appeared in the distance, far from the fort. A sense of utter dread assaulted Cain as he understood what was happening. ¡®Powerhouses of the Dark Races invaded Gaia!¡¯ Chapter 82 82 Collapsing Lightning Duke ¡°BRIIINNNGGG!¡± The sound of alarms echoed through the Imperial Lightning Fort. Black lightning emerged from the Titan Tower, generating a dome over the fort. The next second, that same lightning formed hundreds of thunderbolts that flashed around the fort at a speed Wave Warriors could not follow with their eyes. Cain¡¯s eyes were glued to the Titan Tower as he saw this one activating its true power, and then dozens of figures emerged from it and flew into the distance. ¡°?BOOM!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± Every individual generated several sonic booms as they instantly achieved a speed many times faster than sound. [All cadets must return to their residences and remain there until further notice. Anyone that disobeys this rule will be considered a traitor to the Godslayer Humankind Empire and executed on the spot.] ..... Cain was still trying to figure out what to do when that message arrived through his [A.I. Chip Module]. His mind was in shock, so he could not analyze that command but did not dare to defy it and dashed to his residence. It did not take him long to reach the building, and just like other cadets, Cain ran to his residence and only relaxed once the door closed behind him. The windows were now covered by a wall, shutting down any connection with the outside. That was done for two reasons, to protect the cadets and make sure none could leave. Until proven otherwise, everybody was a possible traitor. Cain would have noticed that if not for his current state of mind. He almost plummeted once he entered his room, and even then, he only had the strength to sit on the ground. The sight of that golden meteorite crashing toward the Imperial Lightning Fort did not leave his mind. Cain¡¯s greatest life-and-death tribulations up to this point were when he faced the Atrox in the secret trial and Dimitri in the Whisper Forest. However, everything was different in those cases. Although the Atrox and Dimitri were more powerful than Cain, he was not hopeless. He still had the power to face them or at least put up some resistance. Nevertheless, there was nothing Cain could do against that golden meteorite. His life was in the hands of others, and if not for the Lightning Imperial Fort¡¯s force field, he would have died. ¡®If my last mission had taken longer and I had not returned to the fort in time, what would have happened?¡¯ That thought crossed Cain¡¯s mind, and his body began to tremble. Understanding how little control he had over his life was a hard blow. Apex was aware of Cain¡¯s mental state and was about to speak when he saw the hands of the young man stop shaking. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with monstrous red light as the fear in his face vanished, and he began to clench his fists with so much strength that blood began to leak from his palms. ¡±I NEED TO BECOME STRONGER!¡± Cain had already found the answer to these feelings and engraved them in his mind and soul. After a few minutes, he relaxed his hands, went to his father¡¯s altar, and bowed before beginning to train. He took out a small chest from his space ring. In it, there was the last of the slivers of Dragon Blood Grass. Without hesitation, he consumed it, and by tapping into his Ego Wave, he revolved the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique and the Blood Refinement Art simultaneously. Once the energy of the Dragon Blood Grass was over, Cain took Dark Races¡¯ hearts from his space ring and began to consume them. He had purchased those through the military network. As his Astral Wave soared and blood energy tempered his body, Cain¡¯s mind began to relax, allowing him to analyze his surroundings. He noticed the state of his residence, making it impossible for him to leave. That, plus the previous message, made things clear for him. ¡®There is no way a cadet could have the power to damage the Imperial Lightning Fort, but there is a chance one of them could be a spy or traitor working for the other side. Since there is too little information up to this point, the higher-ups decided to be decisive and ruthless.¡¯ Cain had not a problem with that, nor did he care about the cadets that did. He focused his mind solely on his training. Two weeks passed before the walls covering Cain¡¯s windows were lifted, and the artificial intelligence controlling the building unlocked his doors. Cain was so focused on his cultivation that he barely noticed the change, but a message arrived that he could not ignore. [Cain Laurifer, report with Vice-Captain Josef in the south gate of the cadet¡¯s section] A sharp light appeared in Cain¡¯s eyes as he read the message. He calmed his revolving Astral Wave and bowed to his father¡¯s altar before leaving the building. Although Cain did not activate his Wave Cloak, he ran at an impressive speed toward the designated location. There was no way the Collapsing Lightning Sector could have achieved peace in just a few weeks, and every minute counted in times of war. It did not take long for Cain to reach the south gate, and he saw many cadets already there. He quickly located Levi and Beelze and headed to the duo. Of course, other than nodding, none of them said much since this was definitely not the time for small talk. The Titan Tower¡¯s lightning dome and thunderbolts were still protecting the fort, but the cadets couldn¡¯t say just how well it would resist attacks with the power of those golden meteorites. Safety was not something any cadet could say they felt right now, which explained the worry on their faces. Vice-Captain Josef stood in silence as the cadets formed in front of him. Although he seemed fine, Cain noticed burning cuts near his neck, making it clear how dangerous the last few weeks were for him. Unlike the cadets who remained in their residences, the Imperial Lightning Fort dispatched soldiers to the affected areas. Josef was close to Wave Champion rank, hinting to Cain at the level of danger beyond the fort¡¯s walls. Once all the cadets were in formation, Josef unleashed his aura, making all of them focus. ¡°Powerhouses of the Dark Races invaded the Collapsing Lightning Sector and attacked all major cities. It was an extremely well-coordinated effort, and the one leading the assault was the one that attacked the Imperial Lightning Fort, an Atrox God.¡± When the cadets heard those last words, a monstrous fear assaulted their hearts. A God was a terrifying figure capable of killing millions in a matter of seconds, but one of the Atrox Immortus Race was a nightmarish monster that was virtually invincible in their minds. If the one leading the assault was an Atrox God, what chance did they have to survive? Just how many people had already perished? Would they be next? Josef remained silent as all those questions began to assault the hearts of the cadets, threatening to shatter their spirits. He spoke again when despair was about to break some of them. ¡°Luckily for us, the Collapsing Lightning Duke was in the Titan Tower at the moment of the attack. He fended off the Atrox God and, after a long battle...¡± Josef paused and waited for the cadet¡¯s expectation to reach the limit before showing a cold smile. ¡°The Collapsing Lightning Duke killed the Atrox God!¡± Silence, utter and absolute silence reigned among the cadets after Josef shouted those words. The Dark Races¡¯ invasion of the Collapsing Lightning Sector was a display of weakness by the Godslayer Humankind Empire, but a Titan killing an Atrox God proved absolute power! ¡°?Yes!¡± ¡°We did!¡± Some of the cadets could not control their excitement and shout. Josef would usually reprimand that behavior but allowed it this time as he understood the pressure everybody had felt during the last few weeks. Even he, a seasoned soldier, felt his blood burning when the higher-ups informed him that the Collapsing Lightning Duke killed the Atrox God. The shock in Cain¡¯s heart was even stronger when he heard that news. That Atrox bathed in golden flames standing in the sky was like a divine existence capable of unleashing city-killer spells with a wave of his hand, yet now he was dead. ¡®That black lightning!¡¯ Cain had not forgotten the stream of black lightning that emerged from the Titan Tower and drove the Atrox God away from the Imperial Lightning Fort. Until now, Cain had just assumed the one inside the black lighting had at most forced the Atrox God to escape, but the fact he took that monster¡¯s life was incredible. Killing a Dark Races¡¯ God was an incredible feat, but killing an Atrox God was something only the greatest figures of the Godslayer Humankind could claim credit for. Without even realizing it, absolute respect and immense admiration filled Cain¡¯s heart as he thought of the Collapsing Lightning Duke. Chapter 83 83 Back to Korin City Vice-Captain Josef allowed the cadets to cheer for a few moments before raising his hand, making silence return. A severe expression appeared on his face as he carried on. ¡°Killing the Apex God took a tremendous toll on the Collapsing Lightning Duke. He suffered severe injuries, and while his life was not in danger, he would have to spend a long time in secluded cultivation to recover. Otherwise, he would have already obliterated every trace of Dark Races¡¯ warriors in the Collapsing Lightning Sector with his own hands.¡± Although that piece of information was not good, it did not surprise any of the cadets. A great battle was bound to leave wounds, especially if your enemy was a member of a race known for their incredible battle skills. No matter how amazing the Collapsing Lightning Duke was, he was still a living entity and needed to heal after a great battle. ¡°During these last two weeks, soldiers from the Imperial Lightning Fort had traveled the entire sector, killing most of the Dark Races¡¯ powerhouses that came with the Atrox God, but many remain at large. Of course, it is not your mission to hunt them down, as that would be suicide. Your job will be going to the cities affected by the incursion, enforcing military law, and establishing a perimeter where civilians can remain safe.¡± Leaving the fort did not make the cadets happy, as they understood that there were still great dangers looming in the darkness, but none complained. All those here took part in the military academy¡¯s secret trial, so they were not foreign to dangerous battles. Besides, they were all smart enough to understand that the chances of finding a Dark Races¡¯ powerhouse during their missions were almost null, as all those monsters were running away now that the Atrox God had perished. ¡°Form groups of ten according to your affinity.¡± Vice-Captain Josef gave that command and waited. ..... Usually, in the military, you don¡¯t have the right to choose your teammates, but that did not matter since they knew their roles and could adapt to any other soldier. But Cain and the others were cadets and had yet to reach that level of synergy. Cain, Levi, and Beelze only glanced before giving a slight nod. That was all the trio needed to know they would be working together. They trusted each other, and none of them was so weak that it would become a burden. The trio was not very friendly with the other cadets. They simply joined a random group with seven members to make the team. It was easy since everybody wanted the three mighties cadets in their group. Once the cadets formed the teams, Vice-Captain Josef sent a file with their destination and with whom they would have to report once they arrived. Cain was a little surprised to find out that the city his group had to help would be Korin City. The mission involving that place gave birth to his first Heart Nightmare, and he had no pleasant memories of it. Of course, it never crossed Cain¡¯s mind to ask to be assigned to a different city. Since when did a soldier have the right to choose his battlefield? Less than ten minutes after Vice-Captain Josef gave them their instruction and destination, all cadets¡¯ groups boarded military trucks and left the Imperial Lightning Fort. Cain, Levi, and Beelze were in the military truck heading to Korin City along with the other seven members of their teams. The trio was the center of attention. Levi and Beelze were the first cadets to reach Level 3; even among those at that level, they showed incredible battle prowess. As for Cain, while his cultivation was not that high, the killing skills he displayed when he faced Wink were still clear in all cadets¡¯ minds, and none dared look down on him. After a few minutes on the road, a young man with black hair and blue eyes broke the silence. ¡°Since this will be a long trip, it will be an excellent chance to learn more about each other. Most of you already know me, but I will still introduce myself. My name is Lurin Sinar, second son of Count Sinar.¡± Lurin gave a short description of himself that mostly involved personal information. The other cadets did the same and showed friendly smiles as they spoke. The group of seven had formed around Lurin and was mainly composed of talented cadets from humble backgrounds. Finally, it was the turn of Cain, Levi, and Beelze, but the trio remained in meditative cultivation with their eyes closed. A heavy atmosphere formed in the truck as the trio did not seem interested in taking part in the conversation, and there was nothing the other seven could do about it. Cain opened his eyes a little and glanced around the room before shaking his head. ¡°Cain. Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior. Specialties are lightning, speed, and strength.¡± Cain only said that before closing his eyes again. The description that Cain gave was different from the other cadets. It involved no personal information and focused on the one that would be useful on the battlefield. ¡°Beelze. Level 3 Essence Wave Warrior. Specialties are ice, crowd-control spells, and speed.¡± ¡°Levi. Level 3 Astral Wave Warrior. Specialties are fire, strength, and defense.¡± The other cadets turned toward Levi and Beelze when they heard those words and saw that the trio remained with their eyes closed. Lurin could not help but sigh as he saw their attitude. The trio had no intention of forming any friendship, and if he went down that road again, they would simply ignore him. ¡°Lurin. Level 3 Astral Wave Warrior. Specialties are earth, defense, and defensive spells.¡± After Lurin did it, the other seven cadets followed his lead. They were all Level 2 Wave Warriors, with four following the Essence Evolution Path of Power and the other two the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. ¡°Now that we know our abilities, it would be wise to form a battle formation. We could make deadly mistakes if we enter the battlefield as individuals. And even in the best-case scenario where we are not a burden to the others, we will lose much of our battle potential.¡± Lurin¡¯s voice was grave, making it clear he was not playing around. Levi and Beelze opened their eyes and focused on the young man before nodding. The duo did not have time or the desire for meaningless chatter, but if it involved the battlefield, they would pay their full attention. Lurin smiled as he saw that the duo focused on him. He knew he was not the strongest in battle power since even if his level was the same as Levi, he did not go through marrow washing yet. However, if there was something he was confident about, it was his skills regarding military tactics. It was not a secret that Lurin¡¯s skills in military tactics were good, as he proved it many times during the interactions in Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s class. That is why Levi, Beelze, and the other cadets did not have a problem with him taking the lead in that field. Lurin¡¯s smiled as he saw that, but an odd expression appeared on his face the next second when he saw that Cain did not seem to be paying attention. Even if Lurin¡¯s sense of superiority was not as obnoxious as that of other scions, that did not mean he did not get angry when someone ignored him. Of course, Lurin knew that if he lost calm and shouted, it would not help him. If things went south, he was sure Levi and Beelze would side with Cain. ¡°Cain, you should focus on this. We will work as a team and need to consider the safety of everybody.¡± Although subtle, Lurin¡¯s words hinted that Cain¡¯s lack of attention proved an absence of care for his fellow cadets. Levi and Beelze looked at each other and just showed a small smile before softly shaking their heads. They knew that while Cain was a little impulsive regarding his bottom line, he also had an exceptionally keen mind, and anyone who attempted to play games with him would regret it. Cain opened his eyes and focused on Lurin before a message arrived at everybody¡¯s A.I. Chips. It had the title battle formation team x. ¡®Who does he think he is!?¡¯ Lurin was furious when he read that message. He knew just how difficult it was to make a battle formation that involved a group of individuals you knew nothing about. Lurin almost barked out, and he was not the only one angry, as the cadets that came with him were also dissatisfied. A bad battle formation was way worse than none at all. Some of the cadets that came with Lurin did not have the restraint that their leader, but someone else spoke first. ¡°Hahaha, that brain of yours is truly special. I am fine with it and will fulfill my role.¡± Levi laughed after seeing the file Cain sent and closed his eyes again. ¡°I also have no problem with it. Will follow your guidance.¡± Beelze nodded and also closed her eyes. Lurin did not know what was happening, and then he saw how the cadets that came with him also began to show expressions of shock and awe. ¡®What is happening!?¡¯ Lurin had not bothered to open the file since, in his mind, there was no way Cain could come up with a proper battle formation in such a short time and with so little information. After a moment, Lurin took a deep breath and opened the file. Just like everybody else, shock and awe appeared on his face. Chapter 84 84 Reaching Korin City Inside the file that Cain sent, there was a thorough description of the role everybody would take. It left nothing to chance, and there were all sorts of backup plans and contingencies. There were even secondary roles they would take in case someone was hurt so no flaw would arise in the battle formation. The file also contained diagrams that made it easier for everybody to understand the battle formation and get familiar with it. No matter how much Lurin analyzed the battle formation, he could not find any flaw or way to improve it. There was also no favoritism in it, as Levi and Cain would be taking the lead, facing the greatest danger, which made sense as they were Astral Wave Warriors. As for Lurin¡¯s role, he would be at the back of the formation, which was neither bad nor good. He would not face much pressure during most battles but would have to remain on high alert to avoid sneak attacks. And if they needed to retreat, it would be his job to lead their way through the enemies on their back, a fitting role for a Level 3 Wave Warrior with robust defenses. Lurin saw how the cadets that came with him looked at Cain with awe and respect. He had battle skills that could kill a Level 3 Wave Warrior and was also a master strategist. What was there not to admire? Lurin was not narcissistic or stupid enough to reject the battle formation just because it did not come from him. He turned toward Cain and gave a deep nod before closing his eyes. Cain returned the nod and did not care about the gazes the other cadets were showing him, as he knew there was no reason to feel proud about it. He was not a master strategist, and the one that truly came up with the battle formation was the Absolute Life Form System. He used the [A.I. Chip Module] to scan everybody when they entered the military truck. That, plus the information they shared, was enough to generate several simulations of different battle formations. Cain just picked up the best that adapted to their team and sent it. That is why he closed his eyes when Lurin began talking about battle formations. ..... Now that everybody was aware of the abilities of their teammates and had a way to work together, silence returned to the military truck. The cadets either studied Cain¡¯s battle formation or revolved their Wave, ensuring they would be in perfect battle condition. After a few hours of travel, the group finally reached Korin City. Once they got out of their military truck and saw the condition of the city, shock appeared on their faces. The Imperial Lightning Fort had suffered damage due to the attack of the Atrox God, but it was just some fires and cracks on weak structures. However, Korin City was devastated, with most buildings reduced to debris. The worst thing was not the destruction, but the intense smell of blood, making it clear how many people had perished. Korin City had a population that surpassed the millions, most of them civilians, but it would be lucky if a fraction of them were still alive. Levi, Beelze, Lurin, and all the other cadets could not hide their rage as they saw that. Deaths on the battlefield were one thing, as those in them were soldiers ready to kill and die, but butchering cities full of innocent people was entirely different. ¡°Boom.¡± A blast drew the cadets¡¯ attention as they saw Cain¡¯s Wave Cloak bursting with power, and a ferocious killing intent appeared in his eyes. The idea of hundreds of thousands of women and children dying made Cain¡¯s rage reach its zenith, triggering his bloodline¡¯s emotional instability. However, it lasted less than a second as a red light appeared in his eyes, transforming all that rage into coldness. Although it was not at the same level that during his encounter with Wink, the coldness in Cain¡¯s red eyes drew fear in some of the cadets¡¯ hearts. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Cain said nothing else before walking forward. He deactivated Wave Burst but kept his Wave Cloak in place. Clearly, the place they were heading was far from safe, and lowering his guard was not wise. As for activating his armor, Cain did not do that, as soldiers could mistake it as him wanting to hide something. Levi, Beelze, Lurin, and the other cadets followed Cain¡¯s lead, activating their Wave Cloaks. Without even realizing it, the entire group began to take Cain as their leader. Part of the reason was his skills and composure, but the main reason was that when he activated his Ego Wave, his aura overwhelmed the others. The group ran past the broken building and noticed blood everywhere, but there were no corpses. The soldiers must have already given them a proper burial. Cain¡¯s nose twitched as they advanced. He felt the scent of human blood covering the entire city but also detected that of the Infernus Daemon Race. Although the Atrox God led the incursion into the empire, the continent controlled by the Atrox Immortus Race, the Cronos Continent, was incredibly far away from the Gaia Continent. It made sense for the bulk of the Dark Races¡¯ army that infiltrated the Gaia Continent to belong to the race that controlled the Atlas Continent, the Infernus Daemon Race. Nevertheless, it was not the scent of the Infernus Daemon Race that drew Cain¡¯s attention but the one belonging to Wave Beasts. The scent of Wave Beasts¡¯ blood was almost as strong as the one belonging to humans, so the number that perished in the city must have been astronomical. ¡®Although blood could incite the wild and ferocious nature of weak Wave Beasts, those creatures acted based on instincts and would not get near a place with life forms capable of destroying entire cities. There is no reason for a stampede unless...¡¯ As Cain¡¯s mind figured out things, his eyes¡¯ coldness grew even stronger. He wanted to research to prove his hypothesis, but there was no time as they had already reached the military camp formed at the core of the destroyed city. ¡°Stop and identify yourself.¡± A soldier at the entrance of the camp spoke to the group. Although she was just a Level 2 Wave Warrior, there was no fear in her gaze as she faced Cain and the others. Cain¡¯s red eyes usually infused fear in people, but the woman was a seasoned soldier, and despite her weak cultivation, her will was strong. He had his Ego Wave activated all this time, despite the pain it caused, because without it, he would not be able to control his bloodline¡¯s emotional outburst. Cain did not hesitate and complied with the soldier¡¯s command. He looked at Lurin, and this one immediately moved forward, giving the woman a crystal card that contained their assignment and identifications. The soldier corroborated the card information before nodding to the group and leading them to a large tent at the camp¡¯s center. As they walked, they saw soldiers moving from one direction to the other, all displaying great coordination. There was no one slacking down in a moment like this. ¡°Wait here.¡± The soldier said before walking into the main tent. Cain stared at the tent, and while it did not look like much, he knew it was a powerful artifact. It isolated everything inside, could act as a force field detecting any incoming threat and was resilient enough to resist the sneak attack of a Wave Champion. Ten minutes later, the soldier came out of the tent and signed for them to enter. Inside was a group of five individuals, all with ferocious auras, and there was one Cain and the other recognized. Razmun, who had taught them the Dark Races Assassination Class for the last three months, was also here. Leading that group was a tall young woman with gray hair, tanned skin, and silver eyes. Not many clothes covered her body, showing her well-defined muscles and large scars. The moment the woman saw the cadets, a golden light appeared in her eyes, and a ferocious and terrifying aura emerged from her, overflowing the cadets. Levi, Beelze, Lurin, and the others could not help but frown as they felt that ferocious aura. However, in Cain¡¯s case, the red light in his eyes only grew stronger, fighting off the mental pressure. At first, the woman had not noticed it as she could barely bother to pay attention to some cadets, but when she saw the red light in Cain¡¯s eyes, interest appeared on her face. She no longer pressured the other cadets and focused entirely on Cain, but it could not affect him no matter what. As the woman focused on Cain, he also did the same with her. She was clearly a Wave Champion, and the golden light in her eyes made it clear she had already entered the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power. Chapter 85 85 We are soldiers Cain analyzed the woman and was sure she was at Wave Champion rank, and the physical strength she projected hinted that she followed the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. What drew his curiosity were the two small swords around her waist. No rule said that an Astral Wave Cultivator could not use melee Wave Artifacts, but unless they could extend their Wave Cloak into the weapon flawlessly, it would be more practical to just rely on their arms and legs to fight. ¡®Since she already entered the Ego Eternal Path of Power¡¯s First Realm, her Ego Wave should be able to allow her a domain over Direct Flow as great as that of an Essence Wave Warrior.¡¯ Cain could analyze all that since no matter how much pressure the woman unleashed, it did nothing to him. Finally, the golden light in the woman¡¯s eyes vanished, and she showed a smile. ¡°So you are the divine genius. Interesting.¡± The woman¡¯s voice was calm, but it made everybody in the tent focus on Cain. Lurin and the other cadets were confused. Although Cain¡¯s talent in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power was not low, it by no means gave him the right to have the title of divine genius. Only Levi and Beelze understood that the woman referred to the Ego Eternal Path of Power. Cain did not care about those gazes and simply clasped his hands and bowed. ¡°Cadet Cain Laurifer, presenting himself for duty.¡± ..... Levi, Beelze, Lurin, and the other cadets did the same. They all looked at the woman with cautious eyes since she was not only very powerful but also somewhat frivolous. The woman seemed to have lost interest again and only nodded before turning toward the Razmun. ¡°Vice-Captain Razmun. You are familiar with these brats. Give them a task according to their abilities.¡± ¡°Yes, Major,¡± Razmun bowed to the woman before turning to the cadets. ¡°Follow me.¡± Cain followed the dwarf out of the tent but not without giving the woman one last glance. Just when they left, the soldier at the right of the woman spoke. ¡°Major Luma. If that brat is a divine genius, should we allow him to enter the battlefield without protection?¡± Although the man did not know why Luma used the term divine genius with Cain, in his mind, anyone with such high appraisal should be protected as they would rise to be a great asset to the empire. Luma saw that the rest of the soldiers in the tent also shared that idea, but she immediately shook her head. ¡°His path differs from the rest of the Astral Rebirth or Essence Evolution geniuses. If we protect him against danger, we would actually be harming him. And if that happens, that man will kill all of us.¡± Shock appeared in the gazes of the soldiers when they heard that. They saw the dread in their fearless commander¡¯s eyes and immediately changed the subject. As for the name of that man, none dare to ask it. Razmun guided Cain and the others out of the main tent and headed to a desolated part of the camp. He stared at them for a moment before waving his hand and making a metal ball appear. From the metal ball, a virtual image emerged, showing the current Korin City. The cadets immediately noticed that beneath the broken city, there was a set of tunnels. ¡°We moved all the civilians to the underground tunnels. Initially, the task of cadets like you would be to establish order, but we are currently in need of manpower here, and you are strong enough to fulfill those tasks.¡± Cain and the others nodded as they heard that. Although there were many soldiers in the camp besides Major Lumu and the ones in the main tent, none had impressive strength. Those with true power were hunting down the Dark Races¡¯ powerhouses. Razmun smiled when he saw that none of the cadets complained and accepted the change of mission. ¡°Before I assign the mission, are you capable of killing Level 4 Wave Beast and facing those at Level 5?¡± That question confused the cadets. Some thought that Razmun would ask them to hunt Wave Beasts, which made no sense considering they were in an active state of war. However, Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard that question. The reason why there was so much Wave Beasts¡¯ blood became clearer. Although they were confused, Levi, Beelze, and Lurin turned toward Cain to answer that question. Cain had already proved his military skills and had a proper assessment of their battle strength as a group, so if someone could evaluate their chances, it would be him. Cain closed his eyes as he used the [A.I. Chip Module] to simulate several battles against Level 4 and Level 5 Wave Beasts he had scanned in the past. ¡°Against Level 4 Wave Beast, our chances of survival are 99%, forcing it to escape are 86%, and killing it is 45%. If the enemy is at Level 5, the percentages change to 82%, 43%, and 7%, respectively. I cannot estimate what will happen if we face Wave Beasts with long-range skills.¡± Razmun was honestly surprised by Cain¡¯s analysis. Although there was a chance the cadet could be lying, he did not believe so. That information satisfied the Vice-Captain. Razmun was about to give their command when he saw Cain raise his hand. ¡°?Yes?¡± ¡°Are the Wave Beasts¡¯ stampedes occurring at a specific moment of the day?¡± Razmun¡¯s eyes widened when he heard that. Cain¡¯s words contained a question but also made it clear this one already knew there was a problem with Wave Beasts¡¯ stampedes. ¡°Elaborate.¡± Razmun¡¯s voice was solemn. ¡°Yes, Sir. I detected several scents of blood inside the city. One belonged to humans, a weaker one to members of the Infernus Daemon Race, and the third to Wave Beasts. This last one is fresher, meaning the stampedes are still happening. Those beasts would not attack a broken city where they would die unless someone higher in the food chain commanded them. Wave Beasts with that power are wise and would not attack blindly.¡± Cain¡¯s words surprised not only Razmun but also the cadets that came with him. One of them, a young girl, could not contain her curiosity. ¡°Why would strong Wave Beasts send their minions to attack?¡± As soon as she opened her mouth, her body trembled due to Razmun¡¯s sharp gaze focusing on her. They were not in a classroom but in a military camp, and a soldier should only speak when allowed. Although it might seem exaggerated for Razmun to react so fiercely to something so trivial as a cadet speaking out of turn, it made perfect sense. How could you be expected to obey the important rules if you don¡¯t obey the small rules? Luckily for the young girl, Cain took a step between her and Razmun before bowing. ¡°I am sorry about that, Sir.¡± Razmun was not so petty as to push things out of proportion for a small mistake as long as it would not happen again. He gave a slight nod before signaling Cain to raise. A small smile appeared on the dwarf face as he stared at Cain. A leader, even a de-facto one, must bear the responsibility of the ones following him. ¡°The attacks happen at night. The bulk of the stampede comes from the northeast position. You will head to the southwest position where things are calmer, and take command of the one hundred soldiers there. Most are Level 1 and 2, with a few at Level 3. Their previous commander perished two days ago.¡± Razmun took out a crystal card with the assignment and handed it over to Cain before returning to the main military tent. Cain did not waste time and immediately headed toward the southwest position with the others. As they walked, he felt the gaze of the young girl that had awe, but there was also curiosity. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter why.¡± Cain did not look back, but it was clear to whom he spoke. The young girl was surprised by those words, and the curiosity in her eyes did not decrease at all. ¡°But...¡± ¡°Although our current position is cadets, we are currently taking the role of soldiers. Our task is to defend the city and kill any Wave Beasts coming our way, as simple as that. There is definitely a reason behind the Wave Beasts¡¯ stampedes, and I already have a hypothesis, but it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Cain stopped walking for a moment and turned to the young girl. The red light in his eyes generated an invisible pressure on everybody. ¡°Unless the command given to us is something we can not bear to follow under any circumstances, we will carry our orders without question or hesitation.¡± Cain saw that the girl understood his words and nodded before focusing on Lurin, startling this one. ¡°Yes?¡± Lurin did not know what was happening. Before he could say anything else, Cain handed him Razmun¡¯s crystal card. ¡°You will take the lead. Handle things with the soldiers.¡± After that, Cain walked to the back of the group, and everybody saw blood leaking from his nose, eyes, and ears. He had already reached the limit his brain could endure by forcefully triggering his Ego Wave. Without it, while he would not fall into a mad frenzy, he would have a hard time focusing his mind, so he handed the lead to Lurin. Although Levi and Beelze were stronger, the duo was not precisely known for the people¡¯s skill, so Lurin was the best choice. Lurin was happy to take the lead, but he found it odd. However, Cain lowered his head after reaching the back of the group and did not explain that strange behavior. Chapter 86 86 Sinar County It did not take long for cadets to reach the southwest position. Lurin was at the lead and immediately noticed the nearly one hundred soldiers resting around a broken building. All of them looked exhausted and had all sorts of wounds on their bodies, making it clear just how hard the last few days had been for them. The soldiers also detected Lurin, Beelze, Levi, and the other cadets. Most of them showed curiosity in their eyes, but some did not react so friendly seeing a group of young cadets coming their way. Lurin noticed that, but not even for a second did he show a flash of hesitation or weakness. He might not have Cain¡¯s imposing aura that pushed everybody into compliance, but he had trained his entire life for a moment like this. Once Lurin was one hundred meters away from the broken building where the soldiers rested, he raised his hand, stopping everybody. All the cadets, including Beelze and Levi, followed his command. Beelze and Levi did not show any rebellious behavior. Soldiers needed a leader in a moment like this, and while they felt more comfortable following someone they knew, Cain handed the leadership to Lurin, and they trusted their friend¡¯s instincts. Lurin did not look back but saw how everybody followed that simple command the instant he gave it, allowing his aura to rise even mightier, making his next move easier. ¡°I am Lurin Sinar. Vice-Captain Razmun sent us to this location to provide reinforcement and take leadership.¡± Lurin then took out the crystal card Razmun handed to Cain and sent a copy of the information to all the nearby soldiers. Cain was still looking down, enduring the mental pain of using his Ego Wave and restraining his bloodline¡¯s emotional outburst. A small smile appeared on his face as he heard Lurin¡¯s words. ..... ¡®Good, he spoke clearly from the beginning, stating our role and position to everybody.¡¯ Lurin gave the soldiers a few seconds to read the information he had just sent before a sharp light appeared in his eyes. ¡°All soldiers adopt a formation fifty meters in front of me. Now!¡± Lurin¡¯s imposing aura was growing with every action he took, and that shout was all it was needed for the Level 1 and Level 2 soldiers to immediately dash out of the broken building and form in front of him. All those soldiers were equipped with Wave Rifles, as they lacked the proper skills to fight on a battlefield with their own abilities. Most of them showed large smiles as they stared at the cadets since powerful reinforcements made them feel more secure, especially after the death of their previous commander. However, not everybody was so happy about the changes. The look in the six Level 3 Wave Warriors made it clear they were not thrilled that a group of cadets would take the lead. An incompetent commander could do more damage than not having one at all. Although the Level 3 Wave Warriors still joined the formation fifty meters in front of Lurin, they all walked calmly, showing no real respect. That was enough to tell everybody how they felt about their new commander. Lurin could ignore that defiant behavior and slowly show the soldiers his aptitudes, gaining their trust and respect. However, they would soon face hordes of Wave Beasts that wanted nothing more than to kill all of them, so time was a luxury he did not have. He focused on the strongest of the Level 3 Wave Warriors, a tall man with a bulky body who followed the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. ¡°What is your name, soldier?¡± The bulky man did not bother to hide his boredom and almost yawned when he answered Lurin¡¯s question. ¡°Jamal.¡± Lurin¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard the way Jamal spoke to him. The soldier did not show respect even after knowing he was the leader. In all fairness, most soldiers of the Imperial Military Force follow the chain of command without hesitation but obeying a cadet scion who most likely never had put a foot on the battlefield was not something soldiers like Jamal could easily accept. Lurin took a few steps forward, leaving the rest of the cadets behind before focusing on Jamal. ¡°Soldier, come here.¡± Jamal showed a small smile as he heard that command. He was smart enough to understand Lurin¡¯s goal, but there was no fear in his eyes. Lurin showed no emotion on his face as Jamal approached him. The soldier was almost two meters tall, much higher than his one meter and seventy-five centimeters, but that meant little to him. ¡°I will ask one last time, what is your name?¡± Lurin¡¯s voice was calm, but there was a force beneath it ready to burst, just like a dormant volcano. Jamal shrugged his shoulders and smiled before speaking. ¡°Jamal Hurn.¡± After that answer, Lurin did not wait even a second before unleashing his Wave Cloak and making it burst with all his power. He made the first move and tapped Jamal¡¯s chest. That touch had no strength, but according to the military rules, it meant that Lurin initiated the altercation, allowing Jamal to defend himself with all his power. Jamal smiled as he unleashed his Wave Cloak at full strength and sent a blow forward. Not only that punch had immense power, but the skill behind it was very good. Unfortunately for Jamal, Lurin dodged that blow by lowering his body. Jamal could not do anything to stop Lurin from tackling him to the ground. His eyes were full of surprise, as he did not understand just how a scion could read his movements so easily. Lurin immediately positioned himself on top of Jamal before unleashing a barrage of punches, pinning this one to the ground. No matter what tactics Jamal attempted, Lurin could counter all of them. Although Lurin unleashed dozens of punches over Jamal, he controlled the power behind them so they would not provoke real damage. Yet, after thirty seconds, that changed. A flash of coldness and killing intent emerged in Lurin¡¯s eyes as he gathered an immense amount of Astral Wave in his right arm. Brown scales formed around the arm, making it grow almost twice larger. Jamal¡¯s eyes widened as he saw that draconic-like right arm, and dread filled his heart. Not only had the physical strength exponentially improved, but there was also a massive amount of Astral Wave enhancing it. Jamal was not alone in his shock. The fight was not out of line with the military. It was quite common to establish discipline this way in a society that cherished strength above all. However, killing a soldier for small acts of disobedience was over the top. ¡°Boom!¡± A small blast echoed when the fist landed, but there was no blood. Jamal¡¯s eyes showed terror as he looked to the side when he saw the hole that Lurin¡¯s fist left on the ground. If it had landed on his head, he would have perished. Lurin¡¯s face was pale, making it clear how much energy that attack took from him, but the aura he unleashed became even stronger. He rose from the ground and focused on the soldiers. ¡°I am your commander, and you will speak to me with respect. I have my orders, and you have yours. I will not allow any disobedience.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± All the soldiers spoke in unison. Cain raised his head, and he was surprised. He had chosen Lurin to take the lead because he was the best of the current options, not because he saw something special in this one. There were actually several plans on Cain¡¯s mind already to handle the soldiers if Lurin failed, but this one did everything great. Curiosity appeared in Cain¡¯s eyes as he stared at Lurin and did some quick research on Lurin County. Although the empire protected sensitive information about Noble Families, he was only looking for some common knowledge. ¡°Oh, so that is why.¡± Cain¡¯s research showed that Sinar County was established less than forty years ago by Ronir Sinar, a commoner who gained fame for his military exploits. If Ronir Sinar took an important role in the upbringing of his children, it made sense for Lurin to be so familiar with the military. That also explained Lurin¡¯s preference to form teams with people of humble backgrounds, his proficiency against military battle skills, and his leadership skills. Lurin almost smiled when he saw the look of respect and awe in the soldiers, but he could not break his dignified stance. He gave one sharp glance at Jamal, making this one rise from the ground and hastily return to the formation. Just as he was about to give the commands, Lurin¡¯s eyes narrowed due to a message that reached his A.I. Chip. ¡°All soldiers, speak your names, levels, and battle specialties.¡± The soldiers did not find anything odd about that request since it was normal for a commander to ask for that information, but the cadets knew from whom it came. Some were not subtle and looked to the back of the group. Chapter 87 87 First night Cain frowned when he became the center of attention for those soldiers. That was the last thing he wanted, as he had already decided not to take a leadership position during the ensuing battles since his bloodline¡¯s emotional instability could kick in at any moment. In all fairness, someone like Cain, who could use Ego Wave, was a great leader, as that power could allow him to see everything from an objective point of view and think much faster. However, extended use generated a backlash, which he could not tolerate in battles that could stretch for hours. Cain remained silent, but not before glancing at the cadets that turned to him, allowing a flash of his red light to appear in his eyes, scaring them. Those young people were too naive and lacked situational awareness, something he could not tolerate on the battlefield. According to what Cain learned from Zarak¡¯s information, people felt afraid when he activated his Ego Wave because it forced all who looked directly into his eyes into a clash of wills. It provoked the same feeling an average human would feel when looking directly into the eyes of a tiger about to jump toward them. ¡°Begin!¡± Lurin saw that the soldiers were distracted, so he shouted with a stern voice, forcing them into action and pushing their thoughts about Cain to the back of their minds. Cain gave a soft nod when he saw how Lurin handled the situation, and his impression of the young scion improved. Knowing how to adapt to an unexpected problem was a fundamental skill for a commander. One by one, the soldiers gave their descriptions. While they were doing that, Cain used the [A.I. Chip Module] to scan them, improving his data pool. None of the soldiers was above Level 3, so the system was able to analyze them at a fast speed. However, designing the battle formation for them was a challenging task. The more moving pieces, the harder it was to make a battle formation. The [A.I. Chip Module] could generate a battle formation involving one hundred soldiers, but it would be too hard for them to learn it with the little time they have until the next fight. That is why Cain decided to divide the soldiers into ten groups instead. ..... Each group would have the same overall battle power, with members that could cover each other¡¯s weaknesses and enhance their fortes. Then, he would make a second battle formation that taught the ten groups to act together. Lurin did not simply wait in silence as Cain worked. He acted immediately, guiding the soldiers to modify the terrain to the best of their abilities, so it would make it easier for them to face the Wave Beasts¡¯ stampede. The help those tactics could provide was not much, which is why some commanders did not pay too much attention to them. Still, Lurin¡¯s father taught him that every single advantage, no matter how little, could generate a ripple effect with immense repercussions in the battle¡¯s outcome. As the system constructed those battle formations, Cain began to analyze their future battlefield. Five thousand meters in front of their position there was a forest, and it would be from there that the Wave Beasts would come. Cain could feel the scent carried on by the wind and was sure those trees hid hundreds of Wave Beasts, ready to emerge at any moment. It would be easy for Major Luma or even Razmun to march into the forest and massacre those beasts, but that would be a deadly mistake. If Luma or any Vice-Captain abandoned the northeast position, it would allow the truly powerful Wave Beasts to march into Korin City. Once there, those beasts could make their way into the underground tunnels and butcher the civilians in minutes. Everybody had their jobs. Cain and these one hundred soldiers had to reduce the pressure Major Luma faced, as simple as that. The passage of time helped Cain a lot. His brain finally recovered from the backlash of using Ego Wave, and his heart calmed down, no longer forcing him to suppress the wild rage that burned through his blood. [Battle formations ready.] Cain smiled when he heard that, and without wasting a moment, he sent them toward Lurin so that this one would pass them down toward the soldiers. Although he could have done it himself, soldiers needed a clear chain of command on the battlefield. Lurin was in the middle of helping the wounded soldiers to heal with the medicine stored in his space ring when the message arrived. He glanced at Cain and nodded before passing the battle formations. Cain saw that and nodded. He was not afraid that someone else could take the credit for his actions since the Imperial Military Network recorded everything they did. Although thinking of merits during a situation like this could sound selfish, the truth was that everybody wanted their hard work recognized. That is why the Merit Ruler was such a great tool, as it allowed soldiers to do their best without worrying about taking the spotlight or securing recognition for fear it would be overlooked. Cain and the other cadets focused on getting to their peak condition while the soldiers had time to familiarize themselves with their new battle formations. Finally, night came, and they heard it when it became pitch black. ¡°AHHHHHHH!¡± It was a feral roar that made all the soldiers and cadets tremble. It was so loud that it harmed their eardrums. The power of that beast was something none of them could imagine. Of course, that roar did not come from their position but from the northeast, where Major Luma would be fighting. Cain looked toward the origin of that mighty roar, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes as his understanding behind the stampedes grew even deeper. However, he did not have the luxury of distraction as roars emerged from the nearby forest. Less than a second after that roar, hundreds of Wave Beasts emerged from the forest and marched with wild and furious gazes toward the broken city. Level 1 and 2 Wave Beasts made the bulk of the horde, but there were also dozens at Level 3. Cain focused, and soon red light appeared in his eyes as he managed to activate his Ego Wave. Using it, he focused a significant amount of his Astral Wave into his eyes, allowing his vision to grow exponentially stronger. In a moment, Cain¡¯s eyes focused on a group of six Wave Beasts that remained at the forest entrance. They all were Horn-Flame Boars, boar-like Wave Beasts with flaming horns. Cain focused on them because the aura they unleashed was much greater than the other Wave Beasts, especially the one at the center that measured almost two and a half meters tall. Lurin saw how the hundreds of Wave Beasts marched toward them, full of maniacal wildness, and it would be a lie to say it did not affect him. However, he knew if he showed any form of fear or weakness, it would break the soldier¡¯s battle spirit, and that was not something he could allow to happen. Lurin raised his hands, signaling the soldiers to point their Wave Rifles toward the horde, but only commanded them to fire once it was five hundred meters from their position. Wave Rifles were not very precise, but the horde was so densely packed that every shot found a target. The soldiers worked according to the battle formation that Cain gave them, dividing the battlefield into different parts and spreading their firepower. That way, the effect it would have on the overall battle power of the horde would be more significant. Once the Wave Beasts reached the two hundred meters mark, some of them began to fall into hidden pits and were forced to split into smaller groups due to the debris in their paths. Finally, the cadets marched forward in full armor once the Wave Beasts reached the one-hundred-meter mark. Cain and Levi led the group; Beelze took the middle with the other cadets around her and Lurin in the back. Raging flames covered Levi¡¯s body while lightning coated Cain¡¯s extremities. Levi¡¯s fire had grown stronger after his marrow washing and advancing to Level 3. As for Cain, he had already reached Lightning Armament¡¯s second level, allowing the lightning to coat his legs and fists. The duo could kill with a single blow all the Wave Beasts in front of them, and the other cadets made sure to rain destructive spells on the horde at point blank. Those actions diminished the number of Wave Beasts even more while also drawing the attention of the others, decreasing the amount that reached the soldiers. Of course, many Wave Beasts still reached the soldiers¡¯ location, but the Wave Warriors capable of mele battle took care of them. That was how the first night of Cain assuming the role of a true soldier began. Chapter 88 88 Facing a Level 4 Wave Beast The soldiers fired dozens of beams from their Wave Rifles every second, killing more and more Wave Beasts, slowly thinning down the horde. Those soldiers who followed the Astral Rebirth Path of Power or were strong enough to fight with their own power were in a close-quarter battle against the Wave Beasts that made it to the city¡¯s periphery. Among them was Jamal, who showed impressive battle skills as he shattered the bones of the beasts in front of him. Soldiers carrying Wave Rifles and the ones battling with their own power helped each other. Those with Wave Rifles decreased the horde, reducing the pressure on Jamal and the others and allowing them to do a better job stopping the horde from advancing further. Although the collision between the soldiers and the Wave Beasts was impressive, the one that truly drew awe was the clash between the cadets and the horde. A small group of just ten people advanced deeper and deeper into the horde, leaving a trail of blood and corpses in their path. Most of the beast¡¯s corpses had their heads blew up, holes in their skulls, and their blood frozen. That group entered so deep into the horde that they were attacked from every direction, but they kept moving forward, and no Wave Beasts could pierce into their formation. Levi and Cain were like death machines, killing all the Wave Beasts in front of them. The first unleashed an explosion every time his fists or kicks landed, while the second transformed his arms into lightning spears. Levi sent all the Wave Beasts that faced him flying away with their bodies blown to pieces. As for Cain, he was much more subtle, with his fingers piercing the heads of the beast before scorching their brain with lightning. The focus in the duo¡¯s eyes reached their zenith, as any failure on their side would mean that the entire battle formation would shatter to pieces. ..... Beelze and six more cadets stood behind the duo, blasting more and more spells into Wave Beasts attacking from the flanks while also at the same time sending some of those powerful spells to the front of the formation, diminishing the pressure Levi and Cain faced. The soldier and cadets faced immense pressure, and the threat of death was present every second. Still, thanks to their teamwork and battle formation, even after more than three hours of fighting, no casualty appeared on their side. Rage began to appear in the largest of the Horn-Flame Boars. Hundreds of its pawns had already perished under those humans, yet they achieved nothing other than draining their energy. ¡°Ahhh!¡± It roared, sending a signal to one of the smaller Horn-Flame Boars. The smaller Horn-Flame Boar showed no hesitation as it marched forward. Every stomp had so much power that the ground beneath its feet cracked. There was a fierceness in the beast¡¯s eyes as it advanced faster and faster, increasing its momentum. Cain and Levi noticed the Horn-Flame Boar marching toward them, crushing some of the weaker Wave Beasts in its path. The duo knew waiting for the boar to reach them was not wise. It would have generated such immense momentum at that point that it could force them to stop advancing. Wave Beasts surrounded the cadets; if they stopped moving, they could overwhelm them. Cain and Levi looked at each other and nodded. Levi made his Wave Cloak burst with all his power, increasing his battle strength while also depleting his energy at an accelerated rate. Cain did the same, pushing his Wave Cloak to its highest level, achieving a 300% Wave Burst. He then focused his Astral Wave on his legs before dashing forward at full speed. Thanks to Lightning Armament and his bloodline, Cain¡¯s speed was even higher than that of Levi, making it easier for him to navigate the sea of Wave Beasts toward the Horn-Flame Boar. Of course, the Wave Beasts in Cain¡¯s path attacked with maniacal fury, but he either killed or avoided them, not stopping for even a fraction of a second. Just slowing down would mean certain death. The Horn-Flame Boar saw the small human marching toward it, but the only thing that appeared in its eyes was an even greater fury. It perceived no threat from a Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior like Cain and was even offended if someone like that would dare to face it. Cain saw that the Horn-Flame Boar suddenly marched with even greater strength. He did not bother with the reasoning of the beast, as they were already close enough for him to use the [Pseudo Cellular Analysis] tool. [Target scanned. ¡ª Race: Wave Beast Lineage: Horn-Flame Boar Path of Power: Wave Beast (Level 4) ¡ª Stats: Strength: 1.2 Agility: 0.70 Vitality: 1.5 Life Wave: 1.4] Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw those numbers. The Horn-Flame Boar he was about to face was a Level 4 Wave Beast, and its raw stats surpassed him in every single way. If it weren¡¯t for his Lightning Armament achieving level 2, exponentially enhancing his speed and reflexes, he would have never dared to try something like this. Once Cain and the Horn-Flame Boar were less than fifty meters away from each other, the Wave Beast roared, and the flames from its horns spread all over its body. 0.7 points in agility meant that Horn-Flame Boar was fourteen times faster than an Old World athlete. It could cover those fifty meters in less than a second. Cain felt immense pressure as he saw that massive beast coming his way, but right then, red light emerged from his eyes, pushing all fear and hesitation away. When the Horn-Flame Wave Boar saw those red eyes, a feeling of dread assaulted it, and it knew that the man in front of him was extremely dangerous. Unfortunately, it realized that piece of information too late. Cain triggered his Ego Wave in the last second to maintain the facade of weakness and make the Wave Beast lower its guard. He did not wait for an instant before pushing his Wave Burst to an even higher level and, using his enhanced senses, slid down between the legs of the Horn-Flame Boar. The Level 4 Horn-Flame Boar was shocked to see the human show such incredible speed and battle skill, dodging its charge, sliding down between its legs, and positioning himself beneath it. A feeling of doom assaulted the Level 4 Horn-FLame Boar as Cain focused all his Astral Wave into his arms, striking at the same time while also using his Kinetic Gauntlets¡¯ level 2 Kinetic Blast! ¡°Boom!¡± An explosion echoed through the battlefield as Cain¡¯s attack landed point-blank in the Wave Beast¡¯s belly. The Level 4 Horn-Flame Boar was more than two meters tall and weighed over eight tons, yet Cain¡¯s attack sent it flying away, crushing many Wave Beasts on its path. Blood leaked non-stop from its maws, and there was no light in its eyes. Silence reigned on the battlefield for a moment as both humans and Wave Beasts turned toward the clash with shock and awe. Although one might think there was not much difference between Level 3 and Level 4, that division was a major bottleneck. Although it was not impossible, it would not be easy for a Level 3 Wave Warrior to kill a Level 4 Wave Beast. Yet, Cain, who was just at Level 2, did it with a single attack! There were plenty of Wave Beasts around Cain, but they froze for a moment as dread assaulted their hearts. That dreadful power and those red eyes stop them from attacking. Cain did not waste that opportunity, rising from the ground and immediately dashing back to the cadet¡¯s formation. He did not rejoin the front with Levi but entered the middle and stood beside Beelze. Although he seemed fine, Beelze could see how Cain¡¯s face was ghastly pale, and his arms did not stop trembling. Clearly, the last attack not only drained most of his Astral Wave but also harmed him. Cain said nothing and focused on recovering as fast as possible. He could feel the micro-fractures on the bones of his arms, but that was something he expected to happen. Level 2 Kinetic Blast was something only Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior should use. Not only did it drain too much Astral Wave, but the backlash was not something weaker cultivators could handle. Cain could do it thanks to his Ego Wave, allowing him to focus an immense amount of Astral Wave on his arms, and reinforce the bones. The Blood Refinement Art also played an important role, as it enhanced the resilience of his muscles and other tissues. ¡°AHHH!¡± After overcoming the initial shock, the Horn-Flame Boar Leader roared with rage. It could not believe one of its strongest pawns could die at the hands of a mere Level 2 Wave Warrior. Although it seemed ready to march forward, in the end, it did not. Cain noticed that, and his mind began to work. Still, he maintained his focus on the battlefield, and under his guidance, the cadet formation made its way back to the city. Chapter 89 89 Killing during retreat Once the cadets¡¯ group moved back to the city¡¯s edge, they helped Jamal and the others reinforce the perimeter while the soldiers carrying Wave Rifles kept raining fire over the horde. The Horn-Flame Boar Leader saw how more and more pawns perished, and the rage in its eyes grew stronger. There was a clear desire to march forward, but although it had not fully developed wisdom yet, it knew how to follow commands. The one in command of these Wave Beasts¡¯ stampedes made it clear that it should not enter the city and only attack the soldiers outside it. Personally, the Horn-Flame Boar found that command stupid since if he were to charge into the city; it could go on a killing spree. Of course, it did not dare to defy that order. What the beasts did not understand was that while the Dark Races¡¯ powerhouses destroyed most of Korin City¡¯s defenses, the city still had a scanning force field in place. With it, Major Luma could know the exact location of any Wave Beasts that enter the city. Although it would not be easy, she could send an attack from the northeast position to any part of the city. Of course, performing such an attack would drain a lot of power and distract Luma, putting her in danger. She would only do it if the target were worth it. The cadets and soldiers kept fighting with all they had until the first ray of sunlight appeared on the horizon. ¡°AHHHHHHH!¡± A mighty and feral roar echoed through the city, emerging from the northeast. It came from the same Wave Beast whose roar triggered the stampede, and this time it marked its end. The Horn-Flame Boar also roared, commanding its pawns to move back. Today¡¯s fight was over. However, not everybody thought that way. ..... ¡°On me!¡± Cain shouted from the center of the cadet¡¯s battle formation, and his Astral Wave burst with might that sent blasts of air around him. He had used the last few hours to recover on the center of the formation, and now that the Wave Beasts were moving back, it was the perfect time to unleash his power one last time. Those words should not be enough to move more than one hundred people who were beyond exhausted by this point, but the sight of Cain killing that Level 4 Horn-Flame Boar was still clear in their minds. Seeing that ferocious Astral Wave compacted around Cain¡¯s body while lightning coated his arms and legs made their blood burn with excitement. Cain marched forward at full speed, and he was not alone since Levi was right by his side. The duo began a massacre as they killed the Wave Beasts close to them. The rest of the cadets also attacked with all the power they had left. As for the soldiers, they move forward, firing their Wave Rifles on the horde. A tactical retreat was a highly complex maneuver, as it left the army full of openings, and only the best commander could do it flawlessly. A Wave Beast horde couldn¡¯t achieve such a level of coordination. Usually, it would not be a problem as the soldiers would be too exhausted to pursue the retreating Wave Beast horde, but things were different now. There were no casualties thanks to Cain¡¯s battle formation, and although some soldiers were wounded, none were in critical condition. That already left them in high spirits, and the sight of such a mighty warrior marching forward was all they needed to keep fighting. ¡°?AHHHH!¡± The Horn-Flame Boar Leader roared with rage as it saw how the humans kept attacking its forces even after they pulled back. ¡°BOOM!¡± It stamped the ground, breaking the earth beneath its pawns as a blazing fire covered its body. When the soldiers and cadets detected that aura blast, they all grew worried. Luckily, there was a sharp voice that washed away their fear. ¡°It won¡¯t attack! Keep going!¡± Cain shouted, and there was a sense of absolute confidence in his voice that helped the soldier and cadets. They kept moving forward, killing more and more Wave Beasts. It was a true massacre, as those beasts were so focused on running away that they neglected their defenses. Only when Cain and the others were 400 meters away from Korin City, he raised his hand and shout again. ¡°STOP!¡± Although the thrill of battle almost blinded some of the cadets and soldiers, Cain¡¯s voice was enhanced by his Astral Wave, harming their eardrums and forcing them to focus. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with massive red light as he used his Ego Wave to the highest level possible. An agonizing pain had already assaulted his mind, but that was not why he stopped the group. The 400 meters mark may seem arbitrary, but it was far from that. At this point, Cain and the others could return to Korin City before the Horn-Flame Boar Leader could get to them, even if the beast marched with all its power. Despite the immense distance and the hundreds of Wave Beasts between them, the Horn-Flame Boar Leader and Cain exchanged glances. One was full of mad fury, while the other was cold and calm. The Horn-Flame Boar Leader stomped the ground repeatedly, but in the end, it turned around and moved back to the forest. Cain¡¯s eyes did not relax until he was sure the Horn-Flame Boar had left. Although Wave Beasts were not known for their scheming abilities, it was better to be safe than sorry. He took a deep breath and deactivated his Ego Wave, allowing the raging pain to calm down. ¡®If I could use my Ego Wave without limiters or backlash, I could face Level 4 Wave Beasts with confidence.¡¯ Cain only shook his head and knew it would still be a while before he found his true nature. He was still too young and experienced too little. Not wasting more time with unnecessary thoughts, Cain dashed toward where the Level 4 Horn-Flame Corpse had landed. He was about to send it toward his space ring when a voice interrupted him. ¡°Wait!¡± Cain frowned as he heard that and turned to the side. The one that shouted at him was Jamal. He was not alone since all the other cadets also sent sharp glances at the soldier. A Level 4 Wave Beast was valuable, but since Cain killed it without any help, there was nothing wrong with him taking possession of the corpse. Jamal almost trembled as he saw those gazes and immediately raised his hands. ¡°I am not trying to steal anything from you. However, according to the rules given by Major Luma, we must hand over all the carcasses of Level 3 and above. She will reward us with Imperial Military Credits in exchange for them.¡± The cadets calmed down when they heard Jamal¡¯s explanation, and they all nodded. If the order came from Major Luma, they could do nothing. A soldier must respect the chain of command. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard that. He could not blatantly disregard the order of a Major in the military, but he wanted this body. ¡°As long as we hand over the corpse, there is not a problem with the state of this one, right? ¡°I guess so.¡± Jamal found the question somewhat odd, but he answered. It was obvious that the corpses would be riddled with injuries since they were on a battlefield. Cain nodded before focusing his Astral Wave into his right hand and piercing the Level 4 Horn-Flame Boar¡¯s corpse. His entire arm entered the beast¡¯s body until he finally reached the heart. As the cadets and soldiers wondered what Cain¡¯s plan was, they saw how the Horn-Flame Boar¡¯s corpse began to tremble. Slowly, the blood inside its body began to vanish. All that vitality flooded Cain¡¯s body, helping him recover the energy used in the battle while at the same time nurturing his flesh. Cain noticed how his actions drew the attention of the others. He would have preferred to use his Blood Refinement Art away from everybody¡¯s sight, but he had to adapt. Lurin was also surprised by Cain¡¯s abilities, but he did not waste time and began to mobilize the soldiers. The first thing was to tend the wounded before taking care of the hundreds of Wave Beasts¡¯ corpses spread across the battlefield. A group of soldiers began to move across the battlefield, storing all the corpses in space rings. Those artifacts did not belong to them but to the military. While Cain consumed the blood and tempered his body, he also analyzed his battle tactics. Although today he managed to kill a Level 4 Wave Beast, he knew the only reason he achieved such a feat was the beast underestimating his abilities. ¡®I need to be prepared.¡¯ Today¡¯s battle was worth celebrating, as they damaged the Wave Beast¡¯s horde and suffered no casualties. Yet, Cain knew that expecting things to carry on that way was too naive. Chapter 90 90 Dangerous plan (I) The following nights went on as expected. Wave Beast¡¯s hordes would march out of the forest and attempt to reach the city, with the soldiers doing their best to stop them. There were open channels between the leaders of the squads guarding the different battlefields. Lurin was technically the southwest leader, but this one was smart enough to share all the information he got with Cain. All the cadets and soldiers showed respect for Lurin, and none of them questioned his orders, but the one that was the true leader in their mind and who they would follow in case everything went south was Cain. A powerful will had a magnetic effect on people, especially on the battlefield, where everything was uncertain. For the cadets and soldiers, every time they saw the red light in Cain¡¯s eyes, they felt all doubt vanishing. In their hearts, as long they obeyed Cain¡¯s orders, they would survive. Lurin knew how the cadets and soldiers looked at him, and there was nothing he could do. He did most of the work, but it was Cain¡¯s commands the one that had the greatest effect on the battlefield. Although he would have liked to take the undisputable role of leader, Lurin accepted that his skills had yet to reach that point. Instead of getting bitter about it, he learned from this experience. He focused all his mind on studying every command Cain gave and how this one analyzed the battlefield. Personally, Cain liked this arrangement. Lurin was intelligent and capable enough to take care of the soldiers and cadets 95% of the time, leaving him with only the 5%, which were critical points where no flaw was allowed. Cain saw how the sun was setting down when Lurin reached his side. This one began to inform him about the latest news of the other battlefields, making him frown. Ten days have passed since Cain joined forces with the soldiers, and the number of Wave Beasts they killed had already reached six thousand. Yet, the size of the hordes marching kept increasing, and that was not only in the southwest position but in all others as well. ..... ¡®It won¡¯t be long before the empire warriors finish their hunt for the Dark Races¡¯ powerhouses hiding in the Collapsing Lightning Sector. Once that happens, they will be able to rejoin the main forces and butcher the Wave Beasts. I assume the one behind the stampedes knows that and is going all out at this last stretch.¡¯ Lurin¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw Cain¡¯s eyes glowing with enlightenment from time to time as if this one could analyze those hundreds of moving pieces and give them order. He had seen that before, but never in a cadet. It was the light that would glow in his father¡¯s eyes when this one analyzed information about the battlefield before marching to war. Cain did not notice the look in Lurin¡¯s eyes. As long as there was no resentment or other negative emotions, he had no time to worry about the thoughts of the scion. The expression on Cain¡¯s face grew somber as he understood that the danger they would face in these last few days would exponentially rise. ¡°Our current fighting force?¡± Just asking that question made Cain¡¯s expression grow even more severe. To make things worse, while their enemy¡¯s number increased, theirs diminished. Like a miracle, they have yet to suffer a single casualty, but many soldiers endured life-threatening wounds and had to leave the battlefield. ¡°We have 79 soldiers left.¡± Lurin made a slight pause at this point before continuing. ¡°Regarding the wounded, some...¡± Lurin could not finish his sentence as he saw two red eyes focusing on him, which directly pressured his willpower. ¡°Were you saying something?¡± Cain¡¯s voice was eerily cold as he uttered those words. Despite him being a Level 3 Astral Wave Warrior and Cain only at Level 2, Lurin felt immense danger. Just like the other cadets, he remembered the tactics Cain used against Wink, and there was no doubt in his mind that he would not have survived. ¡°Nothing.¡± Lurin took a deep breath and spoke. Cain nodded and made the intent behind his actions clear. He had used the [Pseudo Cellular Analysis] tool on the wounded soldiers before they left and knew some would not survive, but he did not share that information as it could affect morale. ¡°Do you have the things I asked?¡± That question drew Lurin back to reality, and his gaze grew sharp as he handed a space ring to Cain. Since he was technically the southwest leader, it was his job to take care of supplies or acquire battle equipment. As Lurin saw Cain analyze the content of the space ring, a troubled expression appeared on his face. ¡°Are you sure you have to do this? The dangers are too great, and a single wrong step could mean your death.¡± Although Lurin¡¯s words might sound like that of a close friend worried, they were those of a commander who analyzed everything objectively. A true military commander should have the strength of character to ask a soldier to do a mission that he knows would result in this one¡¯s death. Lurin worried about Cain¡¯s life because of the role this one had in the hearts and minds of the others. Seeing Cain march into battle and butcher powerful Wave Beasts raised the morale of all the soldiers, allowing them to fight beyond their limits, but if he were to die, their spirits would crumble. Those were the pros and cons of having your leader take the lead on the battlefield. ¡°If I don¡¯t do it, who else?¡± Cain spoke calmly, and his eyes did not leave the space ring. Those words shook Lurin. His eyes went to Cain¡¯s ribs and shoulder, and he saw their deep wounds. In the last battles, two Level 4 Horn-Flame Boars always marched into the battlefield, and it was Cain¡¯s job to handle them before they could achieve a momentum that could shatter the cadet formation or, even worse, reach the soldiers. Although Levi was the strongest in the group in terms of offensive power, only Cain had the speed and reflexes that would allow him to march out of the battle formation into a sea of Wave Beast. Although Cain had suffered severe wounds, everybody else would have perished, so no one else could do the job. Lurin gave one last glance at Cain before nodding and going back to the soldiers. Cain put the new space ring on his right hand before closing his eyes and using the [A.I. Chip Module] to perform simulation after simulation. ¡°AHHHHHHH!¡± Deep into the night, a feral roar made Cain open his eyes. He turned to the forest and saw Wave Beasts marching toward them. Cain joined the cadet formation, and the clash between humans and Wave Beasts continued. The cadet formation went deeper into the horde while the soldiers rained fire on them, gradually diminishing their numbers. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± Less than two hours after the initial clash, Cain heard the Horn-Flame Boar Leader roar and sent two of the Level 4 Horn-Flame Boars into the battlefield. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed, and red light burst from his eyes as he pushed his Ego Wave to its limit before dashing forward. Although it might seem dumb on the Horn-Flame Boar Leader not to send all its strongest warriors together, it was not willing to risk them. If the four Level 4 Horn-Flame Boars were to enter the battlefield, there was a chance the humans could activate some trump card that could take them all down. The Horn-Flame Boar Leader reached that conclusion based on past experiences. Korin City had those trump cards, but the assault of the Dark Races¡¯ powerhouses destroyed most of them, and the ones left were positioned in the northeast position. Cain had already figured out the Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s apprehensions and thoroughly used them. However, he also knew that they would not work for much longer since the moment the one behind the stampedes gave the order, the Horn-Flame Boar Leader and the four Level 4 Horn-Flame Boars would march together with all their power. That day could come very soon, which is why Cain was ready to attempt something dangerous. Cain advanced faster and faster, not allowing any of the weak Wave Beasts on his path to interrupt his momentum. When the two Level 4 Horn-Flame Boars were one hundred meters away from Cain, they lowered their bodies, preventing this one from dashing beneath them. Even if Wave Beast were not smart, that did not mean they were stupid, and they could learn. However, what happened next filled the two Level 4 Horn-Flame Boars with utter confusion. They saw the human close his eyes. They were about to clash, and the enemy chose to shut off one of his more important senses. It made no sense for the Level 4 Horn-Flame Boars. The next instant, they saw the human throw a rectangular device into the air, and before they could do anything, it exploded, unleashing a blinding light that burned their eyes! Chapter 91 91 Dangerous plan (II) The blinding light was extremely powerful. It wreaked havoc on the horde as it burned the retinas of many Level 1 Wave Beasts, producing immense pain and temporarily blinding them. Cadets and soldiers knew that Cain would use such Wave Artifact, so they closed their eyes in time, avoiding severe damage. The distance mitigated some of the effects, so the Horn-Flame Boar Leader and the two Level 4 did not endure any injury. Still, none of them could see what had happened after that flash. Just as the Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s eyes adapted to the blinding light, he heard the sound of two explosions. ¡°?BOOM!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± The Horn-Flame Boar Leader was shocked to see how the first explosion consumed one of the Level 4 Horn-Flame Boars while the second threw the other flying away. Cain had faced a couple of Level 4 Horn-Flame Boars multiple times in the past few days. However, he was dancing on the razor¡¯s edge every time, barely distracting them or doing enough harm to the beasts so they could not affect the cadet formation. It was never like this, triggering explosions that simultaneously neutralized two Level 4 Wave Beasts. ..... Lurin saw those explosions and knew better than anyone just how dangerous they were. He had obtained the explosives that went by the name of C-Blasts. Those C-Blasts were one-time use Wave Artifacts that could trigger massive explosions with the power to take the lives of Level 3 Astral Wave Warriors. Despite their power, they were not very popular since you had to adhere them to the enemy¡¯s body and move away from the explosion¡¯s range before they detonated. Throwing those C-Blasts to the target was not useful. If you threw it too slow, anyone could dodge them, but if you used too much strength, they would detonate mid-fly. Cain put himself in great danger by using those C-Blasts, as it forced him to right next to the Level 4 Horn-Flame Boars and then move away fast, or else he would get caught in the explosion. The Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s eyes were glued to the explosion when an ominous feeling assaulted it. The Wave Beast realized it could not find the human and did not believe for a second that the blast had swallowed him. It was only in the last second that the Horn-Flame Boar Leader noticed a figure ten meters above the ground, covered by the smoke of the two explosions. Cain reached that height by channeling a massive amount of Astral Wave into his legs to jump up, avoiding the brunt of the explosion. However, burn marks on his armor and a deep cut in the chest made it clear that the last exchange between him and the two Level 4 Horn-Flame Boars was not easy. Despite the obvious pain that those wounds would generate in him, Cain¡¯s eyes which glowed with a monstrous red light, showed nothing but determination as he carried on with the final phase of the plan. Every iota of Cain¡¯s Astral Wave focused on his back, right arm, and finally, the gray spear he held in his hand. He enhanced every muscle involved in the throwing, and other than reinforcing the gray spear, he also transmuted the Astral Wave in it, granting it lighting-like properties. Cain used every ounce of strength in his body as he threw the gray spear covered in lightning arcs while in the air. ¡°WHOOSH!¡± The gray spear flashed through the air at a shocking speed toward the Horn-Flame Boar Leader. Regarding its strength and defenses, the Horn-Flame Boar Leader was very gifted, but its speed was mediocre and having a massive body did not make it easier. The Horn-Flame Boar Leader moved in the last second, dodging the spear from piercing its head and instead making it land on its right leg. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± The Horn-Flame Boar Leader shrieked in pain as the spear pierced its muscles. The Wave Beast had impressive defenses, but Cain not only enhanced the weapon with a massive amount of Astral Wave but also transmuted part of that into lightning, increasing its penetration force. Cain was falling back to the ground as he saw that the Flame-Horn Boar grabbed the spear with its maws and removed it from its leg. While that tore some of the Wave Beast¡¯s muscles and enlarged the wound, it was far from a lethal injury and barely affected its battle power. Despite knowing perfectly well just how little damage that spear did to the Horn-Flame Boar Leader, there was a smile on Cain¡¯s face. Nevertheless, that content expression did not last for long as Cain finally reached the ground, right between the two blasts that happened a few seconds ago. That was the only place that was not full of Wave Beasts, but it wouldn¡¯t last long as they immediately lunged toward him. Cain¡¯s entire body was hurting, and he used most of his Astral Wave in that last attack, so he could barely hold on. He just wanted to lie down and rest, but he could not do it. Using his last bit of strength, Cain rushed back to the battle formation. Levi saw that, and according to the plan, he guided the cadet formation toward Cain as fast as possible. The lower the distance between the two, the higher the chances Cain could reach the cadet formation before being overwhelmed by the Wave Beasts. As the cadet grew closer to Cain, they all saw with awe how this one maneuvered through the ocean of Wave Beasts. The beasts attacked from every direction, but Cain managed to dodge all of them, even the ones coming from blind spots, and carry on dashing forward without reducing his momentum. The truth was that Cain had a perfect awareness of the surroundings as the [Basic Scan Force Field] tool showed him everything coming his way. Thanks to his Ego Wave, his speed of thought and reflexes were high enough to use that information during a battle. Of course, more than once, claws and fangs reached Cain, but the Nullity Armor blocked most of the damage, allowing him to carry on. Cain was about to reach the cadet formation when his eyes narrowed since he detected three Level 3 Wave Beasts lunging toward him, full of killing intent. Before the beasts could shred him to pieces, he activated his Light Boots¡¯ Burst, generating a propelling force to emerge from the sole of his feet, pushing him forward. Levi¡¯s eyes narrowed as he grabbed Cain¡¯s body mid-air and threw him into the center of the formation, where Beelze caught and put him on her back. The cadet formation immediately made a U-turn, returning to the city at full speed. Although being carried by such a beautiful woman like Beelze might sound like a dream for any man, Cain¡¯s eyes still glowed with red light, and the only thing on his mind was the battlefield. Even though there was little strength left in his body, he needed to be ready to move in case something unexpected happened. Luckily, the cadet formation made their way back to the city without a problem, and after leaving Cain, they went back into the fray. Cain no longer had enough strength to fight and would only be a burden if he remained on the battlefield, so it was better for him to rest. No one had a problem with that, as the feats he just performed left everybody with a deep sense of awe and respect. Cain noticed the glances in the soldier¡¯s eyes but did not waste his time on them and immediately headed to a tall building before taking a set of binoculars. They were not very useful if he wanted to follow a moving target, but he focused his sight solely on the Horn-Flame Boar Leader. Twenty minutes later, Cain saw the Horn-Flame Boar Leader begin to tremble, and a cold smile appeared on his face. Confusion appeared in the Horn-Flame Boar Leader as it felt a sense of weakness and nausea invade its body. It had experienced the feeling before when it was very young and ate some strange fruits. Suddenly, the Horn-Flame Boar¡¯s Leader¡¯s eyes widened as it looked at the gray spear on the ground and the wound on his right leg. That gray spear was not a simple object. It was a Wave Artifact, and while it did little to enhance raw destructive power, it was laced with potent venom. Cain smiled, knowing that venom could take care of a Level 5 Wave Beast. If the spear had pierced the chest, the effect would have been much faster, but there was little he could do about it. Still, he was delighted with the outcome. Unfortunately, while Cain was ruthless, the Horn-Flame Boar Leader did not fall short. Without hesitation, the beast bit off the place where the spear had landed. Even while using his Ego Wave, Cain could not help but show surprise. By extirpating the origin of the contamination, the Horn-Flame Boar diminished the amount of venom that would reach its bloodstream. Now the beast gave its immune system a chance to fight back and recover. ¡®Dammit!¡¯ Chapter 92 92 Assassination (I) ¡®Dammit!¡¯ Cain was furious, but his Ego Wave was still active, allowing him to control his facial expression and hide his emotions, preventing any soldiers from noticing that something went wrong. Even if the cadets and soldiers did not understand the great picture, they all saw a rise in the Wave Beasts¡¯ numbers and a decrease in their own. The notion that the plan worked allowed them to carry on with this fight despite the immense pressure assaulting them. Although Cain performed the monumental task of neutralizing two Level 4 Horn-Flame Boars, he failed to take care of the Horn-Flame Boar Leader, so their prospects did not seem very good. The trick with the C-Blast and the flash grenade artifact would not work again, and he knew facing them head-on on the battlefield would not be wise. The Horn-Flame Boar Leader felt extremely dizzy and nauseous, but there was a burning fury in its eyes as it focused on the city. Cain could feel the beast¡¯s murderous intent and put down the binoculars before closing his eyes and shutting down his Ego Wave. He was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to sleep, but he could not allow himself that small pleasure until the current battle was over. ¡®I did my best. I hope the venom that reached the beast¡¯s bloodstream is strong enough to neutralize it for at least a few days. These stampedes will be over once the empire warriors return, which should happen any day now.¡¯ Unfortunately for Cain, while his thoughts were optimistic, the reality was about to take a very bad turn over the next few hours. Cain opened his eyes as he felt a massive burst of Life Wave at the northern position and saw storm clouds filling the sky. ..... ¡®That amount of Life Wave. It is immense even for someone at the Wave Champion Rank!¡¯ Cain could not elaborate on that thought when a massive lightning pillar fell from the storm clouds. ¡°BOOM!¡± A blast echoed through the city the next second, generating a small earthquake! Cain clenched his fists as an ominous feeling assaulted his heart. He knew that the last attack would not have good repercussions on his side. Luckily, before things could get any worse, the first rays of sunlight emerged on the horizon. ¡°AHHHH!¡± A feral roar came from the northeast position, reaching all the battlefields and marking the end of today¡¯s stampedes. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he felt much less vigor in that roar than on previous nights. Still, he did not jump to conclusions and focused on his battlefield. The Horn-Flame Boar Leader was in bad condition but still managed to give the command to retreat to its pawns once the Stampedes¡¯ Leader unleashed its roar. The cadets and soldiers did not pursue the retreating horde due to the presence of the two Level 4 Horn-Flame Boars and the fact they were beyond the point of exhaustion. The increasing number of enemies meant they had to work even harder, draining their stamina much faster. Cain used the binoculars one last time on the Horn-Flame Boar Leader before this one vanished into the forest. A sharp and cold light appeared in his eyes as he noticed how the beast kept all its minions away, not letting anyone get near. ¡®A chance?¡¯ A train of thought began to form in Cain¡¯s mind as he got down from the broken building and called Lurin to his side. The duo then moved to a place far from everybody¡¯s sight and began investigating the situation in the northeast position. It took a while, but they finally got an answer from Vice-Captain Razmun and discovered that the Stampedes¡¯ Leader had injured Major Luma. Things were not so horrible since Major Luma¡¯s wounds were not deadly, but they limited her battle power. The only silver lining was that the Stampedes¡¯ Leader did not come unscratched and received some severe wounds. In summary, while Major Luma¡¯s wounds diminished her battle capabilities, the situation in the northeast position remained the same. Lurin smiled as he cut the call since that news calmed his heart. He was worried that the Stampedes¡¯ Leader would have overwhelmed Major Lumar since that would have meant the end of Korin City. Wave Warriors like him and the soldiers could have escaped if that was the case, but that would have meant leaving the hundreds of thousands of civilians in the underground tunnels to die under the maws of the Wave Beasts. ¡°It seems everything is...¡± Lurin was not able to finish his sentence as he saw the somber expression on Cain¡¯s face. ¡°What is wrong?¡± Cain could march into a fight with two Level 4 Wave Beasts while carrying explosives that could blow him to pieces with a calm and composed expression on his face, so for something to affect him to that level, it must be awful. ¡°The situation on the northeast position remains the same since both Major Lumar and the Stampedes¡¯ Leader have weakened each other. However, now that our Wave Champion¡¯s battle capabilities are diminished, there is no deterrent for the Horn-Flame Boar Leader to march into the city.¡± Lurin¡¯s eyes widened when he heard that, and a cold feeling assaulted his heart. If it came to it, they had the power to take care of the Horn-Flame Boar Leader and its two remaining Level 4 pawns, but they would suffer massive casualties. Vice-Captain Razmun knew that the next battle would be hard but did not find the need to explain or give a reason for them to continue fighting. A soldier must be ready to die on the battlefield if the cause is right, and what better cause than to protect hundreds of thousands of innocent souls? All sorts of plans formed in Lurin¡¯s mind as he attempted to figure out what to do next. The best path forward was combining a form of siege and guerrilla warfare, allowing the horde to enter the city and take advantage of the terrain. However, even though that plan was impressive, especially for someone so young and with little experience like Lurin, it only improved their chances of success. There would still be many casualties among the soldiers and cadets. In the end, Lurin could not help but turn toward Cain, hoping this one would have a better plan. Cain noticed the hopeful gaze of Lurin, and he indeed had a plan. ¡°Make sure everybody gets a good rest. Gather Beelze, Levi, and the soldier squad¡¯s leaders in six hours.¡± Lurin nodded and left, fulfilling that command while distributing medicine to the wounded. Cain returned to the battlefield. After some search, he found one of the Level 4 Horn-Flame Boars. The corpse was scorched, and part of its skull was missing. As for the other, he could not find it. ¡®The C-Blasts were powerful, but one of them only endured the blow in the side of its body. It most likely had the strength to flee into the forest, but it will be impossible for that beast to enter the battlefield again.¡¯ Cain did not waste too much time worrying about the wounded Level 4 Horn-Flame Boar and used his right hand to pierce the body of the one that remained on the battlefield. The Blood Refinement Art filled Cain¡¯s body with vitality, mending his wounds and improving his condition. Once he finished with the corpse, he returned to the city and finally got some rest. As soon as Cain woke up, he gathered with Lurin, Levi, Beelze, Jamal, and the other squad leaders. Everybody focused on him, and their eyes glowed with expectation, hoping he would give them another miracle. That sort of pressure could affect anyone, but Cain had acclimated to the commander role incredibly fast and felt extremely calm with everything. ¡®Maybe I led armies in my past life.¡¯ Cain shook his head, not wasting time with unnecessary thoughts, and went straight to the point. ¡°If we don¡¯t do something now, during the next stampede, the horde will attack with all their power, including the Horn-Flame Boar Leader and the two Level 4 Horn-Flame Boars that are still alive. I assume all of you understand what will happen then.¡± A somber aura assaulted everybody that heard those words as the image of the bodies of cadets and soldiers spread across the battlefield appeared in their minds. Once Cain saw that everybody understood the danger they faced, he spoke again. ¡°I have a way to solve that, and it is quite simple. A small group will infiltrate the forest, and while the rest launch a lightning strike toward the Wave Beasts to draw their attention, they will kill the Horn-Flame Boar Leader.¡± Silence reigned for a moment as everybody looked at Cain as if he was a madman. Even on the battlefield, with dozens of soldiers firing their Wave Rifles, killing the Horn-Flame Boar Leader would be a monumental task. Doing it in the beast¡¯s territory, surrounded by its pawns, was simply impossible. Cain saw their expression, but a confident smile appeared as a flash of red light crossed his eyes. Chapter 93 93 Assassination (II) Just the idea of assassinating the Horn-Flame Boar Leader in its territory should have been outrageous enough for the group to no longer hear anything that came from Cain¡¯s mouth. However, this one had repeatedly proven himself, elaborating and performing incredibly dangerous plans with massive effects on the battlefield. ¡°The Horn-Flame Boar Leader is currently harmed and in a weakened state. The beast knows that the other Wave Beasts would perceive any form of weakness as a chance to kill it and take control over its territories. I am confident that the beast isolated itself, not allowing anyone to be anywhere near it until it could fight back the effect of the venom on its bloodstream. We can use the fact that the Horn-Flame Boar Leader put itself into self-isolation to kill it.¡± Cain¡¯s words greatly affected the soldier and cadets present, as his plan made perfect sense and could indeed work. However, one question in everybody¡¯s mind needed an answer. ¡°Who would enter the forest and perform the assassination?¡± The one that spoke was Jamal, and he expressed the worry in the heart of many of the squad leaders. Soldiers can not refute rational order. Although there would be immense danger and a great chance of death, infiltrating the forest for the opportunity to kill the Horn-Flame Boar Leader was not an irrational order. If Cain commanded Jamal or any other squad leaders to perform the assassination, they had no choice but to obey. Cain could see the worry in the eyes of the soldiers but did not mock or look down on them for that. The fear of death was something everybody felt, and he was not an exception. ¡°The ones forming the assassination party will be Levi, Beelze, and me.¡± ..... Shock assaulted Lurin and the squad leaders when they heard that. On the other hand, Levi and Beelze stared at Cain for a moment before nodding, accepting that task. ¡°I don¡¯t think you should go.¡± ¡°That is right. One of us could take your place.¡± Lurin and Jamal spoke a second after Cain and immediately attempted to change this one¡¯s mind. Although the duo did not begin on the right foot, the brotherhood of the battlefield was more potent than any minor grievance. It was not that Jamal and Lurin did not trust Cain¡¯s battle power since it was among the best of the southwest battlefield. However, they could not allow themselves to lose such a promising commander. Cain saw the worry on their faces and showed a small smile before shaking his head. ¡°I am the one with the greatest chance of carving a safe path toward the Horn-Flame Boar Leader. Levi and Beelze have the highest destructive power, so they are the best choice for an assassination. It must be the three of us, and adding anyone else would only make things harder.¡± Lurin and Jamal saw that there was no way to change Cain¡¯s mind, so they had to follow his guide. ¡°Now, as I said before, your job would be to perform a lightning strike on the horde. You will do it the moment I say it, not a second before and not a second later. Right when I say it!¡± Cain allowed a flash of red light to emerge from his eyes as he spoke those words, making it clear to Lurin and Jamal just how important timing was. The duo adopted a solemn expression as they nodded, showing that they understood their responsibilities. ¡°Do not get too deep into the forest. Your mission is not killing Wave Beasts but wreaking as much havoc as possible. The more noise you generate, the better. I will inform you once it is over so that you can pull back the soldiers to the city. Levi, Beelze, and I will find it impossible to leave the forest due to the state of the horde, so we will find a hidden place to lay low for the night and return the next day.¡± Cain then focused on Lurin and sent a file to the A.I. Chip of this one. Lurin saw the file with a cadet battle formation with him at the lead. He understood that his responsibilities would be much greater during the next stampede since Cain would not be present. Although taking control of the entire group made him somewhat nervous, it was also what he had wished for a long time. Lurin did not say a word, but the look in his eyes told Cain he would give everything he had on the battlefield. Once the plan was finished and everybody knew their role, Lurin called Vice-Captain Razmun and informed him of their next moves. The dwarf was worried about the immense danger in which Cain, Levi, and Beelze would get in, but he also knew what would happen if they did not weaken the horde, so he authorized it. However, Razmun did not just authorize their mission but also sent them a Wave Artifact in the form of a red ring. When Cain saw it, a large smile appeared on his face since he knew the chances of success grew exponentially. Cain, Levi, and Beelze marched less than an hour later after having packed enough medical supplies and battle drugs. They move to a corner of the forest, far from the horde¡¯s perception, and begin to make their way in. Cain took the lead, using his sense of smell to search for Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s resting place. As for why he, Levi, and Beelze did not have to worry about some beast picking their scent, it was that their Wave Armors could hide it. The trio moved extremely fast through the forest as they knew time was of the essence, but they were also careful. If the horde were to detect their presence, then forget about killing the Horn-Flame Boar Leader; it would be a miracle if they could run away alive. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with red light from the second they entered the forest. He had rested properly, so his brain could endure the pressure of his Ego Wave for the time being without too much backlash. Levi and Beelze silently followed Cain as this one guided them through the forest, away from the sight of every Wave Beast. Suddenly, they showed some surprise as this one dashed forward. The next second the duo saw Cain¡¯s fingers piercing the skull of a Level 2 Earth Lion, killing the creature instantly before storing the body in his space ring. At first, Levi and Beelze were confused, but then they saw that the only way forward without alerting the bulk of the horde was through the path occupied by that Earth Lion. That happened multiple times, with Cain having to borrow Levi and Beelze¡¯s space rings since they could not leave any corpse, or they risked altering the horde. As the trio moved closer to the Horn-Flame Boar Leader, they noticed that the number of Wave Beasts diminished significantly. That realization made them smile since everything went according to Cain¡¯s hypothesis. Finally, after almost one hour of running, Cain raised his hand and stopped the other two. His eyes narrowed as he focused on a small cave on the side of a mountain. The Horn-Flame Boar Leader was in there, and since Cain detected a single scent, he was sure the beast was alone. ¡®Now comes the hard part.¡¯ Cain took a deep breath as that thought crossed his mind. Making their way through a forest with hundreds of Wave Beasts ready to kill them was not easy, but killing the Horn-Flame Boar Leader before this one could alert anyone was a truly monumental task. ¡®The Horn-Flame Boar Leader should be a Level 5 Wave Beast. The venom should have weakened its vitality and reflexes, but since it knows that other beasts could attack, it must be ready to fight at any moment.¡¯ Cain looked at the red ring that Razmun gave them, and it was a one-time use Wave Artifact. It would fire a Level 5 Wave Warrior Fireball. Although incredibly powerful, the fireball was very slow, so anyone at Level 5 could easily dodge it. Razmun knew the red ring would not be much help against a strong Level 5 Wave Beasts, but the venom weakened the Horn-Flame Boar Leader, and it would be up to Cain to figure out a way to use it. Cain focused on the cave and understood why the Horn-Flame Boar Leader chose it. There was only one way in and out, and its narrow path made it perfect for the beast¡¯s flaming charge. However, unknown to the beast, it also provided the perfect terrain to use the red ring. Cain could get near the cave entrance and shoot the fireball, but he immediately shook his head. He decided to save the ring as a trump card in case anything went wrong and carry on with the assassination using his original plan. He stared at Levi and Beelze, and a cold expression appeared on their faces. They all understood that failure could mean death. Chapter 94 94 Assassination (III) The Horn-Flame Boar Leader slept soundly at the back of the cave, but its posture and the way its ears and snout twitched from time to time made it clear it was still fully alert and ready to battle at any time. A scorching heat filled the cave, not because of the Horn-Flame Boar Leader but due to the large red ores embedded over the walls. They unleashed powerful fire energy, which benefited the Wave Beast. Suddenly the Horn-Flame Boar Leader opened its eyes as an ominous feeling assaulted its heart, but although it managed to unleash its Life Wave, it could not dodge the dozen ice arrows that landed on its face. ¡°AHHH!¡± The Horn-Flame Boar Leader shrieked in pain as the ice arrows harmed its eyes and snout, hindering two of the most important senses. That shriek of pain was deafening, and despite the cave being in an isolated location, some Wave Beast should have heard it, alerting the entire horde that someone was attacking the Horn-Flame Boar Leader. However, the Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s shriek did not alert anyone since something else had happened just as those ice arrows landed on its face. ¡°?BOOOM!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± Multiple explosions echoed through the forest as the cadets and soldiers unleashed all sorts of loud spells and explosives into the horde, harming many Wave Beasts and making them scream in pain. The Horn-Flame Boar Leader was not exactly wise, but when it heard the explosion and cries of pain from the horde, it knew that no one would come to help it, no matter how hard it shrieked. That realization only filled the Wave Beast with resolution and killing intent. ..... Wave Beasts did not live in a structured civilization like humans and faced the law of the jungle from the moment they were born. The Horn-Flame Boar Leader had faced countless life-and-death fights over its life, and it kept rising until it became a mighty Level 5 Wave Beast. The Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s horn began to glow, and blazing flames covered its body as it stomped the ground, ready to march forward. Even if the ice arrows had temporarily hindered its sense of sight and smell, its body fitted perfectly in the cave, so its flaming charge would strike anything in front of it. However, just as the Horn-Flame Boar Leader was about to march forward, it noticed that two individuals dashed toward it. If it was at full power, the Wave Beast could have handled the duo, but powerful venom still ran through its bloodstream, greatly restricting its physical might. Once again, the Horn-Flame Boar Leader could not dodge the attack, and two fists landed on its throat, one on the right side and the other on the left. Cain and Levi attacked simultaneously, each having charged that right fist to the Horn-Flame Boar Leader with all the power they could muster. The duo¡¯s punches not only landed at the same time, proving their outstanding teamwork but also enhanced the destructive might of the other. Levi¡¯s punch had a massive amount of explosive power that burst the moment it landed, pushing the Horn-Flame Boar Leader to the other side and helping Cain¡¯s lightning fist pierce even deeper into the flesh. ¡°AHHHH!¡± The Horn-Flame Boar Leader shrieked even louder this time. A blast destroyed a part of its neck while a lightning arm pierced into its neck, burning all the blood crossing through it. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with red light as he put as much energy as possible into the lightning flooding the inside of the Wave Beast¡¯s neck. If he could keep it like that for just twenty seconds, it would be enough to end the life of the Horn-Flame Boar Leader, but this one would not just lay down and wait for death. After unleashing that agonizing shriek, the Horn-Flame Boar Leader clenched its teeth and charged toward the left, trying to slam Cain against the cave¡¯s wall. Cain acted fast, taking his arm off the Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s neck before moving back, avoiding having his body crushed between the wall and the Wave Beast¡¯s body. The Horn Flame Boar Leader felt weak as the wounds made the effect of the venom on its body flare up, but that did not stop it from making his Life Wave burst, increasing the might of its flames. It had already regained full use of its sight and could see the two humans in front of it. Although it could still charge forward, they were too close and would fail to generate enough momentum. If it was at Level 4, there was nothing else it could do but the Horn-Flame Boar Leader had reached Level 5. Its eyes glowed with bestial might as its flames began to compress around its body. Levi and Cain narrowed their eyes as they saw that and knew what would come next. Luckily, they had prepared, immediately moving back. ¡°ROAR!¡± The Horn-Flame Boar Leader roared as all the flames densely compressed around its body burst out, flooding the cave. The Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s blazing flames were about to reach Levi and Cain when an ice wall formed in front of them. It did not endure for long, shattering after less than a second, but took the brunt of the flames¡¯ power. The attack just pushed Cain and Levi back a few meters, leaving a few burn marks in their armor but without really wounding them. Immense rage appeared in the Horn-Flame Boar Leader as it saw that the duo survived one of its most powerful attacks. It focused on the distance and saw a woman looking back at it. Beelze¡¯s breathing was ragged, making it clear how much energy she put into those two last spells. She was a new Level 3 Essence Wave Warrior, so it was impressive for her ice arrows to harm a Level 5 Wave Beast. And the ice wall she conjured was even more powerful, having drained a significant amount of her Essence Wave. However, despite her exhaustion, Beelze made her Essence Wave burst again as she put her hand on the ground, using it as a conduit to trigger her spell right in front of the Wave Beast. The Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s eyes widened as it saw massive ice spikes emerging from the ground and moving toward it. ¡°ROAR.¡± It roared again, increasing the might of its flames and stomping against the ice spikes, shattering them to pieces. Unfortunately for the Horn-Flame Boar Leader, while it took care of the threat, Levi unleashed a blast from the sole of his feet that drove him forward as he increased the explosive might of his flames and used his entire body like a battering ram. Levi¡¯s body clashed against the Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s face, pushing the beast back and disorienting it. Cain did not lose that opportunity. He dashed forward an instant after Levi, and a massive amount of Astral Wave and lightning coated his right leg. He jumped toward the Horn-Flame Boar Leader and connected a downward kick on the top of the beast¡¯s head. That kick impact caused brain trauma to the Horn-Flame Boar Leader, and to make things worse, the lightning affected its nervous system. The threat of death made the Horn-Flame Boar Leader go mad, and it began to roar as it made the flames covering its body go wild, trying to push away the duo that was harming it. Cain and Levi saw those blazing flames, but instead of moving away, they made their Astral Wave explode with all the power they had left, choosing to carry on with their attack. Levi¡¯s Lineage granted him a certain level of fire resistance, while Cain used the Nullity Armor¡¯s special ability to nullify 35% of the damage of those flames. Still, while they endured the fire, it would not last long, so they needed to be quick. Levi grabbed the Wave Beast¡¯s horn and used all his strength to immobilize it while Cain put his legs around the beast¡¯s neck and began to punch the back of its head. Less than a second after the duo began with their final bash, the heat in the cave reached an unbearable level, but a blast of frozen air emerged from beneath the Horn-Flame Boar Leader, helping them. Cain and Levi did not look away, but a smile appeared on their faces as they knew that Beelze was using all her power to help them fight back against the Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s blazing flames. Levi¡¯s muscles bulged as he used all his strength to immobilize the Horn-Flame Boar Leader while Cain ferociously punched. Cain¡¯s punches had immense strength as he used 800% Wave Burst, and the lightning coating them granted tremendous penetrating force. The back of the Horn-Flame Boar Leader was a bloody mess, but he kept striking with more and more power. ¡°Crack!¡± A cracking sound echoed through the cave, making a large smile appear on Cain, Beelze, and Levi. That crack excited them so much because it came from the Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s skull! Chapter 95 95 Am I strong? Cain¡¯s eyes showed a burst of killing intent that grew more ferocious combined with the red light in them. He pushed his Wave Burst to an even higher percentage before focusing almost all of his Astral Wave into his arms, leaving just enough for the Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s flames to not kill him on the spot. Cain intertwined his fingers, forming a hammer with his hands before bringing it down on the Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s skull. ¡°CRACK!¡± The cracking was even stronger as the fractures on the Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s skull grew larger. ¡°AHHH!¡± The Horn-Flame Boar Leader screamed in agony, having already lost the ability to think. It attempted to run away with all its strength, but someone firmly grabbed its horn, immobilizing it. Cain felt his legs burning despite the protection of his Nullity Armor, but the red light on his eyes only grew stronger as he kept hammering on the Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s skull. Finally, after the fifteenth strike, Cain¡¯s fists broke the Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s skull, allowing his hands to reach the beast¡¯s brain, where he unleashed a blast of lightning, consuming almost all of his Astral Wave. Levi felt his arms would break at any moment due to the immense pressure they endured by holding down the Horn-Flame Boar Leader, but then he saw the beast tremble for a moment before losing all of its strength. A large smile appeared as he saw the light vanish from the beast¡¯s eyes. ¡°Levi!¡± ..... However, Levi did not have time to relax as Cain¡¯s shout reached him, and he knew what to do. He jumped onto the beast¡¯s head and grabbed Cain¡¯s body before throwing this one with all his strength toward the cave¡¯s exit. Cain moved through the air as his body lost the protection of his Wave Cloak and the Nullity Armor¡¯s ability. The Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s flames burned his legs so much that they could barely work. Even if the Horn-Flame Boar Leader had perished, its flames were still active. Cain might have died if he had remained on top of the beast after his Astral Wave drained. Levi used all his strength to throw Cain toward the cave¡¯s exit. Still, instead of crashing against the hard ground, a gentle embrace caught Cain. Cain felt Beelze¡¯s aroma, and he smiled. He wanted nothing more than to rest in this embrace right now, but his eyes still glowed with red light. They were in enemy territory, and the dangers were far from over. Beelze did not say a word before putting Cain on her back and flashing toward the cave¡¯s exit. Levi saw the duo flashing away without him but did not say anything to that. They needed to leave this place fast and were slower than him, so waiting made no sense. He was also ready to run, but before that, he threw several bodies out of his space ring before sending the Horn-Flame Boar Leader into it. Beelze exited the cave, and as she looked into the distance, she heard the sound of explosions and fighting growing weaker and weaker. The instant the Horn-Flame Boar Leader perished, Cain sent the command for Lurin to retreat. Although returning to Korin City would have been the best, raging Wave Beasts filled the entire periphery of the forest, and it was impossible to pass through without alerting them. The only path was to head deeper into the forest and find a secluded place where they could rest until things calmed down. Of course, moving blindingly into the forest would be extremely dangerous, but Cain had already studied the place¡¯s geography and marked several locations where they could spend the night. ¡°Eight o¡¯clock. Advance for nine hundred meters until finding a small river, then follow its current north.¡± Beelze did not hesitate before following Cain¡¯s guide and flashed into the forest at full speed. She moved incredibly fast despite having to carry someone. Her eyes narrowed as she felt a presence approach her, but she relaxed when she saw it was Levi. The duo nodded to each other before flashing forward with all their strength. They followed Cain¡¯s instructions and soon reached the river. The trio changed their paths more than once since Cain detected packs of Wave Beasts in the surrounding area. Although those beasts were not strong, with most at Level 2 or 3, none were in a condition to fight. Cain could barely move, and Levi¡¯s arms did not stop trembling due to the torn muscles. Although Beelze was a little better, she had almost no Essence Wave left, and unlike the duo, she could not rely on just her body to fight. It took them around three hours before the trio finally reached their destination. A lake formed at the bottom of a cascade carrying toxic waters. Although hiding in a place like this might seem stupid, as they would get sick, the water¡¯s toxins were not that potent. They could affect Level 2 Wave Beast at most, but the scent kept all beasts away, making it perfect for laying low. Cain, Levi, and Beelze took some of the drugs they had prepared for this trip, one of which would counter any negative effects of the toxins before diving into the lake. Of course, the trio did not just plan to rest at the bottom of a poison lake. According to Cain¡¯s research, there was an underground cavern in it, and they planned to use it. It did not take long for the trio to find the entrance to the cavern. Beelze gently lay Cain down on the ground as this one retracted his Wave Armor. When Levi and Beelze saw the state of Cain¡¯s legs, shock appeared in their eyes. They knew that Cain used his legs to hold onto the Flame-Horn Boar Leader¡¯s neck so he could use his arms freely, but they had no idea he would suffer so much damage. The flesh and muscles around Cain¡¯s thighs were scorched, and the pain he must have endured during that time should have been excruciating. Cain saw the expression on the duo¡¯s faces and smiled before shaking his head. ¡°Using Ego Wave, I can diminish to a certain measure my sense of pain. Besides, it is not as bad as it looks since I have been tempering my body with enormous vitality over the last few days.¡± Levi and Beelze nodded as they heard that, but secretly, they could not help but think of the rapid evolution of Cain¡¯s character. From the moment he entered that trance state in his battle against Wink, he had been growing faster and faster. ¡°Oh, right. You could use it!¡± Levi shouted as he remembered how Cain always used his blood technique after the battles. He waved his hand, making the body of the Horn-Flame Boar Leader appear next to Cain. Cain¡¯s smile grew wider as he saw Levi taking out the Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s body. A Level 5 Wave Beast was valuable, but Levi did not hesitate to take it out if it could help him. Cain did not waste time since even if his wounds were not deadly, they severely restricted his battle power, which put all of them in danger. He used the Astral Wave he had regained over the last few hours to enhance his right arm before piercing the Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s body until reaching the heart. The vitality Cain could draw from the Horn-Flame Boar Leader was almost twice as potent as the one coming from the Level 4 Horn-Flame Boar. Levi and Beelze remained silent as Cain used his technique, and surprise appeared in their eyes as they saw that in just twenty minutes, the scorched skin on his legs began to fall off before being replaced by a new one. ¡°Incredible. What an amazing technique you have.¡± Levi could not help but say as he saw the power of Cain¡¯s technique. It would still take hours for Cain¡¯s thighs to heal fully, but the speed at which he did it was still amazing. Cain just smiled and chose not to comment. The Blood Refinement Art was potent, but it had such a remarkable effect because he used his Ego Wave. It allowed him to increase his proficiency, improving the amount of energy he obtained while at the same time focusing solely on his legs instead of his entire body. ¡°I will take the first watch.¡± Beelze and Cain nodded toward Levi, and they saw him diving back into the lake and moving to the shore. Not because this place was commonly empty and Wave Beasts avoided it meant that they could lower their guard. Beelze did not waste time and rested on the ground, relaxing and falling asleep fast. Cain smiled as he saw Beelze¡¯s sleeping face. He also wanted to rest but could not do it before finishing with the Horn-Flame Boar Leader. A complicated expression appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he looked at the massive body of the Level 5 Wave Beasts that he killed with his own hands. ¡®Am I strong?¡¯ Chapter 96 96 Change of plans ¡®Am I strong?¡¯ That was a crucial question for Cain, as it involved a core belief. For him, power was everything. With it, he would never feel hopeless, like when the Atrox God fired that spell against the Imperial Lightning Fort, or impotent against injustice like with Salar Jones. For most people, power was a means to a goal, but Cain¡¯s mind worked differently. His goal was to obtain such a monstrous power he would not have to wish for anything, as he could do it all. So strong that nothing could stop him, and he could destroy every obstacle in his path. Power on its own was neither good nor bad, and it depended on the hands of the user. A righteous man would bring forth a period of justice, while a wicked man would unleash a wave of sin and corruption. Cain was not so narcissistic as to believe he would be a champion of justice after gaining enough power, but he was sure that he would butcher all evil in his path. Giving their entire heart and soul to a cause was hard for humans, but it was much easier against something. Cain focused on the Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s face and saw its rage and resentment. ¡®You believe yourself to have been strong, ruling over thousands of Wave Beasts and controlling a large territory, but in reality, you were nothing more than a small fish in an even smaller pond. Your desire to grow stronger must have stagnated long ago, so the moment you entered a larger playfield, you were doomed.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes became cold as he engraved the face of the Horn-Flame Boar Leader in his mind, reminding himself never to be content with his current power. There would always be a higher mountain and a stronger monster. ..... The mental pain kept growing as he used his Ego Wave more, but Cain did not stop and continued using his Blood Refinement Art with the Level 5 Wave Beast¡¯s blood. ¡°Ahhhhh.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard that feral roar. It had great power but was so distant that it lost most of its might when it reached the cavern. Beelze also woke up, and her body grew tense, ready to fight at any second. It was an involuntary response since, over the last few days, a long period of fighting would begin every time she heard that roar. ¡°You should go back to rest. We already did our part, taking out the Horn-Flame Boar Leader, which would make everything easier for Lurin and the others. Even if we wanted to join the battlefield, we are not in a condition to fight.¡± Beelze turned to the side after hearing those words. The calm and composed expression on Cain¡¯s face relaxed her heart, and she nodded before going back to sleep. Cain saw that Beelze fell to sleep again, and the calm expression on his face vanished, replaced by a cold and pragmatic one. Ideally, killing the Horn-Flame Boar Leader would generate a massive effect on the southwest battlefield, considerably weakening the might of the horde. Still, things did not always go according to plan. Although Cain wanted to know what happened on the battlefield, he could not distract Lurin amidst a battle, so he would have to wait until tonight¡¯s stampede was over. Suddenly, an expression of utter agony appeared on Cain¡¯s face as his mental pain from using his Ego Wave grew too high. He was forced to deactivate it, or else the pain would make him lose consciousness. As the red light in Cain¡¯s eyes vanished, he also took his hand out of the Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s body before using lightning to cauterize the wound, preventing any blood loss. Cain could still use his Blood Refinement Art without the assistance of his Ego Wave, but the effect would be subpar at best. It was better to rest and carry on when he was better. The fact he could not freely use his Ego Wave bothered Cain a lot. If he reached the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, there would be no drawbacks, and he could use his Ego Wave without worries. Unfortunately, there was nothing Cain could do about it since enlightenment over his true nature was not something he could force. Cain closed his eyes and went into a deep state of sleep. Beelze and Levi were taking guard, and he had the [Basic Scan Force Field] tool keeping surveillance, so there was no need to be on high alert. He was exhausted, so he fell asleep very fast. ¡°Ahhhh.¡± Another feral roar reached the cavern, waking Cain up. He knew that meant the stampede was over, and he could finally ask about the situation on the southwest battlefield. ¡°How did it go?¡± Cain went straight to the point the moment he was able to establish communication with Lurin. His face was stern as he prepared for everything. ¡°It went great!¡± Lurin did not hide his thrill as he answered Cain¡¯s question. Cain relaxed, and he took a deep breath. He still needed details, but Lurin¡¯s words and tone of voice made it clear that nothing terrible had happened. ¡°Elaborate.¡± ¡°Yes! Without the Horn-Flame Boar Leader, the ones that took the lead in the southwest battlefield were the two Level 4 Horn-Flame Boars. There were problems with the horde from the beginning since it seemed both Level 4 Wave Beasts wanted absolute control over the pawns, causing them to split into two groups. The horde¡¯s march was wild and unorganized, even for Wave Beasts, and neither of the Level 4 Horn-Flame Boars dared to enter the battlefield. Maybe, they were worried about suffering some injury and that the other would take advantage of that. We were able to kill hundreds of Wave Beasts, and although some were wounded, no one had to leave the battlefield. It was a great night!¡± Lurin could not be happier with the outcome. Last night was the first time he truly took control of the soldiers and cadets, and everything went great. Of course, the scion knew that comparing the current horde with the ones they faced under Cain¡¯s leadership was like comparing a mighty tiger with a starving hyena. Both were depredators, but the imposing might and strength of one could not hold a candle to the other. Cain nodded as he heard Lurin¡¯s words, and it made sense that the Level 4 Horn-Flame Boars would behave like that. In the military, there was a strict chain of command; if a superior perished, there was always someone ready to take the leadership role. However, you could not expect that level of organization from Wave Beasts, and that flaw proved deadly on the battlefield. Although the internal fight between the Wave Beasts was great for Lurin and the soldiers protecting Korin City, it was not good for Cain, Levi, and Beelze. Both Level 4 Horn-Flame Boars must be wary of the other and ready to fight, meaning that both sides are on high alert at every moment. Cain knew that something like this could happen if he killed the Horn-Flame Boar Leader, but it was a small price to pay. ¡°How did things go on the northeast battlefield?¡± Of all the battlefields besides the southwest, the one that mattered the most to Cain was the northeast, which had Major Luma. ¡°I did not get a detailed report, but it seems that everything went as usual. Major Luma and the Stampedes¡¯ Leader fought the entire night, but none could overwhelm the other.¡± ¡°I see. If everything goes well, we will leave this forest in the night and rejoin you as you face the horde. Keep me informed of any change in the city.¡± ¡°?Yes!¡± Cain shut down the communication channel before turning toward the Horn-Flame Boar Leader. He used his hand to pierce the beast¡¯s body and activated his Ego Wave and Blood Refinement Art. The sound of water drew Cain¡¯s attention, and he saw Beelze climb into the cavern. She and Levi changed turns of surveillance while Cain was sleeping. ¡°We will wait until the night to move. The forest is in turmoil right now, and it would be dangerous to move through it, besides I still need a few more hours before being battle ready.¡± Levi and Beelze nodded when they heard those words. Originally they were supposed to leave now, but both of them had complete trust in Cain¡¯s plans, and if he said they had to wait, they would wait. Cain gained the duo¡¯s confidence through his hard work and flawless plans. Since they would not leave immediately, Beelze went to rest, and Levi returned to the shore. Cain did not participate in the surveillance since he needed to focus all his strength on healing as fast as possible. Three hours after waking up, he drained every drop of the Horn-Flame Boar Leader¡¯s blood, forcing him to use the bodies of other Wave Beasts in his space ring. Although the weaker Wave Beasts¡¯ energy could not compare in quality or quantity to that of the Horn-Flame Boar Leader, they were better than any drug or medicine he had. By the time night was approaching, Cain¡¯s legs had fully healed. Although he still had other wounds on his body, they could not hinder his battle power. Chapter 97 97 True nature Cain, Beelze, and Levi calmly waited inside the cavern for the signal. The trio could already deploy their full battle power. Although the first was still wounded, those would not affect him in a fight. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± The feral roar from the Stampedes¡¯ Leader made a sharp light appear in the trio¡¯s eyes. It meant that the Wave Beasts in the forest would leave for Korin City, generating openings in the forest¡¯s periphery that they could use to escape. Beelze and Levi were about to rush out when they saw Cain raise his hand, stopping them. They were confused by the solemn expression on his face. Cain knew the duo was confused, and he could not give them a proper explanation. He stopped them because he felt something terrible would happen very soon. It was an instinct and had no objective evidence, but he knew that a Wave Cultivator should never ignore his instincts. ¡°You two wait here. I will go alone first and explore the path we will take. I need to be fast and silent; more people would make things harder.¡± Levi and Beelze frowned when they heard that. It was clear that something was wrong, and Cain wanted to go alone so they would be safe. However, it was also true that he would be better off moving on his own if the task was solely exploration. Although the duo knew it would be dangerous for Cain to go alone, they also knew that they would not be able to change his mind, so they only nodded. ¡°Be careful.¡± ..... Cain showed a small smile as he heard Beelze¡¯s words and nodded before leaving the toxic lake. He immediately found the best path out of the forest and flashed in that direction. Now that Cain did not have to worry about the presence of anyone else, his speed reached an impressive level despite hiding his aura. His sense of smell and [Basic Scan Force Field] gave him a good understanding of his surroundings, allowing him to move even faster. The more Cain saw of the forest, the more relaxed his heart became. The number of Wave Beasts had decreased immensely as almost all formed part of the horde assaulting Korin City, making the path out of the forest a straightforward journey. Cain began to smile as the ominous feeling assaulting his heart grew weaker the closer he got to the forest exit. ¡®I might have been overreacting. That sinister presence weakened more and more. It must have been because the horde left the forest... WAIT!¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes widened as a thought crossed his mind. It was entirely possible that the sinister feeling assaulting Cain¡¯s heart vanished because the horde left the forest. Yet, it could also be because he got away from the place where that ominous event would happen. ¡°?Boom!¡± Cain had not even finished his thought when an explosion echoed through the forest. He turned to the origin and saw it came from the toxic lake where Levi and Beelze were hiding. Cain was trying to process what was happening when two messages reached him through the [A.I. Chip Module]. ¡°Run... Korin City... Dark Race¡¯s warrior.¡± The first one to reach him was Levi¡¯s, and there was a great deal of interference. ¡°Leave the forest...¡± Beelze¡¯s message was also ragged; after a second, the last part reached him. ¡°Goodbye.¡± That last word made Cain¡¯s body tremble, and he felt like something squeezed his heart. His blood began to burn as his Astral Wave exploded with power, and he flashed at full speed toward the lake. Cain¡¯s eyes began to glow with red light as his Ego Wave, the embodiment of his willpower, burst with all its force. He did not bother to hide his presence and pushed his Wave Burst to 900%, the highest percentage possible, increasing his speed more and more. Even in that state, Cain did not lose focus and sent a message to Lurin and Razmun, informing the duo of the Dark Races¡¯ warrior in the forest. He knew the enemy must have some sort of jamming device, so he had to do it before it was too late. Lurin and Razmun were shocked by that information and attempted to communicate with Cain, but he had no time for them and focused on running faster. ¡°Are you sure of this?¡± Cain could ignore the messages of everybody else but not of the entity that resided inside his soul. Apex, who had remained silent for most of this journey, spoke again. The System Spirit spent most of his time increasing his knowledge and collecting information for Cain, but he was aware of everything. ¡°They ask you to leave because they know there is no way for them to survive. If you go there, the only thing that awaits you is death.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t abandon my friends!¡± Cain shouted back and kept running faster and faster. ¡°Those who abandon their friends are the worst type of garbage, but you are not doing that. Leaving now would be following their wish for you to live.¡± Unlike Cain, Apex spoke with complete calmness and had absolute certainty in his voice. Cain¡¯s body trembled again when he heard Apex¡¯s words. He knew Levi and Beelze wanted him to exit the forest and find refuge in Korin City, but he could not just leave them. ¡°I already told you before. This world is not a fairy tale and doesn¡¯t allow heroes. The only thing you will gain by going to that place would be dying. All the good you could do, all the people you could save, all will be lost because you can¡¯t make the tough choice. ¡± Cain clenched his fists as he heard Apex¡¯s words. He knew they were right but could not accept it. ¡°The truth is that your friends have already perished. You going there would only delay things a few moments, but the final outcome would remain the same.¡± Cain¡¯s body froze, and a sense of loss appeared on his face. The red light in his eyes began to act erratically, indicating the chaotic state in which his willpower found itself. ¡®It is happening again.¡¯ Cain realized that he once again found himself in a situation where he was powerless to change things, just like when Salar Jones forced him to run and leave those two soldiers to die. However, things were much worse now since the ones that would die were people he truly cared about. The erratic state of the red light in Cain¡¯s eyes only grew stronger, and it seemed it would shatter at any second. Just as the chaotic state of his willpower reached its zenith, something happened. Cain¡¯s body stopped trembling, and he began to smile. He looked toward the toxic lake, and his doubt and fear began to vanish. ¡°Apex, you say this world doesn¡¯t allow heroes, right?¡± The System Spirit was surprised to hear those words from Cain in a moment like this. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You are wrong!¡± For the first time since they met, Cain blatantly refuted the System Spirit¡¯s words. Apex was shocked to hear that and even more as he saw that the erratic red light in Cain¡¯s eyes became calm. ¡°I have wondered for a long time about my true nature. I knew what I wanted to do, but the ideas of others, the cruelty of this world, and even my own prejudice affected my mind, stopping me from embarking on that path, but no more.¡± The red light in Cain¡¯s eyes grew stronger, surpassing its previous level and finally evolving. ¡°I don¡¯t care if people mock me or call me naive. I will become a hero!¡± Cain shouted those words from the tops of his lungs, making sure the entire world would know it. And as he did that, his Ego Eternal Matrix grew stronger, finally achieving a level where he could use his Ego Wave without limitation or backlash. Now that Cain found his true nature, he reached the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power! ¡°?Boom!¡± A small blast occurred as Cain flashed forward, reaching a speed almost three times faster than his previous limit! Cain¡¯s Ego Wave enhanced his speed of thought and cognitive abilities but did not directly improve his physical capabilities. However, it did enhance his control over his Astral Wave and his dominion over the Four Basic Wave Arts to an outrageous level. Right now, Cain¡¯s Wave Burst reached 1500%, and he concentrated every iota of Astral Wave into his legs using Wave Focus. It did not end there since the lightning arcs around his body were even stronger due to his flawless Wave Transmutation. Such a massive output of Astral Wave would usually mean that your energy would drain extremely fast. Nevertheless, Cain¡¯s Synergy Flow was so powerful that it diminished the amount lost over time, allowing him to keep it longer. The abilities Cain was showing right now could allow him to face a full-power Horn-Fame Boar Leader alone! ¡®Hold on. I am coming!¡¯ Chapter 98 98 I am here now Beelze jumped back and generated an ice shield in front of her just as a figure crashed into the place where she was a second ago. The impact was so strong that it generated shock waves that reached the ice shield, shattering it to pieces. The shield saved Beelze from the shock waves, and as it shattered, she gained an unobstructed view of the enemy. Of all the Dark Races¡¯ warriors she could be facing, the one in front was the worst type. The enemy was a large man, more than two meters tall, covered with blade armor. He was a member of the Atrox Immortus Race! All sorts of deadly wounds covered the Atrox¡¯s body. There were gaping holes in his legs and deep lacerations that reached the bones. The worst injury of all was the one in the center of his chest, resembling a burning fist imprint that had left a deep indentation, surely having provoked massive internal damage. A fraction of those wounds would have been enough to kill a Level 7 Wave Warrior, yet the Atrox could keep fighting. It was clear just how formidable he was. Not all injuries in the Atrox¡¯s body were old. A new one manifested in the form of an ice sheet that froze the muscles and bones in the left arm, incapacitating it. That wound was left by Beelze when she utilized her trump card. As the scion of a powerful Noble Family, she had artifacts and treasures that could save her life, but unless it was absolutely necessary, she never planned to use them. If she were to rely on external power, then that would defeat the purpose of her joining the military academy. Of course, when faced with a monster like the Atrox in front of her, Beelze did not hesitate for a moment before activating her trump card, firing an extremely powerful frost missile. Beelze had intended for the frost missile to land on the Atrox¡¯s head, which could have killed this one, but while the spell was faster than the enemy, she was not. ..... By the time Beelze had aimed and fired the spells, the Atrox had already moved, making the frost missile land on his left arm instead of his head. The Atrox¡¯s golden eyes showed a single intent as he stared at the woman in front of him. Kill. He was not using his Wave and simply relying on his physical might, yet that was enough to pressure Beelze to death¡¯s door. Just as the Atrox was about to dash toward Beelze, his eyes narrowed, and he noticed a young man jumping toward him with massive explosive power gathered on the right fist. Levi had several wounds all over his body, left due to his physical clashes with the Atrox. There was not a trace of fear in his eyes since he had already hardened his heart for this to be his final battlefield. There was an immense amount of Astral Wave in his right fist, and he had also used his special ability, which allowed him to charge it with explosive power that would detonate on impact. Due to his position, the Atrox could not dodge that fist. There was no worry in his eyes as he raised his right palm and slightly bent his knees. ¡°?BOOM!¡± An explosion echoed through the forest when Levi¡¯s fist collided with the Atrox¡¯s palm, but before the flames could disperse, a kick landed on his stomach. Levi felt that kick would make a hole in his stomach. It made him puke blood while sending him flying through the air. The Atrox¡¯s right hand trembled for a moment due to the explosion, but his expression remained the same as he focused ahead and used his arm and legs to shatter the barrage of ice spears coming his way. Beelze clenched his teeth as he fired those projectiles with all her strength, but the Atrox was not only able to shatter them all with his right arm and legs, but he began to move forward slowly, narrowing the distance between them. ¡°AHHH!¡± Beelze shouted as she pushed her Essence Wave to the limit, increasing the power of her projectiles. The enhanced strength of the projectiles hindered the Atrox¡¯s advance, but that did not last for long. His golden eyes grew resolute as he conjured his Wave Cloak. An expression of agony appeared on the Atrox¡¯s face when he used that small amount of Astral Wave, but he endured it. His power reached the level where Beelze¡¯s projectiles were like pieces of paper. The Atrox easily shattered all the projectiles as he dashed forward, but before he could reach Beelze, Levi moved back into the fray. An annoyed expression appeared on the Atrox¡¯s face as he saw that human interfering with his plan again. He clenched his right fist and struck forward. The Atrox was aware that the power in his right punch would be enough to shatter Levi¡¯s fist, but just as they were about to collide, he saw the human open his hand. Levi knew there was no way he could win a direct confrontation now that the Atrox activated a Wave Cloak, so instead of going for a clash of fists, he unleashed a sea of flames toward the Atrox. Levi smiled as he saw the flames consuming the Atrox, but that did not last long as a fist emerged from the fire. He was barely able to raise his guard before the attack landed. ¡°AHHH!¡± He could not help but release a scream of pain as that punch almost broke his arms, sending him flying away, crashing against many trees on his path. A sense of dizziness assaulted Levi¡¯s mind, but the threat of death drove him back to reality as he saw the Atrox coming down from the sky, about to crash on him. With the momentum that the Atrox¡¯s body carried, Levi knew that crash would be enough to kill him. Luckily for Levi, before the Atrox could land, dozens of ice pillars rose from the ground and charged against this one. The Atrox¡¯s dash was able to shatter the pillars on his path, but it delayed this one long enough for Levi to unleash explosions from the sole of his feet, pushing him away from danger. Beelze¡¯s face was pale and bleeding from her eyes and mouth due to the immense pressure that such a powerful spell generated on her body. ¡®We have only fought for a few minutes, and I already feel my body so heavy that I can barely move it.¡¯ That thought just appeared on Beelze¡¯s mind when she saw the Atrox focusing on her and how the small amount of Astral Wave on his body morphed into arcs of black lightning. A feeling of doom assaulted Beelze as she saw the Atrox using that black lightning, and she raised her hand, intending to use all her power in the next spell. However, before Beelze could even charge her spell, the Atrox vanished from her sight. Beelze¡¯s eyes widened, and she immediately generated rows of ice shields around her. They should have been strong enough to stop the Atrox, but she only detected a shattering sound before a claw charged with black lightning flashed toward her heart. There was nothing Beelze could do to stop that attack, and it had the power to kill her on the stop. As she felt death coming closer and closer, the image of a man appeared in her mind, making a small smile appear on her face. Even in death, Beelze would face everything with her eyes wide open. That is how she saw a figure bathed covered in arcs of blue lightning clash against the Atrox, sending this one flying away and saving her life. A sense of utter disbelief assaulted Beelze¡¯s mind as she stared at the one that managed to push that monster away and save her life. ¡°Cain.¡± Beelze uttered that word, and her heartbeat began to rise as she saw that man standing between her and the Atrox as if telling her that he would protect her. ¡°I am sorry for taking so long, but I am here now.¡± Cain showed a small smile as he spoke to Beelze, but his eyes never left the Atrox. A single lapse of attention against an enemy like that would mean death. As he stared at the Atrox and focused on all the wounds, he commanded the Absolute Life Form System to scan this one. If the Atrox were at full power, his Astral Wave alone would unleash radiation hindering the [Pseudo Cellular Analysis] tool. Still, in his current state, he could not stop the Absolute Life Form System from scanning him. It did not take long for the Absolute Life Form System to show the Atrox¡¯s stats to Cain, and when this one saw them, he clenched his fist. ¡®It is even worse than I imagined.¡¯ Cain¡¯s willpower had reached an impressive level after the rise to the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, but the data that the virtual screen was enough reason for his solemn attitude. [Target scan successful ¡ª Race: Atrox Immortus Race Lineage: ??? Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Early Wave Champion) ¡ª Stats: Strength: ?? (4.1) Agility: ?? (2.9) Vitality: ?? (1.1) Astral Wave: ?? ¡ª Note: Target¡¯s vitality is feeble, and there are severe internal wounds, making him only able to express a fraction of his power.] Chapter 99 99 Fighting an Atrox Wave Champion (I) Cain took a deep breath as he focused on the Atrox, blocking everything else. He went through all the information that the [Pseudo Cellular Analysis] tool gave him about his enemy, including the condition of the body and inner organs. ¡®Of all the Atrox¡¯s wounds, the worst is in his Rebirth Heart. The damage is so massive that it can no longer release its Astral Wave without worsening its state. There are also injuries in his legs that greatly limit his speed.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes were cold as he planned how to make the most of the information the system recollected. Things did not end there, as he came up with another idea. ¡®Apex, can you use the [Basic Virtual Simulation] tool to show me a live simulation of the Atrox¡¯s next move?¡¯ Usually, [Basic Virtual Simulation] could only be used before the fight as Cain¡¯s mind could not work fast enough to see the simulation and act on it during a battle. However, his current speed of thought was much faster than his body, so there was a chance his plan could work. Of course, that was only on the premise that the [Basic Virtual Simulation] tool could predict the Atrox¡¯s movements fast enough. Apex understood the severity of the situation and provided Cain with every bit of help possible. ¡°An hour ago, the [A.I. Chip Module] power would not have been enough to fulfill that task, but now that you reached the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, things have changed.¡± Cain understood the meaning of Apex¡¯s words. Unlike the other modules, the [A.I. Chip Module] power depended on the strength of his soul, and since his willpower is part of his soul, a rise on the Ego Eternal Path of Power helped this one. After a second, Cain saw a small transparent screen appear in the right corner of his vision. It showed the Atrox, but this image was a virtual simulation that would predict his movements. ..... Since the Atrox was an intelligent life form, the simulation predictions would not be flawless, but they would still help Cain immensely. Just like Cain was analyzing the Atrox, this one also did the same with his enemy. Cain¡¯s kick pushed the Atrox almost twenty meters away from Beelze but did minor damage, so this one remained standing without a problem. The Atrox¡¯s eyes widened as he detected that the human in front of him was a Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior, and the reason for the immense Astral Wave coming from this one was an outrageous Wave Burst. A flash of enlightenment appeared in the Atrox¡¯s eyes as he noticed the red light coming from Cain¡¯s eyes. Although he attempted to hide it, envy appeared on his face. Suddenly, the Atrox¡¯s face contorted in agony, and a horrible pain forced him to rescind his Astral Wave, as his Rebirth Heart could not endure the pressure. The loss of the Wave Cloak drastically reduced the Atrox¡¯s physical might, but this one still had more than enough brute strength to make every punch deadly. Like Cain, the Atrox took a deep breath, and his eyes grew colder and sharp. He considered the human in front of him a proper opponent, unlike the other two, which were just pests in his mind. Cain saw the Atrox walking toward him, not wasting any time with meaningless words, which worked perfectly for him. Even though his Synergy helped him diminish the amount of Astral Wave used, he was still employing a 1500% Wave Burst, so his energy pool would deplete very soon. Blue lightning coated Cain¡¯s arms and legs, and that same power reinforced his nervous system, allowing his reaction speed to reach an impressive level. The Atrox, on the other hand, had no ability activated, but he had tempered every part of his body. The Goodslayer Human and the Immortus Atrox walked toward the other with complete calm and serenity, showing no sign that they were about to enter a life-and-death battle. The instant they were at arm¡¯s length, they burst into battle, attacking with pure killing intent. The sole goal in their hearts was to kill the other. Cain saw the Atrox firing a blow toward his head with enough power to shatter every bone. While his speed of thought allowed him to see that attack, that did not mean his body would be fast enough to dodge it. Luckily, Cain had already predicted the Atrox¡¯s attack, thanks to the virtual simulation in the corner of his vision. That allowed him to move his head before the Atrox even fired the attack, allowing him to dodge the blow narrowly. The Atrox¡¯s eyes widened as he saw the human dodging his attack. He was much faster than his enemy, yet this one still managed to evade his fist, and things did not end there. Cain moved forward, sending a kick with all his strength toward the Atrox¡¯s right knee. Although Cain¡¯s strength was formidable for a Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior, that kick lacked the brute power to harm the Atrox. However, Cain¡¯s kick landed on one of the many gaping holes in the Atrox¡¯s right leg. By taking advantage of the old wounds, Cain¡¯s attack weakened the Atrox¡¯s balance. The Atrox felt his right leg bending when another kick landed on his jaw. Like before, Cain¡¯s attack lacked brute power but managed to shake the Atrox¡¯s brain slightly. The Atrox¡¯s vision grew blurry for a moment, hindering his ability to react, and before he could get hold of himself, he felt a heavy blow land on his chest, right on top of his heart, that sent him flying away. His eyes regained their focus mid-fly, allowing the Atrox to land on his feet, but there was a sense of confusion and shock on his face. He did not understand how Cain¡¯s brute power rose to such a shocking level that it managed to send him flying away. However, the answer presented itself for the Atrox immediately, as he saw how the human had gathered every ounce of Astral Wave on his right fist. Cain¡¯s Wave Burst was currently at 1500%, and his flawless Synergy Flow avoided any leak. Gathering all that Astral Wave into his right fist allowed his punch to reach the destructive power of Level 5! The Atrox¡¯s body trembled, and he could not resist puking a mouthful of blood! Shock, absolute and utter shock appeared on the Atrox¡¯s face when he saw that blood coming from his mouth. He was an Early Wave Champion from the Atrox Immortus Race, yet a Level 2 Wave Warrior from the Godslayer Humankind made him puke blood! Honor meant everything for the Atrox Immortus Race, and this was the greatest shame of his life. If he did not crush the human right now, he had no right to return home. A burning rage emerged from the Atrox, unleashing an aura that could freeze the heart of anyone. However, Cain¡¯s only answer to that wrath was greater killing intent. Cain flashed forward, arching his back at the last second, dodging the Atrox¡¯s kick that aimed at his neck before sending a powerful punch to the right knee, worsening the wound in it even more. The Atrox felt his kneecap almost shatter, but he resisted the pain and sent another attack at the top of Cain¡¯s head. The attack came from a blind spot, but Cain again showed incredible martial skill and battle awareness, dodging the punch and countering it with his own. An impressive display of martial skills started next to a toxic lake as a human and an Atrox attempted to kill each other. Despite the human¡¯s weaker body, this one managed to come victorious in each encounter. Of course, if anyone thought Cain was having an easy time, then it was clear they were not really paying attention. He was pushing his mind and body to the absolute limit, with his Ego Wave reaching such a high level that blood began to leak from his eyes. Had he not entered the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, his brain would have shut down due to the information overload. As for his body, even with the tempering of the Blood Refinement Art, using a 1500% Wave Burst generated so much stress that his inner organs were beginning to shut down. Despite the protection of the Nullity Armor, there were all sorts of lacerations and cuts on Cain¡¯s skin. He had managed to dodge all the Atrox¡¯s attacks, but some still managed to brush him, leaving those wounds. If a brush of the Atrox¡¯s attack could leave those types of injuries, one could imagine what a point-blank strike could do to Cain. Cain faced immense danger every second of the fight, and a single mistake would be enough to end his life, but his eyes showed serenity. He followed his nature as he entered this life-and-death battle; whatever happened, he would face it without regret Chapter 100 100 Fighting an Atrox Wave Champion (II) Levi and Beelze were able to calm their breathing and regain some strength while Cain fought against the Atrox Wave Champion. They were exhausted but still had enough Wave inside their bodies to fight. The duo looked at each other and nodded, ready to join the fray and help Cain against the Atrox Wave Champion, when his voice reached their minds through the A.I. Chips. ¡°Do not enter the fight yet. Take advantage of every second you have to regain as much strength as possible. I can not depend on only my blows to finish the Atrox, and I am already preparing something special. However, for it to work, I will need the help of you two.¡± Detailed instructions of when and what they should do reached Levi and Beelze¡¯s minds, and a sense of utter awe assaulted the duo¡¯s hearts. Cain sending messages through the A.I. Chip despite the Atrox¡¯s jamming device was not surprising for them since they knew his hacking ability and were very close. What shocked Levi and Beelze was that even while fighting an Atrox Wave Champion, Cain still had the mind power to give them instructions. The plan Cain showed them was extremely dangerous, but Levi and Beelze were ready to die a few minutes ago, so the threat of danger could not affect their hearts. ¡®What kind of monster did I befriend!¡¯ That thought crossed Levi¡¯s mind as he smiled, and a burning fighting spirit emerged in his heart. This forest no longer needed to be his final battlefield; they could kill the Atrox Wave Champion. The duo followed Cain¡¯s instruction as if it was a divine decree, engraving each word in their minds and using every second to regain as much strength as possible. Whether they left this forest alive depended on if they could fulfill that task. Cain continued fighting against the Atrox, unleashing everything he had. He connected a blow to the temple, paralyzing the Atrox for a moment before gathering all of his Astral Wave in his elbow and sending a ferocious strike. ..... The Atrox puked blood once again as that elbow strike harmed his heart. As he saw the human rushing toward him, a sense of absolute rage overwhelmed him, but that was not all since there was also worry in his gaze. Since Cain reached this place, people outside were aware of his presence. The Atrox Wave Champion knew he was nothing but an ant compared to the Godslayer Humankind¡¯s powerhouses, so he needed to finish this fight soon and run away. The Atrox clenched his teeth as he summoned his Wave Cloak once again. He felt his heart would shatter to pieces at any second but endured the pain and went even further, morphing the Astral Wave into black lightning. Levi and Beelze¡¯s eyes widen with dread as they see that black lightning since they know it granted the Atrox a speed so immense that they could barely follow it with their eyes. Even if the Atrox could only maintain that state for a second, it would be more than enough to send a killing blow! The duo was not able to speak a word before the Atrox vanished from their sight, appearing beside Cain before firing a monstrously powerful right punch. ¡°CAIN!¡± Beelze could not help but shout Cain¡¯s name as fear and worry overwhelmed her. ¡°BOOM!¡± That punch had so much strength that it unleashed a blast the moment it connected. However, there was no happiness in the Atrox¡¯s eyes. That punch could have obliterated the head of a Level 4 Wave Warrior, but not only did it fail to kill Cain, this one did not even move. Thanks to the [Basic Virtual Simulation] tool, Cain could predict the trajectory of the Atrox¡¯s punch. He used his left arm as a shield, gathering 90% of his Astral Wave in it and using the other 10% on his feet, helping him remain stable. Of course, Cain did not come intact, as that blow shattered most of the bones on his left arm. Although he could still move the extremity, placing any strength in it was impossible. ¡®A fair exchange.¡¯ That was the only thought that appeared in Cain¡¯s mind as he felt the state of his left arm. The pain and everything else did not matter. The Atrox had yet to overcome the shock that his sure-kill strike failed when his Rebirth Heart began to convulse, generating a horrible pain that deactivated his Wave Cloak and paralyzed him. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw the backlash affecting the Atrox. His killing intent exploded, and he gathered every ounce of Astral Wave on his right arm. What Cain did was extremely dangerous as it left his body unprotected, but it also allowed his offensive power to reach an incredible level. Not willing to waste a single second, Cain unleashed a barrage of strikes with his right arm. Every single punch had an immense amount of Astral Wave and lightning charged in it. The martial skill in those punches was superb, with every punch landing right on top of the Atrox¡¯s heart, weakening the Astral Wave¡¯s reservoir more and more. Cain carried with that onslaught for over twenty seconds, unleashing more than sixty full-power punches on the Atrox Wave Champion. Half of those strikes would have been enough to kill the Horn-Flame Boar Leader, but the Atrox remained alive, and while his wounds weakened his life force, it was still far from depleted. Cain saw on the virtual simulation that the Atrox was about to overcome the backlash. Instead of moving back to avoid a counter-attack, he allowed his Wave Cloak to cover his entire body before gathering massive lightning on his right palm. The Atrox¡¯s eyes grew sharp as he regained control over his body, but before he could attack, a hand settled over his eye sockets and blasted a massive amount of lightning. ¡°AHHHHH!¡± The Atrox screamed in pain as that lightning scorched his eyes, but he still managed to send a punch. Cain managed to direct most of his Astral Wave into his stomach before the Atrox¡¯s punch would land, but the strike still made him puke blood and pushed him away. He used all his strength to remain on his feet, and while severely harmed, he could still fight. However, unlike before, when he would never leave the Atrox¡¯s side for more than a second, Cain did not instantly dash back into the fray. The Atrox¡¯s vision was blurry and bloody, but he could still see Cain¡¯s figure a few meters in front of him. He saw that the human was wounded and intended to take advantage of that, but someone grabbed his right arm before he could even take a step. Confusion appeared on the Atrox¡¯s face as he looked to the side and saw the human that used explosions grab his arm and pull down with great strength. Before the Atrox could even process that, the female human appeared on his left, less than five meters away from him, and unleashed an ice storm that froze his wounded legs. The Atrox had almost forgotten about Levi and Beelze since the duo was so weak that he never considered them a threat, but things had changed. His wounds were so severe that the two humans were strong enough to contain him. Although Beelze and Levi could temporarily restrain him, the Atrox knew he would manage to free himself in a matter of seconds, but the moment the duo held his right arm and froze his wounded legs, a feeling of doom assaulted him. The Atrox looked ahead and saw the red ring in Cain¡¯s left hand starting to glow. As a Wave Champion, his battle experience was massive, and he noticed the Wave Artifact in the form of a red ring a while ago. He was not too worried before since it seemed that it could fire a Level 5 Spell at most. It had the power to harm him severely but was far from enough to kill him. Nevertheless, now that the Atrox saw the red ring, he noticed how the Wave Artifact began destabilizing, and its energy grew stronger. The Atrox looked at the duo holding onto him as if their life depended on it and understood that Cain did not intend to fire the spell inside the red ring but destabilized the Wave Artifact, making it explode with much greater power. Cain looked at the ring about to explode on his left hand and knew he would suffer a massive wound, but there was not even a wisp of hesitation on his face as he focused on the Atrox¡¯s chest and flashed forward with a bloody smile on his face. A feeling of absolute doom assaulted the Atrox as he saw Cain about to reach him. Three Wave Warriors that had yet to reach Level 4 were about to kill him. The [Basic Virtual Simulation] tool had exceptional foretelling capabilities, but it could not predict what a life form could achieve when pushed to death¡¯s door. ¡°AHHHHH!¡± The Atrox roared and unleashed a small stream of Astral Wave. It would be too little to free his right arm or legs, so he concentrated all on his frozen left arm. Agony appeared on the Atrox¡¯s face as his muscles and tendons shattered due to their frozen state, but he managed to move the left arm and then gather black lightning into his hand, making a blade! Chapter 101 101 The Red King (I) Cain saw that lightning claw coming toward him and knew what it meant. He could not back down now since the red ring¡¯s self-destruction could not be stopped, but if he carried on with his attack, there was no way he could survive. Time froze for Cain at that moment as he faced that decision. He would have to pay the ultimate price if he wanted to kill the Atrox and save his friends. A smile formed on Cain¡¯s face as he pushed forward and connected his left fist to the Atrox¡¯s chest, right on top of this one¡¯s heart. The second he did that, blood splattered all over his face. Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he felt that blood because it was not his. A sense of utter dread overflowed his heart as he looked to the side and saw a scene that would be forever engraved in his soul. Beelze used her body to stop the Atrox¡¯s claw. The lightning blade pierced her chest, leaving what one could only assume to be a lethal wound. ¡°NOO!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± Cain¡¯s shout did not last long as the explosion of the red ring happened the next instant, sending everybody flying away. Flames spread throughout the forest due to the firepower unleashed by the red ring¡¯s explosion. The Atrox landed almost two hundred meters away, and there was a bloody hole in the center of his chest, while burn marks covered the rest of the body. ..... On the human side, things were a little better. Levi had crashed against many boulders on his path, repeatedly hitting his head, so he was unconscious. Cain was still conscious, but there was an immense agony on his face since the explosion had destroyed his left arm. However, while the pain was immense, Cain couldn¡¯t care less. He rose from the ground and looked at the surroundings until he found her. ¡°Beelze!¡± Cain shouted as he saw Beelze lying in a pool of her own blood a few meters away from him. Moving his body was hard, but nothing could stop him from reaching her side. When Cain finally got next to Beelze and saw her wounds, the feeling of dread grew even stronger. The Atrox¡¯s lightning blade had pierced her body entirely, and he could see some of her vital organs. ¡°It is... ok.¡± Cain trembled as he heard Beelze utter those words and could feel the peace in her expression. She understood what would happen and had no regrets. ¡°Stop talking. You will be fine!¡± The fact that Beelze came to peace with what would happen did not mean Cain felt the same about it. He attempted to put pressure on the wounds, but the help something like that could provide for such a massive injury was null. ¡°System, scan her and find a way to save her life!¡± Cain¡¯s mind was so chaotic that he even mentioned the Absolute Life Form System out loud. [Scanning target. ... ... Scan completed ¡ª Target has suffered massive internal injuries. The spine is severed, and lightning has scorched both lungs. The heart also sustained a deep laceration, generating massive internal bleeding. ¡ª Generating medical procedures: ... ... No medical procedures are capable of treating her wounds. Target¡¯s chances of survival are 0%.] ¡°What!? That can not be right. Do it again!¡± Cain shouted with rage as he saw the analysis of the Absolute Life Form System. Deep down, he knew those wounds were lethal, but he could not accept that things would end like this. Beelze did not understand with whom Cain was talking, and as her last breath came closer, something changed in her eyes. A feeling of aloofness emerged as if her condition mattered little. She no longer showed calm in the face of death since now it seemed that death did not matter to her. Such a drastic change in Beelze would have shocked Cain if he had noticed it, but his mind was so wild and frantic that he missed it. Beelze¡¯s aloofness faded when she focused on the man that fiercely looked for a way to save her life. She could not help but show a tender smile. Cain was shouting to the Absolute Life Form System to find a way to save her when he felt a hand touching his face. He looked down and saw Beelze¡¯s lovely smile. ¡°I wish we had more time together.¡± As he heard those words, Cain felt something squeezing his heart and saw Beelze¡¯s hand falling to the ground without strength. [Target vital signs are null. ... The target is dead.] ¡°No, no, no, no. NO!¡± Cain roared as a wild burst of Astral Wave emerged from his body while rage and frustration overwhelmed his heart. However, that did not last long as utter sadness replaced those feelings, and he gently brought Beelze¡¯s body into his embrace. ¡°Why... why did I have to lose her like this?¡± Cain began to cry as a sense of total loss filled his heart. Seeing her like that made him feel he had lost something very important. Even if he never said it out loud, the way Cain looked at Beelze was not that of simple friends. She was brave, beautiful, smart, and funny, so it was not odd for emotions like those to emerge in his heart. However, Cain¡¯s past experiences made him avoid that topic. He always thought they would have more time and allow things to happen naturally instead of forcing it. Unfortunately, it was too late now, and he lost that chance forever. Cain¡¯s mind was in complete chaos, but the red light in his eyes that symbolized the strength of his willpower only kept growing stronger. It is not odd for a life form¡¯s willpower to rise after overcoming a traumatic event, but Cain clearly was not handling Beelze¡¯s death well. Besides, the red light in his eyes was not only growing more potent but also colder. [WARNING! ?WARNING! An unknown force is acting over Vessel¡¯s willpower. Regain focus immediately before a change in the ego happens.] Apex spoke less than a second after the warning from the Absolute Life Form System echoed inside Cain¡¯s mind. For the first time, the System Spirit lost his composed tone of voice, making it clear just how worried he was. ¡°Brat, focus! Do not let pain and sorrow overcome your mind. Allow yourself to grieve, but do not lose yourself in it. If you don¡¯t get your ego under control, something catastrophic will happen!¡± Apex¡¯s voice carried the urgency of the situation, but Cain¡¯s mind was in such a chaotic state that he did not hear anything. He was all alone with his thoughts. ¡°Why...¡± Cain¡¯s tears fall on Beelze¡¯s face, making the sadness on this one only grow stronger. ¡°Why does being weak have to hurt so much?¡± The red light in Cain¡¯s eyes grew even stronger as he uttered those words, as did the coldness in these ones. ¡°WHY!?¡± Cain shouted that word with a voice full of grief as the red light on his eyes reached its zenith, and he fell unconscious. Silence reigned in the forest for a moment before a mournful sound appeared. ¡°Ahhh!¡± A shriek of pain echoed as the Atrox Wave Champion began to rise from the ground. His condition was critical, to say the least, but he was still alive! The Atrox touched his chest, and as he focused on his Rebirth Heart, a look of horror and desperation emerged. The damage to his heart was so massive that it was essentially crippled, completely shattering his cultivation. He would grow weaker and weaker, and it would be a miracle if he still had any power by the next day. All his hard work would fade away, and the damage he endured was so severe that he would be crippled and confined to a bed for the rest of his life. That realization filled the Atrox with pure and immense hatred. His eyes focused on the man responsible, and he wanted nothing more than to rip this one to pieces. For a race that worshiped strength, living as crippled was no different than hell. ¡°I will... kill you!¡± The Atrox roared as his wrath exploded. It took him a couple of seconds to reach the unconscious human, and he clenched his right fist, gathering in it what little strength he had left, before firing a punch with more than enough power to break a Level 2 Wave Warrior¡¯s skull. Just as the Atrox punched toward Cain¡¯s skull, he opened his eyes. There was no more blasting light in then. Instead, his green pupils had turned red. That aesthetic change was meaningless compared with the intent that Cain¡¯s eyes now unleashed. Those eyes had a sense of ancientness and detachment as if everything in this world was inconsequential. The ego capable of unleashing that intent did not belong to a fourteen years old boy. They belonged to an entity that once stood above all existence and reigned supreme. Those red eyes belonged to a king! Chapter 102 102 The Red King (II) ¡°Boom!¡± A small blast echoed through the forest as the Atrox¡¯s punch connected against something. However, to his shock, his fist landed on the ground, and the man and woman vanished from his sight. ¡®What!? Where did he go!?¡¯ The Atrox was shocked by the man¡¯s sudden disappearance and began looking through the surroundings frantically. He found the human forty meters to his left and saw how this one left the woman¡¯s corpse on the ground before turning toward him. The Atrox Wave Champion had faced all types of monsters and been in the presence of incredible powerhouses across his life, but he could swear that he had never felt such a monstrous aura as the one in those red eyes. They did not belong to someone good or evil. Terms like those were too narrow to describe their might. It was like a force of nature that destroyed everything in its path with no emotion whatsoever. ¡°Who... are you?¡± For the first time since the battle started, the Atrox Wave Champion asked a question, and it was meant to figure out the identity of the man he had been fighting the last thirty minutes. The aura and ego he felt in those red eyes did not belong to the young man full of heroism that entered the battlefield to save his friends. Cain did not answer the question and instead focused on his left arm. Everything beneath the shoulder was gone, and there was a massive hemorrhage. If he did not treat it soon, the blood loss would weaken him more and more until he passed out. Falling unconscious with a bleeding wound in a place like this would mean certain death, but Cain¡¯s eyes showed not even the slightest sign of worry. He simply slapped his left shoulder with his right palm, and something amazing happened. The muscles on the left shoulder contracted, sealing the wound and stopping the bleeding! ..... ¡°IMPOSSIBLE!¡± The Atrox Wave Champion shouted in disbelief as he saw Cain¡¯s muscles acting like they had a life of their own. Although an Early Wave Champion was strong, it was far from enough to form part of an incursion into an enemy continent led by a God. The Atrox managed to secure that position due to his background, and the sole purpose of his journey to the Gaia Continent was to push the electromagnetic force field that was his willpower to the Late Wave Champion level. His greatest goal was to enter the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, which is why he felt so much envy when he saw that a mere Level 2 Wave Warrior like Cain had already reached that level. Due to his family heritage, the Atrox Wave Champion had a great knowledge of the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power and knew it also went by the name of Mind Over Body. The First Realm granted incredible control over your emotions and granular domain over your Wave, but that was just the beginning. Once you gain true mastery over that realm, you can attain supernatural control over your body to the point that you can command every organ with your mind. The Atrox Wave Champion could accept that Cain had reached the First Realm so young since he knew there were divine geniuses born with their Ego Eternal Matrix activated since their birth. However, to command your body the way Cain did should be impossible for someone that just entered Mind Over Body. Cain couldn¡¯t care less about the Atrox¡¯s state of mind and looked at the surroundings with curiosity. He took everything in, and flashes of understanding appeared from time to time. After a moment, he focused on the Atrox, making this one tremble. ¡°Who are you?¡± It was the same question as before, but this time the one doing it was the human. They were just words, but the Atrox¡¯s eyes widened as he felt an invisible force crawl into his mind. Before he knew what was happening, his eyes lost focus. ¡°My name is Sonar Karius, second son of Marquess Silor Karius.¡± After speaking those words, Sonar¡¯s eyes regained focus, and a sense of utter shock assaulted his soul. He did not understand what happened, but his mind was overwhelmed by the desire to answer that man¡¯s question. Cain focused on the Atrox Wave Champion again, making dread appear in the face of this one. ¡°Why are we fighting?¡± If before the Atrox Wave Champion was suspicious, now he was sure that the person in front of him was not the young man from before. They might share the same body, but that was where their similarities ended. Unfortunately for Sonar, he did not have time to hypothesize what was happening, as his eyes lost focus again as he answered. ¡°I came as part of an incursion into this continent. A fight left me badly wounded, which forced me to search for a place to hide and heal. My goal was to rest in the cavern beneath the toxic lake until I regained enough strength to escape, but two humans were already in it. I was about to kill that woman when you showed up and interfered.¡± Cain stared at the woman on the floor and the unconscious man a few hundred meters away from his location. There were no emotions in his eyes, and he looked at them like they were complete strangers. No, it was even worse. You would show some sympathy or at least interest for a wounded stranger from your race, but in Cain¡¯s eyes was complete apathy. ¡°Who is the ruler of this world?¡± Sonar attempted to fight the compulsion, but it was futile, and in the end, he answered the question. ¡°There is no one absolute ruler. The only one that came close enough to that level was Adam, the Emperor of Humankind.¡± As soon as Sonar¡¯s eyes regained their focus, an immense sense of shame and rage appeared in them. Those were his honest thoughts, but he could not believe he had just praised the Emperor of Humankind out loud. ¡°Adam.¡± A sharp light appeared in Cain¡¯s eyes as he pronounced that name. It was impossible to say what thoughts emerged in his mind, but it was clear that the Emperor of Humankind caused an impression. Cain focused on the Atrox again. This time, he spoke with a tone of voice with much greater power. ¡°Kill yourself.¡± The Atrox¡¯s eyes widened with sheer terror as he heard those words, and he felt the intent reach the deepest parts of his mind, trying to overwhelm his survival instincts. Sonar¡¯s right hand moved on its own, flashing toward his neck and almost piercing it, but he managed to use his left hand to stop it. ¡°AHHHH!¡± The Atrox roared with rage and hatred, using everything he had to fight back against the idea planted in his mind that made him want to commit suicide. It took every iota of his willpower, but Sonar overcame the impulse and regained control over his body. Sonar¡¯s face was pale, and it was clear he was exhausted, but his eyes also showed immense resentment. Dying in battle was the most honorable ending for a member of the Atrox Immortus Race, but killing yourself was the most dishonorable of all. Forcing him to end his own life showed just how little Cain thought of the Atrox Wave Champion. Even now that Sonar managed to resist it, Cain¡¯s expression did not change. His eyes were utterly emotionless, as if the Atrox could do nothing that affected his mind. Cain saw the Atrox¡¯s burning desire to fight and that this one was ready to die. He simply took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Sonar saw that and knew this was the perfect chance to strike, but he did not move. Fear had already overwhelmed his heart despite overcoming the impulse to kill himself, and he did not dare launch the first punch. The state of the Atrox Wave Champion¡¯s mind was similar to that of a mortal that did not dare to fight back when threatened with a knife or gun, as the fear of retaliation and death was too great. ¡°THUMP!¡± Sonar could not believe what he had just heard. Cain was more than forty meters away from him, but he listened to this one¡¯s heartbeat! ¡°THUMP!¡± ¡°THUMP!¡± Cain¡¯s heartbeat grew faster and more powerful as his blood vessels became noticeably visible, and his skin turned red. There was no Astral Wave coming from Cain¡¯s body, but Sonar could feel how the strength of this one kept growing stronger and stronger. The Aether World¡¯s races assimilated so much with the Wave that they depended on it for all their skills and techniques. A fighting style that did not rely on Astral Wave or Essence Wave was preposterous. Yet Cain was about to use one of them to fight against an Atrox Wave Champion. Although by this point, calling the young man Cain was inaccurate, as he was the Red King! Chapter 103 103 The Red King (III) Sonar¡¯s breathing accelerated due to the fear and pressure assaulting his mind and heart. Still, he clenched his fists and adopted a martial stance before shouting with resolution. ¡°I am a proud member of the Atrox Immortus Race, and you will not...!¡± Sonar did not even manage to finish his sentence before receiving an uppercut that raised his body from the ground. Disbelief appeared in his eyes as he felt the strength in that punch, and for a second, he could swear it was about to rip his head from his shoulders. Before the Atrox could even figure out what was happening, a kick landed on his temple, increasing the might of the brain trauma the uppercut generated and sending him flying away. Sonar crashed against a large tree, making a large indentation on this one. ¡®What is happening?¡¯ Sonar¡¯s eyes were confused as he did not understand where that strength came from. Not even when Cain unleashed a 1500% Wave Burst did his punches reach that level, but now he was not using a single iota of Astral Wave, yet his attacks were twice stronger. Sonar¡¯s battle instincts were still active, and he rose from the ground as fast as possible in order to face the next attack. Sadly, he had not even adopted a battle stance when a red hand grabbed his face. The strength in that grip seared the skin that was not protected by his armor. The only silver lining in that situation was that the fingers did not cover his eyes, allowing Sonar to see the key behind the Red King¡¯s power. The Red King held the Atrox¡¯s head with his right hand, and then his entire body began to rotate. The rotational movement started from his feet, improved by his waist, and enhanced by his shoulders before harnessing that power into his right arm. ..... ¡®His technique increases the body¡¯s velocity and acceleration to a shocking level. That, combined with flawless martial skill and outrageous speed of thought, can be converted into torque, allowing him to display a physical strength many times higher than the theoretical limit of his body.¡¯ Those thoughts crossed Sonar¡¯s mind as the Red King used his entire body like a battering ram, shattering the tree behind his back. ¡°?BOOM!¡± Despite the pain, Sonar¡¯s eyes still showed awe as he thought of that technique. It was simply amazing, and since it focused solely on physical enhancement, anyone could use it regardless of their cultivation stage. If a God or Titan were to master this technique, they could unleash an even mightier destructive power! The Red King¡¯s eyes showed no emotion whatsoever as he dragged the Atrox¡¯s body through the ground while also using this one as a battering ram against every boulder or tree in his path. He did not move away from the toxic lake, running in circles around it. Despite Sonar¡¯s awe, he was not going just to lie down and let the Red King beat him like a dog. He clenched his teeth and waited for the Red King to raise him from the ground. The Red King did just that, intending to use Sonar to break a boulder on his path when the Atrox fired a right hook toward his head. That punch was not only fast but came from a blind spot, and since he raised Sonar from the ground, they were extremely close. A smile appeared on Sonar¡¯s face as he saw his punch about to land. Although the Red King¡¯s technique increased strength, it did not seem to improve defense, so he was sure this attack could turn the tables. Sadly for Sonar, the Red King dodged that punch easily before slamming this one¡¯s head into the ground using all the momentum he had gathered. Sonar felt everything blurry, and his mind stopped for a second. However, pain allowed him to regain focus as the Red King rose him again from the ground before connecting a kick on his chest and throwing him more than three into the air. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± Sonar yelled in pain as he felt his ribs shattering under the might of that kick, and before he could even take a breath, the Red King appeared in the sky next to him. Even without a solid base where to put his feet, the Red King was able to generate a level of torque and connect a ferocious blow on Sonar¡¯s solar plexus, shattering all the diaphragm¡¯s muscles. ¡°?BOOM!¡± Sonar crashed into the ground, and a wave of pain and panic assaulted his heart since he could not breathe. As a Wave Champion, he could spend several minutes without breathing without significant problems, but the feeling was still excruciating. The sound of footsteps coming closer reached Sonar¡¯s ears, and the terror in his heart only grew stronger. Every shred of fighting will inside him had shattered, and the only thing he wanted to do right now was to escape, but that would not happen. Nothing could stop that monster from killing him. Another kick landed on Sonar¡¯s chest, making him puke blood and pushing him against a tree, where he landed sitting. The Red King stood in front of the Atrox, and he could clearly see the fighting will of this one was gone. However, that changed nothing since he had won this fight before it started. Sonar lay there, waiting for death. He barely had any strength left, and nothing he could do or say would save him. However, instead of a finishing blow, what he received was a question. ¡°What is this?¡± The Red King asked that question as he raised his index finger and released a small stream of Astral Wave. The confusion in Sonar¡¯s mind grew stronger as he heard that. Cain showed great mastery over his Astral Wave and the Four Basic Wave Arts, but the Red King seemed to have no knowledge whatsoever about it. Sonar¡¯s confusion mattered very little to the Red King since this one could not endure the power of his voice. ¡°That is... Astral Wave. It is the energy... we Astral Wave Cultivators use to cultivate and... grow stronger. It is the pillar of the Astral Rebirth Path of Power... and we obtain it after refining the Wave... through our Rebirth Hearts.¡± Speaking provoked immense pain for Sonar, but he could not resist the compulsion that the Red King¡¯s voice implanted in his mind. ¡°So that is the name of this world¡¯s origin energy. It is surprisingly malleable.¡± The Red King paused at this point, and his eyes narrowed as a flash of enlightenment emerged in them. ¡°It seems that I can enhance it through my willpower.¡± When Sonar heard that, his entire body began to tremble as he could not believe what he had just heard. There was absolute shock and terror in his eyes when he saw that the stream of Astral Wave in the Red King¡¯s index finger grew stronger. ¡°Monster,¡± Sonar uttered that single word as his mind could not process what was happening. The Red King did not even glance at the Atrox as this one uttered that word and focused solely on the Astral Wave that was growing stronger as he infused more and more of his willpower into it. ¡°I assume that this is something impressive according to your standards. Explain.¡± Sonar¡¯s mind was still in shock, but that mattered little as his eyes lost focus, and he answered the Red King¡¯s question. ¡°Channeling the energy wave that is your willpower... into your Wave means that you are... at the Second Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, Mind Over Wave. For that, your... willpower must have reached a level... equal to a Late Wave King, someone with the right to call himself... a powerhouse in Aether.¡± The fact he had the power to call himself a powerhouse in this world did not provoke anything in the Red King. In his mind, it was like an ant telling him that he was now the king of ants. Why would he feel proud of such an insignificant accomplishment? The Red King kept sending his willpower into the Astral Wave¡¯s stream before eventually stopping. ¡°Too little.¡± That was all the Red King said before the Life Wave in the surroundings began to act erratically. Sonar¡¯s eyes just regained his focus when he saw how the Red King manipulated the Life Wave and sent it into the Astral Wave¡¯s stream. The Red King kept sending more and more Life Wave into his Astral Wave¡¯s stream until its energy reached an incredible level. He then used that stream to generate a cut on his forehead. Sonar was confused for a moment, but then he saw how the bleeding cut began to open up, and what he saw froze his heart with a level of terror that he did not believe possible. A red eye appeared on the Red King¡¯s forehead; instead of eyelids, it had rows of sharp teeth. ¡°What... are you going... to do to me?¡± Sonar¡¯s voice made it clear just how terrified he was. He was an Atrox, a race known for their cruelty and sadism, but he was sure that the monster in front of him was even worse. The Red King focused on the Atrox for a moment before giving an honest answer. ¡°I will devour your soul.¡± Chapter 104 104 The Red King (IV) Fear and panic overwhelmed Sonar¡¯s heart when he heard those words since he knew that the Red King was not exaggerating and this one would devour his soul. Before Sonar could do anything, the Red King morphed the Astral Wave he used to create that third eye into a gauntlet that covered his right hand. The Red King¡¯s right hand gained phantasmagoric qualities before his fingers pierced the Atrox¡¯s head. Those fingers seemed able to phase past the skin and bones and did not even harm the brain as they reached a special place. In the Old World, the existence of the soul was widely disputed. Most of the population did not believe in it since, despite their technological and scientific advances, they never found any proof of it. It was only after reaching Aether and gaining the power to control the supernatural that the Godslayer Humankind began to decipher the mysteries of the soul. The human soul found itself inside the brain, but we were never able to find any trace of it because it was not in the physical plane of existence. It was in a place beyond the three-dimensional space, what some scholars called the fourth dimension. Humans in the Old World could not access the fourth dimension, but with the mastery of the Wave, the Godslayer Humankind achieved that amazing scientific breakthrough. It was a perfect example of how magic and science stop being opposite concepts and could complement each other. An expression of utter and absolute agony appeared in Sonar¡¯s eyes as the Red King¡¯s hand reached his soul and began to pull out, dragging it to the physical plane of existence. It was like having all your extremities torn out of your body simultaneously. The Atrox would have killed himself if he had the chance since the pain was just too much, but there was no way the Red King would allow that. ..... The Red King pulled with more and more strength, and exhaustion began to appear on his face, making it clear that even for him, extracting a soul was an incredibly challenging feat. If it was not for the assistance of the Astral Wave, the Red King could not have done it. That is why he originally planned to kill Sonar. Finally, after almost two minutes, the Red King managed to take Sonar¡¯s soul out of the fourth dimension. In his hand, there was a mass of chaotic sky-blue electromagnetic energy. At simple sight, it was not that impressive, but for those who could see its true nature, a soul was one of the most amazing things in the world. Sonar¡¯s soul was too weak to act on his own and would disperse in seconds if it wasn¡¯t for the Red King¡¯s phantom hand¡¯s tight grip. The Red King took a deep breath as his third eye focused on Sonar¡¯s soul before glowing and unleashing an energy wave. That energy wave was the Red King¡¯s willpower, and once it reached Sonar¡¯s soul, this one acted instinctively, fighting back. If the Red King were to lose the battle of wills, the backlash he would suffer might drive him into a coma. However, how could Sonar¡¯s willpower, which did not even reach the Late Wave Champion level, win against the Red King¡¯s, which was mightier than that of a Late Wave King? After a few seconds, Sonar¡¯s soul trembled, and a cracking sound emerged from it. The Red King saw that and neared the sky-blue electromagnetic energy to his third eye. The Red King¡¯s third eye acted like a ravenous beast as it devoured Sonar¡¯s soul incredibly fast, not leaving a single iota of it left. Once the third eye devoured the soul, it closed, and the cut in the Red King¡¯s forehead vanished. Focus appeared on the Red King¡¯s face as he went through a sea of memories. All of Sonar¡¯s experiences, from birth to death, were open for him. Sonar was a young genius, so despite being a Wave Champion, he was less than twenty years old, making it easier for the Red King to analyze those memories, throwing away the useless and keeping those beneficial for him. The Red King had no idea of the world he woke up in, but now less than ten minutes later, he understood everything. The different races and factions, the might of those with true power, and what he should be careful of. ¡°Interesting. This world is much more advanced than the one I was born in. That will make it easier for me to grow stronger since I can use their knowledge to my advantage. The strongest life forms have the title of Gods and Titans. Their power could make them a threat in my current state, so I should not interact with them for the time being.¡± After taking care of the Atrox and understanding the world he found himself in, the Red King began to analyze his next step. There were still many questions on his mind, with the first being the body he was currently in. The Red King saw the original owner of this body in Sonar¡¯s recollections, but he had no memory of someone like Cain. That was not the worst part since, other than the first decades in his original world, he remembered nothing else. ¡°If I perished and reincarnated, that could explain the corruption of my memories. I will find the answer in time, and it is better if the world thinks that Cain Laurifer is dead.¡± The Red King focused on Beelze, and after making sure the woman was dead, he turned toward Levi. Another wisp of Astral Wave emerged from his index finger, and he began to generate a plasma sphere with it. In a moment, it grew more than two meters large and had more than enough power to kill a Wave Champion, much less an unconscious Level 3 Wave Warrior. For the world to think that Cain Laurifer died in the battle against the Atrox Wave Champion, it was better if all the humans that took part in the fight also perished. The Red King knew that Levi was a close friend of Cain, but why would that affect his decision? Since he took control of this body, Cain Laurifer ceased to exist. Just as the Red King was about to fire the plasma lightning sphere, a flash of golden light appeared in his eyes, provoking immense pain and affecting his senses. ¡°?BOOM!¡± The plasma lightning sphere missed its original target and crashed against some trees, obliterating them. The Red King could not care less that Levi survived his attack since a force that came from inside his body was affecting his mind. Even when he saw an army butchering his entire clan, he felt no rage, but now a sense of overwhelming wrath invaded him. Someone dared to act over his soul, an unforgivable sin in the Red King¡¯s mind. The pain grew stronger, and his senses began to shut down one by one. The Red King attempted to fight back, but the golden light was too powerful, and he could not defeat it. Finally, the Red King fell to the ground, and every sense went off, trapping him into complete darkness and silence. That state would drive even the mighties will into panic and terror, but there were no such emotions on his face. ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, and I don¡¯t care why you are doing it. I only want you to know this. Sooner or later, I will free myself, and when that time comes, I will kill everybody that you care about in front of your eyes before sealing your soul inside my mind for all eternity.¡± Those were the last words the Red King spoke before his red eyes turned green, and he lost consciousness. The aura those eyes began to unleash was no longer of an ancient force of nature but that of a young man full of heroism. Silence reigned around the toxic lake, but things were not so calm in a unique dimension located inside Cain¡¯s brain. Deep inside his soul, in a place so hidden that even the mightiest life forms of Aether could never find, there was a massive gate. Two large stone tables formed the gate inside Cain¡¯s soul and had all sorts of phenomena engraved. Nothing in this world could compare to the ancientness of this gate, but that was not the most impressive thing. Hundreds of giant chains made of either black-white lightning or golden-purple flames covered that massive gate, and their power was outrageous, to say the least. If a weak life form stared at those chains, their souls would shatter as their minds could not endure the principles and forces in them. Suddenly a golden humanoid appeared in front of the massive gate, and a somber expression appeared on his face as he saw the tiny crack in it. ¡°A mere wisp of his consciousness crossed that crack, yet he could unleash that level of strength.¡± The golden humanoid focused on the crack before sighing. Despite his power, fixing that gate was beyond his capabilities. After a moment, he looked into the distance with a smile. ¡°About time you woke up, brat.¡± Chapter 105 105 Just in time Cain slowly opened his eyes, and there was confusion in them. However, that was pushed away by a wave of immense pain that covered his entire body. He felt as if every muscle fiber had shattered, and he could not do anything else but stay on the ground, waiting for the pain to disappear. Nevertheless, that was not so easy since dread assaulted his mind when he saw the Atrox right next to him, and even in his state, he could see that this one was still alive. Cain knew he needed to adopt a battle stance, but just staying conscious was challenging, much less fighting. Luckily, he soon heard a voice that allowed him to calm down. ¡°Relax, brat. The Atrox¡¯s heart and brain technically work, but his soul is gone, so there is nothing to fear. Even if that was not the case, his injuries were so severe that he could not move.¡± Apex¡¯s voice echoed inside Cain¡¯s mind allowing him to calm down but also filling him with questions. It took a few minutes, but the pain finally diminished to the point he could move and think. Upon a closer look, Cain did see the horrible physical wounds on the Atrox¡¯s body, but that mattered very little compared with the fact that despite still being alive, there was no light in his eyes. ¡°Apex, just who had the power to destroy the Atrox¡¯s soul?¡± Cain¡¯s understanding of the soul was shallow, but he knew that directly interacting with it required great knowledge and even greater power. ..... There was no one here but him, and he definitely did not have those abilities. ¡°I did it. Your mind was so chaotic that you did not perceive the Atrox when this one rose from the ground after the explosion and attacked you. I took control over your body and fought before unleashing a special attack and breaking the Atrox¡¯s soul.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened when he heard that. It came as a shock that Apex could take control over his body and even more that this one could unleash a power capable of breaking the body and soul of an Atrox Wave Champion. However, as Cain analyzed Apex¡¯s words, something bizarre happened. His eyes grew emotionless for a second, showing a level of absolute apathy but also incredible intelligence. ¡°There is something that doesn¡¯t quite add up. I have been in danger many times before since we met each other, and I don¡¯t remember you intersecting in those. Not to mention that since I was unable to secure my own life, doesn¡¯t that mean that I am not worthy of the Absolute Life Form System and you should look for another Vessel?¡± Inside Cain¡¯s soul, the golden humanoid¡¯s eyes narrowed. He stared at the crack in the gate, and a serious expression appeared on his face before looking away. ¡°I value brotherhood and honor above all things. Your selfless behavior, coming here and risking your life for your friends, showed me your true nature, which is why I decided to go against the rules and save your life. However, that will never happen again. Even if I wanted to, I could not do it.¡± Apex gave a plausible explanation to Cain while ensuring that this one knew it would not happen again. That explanation made perfect sense for Cain since it was perfectly aligned with what he had learned from the System Spirit up to this point. Emotions returned to Cain¡¯s eyes, and he showed a radiant smile as he was truly happy to have someone like Apex covering his back. However, the word friends make Cain remember something. He looked through the surroundings until he found Beelze. Immense pain and sadness assaulted Cain¡¯s heart when he saw Beelze¡¯s body. Unlike before, when those emotions overwhelmed his mind, he allowed the pain to flow this time. He did not hide from the pain but did not allow it to consume him. ¡°Well done, brat. It is alright to feel pain and sadness when we lose people important to us, but losing ourselves in the grief would be dishonoring their memories. Remember this. A person dies twice. The first is when you give your last breath, and the second is when someone mentions your name for the last time. Mourn her death and overcome your grief, but never forget her. Keep her memory with you; that way, she will never truly die.¡± Cain engraved Apex¡¯s words in his mind before using all his strength to rise from the ground and walk toward Beelze. He sat by her side and gently caressed her face. ¡°Could I bring her back?¡± As a Reincarnator, Cain was the proof that death was the end. If he could come back from death, why could others not? The truth was that this was not the first time he thought of reviving a person since there was someone he missed very much and that would pay anything to have by his side again, his father. Cain had never contemplated the idea out loud before since he was sure it would be incredibly difficult and did not want to give himself false hopes. But now, as he saw Beelze¡¯s body lying in front of him, he could not help but ask that question. Apex could read Cain¡¯s thoughts and knew he needed to clear things, or else the young man would embark on a dangerous path full of flaws. ¡°It is not so simple. I don¡¯t know the rules of the Eternal River of the Afterlife in this universe or if there is even a mightier reincarnation system put in place. What I do know is that not even Gods or Titan can bring back the dead.¡± Cain sighed as he heard that, and a sad smile appeared on his face. Gods and Titans could destroy Old World¡¯s continents, yet not even they could revive someone. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, allowing himself to be alone with his thoughts. The golden humanoid in front of the gate saw that and waited patiently. Cain was currently at an inflection point that could affect his cultivation path. After a few minutes, Cain opened his eyes, and a sense of pure determination emerged in them. ¡°I will never forget you, Beelze, but I can not live my life for you. I will grow strong, stronger than everybody, and if I have the chance, I will bring you back. That is a promise!¡± Apex smiled when he heard that and was extremely pleased. Cain¡¯s mentality was perfect for those that cultivated. Never forget your loved ones, but do not allow the dead to dictate your path. Cain showed a gentle smile as he caressed Beelze¡¯s face one last time before sending her into his space ring. He will return her body to her family, so they can mourn her and give her a proper burial. With that done, Cain was ready to call for assistance when a crushing pressure descended from the sky. He looked up and saw a large bulky man with short white hair, obsidian skin, and black armor. ¡°Abyssal Demon.¡± Cain immediately recognized the one in the sky as a member of the Infernus Daemon Race. Although he could not truly quantify that man¡¯s strength, Cain was sure that there was no way a Wave Champion could unleash that type of pressure. The Abyssal Demon focused on the Atrox and was surprised to detect no soul on this one. He looked at the surroundings, but besides the unconscious Levi, there was only Cain. ¡°Did you kill him?¡± The Abyssal Demon¡¯s voice echoed through the forest. Any Wave Warrior would have trembled non-stop in front of such a mighty being, but Cain¡¯s reaction was nothing like that. ¡°Hahahaha!¡± Cain laughed with all his strength, surprising the Abyssal Demon. ¡°Why are you laughing?¡± Apex¡¯s voice appeared inside Cain¡¯s mind. Like the Abyssal Demon, the System Spirit was surprised by Cain¡¯s attitude. ¡°Because my luck truly sucks!¡± Cain answered the System Spirit¡¯s question before rising from the ground and staring at the Abyssal Demon in the sky. ¡°Yes, I killed him!¡± Cain¡¯s eyes were fearless as he shouted those words. He activated his Ego Wave and gathered what little Astral Wave he had left in his right fist. Instead of getting angry, the Abyssal Demon smiled as he saw Cain¡¯s courage. ¡°You are a truly brave brat. What a shame you were born into the human race. Sorry, but you are too talented to be left alive.¡± The Abyssal Demon¡¯s Wave Cloak emerged, and he focused most of his Astral Wave on his right fist. ¡°I will use my true power to attack you, brat. Let this show you that I recognize you as a true warrior.¡± The Abyssal Demon flashed forward the next second but did not use his full speed. He moved just fast enough so Cain could also unleash his punch. A fearless smile appeared in Cain¡¯s fist as he saw that punch coming his way and counter with his own. He knew the moment both fists touched, his body would burst to pieces, but there were no regrets in his eyes. Just as Cain and the Abyssal Demon¡¯s fists were about to collide, he felt someone grab him by the back and pull him away. Cain¡¯s eyes showed the shock assaulting his mind as he saw a tall man with blue hair and a red martial robe counter the Abyssal Demon¡¯s punch. ¡°?BOOOOMMMMM!¡± An explosion that shattered the ground and sent trees flying away occurred when the fists collided. Despite the Abyssal Demon imposing figure, the clash sent him flying away while the blue-haired man did not move a single step. ¡°It seems I made it just in time. Glad you are ok, brat.¡± Chapter 106 106 It¡¯s over ¡°Lord Zarak.¡± Cain was beyond surprised to see Zarak come out of nowhere and send the Abyssal Demon flying away. He then noticed how the blast blew everything in a five-meter radius to pieces. The only reason he was fine was the thick layers of incredibly dense Astral Wave protecting him. ¡®Neither Lord Zarak nor the Abyssal Demon unleashed their full strength, yet they achieved this level of destructive might. A battlefield where they go all out would become a death zone for anyone at the Wave Warrior level, maybe even for weak Wave Champions.¡¯ Cain could not hide his awe as he attempted to measure Zarak¡¯s power. The man pulled him out of danger before covering him with a mantle of Astral Wave and finally countering the Abyssal Demon¡¯s fist. That reaction speed meant that Zarak could move several times faster than the speed of sound! Suddenly Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked into the distance. There was worry on his face, but he calmed when he saw that Levi was fine. Although boulders were covering Levi¡¯s body and he was badly wounded, Cain used the [Pseudo Cellular Analysis] and knew his vital signs were stable. Zarak only nodded toward Cain once he heard his name before his eyes became incredibly sharp as he focused on the enemy in the sky. The Abyssal Demon regained control of his body once he rose around one hundred meters in the sky, and the first thing he did was unleash the full power of his Astral Wave. ¡°Boom!¡± A shock wave emerged from the Abyssal Demon as he released all of his strength, making it seem like the sky was trembling. Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he felt that immense amount of Astral Wave. If his energy pool was a pond, the Abyssal Demon¡¯s body contained an ocean! ..... The Abyssal Demon focused on Zarak before his eyes glowed with golden light. Electromagnetic energy emerged from his brain and fused with his Astral Wave, generating a force field that covered the entire forest! Cain saw the golden purple force field covering the forest, and he was surprised to know that you could fuse your Ego Wave and Astral Wave to do something like that. He was sure there was nothing inside the force field that could hide from the Abyssal Demon. ¡°Oh, you are alone. I don¡¯t know if you are courageous or simply looking down on me. I will admit you are strong, but the only reason you won that last clash was that I barely used a fraction of my power to give that brat a proper death.¡± The Abyssal Demon¡¯s Wave Cloak began to burst, generating violent winds with incredible might. He stood in the sky without moving a finger, but his power caused a natural phenomenon similar to an Old World hurricane! ¡°Our cultivations are in two different leagues, and there is no way you could face me alone.¡± Zarak did not move his eyes away from the Abyssal Demon. There was no fear in his gaze, and he began to smile as he let go of Cain and began to walk forward. ¡°You are incredibly powerful, and if I were to rely on my body and Astral Wave, my chances of victory are slim to none. However, the Astral Rebirth Path of Power is not my main path.¡± Zarak¡¯s eyes began to glow with blue light, and then earthquakes covered the entire forest, shattering the ground beneath his feet. Cain saw everything with shock and amazement. One stood in the sky, and the power in his body generated hurricanes, while the other walked through the earth, and the might of his mind triggered earthquakes. The Abyssal Demon¡¯s face grew solemn as he saw the forest trembling and breaking apart. His calm stance changed as he felt a great danger from the human. ¡°My name is Krollo Sarken. What is yours?¡± ¡°Zarak Valentine.¡± As soon as Krollo heard that, the caution in his eyes grew even stronger, as did his Astral Wave¡¯s output. ¡°So you are the infamous Soul Breaker Zarak. There is a large bounty on your head.¡± Zarak¡¯s smile grew wider as he heard that. ¡°You are also infamous as well, Marquess Sarken.¡± When Cain heard that, his heart grew agitated. Although he did not know just how powerful Marquesses were, he knew they were just beneath Dukes, and just like in the Godslayer Humankind, the Dark Races¡¯ Dukes were supreme powerhouses. ¡°I have heard that you were a highly reclusive individual. I should count myself lucky to have the chance to fight you.¡± Krollo¡¯s eyes glowed with even stronger golden light as his fighting intent exploded. ¡°Hmph, there is no way I could stand by and do nothing when your kind butchered weak and innocent people.¡± Zarak sneered, and his Ego Wave burst with even greater strength. When Krollo heard those words, a complicated expression appeared on his face before he finally sighed. ¡°Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. That rule applies to all aspects of existence.¡± Zarak did not say anything but understood the hidden meaning behind the Abyssal Demon¡¯s words. Without warning, Zarak¡¯s Astral Wave burst with incredible power, and his Ego Wave began to materialize around his body. Cain could not see the form Zarak¡¯s Ego Wave took before this one flashed toward the Abyssal Demon, pushing this one hundred meters into the sky. ¡°?BOOM! Zarak¡¯s clash with the Abyssal Demon generated an explosion that seemed capable of breaking the sky. Despite the distance, the blast¡¯s shock wave sent Cain flying away. Cain was able to regain control over his body-mid air and land gently on the ground, but there was still a sense of awe in his heart. He was more than one hundred meters away from the explosion¡¯s origin, yet he still was sent flying away. ¡°?BOOM!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± The explosions grew more distant as Zarak pushed Krollo higher and higher into the sky. The Godslayer Human and the Abyssal Demon moved several times faster than the speed of sound, and each of their movements generated consecutive sonic booms. Cain attempted to follow the fight, but Zarak and Krollo were so far and moved so fast that he could only see the blasts generated by their collisions. He did not attempt to run away since that would be futile. The only place he knew that could resist the might of Krollo was the Imperial Lightning Fort, and there was no way he could reach it before this fight was over. Zarak and Krollo fought for over two minutes, generating more than one thousand sonic blasts all over the sky until one of them finally flew away. Before Cain could even ask himself about the battle¡¯s winner, Zarak appeared by his side. There were all sorts of wounds on his body, and it seemed that the Abyssal Demon had broken his right arm, but his aura was as strong as ever. ¡°You defeated that Abyssal Demon.¡± Cain¡¯s voice was full of awe and admiration. Krollo was incredibly powerful, yet Zarak managed to force this one to run away after less than three minutes of fighting. ¡°It is not so simple. That man escaped because he knew that remaining here for a long time would immensely decrease his chances of leaving the Gaia Continent alive.¡± Zarak did not move his eyes away from the sky until Krollo¡¯s figure vanished. Zarak raised his hand, bringing Levi and the Atrox toward him. The same invisible force grabbed hold of Cain¡¯s body. Cain felt that he could use his Astral Wave and Ego Wave to fight against it, but he obviously did not do it. ¡°According to my information, there was a woman with you two.¡± Zarak noticed the sorrow in Cain¡¯s eyes as soon as he mentioned Beelze and understood what had happened. ¡°I see.¡± The next second, Zarak rose to the sky alongside the two humans and the dead Atrox. ¡°BOOM!¡± A sonic boom emerged from their previus location as Zarak flashed at the speed of sound toward Korin city, bringing everybody with him. For Cain, Levi, and Beelze, the trip toward the toxic lake took several hours, but Zarak reached the center of Korin City in a matter of minutes. And he would have been faster had he been alone. Korin City faced the Wave Beasts¡¯ stampede, and thousands of beasts surrounded it. Cain could count more than ten thousand of them, and on the northeast battlefield, there was a large panter-like beast with arcs of lightning covering its body. ¡°BOOM!¡± Suddenly a shock wave spread across the sky as Zarak unleashed the full power of his Astral Wave and Ego Wave. When that incredible power appeared in the sky, beasts and humans stopped their fight, and all focused on it. Zarak took one hundred obsidian needles from his space ring before reinforcing each with his Astral Wave. The blue light in his eyes grew even stronger as he waved his hand, sending them toward the Wave Beasts on the ground. Cain had a perfect vision of the several battlefields spread around Korin City from his position in the sky. He was utterly shocked seeing hundreds of Wave Beasts fall dead to the ground each second. In less than half a minute, all of the Wave Beasts, including the Stampedes Leader, were dead. ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± Zarak spoke calmly as if that massacre was nothing in his sight. A monstrous red light emerged in his eyes as Cain saw the more than ten thousand Wave Beasts¡¯ death. ¡®I will have that power!¡¯ ¡ª¡ª- End of Book 1. The hidden saga of the Red King Chapter 107 107 Soul Breaker Zarak The state of Korin City changed drastically from one day to the other. Yesterday, warriors fought ferociously against an endless horde of Wave Beasts, but now there was no more fighting. Soldiers were still busy, but their current job was dissecting and storing the thousands of carcasses across the battlefield. Wave Beasts were heavy and had tough skin and muscles, but the soldiers were more than happy with this job as it was safe, and they could keep a considerable amount of the meat for themselves. While they did their job, the soldiers looked toward the sky above Korin City with awe and admiration. Their eyes could not leave the floating structure made with the broken pieces of some buildings floating one hundred meters above the ground. As for the way that structure did not fall to the ground, that was something beyond the realm of a Wave Warrior¡¯s comprehension. What the soldiers knew was that inside that floating building was the man responsible for killing more than ten thousand Wave Beasts in less than thirty seconds! Major Luma was in charge of taking care of the aftermath, and she was currently looking at the Lightning Panther with a complicated expression. This Late Wave Champion Beast had been a fierce rival and almost killed her more than once, but now it lay there dead. Zarak¡¯s obsidian needles were so fast that they took the Lightning Panther by surprise. The Late Wave Champion Beast did not even know how it died. ¡°Major Luma.¡± Razmun appeared by Luma¡¯s side the next second and gave a slight bow. ¡°Your report.¡± Luma was not in the mood for a small chat and went straight to the point. ¡°Yes, Major. We have already secured everything in a radius of five thousand meters around Korin City. Although some weak Level 1 or 2 Wave Beasts are still around, their numbers do not even reach the hundreds. We can say with certainty that the stampedes are over.¡± ..... Luma nodded when she heard that, and she was able to relax a little. Although Zarak killed every Wave Beast, including the Stampede Leader, there was always the chance that a new horde could be hiding in the forest, waiting for the right moment to strike. Luckily for Luma and the soldiers, it seemed that was not the case, and things were finally over. ¡°Since the battles are over, it is time to start with the reconstruction efforts. Our first goal is to raise new walls around the city¡¯s periphery and fix the defensive mechanisms. Once that is over, we will let the civilians out of the underground tunnels so they can assist us from that point on.¡± It was clear that Luma had a lot of experience with the military, as her commands followed the protocols flawlessly. ¡°Yes, Major!¡± Razmun bowed again, but just as he was about to leave, his eyes focused on the floating building, and he could not hide the curiosity in his eyes. Luma knew that Razmun had questions. Since they were in a time of peace, she nodded toward the man, indicating she could ask. ¡°Major, I saw the cadets Levi and Cain floating in the sky, but who was that man with them that was able to carry on a massacre with a simple movement of his hand?¡± Major Luma remained silent for a moment. She also stared at the floating building, and her eyes glowed with golden light, showing her the blue force that held that structure in the sky. ¡°In the power ladder of the Godslayer Humankind Empire, the one at the peak is the current Emperor, who earned that title less than one thousand years ago thanks to his undisputed might. Beneath him are the 72 Sector Dukes, extremely powerful Titans with a strength capable of crushing entire cities with their bare hands. The Collapsing Lightning Duke is among the top ten.¡± Razmun made sure to put all his attention on Major Luma¡¯s words. He knew her background was impressive, allowing her to see the power ladder of the Godslayer Humankind Empire much better than a simple Vice-Captain like him. ¡°Beneath each Sector Duke, there are Nine Pillars. They are supposed to be the pillars that will hold the sector in place if the Duke dies. They are the strongest warriors of each sector, and their combined might allows them to butcher Gods. The Nine Pillars of the Collapsing Lightning Sector are said to be the most brutal of all. Instead of guardians, powerhouses across the empire consider them killers.¡± Luma made a small pause as she remembered something before carrying on. ¡°Soul Breaker Zarak is the youngest to have ever become one of the Nine Pillars of the Collapsing Lightning Sector, and he did it by...¡± Razmun grew confused as he saw Luma stop speaking, and that feeling grew stronger when the woman¡¯s face grew pale. Luma could not carry on as she saw two blue eyes looking at her coldly. Only she could see them and no one else since they were not really there but were an illusion. ?Come!¡± That word echoed inside Luma¡¯s mind, and her eyes lost focus before she rose to the sky and headed into the floating building at full speed. Only once she was inside the building did Luma¡¯s eyes regain her focus. She was confused for a moment, but then she understood what had just happened, and rage appeared on her face. Being forced to do something against her will was incredibly humiliating for her. ¡°Hmph, you should consider yourself lucky, little girl. I am someone that values his privacy. If it were not for the merits of your grandfather, I would have trapped your mind into a nightmare for daring to even think of revealing my secrets.¡± Luma focused on the voice¡¯s origin and saw Zarak sitting on a broken throne. The blue light in his eyes made her feel she was in the presence of a giant, making it hard to breathe. ¡°I will never happen again, Lord Zarak!¡± Luma shouted those words, and it was clear there was fear in her eyes. Life on the battlefield washed away her fear of death, but she knew that being trapped in one of Zarak¡¯s nightmares was much worse than that. Zarak did not say anything else before waving his hand and sending the Atrox¡¯s body toward Luma. ¡°Analyze him and give me an evaluation.¡± Luma was confused, but she did not dare to refute that command, and she sent her Ego Wave into the Atrox. Shock immediately appeared in her eyes when she discovered that the Atrox¡¯s mind and heart were still working, but there were no signs of any ego coming from this one. Something like that could happen if someone broke the Atrox¡¯s soul. Luma glanced at Zarak, but she did not dare to slack off and began to analyze the wounds on the body. The more she saw, the more confused she grew. After around ten minutes, Luma¡¯s Ego Wave left the Atrox¡¯s body. ¡°What is your evaluation?¡± Luma did not understand the reason behind Zarak¡¯s task, but she answered honestly. ¡°This male Atrox was a Wave Champion. He has two sets of wounds on his body. The first and the oldest seemed to have been left by a Late or Peak Wave Champion. As for the second set, they are no more than a day old, and the one that did it had the strength of a Wave Warrior. His condition is so severe that it would only have been a matter of time before he perished. However, the true killer is the one that broke the Atrox¡¯s soul.¡± Zarak nodded after hearing that, and then he snapped his fingers. Luma felt a slight pain in her brain, and the next second she saw two capsules on Zarak¡¯s left and right. It took a moment, but she understood that she had been under an illusion all this time. Who knew what would have happened if Zarak had not liked her evaluation? She took a deep breath and calmed her mind before focusing on the capsule on the left. In it, she saw Levi floating in a green liquid with red streams. A flash of envy appeared in her eyes since she knew just how valuable that liquid was. However, her eyes widened as she stared at the capsule on the right. In it, she saw Cain, and this one floated in a liquid that was bloody red. It was so thick that she could almost not see the cadet¡¯s body. Luma came from a very wealthy background, but even she could not help but feel awe at the price of the blood-red liquid covering Cain¡¯s body. ¡°These two, along with another cadet named Beelze, were responsible for neutralizing the Atrox Wave Champion. When I arrived, the enemy could no longer move. Although I am responsible for destroying the Atrox¡¯s soul, the trio deserves the merit of defeating him. Hand over your report to your superior today, and make sure to write everything you have heard and seen.¡± Zarak said nothing else before signaling Luma to leave. Luma was full of questions, but she knew there would be no answer for her, so she bowed to Zarka before leaving the building. As soon as Luma left the floating building, this one began to crumble, and boulders weighing several tons started to fall to the ground. Luckily, a blue force guided their path, ensuring they harmed no one and nothing. Luma saw how Zarak rose to the sky along with the two capsules and the Atrox¡¯s body before flashing toward the Imperial Lightning Fort. Chapter 108 108 Hellblazer Family (I) Book 2. The rise of the Blood Lightning Genius ¡ª Levi slowly opened his eyes, and they had a deep sense of confusion. However, a wave of panic pushed that away as he found himself submerged in a green liquid with red streams. Drowning had an extremely powerful psychological effect on all terrestrial life forms, so Levi¡¯s reaction was not that odd. Levi calmed down very fast after realizing he could still breathe. Breathing underwater seemed far-fetched, but it was nothing for the current scientific development of the Godslayer Humankind Empire. A few moments after he woke up, the capsule that held Levi began to drain the liquid before opening itself, allowing him to get out. The confusion in Levi¡¯s eyes only grew stronger as he left the capsule. The last thing he remembered was fighting the Atrox before an explosion sent him flying away, and he lost consciousness. As he attempted to figure out what had happened, Levi began to analyze his body, and surprise appeared in his eyes. Not only were all his wounds gone, but he felt better than ever before in his life. Levi could almost not believe it when he began circulating his Astral Wave and realized he had already entered Level 4! ..... The higher the level, the more time it would take to advance. Levi had been at Level 3 for less than two months, yet he had already reached Level 4 and was reaching the peak of that level! An even greater sense of wonder assaulted Levi¡¯s mind when he noticed the luster in his skin and bald head and immediately figured out he had gone through another session of marrow washing. Levi was just getting used to the refinements on his body when a sense of utter shock assaulted him. It was hard to say with certainty, but he felt a change in his bloodline as if this one had grown stronger! Many factors determined the strength of a bloodline, but the most important ones were origin and purity. When one spoke about the origin, they referred to the root of your bloodline. If its source was a Wave Beast whose power equaled a Titan or God, it made sense that the benefits it granted would be superior to those of a beast that could only match a Wave Champion. As for purity, it alluded to the density of the bloodline. The farther you were from the source and the weaker your parents were, the lower the purity of the bloodline inside your body would be, and vice versa. Levi knew that while the bloodline inside his body had an incredibly powerful origin, the purity was low due to one of his parents. However, now he felt that the capsule had partially fixed that flaw. ¡°You finally woke up. You were in the Recovery Capsule for fifteen days. Not bad.¡± Levi adopted a battle stance as he focused on the voice and saw a beautiful woman with golden hair and blue eyes walking toward him. He did not know who she was, and while he was glad for the effect of the capsule, there was no way he would lower his guard in a situation like this. The woman showed nothing and kept walking until she stood before Levi. She waved her hand, taking a blue martial robe from her space ring. ¡°My name is Abin, the personal assistant of Lord Zarak. He commanded that I should bring you to him the moment you woke up, so let¡¯s go. I will answer your question on the way.¡± Levi had already heard of Zarak from Cain and knew that the man was a big shot in the army. Although he was still cautious, refusing did not seem like a choice, so he put the blue martial robe on and walked with Abin. ¡°What happened to my friends?¡± That was the first question that came from Levi¡¯s mouth, and Abin immediately answered it. ¡°Cain Laurifer is healing in a Recovery Capsule just like you were. As for Beelze Aegon, she perished in battle.¡± Levi smiled as he heard that first part, but when it came to Beelze¡¯s fate, his body trembled, and he stopped moving. Abin turned toward Levi and waited for this one. She was also a soldier and knew the feeling of losing a comrade for the first time. A sorrowful expression appeared on Levi¡¯s face. He, Cain, and Beelze were ready to die when they faced that Atrox, but it was still very painful to know that one of the first friends he made in his life was gone forever. ¡°Ahhh, this world is ruthless.¡± Levi sighed as he uttered those words and continued walking. It was when they were about to reach a teleportation matrix that Levi spoke again. ¡°What happened to my body?¡± Levi was smart enough to understand the changes had to do with the Recovery Capsule and the green liquid with green streams. However, that was far from enough to satiate his curiosity. Just like before, Abin answered Levi¡¯s question with speed and efficiency. ¡°Recovery Capsules can monitor your vital signs and help your healing. However, the true reason for your improvements was the C-Grade Blood Solution and Lord Zarak¡¯s hypnosis.¡± Abin knew that her words generated more doubts in Levi, so she continued. ¡°A Blood Solution is a special fluid used to treat wounds and nurture the body of life forms. They are fundamental in the process of limb and organ regeneration. C-Grade Blood Solutions were meant to help Wave Champion, so your body and Rebirth Heart had all the energy they could use until reaching their saturation point. Of course, the fact you had the energy at your disposal did not mean you could use it. Luckily for you, Lord Zarak used his power to put your mind and body into a state of Embryonic Breathing.¡± Before Levi even had to ask what Abin referred to with Embryonic Breathing, she gave him an accurate description. ¡°Lord Zarak reactivated the electromagnetic circuitry you used to have as a fetus, allowing your entire body to draw energy from the surroundings at a cellular level. A high-grade Blood Solution plus a deep state of Embryonic Breathing can help you stimulate your potential and push your body to its true peak. That is your current state now.¡± Levi was genuinely amazed by what he had just heard. Being able to provide so much help to someone made it seem that Zarak had extraordinary supernatural powers. However, Levi was a little worried about all that help. He knew there were no free meals in this world and had no idea what Zarak would want from him. As if being able to read Levi¡¯s mind, Abin¡¯s next words calm down the cadet. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry. Although the C-Grade Blood Solution and Embryonic Breathing can be considered great lucky chances for Wave Warriors, they are not that important for Lord Zarak. He said that you could take them as a reward for defeating that Atrox Wave Champion.¡± Levi nodded, and although there were still some concerns, there was not much he could do about it. He got in the teleportation matrix along with Abin, and they both vanished the next second. The next thing Levi saw was a massive room with skulls and weapons hanging from the walls. Suddenly, his eyes burst with coldness and killing intent as he saw four people with red robes engraved with volcanos. Three of them were middle aged-man with fiery red eyes. A hood covered the face of the last one, and this one stood behind the others. The one at the head of the group was a bald man, and when he saw the killing intent on Levi¡¯s face, he showed a nasty smile. ¡°It has been a long time since we saw each other, Young Master. I don¡¯t understand why you show such animosity to your old uncle Mirak.¡± The middle-aged man spoke mockingly, and there was not a single ounce of respect in his voice. Levi¡¯s eyes burned with even greater wrath as he heard Mirak¡¯s words, but he felt Abin¡¯s gaze urging him to keep moving. He walked forward until he stood to the left of Zarak¡¯s throne, staring directly at those men with volcano robes. Zarak¡¯s eyes moved between Levi and the group. Even a blind man like him could see the immense hatred between the two parties. Yet, his face showed no concern at all. ¡°Now that all the parties are present, you can state why you came here in such a hurry,¡± Zarak spoke calmly, and there was even a trace of boredom on his face. It seemed that he did not care about anything that was happening. Unlike the nasty smile Marik gave to Levi, he adopted an extremely respectful and severe expression as he turned toward Zarak. ¡°Yes, Lord Zarak. We came here to bring Levi Hellblazer back to his home so he could enroll in Hellblazer University.¡± Levi¡¯s eyes widened with shock and dread. He knew very well what the Hellblazer Family thought of someone like him, so nothing good would happen if he left the Imperial Lightning Fort. Chapter 109 109 Hellblazer Family (II) ¡°There seems to be a problem with your words. Cadet Levi enrolled in the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy, and there is still half a year on his mandatory service. He can not leave, and you can not take him unless you want to break the laws and defy the authority of the Imperial Lightning Fort.¡± Zarak¡¯s eyes began to glow with blue light as he expressed that last part, generating immense pressure on the Marik and the others. ¡®That is right. I am part of the Imperial Military Force now. Even if I am just a cadet, I am under their rules and protection, and not even Dukes would dare to defy their authority, as that would mean defying the Emperor.¡± Levi¡¯s heart calmed, and a small smile appeared on his face. Nevertheless, Levi immediately understood that things would not be so easy when he saw that Marik managed to stay calm under Zarak¡¯s pressure and showed him a cold smile. ¡°The Hellblazer Family would not do something so impolite as to defy the rules of the Lightning Imperial Fort. Actually, Young Master Levi had wanted to enter Hellblazer University, but his merits and talent were not high enough. He sent many letters during the past few months stating that desire. We have ignored them, but his recent accomplishments proved his might, so the university made a special place for him.¡± ¡°Liar!¡± Marik had just finished speaking when Levi shouted, full of rage. His choice of entering the military had nothing to do with his inability to enter a university, and he certainly never sent a message stating that desire. ¡°Young Master, how rude of you to call me a liar. Especially when I have proof that supports my words.¡± Marik kept smiling as he sent a folder to Zarak and Levi through his A.I. Chip. Zarak showed nothing as he went through the folder, but shock appeared on Levi¡¯s face. ..... In it, there were letters and audio files from Levi to Hellblazer University begging them to give him a spot. They were marked as sent from his A.I. Chip, and the voice in the audio files was an exact match to his. Levi knew they were fake, but he could not prove it. He had zero talent when it came to hacking. ¡°Even if cadet Levi was desperate to enter Hellblazer University, that does not mean he could leave the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy.¡± Zarak did not question the authenticity of the letters and audio files and only stated a fact. Levi was also aware of that, but he understood they would definitely have something more hidden under their sleeve if they went through all this trouble. Mirak¡¯s cold smile only grew wider as he sent a second folder to Zarak and Levi. Disbelief appeared on Levi¡¯s face as he read the letter inside the folder, and even Zarak showed some surprise. They saw a letter from the Collapsing Lightning Logistics Department stating Levi Hellblazer¡¯s transfer to Hellblazer University. In the letter, there was Levi¡¯s digital signature, meaning that he had asked for this, and it was dated a day before he fell unconscious battling with the Atrox Wave Champion. ¡°We use the correct channels for something so sensitive as a transfer in the middle of the year. Young Master Levi communicated with the officer in charge and went through all the procedures using his A.I. Chip. We came in such a hurry because we could not contact him, but it seems that Young Master is perfectly fine.¡± Marik looked at Levi, and the smile on his face only grew nastier, as if telling the young man that there was nothing he could do. Levi was having a hard time understanding what was happening. He knew the Hellblazer Family was powerful, but he never thought they could falsify so much information and find a way to bring him out of the Imperial Military Academy without breaking any rule. ¡°I find nothing wrong with this transfer order. Besides, according to this, you spoke with someone in the Imperial Lightning Logistics Department 16 days ago.¡± Zarak¡¯s voice was calm, as if everything that happened had nothing to do with him. ¡°It is false! I have never contacted anyone in the logistics department, and much less express my desire to leave the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy.¡± Levi shouted with rage. He could not keep calm when something so outrageous was happening to him. ¡°Young Master, it is too late to change your mind. The logistics department has already emitted your transfer order, and you must leave with us immediately. If you refuse, we have the authority to make you comply.¡± Marik¡¯s voice was full of mockery, and it was clear how little he thought of Levi. Levi clenched his fist as he stared at Marik. He knew he could not win against the middle-aged man but refused to go down without a fight. ¡°Do you have any proof that this is false?¡± Levi heard Zarak¡¯s question and turned to this one before shaking his head. He had no way of proving the Hellblazer Family¡¯s scheme. ¡°Since the cadet had nothing to say, I would like to ask a few questions before you leave.¡± ¡°Of course, Lord Zarak.¡± Marik showed a smile toward Zarak as he bowed. Initially, he was afraid that the Collapsing Lightning Pillar would interfere, but it seemed he was just being paranoid. ¡°The questions I have are not for someone currently in this room.¡± Zarak¡¯s words confused Levi and the members of the Hellblazer Family, but he just waited quietly, not offering any explanation for his actions. After five minutes of waiting, the teleportation matrix in the room glowed, and the one that appeared was a man wearing a military uniform. When the man reached the room, there was a confident expression on his face, but the moment he saw Levi and the Hellblazer Family members, all that smugness vanished. What replaced it was a sense of dread. The man seemed to want to jump back into the teleportation matrix, but an invisible force grabbed his body and brought him toward Zarak. Mirak was about to step forward when he saw that, but he stopped before doing it. There was no way he could interfere with someone so powerful as Zarak, and there was a clear apprehension on his face. As soon as the man in military attire saw Zarak¡¯s blue eyes, his entire body began to tremble, and his face grew deadly pale. Levi frowned as he did not understand what was happening. ¡®Who is that man, and why did Mirak and the others act like that?¡¯ Something bad for Mirak was good for him, but Levi did not dare to lower his guard. ¡°Brat, have you ever seen this man before?¡± Levi was confused by Zarak¡¯s question. He saw the pleading gaze in the man, but there was no way he would lie in a situation like this. ¡°I have never seen him.¡± Zarak¡¯s eyes grew cold as he heard that, and the force that held the man in place began to exert even more strength. ¡°How odd. This man¡¯s name is Frederik Loron, an officer in the Imperial Lightning Logistics Department. According to the transfer order, you spoke with him 16 days ago, and it was a video call, so how could you have never seen him before.¡± Enlightenment appeared in Levi¡¯s eyes as he heard that and a radiant smile appeared on his face. Mirak and the others were worried because Frederik was their inside man who plotted with them to generate that transfer order under false information. In essence, Frederik Loron was a traitor, working for the Hellblazer Family and plotting to harm a cadet from the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy. There was only one way in which the Imperial Military Force treated traitors. Frederick knew there was no way someone like him could trick Zarak, so he threw another pleading gaze, this time to the Hellblazer Family. Marik would have preferred if Frederik died before saying a single word, but it was clear that things would not end so cleanly, which is why he interfered. ¡°Lord Zarak, we should not discuss matters like this in the open. It would be best if you consider the bigger picture and give some face to the people we represent.¡± Marik did not have the power to influence someone like Zarak, so he wanted to put some pressure on this one by mentioning his background. Levi clenched his fists when he heard that. This experience had proven that while the military¡¯s rules and codes could help him, they were far from enough to guarantee his safety. He was worried that Zarak would cave into Marik for fear of offending the Hellblazer Duke. It was at that point that Levi noticed that Abin, who had not said a word or expressed any emotion this entire time, shook her head and stared at Marik with some pity. Before Levi could even wonder the reason for Abin¡¯s pity, Zarak raised his index finger and generated a small orb of revolving water before shooting it. Everything happened in less than a second and what occurred next were screams. ¡°AHHHHHHH!¡± Marik screamed in agony as that small orb of water landed on his right shoulder, destroying the muscles and bones, and severing his arm! Terror appeared in the eyes of the other two middle age man from the Hellblazer Family. None of them could have stopped an attack like that. ¡°Keep screaming, and the next one will land in your jaw.¡± Zarak¡¯s voice was eerie cold as he generated a second orb of revolving water. Chapter 110 110 Hellblazer Family (III) ¡°Keep screaming, and the next one will land in your jaw.¡± Zarak¡¯s voice was eerie cold as he generated a second orb of revolving water. Marik trembled with fear and knew that Zarak was not lying. He clenched his teeth with all his strength and stopped screaming, but the look on his face made it clear just how much agony he was in. Zarak did not care about Marik and turned toward Frederick with coldness. The blue light in his eyes grew even stronger as he proceeded to speak with a tone of voice that carried an extremely powerful intent. ¡°The transfer order was dated 16 days ago. When did you really make it?¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes lost focus as he heard Zarak¡¯s voice and began to speak calmly. ¡°I generated that transfer order two days ago under the order of Marik Hellblazer.¡± It was only after answering that question that Frederick¡¯s eyes returned to normal. Absolute terror appeared in them as he knew he had admitted his crime. Marik showed even greater terror. Still, he did not dare to interrupt Zarak¡¯s interrogation, no matter how much it compromised him. ¡°Tell me your relationship with the Hellblazer Family.¡± Frederick could not resist the power in Zarak¡¯s voice, and his eyes again lost focus and answered the question with complete honesty. ..... ¡°I have been under the service of the Hellblazer Family for almost seven months. They enticed me with immense wealth and gave me intel that could help my career. Up to this point, I have only provided logistics information regarding the Imperial Lightning Fort¡¯s resources and our forces. The situation with cadet Levi is the first time Marik asked me to interfere directly with any Collapsing Lightning Military Academy member.¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes regained focus, and the terror in them only grew stronger. Everybody already knew he had been a double agent of the Hellblazer Family for over half a year. The expression of Marik and the other two middle-aged men from the Hellblazer Family was not any better. Not only was it clear they could not take Levi with them, but they had just lost an agent inside the Imperial Lightning Fort. ¡°Lord Zarak, have mercy! My actions never harmed anybody; even now, cadet Levi is fine. Please, I beg you!¡± Frederick begged for his life with tears in his eyes. He was so terrified that it seemed he would sully himself at any moment. Zarak showed no emotion other than coldness as he continued with the interrogation. ¡°Do you have any information about any other spy, or is there any accomplice to your deeds?¡± ¡°No. I have always worked alone. The risk of someone revealing my identity as a spy from the Hellblazer Family was too high.¡± Zarak nodded, and the coldness in his eyes diminished. He even showed a small smile. Frederick found that smile extremely relaxing and the terror overflowing his heart began to diminish. ¡°You beg me for your life, declaring that you have never harmed anyone, but you are smart enough to understand what would happen to the cadet once he left.¡± Zarak¡¯s voice was calm, but a force that made the entire room tremble manifested. The newfound calm in Frederick¡¯s heart shattered the next second, and his eyes widened as he felt the force grabbing his body begin to exert a monstrous strength. ¡°Lord Zarak, I beg you!¡± Frederick screamed as his bones shattered before his body exploded like a balloon full of blood. That scene shocked the members of the Hellblazer Family, and even Levi, who had no love for the man, was surprised by that savagery. ¡°The reason soldiers can have such an immense trust in the military is that they know that any betrayal to your brothers and sisters would be punished with absolute brutality. If I allowed people like him to prosper, cadets would never call the Imperial Lightning Fort their home.¡± Zarak spoke those words to Levi, making the cadet understand the true might of the Imperial Military Force. Despite the Hellblazer Family going through so much trouble, they still failed miserably. ¡°I understand,¡± Levi said nothing else, but the sharp light in his eyes made it clear he had engraved Zarak¡¯s words in his mind. Zarak nodded at the cadet before turning toward the Hellblazer Family, and the smile on his face grew wider. ¡°Since you dare to put a spy in the Imperial Lightning Fort, I think you should receive the same treatment as him.¡± Marik and the other two middle-aged men grew pale when they heard that, and absolute terror invaded them when they saw the bloody pulp that was once Frederick. ¡°You... you can not kill us. We are under the protection of the Hellblazer Duke!¡± Marik shouted, trying to regain some courage by remembering his background. Zarak stopped smiling as he heard that and began to look around the room before focusing on Marik again. ¡°I know that I am blind, but my perception is one of the things I am most proud of. To think that the mighty Hellblazer Duke could enter my residence without me knowing it. I am amazed at Your Grace¡¯s abilities.¡± Marik was confused, and the terror did not allow his mind to work well, so he just answered by instinct. ¡°He is not with us.¡± Zarak showed a cold and cruel smile as he heard as he turned toward Marik. ¡°If he is not here, then how will he protect you from me?¡± Zarak was mocking Marik for thinking he could use the name of a man hundreds of millions of kilometers away. The blue light in his eyes burst with power, and it seemed he was ready to kill all the Hellblazer Family members. At that moment, the person at the back of the group, whose face was covered by a hood and who did not say a word this entire time, walked forward. That young man took his hood, revealing a handsome face with jet-black hair and eyes that seemed to glow with embers of flames. The light in his eyes was not the result of the Ego Wave but the power of his bloodline. Levi could not hide his shock when he saw that young man. He knew just how high that person¡¯s position was in the Hellblazer Family and could not comprehend why someone like him would be in a place like this, trying to force him back to the Hellblazer Sector. The young man did not even bother to glance at Levi and only focused on Zarak. He showed a calm smile despite the immense danger in which he found himself. ¡°Lord Zarak, allow me to introduce myself. I am Magnus Hellblazer, son of Gabriel Hellblazer and grandson of Azazel Hellblazer, Duke of the Hellblazer Sector.¡± Zarak was a little surprised to see that the young man could keep such composure in his presence. He did not retract his power but allowed this one to continue speaking. ¡°Lord Zarak, you already killed our man on the inside and punished one of my subordinates for his recklessness. If you allow us to leave now, I am sure my grandfather will send a token of his appreciation. Considering the current state of the empire and the events that will happen soon, I am sure Lord Zarak knows that generating animosity with the Hellblazer Sector would only make things harder.¡± Magnus spoke with a calm voice, his eyes going from the bloody pulp that was once Frederick to Marik¡¯s bleeding shoulder. He was very eloquent, stating the benefits of ending this peacefully. Zarak¡¯s smile became more natural after hearing Magus¡¯s words. ¡°The one that pulls the strings finally speaks. You are right that this is certainly not the time to sow bad will.¡± Marik and the other two middle-aged men from the Hellblazer Family were about to relax, thinking that Magnus had handled things. However, the next second, they saw how the coldness returned to Zarak¡¯s face, and his eyes burst with even stronger blue light. ¡°But so what. What will you do if I want to ignore the bigger picture and kill you?¡± Despite the imminent threat of death and the feeling of a force ready to crush him to a pulp, Magnus¡¯ smile did not vanish, nor did the calm in his heart. ¡°There is nothing I can do to stop you, but my death will trigger a series of catastrophic events that would be problematic even for you, Lord Zarak. That is not a threat but a plain fact.¡± Magnus¡¯s voice showed no vacillation, and he had absolute confidence in his words. Zarak¡¯s eyes did not leave the young man for a long time before the power of his mind vanished from the room. The coldness in his face disappeared, and he began to laugh. ¡°Hahaha, not bad. It seems that the Hellblazer Family found itself a good heir. However, I will tell you something, if you go after him, the only destiny that awaits you is a horrible death.¡± Chapter 111 111 Hellblazer Family (IV) Magnus kept smiling after hearing Zarak¡¯s threat, but a very sharp light appeared in his eyes. ¡°Is Lord Zarak going to protect him from now on and avenge him if he perishes?¡± Zarak immediately shook his head, making it clear that Magnus had things wrong. ¡°I have never seen this brat before, so there is no way I would spend every waking moment protecting him. As for avenging his death, while I will kill any traitor in the army, I am not so free as to go around butchering every man that killed a soldier.¡± Magnus¡¯ eyes grew even sharper as he heard that, and some confusion appeared on his face. ¡°If you are not the one that will make me regret going after him, then do you mean the son of a lowly concubine could defeat me?¡± Levi¡¯s eyes burst with killing intent as he heard how Magnus referred to his mother. The wrath was so immense that it seemed he would jump forward at any second, but a hand landed on his shoulder before he could take a single step. The one that stopped Levi was Abin, and the young man was surprised to feel that he could not move a single muscle under the weight of that hand. Even after that, Magnus still did not look at Levi and kept his eyes on Zarak. ..... ¡°You are also wrong in that. That brat¡¯s talent and wits can not equal yours. Of course, that could change in the future, but as things stand, he has no chance against you.¡± Magnus¡¯ smile vanished. It was clear that Zarak was playing with him, but he could only endure it as the difference in power was too great. Zarak only smiled as he saw the annoyance on Magnus¡¯ face. He found it amusing to bother people accustomed to seeing others beneath them. ¡°The one that will go after you is my core disciple. That brat values friendship a lot, and if you go after one of his friends, your end will be excruciating.¡± When Levi heard that, a flash of rage appeared in his eyes, and he focused on Zarak. Although he hated the Hellblazer Family with all his heart, he never intended to involve anyone else in that fight, but Zarak¡¯s words pushed Cain into it. Levi knew that even if he swore no one would interfere, Magnus was not the type to leave loose ends. Actually, he already had an idea why all this happened. Until now, Levi had not been a threat, so the Hellblazer Family did not care about him, despite knowing the wrath in his heart. However, the news of his involvement in the Atrox Wave Champion¡¯s dead must have spread, making Magnus act. Magnus¡¯ eyes narrowed as he analyzed every word Zarak spoke. After a moment, he performed a deep bow. ¡°I thank Lord Zarak for your hospitality. I will be leaving now.¡± Magnus turned around and walked to the teleportation matrix with the rest of the middle-aged men from the Hellblazer Family before vanishing. Zarak saw the group leave and waited for a few seconds before turning toward Levi. ¡°It is time for you to leave.¡± Levi stared at Zarak for a moment before clasping his hands and bowing. He was thankful for the man¡¯s help but was angry that this one brought Cain into his feud with the Hellblazer Family. Zarak showed a small smile when he saw Levi vanish past the teleportation matrix. ¡°Abin, is that geezer still looking for disciples?¡± ¡°Yes, Master. Lord Kyrin¡¯s last disciple perished two months ago and still has not found a new one.¡± ¡°Give him the information about this brat. His Lineage is suitable for training that technique, and he has no true background, so he is perfect.¡± Abin was surprised when she heard that, and a flash of concern appeared in her eyes. ¡°Master, more than nine people have died training Lord Kyrin¡¯s technique. If that were to happen to cadet Levi, would not that alienate the Young Lord?¡± Zarak immediately shook his head, making it clear that Abin¡¯s assessment was wrong. ¡°That geezer may seem careless, but all those who trained his technique knew the dangers they would face, and they could leave at any moment. Not to mention that could be the only way that brat would have any chance of surviving the plots of the Hellblazer Family. I have already figured out Cain¡¯s personality. As long as I do everything in the open, even if Levi were to die, he would not blame me.¡± ¡°If that is the case, I will contact Lord Kyrin as soon as possible.¡± Abin nodded, showing complete trust in Zarak¡¯s assessment. Zarak knew that he could leave the task in the hands of the woman. She had been a long time with him, and her help had proved priceless. ¡°By the way, how is that brat doing?¡± ¡°Young Lord is still in a profound sleep. He is training an auxiliary technique that keeps improving his body despite being unconscious, increasing the saturation point of his cells, allowing him to devour more and more of the B-Grade Blood Solution.¡± ¡°Hahaha, good, very good. His talent in the Ego Eternal Path of Power is truly amazing. For that brat to show no signs of waking up, he must instinctively be using his own Ego Wave to remain in a state of Embryonic Breathing. Although his heroic nature is a little troublesome, he is still young and will mature as he understands the cruelty of this world.¡± An odd expression appeared on Abin¡¯s face when she saw Zarak¡¯s laughing and shouting. She had known her Master for a long time and knew very few things could arouse his excitement. ¡°Master, can I ask a question?¡± Zarak turned to Abin and saw the confusion in her eyes. He smiled, as he already knew what she wanted to ask. ¡°You are wondering why I put Cain in the sight of the Hellblazer¡¯s brat, despite knowing the danger that represented.¡± Abin showed no surprise that Zarak figured out her question. She would have found it weird if he had not done it. ¡°People like me and that brat take the Ego Eternal Path of Power as our primary source of strength. Our willpower determines how high our Ego Cultivation can rise, so I will send enemies on his path who can truly test him. That way, his limiter will never stop rising.¡± ¡°But what if he perishes?¡± Abin knew that Zarak¡¯s plan made perfect sense, but it would still put Cain in immense danger. Zarak shrugged his shoulders as he heard Abin¡¯s concerns. ¡°I am not his babysitter nor his father. I will use all my power to help him grow stronger, and it will be up to him if the enemies that appear on his path become boulders that crush his body or mere stepping stones.¡± Abin nodded and said nothing else. It was not her place to question her Master¡¯s guidance. ¡°Did you finish your research on his past?¡± Zarak had already made inquiries about Cain after learning of the youth¡¯s unique Ego Eternal Matrix. Still, it was only after this one entered the First Realm that he went the extra mile and commissioned thorough research. ¡°Yes, Master. His initial Wave Talent assessment declared him complete trash with a Low Tier 1 Wave Talent, but he suffered from the spontaneous awakening of a dormant bloodline. It was also around that time that it seems he killed a classmate named Kiron Uran.¡± If Cain were here, he would have been shocked to know that Abin could figure out his involvement in the death of Kiron. Zarak showed nothing when he heard about Cain¡¯s assassination. However, interest did appear when he learned about the bloodline awakening. ¡°After that, he entered the military academy and showed no suspicious activity until around a month after the secret trial. Although I am not 100% sure, I believe he is responsible for the death of Nira and Dimitri Kilor, the last being a Level 4 Essence Wave Warrior. According to my information, the duo attempted to ambush the Young Lord, but things did not end their way.¡± Once again, interest appeared on Zarak¡¯s face. Killing a Level 4 Essence Wave Warrior while only at Level 2 was an impressive feat. ¡°Does the Kilor Family know about it?¡± ¡°I do not believe so. Young Lord did an excellent job hiding his tracks, and Nira and Dimitri¡¯s bodies have still not appeared. However, they are working very hard to find the truth, so it is only a matter of time.¡± Zarak remained silent for a moment as he considered things before giving a command. ¡°Keep an eye on the Kilor Family. If they discover the truth before Cain reaches Level 5, destroy them.¡± Zarak had no problem sending enemies toward Cain so that this one could grow, but he was not reckless. Magnus Hellblazer was already a great threat, and adding another like the Kilor Family so soon could be too much. Abin nodded and did not say a word. It was clear that for her, destroying a Viscount Family meant nothing. After giving the highlights, she sent the rest of the file to Zarak through her A.I. Chip. ¡°I need to rest. Bring that brat to me when he wakes up.¡± Zarak said nothing else before closing his eyes. Chapter 112 112 Almost 1 point Abin stood in front of the capsule that contained Cain with her usual calm expression. Nevertheless, deep inside, she was amazed by what was happening. Unlike the state of the capsule that contained Levi, the liquid of the one with Cain was in turmoil. Cain¡¯s body was in a state of hyperactivity, with every cell growing stronger by the minute. Thanks to Embryonic Breathing, Cain could take full advantage of the immense energy contained in the B-Grade Blood Solution, improving his Astral Wave Cultivation in gigantic steps. And things did not end there since he could use the full power of his Ego Wave to revolve the Blood Refinement Art instinctively. As their name suggests, Blood Solutions were made from the blood of Wave Beasts. A C-Grade Blood Solution contained the blood essence of ten Wave Champion Wave Beasts, so one could only imagine the might of a B-Grade. The Blood Refinement Art was working at full power, using the incredibly pure blood essence inside the B-Grade Blood Solution to temper Cain¡¯s flesh and blood. It advanced at truly amazing speed, and the only thing slowing it down was Cain¡¯s cultivation. Abin¡¯s A.I. Chip was connected to the Recovery Capsule, allowing her to monitor Cain¡¯s condition. She was impressed to see the speed at which his cultivation and body improved. All of Cain¡¯s wounds had healed over the past few weeks, including his left arm, which had regrown even stronger than before. Usually, while the regeneration of a missing limb was not impossible, it would drain a significant amount of vitality and affect an individual¡¯s cultivation. Nira had suffered from those side effects when she restored her missing arm since she could only use a D-Grade Blood Solution, but Cain did not face that problem. Not only did the B-Grade Blood Solution grant Cain all the vitality he could need, but his Blood Refinement Art allowed that blood energy to infiltrate into every single cell. ..... Suddenly, Cain¡¯s eyes began to twitch. His body and cultivation had reached their peak, fully excavating their potential, and it was time for him to wake up. Abin closely watched as Cain opened his eyes. Unlike Levi, despite being submerged in the thick red liquid, Cain did not lose focus, and his eyes immediately glowed with red light as he focused on the woman staring at his naked body. Even though Cain and Levi¡¯s starting points were not the same, with the first being conscious when put in the capsule, it was still impressive for him to show that level of focus and calm just after waking up. The Recovery Capsule began to collect the B-Grade Blood Solution before opening itself, allowing Cain to walk out of it. Cain¡¯s eyes burst with red light as he stared at the woman without showing any emotion. He had no idea who she was and would not show any weakness in her presence. Abin saw how Cain raised his guard in front of her. She did not comment on it and handed him a blue robe with a raging ocean engraved on the back before performing a slight bow. ¡°Young Lord, allow me to introduce myself. I am Abin, Lord Zarak¡¯s assistant and her disciple. He is waiting for us, so please wear the robe and come with me.¡± Cain stared at the woman for a moment, and when he felt no animosity from her, the red light vanished from his eyes. The coldness on his face disappeared, being replaced by a calm smile. He nodded before wearing the rob, and the moment he put it on, it instantly adapted to his body. ¡°Is this robe a Wave Artifact?¡± ¡°Yes, Young Lord. Although it has no special ability, it has great resilience and can provide a second layer of protection beneath your Wave Armor. It also has the Valentine Family¡¯s emblem engraved in the back.¡± Cain nodded as he heard Abin¡¯s thorough explanation, but an odd expression appeared on his face. ¡°Why do you keep calling me Young Lord?¡± Cain¡¯s background was extremely humble, even more after losing his father and the initial assessment of Wave Talent. He was not used to people treating him like some sort of scion. ¡°Even though we are both Lord Zarak¡¯s disciples, you are a core disciple, the only one. You are now considered a member of the Valentine Family, with a position just beneath the Patriarch.¡± Abin spoke with a respectful tone, making it clear the difference between their status. Cain was surprised to hear that. He knew that becoming Lord Zarak¡¯s core disciple would raise his background, but he did not believe it would be so much. Although the treatment of a scion made Cain feel weird, there was no way he would deny such a lucky chance. ¡°Please accompany me. We should not make Lord Zarak wait.¡± Cain nodded and walked alongside Abin. Many thoughts appeared in his mind as he analyzed his new status. ¡°How many people are in the Valentine Family, and who is the best among the young generation?¡± Even though it was not his intention, Cain knew that his status in the Valentine Family would displease many. There were bound to be some youngsters that thought he did not deserve his place and made things hard for him. It was better to know them ahead of time, so he could figure out a way to handle them sooner rather than later. ¡°There are only two people in the Valentine Family, you and Lord Zarak.¡± An awkward smile appeared on Cain¡¯s face when he heard that. He was forming all sorts of plans in his mind, and it turned out there was no enemy. ¡°How is Levi?¡± Cain knew that Levi also entered a capsule to heal just like him, so he was not worried that something could have happened to this one. ¡°Cadet Levi woke up ten days ago. He is currently in the fort.¡± Cain nodded before gazing at the ring in his hand. In it, there was a special coffin that held Beelze¡¯s body. The coffin was a gift from Zarak and would prevent Beelze¡¯s body from deteriorating. That would give Cain the time to contact her family and hand her over. Just as they were about to reach the teleportation matrix, Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed since the system had finished its analysis of him. [Scan of Vessel completed ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 3 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Middle Tier 4¨C>Pseudo Level 5 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.71 Agility: 0.89 Vitality: 0.99 Wave: 0.86 ¡ª Marrow washing: 19% completion ¡ª Destiny Force: 1259] When he saw those stats, a sense of shock and awe assaulted Cain¡¯s mind. He felt he had grown very powerful when he left the capsule but was amazed that it reached such a level. The Blood Refinement Art had done wonders, vastly improving his strength and body¡¯s endurance. As for the sharp rise in his speed, he took it as a side effect of enhancing his bloodline. However, the one that truly raised Cain¡¯s attention was his vitality. Increasing a stat to 1 point could be considered a bottleneck that only those that reached Level 4 could surpass. In the Godslayer Humankind Empire, when your stats are no longer measured in decimal numbers, you are considered to have risen beyond a mere mortal and become a Godslayer Human. ¡®I am not even at the limit of Level 3 yet. I should be able to achieve 1 point before entering Level 4, improving my foundation.¡¯ ¡°Is everything fine, Young Lord?¡± Abin¡¯s voice woke Cain from his hindsight. He had been so engrossed in his analysis that he almost forgot he was not alone and stopped walking without saying a word. In all fairness, the changes on him over the last few months, especially after using the capsule with the B-Grade Blood Solution, had been outstanding. ¡°Yes, I got distracted. There is nothing to worry about. Let¡¯s go.¡± Abin did not continue questioning Cain¡¯s behavior and only nodded before the duo reached the teleportation matrix and vanished. As soon as the duo appeared in the room, a blue force flooded it. It was truly mighty, converging at full strength on Cain¡¯s location. The last time Cain faced Zarak¡¯s Ego Wave, he almost passed out as the pain was too great. Yet, now that he reached the First Realm in the Ego Eternal Path of Power, he could stand straight and take it head-on. Of course, Zarak was not using the raw strength of his Ego Wave, as that had the power to crush a Wave Champion to a pulp without a problem. He was just testing Cain¡¯s mental defenses. After a moment, the blue force vanished, and laughter echoed through the room. ¡°Hahaha, good, very good. To think you could enter Mind Over Body at fourteen while being a Level 2 Wave Warrior. You are a true genius, brat.¡± Zarak laughed again, and there was clear excitement on his face. Chapter 113 113 Visualization Technique Zarak signed for the duo to approach him, and his happy smile made it clear he was in a very good mood. Cain walked until he was less than three meters away from Zarak before clasping his hands and bowing deeply. ¡°Master.¡± Cain¡¯s voice carried his deep admiration and gratitude for the man. Zarak saved his life and helped him recover, becoming even stronger than before. Zarak adopted a serious expression as he acknowledged Cain¡¯s actions. ¡°I can see that you take full advantage of the B-Grade Blood Solution, improving your bloodline¡¯s purity and Wave Talent. Very good. Although people like you and me take the Ego Eternal Path of Power as our primary source of strength, we must never neglect our Wave Cultivation. Not only does it grant us a stronger body and vitality, but it also nurtures our willpower.¡± Cain nodded and made sure to engrave every one of Zarak¡¯s words in his mind. He knew that even though his willpower equals that of a Peak Wave Champion, he could not express battle power like that without his Astral Wave. Of course, Cain was unaware of the fight between the Red King and the Wave Champion Atrox and how the first beat down the second like a dog without using a single wisp of Astral Wave. ¡°You seem to be training a high-grade cultivation technique and have an auxiliary technique of an even higher level, so there is no need for me to guide you in that aspect. ..... Giving you better Wave Artifacts would be useless as your Astral Wave is not high enough to operate them. Those you currently have will be enough until Level 7. Since your Wave Cultivation and equipment do not need my help, we can discuss our main subject, but before that, I will ask you a question.¡± Zarak¡¯s aura became extremely sharp, and his eyes grew emotionless. ¡°Why do you believe I made you my core disciple?¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard that question. He was able to come up with an answer right away since this was not the first time he questioned Zarak¡¯s purpose. ¡°After what I have seen and learned from you, I believe there are two reasons. First, you see in me the potential to become a great powerhouse, and there is also the chance I remind you of someone or maybe even yourself. That is why you want to train me, so I can help the Godslayer Humankind Empire in the future, becoming one of its pillars.¡± Cain paused as he stared at Zarak, focusing on the expression of this one. Zarak stared at Cain for a moment before nodding and signaling for him to continue. ¡°The second reason is more pragmatic and selfish. Somehow you will benefit from having a genius in the Ego Eternal Path of Power by your side. As for how that could be, I have no way of knowing since my understanding of Ego Cultivation is too shallow. As for what reason is more important and has a higher weight in your decision-making, I can not tell.¡± Zarak began to smile again, and it was not before long that he burst into laughter. ¡°Hahaha, good, very good, brat. You are right, but the second reason is somewhat flawed. You have entered the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, Mind over Body. Right now, your willpower is strong enough to allow you granular control over your body functions and your brain¡¯s chemistry. That will not only improve your battle power but also improve your cultivation speed and survival skills. It is now time for you to begin the creation of your Visualization Technique.¡± Zarak rose from his throne and signaled Cain and Abin to walk with him as he headed into the center of the room. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with interest. The information he got from Zarak involved the basics of the Ego Eternal Path of Power but did not mention anything related to some Visualization Technique. Still, it was clear by how the powerhouse spoke that it was important. ¡°Right now, your willpower is chaotic and has no clear path forward, similar to how the Wave finds itself in its raw state. While you will develop your willpower through hardship and experiences, just taking that path will not only make things harder for you but also waste a lot of your potential. It is at this point where Visualization Techniques come into play. I have not mentioned them before, nor did I give you any knowledge since learning it before reaching the First Realm could prove diametrical for your growth.¡± Cain was surprised to hear just how essential Visualization Techniques were, and his eyes began to glow with red light. He was using his Ego Wave to enhance his cognitive abilities. Zarak nodded as he saw Cain¡¯s solemn attitude and carried on with his explanation. ¡°A Visualization Technique is the primary way in which we train. A simple description would be the way we Ego Cultivators visualize our willpower, giving them the form of an avatar, but it is much more complex than that. It is not just imagination that constructs the avatar, but an intuitive aspect of your willpower that gives it form. It manifests your personality and idiosyncrasy, a reflection of your core beliefs. Once you form the avatar, it is almost impossible to change it. The effects the avatar will have on your body and soul at first are not that obvious, but as it grows stronger, you will notice them more and more until they are an intrinsic part of your battle style.¡± Zarak stopped speaking at this point before standing right in front of Cain and signaling this one to punch him. ¡°Use as much strength as you want and any type of attack you imagine. You don¡¯t have to worry about harming me since, even without any defense, you lack the strength to do it.¡± Cain nodded. He clenched his fist before firing a punch toward Zarak¡¯s chest. The punch did not have that much strength because Cain knew that if he used too much, he might fracture his fist since Zarak¡¯s body was bound to be harder than any metal he had seen. However, to Cain¡¯s surprise, when his fist landed in Zarak¡¯s chest, he felt no resistance. It was as if every ounce of strength in his punch faded away. ¡°Continue.¡± That word drew Cain back to reality. He took a deep breath before unleashing his Wave Cloak and making it burst with all its strength. He began to unleash punches and kicks toward Zarak¡¯s body, even enhancing his extremities with lightning to improve their piercing power, but nothing worked. Every time Cain¡¯s attack landed on Zarak¡¯s body, all the momentum and kinetic force in them would fade. After a minute, Zarak raised a hand, singling Cain to stop before looking at this one straight in the eyes. ¡°Your analysis.¡± Cain did not answer immediately and took a few minutes to review all he felt during those attacks. When he was sure that he thought of everything, he spoke. ¡°It is not like hitting a solid body. All my strength would disperse. If I have to give an analogy, it would be like hitting the water.¡± Zarak showed a radiant smile when he heard that. He was delighted with Cain¡¯s answer. ¡°Awesome. Perfect, brat, your analogy is excellent. Talent and perception do not always come hand to hand, but this time they did.¡± Zarak congratulated Cain and even patted this one¡¯s shoulders a few times. Of course, he did not waste too much time with that before focusing again. ¡°My unique constitution was not granted to me by my Astral Rebirth Path of Power. Although I am not so arrogant to say that there are no techniques capable of emulating such characteristics, they would need the cultivation of a Titan or God. I obtained this power thanks to my Visualization Technique.¡± Zarak then adopted a meditative stance before signaling Cain and Abin to do the same. He took a deep breath, and a peaceful expression appeared on his face as his willpower emerged from his body, generating a blue force field that flooded the room. The blue force field grew more and more powerful before a phenomenon began to appear. Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he saw a small drop of water on top of Zarak¡¯s head. It did not look special, but when he focused on it, he felt a level of majesty that almost made him lose himself. Slowly that magnificent drop of water began to grow, transforming into a current that surrounded the entire room. In it, there was an incredible vital force that seemed never to stop growing. Cain felt an incredible sense of peace as he stared at that glorious river, but suddenly, he felt a burst of killing intent inside. It was so powerful that it almost suffocated him. Confusion appeared on Cain¡¯s face at the sudden change in the river, but then he saw Zarak¡¯s face full of wrath. ¡®This water is his avatar, a manifestation of his willpower!¡¯ Chapter 114 114 The Red King¡¯s memories Zarak slowly opened his eyes, and the wrath on his face vanished. Slowly his willpower returned to his mind, and the illusion of that mighty river faded away. ¡°That drop of water that evolved into a mighty thriving river full of life before becoming a force of nature that could drown thousands was how I visualized my personality. It is my avatar, or more accurately, my Alter-Ego, the way I see myself. Thanks to its existence, my body can disperse the kinetic force that lands on me, along with an incredibly potent healing power. Without my Alter-Ego, the Abyssal Demon I fought against to save you would have killed me.¡± At that point, Zarak stared at Cain with an extremely severe expression, making the focus on the cadet reach its peak. ¡°You should never try to imitate the Alter-Ego of another person, no matter how incredible the abilities it can grant. That would twist your ego, cripple your potential, and sever your Ego Cultivation¡¯s path. The only reason I have shown you my Alter-Ego is that you have already reached the First Realm, and your willpower is strong enough not to be deviated by someone else.¡± Zarak only continued speaking once he saw that Cain understood the severity of his warning. ¡°Do not get me wrong. You can take inspiration from others and guide your Visualization Technique, granting your Alter-Ego a powerful path, but you should never try to change its core essence to adjust to someone else. Analyze it as two masters of martial arts discussing the principles behind their schools. Each of them had their own path and would not change it for the other but would internalize what they learned, assimilating what is useful for them. ..... We, Ego Cultivators, tend to hold discussions without pers from time to time and sometimes even with our enemies. All in the hopes of achieving enlightenment, improving our Visualization Techniques, and increasing the potential and abilities of our Alter-Ego. That last point is why I say that your assumption that I want a genius like you by my side because it would benefit me is somewhat flawed. You will also benefit significantly from our discussions.¡± Cain¡¯s face showed his absolute focus, and he made sure to engrave every single word in his mind. This knowledge would be essential in his path to power. He knew Zarak was correct about not showing him that Alter-Ego before, and he would have been so engrossed by its might that he might unconsciously try to mimic it. At this point, Cain remembered that he was not alone in the room. As he turned to Abin, he saw that the woman was perfectly fine and was not affected by Zarak¡¯s Alter-Ego. Abin looked back at Cain and softly nodded. Although he could not accurately measure her strength, he knew she was at least as strong as Major Luma. ¡°Normally, to start with your Visualization Technique and give form to your Alter-Ego, you would need to reach a secluded location where you could spend your days in peace, not bothered by mundane matters. However, with your permission, I could use my power to hypnotize you and put your mind in a state of lucid dreaming. That will allow your mind and imagination to free themselves from all bindings and reach their maximum potential. You won¡¯t need to force anything as it will naturally come out on its own.¡± Zarak spoke calmly and did not rush Cain to make a decision, patiently waiting for this one. Cain could not hide the interest in his eyes when he heard the part about hypnosis. From the moment Zarak put him in a state of Embryonic Breathing, he had been fascinated by that power. He knew that hypnosis in Aether was unlike anything that happened in the Old World. They were not just some trick to put someone at ease and relax their minds. Zarak could use his hypnosis to grant supernatural abilities to the bodies of Cain and Levi, controlling their brain chemistry. It had incredible potential for good, but you could also use it to stop your enemy from breathing, suffocating them with nothing but your words. It was not hard for Zarak to notice the light in Cain¡¯s eyes and figure out why. He just laughed a little as he found it somewhat amusing. ¡°Hahaha, it is weird, but sometimes you behave as a brat should. After this, I can help teach you hypnosis if that is what you want. Oh, by the way, after forming your Alter-Ego, your willpower would have gained enough order to unlock all sorts of standard abilities. One of them being Embryonic Breathing.¡± ¡°Really? That would be awesome.¡± Cain was truly excited by the idea, as hypnosis would greatly assist in battle and daily life. ¡°Ok, let¡¯s stay focused. Do I have your permission to put you under my hypnosis?¡± Zarak asked one more time. He did not really need Cain¡¯s permission, but putting someone under your hypnosis without was considered a great offense. After all, you controlled their bodies and could force them to follow your desires. Cain took a deep breath and nodded. The next second, Zarak handed him two pills. ¡°They will sustain your body¡¯s need for food and water while you are unconscious.¡± Cain swallowed the two pills, and then he saw Zarak¡¯s eyes glowing with a powerful blue light before falling unconscious. ¡°Master, is it alright if I wait with you?¡± Abin¡¯s face was still calm, but her voice showed evident excitement. The creation of a Visualization Technique and the inception of a new Alter-Ego would be when this one showed its most extraordinary might and purest nature. She was curious about what type of Alter-Ego a once-in-a-generation genius like Cain would form. Zarak stared at Abin for a moment before nodding. Although the characteristics of your Alter-Ego were not something you should not show carelessly, he trusted the woman. He knew that she would not reveal any information about Cain to anyone. The duo closed their eyes and began to cultivate. None of them knew how long it would take for Cain to devise his Visualization Technique and form his Alter-Ego. It could be minutes, days, or even weeks. ¡ª Cain¡¯s mind was foggy and full of confusion as he opened his eyes again, and the first thing he saw was a massacre. He was on top of a mountain and could see an army of men in blue attire marching into a city and killing a group of people, all of whom had white hair and red eyes. He was inside the body of a little boy but could not move or speak. Saying that Cain was a mere observer would be wrong, as he felt everything the boy did. He felt the wind on his face and the sun¡¯s warmth, but things did not end there as he could even discern the emotions inside the little boy¡¯s heart. ¡®How could he feel something like that!?¡¯ Cain could not understand it. He felt the emotions inside the child¡¯s heart as if they were his own, but as this one saw that carnage, the only thing that appeared was boredom. A sudden noise drew his attention, and he noticed a group of soldiers approaching. Some showed expressions full of bloodlust, while others had immense guilt and remorse. A fight began between the group of soldiers. Some shouted for the child to run, while others wanted nothing more than to put a bullet in his head. Those soldiers that massacred his people were now fighting for what to do with him, but he showed nothing. They could not even annoy him, as they were so inferior that he barely recognized their existence. Eventually, the child waved his hand, making spikes rise from the ground and kill all the soldiers, not differentiating between the ones that wanted to help him and those who sought to end his life. Cain felt everything the child did, and he also discerned how this one could move the energy that permeated the world using nothing but his mind. It was similar to how Essence Cultivator fired long-range spells, but this one was much faster and more silent. While the child¡¯s behavior perplexed Cain, the abilities this one displayed surprised him. He focused his mind on the feeling as he was sure he would add a powerful weapon to his arsenal if he learned how to do it. ¡°Had I dominated this power sooner, I could have saved them.¡± Cain heard the child¡¯s words, but he knew this one felt not even a wisp of sadness. The death of the people with crimson eyes and white hair meant nothing to the little boy. After saying those words, the child took the blood out of the soldier and made a robe with it. Other than being red, Cain could not discern anything, but as things carried on, a thought appeared in his head. ¡®Are these the memories of my old life?¡¯ That thought frightened Cain as there was no other way to describe this little boy than a monster. Chapter 115 115 Duality While Cain went through the memories of the entity that called himself Red King, something else happened in a remote corner of his soul. Apex stood in front of the massive gate covered by chains of golden-purple flame and black-white lightning. There was a somber expression on the System Spirit¡¯s face as he saw wisps of electromagnetic energy emerging from the crack in the gate and blending into Cain¡¯s soul. Apex stared at those wisps containing the ego of the Red King. While he wanted to stop them, he could not do it. ¡®Brat, whether this is a divine lucky chance or an abyssal catastrophe is up to you. I can only hope that you will not forget who you are.¡¯ Apex could not do anything but sit down and wait for things to unfold. ¡ª Cain was still confused by all that was happening since Zarak¡¯s hypnosis was supposed to leave him in a lucid dream, not evoke old memories. ¡®Maybe my identity as a Reincarnator made things different.¡¯ That was the only answer Cain could come up with; whether it was wrong or not, he had no way of knowing it. After watching the massacre of his people, the little boy explored the world while developing his powers. No life form could threaten him, so he tested his abilities against nature. ..... He rose to the highest mountain peak in the world while running the entire track at full speed, suppressed a volcano¡¯s eruption, and fought back a tornado capable of crushing entire cities. All those were feats that would make the blood of any young man burn with excitement. Even Cain, who lived in a world with Titans and Gods, was amazed by those experiences. However, the only emotion in the boy was boredom. Nothing in this world could challenge him anymore, so there was no reason to feel excited about those feats. One day the boy remembered a certain anniversary coming up. He rose from the bottom of the deepest ocean and reached the sky before flying at full speed. Cain saw how the boy reached a large city full of millions of people. He was invisible to normal people and spent the next few days watching how they lived and learning from their culture. Cain could feel the boy¡¯s emotions and thoughts and knew that the way he looked at all those people was similar to how humans would look at chimps. They did not consider themselves superior; they knew they were superior! As the boy lived among those people, Cain could not help but have mixed emotions. Imagine yourself in a world where you could not form a bond or connection with anyone as they were all so primitive. Have the power to fight off natural disasters, but have no path ahead. ¡®A life like that would drive anyone mad.¡¯ That thought crossed Cain¡¯s mind when he saw the boy interrupting a military parade. An ominous feeling assaulted his mind as he felt that what would happen next would be truly horrible. And it was. Cain saw and felt everything as the boy massacred the entire city, showing no mercy at all. Man, woman, and child exploded to pieces under the might of his spells! Some might think that the boy unleashed such carnage to obtain revenge for his people, but Cain knew this one only wanted to see if he would feel anything by performing this massacre. The answer was no. Even after killing the person directly responsible for the death of his entire clan, the boy showed nothing. On the other hand, Cain¡¯s soul burned with rage. He saw himself as a hero, and that level of cruelty was not something he could tolerate. The wrath in Cain¡¯s heart was only worsened by the fact he felt everything the boy did as if he was doing it himself. As Cain¡¯s mind was about to be overwhelmed by that rage, he felt something. For the first time since he awoke in these memories, he felt a genuine emotion inside the boy. Cain saw the sun rising on the horizon, and he and the boy felt the same. That was their path! ¡ª Zarak and Abin waited patiently for Cain. They were using wave crystals to cultivate, as the density of the Life Wave in this area was far from enough to satisfy their needs. Suddenly the duo opened their eyes and stopped their cultivation as they saw a red force field emerging from Cain¡¯s mind. ¡°It took him ten days, but it seems he already came up with the first stage of his Visualization Technique,¡± Zarak spoke with a large smile. He and Abin focused on Cain¡¯s red force field. The most exciting part came after the Visualization Technique was already in place. The formation of the Alter-Ego. Every Alter-Ego is a metaphysical representation of how you look at yourself and embody your ego and idiosyncrasy. The one of someone whose true nature was of a hero like Cain was bound to be full of life and thrill. Cain¡¯s red force field only grew stronger and stronger as the Alter-Ego slowly came into existence. Unlike the excitement in Zarak and Abin, Apex showed a somber expression when he saw that more and more wisps of the Red King¡¯s Ego Wave emerged from the crack and fused into Cain¡¯s soul while this one formed the Alter-Ego. Zarak and Abin were not worried about anything since they were sure that no matter how impressive the Alter-Ego of Cain would be, it could not affect people with their cultivation. That probed a great mistake since the instant the power of Cain¡¯s red force field reached its zenith, a crimson orb appeared, and a wave of utter shock assaulted the mind and soul of Zarak and Abin. The crimson orb was smaller than a grain of rice but unleashed that aura that flooded the entire room. Zarak¡¯s eyes burst with blue light, just as powerful as the one displayed during his life-and-death battle against the Abyssal Demon powerhouse. His mind regained its calm, but his eyes grew sharp as he focused on the other person in the room. He saw how Abin¡¯s face showed two different emotions while her eyes were glued to the red orb as if nothing else mattered in the entire world. The half-right of her face showed peace and happiness, while the left had absolute terror. Zarak did not hesitate before pointing his hand at the woman and using his Ego Wave to send a powerful mental attack that knocked her unconscious. Blood leaked from Abin¡¯s ears and eyes due to the sudden brain trauma, but Zarak knew he had done the right thing. Had he waited a little longer, Abin¡¯s ego would have surrendered to Cain¡¯s willpower, destroying her spirit and free will. After making sure that Abin was fine, Zarak focused his attention on Cain¡¯s Alter-Ego and was surprised not just by its ability to influence others but by its power. That red orb could give you a sense of belonging that some might only find in the people they love the most while simultaneously sowing a feeling of utter terror as if you have lost everything you ever held dear. Zarak understood the origin of the kind and gentle force since Cain saw himself as a hero, but he was baffled by the second one. While it infused a sense of terror in people, it was not really evil. The fear in those that saw it was an instinctive response of their minds and souls when faced with a force capable of absolute destruction, just like what a little child would feel seeing an earthquake shatter an entire city. Such a unique Alter-Ego confused Zarak a lot. The avatar was supposed to embody the most primitive and honest way you look at yourself, but Cain showed two completely opposite paths. On one path, Cain would be a radiant hero, with people rising by his side, while on the other, he would be a tyrant to whom all needed to bow. Zarak was not so arrogant to say he knew everything about the Ego Eternal Path of Power. Still, his knowledge did reach the peak of the Godslayer Humankind Empire, and he had never heard of an Alter-Ego capable of duality. A serious expression appeared on Zarak¡¯s face as he stared at the Alter-Ego and remembered the shock he felt when he came to this one¡¯s rescue and found out the Atrox Wave Champion¡¯s soul was gone. Initially, he thought that some hidden powerhouse had taken care of the Atrox, and since he was about to enter a fight to the death, he had no time to ask questions. However, now that he saw Cain¡¯s Alter Ego, another explanation came to his mind. ¡®A Wave Warrior capable of shattering the soul of a Wave Champion. Just what kind of secrets are you hiding, brat?¡¯ Zarak could not help but wonder whether having someone like Cain as his core disciple was a good idea. Nevertheless, he had already made the decision and was not someone that would go back on his word. Chapter 116 116 Free Ego Finally, the energy sphere began to stabilize, unleashing a dual intent capable of both thriving and destruction. It was certainly impressive but no longer released that overwhelming aura that could corrupt the mind and will of others. It was not the raw strength of Cain¡¯s Alter-Ego that almost corrupted Abin¡¯s ego but the unique nature and forces in this one. Those forces are in their purest state during the Alter-Ego¡¯s birth, so they have a much easier time influencing others. As the Alter-Ego finished its formation, Apex saw how electromagnetic force stopped emerging through the crack in the gate. Whatever goal was behind those actions, the Red King fulfilled it. Apex was very worried about all that had happened. The System Spirit knew that the soul of anyone else would have shattered if it came in contact with the Red King¡¯s ego, but Cain¡¯s situation was unique, and it nurtured his soul. The problem was that Apex had no idea just how much it affected Cain¡¯s ego and personality. He already noticed changes after the Red King¡¯s awakening, and things might only grow even more severe. In the room where everything happened, Zarak noticed that Cain¡¯s eyelids were twitching and knew that this one was about to wake up. Zarak turned toward Abin, and his eyes glowed with a monstrously powerful blue light as he spoke. ¡°Leave and forget what happened here. You had an important matter to attend to, which is why you were unable to see Cain¡¯s Alter Ego.¡± The moment she heard those words, Abin stood up, and her eyes lost focus. She walked toward the teleportation matrix and vanished. ..... Zarak made sure Abin would not be here since he did not want to explain to Cain the effect the crimson sphere had on the woman. That might involve some of Cain¡¯s secrets, and Zarak did not want the boy to know that he knew. It might not sound very honest, but he was wary of his new disciple and wanted to be careful. Cain finally opened his eyes, and they had a deep confusion. It took him almost an hour before he could focus again and remember what was happening around him. His facial expression changed multiple times before a radiant smile appeared in it. Zarak relaxed as he saw that smile since it was full of heroism. Before, he was not very happy with Cain¡¯s true nature, but now he was glad for it. The crimson sphere told him that boy had an immense potential for destruction, so it was lucky that this one did not take that path. ¡°How long did I sleep?¡± That was the first question that came out of Cain¡¯s mouth. The memories from the boy covered ten years, but Cain did not see every single moment. That was very lucky since spending ten years inside a body he could not control could have shattered his mind. Although he did not have an exact number, Cain felt he experienced roughly ten months inside that dream. It was still a lot, but not so much that someone like him with willpower at the First Realm could not endure. ¡°You sleep for almost ten days.¡± Cain nodded toward Zarak before looking around and seeing they were just the two of them. ¡°Abin left. She had important matters to attend to and could not wait.¡± Zarak¡¯s words made perfect sense to Cain. After seeing that the boy was focused, he spoke solemnly. ¡°Before anything, I will give you a warning. You should have your Alter-Ego hidden at all times.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard that. It was clear there was something special about his Alter-Ego that could cause some trouble. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and saw it. A crimson orb the size of a grain of rice shone with a marvelous light. It released heat that could warm your body and fill you with energy, but at the same time, it could set you ablaze until nothing but your bones remained. Cain was surprised by what he perceived inside the crimson sphere. He felt the warmth belonged to him, but the destructive nature was foreign yet familiar. ¡®It is similar to how I felt inside those memories.¡¯ Cain opened his eyes once he was over with his retrospection. Zarak saw that Cain stared at him, waiting for an explanation. ¡°An Alter-Ego with duality is something I have never seen before. Technically there is nothing wrong with it, but it is impossible to tell what others might think when they learn about it, so it is better to be safe than sorry.¡± Cain frowned when he heard that. ¡°Master, your Alter-Ego was also able to express duality. At first, it showed thriving life before manifesting a suffocating killing intent.¡± Zarak understood Cain¡¯s misconception and immediately shook his head before clarifying things. ¡°My Alter-Ego indeed showed those states, but they were not simultaneous. Those were stages it went through while it developed throughout dozens of years. Your case is like two egos held inside the same avatar, like a small boat with a saint and assassin, each using one oar.¡± With that explanation, Cain finally understood the uniqueness of his Alter-Ego and was sure that those experiences inside the dream had something to do with it. ¡°I will be careful, Master.¡± Zarak nodded when he saw that Cain understood the severity of the situation. He wanted the boy to face complex challenges, but it would be stupid to draw the attention of powerhouses that not even he could fend off. ¡°You don¡¯t need to release the Alter-Ego to use its powers, so there should be no problem regarding battle. We usually only display it when we talk to others about the principles of our Visualization Techniques, and no one can force you to do that, so you should be fine. Now that is out of the way, we should address a happier subject, like the powers you have just gained access to.¡± Cain began to smile and while the unique condition of his Alter-Ego still bothered him, growing stronger was something that always made him happiest. ¡°Now that you have already formed the Alter-Ego, you will use your Visualization Technique to make it evolve and expand its potential. The only thing that will limit the growth of your Alter-Ego is your willpower, and the only thing limiting its abilities is its potential and your imagination. The special abilities and evolution of your Alter-Ego will depend on you, so I can only provide some advice on that aspect. However, I can offer you a lot of information regarding the standard abilities you have gained access to. As someone at the First Realm, you can use Embryonic Breathing and Free Ego. You have already come in contact with Embryonic Breathing, but there are different levels according to its potency and how difficult it is to enter it. As for Free Ego, that is the ability to allow our Ego Wave to emerge from our Ego Eternal Matrix, allowing us to explore the surroundings with something other than our eyes and ears and also helping us measure the cultivation of our enemies. You saw an example when the Abyssal Demon covered the entire forest with a force field.¡± Zarak made a pause and signaled for Cain to attempt the last one. Cain focused, and his eyes glowed with red light before an electromagnetic force field of the same color emerged from his brain. Wonder immediately appeared in his eyes as he felt that he could see, hear, and even smell everything inside the red force field. He could manipulate it as if it was an arm and send it toward Zarak¡¯s body, but to his surprise, he could not reach it. ¡°Hahaha, brat. Your Ego Wave is too weak to surpass my energy defenses. As you grow stronger in the Ego Eternal Path of Power, your Ego Wave will gain all sorts of wonderful abilities. With enough training, you can make it invisible.¡± Zarak laughed a little before guiding Cain. Cain nodded and retracted his Ego Wave. Free Ego was terrific, and while the Absolute Life Form System¡¯s [A.I. Chip Module] could fulfill similar roles, there was a delay as the system would have to relay the message to him. However, if he received those signals with his Ego Wave, he would know it immediately. Of course, that did not mean he would stop using the [Basic Scan Force Field] and [Pseudo Cellular Analysis]. Both could complement each other. Zarak took a crystal card from his space ring and handed it to Cain. ¡°There is a precise guide to tackle Embryonic Breathing and Free Ego, along with some basics that could help you with your Visualization Technique. You should go through each point, and if you have doubts, you can call me.¡± Cain bowed after taking the crystal card and storing it in his space ring. He would definitely analyze everything once he returned to his residence. ¡°Ok, now that we finished with our main subject, I guess it is time for me to teach you how to become a Hypnosis Master.¡± Chapter 117 117 Back to the pillars ¡°Ok, now that we finished with our main subject, I guess it is time for me to teach you how to become a Hypnosis Master.¡± Cain smiled as he heard that, and excitement appeared on his face. Hypnosis was an unfathomable power, and he wanted to be able to control it. Zarak focused on Cain, and a sharp and cold stare appeared in his eyes. ¡°Stand up!¡± Cain was surprised by Zarak¡¯s sudden yell and stood up the next second. Once that happened, Zarak¡¯s face returned to normal, and he smiled at Cain. ¡°Congrats, you have been hypnotized by me.¡± Cain remained silent and began to analyze everything that had just happened. Zarak¡¯s actions and how he responded to them had a deep meaning, and his eyes glowed with enlightenment after a few minutes. ¡°Is all about a clash of wills. You gave a command, and the will you expressed in that order surpassed my will to resist it.¡± ..... ¡°Hahaha, brat, you sure are a genius. That is exactly right. Hypnosis is all about a clash of wills. To become a Hypnosis Master, you need granular control over your Ego Wave, along with great intelligence and superb imagination.¡± After that, Zarak¡¯s eyes began to glow with blue light as he focused on Cain¡¯s. ¡°Now I will show you true hypnosis.¡± That was the last thing Cain heard before the room began to change. The walls and ceiling broke to pieces, and giant waves came crashing down on him. Cain understood this was an illusion, but the feeling of drowning and the pressure that assaulted his body were genuine. A sense of death attacked him, but the giant oceanic waves vanished the next second. He was back in the room, and despite everything being fake, he could not help but take deep breaths and have a pale face. ¡°A Hypnosis Master can make you see things that are not there, do things that you don¡¯t want to do, and they could even take control over your brain to induce cardiac arrest or stop your lungs from working.¡± Zarak waited for Cain to recover before continuing with his explanation. ¡°You can perform hypnosis by taking different paths, with the most basic one being directly sending your Ego Wave toward your target to induce a clash of wills. With enough training, you can induce the clash of wills by speaking to your opponent. True masters can achieve it with nothing more than a simple gaze.¡± Cain adopted a serious expression as he engraved every word in his mind. These are the basics one must never forget. ¡°Up to now, I have only spoken about the damage that Hypnosis Masters can do, but they are also capable of incredible good. For example, everybody with an Alter-Ego can enter Embryonic Breathing, but a Hypnosis Master can help others into that state. Wealthy families constantly seek Hypnosis Masters to assist their children¡¯s cultivation or help those suffering from trauma, such as Heart Nightmares.¡± The mention of Heart Nightmares made Cain understand just how valuable the help of a Hypnosis Master could be to some people. He was sure some would be willing to pay any price to get rid of them. ¡°Hypnosis Masters are divided into ranks, like most things. They are classified according to the strength of the target they can hypnotize. The lowest rank is Pseudo-Hypnosis Master. They can only hypnotize ordinary people and are not considered true Hypnosis Masters. The first proper rank is Elementary Hypnosis Master. They can hypnotize Wave Warriors and are divided into stars. A 1 Star Elementary Hypnosis Master can hypnotize a Level 4 Wave Warrior, and so on. Next comes the Grand Hypnosis Masters, who can hypnotize Wave Champions. Even among Noble Families, they are treated with great respect and charge fortunes for their help.¡± Zarak finished with the ranking of Hypnosis Master before moving on to the next point. ¡°Since the basis of hypnosis is being able to overcome the will of your target, facing someone that is purposefully lowering their guard is much easier than when they resist with all their strength. For example, a 3 Star Elementary Hypnosis Master can easily put a Level 6 Wave Warrior into a state of Embryonic Breathing since the target knows it will benefit them. However, if that same Hypnosis Master attempted to hypnotize a Level 6 Wave Warrior to do them harm, the target would resist, and the hypnosis would most likely fail. Of course, almost every Elementary Hypnosis Master is a Wave Champion, so they could use their brute strength to defeat Wave Warrior. Not everybody is a freak like you.¡± Cain only smiled as he heard that. To become a Hypnosis Master, you must be able to deploy Free Ego, something only those at the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power can achieve. ¡°Becoming a Hypnosis Master is not easy and requires a lot of training, so unless you have talent, do not waste your time on it.¡± Zarak¡¯s voice was severe as he wanted to make sure Cain did not waste time and potential in fantasy. Cain nodded, and if he really did not have talent, he would not pursue that path. Zarak saw that Cain took his words seriously, and then he took another crystal card from his space ring and handed it over. ¡°In it are the basis of the Hypnosis Master Path. Learn them, and then go to the Licence Bureau to take the Hypnosis Master Trial and gain your license. If it takes you more than two weeks to become a 1 Star Hypnosis Master, you should give up.¡± Cain was happy with the crystal card and knowing there was a training facility, but he frowned when he heard about obtaining a license. Although he was not afraid of the spotlight, that did not mean he would like people to know his abilities. Zarak figured out the thoughts crossing Cain¡¯s mind and corrected them. ¡°While it doesn¡¯t matter in a fight, no one would hire a Hypnosis Master without a license. But you should not worry too much since the identity and exact power of a Hypnosis Master are a secret.¡± ¡°I see. Thank you, Master.¡± Cain understood that the license was not for him but for the people that would be hiring him in the future. ¡°You can leave now. What I gave you should be enough to guide you for a long time in both the Ego Eternal Path of Power and the Hypnosis Master Path. Oh, before I forget. I handed over the broken body of the Atrox Wave Champion to the Imperial Lightning Fort¡¯s Science Department. You and that other brat will get 50.000 military credits each.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened when he heard that. He had spent more than a month doing dangerous missions after his first marrow washing and barely collected 20.000 military credits, but now he got more than double for a fight that lasted less than ten minutes. Of course, the danger Cain faced in those ten short minutes was the greatest in his entire life. Cain bowed to Zarak before walking to the teleportation matrix and vanishing. Once he was out of the Titan Tower, he was about to return to the cadet section, but he remembered something, and a large smile appeared on his face. ¡°I wonder just how strong I am?¡± ¡ª The Pillars of Trial had become extremely popular over the past few weeks, especially for the cadets. It was not long before the year ended, and they wanted to leave their names in the Cadet Ranking before that happened. Lumir and Zamir were also here and were not with the other cadets but by the side of a handsome young soldier with blond hair. There were smug expressions on the duo¡¯s faces as they glanced at the rest of the cadets, and while that drew the ire of many, none dared to offend them. Not only had the duo formed a relationship with a Vice-Captain, but they were also both Level 3 Wave Warriors. Lumir stared at the Pillar of Streght¡¯s Cadet Raking with a cold expression when he saw the N¡ã10 position. ¡°Hmph, next week, I will reach the second level of my auxiliary technique, and my raw strength should rise to Level 4. That will be more than enough to surpass that man.¡± Lumir¡¯s eyes were full of poisonous hatred as he stared at the name Blood Inferno. He had taken the trial many times before, but his strength never surpassed Late Level 3. ¡°You better. I don¡¯t like to have garbage by my side.¡± Lumir almost trembled when he heard those words coming from the blonde soldier. He was about to reassure this one when he noticed how everybody began to look into the distance. ¡°So he finally returned.¡± Lumir and Zamir were surprised to see the severity in the eyes of the blonde man. They followed his gaze, and the one that appeared was someone they knew very well. ¡°Cain Laurifer.¡± Chapter 118 118 Late Level 4 Strength Cain felt the gazes of all those people, and he did not find it odd. The last time he came to this place, he made quite a ruckus, and things would not be different this time. Suddenly Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he noticed someone. Coldness appeared on his face as he stared at the young blonde soldier that once attempted to incarcerate him. The blonde soldier was surprised when he saw how Cain looked at him. It was full of confidence and coldness. ¡°Hmph.¡± The Vice-Captain only sneered but did not do anything else. He was smart enough to understand that it was not an accident that a captain like Oliver would have appeared out of nowhere to protect Cain. The people around them noticed the way the duo looked at each other, and they began to speak among themselves. It was clear there was bad blood between the two. Cain did not bother too much with the young man and walked toward the Pillar of Strength. He did notice Lumir and Zamir with the soldier but did not even glance at them. The duo was not a threat before he reached the Mind Over Body, much less now. Lumir and Zarmir noticed Cain¡¯s indifference, and their faces twisted with rage. The only thing worse than being disdained by an enemy was that person not even recognizing your existence. The thoughts of the duo meant nothing to Cain. When he reached the Pillar of Strength, he put a hand over it and vanished. Cain found himself in a white square room two meters wide. He looked up and noticed a metallic black ceiling. ..... ¡°Cadet, prepare yourself. The Trial of Strength will begin in two minutes. The ceiling will fall, and every certain amount of time, more weight will be added. You must maintain it above the mark.¡± That message reached Cain through the [A.I. Chip Module], and then he saw a red line covering the walls, roughly one and a half meters above the ground. Cain adopted a battle stance as he raised his arms, waiting for that massive piece of black metal that made the ceiling. As the voice said to him, the ceiling fell once the two minutes passed. Cain was able to hold it in place without his knees giving away. It should weigh hundreds of kilograms, but he could resist it without a problem. His strength was more than thirty-five times that of an average person, so it was not odd for him to achieve something like this. A minute passed, and Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he felt something heavy fall on top of the large black square he was holding. The sudden clash made his knees and shoulders tremble, but he endured. Another minute passed, and more weight fell on top of the black metallic square. Cain¡¯s arms and legs began to tremble, but he was able to carry on without the need for his Astral Wave. However, once the weight increased for the third time, his knees bent, and the black metallic square almost reached the red line. Cain immediately summoned his Wave Cloak, allowing his strength to rise exponentially. He was able to straighten his back and raise his body. Time passed, but unlike before, it was not one minute but two that Cain had to endure before the next weight was added. As soon as he felt it, he made his Wave Burst to 200%. ¡®I can endure for two minutes without a problem, but the next weight would be more than I could handle. Or at least that would be if I were a normal Level 3 Astral Wave Warrior.¡¯ Cain smiled, and his eyes glowed with red light as the two minutes were about to pass. Before the new weight could fall, he made his Wave Burst rise to 500%! The new weight would have been almost impossible to endure with a 200% Wave Burst, but for someone like Cain, who could use Ego Wave to achieve granular control over his Astral Wave, it was not a problem. Two minutes more passed, and the new weight that fell made Cain¡¯s eyes widen. ¡°Ahhh!¡± He roared as his Wave Burst rose to 1000%! Cain¡¯s arms and legs trembled as he kept the black square above the red line. ¡®The black ceiling must weigh several tons already!¡¯ Cain clenched his teeth as he kept the ceiling up and waited for the next rise in weight. He had to resist for three minutes before it happened. ¡°Boom!¡± Whatever fell on top of the black ceiling was so heavy that it unleashed a blast that echoed through the entire room. Cain pushed his Wave Burst to the limit, reaching 2000%. That allowed him to endure the weight, but he knew it would not be enough for the next level. An idea appeared in Cain¡¯s mind as he noticed how he distributed his Astral Wave through his Wave Cloak. It was compact and evenly spread, perfect for battle. ¡®I am not in a battle.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes burst with an even stronger Ego Wave as he deployed Wave Focus, concentrating all his Astral Wave in his arms, legs, and back. The next second, Cain began to smile as he felt the weight he held onto diminished by a lot. Of course, what truly happened was that by concentrating all his Astral Wave on his extremities and spine, the amount of physical strength he could deploy increased exponentially. Once the three minutes went by, new weight was added to the ceiling, and the fall of this one unleashed an even mightier burst. ¡°?BOOOM!¡± ¡°AHHHH!¡± Cain roared, doing all he could to unleash every single iota of strength left in his body so he could endure this horrific weight. Unfortunately, with every second that passed, he grew a little more tired, and the ceiling fell a little closer to the ground. Almost two minutes passed since the last increase in weight before Cain could not hold it anymore, and the ceiling reached the red mark. As soon as the black metallic square touched that red line, it stopped falling before rising back to its original position. On the other hand, Cain fell to the ground and was having difficulty breathing. Although he did not move nor use a single spell or skill, his Astral Wave had drained until the last iota. At 200% Wave Burst, Cain could fight for hours, but when risen to 2000%, he could not go for more than twenty minutes. After resting for a few minutes and feeling that his body was in a better condition, Cain sent the command, and the Pillar of Strength teleported it out of the white room. The moment he stepped out of the Pillar of Strength, Cain saw how he had become the center of attention again, and everybody was looking at him with awe. It was similar to the reactions people gave him when he left the Pillar of Mind, but this time he remained calm. The next second, he turned to the pillar and saw his name on the Cadet Ranking, putting a large smile on his face. N¡ã1 Earth Fiend ¨C Early Level 5 N¡ã2 Saint of Killers ¨C Late Level 4 N¡ã3 Gigantomaquia ¨C Late Level 4 Cain had not taken the first place, and while he had the same mark as the number three, he must have endured longer, which is why he was number 2. Although it would have been nice to take first place, Cain knew his physical strength was not that impressive. Thanks to Blood Refinement Art, it rose to the level of a standard genius. If it wasn¡¯t for Wave Burst and Wave Focus, Cain suspected his strength could have barely reached the mark of Late Level 3 Astral Wave Warrior. Cain did not have a problem with being number 2. He did not leave the pillars but calmly walked toward the Pillar of Resilience before adopting a meditative position next to this one. Everybody understood Cain¡¯s goal. He wanted to recover his strength before taking on another of the pillars. There was nothing odd about that, but cadets and soldiers were shocked when they saw this one taking a wave crystal from his space ring! The wave crystal was of the lowest quality but still worth more than ten thousand military credits. While it would indeed help Cain recover exponentially faster, using it like this was too opulent. Some high-level soldiers could make tens of thousands of military credits each week, but that did not mean they could waste their entire savings on wave crystals that could only last a few hours. Lumir and Zamir were utterly astounded by that sight. Cain was able to show a strength none of them could equal and was using wave crystals without worries. Not even they, scions from powerful Noble Families, could match that level of strength and wealth. As they remember the animosity they had built with the young man, fear and apprehension emerge on their faces. Chapter 119 119 Pillar of Resilience (I) ¡°What childish behavior. A mere Level 3 Wave Warrior is incapable of using a wave crystal entirely. He is just wasting money.¡± The blonde soldier sneered as he saw Cain using a wave crystal. Lumir and Zamir showed ugly smiles as they heard that. It was true that wave crystals were beneficial for cultivation, but if your body¡¯s ability to draw energy was not high enough, much of it would disperse. Usually, Level 4 would be the minimum requirement to use wave crystals. One could understand the blonde soldier¡¯s criticism of Cain. ¡°Hmph, Lord Uriel, what could you expect from a brat that came from the slums? He might not even know what wave crystals are.¡± Lumir did not lose the chance to mock Cain, trying to diminish the fame this one obtained by reaching such a high level in the Pillar of Strength. Zamir was about to join in when he noticed how Uriel and the other high-level soldiers looking at Cain showed surprise. He did not know what had happened. If he were strong enough, Zamir would have seen that Cain¡¯s body absorbed the energy from the wave crystal without letting any of it disperse. That baffled many soldiers as they did not understand how a Level 3 Wave Warrior could do that. The answer was very simple. Cain entered Embryonic Breathing, exponentially increasing his ability to draw energy. The events in the Pillar of Strength spread like fire, and soon hundreds of soldiers and cadets arrived at this location. All of them focused on Cain, waiting to see what he would achieve once he took the Trial of Resilience. ..... Many cadets, especially those with the highest talent and scores, recognized Cain. The tales of this one had already reached the ears of all of them. Everybody knew of Cain¡¯s amazing display of martial skill and Wave mastery during a fight against a teacher and how he led a group of cadets and soldiers against a Wave Beast Horde for almost two weeks. There was even a more fantastic rumor about him being part of a force that fought and killed an Atrox Wave Champion. Lumir and Zamir saw how the other cadets looked at Cain and felt like they were eating dirt. They could not accept that a mere commoner would draw that much attention, taking the spotlight away from them. It would be hard to tell what the duo¡¯s expressions would be if they knew that Cain¡¯s background had recently risen to a level none of them could even dream of achieving. Zamir heard the cadets whispering among each other, praising Cain¡¯s abilities, and his face twisted before he shouted. ¡°Hmph, many people perished under his watch, including one of his close friends.¡± Those words echoed around the Pillars of Trials, making everybody silent for a moment before beginning to whisper again. Yet, this time they were not praising Cain but discussing his failures. That is the way mob mentality works. It only goes to the most exciting topic, not caring about what is true or not. Zamir¡¯s smile grew wider as he saw the effects of his words. He saw that Cain continued training as if nothing had happened and carried on with his poisonous words. ¡°He does not even defend himself. I am sure the guilt does not let him. Who knows? He might have sacrificed some people to save his life.¡± Zamir began to spout allegations without any form of evidence, but he did not care. This place was not a court, and he only needed people to speak of it before it became a reality in their minds. Just as he was about to keep ranting about Cain¡¯s despicable behavior, he heard a voice. ¡°A boy that had never entered a true battlefield dares to question the actions of a soldier who did it. How pathetic.¡± Zamir was surprised to hear that voice coming from where the cadets had gathered and showed immense rage. He could question and insult Cain, but others could not do the same to him. That was the mentality of the scion. ¡°Who dares to mock a proud son of the Jarken Family!?¡± Zamir shouted his family name, immediately putting his background forward. The one that spoke did not hide and immediately rose from the group of cadets. He was a young man with black hair and blue eyes. ¡°I did it, but I am only mocking you. Of course, if you want us to bring on our families, I have no problem with that either.¡± Zamir¡¯s eyes widened as he saw that the young man was Lurin Sinar, and apprehension appeared on his face. Not only was Lurin¡¯s cultivation similar to his, but this one was also the son of a Count. Actually, Lurin¡¯s background could be considered even higher than that of Zamir. If it were any other cadet, Zamir would have used a combination of his strength and background to push them, but that would be futile against someone like Lurin. The only path that he could take now was using words. ¡°Hmph, did I say something wrong? We all know that the cadet Beelze died fighting beneath him.¡± Lurin did not hide his disdain as he stared at Zamir before turning toward Cain, and then his eyes glowed with mighty respect. ¡°We all fought by his side and not beneath him. More than once, he put his life on the line to secure the life of those following his command. You blame him for one person¡¯s death but do not consider all those he saved.¡± Lurin¡¯s voice grew increasingly cold as he turned toward Zamir. ¡°I assume you are ready to say that if you ever led people into the battlefield, no one would ever die, and if they do, you should be the sole responsible.¡± Zamir froze when he heard that and saw everybody focusing on him. There was no way he could say yes, but that was precisely the standard he was using to blame Cain. Just as Zamir was about to try and use some excuse, his face grew pale. He felt like a monster was targeting him, and when he looked into the distance, he saw two eyes glowing with red light. Cain¡¯s red eyes unleashed a clear intent. He heard everything that Zamir said and did not care about any of it, but everything changed when this one mentioned Beelze¡¯s death. There was no need for words. That time had already passed. Cain would take care of Zamir the moment the chance presented itself. Since he could not act here, with so many witnesses, Cain no longer focused on the cadet but instead analyzed his Embryonic Breathing. Unlike the one that Zarak put him into, his Embryonic Breathing could not make every single cell on his body enter a state of hyperactivity. Cain¡¯s Embryonic Breathing put his body in a state of complete relaxation, making one hour of rest count as half a day of sleeping and improving the speed at which he drew Wave into his body. While those effects could not compare to the one drawn by Zarak¡¯s Embryonic Breathing, Cain understood that after enough training, he would reach that level. ¡®Once I am over this, I will carefully look at Embryonic Breathing information.¡¯ Cain did not let his thoughts wander off for long before putting his hand on the Pillar of Resilience and vanishing. Cadets and soldiers saw Cain¡¯s figure vanish and waited to see if this one would perform another impressive feat or if his tale would end with just the Pillar of Strength. Cain had just appeared in a small white room before a voice arrived in his mind through the [A.I. Chip Module]. ¡°Cadet, prepare yourself. The Pillar of Resilience will begin in two minutes. You will be submitted to increasing levels of heat while the oxygen diminishes. Please store all your protective equipment and do not activate any Wave Artifact during the trial.¡± Cain understood the rules of the trial and stored his blue robe in his space ring along with his gauntlets and boots. He did not remove the Wave Artifact covering his spine since there should be no problem with it as long he did not activate it. After two minutes, the room was set ablaze while the oxygen diminished very fast. Cain felt his skin burning and immediately noticed how hard it was for him to breathe. Although it would be easy for him to hold his breath for several minutes, that would be unwise since it would only work to exhaust him faster. The heat would force an average Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior to push their Astral Wave to the limit so they could endure it, and their lungs would be working at full capacity. Luckily, Cain¡¯s vitality was already impressive for a Level 3 Astral Wave Warrior, so while he was not comfortable, it was far from enough to push him to the limit. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with red light as he monitored his body, ensuring his lungs, heart, and brain worked adequately. The Pillar of Resilience was said to be the hardest as it forced you to push yourself to the absolute limit. Chapter 120 - 120 Pillar of Resilience (II) 120 Pillar of Resilience (II) The heat in the room slowly increased while the oxygen took the opposite turn. Cain closed his eyes as he adopted a meditative position, ensuring his body would require less energy to work correctly. The level was still far from enough to overcome his resistance, but the Pillar of Resilience was not a test of defense but one of attrition. On the battlefield, you might have to spend entire days on high alert, enduring a harsh environment, and knowing how to preserve your energy was essential. Twenty minutes went by before the heat in the room reached such a high level that it forced Cain to summon his Wave Cloak. He kept his eyes closed and pushed Synergy Flow to the peak to ensure his Astral Wave would last long enough. Another ten minutes went by before Cain activated Wave Burst. Instead of immediately pushing it to a high level, he slowly raised the Astral Wave output so it could go hand-to-hand with the increase in the heat. Time passed, and the heat reached such a high level that an average human would have been burned to ashes by now. Cain was sweating profusely, and his lungs were doing their best to capture the little oxygen in the room, so he would not suffocate. His Wave Burst had already risen to 2000%, but the heat still managed to sear his skin even with that. Cain¡¯s eyes opened as he felt his Wave Cloak about to vanish due to the depletion of his Astral Wave. Although he had a rough estimate of how much energy he had left, he couldn¡¯t be 100% precise. Any other Wave Warrior would have to give up when they felt their Wave was close to depletion. If they did not do it, and the heat was still active when their Wave Cloak vanished, they would suffer severe burns. ..... However, Cain was unlike other Wave Warriors since there was a system fused with his soul that could give him a perfect assessment of how long his Astral Wave would last. ¡®System, assess how much time I have left until I deplete my Astral Wave and my Wave Cloak vanishes.¡¯ As soon as Cain gave that command, he heard the system¡¯s voice in his mind. [Task received. ... ... ... Task completed. ... Vessel¡¯s Astral Wave will deplete in 2:43 seconds. 2:42 seconds. 2:41 seconds. ...] Cain focused on the virtual screen that appeared in his mind, forgetting everything else. Every second that passed was hell, but he would give his all. There were already flames in the room, covering everything, including Cain. If not for his Wave Cloak, he would be enduring severe wounds by now. [2 seconds. 1 second] ¡°Stop!¡± Cain shouted that word, and the flames vanished a fraction of a second before his Wave Cloak turned off due to the lack of Astral Wave. He fell to the ground and took huge breaths of air since his lungs had been unable to receive any form of oxygen for the last two minutes. There were burn marks all over his body. Even if his Wave Cloak protected him from most of the heat, it was not impervious to the flames¡¯ power. Cain took a container with blood and began to consume it while mobilizing his Blood Refinement Art. That would help him heal his wounds. ¡®Impressive. It has immense vitality, but that is to be expected from the refined blood of a Level 5 Wave Beast.¡¯ Cain was thrilled with the amount of blood energy that circulated through his body. It took around ten minutes before most of his wounds healed. Although there were still some, they could not affect him at all. Only after making sure he was fine did he leave the Pillar of Resilience. He might not care about showing his wealth, but he did not want people to know about his Blood Refinement Art. Cain did not have a choice during the battle against the horde. Besides, he doubted one of the soldiers could decipher the nature of his technique, but he had no idea who was looking at him inside the fort. The moment Cain appeared outside the Pillar of Resilience, he saw people looking at him with a clear sense of awe. He turned toward the Cadet Ranking and saw his name in the upper section. N¡ã1 Blood Lord ¨C Early Level 5 N¡ã2 Saint of Killers ¨C Limit Level 4 N¡ã3 Earth Fiend ¨C Late Level 4 Once again, he ended up in the second position, but that did not discourage Cain. He did not bother to compare himself with others. The only one he had to defeat was his previous self, and he had advanced at gigantic steps recently. Three months ago, he could have barely entered these rankings, but now he had reached the top. That was worth celebrating. After giving one final glance at the Pillar of Resilience¡¯s Cadet Ranking, he walked to the Pillar of Speed before adopting a meditative position and taking out his wave crystal. As the Wave inside the crystal filled his body, Cain frowned. He felt something different and used his Ego Wave to analyze it but could not find anything. Cain¡¯s Ego Wave was powerful but far from enough to measure the changes happening at a near-cellular level. Luckily, he had the system for such a delicate task. ¡®Apex?¡¯ Although the system would give him a direct answer, it would be pure data without context. Apex could summarize the information, giving him the gist of it. ¡°Your foundation is growing more solid. Each time you push yourself to your limit and drain your Astral Wave, your meridians become thicker and more resilient. Just like with muscles, once they reach their limits, they suffer micro-tears and heal stronger. Of course, that is considering you give them enough rest and energy to heal, and the damage is not exaggerated. Your Blood Refinement Art and wave crystal overflow your body with vitality and Wave, so you will be fine as long as you know when to stop.¡± Cain nodded as he understood what the System Spirit told him. Pushing himself to his limit would help his foundation, but if he did not allow his body to rest or did not grant the proper energy for this one to heal, it would have a diametrical effect on his cultivation. After an hour, Cain felt his Astral Wave had refilled entirely, and his body was in peak condition, so he put his hand over the Pillar of Speed and vanished. Cain found himself in a long white corridor, four meters wide. A black line was two meters ahead of him, and there was another in the distance. The Astral Wave concentrated on his eyes, and Cain could see the golden line a thousand meters away. A message reached his mind the next second through the [A.I. Chip Module]. ¡°Cadets, the trial will begin once you cross the black line. You must reach the golden line as fast as possible. Objects will appear in your path at random intervals.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard that. Clearly, this trial would not be as simple as just running in a straight pattern. If it only measured how fast you could run in a straight line, the mark given would mean nothing in battle, as it would not consider reflex and reaction speed. Cain got close to the black line before unleashing his Wave Cloak and making it burst at 2000%. There was no need to start slow as this trial would not take more than a minute. Just unleashing his Astral Wave at full power was far from enough. He focused his Astral Wave on his legs and spine. While the first would be the one in charge of his speed, he still needed control over his upper train to move through the obstacles. Once he finished that, Cain used Lightning Armament, transmuting part of his Astral Wave into lightning, enhancing his speed and reflexes. Cain adopted a sprint position near the black line before taking a deep breath. His eyes burst with red light as he flashed forward at full speed. In less than a second, Cain had already covered fifty meters, and then he saw small pillars rising from the ground. Although they were fast, thanks to Lightning Armament and his Ego Wave, Cain¡¯s speed of thought was outrageous for a Wave Warrior. In his sight, those pillars moved in slow motion, and he was able to jump over them without losing momentum and carrying on at full speed. More and more obstacles appeared in Cain¡¯s path, each faster and more complicated than the previous one, but he managed to pass through them without slowing down. Cain carried on like that until reaching the 600 meters mark when he saw a wall descend from the ceiling, leaving a small aperture less than thirty centimeters high. Cain¡¯s speed of thought was high enough to react to the wall, but his body was not. He had to slow down a little before sliding down beneath the wall. Things only grew harder from that point on. Chapter 121 - 121 Asura Form 121 Asura Form Cain moved as fast as he could, but while his mind was quick enough to perceive the obstacles coming his way and figure out a path through them, his body lacked the speed to do it. Eventually, Cain reached the golden mark, but there was a deep frown on his face. Unlike the previous trials, this one felt different for some reason. It was as if he had yet to reach his limit. ¡®It doesn¡¯t make sense. I gave it everything I had.¡¯ After some thought, Cain sent the command and was teleported out of the Pillar of Speed. He did not even bother to glance at the cadets and soldiers watching him and immediately focused on the Cadet Ranking. N¡ã1 Swift Air ¨C Early Level 5 N¡ã2 Silent Lightning ¨C Limit Level 4 N¡ã3 Saint of Killers ¨C Late Level 4 A speed equal to a Late Level 4 Wave Warrior was very impressive, but when Cain saw that, his frown grew. Cain couldn¡¯t care less about his position in the ranking, but he felt dissatisfied when he saw that his top speed was still within the boundaries of Level 4. ..... Unlike the previous pillars that drained every iota of Astral Wave in him and left him completely exhausted, there was still plenty of energy left in Cain after the trial. He did not wait a second before putting his hand in the Pillar of Speed, vanishing again. That behavior surprised the cadets and soldiers looking at Cain. Nothing would change in a few minutes, and they saw no point in doing it again. A couple of minutes later, Cain appeared outside the pillar and immediately turned toward the Cadet Ranking. He could not help but clench his fist when he saw that everything remained the same. Cain put his hand in the was sent back into the pillar, only to appear again a few minutes later. He did it again and again, making odd expressions appear in the people watching him. ¡°Hmph, despite his talent, he is just a child.¡± The blonde soldier with Lumir and Zamir did not hide his voice and ensured everybody listened to him. Uriel saw that people focused on him and showed a dignified expression before continuing with his words. ¡°On the battlefield, someone that doesn¡¯t know how to recognize his limitations and take the same flawed path would only lead people to their death.¡± Everybody already knew that Uriel had bad blood with Cain, but that did not mean his words were wrong. There was no perfect leader, and everybody made mistakes, but someone who could not recognize them was definitely no one they would want to follow. Despite the change in the way most people were looking at Cain, a group still showed nothing but respect. Lurin and the small group that fought by his side against the horde of Wave Beasts had absolute faith in his abilities. They knew that every action he took had deep meaning behind them. Cain noticed how the soldiers and cadets began to look at him, but he did not stop and kept trying. He did it almost thirty times before being forced to rest due to his depletion of Astral Wave. As he refilled his Astral Wave, he took a deep breath and went through all his endeavors. ¡®I don¡¯t understand. Why do I feel so firmly that I can do better?¡¯ Cain was not stupid and knew he would gain nothing by retaking the trial. No technique or skill in his memories could help him with it. ¡®Wait! My memories!¡¯ A flash of enlightenment appeared through Cain¡¯s eyes. He had nothing that could help him move faster, but there was something in the boy¡¯s memories that was useful. The boy could do all sorts of wonders with his mind, manipulating elemental forces better than any Essence Wave Cultivator and enhancing his body with the world¡¯s energy with more proficiency than any Astral Wave Cultivator. Cain would have gained nothing from them if they had been only images. But in those memories, he felt everything the boy did and knew how this one manipulated flesh and energy. Cain could not do most of those things as he could not mimic the outrageous mental power of the boy, but there was one technique he could try. It was very basic and only involved control over the heart and brain. Slowly, a smile appeared on his face as he went through those memories and remembered every tiny detail. As someone that reached the First Realm in the Ego Eternal Path of Power, he had a terrific memory. Although he was eager to train it, Cain would not do it in the open, so he put his hand over the Pillar of Speed and vanished. As soon as Cain entered the pillar again, the cadets and soldiers continued with their derogatory remarks. Of course, since he did not care when he could hear them, why would they bother him now? Cain adopted a meditative position inside the white corridor. Since the test would only begin once he crossed the black line, he could stay here as long as he wanted. Slowly, he went through every single second of the memories during which the boy created the technique. As he analyzed it, Cain noticed a wonderful thing. Instead of learning from scratch, Cain felt he remembered something he had already mastered but had forgotten due to the passage of time. The technique itself contained two parts that Cain must trigger simultaneously. The one involving the brain consisted of releasing several drugs that pushed your body to a hyperactive state. The other focused on the heart, concerning heart rate acceleration and increase in blood pressure. Cain erased any unnecessary thoughts and focused solely on the technique. The technique only required using his Ego Wave to achieve granular control over his brain and heart. He started with his heart, and raising his heart rate and blood pressure to the level required for the technique was not that complicated. However, things got a little tricker when he started with his brain¡¯s chemistry. Luckily, he just had to mimic the boy¡¯s actions, and everything went smoothly after a few attempts. After roughly an hour, Cain stood up and took a deep breath before triggering the technique. Cain¡¯s heartbeats grew louder by the second and soon were so mighty that they echoed through the white hall. He saw his skin growing red, giving him a ferocious appearance, and felt he could achieve incredible speed even without using a single iota of his Astral Wave. A large smile emerged on Cain¡¯s face when he felt the changes in his body and perceived the might he had gained. ¡°Hahaha, this is awesome.¡± Cain began to laugh, making him look like a fiendish creature, and as he saw his new appearance, a contemplative expression appeared on his face. ¡°What should I call this technique?¡± Although the original creator was the boy, this one never gave it a proper name. Cain found nothing wrong with naming the technique since he and the boy were supposed to be the same person. Cain thought for a moment before coming up with a name that, according to him, was perfect. ¡°Asura Form: First Gear.¡± After patting himself on the back for coming up with what he considered a name worthy of generating awe in all who heard it, Cain walked to the black line. Cain made his Wave Cloak explode at full power and focused his Astral Wave on his legs and spine before activating Lightning Armament. He then adopted a sprint position before flashing forward with all he got. ¡ª The soldier and cadets were waiting for Cain to get out, but as the minutes went by, the gossip only grew worse. The Trial of Speed did not take more than two minutes, but Cain had been there for over an hour. ¡°Hahaha, he must be too embarrassed to show his face and doesn¡¯t dare to come out. He is arrogant and conceited, yet at the slightest setback, he falls into a spiral from which he can not return.¡± ¡°Hmph, that temperament is not fit for a soldier of the Imperial Military Force. Following someone like that into battle would only get you killed.¡± Lumir and Zamir did not waste the opportunity and had been yelling negative remarks about Cain this entire time. The duo then saw how the young man appeared outside the pillar, with a pale face and blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. ¡°Hahaha, what a pitiful look. He must have run into a wall inside the trial. So foolish, don¡¯t you think, Lord Uriel?¡± Zamir continued laughing as he spoke to the blonde soldier but immediately noticed something weird when this one did not reply. ¡°Lord Uriel?¡± Zamir saw the shock in Uriel¡¯s eyes, and as he followed this one gaze, he saw the changes in the Cadet Ranking. ¡°Im... impossible.¡± Zamir could not believe what he saw. N¡ã1 Saint of Killers ¨C Middle Level 5 N¡ã2 Swift Air ¨C Early Level 5 Chapter 122 - 122 Late Level 5 122 Late Level Cain showed a radiant smile as he saw his mark. Combining the boy¡¯s skill with his Astral Wave allowed his speed to reach Middle Level 5, granting him the N¡ã1 position! Silence reigned among the pillars as all the cadets and soldiers stared at Cain with awe. Many of the ones that achieved one of the top 3 positions in the Cadet Ranking did it because their bloodlines and techniques specialized in one aspect. Those like Earth Fiend that did it in more than one were legends that had reached high levels in the military and positions of great power. None among them had outrageous and yet balanced power like Cain, taking the second spot in both the Pillar of Strength and Pillar of Resilience while securing the N¡ã1 in the Pillar of Speed! Their shock only grew stronger as they saw Cain moving to the Pillar of Destruction and adopting a meditative position next to this one. Slowly chatter reignited among the cadets and soldiers, but this time none dared to utter the slightest negative remark against Cain. Some soldiers and cadets went away, as they did not have the face to remain present after insulting the new genius. Cain couldn¡¯t care less about those people and solely focused on recovering. ¡®Asura Form puts immense stress over my circulatory system, increasing the already excessive pressure I endure when pushing my Wave output beyond my body¡¯s natural resistance. If it wasn¡¯t for Blood Refinement Art, I could resist for less than a minute. Still, I should not use it in long battles.¡¯ Despite all the precautions that Cain had to take with Asura Form, there was still a large smile on his face. Deep down, he knew that Late Level 4 was not his limit and trusted his gut, achieving what others could only dream. ..... Minutes passed as Cain used the wave crystal to refill his Astral Wave and revolved the Blood Refinement Art to heal the damage to his blood vessels. Once he was back in his peak condition, he put a hand on the Pillar of Destruction and vanished. All the cadets and soldiers remained silent and focused on the Cadet Ranking. Members of the military considered the Pillar of Destruction the most important, as it involved just how much battle power they could show on the battlefield. Impressive strength did not necessarily mean you could display that same level of destructive power. For example, Earth Fiend had strength at Early Level 5, taking the N¡ã1 position in the Strength Pillar, but his mark in the Pillar of Destruction was just Middle Level 4 and was the N¡ã6. The reason behind that low mark discrepancy was the lack of speed and martial skill of this one. Cain was teleported to a white room roughly two hundred meters wide, with three faceless puppets near him. They were black, blue, and yellow. ¡°Cadet, the trial will begin when you get within ten meters from the puppets and will last ten minutes. You must do as much damage as possible to them. Your mark will be determined by the total sum of the damage divided by three. However, if one puppet received fifty percent less damage than the others, the sum will be split in six.¡± That message reached his mind through the [A.I. Chip Module] before silence reigned in the room. Cain focused on the puppets as he got right next to the ten-meter mark. If he just concentrated on one puppet, it would significantly affect his level, so he needed to attack all of them. He took a deep breath and activated Asura Form and a 2000% Wave Burst. The moment his power reached its peak, he flashed forward. The instant Cain got within ten meters of them, the puppets moved, all dashing in different directions. If they were to remain static while he attacked, that would have been pointless since there was no way a true enemy would act like that. Each of those puppets was extremely fast, but Cain was even faster. A fist covered in lightning arcs landed in the head of the yellow puppet before a kick found its way to the blue puppet¡¯s chest. Cain saw how the black puppet managed to get more than fifty meters away from him as he sent the other two flying away. Thanks to Asura Form, he got near this one in less than a second and unleashed a ferocious barrage. Besides Asura Form, Cain also gained a lot of martial knowledge from the boy¡¯s memories, and every attack carried his body¡¯s full weight and momentum. ¡°Boom.¡± ¡°Boom.¡± ¡°Boom.¡± Every punch and kick from Cain carried so much strength that they unleashed small blasts, just like the sound of small missiles landing on buildings. Cain¡¯s eyes burst with red light as he attacked the black puppet. He then connected a kick on the puppet¡¯s head, which sent this one flying away right toward the blue puppet. The blue puppet managed to dodge the black one but could not evade that red hand that grabbed its head and used its entire body as a hammer. Cain crashed the blue puppet against the black one, rotating his entire body to generate a massive torque that would increase his brute strength. After hammering for roughly ten seconds, Cain sent the blue puppet toward the yellow one with such strength and speed that this one could not avoid it. Before the yellow puppet could get up, Cain dived into its chest, unleashing a blast. The blue puppet was about to run when a hand grabbed its head and pushed it back to the ground, hammering it again and again. Cain was crashing both puppets when suddenly, the blue managed to push him away before flashing at even greater speed. ¡®The more damage they receive, their resilience and speed become greater.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that. He did not pursue the blue puppet but continued striking the yellow one before sending it flying away toward the black one¡¯s path. ¡ª A little over ten minutes went by, and when Cain emerged from the pillar, everybody focused on the Pillar of Destruction¡¯s Cadet Ranking. What they saw left them in a state of utter shock. N¡ã1 Saint of Killers ¨C Late Level 5 N¡ã2 Lightning Death ¨C Early Level 5 N¡ã3 Divine Flame ¨C Early Level 5 Chapter 123 - 123 Old friends 123 Old friends N¡ã1 Saint of Killers ¨C Late Level 5 Cain looked at his mark and showed a radiant smile. He was far from reaching Level 4, but his destructive power neared Level 6! Although there was immense pride and a powerful sense of accomplishment, he did not let that get over his head. Cain had seen many times what being complacent with your own strength could get you. Not to mention that his current power would still amount to nothing compared with the Atrox God that almost destroyed the entire fort. Cain glanced at the Pillar of Mind, but there was no point in him taking it as his name was already on the N¡ã1 position. As for retaking the Pillar of Strength and the Pillar of Resilience, now that he had Asura Form, he knew that would be pointless. Asura Form improved his speed and allowed him to generate an impressive torque that could transform into brute strength. However, that would not help him carry a higher weight or improve his resilience. Cain gave one final glance at the pillars before walking toward the cadet section. His face was serene, but red light burst from his eyes when he saw how many cadets and soldiers were about to walk toward him. The fact he did not bother with their sarcastic remarks while taking the Pillar of Speed did not mean he would just forget about it. There was a coldness in Cain¡¯s eyes, and it was clear he had no interest in having any form of relationship with people that thought they could speak behind his back. Almost all cadets and soldiers moving toward Cain froze when they saw those red eyes, but a small group kept walking forward. Unlike the coldness Cain showed to the others, a small smile appeared as he focused on the small group. ..... ¡°It has been long since we last saw each other.¡± ¡°You have been using that time very well. Your cultivation took a giant step forward in less than a month.¡± Lurin spoke with a friendly tone, and there was a deep sense of awe in it as well. ¡°Hahaha, I got some lucky chances recently that helped cover some flaws.¡± Cain¡¯s voice had no arrogance, nor did he attempt to show any form of superiority, but there was no way to hide his innate aura. Those with powerful willpower tend to draw people around them, especially if mixed with a heroic spirit like Cain¡¯s. The group began to walk together toward the cadet section. Lurin and the others did not even realize it, but they adopted a formation with Cain at the center. After following him into battle and putting their lives in his hand, they unknowingly began to see Cain as their leader. ¡°Did you all come to take on the pillars?¡± When they heard Cain¡¯s question, the six cadets that came with Lurin showed odd smiles. Lurin only sighed as he saw that and glanced at the Pillar of Streght¡¯s Cadet Ranking before shaking his head. ¡°I was going to take on the Pillar of Strength and was sure I could take the N¡ã10 position, but now that one has risen to Early Level 4.¡± ¡°Hahaha, sorry about that.¡± Cain laughed as he heard that since he found it funny. His addition to the Pillar of Strength¡¯s Cadet Ranking took away Levi and made it much harder for Lurin to get in. ¡°You don¡¯t seem very sorry.¡± Lurin sent an annoyed look toward Cain as he heard this one laugh and how the others giggled at his misfortune. Of course, he was not really angry. There was still time before the year ended, and he was sure he could enter Level 4 before that. Cain, Lurin, and the others made small talk as they walked away under the gaze of the cadets and soldiers around the pillars. Many cadets and soldiers showed envy toward Lurin and his group as it was clear they formed a good relationship with one of the rising stars of the Imperial Lightning Fort. The way they looked at Lurin¡¯s group was the complete opposite of the gazes they directed toward Lumir and Zamir. The duo had formed a deep animosity against a genius capable of showing a battle power that allowed him to fight Level 5 Wave Warrior while being at Level 3. Lumir and Zamir knew they had gotten into serious trouble. While in their minds, their background was mightier than Cain¡¯s, it would not be very useful in the military. Unlike in any other profession or field, a powerful background was diametrical in the Imperial Military Force. When it came to granting positions of power and influence, the higher-ups would first choose those from humble origins since they would truly give their heart to the military and not other forces. Lumir and Zamir knew they could return to their homes after the year ended, but that would forever leave them in the shadows of their older brothers. The only way to rise after making a powerful enemy was to hold on to a stronger backer. The duo looked toward Uriel since they knew this was their only chance. No one else would side with them against a genius like Cain. Uriel remained silent for a moment as he focused on Cain before glancing at the duo. ¡°You two will tell me every single interaction you had with that man. After that, I will decide how to proceed.¡± Uriel wanted to know more about Cain and what kind of man he was. If Uriel could fix the bad blood between them, he would certainly do it since there was no gain from him antagonizing a genius, but if not, he had other plans. Lumir and Zamir were wise enough to see the hidden meaning behind Uriel¡¯s words. While it would certainly help their case if they lied, they did not believe they could trick the soldier. Their only path now was telling the truth and hoping that, in the end, Uriel would side with them. Chapter 124 - 124 Genetic Coding 124 Genetic Coding Cain kept walking when a boy from the group spoke to him. He had a bulky body and long black hair. ¡°By the way, have you considered enrolling in a Profession Class?¡± ¡°What? That is still going on?¡± Cain was honestly surprised by that question. According to the original schedule, the time for Profession Class enrollment was two months ago. The attack of the Dark Races¡¯ powerhouses clearly messed up the whole thing. Cain was not interested in taking any Profession as they would drain much of his time, and he did not find any useful. What truly drew his attention were Military Specializations, and since the enrollment for Profession Classes was still open, it should be the same with these. ¡°Although the courses originally were meant to last for six months, the higher-ups decided to change things, generating crash courses that will only last three months. You still have a month to enroll in one of them.¡± Lurin deduced that Cain was unaware of that information, so he shared it. When the other cadets saw Cain¡¯s smiling, they mistook it as this one being excited to take on a Profession, so they all began to share their thoughts. ¡°Since you are interested, how about becoming a Wave Crafter? No matter where you find yourself, everybody needs Wave Artifacts.¡± A young man with a thin frame spoke to Cain. Although he was the smallest of the group, his cultivation was the second highest, having reached Level 3. ..... ¡°Green, are you stupid? Wave Crafters need insane precision over their Wave to form the matrixes that give the weapons and armor their power. That is a Profession that only Essence Wave Cultivators take, not someone like Cain, that is an Astral Wave Cultivator.¡± The same bulky man from before berated the thin one named Green. Despite his thin body, Green was not a pushover and shouted back. ¡°Hmph, the only idiot here is you, Josef. It is true that most Wave Crafters are Essence Wave Cultivators but is not Cain¡¯s mastery over his Astral Wave better than almost every Wave Warrior?¡± When Josef heard that, he knew that Green was right. Still, instead of backing down, he shouted even louder. ¡°How did you just call me!?¡± Lurin and the rest of the group only laughed as they saw that. It was clear they were accustomed to the duo fighting over anything. Cain only shook his head as he saw that but did not plan to intervene. He knew they meant well but was not interested in taking a Profession. A girl from the group moved closer to Cain. She had a small face and short golden hair. Although she was not as gorgeous as Beelze, she was still very pretty. ¡°Would you be interested in becoming a Genetic Coder alongside Lurin and me?¡± The girl¡¯s name was Ophelia, and she was one of the few Astral Wave Cultivators from the group. She did not think much of the proposition and just wanted to take her chances. There was no way she could have imagined that the moment she finished speaking, Cain would turn toward her with sharp and cold eyes. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Ophelia began to tremble as she saw two red eyes focusing on her. Cain immediately noticed the girl¡¯s state and knew he had made a mistake. He was not angry or anything like that. It was just that when he faced something that shocked him, he would enter that default state as it would be easier to handle things. He took a deep breath, calmed his bursting Ego Wave, and smiled radiantly at the girl. ¡°I am sorry about that. The words Genetic Coder have a deep meaning for me, but I was unaware there was a Profession like that. Could you please explain it to me?¡± Emotions can change rapidly according to the circumstances. All the fear in Ophelia¡¯s heart vanished the moment she saw the radiant smile and green eyes. Although Cain was not originally too handsome, his looks improved drastically after going through marrow washing. That, plus his magnetic aura and strength, made him very attractive to the opposite sex. ¡°Yes!¡± Ophelia could not help but shout before thoroughly describing what a Genetic Coder was. ¡°A Genetic Coder is someone that can manipulate the fundamental blocks of life. Back in the Old World, humans already had the ability to influence our genes, but our technology still limited us. However, after reaching Aether and gaining control over the Wave, we have advanced to the point where all genetic diseases are long gone. And a Genetic Coder¡¯s skills are more than just fixing mistakes. They can generate all sorts of Wave Viruses capable of granting extraordinary abilities and expanding your lifespan. Some are even able to synthesize or even modify bloodlines.¡± Ophelia just described the basics of the Genetic Coding Profession, but it was what Cain needed. Lurin could see a meaningful light in Cain¡¯s eyes as this one heard that description. ¡°If you are interested in becoming a Genetic Coder, I could share some knowledge my father shared with me.¡± Lurin wouldn¡¯t normally make an offer like that but forming a good relationship with a martial genius and master strategist like Cain would only bring good things to him. Originally Cain had no interest in any Profession, but things changed drastically after finding out there was one similar to one of the Absolute Life Form System¡¯s modules. ¡°I will think about it,¡± Cain said nothing more before making his way back to the cadet section with the rest of the group. Once they were there, he said goodbye and went to his residence. ¡°Apex?¡± There was no need for more words as the System Spirit knew what Cain wanted to ask. ¡°Brat, I told you from the beginning that the Absolute Life Form System can not make something out of nothing. That goes for its modules as well. You will learn more in the future if you grow powerful enough.¡± Cain could only sigh and nod after hearing that. Apex had helped him, but he knew that this one was not his babysitter. The System Spirit would not provide any knowledge unless he asked for it specifically. ¡°Genetic Coding. I could take a look at it.¡± Chapter 125 - 125 Training new skills 125 Training new skills There were many things on Cain¡¯s mind once he reached his residence, but he was too tired. After bowing to his father¡¯s altar, taking a shower, and eating a small meal, he went to bed. Although he could use Embryonic Breathing to shorten the time, it was good to relax from time to time. A bow¡¯s string had to be tense, but if pushed too much, it could break. Only after a good night of sleep did Cain begin to address his affairs. He took out the crystal card with information about the Visualization Technique, Free Ego, and Embryonic Breathing and went through every point. It took more than four hours for Cain to grasp the essence of all the knowledge Zarak left in the crystal card. ¡°Embryonic Breathing has different levels. I am currently at the first level, where my body recovers much faster, and my mind can find tranquility with little effort. I can also revolve my Astral Wave much faster, improving my cultivation and energy recovery. As for Free Ego. It is more than just allowing my Ego Wave to leave my brain. I can train it to grow stronger and more resilient. With enough training, I can make it invisible and silent to the point that it could enter the body of someone, and that person would not even notice it. Currently, there is not much I can do with my Visualization Technique. I need to give some time for my Alter-Ego to grow and show its nature and power. After that, I can begin to harness it.¡¯ Cain took a few deep breaths, and soon he entered Embryonic Breathing. He could achieve that state without much effort as long there were no threats nearby affecting his concentration. He stood in that state for a few minutes and felt that all the fatigue from reading for several hours had vanished. After that came his Free Ego training. ..... A red electromagnetic force field emerged from Cain¡¯s brain and moved around the room. Everything it touched appeared in his mind clearer than if he was seeing it with his own eyes. It took him around three hours for the red color to fade slowly. Cain had to focus all his mind on that task, and any flaw would make it visible again. Cain practiced his Free Ego for an hour before allowing his Ego Wave to return to his brain. ¡®It will be long before I can make it invisible without effort and much longer before it is imperceptible for anyone with a weaker willpower than mine.¡¯ After practicing the knowledge he gained from the first crystal card, Cain took the second Zarak gave him. The information about the Hypnosis Master Path was very obscure and complex, but its essence was simple. Cain needed to generate a clash of wills with the opponent. The key was not just defeating the opponent; he had to leave it susceptible before uttering a command that would carry an impulse. He would have to ensure that impulse would reach the target¡¯s psyche and force this one to act a certain way. There were even ways to generate powerful illusions or implant specific commands that would activate with a keyword. ¡®Becoming a 1 Star Hypnosis Master is incredibly challenging in just two weeks.¡¯ Cain understood the task¡¯s difficulty, but he trusted Zarak¡¯s guidance. If he could not do it, that meant he had no talent in the Hypnosis Master Path and would not waste his time in it. After going through the information in both crystal cards and grasping his new abilities, Cain addressed a different subject. ¡°How many military credits do I have?¡± One of the reasons he went through the pillars was to test his strength but also secure as many military credits as he could. [Military credits: 194.340] Cain showed a great smile as he saw that massive quantity of credits. The pillars¡¯ rewards, Wave Champion Atrox¡¯s body, and the ones he gained for battling Wave Beasts¡¯ hordes added up to a massive number. He almost laughed as he had no idea what to do with so many military credits. Of course, the military¡¯s network had things much more expensive than 190.000 credits, but none of them were useful for a Wave Warrior like Cain. It did not take long for Cain to pick up the things he needed. He bought several wave crystals along with Dragon Grass. Those would help his cultivation and training in Blood Refinement Art. Even for scions that had the full power of their Noble Families behind them, Cain¡¯s purchase was insane. Of course, using such high-quality resources would translate into a powerful foundation. Once Cain saw the number of credits left after buying a few crystals and grass, he did not know whether to laugh or cry. ¡°Hahaha, I have less than 20.000 credits left, and what I bought will not last me more than a couple of months. It is true what they say; there is never such a thing as too much money.¡± Cain did not spend all his credits on resources as there was one last thing he needed to buy. ¡°Apex, did you find the object I requested from you?¡± ¡°I have found several ways to acquire it. There is one that involves certain risks, but with your current strength, there would be no problem. It would actually benefit our purpose to take that path, but it all depends on if you are willing to do what needs to be done?¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard that. The object he wanted to obtain was instrumental in fulfilling a promise he made to himself. ¡°Please explain.¡± ¡°I can get it using several fronts to hide the real buyer, but someone will know that it was sold in the Collapsing Lightning Sector. However, there is a way to obtain it and hide any trace of its sale. A merchant is willing to sell it for a very low price, but they would only do the transaction in person.¡± Cain understood what a physical transaction of this type meant. After a moment, his eyes grow decisive and cold. ¡°Do it. Settle the transaction to happen in twelve days.¡± ¡°Done.¡± Chapter 126 - 126 Clash of wills 126 Clash of wills There was a large forest not too far away from a small city. Ordinary people did not visit this place, and even soldiers knew better than to get into it since it was where criminals went to do shady business. You might see something you should not and end up dying, so everybody knew better than to get near it. There was a full moon in the sky, and an old man waited in a desolate part of the forest. He had short gray hair and a thin build, and there was a large scar in his neck. Despite his ferocious appearance, the man looked incredibly peaceful, and his smile seemed capable of putting people at ease. Suddenly the old man¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw a figure coming out of the forest. Although the person had a robe covering his entire body, it was clear he could not be more than fifteen years old. Seeing that the person he was about to meet was so young made a sharp light appear in the eyes of the old man. Still, he immediately hid it, showing nothing but friendship on his face. ¡°Is he alone?¡± The old man did not utter those words but sent them through his A.I. Chip. ¡°Yes, Young Elephant and Young Monkey surveilled the surroundings, and there was no one else in a radius of five hundred meters.¡± When the old man heard that, his smile grew wider, but still, it showed no evil thoughts. Clearly, he had done this many times and knew how to hide his emotions. ¡°Great Tiger, Prepare to act. Like always, I will speak with the buyer for a while and will give you the signal if he is someone that we can get rid of.¡± ..... No answer came, but the old man knew that the ones hiding in the dark were ready to act the moment he gave the signal. ¡°Hello, my friend. Who would have thought that someone so young would be interested in my services? Allow me to introduce myself. I am Old Fox.¡± The old man spoke warmly before approaching the young man and stretching his hand. When the young man grabbed Old Fox¡¯s hand, a small device was activated and scanned him, sending the information about his cultivation to the old man. Old Fox was surprised to see the information that reached his A.I. Chip. ¡®Less than fifteen years old and already a Level 3 Astral Wave Warrior! A scion of a Noble Family?¡¯ Deep inside his gut, Old Fox felt great resentment as he saw such a young genius. He was also a Level 3 Wave Warrior, but his age had already neared seventy. Of course, as someone that had lived long in this business, Old Fox knew how to keep a cold head. Some people could disappear with no one bothering to look for them, while the vanishing of others could raise hell on earth. ¡®I guess today will be regular business.¡¯ That thought crossed Old Fox¡¯s mind just as he was about to let go of the boy¡¯s hand. However, Old Fox¡¯s eyes widened when he felt the boy hold his hand in a tight grip, and the next thing he saw were two red eyes looking directly at him. The man who had spoken with Old Fox and watched everything from the shadows could not help but frown as he saw Old Fox staring blankly into the boy¡¯s eyes before talking in a low tone. Just as he was about to ask what was happening, Old Fox again communicated with him through the A.I. Chip. ¡°He is a Level 3 Essence Wave Warrior, but he is just some bastard with no background. We can act without fear. Tell Young Elephant and Young Monkey to cover the escape routes. You will come into the open and display your strength, destroying his fighting spirit and making things easier for us. I have already activated the jamming device, so no communication will go in and out of this place.¡± Great Tyger was confused by that command. Everything would be easier if he attacked from the shadows and killed the boy before this one even noticed that something was happening. Still, he did not dare to refute Old Fox¡¯s words. Just as Old Fox got away from the boy, Great Tiger emerged from the darkness. He was a middle-aged man with a large body covered in green armor, holding a dagger and sword. ¡°What is the meaning of this!?¡± The young man shouted as he saw Old Tiger¡¯s figure. Great Tiger found the boy¡¯s reaction extremely normal, but something bothered him. ¡®His body language is that of a terrified man looking for a way out, but his eyes show no fear. Something is not right.¡¯ Great Tiger was no newbie, and his instincts were top-notch, but there was not much he could do now other than go ahead with the plan. ¡°This is the price of doing business in the dark. There is nowhere to run for you. The only thing you gain by fighting will be making things harder for you.¡± Old Fox spoke calmly while moving away from the young man and positioning himself safely behind Great Tiger¡¯s body. Great Tiger¡¯s instincts kept telling him something was wrong, so he decided to end this as fast as possible. He took a deep breath as his Essence Wave burst with power, generating powerful gales. ¡°Brat, I am a Level 5 Essence Wave Warrior. The difference between us is like heaven and earth. There is no way you can escape this place alive. If you don¡¯t resist, I promise to make it painless.¡± Great Tiger¡¯s dagger and sword began to glow as a sharp wing circulated them. The boy only showed greater fear as he saw the strength of Great Tiger and moved back, ready to run away. Great Tiger only shook his head when he saw that, and he dashed forward at an incredible speed. He was less than twenty meters away from the boy in a second, ready to fire a spell that would kill this one in a swift movement. However, it was at that point that everything went south for Great Tiger. He had just raised his weapons and loaded them with his Essence Wave when a red force field emerged from the boy¡¯s head and clashed against him. Chapter 127 - 127 Killing a Level 5 Wave Warrior 127 Killing a Level 5 Wave Warrior Great Tiger was surprised and felt a powerful force crashing against him, making its way to his brain. After a second, the force managed to overcome his willpower and put him in a susceptible state of consciousness. ¡°Sleep.¡± That command reached the deepest part of his mind and instilled in him an intense desire to let go of everything, close his eyes, and fall asleep. ¡°NO!¡± Great Tiger shouted as he fought with everything he had that compulsion. A harsh life had granted Great Tiger a powerful will, so he was able to overcome that drive implanted in his mind. Actually, he could have resisted from the beginning, but he was so sure of his victory against the boy that he lowered his guard. Although Great Tiger regained control of his mind, that did not mean everything was fine. Fighting off that compulsion granted the boy all the time he needed to burst with immense power. Not only was the boy unleashing a Wave output equal to a Late Level 4 Wave Warrior, it wasn¡¯t Essence Wave but Astral Wave! Great Tiger saw how a black armor extended from the boy¡¯s back and covered this one¡¯s body, just as two fists charged with an immense amount of Astral Wave and lightning came toward him. Even if the amount of Wave that Great Tiger could unleash surpassed the boy¡¯s, Essence Wave was unsuitable for physical defense. ..... He directed much of his Essence Wave toward the front of his body while raising his weapons. ¡®I will take that blow. It will harm me, but after that, I will be able to put some distance between us before unleashing a barrage of Wind Blades.¡¯ Great Tiger was a seasoned fighter, so he devised a plan in a fraction of a second. Unfortunately, he was unable to predict what would happen next. Great Tiger¡¯s eyes widened as he felt a sharp pain on his back and saw that Old Fox had just buried a knife in it. The old man had charged almost all his Essence Wave into the knife, which did a lot of damage. ¡°Dammit!¡± Great Tiger shouted as he stuck Old Fox with the back of his hand, sending the old man flying away. Great Tiger did not understand what was happening but did not have time to think as the lightning fist was about to reach him. He could only put his free arm on its path, protecting his chest from the blows that would have undoubtedly shattered his sternum. When those fists landed on him, Great Tiger felt as if a massive truck was about to run him over, but things only worsened. The matrixes in the gauntlets glowed, generating an extremely powerful kinetic blast that completely shattered Great Tiger¡¯s right arm and sent him flying away while puking blood. ¡°BOOM!!¡± Great Tiger felt how every single one of his internal organs trembled and was sure that his right arm would have exploded if not for his armor. Despite the immense pain and damage he endured, the man managed to shout an order in mid-air. ¡°Young Elephant, Young Monkey, kill him!¡± By this point, everybody could tell that the young man responsible for all this mayhem was no other than Cain. Cain¡¯s arms trembled for a moment as they went over the backlash of triggering a double level 2 Kinetic Blast. The last time he used it, the bones on his hands almost broke, and it drained most of his Astral Wave. Although he coped with it much better this time, it still temporarily froze him. Less than a second after Great Tiger¡¯s shout, two figures emerged from the darkness. One was a thin woman wielding a metal staff, while the other was a large man wearing brown armor full of spikes. The first was an Essence Wave Cultivator, the second an Astral Wave Cultivator, and both were Level 4 Wave Warriors. Cain did not even glance at the duo coming at him full of killing intent, but his Ego Wave dashed toward them, generating a clash of wills. Young Monkey and Young Elephant were shocked by the sudden clash. Although they were on high alert and aware of their danger, none could face off Cain¡¯s willpower. ¡°Freeze!¡± The duo wanted nothing more than to kill Cain, but their bodies froze when they heard that command. What they desired did not matter since the order Cain implanted in their minds was stronger. Cain¡¯s Ego Wave showed him how the duo froze thirty meters away from him. Once his body recovered from the backlash, he took a deep breath and activated it. ¡°First Gear.¡± Cain softly uttered those words as his flesh turned red. ¡°Thump!¡± Great Tiger was just about to rise from the ground when he heard a powerful heartbeat that echoed through the forest. He saw that sound coming from the boy¡¯s chest; before he could overcome the shock, this one appeared in front of him. ¡®What a monstrous speed!¡¯ That was the last thought that crossed Great Tiger¡¯s mind before a fist carrying outrageous strength landed on his chest, overwhelming his armor¡¯s defenses and shattering his ribs and sternum. ¡°AHHHH!¡± Great Tiger screamed in pain as blood carrying pieces of his inner organs came out of his mouth. However, he could not yell for long since a barrage of punches began to land on his head, shattering every bone in it. Cain¡¯s entire body rotated after every punch, generating a greater and greater momentum and torque that would enhance the next blow with even more strength. Young Monkey and Young Elephant could do nothing else but see as a young boy punched the head of their leader with so much strength that small blasts echoed every time the fists connected. It was not long before they heard the sound that marked the end of the massacre. ¡°CRACK!¡± Great Tiger¡¯s skull finally gave up under that barrage and shattered, marking the end of the man. Cain¡¯s eyes showed no mercy at all as he turned toward the duo with bloody hands. Chapter 128 - 128 No mercy 128 No mercy The way Young Elephant and Young Monkey reacted to Great Tiger¡¯s skull cracking was very different. Absolute terror invaded the woman¡¯s heart while the man¡¯s eyes burst with pure rage. ¡°Bastard!¡± Young Elephant roared with rage as his Astral Wave burst with immense strength, making a golden light cover his entire body. Cain saw how the man managed to overcome the compulsion and dashed toward him with immense strength. He was in no position to counter or dodge that attack, so he could only block it. However, that was not all Cain did. As he raised his guard and focused his Astral Wave in his arms, he turned toward Young Monkey. ¡°Stop breathing.¡± Emotions have an effect on a person¡¯s willpower. Anger could drive your focus to the point that you could break a weak compulsion, while fear could make you even more susceptible to it. Young Elephant¡¯s burning rage allowed his willpower to rise to the point where he could resist Cain¡¯s control, but Young Monkey was so terrified that the moment she heard those words, her lungs stopped working. Young Elephant did not notice the plight of his ally. There was nothing more in his eyes than the young man in front of him. He knew deep inside that the only way to come out of this place alive was to kill that person. ¡°?Boom!¡± ..... A blast echoed through the forest as Young Elephant¡¯s fist clashed with Cain¡¯s arms, sending this one flying away. Cain¡¯s eyes remained calm, but he was inwardly surprised by the strength of that attack. ¡®That yellow light seems to improve his body¡¯s hardness and increase the weight behind each punch.¡¯ As he figured out the enemy¡¯s skill, Cain rotated his body mid-air, recovering control before landing on his feet. Young Elephant was shocked by Cain¡¯s martial skills, but he threw away all those useless thoughts and dashed forward, full of killing intent. ¡°Stop moving,¡± Cain uttered that command again, but it had no effect other than making Young Elephant frown. ¡°Your tricks will no longer work on me!¡± Young Elephant shouted, trying to give himself more courage while the golden light that covered his body grew even stronger. Cain noticed that the enemy¡¯s mental fortitude had risen to a level where this one could resist the compulsion of a 1 Star Elementary Hypnosis Master. Although it would make things harder, he showed no fear toward an enemy like Young Elephant. His Wave Burst went down to 1000%. That diminished his raw power but allowed him to fight for a longer time. Young Elephant¡¯s fury grew stronger when he saw Cain¡¯s Astral Wave output diminished. He thought thst the young man was looking down on him. ¡°Die!¡± Young Elephant sent a vicious punch toward the boy¡¯s head, showing surprisingly good martial skills. Unfortunately for Young Elephant, Cain easily dodged the blow, and things did not end there. Cain used Young Elephant¡¯s momentum to counter with his own punch to the head. Young Elephant felt his head would fly away from his body, but he clenched his teeth and sent another attack. Sadly things repeat themselves. Cain countered every attack that Young Elephant fired. The Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior had immense strength and durability but severely lacked speed. Having lower speed than your opponent did not mean you could not touch them, as you could use superior martial skills, feints, or attack from blind spots. However, the [A.I. Chip Module] generated a small virtual screen in Cain¡¯s vision, showing him a prediction of Young Elephant¡¯s following movements. Cain used it for the first time against the Atrox Wave Champion, and there was no way he would let such a powerful tool go to waste. He had even given it a name. Virtual Sight. Cain continued countering Young Elephant¡¯s punches, adding the strength of this one to his own attacks. After a few minutes, he saw the man¡¯s eyes beginning to lose focus due to all the blows to the head. He dodged another strike but did not fire a counter this time. Instead, he lowered his body and struck Young Elephant¡¯s knee with his elbow. Young Elephant¡¯s eyes widened with pain as he felt his right knee almost shattering due to that blow. However, he endured the agony and used that same leg to strike back. That attack surprised Cain as Virtual Sight showed him that Young Elephant¡¯s stance would crumble after that strike. Of course, Cain did not blindly trust what Virtual Sight showed him since he knew the predictions were not 100% certain. He moved back and put his arms in front of his chest just before that kick sent him flying away. Young Elephant would have wanted to carry on with his attacks, but the damage he had received was too much, and his right leg no longer worked. He could not rest for even a second before Cain flashed back to the fray and landed a ferocious kick on his jaw. Cain saw Young Elephant¡¯s eyes grow dim after that kick due to the brain trauma and immediately continued with another kick toward the temple. That second kick sent Young Elephant crashing to the ground before a third kick connected to the back of his head, destroying the cervical vertebrae and cutting the spinal cord. Cain¡¯s deactivated his Wave Burst, Lightning Armament, and Asura Form the moment he killed Young Elephant. He kept Wave Cloak activated since it would not be wise to lower his guard in a place like this. The battles against Great Tiger and Young Elephant were short but drained almost all of his Astral Wave and pushed him to his limit. He focused on Old Fox and saw that the man was unconscious before turning toward Young Monkey. The woman was twitching on the ground while grabbing her neck, desperately attempting to breathe. Even if a Level 4 Wave Warrior could go for several minutes without breathing, it did not mean asphyxiation did not affect them. Cain walked to the woman and saw the terror in her eyes that pleaded for mercy. He put his hand over her chest before whispering two words. ¡°Stop working.¡± Young Monkey heard those words before her heart stopped beating, and she perished. Chapter 129 - 129 Low gains 129 Low gains Cain¡¯s Ego Wave vanished as he looked around the battlefield. He saw the Great Tiger, Young Elephant, and Young Monkey corpses and showed nothing in his eyes. After experiencing killing millions in his past life memories, murder could no longer affect Cain¡¯s mind. Especially if the ones he killed were people that would not have hesitated to end his life so they could take his belongings. Cain¡¯s true nature was that of a hero, but his own version of what a hero meant. He would protect the people he cared about, save any innocent he found on his journey, and butcher all evil in his path. Cain went toward Old Fox, and after ensuring that the man was unconscious, he sat by this one¡¯s side and rested for a little while. He felt mentally exhausted. Although hypnosis was an extremely powerful technique and seemed very easy tp display, nothing could be farther from the truth. It required immense mental effort to place someone¡¯s mind under hypnosis, and just the most basic command required all of Cain¡¯s focus. After a few minutes, Cain was able to recover a little and turned toward Old Fox before putting a hand over this one¡¯s head. ¡°Wake up.¡± The target being unconscious did not mean Cain could not put this one under hypnosis since the brain still worked perfectly fine. In any case, it only made things easier as this one¡¯s mental defenses were lower. Old Fox opened his eyes, but they had lost their focus, making it clear to everybody who saw him that his mind was in an altered state. ..... ¡°Who else knows about you coming to this place and doing this transaction?¡± Old Fox showed no resistance and immediately answered Cain¡¯s question. ¡°No one else in the organization knows about it. The only ones privy to this deal were the men I came with.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard those words. He did not doubt that Old Fox belonged to some criminal group, but the fact that this one used the word organization disturbed him. ¡°Explain to me what organization you belong to.¡± ¡°I am part of the Ancient Feral Organization. We are a criminal group with our headquarters in Jarken County. We use animals as our code names, and the prefix determines our status in the organization. Juvenile, Young, and Great are used for warriors, while those that handle logistic affairs use Aged. Those with the Old prefix are special, meaning they have a strong background within the organization. A council formed by nine people lead our organization. Each is called an Ancient Beast, with my big sister being one of them. I am unaware of the strength of the other eight, but my sister is a Level 9 Essence Wave Warrior.¡± Cain showed an awkward smile as he heard all that information. ¡®It seems I have kicked a hornet nest. My luck is truly unbelievable. Well, there is nothing I can do about it now.¡¯ Although Cain was a little annoyed that the criminals he had just killed had such a complicated background, there was no way to turn back time now. Besides, even if he could, he would not change anything. Before, an organization with Level 9 Wave Warriors and possible Wave Champions would have been an existential threat to Cain, but now they were just a problem. ¡®Usually, in a criminal organization, the higher-ups will always get their cuts from anything the underlings did. I guess Old Fox did not share this endeavor with anyone else because he wanted to secure all the profit.¡¯ Cain confirmed his guess after asking it directly to Old Fox before asking more questions about the Ancient Feral Organization. He wanted to know everything he could about them in case they came knocking on his door in the future. After roughly thirty minutes, Cain was able to get a comprehensive understanding of the Ancient Feral Organization. ¡°Last question. How many people have you killed with this type of scheme?¡± ¡°Forty-eight.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Cain said nothing else before slapping Old Fox¡¯s head with all his strength, making it explode like a balloon full of blood. There were many ways to handle Old Fox, but Cain chose to use the more definitive. Everybody from the Ancient Feral Organization that came to this forest was dead, and no one could reveal Cain¡¯s involvement. During the interrogation, Cain had asked for Apex to hack Old Fox¡¯s space ring, and he could now use it. He stored the old man¡¯s belongings in it before doing the same with the trio¡¯s artifacts and blasting their heads. The blood will attract the Wave Beast from the surroundings, and they will not leave a single hair of those energy-rich bodies. Cain could have also stored the corpses in his space rings, but he had no idea if there was a way for people to track them somehow, so it was better to be safe than sorry. Once he finished handling the corpses, Cain scanned the surroundings with his Ego Wave and [Basic Scan Force Field], making sure there was no evidence of his presence here before leaving. Cain jumped from one tree to another on his way back, ensuring he left no tracks on the ground. As he left the battlefield, he issued a command to the Absolute Life Form System. ¡°System, how much Destiny Force did I gain from this last encounter?¡± Immediately a robotic voice echoed inside Cain¡¯s mind. [Destiny Force obtained: 2.3 points] Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he saw how little he had obtained. He could understand that Old Fox would not grant him much since the old man did not have much time left and was weak, but the other three were relatively young and with high cultivations. ¡°Brat, do not expect much from people like that. For starters, low-level criminals have weak destinies. Most are considered nothing more than disposable pawns in the eyes of the higher-ups. Not to mention that your destiny had risen a lot, so the fact you gained anything from them was already impressive.¡± Cain showed an awkward smile as he heard that. He had forgotten just how much he had grown over the last few months. Chapter 130 - 130 Basic Genetic Enhancement 130 Basic Genetic Enhancement Cain knew he could steal the destiny of the people he killed. However, the stronger his destiny, the less Destiny Force he would gain. That is why he earned almost nothing despite having killed a Level 5 and two Level 4 Wave Warriors. ¡°How much is my current Destiny Force?¡± [Destiny Force: 1664] Cain was surprised by that large number but immediately figured out the reason for the sudden rise. The fame and glory he obtained in the Cadet Ranking helped him improve his destiny. He had not gone to the Pillars de Trial for that, but it happened nonetheless. ¡®Ahhh, figuring out my destiny¡¯s growth is too hard. If I try to do it, the only thing I will do is waste my time. The best path is to carry on with what I usually do, always striving to improve.¡¯ ¡°Well thought, brat. You are too young and weak to attempt and decipher destiny¡¯s mysteries. You are on the right path. Just keep walking forward.¡± Cain showed a small smile as he heard Apex¡¯s encouraging words. As he saw the massive amount of Destiny Force he had gathered, ideas came to his mind. ¡°System, show me the [Genetic Coder Module].¡± ..... Less than a second after Cain uttered that order, a virtual screen appeared in his sight. [Genetic Coder Module: -Basic Genetic Stimulation -Basic Genetic Suppression -Basic Genetic Enhancement.] ¡®I have no use for [Basic Genetic Stimulation] since I have already awakened my dormant bloodline. [Basic Genetic Suppression] could help me with my bloodline¡¯s emotional outbursts, but that is no longer a problem after I reached Mind Over Body. The only one usable right now is [Basic Genetic Enhancement].¡¯ Cain did not look down on the [Genetic Coder Module] by no means, as he knew that the only reason he was able to shine in the early months of the military academy was his bloodline that he obtained thanks to [Basic Genetic Stimulation]. However, two of its three tools have lost their use. Of course, that would change once Cain evolved the module to the next stage. Although he would have wanted to do it right now, things were not so simple. He had already obtained the 1000 Destiny Force points needed to evolve the module, but his soul was not strong enough to endure the pressure of an evolved [Genetic Coder Module]. That is why Cain focused on [Basic Genetic Enhancement]. He had always been interested in the tool, but each use cost 100 Destiny Force, so he was not in a position to use it before. However, things have changed now. ¡®Display the possible genetic enhancement I can obtain.¡¯ The Absolute Life Form System carried on with the command immediately. [Displaying available genetic enhancements: ... ... Due to the Genetic Coder Module¡¯s current capabilities, enhancing specific genes would negatively affect others. The projected outcomes are specific to the Lightning Lupus Bloodline. Different bloodlines will generate different outcomes as the effect on the genome will vary. ... -Enhanced Genetic Strength: Enhance genes focused on physical strength. Projected outcome: Increase strength by 9%. Diminish speed by 7%. -Enhanced Genetic Speed: Enhance genes focused on physical speed. Projected outcome: Increase speed by 5%. Diminish strength by 1.2%. -Enhanced Genetic Vitality: Enhance genes focused on vitality. Projected outcome: Increase vitality by 10%. Diminish speed by 3.5%. Diminish strength 3.5%] When Cain saw the available enhancement, he did not know whether to laugh or cry. Increasing his vitality by 10% or strength by 9% would be immensely helpful, but the drawbacks were not worth it. The only one that was cost-effective in Cain¡¯s mind was [Enhanced Genetic Speed] as a rise of 5% on his already high speed would greatly improve his battle power, and he could endure a 1.2% loss in his physical strength. Nevertheless, paying 100 Destiny Force for it was not something that Cain was willing to do. Each point was incredibly difficult to obtain, and he never knew when he would need them. ¡®I am in no urgent need to improve my speed right now, so I will save the points. I should gain even better outcomes after evolving the [Genetic Coder Module], and there may be even better tools at my disposal at that time.¡¯ Cain made the virtual screen vanish as he continued running, and after another two hours, he finally left the forest. He appeared close to his military truck and got up on it before commanding the vehicle to drive back to the Imperial Lightning Fort. Once Cain was safely inside the military truck, he relaxed. The journey had been bloody, but he came out of it immaculate. ¡®Time to see the real gains.¡¯ Cain thought with a smile as he began to analyze all the wealth in his new space ring. The Wave Artifacts he took from Old Fox, Great Tiger, Young Elephant, and Young Monkey were not that impressive, but they could amount to roughly fifteen thousand military credits. Just like he did with all the other artifacts, he would leave them to Apex so that this one could exchange them for resources using the empire¡¯s network. Initially, Cain expected to find a significant amount of wealth stored in Old Fox¡¯s space ring, but luck did not shine on him. There was a great deal of paper money, fine wine, and delicious food, but had no cultivation resources. ¡®I guess it makes sense. Old Fox probably had already given up on his cultivation, so there was no reason for him to have stuck up cultivation resources. There might have been a great deal of Imperial Military Credits in his account, but I could not access those.¡¯ Cain would have no problem commanding Old Fox to transfer military credits to his account using hypnosis, but that would have left a log of the transfer. It would have been the same as yelling to the world that he killed the old man and the other three. There was one thing that Cain found inside the space ring that drew a large smile on his face. He took out a small red piece of metal and put it on top of the artifact covering his spine. The piece fused flawlessly with the inactive Nullity Armor, and when Cain sent the signal, both activated together. A black armor covered Cain¡¯s body, but this time, instead of a black helmet, a red one appeared. Chapter 131 - 131 Inspiring others 131 Inspiring others The moment the red helmet showed itself, it emanated a small electromagnetic force field that distorted light and other forces, making it impossible for most to decipher Cain¡¯s appearance. Things did not end there since, with a single command from Cain, the helmet also began to modify the Nullity Armor¡¯s appearance, making it resemble a standard mercenary. Cain did not know why but the moment the red helmet covered his face, he felt a sense of peace that was hard to describe. ¡®How odd. It is as if I can show a different part of myself.¡¯ Unknown to Cain, inside his soul dimension, the crimson sphere that was his Alter-Ego began to tremble. It did not last long, and Cain was unaware of it, but something happened inside it. After a moment, Cain sent another command, and the helmet vanished, turning the Nullity Armor to its original appearance. He intended to use it for criminal activities, so he could not go around showing it. Cain was delighted with the helmet and looked at the virtual screen with its information. ¡®Red Hood. A good name.¡¯ The military truck drove at full speed toward the Imperial Lightning Military Fort, and Cain did not waste a minute. He used Embryonic Breathing to enhance his recovery speed, focusing on his mental powers as he needed to be in peak condition for the next task. ..... It did not take long for the military truck to enter the fort. Cain got out of it before walking away. ¡ª There was a group of young cadets near the gate that led out of the cadet section. Most were at Level 2, and some were at Level 1. It was easy to decipher from their clothes and demeanor that none of this group came from a Noble Family. They were all commoners with decent enough talent to pursue a promising career in the military. Their goal was to reach the Pillar of Trials and test their strength. Of course, none expected to enter the Cadet Ranking, but measuring their power was always good. It could show their strong and weak points so that they could work on them in the future. ¡°That is why we came here, Sir.¡± A young woman with tan skin and defined muscles spoke respectfully to the old man guarding the gate. She seemed to be the group¡¯s leader, and her cultivation was the highest of all, reaching the later stage of Level 2. Oliver showed a small smile as he saw the fighting spirit in the cadets. He especially valued those from humble backgrounds as they made him remember his younger self. ¡®Young and full of courage. Some of these little brats have the potential to reach Level 7; with some help, they could grow to become rising stars.¡¯ Oliver was already making plans for these young cadets. After they left, he would send the word out, ensuring that the other vice-captains and captains help them. That solidarity made many people in the Godslayer Humankind Empire see the military as their family, especially those from humble backgrounds who did not have to choose between forming part of the Imperial Military Force or their own families¡¯ forces. Just as Oliver was about to give the cadets some encouraging words and let them pass through the gate, he saw a figure in the distance. The cadets were surprised to see Oliver¡¯s eyes open wide before rising from his meditative position and adopting a respectful stance. None of them knew the strength or status of the old man, but they were sure it was high, so they were surprised that he acted like that. Some of the cadets guessed that an influential person was coming toward the cadet section, so they all focused on the gate leading toward the fort¡¯s central area. ¡°Welcome, Young Lord.¡± Oliver clasped his hands and performed a small bow. The cadets were shocked to see that the one that provoked such a reaction from Oliver was not a big shot from the Imperial Military Force but another cadet that was walking toward them. ¡°There is no need to call me like that, and much less bow toward me. I understand why you do it, and I appreciate your respect, but I don¡¯t like to see elders bowing to young people.¡± The one that spoke was a young man with black hair and green eyes wearing an impressive blue robe. ¡°You... you are Cain Laurifer!¡± One of the cadets could not help but shout as he saw Cain, making the eyes of all the others glow with interest and awe. A few months ago, Cain Laurifer was just one of the many talented cadets in the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy. Still, there was nothing truly remarkable about him. Although he had made a name for himself by showing a Late Wave Champion¡¯s willpower, taking the N¡ã1 position in the Pillar of Mind, none of the cadets understood the true meaning of strong willpower as they knew nothing of the Ego Eternal Path of Power. However, everything changed in the past few weeks after displaying a speed and destructive power worthy of the N¡ã1 position in the Cadet Ranking. It did not take long for rumors about Cain to begin circulation, like how he almost killed one of the teachers and the amazing military skill that allowed him to lead one hundred men against thousands of Wave Beasts. The most famous legend around Cain was his involvement in the killing of an Atrox Wave Champion! Cain turned toward the cadets and smiled at them before nodding. He had no idea who they were since they had different classes, and he was not precisely the sociable type, but there was no reason to show coldness toward a group of future comrades. ¡°Good day to all of you.¡± Cain greeted the group before turning back to Oliver. ¡°I need to pass. Open the gate, please.¡± Unlike the other cadets, who needed to state their purpose before leaving the cadet section, Cain did not need to say anything else for Oliver to wave his hand and open the gate. ¡°Do you need company, You.., Cain?¡± Oliver corrected his words mid-way. He would never show this type of deference toward a scion from a Noble Family, but Cain was the core disciple of his teacher, one of the strongest life forms in the entire Collapsing Lightning Sector. ¡°No, thank you.¡± Cain did not say anything else before arcs of lightning covered his body, and he flashed away. The cadets saw Cain run into the fort¡¯s central area, and their eyes were full of admiration. Their reactions were quite common, as the Godslayer Humankind¡¯s culture valued strength above all things, and Cain Laurifer was the strongest cadet in the Imperial Lightning Fort. ¡°So that is Cain Laurifer. He is around the same age as us, but I hear he can easily kill Level 4 Wave Warriors. And according to the rumors, he is also a commoner.¡± The same cadet that shouted Cain¡¯s name before spoke again, and those last few words made the eyes of the other cadets glow with excitement. If someone from a humble origin could reach such a high level, would that not mean they could also do it? ¡°Do not let rumors get over your head. I doubt that someone so amazing as him could be a commoner. He might have hidden his background so people would not approach him with false intentions.¡± The young woman that led the group poured cold water into the cadets¡¯ spirits. She was not trying to be cruel but did not want them to chase impossible dreams under false information. Actually, she had also grown excited the first time she heard the N¡ã1 Collapsing Lightning Cadet came from a humble background, but now that she saw him, his demeanor was too striking. When she saw Cain¡¯s eyes, it was like looking at a man that had been groomed from birth to rule. ¡°Cain Laurifer is an orphan. Regarding backgrounds, Cain¡¯s was as humble as you could get.¡± The cadets turned toward Oliver as those words reignited their dimmer spirits. ¡°Is that true?¡± The group¡¯s leader spoke with shock in her voice. She found it hard to believe that an orphan could have that royal aura. Oliver was not fond of gossip, but he saw the light in the cadets¡¯ eyes when they heard about Cain¡¯s background. Talent was important, but the will to rise and an objective to follow were just as essential in your cultivation path. ¡°Cain Laurifer is an orphan that came to the Collapsing Lightning Sector, and at that point, he was nothing more than a newly advanced Level 1 Astral Wave Warrior. That young man had no wealth when he arrived at the military academy, but he never allowed his origin to dictate how high he could rise, and neither should you.¡± A large smile appeared on Oliver¡¯s face as he saw the burning fighting spirit in the cadets. ¡®Good, very good.¡¯ Chapter 132 - 132 Breaking the illusion 132 Breaking the illusion Cain flashed through the streets at an impressive speed, leaving residual arcs of lightning on his path. Although his figure was startling, it was not odd to see something like that in the main area of the Imperial Lightning Fort. Many other soldiers ran through the streets incredibly fast, showing great control and not touching anyone else. The Imperial Lightning Fort was massive, being one of the greatest cities in the entire sector, so it would take days to reach from one end to the other just walking. The higher-up incentivized soldiers to move throughout the city using their own power instead of vehicles. It was good training for the battlefield, as driving anything through it was practically suicide. After roughly one hour of running, Cain reached a massive building with the words ¡®Licence Bureau¡¯ in the front. Many people were coming in and out, and the one thing they all had in common was that none was a cadet. The moment Cain entered the building, many people focused on him. There was no reason for a cadet to be in this place, so the people working there did not understand what he was doing. Cain looked around the building and saw two soldiers on the corners of the first floor. Their auras told him they were possible Level 4 Wave Warriors. Less than half a year ago, that strength was something that Cain would have to push himself to the limit and risk his life to fight. Now, he could paralyze both guards with nothing more than his words. Of course, Cain knew that they were just for show. The building itself was the true guarding, and it could surely display a crushing pressure that could shatter his body. Despite his current background, possibly the highest of any cadet in the entire fort, Cain was not an egomaniac and walked calmly toward the reception before greeting the woman behind the table. ..... ¡°Hello, I came here to obtain a license. Could you show me the way?¡± Like everybody else, the receptionist was surprised by the presence of a cadet in the building. However, since Cain was so courteous and had the demeanor of a scion, she did not make things harder for him. ¡°Sure. You just need to use that teleportation matrix and your A.I. Chip to determine the floor you want to reach. What type of license are you hoping to obtain?¡± ¡°I am not at liberty to say that information. Could you show me the information about all the floors?¡± Cain wanted to hide the fact he was a Hypnosis Master for as much time as possible. Although the ones handling the license would know, Zarak assured him they would not reveal any information. The woman¡¯s interest rose when she heard those words, but she knew better than to ask questions about things unrelated to her. The building¡¯s A.I. protected everybody in this place but also monitored the employees¡¯ activity; if any of them were found lacking, they would be fired and replaced. Although that work behavior could incite wrath in some people, the Imperial Military Force did not care about their feelings. The only thing that mattered to the higher-ups regarding logistic jobs was efficiency. ¡°Sure, I will send the information to your A.I. Chip immediately.¡± A second after the woman said those words, Cain saw that a file reached his [A.I. Chip Module]. He opened it and saw a description of each license type and what floor he should go to apply for one of them. ¡°Thank you.¡± Cain thanked the woman for her assistance before walking toward the teleportation matrix and vanishing. A blinding light hindered Cain¡¯s vision before finding himself on a large white floor. There were paintings on the walls, all unleashing a strange aura, giving the illusion that the pictures would come out at any moment. Cain had never liked things like paintings, but the ones here seemed capable of grabbing hold of his mind and even generating feelings of peace. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± However, all that serenity shattered when Cain heard those words, and his eyes widened as shock assaulted his heart. The reason for his reaction was that the words came from behind him, but even now, he perceived no one. Cain looked back, and his shock grew even stronger as no one was there. ¡°I will ask one last time, what are you doing here!?¡± The voice was even louder this time, and Cain felt it yell right next to his ear, making him frown. Cain did not understand what was happening. Instead of acting rashly, he took a deep breath and analyzed everything that was happening. After a few seconds, a flash of enlightenment crossed Cain¡¯s eyes. Just as the voice was about to appear again, Cain¡¯s eyes burst with red light as he pushed his Ego Wave to the limit. Cain felt how the world around him was changing. He was under an illusion and needed to act fast if he wanted to get out of it. ¡°AHHH!¡± Cain roared with all his strength when he practically made his Ego Wave explode. ¡°WHAT!?¡± A voice full of shock echoed through the floor, accompanied by a cracking sound. ¡°Crack.¡± The floor remained the same, but Cain could now see a middle-aged man five meters in front of him. The black-haired man was small and with a bulky frame, similar to Razmun¡¯s fantasy dwarf constitution. He gasped for air on the ground while blood leaked from his blue eyes. Cain grabbed his head as he felt immense pain and was having difficulty focusing. The sudden burst of his Ego Wave had overloaded his Ego Eternal Matrix, but that was the only way in which he could break the illusion. He stared at the middle-aged man who was having difficulty breathing and was sure this one must be in pure agony. Hypnosis Masters can do more than simply make a target follow a command. They can put their minds into illusions, manipulating their senses. Those that specialize in that field are called Illusion Masters. While the power of Illusion Masters is amazing, they need to maintain a direct clash of wills at all times, and if the target were to break the illusion, they would suffer a severe backlash, just like the middle-aged man did. ¡°You... little bastard.¡± The middle-aged man was in great agony but was still able to utter those words while looking at Cain with eyes full of rage. When Cain felt the rage in the middle-aged man¡¯s face, his eyes grew cold. Not only had the man put him in an illusion without his consent which was severe abuse, this one dared to show anger at the fact he managed to break free. Cain¡¯s mind was still in disarray, and he was having a hard time just remembering where he was. So, when he felt the middle-aged man¡¯s rage, his instincts kicked in. His current state was similar to the one he entered when Wink knocked him out. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with red light as he used his Ego Wave again, making the pain and fogginess affecting his mind even stronger. The middle-aged man¡¯s rage transformed into confusion as he saw Cain¡¯s using the Ego Wave. It did not take long for those emotions to become terror when he saw how the young man¡¯s Astral Wave burst with great power before this one concentrated all in two fingers. Cain felt his mind would break apart due to the immense pressure he faced. He clenched his teeth as he transformed all the Astral Wave loaded into his two fingers into lightning before attacking. The middle-aged man saw those two fingers coming at him like a lightning spear. He was a Late Essence Wave Champion, but his mind was in such disarray that he could not summon his Wave Cloak to protect himself. Even if the middle-aged man followed the Essence Evolution Path of Power, his body was still very strong since he was a Late Wave Champion. Cain¡¯s full-power attack could only leave a deep wound on his body. However, the problem was that the lightning spear did not aim at the middle-aged man¡¯s chest but at his right eye. ¡®Am I going to die?¡¯ That was the last thought that crossed the middle-aged man¡¯s mind before a small, delicate hand grabbed Cain¡¯s fingers centimeters away from his right eye. A gorgeous woman with golden hair and a delicate frame appeared out of nowhere and stopped Cain¡¯s attack. She was not using her Wave, but the lightning charged in those fingers could not harm her skin at all. Cain¡¯s eyes finally lose focus, becoming emotionless. He turned toward the woman who had stopped his attack and sent a kick toward her head using his body¡¯s momentum. The woman¡¯s face showed nothing as she saw that kick approaching her face. Just as the attack was about to land, she let go of Cain¡¯s fingers before gently tapping his chest. Cain¡¯s body trembled as he fell to the ground unconscious. Chapter 133 - 133 2-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master 133 2-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master Cain slowly opened his eyes and was immediately assaulted by immense pain. He grabbed his head as he felt his brain would split in two. Even in that state, when he saw himself waking up in an unknown room, he immediately rose from the couch on which he had been sleeping and focused on the surroundings with a sharp gaze. It was a white room with one large painting on each wall, and other than the couch, there was only a desk behind which one of the most beautiful women Cain had ever seen was sitting. ¡°You finally woke up. It was about time.¡± The woman spoke with a calm voice that echoed through the room. She did not look at Cain as her eyes focused on the crystal cards in her hands. Cain stared at the woman for a moment and had no idea of her power, but the feeling he got from her was similar to what Zarak gave him. She was like a force of nature capable of unimaginable destruction. ¡°I am Cain Laurifer. Who are you?¡± Before saying anything else, Cain wanted to know the woman¡¯s identity. He was not afraid since he did not think someone would purposely dare to harm him inside the Imperial Lightning Fort, as they would have to face the Zarak¡¯s wrath. Of course, Cain was unlike other scions that blindly trusted their background. There were all kinds of people in the world, and there was no shortage of madmen that did not care about who they killed. The woman raised her gaze from the crystal card in her hand and stared at Cain¡¯s before golden light emerged from them. Cain¡¯s eyes immediately responded by showing a red light. ..... ¡°So you are Zarak¡¯s boy. You two are really alike, killing anyone that gets in your way.¡± Cain grew confused when he heard those words. He had managed to break free of an illusion, but everything after that was foggy. ¡®Wait!¡¯ Suddenly, a memory came back, and he remembered transforming his arm into a lightning spear and thrusting it toward a man¡¯s eye. Everything after that was blank; he was unaware of what had happened to that man. A solemn expression appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, they were empty, lacking any emotion. That was a state he found very easy to enter as it seemed to be his default behavior in his past life. ¡°Did I kill him?¡± The woman saw the emptiness in Cain¡¯s eyes, and there was a flash of surprise in her eyes. ¡°What would happen if you did?¡± Cain¡¯s eyes were still empty of every emotion. He did not say a word, making it clear he was not in the mood for games. After a moment, the woman shrugged her shoulders before looking toward the door. The next second, a middle-aged man entered the room. When Cain saw the man, his gaze grew normal, and emotion returned to his eyes. Still, he showed pure calm and had his guard up. ¡°Jack, do you have something to say?¡± The woman¡¯s voice was soft, but it seemed to carry a force that made the middle-aged man tremble. Jack stared at the woman before turning toward Cain and sighing. ¡°I am sorry for my rude behavior. I should not have put you under an illusion. In my defense, I thought you were just another of those dumb scions and wanted to teach you a lesson so you would not waste our time. Since you almost killed me, what do you say if we call it even?¡± Cain could see that the man was not too happy about apologizing, but he also noticed no falsehood in his last words. He was still angry about the illusion, but since he almost killed the man, calling it even was not too much. The duo walked toward each other and shook hands, resolving their initial animosity. ¡°Good. Jack brings Cain to the Hypnosis Chamber and tests his abilities before handling the matters of his license.¡± Jack did not say a word and only nodded before walking to the gate and signaling Cain to follow him. Cain stared at the woman one last time before giving a slight bow and walking away. The duo walked through the hall and did not say much for the initial part of the journey. The fact there was no animosity among them did not mean they were friends. Finally, it was Cain the one that broke the silence. ¡°I did not catch her name. Can you tell me a little about her?¡± Jack glanced at Cain for a moment before nodding. ¡°She is Lady Akary. A member of the Hypnosis Association¡¯s Council. Also, like Lord Zarak, she is one of the Nine Pillars of the Collapsing Lightning Sector.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he heard that. He knew nothing about the Hypnosis Association but was aware that the Nine Pillars were the mightiest warriors beneath the Collapsing Lightning Duke. Who would have imagined such a delicate woman was powerful enough to erase entire cities with a wave of her hand? Although Cain still had many questions, he knew better than to ask. Powerful individuals value their privacy and would take offense at anyone infringing it. The duo kept walking for another minute before entering a large room. A glass wall divided it in two. ¡°The people on the other side of the glass can not see us, but they will be able to hear your voice, and your Ego Wave can reach them without a problem.¡± Cain nodded to Jack¡¯s words. He needed to test his power on real people to see the strength of his hypnosis. The glass worked to protect his identity but also to prevent the people on the other side from being influenced by the Hypnosis Master¡¯s aura. ¡°Since this is your first time, nine Wave Warriors will come. First, there will be three Level 4, then three Level 5, and finally three Level 6. To be considered a 1-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master, you must at least be able to hypnotize two Level 4 Wave Warriors and put them in a basic state of Embryonic Breathing.¡± When Jack saw that Cain nodded, he sent a signal through his A.I. Chip, and three soldiers appeared on the other side of the crystal wall. Clearly, this was not their first time, as they put themselves in position before calming their minds. Cain took a deep breath as he focused on the group. The next second, his eyes glowed with red light as his Ego Wave emerged and reached the trio. The eyes of the three soldiers twitched for a moment as a clash of wills happened. ¡°Rest.¡± Cain¡¯s voice echoed through the room as the eyes of the three soldiers lost focus, and then they adopted a meditative position on the ground. Jack was surprised to see that happen. Hypnotizing multiple people at the time was much more challenging than just doing it with one. It demanded the same mental powers, but the intellect, focus, and imagination required were much higher. Cain was supposed to do it one at a time, not all three simultaneously. Jack had not mentioned it because he did not think he needed to do it. ¡®So this is the might of a divine genius.¡¯ That thought crossed Jack¡¯s mind as he saw the powers of Cain. Jack had not recognized Cain when he first saw this one, but the name Cain Laurifer was one that everybody that trained the Ego Eternal Path of Power in the Imperial Lightning Fort knew. After all, he was the fourteen-year boy that reached the N¡ã1 in the Pillar of Mind with willpower equal to a Late Wave Champion. ¡°Did I pass?¡± Cain¡¯s voice brought Jack back to reality. The middle-aged man saw the data in his A.I. Chip that showed all the Level 4 Wave Warriors were in a state of Embryonic Breathing. ¡°Yes, congratulations. You are officially a 1-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master.¡± Cain smiled, but he was not surprised. During his fight against the warriors from the Ancient Feral Organization, he was able to hypnotize them against their will, so doing it with people that intentionally lowered their mental barrier was easy. ¡°Now, the three Level 5 Wave Warriors will come.¡± People in white clothes entered the room and took the three Level 4 Wave Warriors before another trio came in. Cain¡¯s eyes grew sharp as he stared at the three Level 5 Wave Warriors. Theoretically, his mental powers should allow him to put them in Embryonic Breathing, but it would not be easy. His Ego Wave reached the trio, but this time Cain did not take the trio simultaneously but one at a time. ¡°Sleep.¡± The first Level 5 Wave Warrior heard those words, and his eyes trembled for a moment before he adopted a meditative position on the ground. Cain stayed focused and concentrated on the second. ¡°Sleep.¡± Just like before, the Wave Warrior¡¯s eyes trembled before being hypnotized. Cain smiled as he saw that. He had already put two of the Level 5 Wave Warriors in Embryonic Breathing, so he was technically a 2-Star Hypnosis Master. Chapter 134 - 134 The red orb acts 134 The red orb acts There was no need to carry on, but Cain did not like to leave a job half done, so he focused on the last Level 5 Wave Warrior. As soon as Cain focused on the woman, he noticed she was different from the others. There were scars all over her body, and her eyes released a constant sharp light as if she was always in a state of high alert. The soldiers that took part in this test were told to put their minds in a state of relaxation, just like a person who hired a Hypnosis Master for their services would do. However, it was clear that the woman¡¯s mind was not at peace. Cain took a deep breath and ensured his powers were at their peak before sending his willpower toward the woman. He was able to win the clash of wills with ease. That did not surprise Cain since his willpower was already at the First Realm and capable of fighting against even the mind powers of a Late Wave Champion. Even putting the woman in a susceptible state was not hard. Cain frowned when he saw that everything was going so well. The woman was a Level 5 Wave Warrior, yet her mental fortitude was so weak that if Cain wanted, he could have stopped her heart with a single command. ¡®No, it is not that her mental defenses are weak. They are no different than the other two, but something has weakened them. A trauma?¡¯ Cultivation affected an individual¡¯s willpower, which is why it was weird for soldiers above Level 3 to suffer from things like post-traumatic syndrome. Still, it was not impossible if the trauma was strong enough. Hypnosis Masters could help people suffering from Heart Nightmares and all other forms of trauma. The most basic way would be to put the target in Embryonic Breathing. ..... A state of deep sleep, like Embryonic Breathing, can allow your psyche to consolidate those emotional memories and make them less distressing. ¡°Sleep.¡± The woman¡¯s eyes twitched as she heard that command. She was susceptible enough to harm herself if Cain commanded it, but her mind was so chaotic that putting it in a state of profound relaxation was proving challenging. Cain frowned when he saw that he could not induce Embryonic Breathing in the woman. ¡°Sleep.¡± He uttered the command again, but the woman failed to enter Embryonic Breathing. ¡°Ahh, poor woman.¡± Jack could not help but sigh as he stared at the scarred soldier. Cain turned toward the man with a questioning gaze. ¡°Her name is Shara. She had applied for this type of work for over a year and finally got her chance, but I am afraid not even a 4-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master could help her.¡± Jack felt pity for the soldier as he understood the desire in her heart to get better. Although the Hypnosis Master treated them as guinea pigs, the number of soldiers willing to take on this task was endless. After all, even a single session of Embryonic Breathing could help them clarify their minds, granting immense help for their cultivation. Cain was surprised when he heard that. A 4-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master could hypnotize Level 7 Wave Warriors, yet not even they could help her. ¡°Could you explain to me a little about her situation? I understand that trauma can make it harder for the target to enter a state of deep sleep, but it should not be this hard. After all, I have already put her mind in a state where I have complete control over her actions.¡± Jack turned toward Cain and simply shook his head. ¡°Tell me, how much effort do you need to break the bones of a Level 3 Wave Warrior?¡± Cain found the question strange, but he answered it. ¡°Very little.¡± ¡°Now, how much effort and knowledge do you need to heal it?¡± Jack¡¯s words generated a flash of enlightenment in Cain¡¯s eyes. ¡°Destroying something is easy, but healing it is much harder. Just because her wounds are of psychological nature, it doesn¡¯t mean they are easier to recover. It is actually the opposite. There is a specialization among Hypnosis Masters that focus on that type of work. They know how to reach the core of the person¡¯s trauma and help them solve it. It is called Healing Hypnotism. Many of them are actually Illusion Masters as well. They use illusions to bring the trauma in an individual¡¯s mind to a visible plane, making recovery much easier. ¡± Jack¡¯s voice carried a deep respect, making it clear how much he respected those Healing Hypnotists. Cain nodded and understood the respect in Jack¡¯s heart. The amount of effort to become a Healing Hypnotist must be astronomical, but in a world where personal strength reigns above everything, the number of people that would take that path was very small. ¡°Don¡¯t feel discouraged. Even I could not help her. Since you put two of the Level 5 Wave Warriors in Embryonic Breathing, you are officially a 2-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master.¡± Jack was about to call the bureau members to bring out the soldiers from the room, but he heard Cain¡¯s voice. ¡°Please wait a moment.¡± Jack frowned when he heard that. He figured out that Cian wanted to keep trying, but that was not only futile, it was also cruel and dangerous. Attempting to heal a mental trauma by force was the most stupid thing you could do. It was not impossible, but 99% of the time, the person would end up even worse. The middle-aged man was about to negate Cain¡¯s desire, but when he saw the determination in the young man¡¯s eyes, he decided to give this one a chance. ¡°I will allow you to try one more time.¡± Jack¡¯s eyes began to glow with blue light as he prepared in case anything went wrong. Cain nodded toward Jack, and he understood the apprehensions of the middle-aged man. While obtaining a perfect score would have been nice, there was no way he would endanger a soldier¡¯s life for that. ¡®My nature is that of a hero, but up to this point, I have only killed those I saw as evil. If that is the extent of my path, then I am just a destroyer. A true hero should also help those in need who have proven themselves worthy.¡¯ Cain didn¡¯t know Shara, but since she took the soldier path, he would give her his favor until she proved him wrong. His father engraved in his heart the loyalty of brotherhood, and he would march into the battlefield for every soldier fighting by his side. ¡®I want to help her.¡¯ Cain¡¯s actualization of his heroic nature and the deep sense of loyalty and passion toward the military generate a reaction in the crimson orb inside his soul dimension. The Alter-Ego showed a dual state that seemed capable of burning your soul to ashes or filling it with endless warmth. It had been dormant since its creation, and even now, it was impossible to harness its power directly, but Cain¡¯s intense desire generated a reaction from it. The crimson orb trembled for a second, inundating Cain¡¯s Ego Matrix with a marvelous force. At that exact moment, the red in Cain¡¯s eyes began to shine. Jack had been focusing on Sahara and Cain all this time, ready to act in case of any danger. A sense of wonder assaulted him when he saw the radiant red light in Cain¡¯s eyes. There was no increase in the raw power of Cain¡¯s Ego Wave, but its nature became so gentle and warm that Jack almost lost himself in it. ¡°Sleep.¡± Cain uttered the same command for the third time, but things were much different this time. Shara was in a semi-unconscious state. Everything was dark and strange whispers surrounded her, stopping her mind from achieving peace. That sensation was not foreign to her, as she found herself in it every time she went to sleep. She came to this place hoping that someone could help her, but even after feeling a force trying to put her mind in a state of relaxation twice, she could not escape this nightmare. ¡°Sleep.¡± The voice appeared for a third time, but Shara felt no hope. However, this time it did not come alone; along with that word, a radiant light overwhelmed the dimension! The light destroyed the darkness and left everything in silence before unleashing a sense of warmth. Shara turned her eyes toward the source of that warmth and peace; what she saw was the most wonderful sight in her life. Jack¡¯s focus on Cain¡¯s eyes broke when he saw Shara¡¯s face showing a state of absolute peace before falling to the ground. She did not adopt a graceful, meditative state like the other two Level 5 Wave Warriors, but that only surprised Jack even more. ¡®She entered such a profound state of relaxation, despite her trauma. Incredible!¡¯ Jack stared at Cain as if this one was a monster. ¡®Are divine geniuses really that incredibly gifted!?¡¯ Chapter 135 - 135 Obtaining a license 135 Obtaining a license Cain showed a radiant smile as he saw the woman fall into a profound sleep. Although he could not say for sure, he felt that her state of mind was changing drastically. The brightness in the red light of his eyes began to fade, and Cain had no way to summon it back. He understood that his hypnosis worked this time because of his Alter-Ego¡¯s power. However, he had no way of directly harvesting its power yet. ¡®It is still too soon for me to use my Alter-Ego, but once I have the ability, my battle power and everything else will rise exponentially!¡¯ Cain clenched his fists as he thought of the might of his Alter-Ego. After a moment and having regained focus, he turned toward Jack and saw this one looking at him with pure shock. He grew a little confused by the awe in the middle-aged man. Although it was surprising that he could help the woman, he was sure that it was something any other Healing Hypnotist could have also done with ease. Cain was not wrong, and any decent Healing Hypnotist could have helped Shara without a problem. However, to achieve that level, they required years of training, and even then, they could not have healed her trauma with just one session as Cain did. Jack only expected that Cain could have some trick due to the status of this one as a divine genius to put the woman into Embryonic Breathing. That would have been the first step in a long journey of recovery. Never in his wildest dreams did Jack expect that Cain could have reached the root of Shara¡¯s trauma and burned it to ashes in a few minutes. ¡°Is everything ok?¡± ..... Cain¡¯s voice brought Jack back to reality, and he turned toward the young man before silently using his Ego Wave to put his emotions under control. ¡°Hahaha, everything is better than ok. You have done a great service by helping that woman. I am sure she will remember it for the rest of her life.¡± Jack¡¯s admiration was sincere as he truly respected Healing Hypnotists from the bottom of his heart. ¡°Since you obtained a perfect score with the Level 5 Wave Warriors, you can take your chances with those at Level 6. Don¡¯t push yourself. Just use this chance to train.¡± Cain could barely hypnotize those Level 5 Wave Warriors, so the chances he could do it with Level 6 were almost null. Still, it would help him to know just how far he was from the 3-Star classification. Jack sent the signal, and people from the bureau came into the room and took the three Level 5 Wave Warriors before another trio went in. Cain focused on the Level 6 Wave Warrior on the left, a 1.90 meters tall man with a bulky body full of vibrant life. He initiated the clash of wills and won it easily, but when it came to putting the soldier under compulsion, he failed. The Level 6 soldier was not resisting and put his mind in a state of relaxation, but his natural mental defenses were too high for Cain¡¯s current hypnosis powers. Cian accepted his failure with the first soldier and attempted to hypnotize the other two but also failed. ¡°I guess that 2-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master is your limit. You are young and full of potential, so you will surely rise very fast. You might even catch up to me in a few years.¡± Jack smiled at Cain before guiding this one out of the room. The duo walked through the halls before reaching another room. Jack opened the door, and Cain saw a middle-aged woman in military attire sitting behind a desk. The woman seemed about to fall asleep, but the sound of the door opening woke her. ¡°Aaa, someone new... Lord Brier!¡± The woman¡¯s slumber vanished the moment she saw Jack entering the room. She almost jumped out of her chair and adopted a military stance. Jack did not give the woman a hard time. This place was where Hypnosis Master¡¯s licenses were processed. Hypnosis Masters were very rare, so it was odd for even one license to be processed once a week. Since that was the case, all the woman did almost every day was just waiting, so one could not blame her for her lack of focus. ¡°At ease. I will send you some information. Send it to the Hypnosis Association, process the license, and create the crystal card.¡± A complicated expression appeared on the woman¡¯s face as she heard Jack¡¯s command and glanced at Cain by his side. ¡°Lord Brier, there are formularies that he must fill along with a period of surveillance and background checking before a final review of any past criminal activity.¡± The woman did not try to antagonize Cain, but there was a protocol. All Hypnosis Masters were extremely dangerous, as even the weakest could plunge an entire city into mayhem without leaving a single trace of evidence. ¡°I will handle all those things. Just do as I say.¡± Jack did not waste time and went straight to the point. When Cain saw that, he only smiled and remained silent. While he would not display his background to oppress others or show off, he was more than willing to use it to go around all this red tape. ¡°Yes, Lord Brier!¡± The woman did not dare to refute Jack¡¯s command and went to work. This job was very secure and paid exceptionally well, so she was not willing to risk losing it. She went to the back of the room and used a weird machine before processing some documents. Cain saw her return in less than ten minutes with a crystal card in her hand. Jack took the crystal card and handed it over to Cain once he saw that everything was in order. ¡°Your name and status as a 2-Star Hypnosis Master are registered in the Hypnosis Association¡¯s database. You can use this crystal card to present yourself to future employers.¡± Cain nodded and stored the crystal card. As he was leaving the room, he glanced at the woman one last time. She, Jack, and Akyra were the only ones that knew he came to obtain his Hypnosis Master¡¯s license. ¡®If she has a job like this, Lady Akyra must trust her. There might be ideas implanted in her psyche that prevent her from sharing information about what she sees in this place.¡¯ Cain knew that powerful Hypnosis Masters could implant ideas in your mind that you would not even know until it was too late. Of course, people capable of that were powerhouses with the power to destroy entire cities like Zarak. ¡°If there is not anything else you need, I will guide you to the outside.¡± Cain nodded to Jack, and the duo walked toward the teleportation matrix before the first one used it and vanished from the room. When Cain returned to the first floor of the Licence Bureau, people glanced at him but did not pay much attention. Obtaining any license took a long time, so it was not odd for Cain to vanish in the morning and return at night. Those people did not know that the reason Cain took so much time was not a bunch of bureaucracy, but he blacked out shortly after breaking the illusion of a Late Wave Champion. Cain greeted the receptionist, who helped him when he arrived before leaving the building. ¡®Should I go to Master and tell him I became a 2-Star Hypnosis Master?¡¯ Cain considered that for a moment before shaking his head. ¡®With his power and network, he would surely find out in a few minutes.¡¯ Since there was nothing else for him to do here, Cain summoned his Wave Cloak and Lightning Armament before vanishing. ¡ª While Cain dashed toward the cadet¡¯s section, Jack was in Akyra¡¯s room. The moment Cain left, Jack ran toward the woman before reciting every single thing the young man had done. ¡°Oh, so he was able to heal that Level 5 Wave Warrior¡¯s trauma with a single treatment, and he seems to have done it almost effortlessly.¡± Akyra¡¯s voice was plain, making it impossible to decipher anything from it. ¡°Yes. Once that brightness overflowed the red light of Cain¡¯s eyes, that young man¡¯s powers seemed to have obtained a qualitative evolution.¡± Jack made a small pause as he considered his following words. ¡°My Lady. I think you should use your influence in the Hypnosis Association to pull that young man away from the battlefield and guide his path toward becoming a Healing Hypnotist. It would be a great sin to allow such a divine genius to fall into the claws of war.¡± Akyra¡¯s eyes narrowed when she heard Jack¡¯s words. The path the middle-aged man spoked would give Cain incredible fame as a Healing Hypnotist but would cripple his battle power. Of course, the Hypnosis Association would give Cain all the cultivation resources he could need, but developing his power that way would extinguish his battle drive. ¡°I heard you. Leave.¡± Jack bowed toward Akyra before leaving the room. The moment he did, a figure appeared. The newcomer had an imposing body and blind eyes that glowed with blue light. Chapter 136 - 136 Enrollment 136 Enrollment Akyra¡¯s eyes began to glow with silver light as she stared at the man in front of her. She knows just how dangerous and wild this person could be. ¡°Although Jack did not exactly take Cain¡¯s feelings into consideration, there was no malice in his heart when he proposed that idea. Besides, your boy seems inclined to a righteous path, so becoming a Healing Hypnotist is not a bad idea.¡± Zarak glanced at Akyra, but the coldness in his eyes remained the same. His invisible Ego Wave emerged and instantly reached Jack, invading the middle-aged man¡¯s brain. Jack had no idea that a force capable of immense destruction had invaded his body. With a single thought of Zarak, it would flood his mind with a killing intent that would destroy his ego. ¡°Enough!¡± Akyra shouted as a silver force field emerged from her brain before crashing toward Zarak. That force field could level a building but could not reach the target, shocking the woman. Akyra was a seasoned warrior and was able to adapt immediately, infusing her Essence Wave into her Ego Wave, enhancing its power, and forcing Zarak to focus all of his attention on her. Zarak¡¯s eyes narrowed as the blue force field concentrated around his body, facing off Akyra¡¯s silver one. Unlike the woman, he did not need to add his Astral Wave to it. ¡°Oh, you want to fight against me!?¡± The blue force field exploded with immense power, making the room tremble and cracks emerge beneath Zarak¡¯s feet. ..... Akyra grew solemn as she heard those words and knew that the man in front of her had no reservations about starting a fight between powerhouses in the center of the Imperial Lightning Fort. Her Wave Cultivation was higher than Zarak, but she fell far behind the man regarding the Ego Eternal Path of Power. While at the initial stages, it could only grant auxiliary skills, at a higher realm, your Ego Wave was all you needed to fight. Akyra took a deep breath and retracted her silver Ego Wave before calming her heart. ¡°The Collapsing Lightning Pillars can not fight among themselves. If we want to fight with someone, we must first battle against Leader.¡± When Zarak heard that, instead of fear, a thriving battle spirit emerged in his eyes. It was clear that the idea of fighting against the one Akyra referred to as Leader made his blood burn. Akyra could not help but shake her head when she saw how Zarak reacted. She remembered how this man managed to become one of the Collapsing Lightning Pillars and knew how battle-hungry he was. ¡°Jack will not meddle with that boy. I¡¯ll give you my word.¡± Zarak¡¯s face grew serious as he heard that. Although unruly, he was not so arrogant as to think he could push Akyra around. ¡°I will hold you accountable. Also, if any of those geezers in the Hypnosis Association try to meddle with Cain¡¯s path, I will take it as a personal offense.¡± Akyra¡¯s eyes widened when she heard that since she knew perfectly well what Zarak meant. ¡°Do you really think you could face the association on your own?¡± Akyra knew that Zarak was extremely powerful, but the Hypnosis Association was one of the strongest organizations in the empire, with a military power that could compare to any Dukedom. ¡°Maybe I am not, but I have no bindings, so I could easily go on a rampage, killing many before vanishing from the empire.¡± Akyra took a breath of cold air when she heard that. Even if the Hypnosis Association had Titans in its ranks, they were not omnipresent, and if Zarak wanted to hide, there was little they could do about it. She took a moment to consider everything before speaking again. ¡°That boy has a heroic nature. Although he is usually immensely wise and careful, he lacks self-awareness when it comes to helping others. He might want to pursue the Healing Hypnotist Path on his own. What would you do then?¡± ¡°Heroic nature?¡± A strange smile appeared on Zarak¡¯s face when he heard that. He had seen Cain¡¯s Alter-Ego and knew the boy¡¯s incredible potential for destruction. Zarak gave one last glance toward Akyra before turning around and vanishing from the building. Even then, his voice still echoed inside the room. ¡°If he chose that path, everything would be fine. However, I will not allow anyone to interfere with his free will, no matter how careful or crafty they are.¡± Akyra sighed as she heard that and knew she had to forget any plan she could have for Cain. ¡ª Cain was unaware of everything that happened inside the License Bureau. He returned to his residence and, after bowing to his father¡¯s altar, taking a shower, and eating a small meal, began to go through the available courses. The military specializations and Professions courses would begin in two weeks, and he needed to enroll in them before that happened. There was one specialization that Cain had to take no matter what. ¡°Assassination.¡± Now that Cain finally got the helmet that could hide his appearance from most surveillance devices, he was one step closer to taking care of Clacius, the fat Mayor from Rouk City. Cain still remembered the bodies he buried in the forest that night after his first mission. Although he took care of the responsible, Clacius was just as guilty as them in Cain¡¯s mind. During the Dark Races¡¯ invasion of Gai, hundreds of thousands perished inside the Collapsing Lightning Sector, but Clacius managed to survive. It is like they said; cockroaches are truly resilient. Cain¡¯s current strength was more than enough to handle Clacius and the Level 4 Wave Warrior guard. However, killing a Mayor was much more complicated than killing a bunch of criminals in the forest. The military would investigate Clacius¡¯ death, and if Cain left the most minimal evidence, they would find it and brand him as a criminal, forcing him to live his life on the run. Cain would not rest until that man died but would not give his life for that mission. That is why he needed to learn to slay someone, leaving no trace of his presence. He went through the enrolling process with his [A.I. Chip Module], but just as he reached the last part, shock assaulted him. ¡°What! 10000 military credits to enroll in this class!¡± Cain was shocked by that number. He had done some research, and in previous years, the class had only cost between 1000 and 3000 military credits. Just 3000 military credits were very hard for most cadets to obtain, but 10000 was almost impossible unless they diminished the number of cultivation resources they used. ¡®According to what I have read, the teacher decides the class¡¯s value. I hope he is as good as the price he is asking for.¡¯ There was nothing much Cain could do other than pay the military credits. After finishing that, Cain began to look at the Profession classes and read the description of each one. Initially, he had no interest in them, but the fact there was one called Genetic Coder changed everything. ¡°Rune Crafter, Wave Crafter, Alchemist Master, Genetic Coder, Refinement Master.¡± Cain was sincerely amazed by just how useful each of those Professions was and how much help they could provide a warrior. However, they also required a significant amount of time to master, and time was the most important resource of all. If he just took them on a whim and did not commit himself to mastering those Professions, it would be a great mistake. Now that he was young was the most crucial time for his training, and wasting time would be a great sin. Although those Professions could help his battle power, there was no need for him to take them when he could just buy what they made. Of course, it would not be cheap, but one of the reasons he became a Hypnosis Master was so wealth would not be a problem. After much deliberation, Cain decided to enroll in the Genetic Coder Class. ¡°The Absolute Life Form System is a fundamental part of my power, and I can not neglect something connected to one of its modules. It will only be three months, so even if I am wrong, it is not something I could not amend with enough hard work.¡± Now that everything was in order, it was time for Cain to decide what he would do during the coming weeks. First, he sent a message to Lurin, informing this one that he enrolled in the Genetic Coder Class and asking if the offer was still in place. After that, he took a wave crystal and a Blood Dragon Grass to train in the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique and the Blood Refinement Art. Thanks to his Ego Wave, he could circulate both techniques at the same time, and the effect was even greater when he added Embryonic Breathing on top of that. He stopped every few hours to allow his Rebirth Heart to rest and would use that time to improve his Hypnosis Master skills. Chapter 137 - 137 You two remain 137 You two remain Cain spent the next two weeks wholly committed to his cultivation. He focused on three main factors, his Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique, the Blood Refinement Art, and his Hypnosis Master training. His Wave Cultivation was the most important since it was the core of his battle strength and had an essential role in everything else. The higher his cultivation, the easier it would be to train the Blood Refinement Art. It would also improve his willpower, enhancing his Ego Eternal Path of Power and Hypnosis Master¡¯s skills. Although the Blood Refinement Art was just an auxiliary technique, and his cultivation base limited its growth, it was fundamental in allowing his body to show all of Cain¡¯s abilities. Without the body enhancement granted by the art, Cain¡¯s body could not endure a 2000% Wave Burst or its Asura Form. The Hypnosis Master Path was extremely helpful as it allowed Cain to weaponize his Ego Eternal Path of Power while at the First Realm. Usually, Elementary Hypnosis Masters did not use it during battles, as they were all Wave Champions, but Cain was special. Cain was actually interested in the Hypnosis Master¡¯s specialization of Illusion Master. However, according to Zarak¡¯s crystal card, it was better to become a 4-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master before thinking of that since he had to focus on his foundation at the beginning. Cain consumed wave crystals and Dragon Blood Grass very fast. He showed no reservation since they not only improved his cultivation speed but also helped his foundation. There were endless ways to get more money, but that was not the case with time. There was no time to rest, and Cain never deviated from his task. He was not a machine, and the boredom and monotony of cultivation affected him, but as someone at the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, he could push away those feelings. Whenever he felt that tedium and solitude were too much, he only needed to focus on his space ring and remember the coffin in it. Knowing that everything would have been different if he had been stronger was all the motivation Cain needed to keep training. The night before the courses began, Cain decided to take a break from his training and rest properly. He would allow his body and brain to relax and not just enter a state of semi-unconsciousness while he kept cultivating. ..... Before going to bed, Cain sent a command to the Absolute Life Form System. ¡®System, scan me.¡¯ It was not long before a virtual screen appeared in Cain¡¯s sight. [Scan of Vessel completed ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 3 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Pseudo Tier 5 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.71¨C>78 Agility: 0.89¨C>1.0 Vitality: 0.99¨C>1.2 Wave: 0.86¨C>9.7 ¡ª Marrow washing: 19% completion] Cain could not contain his thrill as he saw his agility and vitality cross into the 1-point realm while still being a Level 3 Wave Warrior. Although by the amount of Astral Wave inside his body, it would not take long before he finally crossed into Level 4. The fact that his marrow washing completion did not increase did not affect Cain since he knew that it usually occurred during cultivation breakthroughs. He was sure that during his advance to Level 4, he would experience it again. Of all the data the Absolute Life From System showed to Cain, only one point did not make him very happy. ¡°Apex, can my bloodline improve more?¡± One of the reasons for his impressive cultivation was his Lightning Lupus Bloodline, which had improved more than once. If there were a way to raise it even higher, he would pursue it. ¡°Sorry to disappoint you, brat, but your bloodline is already at its peak. Its purity was low initially, but the B-Grade Blood Serum fixed that. You should not expect any more from the Lightning Lupus Bloodline. After all, Lightning Lupus are Wave Beasts that reach the Peak Wave Champion upon maturity, and very few manage to cross to the next level. Instead of trying to improve it, which will be futile, you should try to acquire a new bloodline.¡± When he heard Apex¡¯s suggestion, Cain did not know whether to laugh or cry. Obtaining a new bloodline was not impossible, but it was incredibly hard. For your body to assimilate a new bloodline and truly ingrain it, you needed more than just the blood of a powerful Wave Beast. You needed a technique that would allow you to fuse that bloodline into your genes. And since Cain already had the Lightning Lupus Lineage, he needed a stronger bloodline than the Lightning Lupus Bloodline. If he obtained a weaker one, it would just remain dormant inside his body. Cain thought that even for someone with the power of Zarak, it would be hard to get a bloodline stronger than the Lightning Lupus Bloodline, along with the technique to ingrain it into his genes. ¡°It is fine. I can improve my Wave Talent by improving my foundation and marrow washing. Besides, I can also enhance my cultivation speed by using high-level resources such as wave crystals.¡± If the chance to obtain a new bloodline presented itself, Cain would use all his power to take it, but he was not to worry about it. All in all, Cain was delighted with his achievements. He went to sleep and woke up one hour before the class began. After eating a small meal and bowing to his father¡¯s altar, he flashed toward the auditorium. It was the same place where he took the rest of his classes during the first half of the year. When Cain entered the auditorium, he was surprised to see the number of cadets in it. He initially thought that due to the price of the Assassination Military Specialization, the place would be almost empty, but more than fifty cadets were present. Although Cain was surprised by the number of cadets, those in the auditorium were astonished by his presence here. His physical power was already at the highest peak among the cadets, and he now wanted to become an assassin. Wasn¡¯t that like adding wings to a T-Rex? Cain noticed some familiar faces among the cadets, like Zamir, but he did not pay too much attention and went to his usual seat. The cadets began to speak among themselves as they looked at Cain. Some wanted to get close to him, but he did not show a friendly attitude. ¡®I wonder how many of them will remain after the test.¡¯ Unlike Professions courses, where you will secure your place after paying the fee, for Military Specialization, you also need to pass an exam to prove your abilities. Cain glanced at the seats around him, and a flash of immense sadness appeared in his eyes as he remembered the woman that used to sit by his side. Suddenly, all of Beelze¡¯s memories vanished from Cain¡¯s mind as his instincts began to scream like crazy. A feeling of absolute doom assaulted him as he felt the threat of death even closer than when he faced the Atrox Wave Champion. Cain always had the [Basic Scan Force Field] activated, and it sent no warning. Still, he trusted his instincts, and his eyes burst with red light as he used the full power of his Ego Wave and Astral Wave. ¡°?AHHHHH!¡± The cadets were shocked by Cain¡¯s shout and saw how this one unleashed a powerful aura while triggering his Wave Armor bathed in lightning arcs. [Warning: An individual entered the Basic Scan Force Field range. He is at eight o¡¯clock] Cain almost shouted in rage at the late warning, but at least he now knew the enemy¡¯s direction. He focused all his strength on his legs and jumped to the roof. The chair he was using broke due to his body¡¯s momentum, and once he touched the ceiling, he ricocheted, dashing toward a corner of the auditorium. Whoever entered the range of his [Basic Scan Force Field] was extremely fast, so running would be futile. That is why he chose to put himself in a position where he could see whoever came at him. The rest of the cadets in the auditorium were extremely confused by Cain¡¯s reaction. Many wondered if there was a hidden enemy, but they did not detect anything. Some began to think that something was wrong with Cain until they saw another cadet react as if death was coming to get her. The cadet¡¯s name was Orin, and she was in the same class as Cain and Zamir. She was quiet, and since neither her talent nor cultivation was impressive, people did not show much interest in her. However, she surprised everybody as her Essence Wave exploded with a blinding light, and the power surpassed Level 3. She was a Level 4 Wave Warrior, and by the density of her Wave, she had reached that level a while ago. Orin showed no interest at all in the reaction of the other cadets as she flashed to another corner of the room with a speed that matched Cain¡¯s. Cain was surprised to see the woman¡¯s speed matched his. He had no time to trigger his Asura From, but even without it, his speed reached Level 5. While the woman drove his attention, Cain could not allow himself to split his focus as he was still looking for the source of the danger. By now, all the cadets were looking around for the threat. One person could be a mistake, but there was no way two would act like that without reason. Luckily, they did not have to look for long as a blonde man appeared out of nowhere behind the podium. He glanced at Cain and Orin before nodding softly. ¡°You two can remain. The others, leave!¡± Chapter 138 - 138 Void State 138 Void State Cain¡¯s eyes widened with shock as he saw the blonde man who seemed to be the teacher of the Assassination Military Specialization Class. It was the same man he once saw talking with Beelze, who she referred to as her family¡¯s servant. The rest of the cadets reacted with the same shock, but it was upon hearing the man expelling them from the class. ¡°Wait a moment! While it is true that for a Military Specialization Class, an examination will determine who will remain, you can not just expel us without reason.¡± The one that spoke was Zamir. While there was clear indignation on the scion¡¯s face, he was smart enough not to try to use his background. Zamir had seen how other teachers had disciplined cadets, and he was in no mood to be punched until he blacked out. Actually, he was not interested in the Assassination Military Specialization, but he had to get into this class. Assassins operated in the darkness; most of the time, no one knew of their amazing feats. There was no worst job for someone like Zamir, who enjoyed being in the spotlight. However, his father contacted him, forcing him to take this class. Zamir could not say no to his father, so he was forced to sell many of his Wave Artifacts to gather the 10.000 military credits to enter the class. Now that someone dared to speak against the teacher, the rest of the cadets gained enough courage also to utter their irritation. ¡°It is not fair to expel us without reason.¡± ..... ¡°Yes, even if you are a teacher, you can not treat us like this.¡± ¡°Why are we expelled, and those two who reacted so exaggeratedly can stay?¡± One of the cadets even brought Cain and Orin into the discussion. Cain did not bother with that person, and Orin did not even glance at her. Both focused solely on the teacher but were also curious about why they were selected to remain. Not to mention they still had no answer to the immense sense of danger that had assaulted them before. The man remained silent as he heard the shouts of the cadets and only raised one finger to his jugular. That confused the cadets, but then one of them touched his neck. A sense of absolute shock assaulted him when he saw the blood in it. The rest of the cadets did the same, and they saw that all had a small puncture wound right on top of their jugular veins. What shocked them the most was that none of them had noticed it until now! ¡°I don¡¯t care if your family told you that you needed to take this class no matter what, so you could learn my skills. I don¡¯t teach garbage. When it comes to assassins, our ability to detect danger is primordial. It will determine whether you end your target or this one ends you. I attacked the neck of every one of you, yet only two could perceive and act in time to move away. The rest detected it too late or did not detect it at all, so there is no point in me wasting my time with you. I will not repeat it a third time. Leave!¡± The moment the man uttered those last words, a dark force field emerged from his brain and flooded the room. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with red light as his Ego Wave reacted to that of the blonde man, and there was a surprise on his face. ¡®His Ego Wave is above the Wave Champion Stage!¡¯ Alotguth that did not necessarily mean the man was stronger than a Wave Champion, Cain still marked him as extremely dangerous. Cain and Orin did not feel anything from that dark force field, but a horrifying killing instinct assaulted all the other cadets. None of them dared to remain in the auditorium and began to run with all their strength. The man¡¯s dark force field vanished once the cadets left the auditorium, and he stared at Cain and Orin before signaling for the duo to approach. Cain took a deep breath as he walked toward the blonde man, but his eyes soon turned toward Orin. The woman¡¯s appearance was average, but it was not what mattered to him. ¡®She has hidden her real strength all this time, and the only reason she showed it now was her survival instincts kicking in. She belongs to the third type.¡¯ Cain still remembered the classification Apex gave to him regarding people. The first type were those that did not seek the spotlight, but neither hid from it, while the second were those in constant pursuit of fame. The third type was those that hid their power from everybody and only revealed it when it was time to strike. Of the three types, they were the most dangerous. Orin also glanced at Cain, but it was impossible to tell what she thought since her face and eyes were calm. Once Cain and Orin were in front of the blonde man, this one gave the duo a profound look before nodding. ¡°My name is Jonathan. I will be your teacher in the Assassination Military Specialization Class.¡± Cain and Orin adopted a respectful stance before clasping their hands and bowing to Jonathan. ¡°You two showed impressive battle awareness, which earned you the right to take this class. However, if I had gone all out, your fate would have been the same as the other.¡± Jonathan¡¯s words could be misconstrued as bragging or him covering his weakness to the fact the duo managed to dodge his silent attack, but there was a hidden message in it. Even if the instincts of Cain and Orin allowed them to perceive the dangers, it did not matter if the enemy was so fast that their bodies could not react. No matter how good your instincts were, if the power difference were too significant, you would still fall to a silent attack. A small smile appeared on Jonathan¡¯s face when he saw that the duo understood the hidden meaning of his words. ¡°Good. It seems I will not have to repeat myself with you two.¡± Jonathan nodded before carrying on with his words. ¡°I will train you to the best of my skills and not hide anything from you. How much you can learn in these three months depends entirely on you. There are many skills you must master to become a true assassin, such as stealth, disguise, infiltration, patience, and adaptability. You also have specializations like the use of poisons, counterintelligence, or the use of deadly artifacts. I will teach them in detail, and you will choose the best path for you.¡± Jonathan made a small pause before adopting a serious expression, making Cain and Orin react with the same severity. ¡°I can see by the look in your eyes and your auras that both of you are not foreign to the concept of killing people. I don¡¯t care about your past, but you must understand that killing and assassination are very different. You can kill someone by shattering their skull or destroying their heart, but assassination is much more complicated. Assassination is the finest of arts, but only you and your target should appreciate it. An assassin operates in the darkness, and the best of us leave no trace of our presence. A master assassin could end a target¡¯s life without this one even finding it out. That is the peak of our craft.¡± Cain and Orin made sure to engrave every single word in their minds. The man in front of them dedicated his life and soul to his art, and it would be a great sin not to learn everything he was teaching them. ¡°The first skill we will learn is stealth. You must hide your presence until the very last moment, becoming nothing more than a blur among the crowd. You should always aim at slaying your opponent with a single blow before this one even realizes you are next to them. It is not always possible, and there will be times when you will enter a ferocious battle against your target. However, everything will be much easier if the battle begins after you connect a deadly blow through an ambush.¡± Jonathan took two crystal cards from his space ring and handed one to Cain and another to Orin. ¡°You will find the technique I used to hide my presence and attack the more than fifty cadets in the room.¡± Cain and Orin¡¯s eyes glowed with excitement when they heard that. Even after detecting the incoming danger, they could not perceive Jonathan¡¯s location. It would be amazing if they could learn the technique that allowed Jonathan to achieve such fantastic stealth. Once Jonathan signaled they could focus on the crystal card, Cain immediately accessed it through his [A.I. Chip Module]. [Void State: Auxiliary technique meant to hide your presence and boost your stealth abilities. A total of five levels] Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he saw the basic information of Void State and understood it was a technique at the same level as his Blood Refinement Art. Chapter 139 - 139 Genius level comprehension 139 Genius level comprehension The Blood Refinement Art was a technique that impressed even Zarak. Other than Asura Form, it was the only technique Cain had that he could train beyond the Wave Champion Rank. However, upon closer look, while Void Stage had five levels, only three were in the crystal card Jonathan gave him. Still, just the technique was more than worth the 10.000 military credits he spent to enter this class. Jonathan saw that the duo had finished analyzing the technique and carried on with his words. ¡°This class will focus on you mastering the first level of Void Stage. I will also teach you how to hide in plain sight, to hide your feeling and killing intent near a target, to act naturally in every situation, and to camouflage with your surroundings and the crowds around you. There will also be courses in psychology and mob mentality. It is essential to understand the state of mind of your target.¡± Cain and Orin began their training with Jonathan, and their minds were completely focused, paying attention to even the most minor details. The first class lasted nine hours, with Cain and Orin pushing their minds to the limit so they could remain immersed in it every minute. The knowledge Jonathan imparted to them was vast and encompassed all aspects of stealth, not just the one involving you but also the target and surroundings. Only once the class was over did Cain and Orin allow their minds to rest. Cain was actually surprised by the young woman¡¯s mental fortitude. Even for him, it was not easy to remain focused on such a complex subject, and he had reached the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, which enhanced his cognitive abilities. ¡®Interesting¡¯ That was the only thought that crossed Cain¡¯s mind as he glanced at Orin. ..... Orin seemed to have noticed Cain¡¯s glance, but she did not pay attention. She bowed toward Jonathan before saying goodbye and walking toward the auditorium¡¯s exit. However, she stopped mid-way as she saw that Cain did not intend to leave with her and noticed both men sharing an intense gaze. She was smart enough not to meddle in other people¡¯s business and continue walking. Jonathan saw Orin had left and stared back at Cain before releasing a small sigh. ¡°Can I see the Young Lady?¡± Cain¡¯s eyes burst with red light as he used his Ego Wave to hide his emotions before taking out a gorgeous coffin from his space ring. He carefully opened it, showing a beautiful woman with a peaceful expression. The coffin not only stopped the corpse from deteriorating but also closed the wound on her chest. The duo might think Beelze was just sleeping if they did not know better. Jonathan¡¯s body trembled as he saw Beelze¡¯s corpse, and tears began to feel from his eyes. He began to caress her hair with an expression of utter sadness. Cain¡¯s eyes showed nothing but peace, but the raging red light indicated how strong his Ego Wave was acting to hold his emotions. He glanced at Jonathan and saw immense love in the man¡¯s eyes, but they did not belong to those between a man and a woman. The love in the blonde man¡¯s eyes was something Cain had seen on his father¡¯s face. Jonathan raised his head and saw the analytic light in Cain¡¯s eyes before showing a small smile and wiping the tear off his face. ¡°I am hundreds of years old, little boy, and I have been by the Young Lady¡¯s side since she was a baby. I came to look at her as my own granddaughter, so you will have to excuse me for getting sentimental.¡± Jonathan took a deep breath and glanced at Beelze¡¯s face before closing the coffin and staring at Cain again. ¡°You can return the coffin to your space ring.¡± The red light in Cain¡¯s eyes vanished once Jonathan closed the coffin, and he could not hide his shock when he heard those words. He wanted to hand over Beelze¡¯s body to her parents and did not intend to pass that responsibility to someone else, but he at least expected Jonathan to ask for the coffin. Luckily, Jonathan noticed his confusion and solved it immediately. ¡°I know all that happened in that forest, and how you chose to run toward the Young Lady despite the immense danger you would have faced. You have all the right to bring her back home, but I must warn you that the Aegon Family will not look at you so kindly as I do. Your life could be in danger if you go, and not even someone like Soul Breaker Zarak could protect you in that place. I could take the coffin and bring the Young Lady home if that is what you wish.¡± Jonathan did not have to wait for an answer as Cain immediately put the coffin back into his space ring. ¡°I respect your courage and decisiveness, boy.¡± Jonathan¡¯s voice carried respect. He took a small ring from his hand and handed it over to Cain. Cain analyzed the ring and saw it was a map leading to a secret location on a massive mountain range deep within the Endless Rain Sector. ¡°In it, you will find the path toward the Aegon Family Household. I advise you not to go before becoming a Wave Champion since the path is extremely dangerous.¡± Cain did not take Jonathan¡¯s words lightly and knew that the Aegon Family¡¯s power must be monstrous. They were able to put one of their servants as a teacher of the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy, and it seemed that their brute force allowed them to face Collapsing Lightning Pillars like Zarak. The duo clasped their hands before performing a small bow to each other, with Cain returning to his residence and Jonathan vanishing in the darkness. Once Cain returned home, he bowed to his father¡¯s altar, took a shower, and ate a small meal before entering Embryonic Breathing. That state would not only allow his brain to rest but also help him process and integrate all the knowledge he obtained today. After two hours, he woke up and felt refreshed, ready to embark on his new task. Cain accessed his [A.I. Chip Module] and saw two folders. One had the name [Basics of viral genome and structural composition] while the other was [Sinar¡¯s Genetic Coder Guide]. The first folder was one he obtained after enrolling in the Genetic Coder Class and had to read before the class started. There was a lot of information, but it involved pure memorization, so Cain already took care of it. The second was much different as it had true Genetic Coder¡¯s knowledge, and Lurin just sent it this morning, so Cain had not been able to read it before. Cain made sure his mind was well rested and focused before opening the [Sinar¡¯s Genetic Coder Guide]. He began to read it and analyzed every single point, but slowly, a frown appeared on his face. The information in the [Sinar¡¯s Genetic Coder Guide] was highly comprehensive, beginning from the basics, detailing every step along with the writer¡¯s personal experiences, and with every point explained in detail. The reason for Cain¡¯s frown was that it was too easy. No matter how intricate the information, he only needed to read it once to gain a full understanding of this one. Even the more challenging parts in the [Sinar¡¯s Genetic Coder Guide] that the author stated as highly complex were simple for him. At first, Cain thought that maybe he was missing the essential parts, which is why he found it so easy, but after reading again from the beginning, he knew that was not the problem. Cain was proud of his cognitive abilities, but he knew they were not that great. Hence, the only explanation for this genius level comprehension regarding Genetic Coding had to be the Absolute Life Form System and the [Genetic Coder Module]. ¡°Apex, do you have an answer to this?¡± The one that could give Cain an answer was the System Spirit, but he was out of luck. ¡°I told you it would be interesting if you became a Genetic Coder. If you want to know more, grow stronger. I will get back to my hacking.¡± Apex did not say anything else, leaving Cain full of questions. Cain could only sigh since there was not much he could do about the System Spirit¡¯s attitude. He did not continue reading the [Sinar¡¯s Genetic Coder Guide] since he had already ingrained every point made in it in his mind. There were still several hours for the Genetic Coder Class to start, so Cain took a wave crystal and Dragon Blood Grass before entering Embryonic Breathing. Cain was not worried about mental fatigue since he had slept yesterday, and Embryonic Breathing significantly reduced the burden of cultivation on his mind. He woke up an hour before the class started, and after doing his usual ritual, he went to the auditorium. Chapter 140 - 140 Wave Viruses 140 Wave Viruses Cain approached the auditorium and saw Lurin and Ophelia waiting at the entrance. When the duo saw him, they began to wave their hands. He was a little surprised as they never agreed to enter the class together, but he still smiled and walked toward them. ¡°I am glad to see you two. How are you doing?¡± ¡°Very well, thanks.¡± ¡°Everything is great.¡± Lurin and Ophelia answered with large smiles before the trio entered the auditorium. The moment they did it, everybody focused on them, or more specifically, on Cain. As the N¡ã1 Cadet, everything Cain did became a source of gossip among the other cadets, with most of them already knowing of his involvement in the Assassination Military Specialization. Cain did not bother with their stares and just went to his usual seat, with Lurin and Ophelia sitting by his side. Ophelia would glance at Cain from time to time, but unlike the other cadets, the light in her eyes was much softer. ..... Cain noticed the woman¡¯s eyes but did not say anything. He was not oblivious to her feelings, but they barely knew each other, and she was just going through an infatuation, nothing more. ¡°By the way, I again apologize for sending the Sinar¡¯s Genetic Coder Guide so late. However, I could not do it without my father¡¯s permission. He had just returned from a mission yesterday, and before that, there was no time to focus on anything that was not military-related.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I really appreciate your help.¡± Cain immediately calmed Lurin¡¯s worries before expressing his gratitude. Lurin smiled when he saw the easygoing attitude of Cain and relaxed. He knew that some people would grow extremely arrogant and narcissistic as their fame and power rose, and he was happy that Cain was not one of them. ¡°Did you have the chance to glimpse the file before the class?¡± ¡°Yes, I studied it in detail. It was a very encompassing tome and taught me a lot.¡± Lurin¡¯s eyes widened when he heard that. It would not be hard for someone with the cognitive abilities of Cain to read the entire Sinar¡¯s Genetic Coder Guide, but reading and understanding were two very different things. Lurin found it hard to believe that Cain could internalize anything from the guide if he read it so fast, but it was not his place to question how others study, so he did not push the subject. The trio made small talk for a few minutes before a woman began to walk toward the podium. She was one meter and seventy centimeters tall, with black hair, blue eyes, and a voluptuous body. Some of the young men in the auditorium showed lascivious stares toward the woman, but it did not last long as they all looked away once she unleashed her aura, making it clear that she was a powerful Wave Champion. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he felt the strength of the woman. He could not say with certainty, but her cultivation seemed to be higher than Major Luma. Nevertheless, there was something that drove Cain¡¯s attention. His eyes glowed with red light as he focused on the teacher. ¡®I can barely perceive the true might of her cultivation base, but her Ego Wave seems to be in disorder. It seems that her willpower reached the Late Wave Champion level thanks to her cultivation, but she had yet to enter the First Realm.¡¯ Cain figured out that the woman had yet to find her true nature, so her Ego Eternal Path of Power could not enter the First Realm. Still, since she took so long for it, her Ego Eternal Path of Power would forever take an auxiliary role in battle. He did not waste too much time in those thoughts and focused on the woman. Even if what she would teach was already explained in Sinar¡¯s Genetic Coder Guide, a live teacher would always be better. ¡°My name is Camil, and I will be your teacher for the Genetic Coder Class.¡± Camil¡¯s voice was loud, and once total silence reigned in the auditorium, she carried on. ¡°Genetic Coding can easily be considered the most challenging Profession. We can do wonders as we manipulate the building blocks of life, but a mistake could destroy everything, with people¡¯s lives on the line. I will not tolerate any incompetence or distractions in my class. If I find one of you not giving your full attention to this class or my teachings, even if it is just one time, I will expel you on the spot.¡± A tense atmosphere inundated the auditorium when the cadets heard Camil¡¯s words. They did not doubt the woman had the power or the intent to carry on with what she had just said. Any mistake, and she would expel them from the class, with the military credits they used to enroll going to waste. Camil felt the tension and softly nodded. She needed these cadets to understand just how hard becoming a Genetic Coder was and that there would be no room for mistakes in their craft. ¡°A Genetic Coder can manipulate the fundamental blocks of life, meaning the DNA, and they do it through the use of Wave Viruses. We act on an individual¡¯s genes, enhancing their senses, intelligence, emotion control, and even lifespan. Once you reach a high enough realm, you can generate Wave Viruses capable of granting unique abilities like diamond skin, dragon wings, fire breath, and many more. Like our cultivation and almost everything else, Genetic Coding is divided into ranks. The key determinant of our rank is the cultivation of the people on whom our Wave Viruses can act. Every time we go through a major cultivation breakthrough like the rise from Wave Warrior to Wave Champion, it is not just our physical strength and abilities that are enhanced, but our entire genome as well. That is why we experience holistic improvement and our lifespan obtains such a massive boost. The first rank is Elementary Genetic Coder, and they can generate Wave Viruses capable of affecting Wave Warriors. The effects of the genetic alterations made by an Elementary Wave Virus are not permanent and can not cause a drastic change to the genome, meaning they can only enhance what is already there. Next comes the Grand Genetic Coder. Those are masters capable of generating Wave Viruses that can alter the genome of a Wave Champion. Grand Wave Viruses not only can ingrain new abilities and traits into an individual¡¯s genome but can even make them everlasting.¡± All the information that Camil was sharing was something that Cain had already learned from Sinar¡¯s Genetic Coder Guide, but he still paid full attention to Camil. One never knew when a new piece of information could arrive, not to mention that even if it was the same topic, two people could teach it very differently. ¡°As all of you should have already deduced, the key to our craft is the Wave Virus. They are the ones that will infiltrate the target¡¯s body, reach the DNA, and generate genetic alterations. To be considered an Elementary Genetic Coder, you must be able to create an Elementary Wave Virus.¡± Camil waved her hand, and dozens of metal plates emerged from her space ring and floated toward each cadet. As soon as the plates reached the tables, they expanded, becoming small chambers roughly ten centimeters wide and thirty centimeters tall. There was a green liquid inside it, and some of the cadets with better sight could glance at extremely tiny things floating in it. ¡°Those are Genetic Chambers and is where a Genetic Coder makes a Wave Virus. It would be asking too much for any of you to create a Wave Virus during your first day, but I will need you to build a Vector today!¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard those words. According to what he learned from Sinar¡¯s Genetic Coder Guide, a Vector is responsible for bringing new genetic information to the cells, acting basically as a vehicle that will transport the new genes to their target. ¡°Vectors are the part of the Wave Virus in charge of the journey. Since they are responsible for the voyage of the new genetic information through the body, a failure meant that the entire Wave Virus would go to waste or, even worse, reach the wrong target. Genetic Coders classify Vectors into Bronze, Silver, and Gold according to their efficiency and flaws. Inside the Genetic Chambers are the materials to create ten Elementary Bronze Vectors, which are the easiest ones. Of course, they are also the most inefficient, and no one would buy a Wave Virus with a Bronze Vector. Still, for this exercise, it will be enough. Today, you must build at least one Elementary Bronze Vector. If you fail to accomplish that, you will be expelled.¡± If before the cadets were tense, now they were so anxious that they could barely breathe. That forced them to push their focus to the absolute limit. ¡°I will now explain the parts of the Vectors and how to build them. You can ask me as many questions as you want during your work, but after failing ten times or if time is over, I will expel you.¡± A virtual screen appeared above Camil the next second with a complete Vector in it and each of its parts by its side. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Author¡¯s note: Sinar¡¯s Genetic Coder Guide is not in [ ] because in this chapter were are speaking of the guide itself and not a folder in the [A.I. Chip Module] like in the previous chapter. Chapter 141 - 141 Genetic Sight 141 Genetic Sight Camil finished with her explanation of every part of the Vector, how they could adapt to each other, and the possible mutations that it would go through the process. She noticed many cadets with confused expressions, but she had done her best, and if they could not form a Bronze Vector with their current knowledge, pursuing a path as a Genetic Coder would be a waste of time. ¡°There are special capsules in the front of your Genetic Chamber. You must use them to store the Vector, allowing this one to stabilize and be ready for the next step. The more proficiency you display in your work, the lesser the Flaw Percentage in the Vector will be. If the Flaw Percentage is over 30%, the Vector will not survive the next step even if you can stabilize it. You have until the end of the class to form an Elementary Bronze Vector. Feel free to ask me any questions you have. ?Begin!¡± As soon as Camil shouted those words, all the cadets focused on their Genetic Chambers, doing their best to block everything else. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with red light as he enhanced his cognitive abilities with his Ego Wave. Although this would grant him an advantage over the other cadets, it would be stupid not to use every weapon at his disposal. Next, following Camil¡¯s instructions, he connected his [A.I. Chip Module] to the Genetic Chambers, granting a virtual platform that showed him the Vector¡¯s components floating inside the green liquid. ¡®Virtual Sight¡¯ ..... The moment that thought crossed Cain¡¯s mind, a virtual screen appeared in the corner of his eyes. He intended to use the live simulation to predict the Vector¡¯s components¡¯ changes while assembling them. Cain blocked everything else, literally shutting down almost all external sensory information before starting. He had just begun to work before frowning, but it did not last long as he simply shrugged his shoulders. ¡®Whatever.¡¯ Camil looked around the auditorium, ready to help any cadet in need while also paying attention to their behavior. ¡®Good, at least they are giving their all.¡¯ The woman nodded when she saw that a cadet suddenly stopped working before looking around perplexingly. ¡®It has only been ten minutes, and he is already giving up!? Even worse, he seems to want to mimic the work of others to help himself!¡¯ Camil¡¯s eyes grew cold as he saw the cadet¡¯s behavior. She was about to shout at this one when she saw that he had returned to his Genetic Chamber and carried on with his work with complete focus. ¡®Oh, Was I mistaken? Maybe he just needed to gain some inspiration.¡¯ Camil saw that a young girl raised her hand and no longer bothered with the male cadet, immediately helping her. She solved the girl¡¯s problem with a loud yet soft voice, so all the others could hear it, just in case they faced the same difficulty. Camil had just finished with the girl when someone else raised his hand. She had the qualities of a good teacher, explaining everything calmly and ensuring the cadet understood the idea before carrying on. Just as Camil returned to the podium, she noticed the same cadet from before had stopped working. ¡®His concentration just lasted eight minutes!¡¯ Camil¡¯s eyes grew cold, and even though she saw that the cadet had returned to work after a moment, she was not willing to let someone that lost focus so easily in her class. However, just as Camil was about to shout for the cadet to leave her class, she noticed his blue robe and felt something was wrong. Even if the cadet were the son of a Marquess, Camil would show no reservations. Still, before saying anything, she looked at the cadet¡¯s profile. Camil¡¯s eyes widened as she saw that under the special section for emergency contact was the name of Abin Fourier. Camil knew Abin¡¯s name and was smart enough to understand that woman would only be someone¡¯s emergency contact if they were important to the one she worked for. ¡®Cain Laurifer, I heard his name many times these past few days due to his feats in the Pillar of Trial. How is he related to that monster?¡¯ Although Camil¡¯s background was impressive, she did not dare to antagonize Zarak Valentine. If she got that man angry, no one could save her. ¡®Hmph, arrogant brat.¡¯ Camil stopped paying any attention to Cain. If he wanted to play and not focus on his words, that was his problem. She would expel him once the class was over and no Vector was in his possession. Despite doing her best not to pay attention to Cain, Camil still glanced at this one from time to time. She saw how he would pay full attention to the Genetic Chamber for a few minutes before goofing around and then going back at it. ¡®With such a weak focus, even if his Wave Talent and physical might are impressive, he will not amount to anything.¡¯ Camil continued helping the cadets while occasionally glancing at Cain. The young man¡¯s behavior bothered her, but she was able to ignore him until he saw how this one began to speak with the cadet by his side. ¡°Enough! If you don¡¯t want to work, that is fine, but don¡¯t bother the others who are doing their best to become Genetic Coders!¡± Camil could endure Cain not focusing on the class, even though she felt that was a great offense to the Profession she dedicated her life to, but she would not allow him to distract other cadets that were working so hard. That shout drove the entire class¡¯ attention, and they turned toward Cain. Some of the cadets showed small smiles as they began to whisper among themselves. There were people that liked to see geniuses falling, as that made them feel better about their lesser accomplishments. It made no sense, but that was human nature. Cain remained calm after hearing Camil¡¯s shout and turned his Genetic Chamber around, allowing the teacher and the entire class to see the ten capsules, each holding a Vector. ¡°I already used all the components inside the Genetic Chambers and created ten Bronze Vectors. I was now trying to help my friends.¡± The entire class went silent as they heard that and looked at the capsules in the Genetic Chambers with complete awe. Camil¡¯s eyes widened as a sense of utter shock assaulted her. ¡°Im... Impossible.¡± ¡°Go ahead and analyze them.¡± Cain saw the shock on the woman¡¯s face and simply pushed his Genetic Chamber forward, indicating she could come and check with her own eyes. Camil took a deep breath, regaining her focus before walking toward Cain¡¯s Genetic Chamber. She then connected her A.I. Chip to the device, and what she saw left her speechless. Not only were there indeed Bronze Vectors in each of those capsules, but they were superb work. ¡®The first has 7% Flaws, the second 5.5% Flaws. They grow better and better, and the last four have 0% Flaws, making them Pseudo Silver Vectors!¡¯ Camil was amazed, and she understood that the moment Cain suddenly stopped working, he was actually resting after finishing a Vector. ¡°The last four are working perfectly: the head, internal proteins, neck, tail sheath, tail fibers, end plate, and pins all merged without flaw. You... how did you do it!?¡± When Cain heard that question, he showed an awkward smile. The reason why he frowned at the beginning was that as soon as he focused on the Vector¡¯s components, they all began to fuse in a certain way in his mind. Cain just attempted to replicate the pictures in his mind the best he could, and the closer he got, the better the Vectors became. Camil noticed Cain¡¯s silence, and realization appeared in her eyes before making a small bow. ¡°I am sorry for my rude question. I was wrong to ask about the secrets of another Genetic Coder. Please forget I said anything.¡± Camil¡¯s words did not seem proper for a teacher, but the way she began to look at Cain after seeing his superb works was not as a student but as a comrade that followed the path of Genetic Coding. Cain was surprised by the woman¡¯s attitude. She had not left a very good impression on him after that shout, but he understood her anger¡¯s origin and smiled before waving his hands. ¡°There is no reason to be sorry. Actually, I have no problem telling you my method.¡± Cain saw Camil¡¯s smile, but he also noticed the poisonous look in other cadets that seemed ready to steal his secrets. He chose to share some information to avoid having people bothering him all the time about how he does it. ¡°I just see it in my mind. The moment I concentrate on the components of the Vector, they fuse in a specific way, and I just replicate it.¡± Some of the cadets showed suspicious looks at Cain when they heard his explanations since it seemed very much like a lie he had just made to hide his secret. Cain saw those gazes and knew it could happen. What he would have never imagined were the words that came from Camil the next second. ¡°You have Genetic Sight!¡± Chapter 142 - 142 Creating a Silver Vector 142 Creating a Silver Vector Cain¡¯s eyes widened when he heard that, as he had absolutely no idea what Camil was talking about. He believed that his ability to arrange the pieces in his mind automatically was something granted to him by the Absolute Life Form System, but it seemed that it was not so unique. Camil saw the confusion on Cain¡¯s face, and she took a deep breath before speaking again. ¡°What you describe is an ability known as Genetic Sight. It is not a gift born from our DNA; its origin comes from the soul. It is very rare, as only one in every one hundred million has it. I am afraid that is as far as my understanding of Genetic Sight goes, but I do know that all those in possession of it have incredible advantages in Genetic Coding.¡± Cain nodded as he made sure to engrain all that information. He still believed that his gift came from the system, but he remembered Apex¡¯s words at the beginning of their journey. ¡®The Absolute Life Form System can¡¯t create something out of nothing. My soul should not have that power initially, but it obtained it after the awakening of the [Genetic Coder Module] or maybe even from the moment I obtained the system.¡¯ Cain did not lose himself in his thoughts for long since he heard Camil¡¯s voice again. ¡°However, you should not grow too arrogant due to having Genetic Sight. Having the picture in your mind and being able to replicate it are two different things. You created ten Bronze Vectors, four of which are Pseudo-Silver, which is awe-inspiring.¡± Camil paused at this point before contemplating whether to ask the following question or not. ..... ¡°Can I know if you encountered any form of tutoring regarding Genetic Coding before this class?¡± Cain¡¯s Genetic Sight was already a massive boost to his ability, but if he managed to create the ten Vectors without any prior training, that would be incredible. Cain did not hide it and immediately answered Camil¡¯s question. ¡°Yes, I did. I learned from Sinar County¡¯s Genetic Coding skills.¡± Technically, what Cain learned about Vector¡¯s assembling from Sinar¡¯s Genetic Coding Guide was the same that Camil taught him. Nevertheless, he did not find the need to go into detail, not to mention that it could involve some secret from Sinar County, and he would not repay Lurin¡¯s help like that. Camil immediately nodded when she heard that, making it clear the name Sinar was not unknown among Genetic Coders. ¡°Count Sinar is a Grand Genetic Coder and a very good one among those at his level.¡± Cain saw that Camil misinterpreted his words, and soon whispers echoed inside the auditorium. ¡°So he was already accustomed to making Vectors.¡± ¡°Hmph, showing off his skills honed by a Grand Genetic Coder among a newbie class.¡± ¡°Who knows, maybe among those who have already learned this craft, he is average and wanted to boast with us.¡± Cain and Camil heard those whispers, but neither of them bothered with it. Cain did not care about the words of some weakling whose only way of feeling good was to push others down. As for Camil, she knew that even if Cain had a gift like Genetic Sight and a great teacher, he would not have reached his level without great effort. After all, if someone only needed a good teacher to become a Genetic Coder, everyone could become one. Still, the woman did not find the need to waste her words with people that look down on the effort of others. However, not everybody was as magnanimous as the duo. Lurin¡¯s eyes burned with rage as he heard those whispers and giggles, and he was not able to hold on for long before shouting. ¡°Hmph, pack of hyenas!¡± Those words reached every corner of the auditorium, and all those whispering among themselves about Cain turned toward Lurin with cold eyes. None of them would dare to face off directly against Cain since his strength was much greater than theirs, but they did not have the same reservations about Lurin. Lurin showed why he came from a family that made their name on the battlefield, and his head remained high before continuing to speak. ¡°Cain only got access to my family Genetic Coder Guide that has the principles and essential steps of Genetic Coding, and he only got it yesterday. If any of you think you can create a Bronze Vector with only that guide, I will gladly hand it over. However, if after reading it for an entire day, you can not do it, I will break all the bones in your hands.¡± Lurin¡¯s words shocked the cadets, and no one dared to take that bet. Still, many continued throwing cold glances at the young man as they felt he had humiliated them. It did not last long as a red force field emerged near Lurin and began to extend across the room, installing a crippling fear in the heart of all those that showed coldness. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with red light as he used his Ego Wave to teach those cadets a lesson. He could have easily broken their will and used hypnosis to shatter their minds, but that would be too much, not to mention he would be thrown in jail the next second. Once those cadets looked away, Cain retracted his Ego Wave, and he noticed the look of wonder in Lurin and Ophelia. Camil also glanced at Cain with awe, but the one in her eyes had nothing to do with his Ego Wave. ¡°Is that truth!?¡± Cain saw the shock in Camil, and he had no reason to lie, so he nodded, confirming Lurin¡¯s words. ¡®This boy... he is... he is a divine genius!¡¯ Camil almost failed to control her body since the sight of a divine talent in her class filled her heart with excitement. She took a deep breath, doing her best to regain her focus and gaze at the other cadets. ¡°Do you have the time to get distracted? If you don¡¯t have the Vector for the end of the class, I will expel you!¡± After hearing those words, all the cadets returned their focus to their Genetic Chambers. While they were interested in Cain¡¯s Genetic Coder¡¯s abilities, they had no time to waste. Once Camil saw the other cadets focusing on their work, she continued speaking to Cain. ¡°You should take a seat in the front of the class since that would make it easier for us to have a conversation while I carry on with my duties.¡± Cain was interested in Camil¡¯s offer since it would indeed be of much help if he could speak with the woman more freely. However, it did not feel right to leave Lurin and Ophelia alone. Cain could show a very pragmatic stance in almost everything except when it comes to his friends and loved ones. Camil noticed Cain¡¯s reluctance and saw the way this one looked at those two by his side. ¡°Of course, your friends can also come to the front with you. That way, I can also provide even better guidance for them.¡± Lurin and Ophelia smiled when they heard that since they would undoubtedly benefit from obtaining Camil¡¯s help. While Cain was highly talented, he worked based on instincts, and it did not go very well when he attempted to help them. Cain no longer had a reason to refuse Camil¡¯s proposition, and he, Lurin, and Ophelia sat at the front. Once they reached the front of the class, Camil put a vial into Cain¡¯s genetic chamber. ¡°With it, you will be able to generate Silver Vectors. The difficulty is exponentially greater, and mistakes are much easier to make. But from this point on, your work will have true value. Even if you don¡¯t create a complete Wave Virus, you could sell Silver Vectors for a good price, especially if they have 0% Flaw and are Pseudo-Gold.¡± Cain nodded toward Camil, and his eyes glowed with red light as he pushed his focus to the limit and began to work. The moment he saw the component of the Silver Vector, they fused in his mind, showing him the most efficient way. He attempted to replicate the picture of the Vector in his mind the best he could, and after roughly thirty-five minutes, he finished his first Silver Vector. Being able to succeed in forming a Silver Vector on his first try was terrific, but Cain frowned when he saw that it had a 21% Flaw. ¡°I have doubts about arranging the internal proteins properly.¡± Camil had seen everything and did all she could to hide her shock when he saw the Silver Vector that Cain had just made. The boy¡¯s talent was just too divine, but she could not go around shouting it, as that would be bad for his growth. ¡°Yes, tell me what the problem is.¡± Cain and Camil will discuss from time to time, helping the boy solve his doubt. She did not neglect the other cadets and would go to their help whenever they needed assistance. Chapter 143 - 143 Elementary Genetic Coder (I) 143 Elementary Genetic Coder (I) Zarak was meditating as a river moved around the room. There were all kinds of intents inside that body of water. Sometimes it unleashed a thriving life force, just for a monstrous killing intent to emerge the next second. The Alter-Ego moved freely, and even when it touched the walls, nothing happened due to its ephemeral nature. However, there were moments when Zarak¡¯s willpower would spike, and that mighty river would crash against the walls, leaving massive cracks. Suddenly, Zarak¡¯s eyes opened, and he calmed his Alter-Ego as he saw that a woman appeared through the teleportation matrix. ¡°What is the problem?¡± Abin knew that Zarak did not like to be interrupted during his training, so she would only come if there were a problem that she could not handle on her own. ¡°My Lord, I have detected chatter regarding the Young Lord in the capital. It is among the circles of the Great Organizations.¡± Zarak¡¯s eyes grew cold as he heard those words, and he turned toward the License Bureau. His Alter-Ego was still in the open, and the killing intent in this one burst with greater might than before. ¡°It seems some people think that they can ignore my warnings.¡± In Zarak¡¯s mind, the only reason for Cain¡¯s name to be mentioned among the Great Organization¡¯s circles would be the Hypnosis Associations. That meant that Akyra went back on her words and broke her promise to him. ..... Abin noticed the look in Zarak¡¯s eyes and knew she had to intervene. Her master was not someone that allowed deception from others. ¡°Lord, It was not Lady Akyra the one responsible for Young Lord¡¯s name going around the Great Organizations. I investigated, and all originated from the Genetic Coding Association. The teacher from the Genetic Coder Class, Camil Severen, sent a file with Young Lord¡¯s name and description to the Genetic Coding Association.¡± Zarak frowned when he heard that. There were many reasons for someone¡¯s personal information to reach the Genetic Coding Association, and some of them were truly terrifying. ¡°I understand the implications of Young Lord¡¯s personal information reaching the Genetic Coding Associations, so I acted fast and reached out to one of my contacts. It turns out that that teacher wanted the association to consider Young Lord for the Seed Program.¡± When Zarak heard Camil¡¯s intentions, his frown vanished, and confusion replaced it. ¡°The Seed Program is where the Genetic Coding Association reaches out to youths with incredible talent in Genetic Coding, helping them harvest their full potential. What does that have to do with Cain?¡± Abin showed an odd smile as she heard Zarak¡¯s question. ¡°It turns out that Young Lord is a divine genius when it comes to Genetic Coding. He possesses Genetic Sight, and after a single class, he was able to create a Silver Vector with a 0% Flaw.¡± Zarak¡¯s eyes twitched when he heard that, and he did not know how to react. Although he was not a Genetic Coder, he had used many Wave Viruses over the course of his path to power and knew just how amazing it is for someone to create a Pseudo-Golden Vector after a single class. ¡°Hahahaha, that bloody brat, always attracting the focus of powerhouses, generating more and more work for.¡± Zarak burst with laughter, and the Alter-Ego¡¯s killing intent vanished, replaced by a thriving life that flooded the room. He wanted to keep Cain¡¯s name and power away from the capital, not due to selfishness. He could secure Cain¡¯s life and autonomy in the Collapsing Lightning Sector. However, even he had to be careful against the monsters of the Godslayer Humankind Empire Capital. ¡°The Genetic Coding Association treats their geniuses very well, and I doubt that some of the old monsters in it will be interested in Cain since they have their own geniuses to take care of.¡± Zarak made a pause as he considered his next move. ¡°Inform me if anyone special enters the Collapsing Lightning Sector. Until then, let things play out and just watch from a distance.¡± ¡°Yes. Lord.¡± Abin bowed toward Zarak before using the teleportation matrix and leaving. Zarak was alone, and he sighed before showing a smile. ¡°Learning his true nature before fifteen, a Duality Alter-Ego, and divine talent as a Healing Hypnotist and a Genetic Coder. That brat grows more and more interesting.¡± ¡ª Cain, Lurin, and Ophelia walked out of the auditorium with large smiles. The trio emerged victorious and secured their position in the Genetic Coder Class. Lurin had shown great talent, creating four Bronze Vectors, with the best one having just an 11% Flaw. It was just a matter of time before he reached a 0% Flaw and could begin working with Silver Vectors. Ophelia¡¯s aptitudes were not as good as Lurin, but her hard work and Camil¡¯s constant help allowed her to create two Bronze Vectors, with the best one having a 17% Flaw. Although becoming a Grand Genetic Coder would be incredibly hard, with enough effort, she could reach the peak of the Elemental Genetic Coder Rank. Cain made small talk with the duo before going to his residence. He did his usual ritual of bowing to his father¡¯s altar and taking a shower before eating a small meal. Although there were all sorts of projects in his mind, the first thing Cain did was adopt a meditative position and enter Embryonic Breathing. That would help his mind to rest while internalizing all the knowledge he had gained today. After a few hours, Cain opened his eyes, and he felt relaxed. Not only had he improved his understanding of Genetic Coding, but all the problems he could not figure out before seemed much simpler now. Cain entered the military academy¡¯s network and bought some things before taking out his Genetic Coder¡¯s equipment. In front of him appeared the Genetic Chamber, along with ten capsules holding Silver Vectors. He was not supposed to leave with it, but Camil exchanged them for all his Bronze Vectors. Cain had no idea why the woman would want the Bronze Vectors since they were practically worthless for a Genetic Coder, but he accepted. The Genetic Chamber was not all he gained from that deal, as Camil also gave him something else to train on his own. [Enhanced Wave Drive: Wave Virus designed to enhance the target¡¯s Wave Talent. -Useful for Wave Warrior¡¯s genome. -It will last for five days. -The enhancement will vary between 5 to 10% according to the Genetic Coder¡¯s skill.] Cain smiled as he saw the recipe inside his [A.I. Chip Module] that described the generation of a Genetic Chain. If he completed it and then managed to stabilize it inside a Vector, he would have formed a Wave Virus, becoming an official Elementary Genetic Coder! It did not take long for a drone to arrive inside his residence, carrying on all the material he would need to create ten Genetic Chains. Before doing anything, Cain went through the steps in his mind again and again, making sure each and every one of them was as clear as walking. It was only after every step came out naturally in his mind that he began. Cain took a deep breath and ensured his mind was at full power before his eyes glowed with red light, and he activated Virtual Sight. He carefully poured the vials with the components for the Genetic Chains into the Genetic Chamber before using his [A.I. Chip Module] to obtain a virtual image of them and began to work. Every step was done with extreme care, always leaving part of his focus for Virtual Sight, so he could predict every mistake before it happened. Creating a Genetic Chain consisted of arranging a series of genes in a specific order, so they could reach the host¡¯s DNA and replace specific parts. Cain¡¯s eyes burst with red light as he pushed his Ego Wave to the limit so it could enhance his cognitive abilities and speed of thought. He had blocked everything else, leaving nothing but the Genetic Chamber in his sight. After an hour, Cain allowed his body and mind to relax as a smile appeared on his face. There was a new capsule in the Genetic Chamber containing the Enhanced Wave Drive¡¯s Genetic Chain! After resting for a moment, Cain used his [A.I. Chip Module] to see the efficacy of the Genetic Chain. [Enhanced Wave Drive¡¯s Genetic Chain: Increase of Wave Talent by 5.7%] Cain frowned as he saw that value. It was very close to the theoretical limit, meaning he had almost failed. The fact he had just started his path as a Genetic Coder less than two days ago, and he managed to create a Genetic Chain for a complicated Wave Virus did not mean anything to Cain. ¡®The only thing that matters is the outcome.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes grew sharp as he went through every step of the process in his mind and used [Basic Virtual Simulation] to prove different modifications. Only after another hour he began to create a new Genetic Chain. Chapter 144 - 144 Elementary Genetic Coder (II) 144 Elementary Genetic Coder (II) Cain¡¯s focus was solely on the Genetic Chain, and once he finished with it, he immediately analyzed it. [Enhanced Wave Drive¡¯s Genetic Chain: Increase of Wave Talent by 6.9%] A small smile appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he saw that increase, but it was far from enough to satisfy him. Before trying again, he went through every step, probing different modifications with the [Basic Virtual Simulation] tool. Cain did that again and again until he finally ended all the material for the ten Genetic Chains. When he analyzed the last one, a smile of satisfaction emerged on his face. [Enhanced Wave Drive¡¯s Genetic Chain: Increase of Wave Talent by 8.8%] The 10% limit in the information on the Enhanced Wave Drive¡¯s recipe was just a hypothetical mark, and only some of the best Genetic Coders in the entire Godslayer Humankind could achieve it. Cain was good, but he had just begun his path as a Genetic Coder, so 8.8% was enough for the time being. Since he already had the Vectors and Genetic Chains, Cain could go to the next step and carry on with the fusing of the two, generating the Wave Virus. However, before that, Cain chose to enter Embryonic Breathing and allow his mind to rest. He had been working for over twenty hours and was beyond exhausted. ..... After roughly three hours, Cain opened his eyes and felt much better. His brain was no longer burning due to the overwork. Cain put a capsule with his first Silver Vector and his first Genetic Chain in the Genetic Chamber and began fusing them. The process itself consisted of putting the Genetic Chain inside the Silver Vector, and while it was highly delicate, it did not involve many steps. Cain chose his first Silver Vector and first Genetic Chain because they had the lowest efficacy, so if a mistake happened and they were lost, it would hurt him the least. However, he succeeded in the first attempt, and a capsule with a red liquid emerged from the Genetic Chamber. The reason for the color was a small change that Cain introduced during the fusing of the Vector and Genetic Chain. According to what he had read in Sinar¡¯s Genetic Coder Guide, Genetic Coders like to leave their sign in their Wave Viruses. Cain had just made an Elementary Wave Virus, so for all intents and purposes, he was an Elementary Genetic Coder. Red would be his signaling mark and a small piece of unique code in the Genetic Chain. Since he succeeded once, doing it again would not be difficult since it involved the exact same process. In less than an hour, there were ten capsules with a red liquid inside them. Cain showed a radiant smile as he saw the outcome of his hard work. He had just taken Genetic Coding due to his connection to the [Genetic Coder Module]. Still, he really enjoyed the craft, and there was a great sense of accomplishment in building something instead of just destroying it. Cain took out two waves crystals and Dragon Blood Grass before grabbing his best Wave Virus and injecting it into his chest. A few seconds later, Cain¡¯s entire body began to tremble, and his temperature skyrocketed. Even if he knew that the Wave Virus would be beneficial for him, his body would still attempt to fight back. If the carrier were a Bronze Vector, there would be an 80% chance Cain¡¯s body would have destroyed it before it could induce any significant change. The fever and muscle spasms lasted for an hour before they began to vanish, only to be replaced by a sense of utter hunger. Cain felt his entire body demanding nutrition; if he did not give it, his cells would begin to devour each other. He grabbed his wave crystal and Dragon Blood Grass before circulating his cultivation technique and the Blood Refinement Art simultaneously. Usually, cultivators must use Recovery Capsules and a proper Blood Solution when using a Wave Virus. Still, by employing high-grade resources, Cain could provide his body with all the energy and vitality it needed. Cain made sure to enter Embryonic Breathing for the process so his body could adapt faster. Thrill appeared on his face as he felt the speed at which he could drive the Life Wave into his body increasing. After thirty minutes, the sense of hunger vanished, and Cain stopped ferociously circulating the Astral Wave and Dragon Blood Grass¡¯ vitality through his body. The entire process left him exhausted, but that did not weaken his excitement. ¡°System, how much did my ability to drive the Life Wave into my body increase, and what is my current Wave Talent?¡± The Absolute Life Form System carried on with the task with extreme efficiency. [Scanning Vessel ... ... -Vessel¡¯s ability to drive Wave has increased by 8.2% -Vessel¡¯s current Wave Talent is Pseudo Tier 5] Cain analyzed the data for a moment, and everything seemed in order. Although the last Enhanced Wave Drive¡¯s Genetic Chain said it would increase his Wave Talent by 8.8%, some of its effects were lost due to the Vector¡¯s flaws. ¡®Even if it had a 0% Flaw and could be considered a Pseudo-Golden Vector, it was still a Silver Vector, so this type of thing was bound to happen. As for my Wave Talent¡¯s Tier not increasing, that just means an enhancement of 8.2% is still not enough to rise to the next Tier.¡¯ Overall, Cain was delighted with his accomplishments and the increase in his Wave Talent. 8.2% was a fantastic boost to his cultivation speed, especially if high-grade cultivation resources and Embryonic Breathing enhanced it. Cain would have enjoyed testing his new cultivation speed right away, but he was too tired to the point that Embryonic Breathing would not be enough, and he needed natural sleep. No more cultivation, just allowing his body to drift into unconsciousness and not care about anything else. He jumped into his bed, and less than five seconds after touching the pillow, he fell asleep. Even with his high vitality and recovery speed, he slept for over seven hours before finally awakening. When Cain rose from the bed, he felt good as new. His mind worked perfectly, and his body was energetic, ready to embrace the next task. Just as he was about to begin his training, Cain remembered someone. ¡°I wonder how he is doing?¡± Cain used the [A.I. Chip Module] to call Levi. He had not seen his friends for over a month, but he was sure this one would be fine. If anything had happened to Levi, Abin would have told him. The call did not take long to connect, and soon Cain heard a voice that made him smile. ¡°Cain! It has been a long time. How are you... Ahh, goddamn, that burns!¡± Cain grew confused as he heard that scream of pain coming from Levi. ¡°Are you alright? Do you need help?¡± Cain doubted that Levi would be in a battle since if that were the case, this one would never have taken the call, allowing a lapse in focus. Still, if there was a problem, he was ready to ask for Zarak¡¯s help. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry, I am fine... Damn geezer, you are going to roast me alive!¡± Cain¡¯s confusion grew even stronger as he heard that. Levi did not seem to be lying, but something was clearly going on. However, before he could ask anything else, Levi spoke again. ¡°Sorry, but I can not talk right now. Let¡¯s talk when I am back in the fort.¡± After saying that, Levi turned off the call, leaving Cain with many questions. ¡°Well, he sounded fine, so I guess that is something.¡± Cain trusted Levi, and since this one told him everything was fine, it was. He took out a wave crystal and Dragon Blood Grass before entering Embryonic Breathing and beginning to cultivate. The rise in his Wave Talent almost broke Cain¡¯s concentration and took him out of Embryonic Breathing. 8.2% might not seem much, but it was an amazing enhancement to have overnight. Cain carried on the next few days, focusing three-quarters of his time on cultivation and the other quarter on expanding his skills as Hypnosis Master, Genetic Coder, and assassin. Monday arrived again, and Cain made sure to have a proper sleep before dashing toward the auditorium. He saw that Orin was in there and nodded to the girl, to which she replied in the same way. Cain noticed Orin¡¯s aloof attitude, and it was clear she was not interested in small talk, so they both waited in silence for Jonathan. The second the class was supposed to start, the duo felt a wave of air behind them, and the next thing they saw was Jonathan standing in front of them. Jonathan stared at the duo and nodded when he saw their focus. It was clear that they were ready to give everything they had and would not slack off just because they secured their position in the class. ¡°Let¡¯s begin with the second class of the Assassination Military Specialization.¡± Chapter 145 - 145 Golden Vector 145 Golden Vector ¡°In the last class, we focused all our efforts on learning stealth. I am sure both of you used the past week to master the movements and techniques I taught you.¡± Jonathan saw Cain and Orin nodding before focusing on the girl. ¡°Orin, show me Void Breath.¡± The girl nodded before going to the edge of the auditorium and taking a deep breath. Gradually her aura grew weaker as the Essence Wave inside her body slowly began to adopt a static state. Orin then walked to the other side of the room. Not only did her feet make no sound, but her body did not disturb the room¡¯s airflow. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he focused on the girl, and he knew that if he lost her from sight for even a second, he would find it very hard to detect her presence again without using his Ego Wave. Void Breath was the name of the first level of Void State and consisted in hiding your Ego Wave, vital signs, sound, and even the effect you had on the environment, like a disturbance in the airflow. Finally, Orin reached the other corner of the auditorium before relaxing. There was sweat on her face due to the intense focus and physical effort that Void Breath demanded. Jonathan nodded and could tell that the girl was very talented, having reached that level of mastery over Void Breath in such a small window of time. ..... ¡°Good. Cain, your turn.¡± Cain nodded at Jonathan before reaching the corner of the room and taking a deep breath. He activated Void Breath, hiding his presence before walking forward. Orin focused on Cain, and a small smile appeared in the corner of her mouth as she saw the young man¡¯s Void Breath. Even though Cain¡¯s mastery was very high, her domain over the technique was better. However, once Cain reached half of the journey, his eyes glowed with red light, and he practically stopped all his vital signs, and his Astral Wave froze. Orin¡¯s eyes widened when she saw that, and her sudden shock made her lose sight of Cain. By the time she was able to perceive him again, he had already finished his walk. ¡°Good. Cain, your mastery of Void Breath is inferior to Orin¡¯s, but it reached a high enough level for the next part of the class.¡± Orin frowned when she heard that. Although she had a competitive nature, she did not like to receive fake praise. Still, she was smart enough not to argue with Jonathan about something so trivial. ¡°I achieved a higher level of stealth not thanks to a greater domain over Void Breath, but the use of my willpower to exert control over my Astral Wave and body.¡± Luckily for her, while Jonathan did not see the need to explain his assessment, Cain noticed the look in her eyes and helped her, so her mind would not wander during the class. Orin¡¯s eyes narrowed when she heard that. She, like everybody else, knew that Cain was a great genius, the mighties of the cadets when it comes to brute power, and it seemed that he just told him one of the keys behind his might. ¡°Willpower?¡± ¡°It is too early for you to focus on your willpower directly. Keep your mind on your assassin¡¯s training, and you will see how your willpower improves drastically. I see potential in you, so if I like what I see for the end of the year, I will give you some personal guidance regarding the Ego Eternal Path of Power.¡± Orin¡¯s eyes glowed. She had no idea what the Ego Eternal Path of Power was, but she definitely wanted it if it could grant so much power. Her eyes reached an even heightened focus as she prepared to break her limits. Cain saw that, and his judgment of Jonathan¡¯s teaching skills grew even higher. ¡®He knows how to stir someone¡¯s desires so they can better themselves. Impressive.¡¯ Jonathan gave the duo a moment of rest before carrying on. ¡°Since both of you have reached the necessary level of stealth, it is time to focus our attention on practical applications along with domain over disguises and infiltration. When I talk about disguises, I am not referring to simply changing your appearance. That would only fool idiots and people that are either too afraid or ignorant about the individual you are pretending to be. You must learn your target¡¯s behavior to the point that even their loved ones would mistake you for the real one. That is the epitome of disguise art. Infiltration is not any easier. You must be constantly aware of your surroundings, keeping an eye for the tiniest details while ensuring no one notices your presence. A true master could enter the most secure place in the empire, and no one would ever know he was there. For disguise, you will need to use a Wave Artifact, most commonly known as One Hundred Faces. As for infiltration, any decent Cloaking Helmet would do the trick.¡± Jonathan made a small pause at this point as he focused on the duo with a meaningful stare. ¡°You can buy the One Hundred Faces and Cloaking Helmet through the military network. If you were to lose them, there is no need to worry since the Imperial Military Force would know you had one before, and they could help you track them.¡± Cain and Orin¡¯s eyes narrowed as they heard that and understood that any legitimate purchase of those Wave Artifacts would raise several red flags. Jonathan knew that the duo entered his class not just to master assassination so they could use it against the Dark Races but for reasons of a personal nature. He did not care who they wanted to go against as long as they showed proper skills. ¡ª It was already Tuesday afternoon, and Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with red light as he manipulated his Genetic Chambers during the Genetic Coder Class. While the rest of the cadets kept improving their skills with Bronze Vector, he worked with Gold Vectors. Camil¡¯s teaching to Cain was very different from what she gave to the rest of the cadets. It was like a teacher explaining basic multiplications to an entire class while at the same time teaching a single student advanced algebra. None of the cadets dared to complain about Cain obtaining a higher education since they could barely understand what came from Camil¡¯s mouth when she talked with him. By the time the class had ended, Cain had four capsules with Golden Vectors inside his space ring. They were good, with the best only having a 9% Flaw, but Cain knew that reaching 0% would be a long and hazardous journey. Cain left with Lurin and Ophelia, and before they would separate, he took out two red capsules and gave each one. ¡°Those are Wave Viruses. They will improve your Wave Talent by 7 to 7.5% during five days. Make sure to have enough energy at your disposal before using them.¡± Lurin and Ophelia were surprised by the Wave Viruses, but Cain had already left before they could say anything. Cain smiled as he saw the duo trying to speak to him from a distance. He knew they would want to repay him, but he just wanted to help them. Of the ten Wave Virus, Cain used the best two on himself, gave the worst six to Apex so he could barter them for wave crystals and more Genetic Coder¡¯s materials, and gifted the last two to Lurin and Ophelia. Once Cain reached his residence, he went through his usual ritual before entering Embryonic Breathing and allowing his mind to rest. After feeling energetic again, he took his Genetic Chamber and began to create Enhanced Wave Drive Genetic Chains. After a few hours, there were four Enhanced Wave Drive Genetic Chains in front of Cain, and he smiled as he saw the data from the best one. [Enhanced Wave Drive¡¯s Genetic Chain: Increase of Wave Talent by 9.2%] Even though it was just 0.4% better than his previous best work, every single improvement mattered as it marked Cain¡¯s mastery over Genetic Coding. Cain fused the four Genetic Chains with his Golden Vectors, making sure to pair them according to their level. Finally, he injected the Wave Virus made out of the Genetic Chain with 9.2% efficiency and the 9% Flaw Golden Vector into his chest. High fever and muscle spasms affected Cain for almost an hour before a sense of utter hunger attacked. Like before, he used wave crystals and Dragon Blood Grass to go through that process. When the genetic alteration was over, Cain smiled as he felt the increase in his Wave Talent. He commanded the Absolute Life Form System to give him an accurate assessment of his improvement, and soon a virtual screen appeared in his sight. [Scanning Vessel ... ... -Vessel¡¯s ability to drive Wave has increased by 8.9% -Vessel¡¯s current Wave Talent is Pseudo Tier 5] Chapter 146 - 146 Assassination (I) 146 Assassination (I) [Scanning Vessel ... ... -Vessel¡¯s ability to drive Wave has increased by 8.9% -Vessel¡¯s current Wave Talent is Pseudo Tier 5] A large smile appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he saw that outcome. The Wave Virus worked almost ten percent better than the last time, and he could feel the rise in the speed at which his body could drive Life Wave and purify it into Astral Wave. Although Cain wanted to start his training, he was exhausted and needed a good night of sleep. He went to his bed and fell asleep in a moment. Once Cain woke up and felt all the fatigue gone, he took out a wave crystal and Dragon Blood Grass to begin his training. The speed at which the Astral Wave was generated and circulated in his body made him smile. After eight hours, Cain was ready to stop his cultivation and focus on his Hypnosis Master training when he felt it. ..... Cain¡¯s eyes widened, breaking his Embryonic Breathing state, as his entire body began to tremble. He felt an immense surge in his strength and Astral Wave. ¡®My cultivation is advancing to Level 4!¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes burst with red light as he made sure to heighten his focus to the peak. The meridians he had formed over the last year were finally ready to pierce into his bones. That step was a bottleneck that stopped the cultivation path of many, as their foundation was too weak, and their meridians were not strong enough to pierce into the bones, leaving them stranded at Level 3. If Cain were inside a Recovery Capsule, the Wave Artifact would have guided the process, but since that was not the case, he had to do it on his own. Cain followed the guidance of the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique, focusing on every meridian, and using his mind and willpower to guide them through the excruciating process. ¡®It is as if thousands of ants were biting my bones simultaneously.¡¯ There was immense pain, but Cain could not give himself the luxury of using his Ego Wave to block it since all the strength of his willpower was on guiding his meridians. Usually, a Level 3 Wave Cultivator would only need around half an hour to finish this process. Still, thanks to the Blood Refinement Art and his high percentage of marrow washing, Cain¡¯s bones were almost twice as resilient as that of other Astral Wave Cultivators at the same level. Luckily, due to the use of wave crystals, Cain¡¯s meridians were more than strong enough to pierce the bones, but it would still take a longer time, increasing the pain he had to endure. Finally, after one hour and twenty-five minutes, Cain¡¯s body stopped trembling, and a small shock wave seemed to emerge from inside his body as he experienced an impressive boost in his strength. Cain was exhausted, but there was an absolute thrill on his face as he felt the rush of Astral Wave through his body. And things went even better since the next second, a black substance began to emerge from his pores! Right after reaching Level 4, Cain¡¯s body went through another session of marrow washing! Despite the fatigue, Cain did all he could to boost the marrow washing until a thick black layer covered his entire body. He immediately ran to his shower and did not leave before scrubbing every corner of his body. When Cain walked out of the shower, his entire body was bursting with strength, and his skin looked even more pristine than a baby¡¯s. Although he did not really enjoy a bald head, it would not take long for his hair to grow back. Cain clenched his fist, and the feeling of strength filled his eyes with excitement. ¡°System, scan my body and show me the changes I just underwent!¡± Like always, the Absolute Life Form System obeyed Cain¡¯s order without delay. [Scan of Vessel completed ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 4 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Low Tier 5 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.78¨C>1.1 Agility: 1.0¨C>1.2 Vitality: 1.2¨C>1.6 Wave: 9.7¨C>1.2 ¡ª Marrow washing: 37% completion] Cain could not contain the thrill in his heart as he saw those numbers. Not only his cultivation base improved drastically, but his Blood Refinement Art gave his strength and vitality a massive boost. Usually, a Level 4 Wave Warrior would only have one of their stats above 1 point upon their advance, but all of Cain¡¯s were at that level. And his most impressive stat, his vitality, was already approaching the standard of Level 5. One of the things that excited Cain the most was that his Wave Talent finally broke the glass ceiling and entered Tier 5. Even if it was just the lowest level of the Tier, his cultivation speed advanced drastically. However, he would still have to wait and see if the Tier remained the same once the effect of the Wave Virus was gone. Right now, Cain felt stronger than ever, and he knew that his new cultivation base enhanced the strength he could unleash through the use of the Four Basic Wave Arts and his Asura Form exponentially. Cain was sure that if he faced Great Tyger, Young Elephant, and Young Monkey right now, he could kill the trio in a direct battle without using schemes or hypnosis. As his strength and vitality rose, Cain felt tempted to return to the Pillars of Trial. He felt confident in securing 1st place in both the Pillar of Strength and the Pillar of Resilience, making his name N¡ã1 in all of them! However, while that was tempting, his new strength and skills guided Cain in a different direction. He had made a very important promise and would no longer postpone it. ¡®Although my assassination training is far from over, my current domain of stealth and infiltration should be enough to fulfill this task. I should be able to end that person and leave no trace from my presence.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes grew cold as he remembered the graves he dug during his first mission, and a monstrous killing intent burst from them as the smallest one appeared in his mind. He punished the ones who did those despicable acts, but someone else was just as responsible yet had escaped the repercussions. ¡°Apex, you have Clacius¡¯ agenda hacked?¡± ¡°Yes, I did it a while ago and have kept tabs on it since then. I did the same with his secretary and bodyguard so there would be no mistakes.¡± Apex¡¯s voice was calm, but there seemed to be a slight hint of joy since he knew the path that Cain was about to embark on. He did not keep the young man waiting and displayed the trio¡¯s agenda. Cain went through the trio¡¯s schedule and saw that Clacius had a meeting in a small city a few hundred kilometers away from Rouk City. ¡°Do you plan to attack him during his journey?¡± Cain immediately shook his head when he heard Apex¡¯s question. ¡°I am no longer a novice and understand the difficulties of assassinating a moving target in an unknown terrain. Rouk City should still be under reconstruction, right?¡± Apex spent most of his time hacking into the empire¡¯s network, accumulating more and more information, so he was able to answer Cain¡¯s question in a second. ¡°Rouk City¡¯s walls have already been repaired, but the interior is still in work. Hundreds of people come in and out of the city daily due to the reconstruction effort.¡± Cain considered everything, and soon a sharp light appeared in his eyes, along with a cold smile. He ordered materials from the military academy¡¯s network before taking an unimportant mission close to Rouk City. Even if his background was impressive, he was still a cadet and needed a reason to leave the fort. The mission he took was recollecting some herbs, which he could do in a few hours, keeping his cover. Cain did not waste time, getting into a military truck and marking the coordinates for a forest near Rouk City. While the vehicle advanced toward the city, he took out his Genetic Chamber and created a special Wave Virus. Although he did not have a recipe, it was not hard for Cain to create a unique Wave Virus that would fulfill a particular role with his current knowledge as a Genetic Coder. Other than making the Wave Virus, Cain discussed his plan with Apex and was surprised to see that the input of this one when it came to assassination where not any worse than Jonathan¡¯s. It became clear to Cain that Apex was a master in that field, but the System Spirit did not help him before because it was his job to learn it with his own strength. Once the military truck reached its destination, Cain vanished into the forest and made his way to Rouk City, hidden from the sight of anyone. Cain reached the city in less than an hour and took a deep breath as he went through every step in his mind. Chapter 147 - 147 Assassination (II) 147 Assassination (II) Cain focused on the gates that led into Rouk City, and his eyes glowed with red light before concentrating his Astral Wave into his eyes. The next second, his sight became stronger than most military binoculars, and he made a mental map of the terrain, paying special attention to all the guards and surveillance devices. ¡°Apex, are you ready?¡± ¡°Yes. I will alter the cameras¡¯ image and generate a counterforce field to trick the scanners around the gates. It will only last for a few minutes. Any longer, and the city¡¯s network could detect my presence.¡± Cain nodded and took a deep breath as he used Void Breath to hide his presence to the point that most people would not notice him even if they were standing right next to him. He advanced to the gate, quietly mixing with the people making their way into the city. No one recognized Cain, and even those who looked in his direction could barely notice him. There were two guards at the gate, making sure everybody presented proper identification before going in. Due to the reconstruction effort, the ins and outs of the city were not so strict, but people still needed to notify their entrance. ¡°Next.¡± A guard just let a person pass before calling the next one to come closer when he felt a strange presence to his left, but when he looked in that direction, there was nothing. ¡°Watchtower. Did you notice any unusual activity around the gates?¡± Despite not finding anything, the guard was diligent and used his A.I. Chip to contact the people in charge of digital surveillance. ..... ¡°Negative. Our cameras and the force field pick nothing strange.¡± The guard nodded after hearing that and carried on with his work. Cain¡¯s face was pale as he continued advancing with Void Breath, and he made his way into the city¡¯s core, passing through dark spots where there was no digital surveillance. Apex had stopped his interference with the cameras but still marked the spots through which Cain could move without leaving a digital trail. Usually, that would be extremely hard since all the empire¡¯s cities were under constant surveillance. Still, the attack of the Dark Races had left Rouk City in ruins, and it would be a long time before everything was in order again. Cain would hide in dark alleys from time to time, so he could rest for a moment before activating Void Breath again and continuing his way. His eyes narrowed as he reached the city¡¯s center due to the stark contrast with the rest of the place. The buildings here were already as good as new. That sight did not surprise Cain since the city¡¯s mayor is usually in charge of logistic endeavors like reconstructions. Clacius would definitely prioritize the comfort of the people with influence over the masses. Cain did not care about this type of inequity since the world was unequal, and even he would treat his friends better than he would a stranger. Of course, Clacius was Rouk City¡¯s Mayor, and it was his job to focus on the well-being of the entire population, not just a few. But, since Cain was ready to end the man¡¯s life, why would he bother with something so trivial? ¡ª Clacius¡¯ days had returned to normal now that the reconstruction of the city¡¯s core was over, and he was no longer bothered by individuals with real influence. While there were people in the rest of the city who were angry due to the state of their houses and business, he could afford to ignore them. He spent the entire day in the City Hall, dealing with some government matters, before finally returning to his residence, a large mansion at the very heart of the city. During the entire day, the Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior that worked as his bodyguard never left Clacius¡¯ side and only separated once they entered the mansion. Clacius took a long shower before going to a hidden room of his mansion with a special device similar to a computer from the Old World. The communications sent through the A.I. Chips implanted in the brains of every child in the Godslayer Humankind Empire were encrypted. Still, there were people with enough power to access them. Of course, those powerhouses would not bother with someone so insignificant as a mayor of a small city, but Clacius was careful. That is why he used a special device when communicating with his contacts in the underworld. Clacius had just typed his passwords and searched through his files when it happened. ¡°So this is how you manage to keep all those nefarious businesses in the dark. Interesting.¡± Clacius¡¯ entire body began to tremble when he heard that. This room was a place only he was supposed to get access to. Not even his bodyguard could do it, yet a voice had just emerged from behind him. The first thing Clacius attempted to do was use his A.I. Chip to ask for help, but there was a jamming signal blocking every form of communication. Before he could even think of rising from his seat, powerful willpower clashed with his mind. ¡°Do not move nor speak.¡± Those words reached the core of Clacius¡¯ mind, stopping him from doing anything, and things only worsened. ¡°Shut down your sense of touch, hearing, and sight.¡± A second after hearing those words, an expression of utter terror emerged on Clacius¡¯ face since he found himself in complete darkness. He could not move, hear, or see, and the lack of touch meant that even if someone cut his body apart, he would not realize it. The greater the terror, the more terrifying the fantasies became in Clacius¡¯ mind. Cain was in the room wearing his Red Hood. While he made sure to hide his presence and hack the mansion¡¯s digital surveillance, it was better to be safe than sorry. His eyes only grew colder as he saw the terror on Clacius¡¯ face. What this one felt could not compare with the fear those children experienced at the hand of the thieves inside that cave. ¡°Apex, can you hack into this device and access all its information and contacts?¡± ¡°It is very hard to intercept any message coming in and out of this type of device from outside, but it will be easy to do it now since we have direct access to it.¡± Cain felt an electromagnetic force field emerge from his body and reach the device before the screen showed weird signs. ¡°Done.¡± Apex took less than a minute to analyze every file and save every piece of information in it. Cain nodded before focusing again on Clacius, and his eyes glowed with red light as he cut off the command that stopped this one¡¯s sense of hearing. ¡°Is there any other portal or device where you store any more of your illicit activities or contacts?¡± Clacius could not resist the power of Cain¡¯s voice and answered immediately. ¡°No, everything is in the device in front of me.¡± Cain continued asking questions to Clacius, and some of the answers made his eyes burst with killing intent. Sometimes he wanted to rip the man to pieces but maintained control. ¡°Do you have any other crew working for you like the one destroyed half a year ago?¡± ¡°Yes, I have assembled a new group. They have been stealing some of the materials used in the reconstruction effort and storing them in the forest.¡± Cain was not surprised and made Clacius give him the exact coordinates before taking a capsule with a blue liquid. ¡°Drink it.¡± Clacius showed no hesitation as he took the capsule and engulfed its content. Cain returned the capsule to his space ring once Clacius had drunk until the last drop before speaking to the System Spirit. ¡°Apex?¡± ¡°The [Basic Scan Force Field] shows that the Wave Virus has reached his bloodstream. It will remain dormant for four days before inducing a cardiac arrest, corresponding to complications of the wounds he endured during the attack of the Dark Races¡¯ powerhouses.¡± Cain could have easily shattered Clacius¡¯ head with a single strike or even made the man commit suicide, but both would generate a thorough investigation. However, a medical complication in a man of Clacius¡¯ age and health was not that odd. People might suspect, but unless they brought a Grand Genetic Coder to examine the body, no one would find anything. After everything was over, Cain took a deep breath as he pushed his Ego Wave and hypnosis abilities to their peak. ¡°You will wake up in ten minutes and forget everything that happened here. You will carry on with your life as usual.¡± Cain saw that Clacius¡¯ eyes lost focus as he ingrained that command into this one¡¯s mind. He was just an Elementary Hypnosis Master, and his orders would not remain long in people¡¯s minds. Clacius would forget this interaction, but he would begin to remember it in a few days. However, by then, he would have already died. Cain made sure to leave no trace of his presence in the room before leaving the mansion and, not long after, also leaving Rouk City. After taking care of Clacius, Cain had planned to return to the Imperial Lightning Fort, but he focused on the forest, and killing intent emerged in them. ¡®I am a hero. If I know evil is near, how could I not destroy it?¡¯ Cain flashed into the forest, and once he was out of sight, he triggered his Wave Cloak and Lightning Armament. Chapter 148 - 148 Assassination (III) 148 Assassination (III) Cain knew the exact location of the gang that worked for Clacius, but he did not directly go toward them. He advanced deeper and deeper into the forest, reaching a place packed with Level 3 Wave Beast, and there was no small amount of Level 4. If the gang were to die at the hands of a Wave Cultivator a few days before the Rouk City¡¯s Mayor, it could raise suspicion. However, no one would bother with a bunch of people who perished beneath the wrath of a Wave Beast. Although Cain would have liked to use his hypnosis powers to command some of those beasts to do his work, things were more complex. The mind of Wave Beasts was more straightforward than that of humans and other advanced races, which is why they were more resilient to compulsion. Still, Cain was a 2-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master, so he should be able to overcome the mind of a Level 4 Wave Beast if he gave his all. Nevertheless, there was a second problem. Wave Beasts¡¯ minds do not respond well to commands, and Cain¡¯s hypnosis was far from enough to influence others with a thought or intent. Cain had a plan, and it was not long before he reached his destination, a small mountain range. According to Apex¡¯s intel, this was the home of a Level 5 Wave Beast. Cain¡¯s eyes began to glow with red light as he activated his Red Hood. He stood at the foot of the mountain and took a deep breath before unleashing his Astral Wave at a 2000% Wave Burst. ¡°Boom.¡± ..... A small shock wave emerged from Cain¡¯s body as that blast of Astral Wave threw gales in all directions. ¡°ROAR!¡± Less than a second after that surge of Astral Wave, a roar came from the mountains, and a Wave Beast began to descend from them. It was a gigantic bear-like beast, reaching almost two and a half meters in height, and metal plates covered every inch of its body. Cain stared at the creature as he adopted a battle stance, not moving a single inch. When the Wave Beast was less than two hundred meters away, his eyes glowed as the [Pseudo Cellular Analysis] was completed. [Target scanned. ¡ª Race: Wave Beast Lineage: Obsidian Bear Path of Power: Wave Beast (Level 5) ¡ª Stats: Strength: 2.9 Agility: 1.7 Vitality: 2.1 Life Wave: 2.4] Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw those stats, and although a battle was about to start, he did not activate his Nullity Armor. The Obsidian Bear¡¯s strength was impressive, making things more complicated, but he was ready. Winning a battle against the Wave Beast would be easy for Cain. Even without Asura Form, he would be able to kill it, but that was not his goal. When the Obsidian Bear was less than fifty meters away from Cain, its Life Wave concentrated on its right claw, making it burst into flames. The Obsidian Bear jumped toward Cain, leaving a crater in its previous position and attacking with its flaming right claw. ¡°BOOM.¡± A blast echoed through the forest when the Obsidian Bear¡¯s claw landed. There was a fierce expression on the beast when it saw the waves of flames blasting in all directions. However, that fierceness vanished once the flames disappeared, and the Obsidian Bear saw that the human did not move and had blocked its attack with nothing more than his left arm. The Obsidian Bear was a Level 5 Wave Beast, so it had decent intelligence. It knew that humans like to use armor to enhance their weak bodies, which most beasts found despicable. Yet, the one in front of him faced it off with nothing more than his body. The shock in the Obsidian Bear¡¯s heart grew even stronger as he felt two red eyes reach his mind, throwing everything else into darkness. ¡°ROOOAAARRR!¡± The Obsidian Bear began to roar with all its strength as it resisted those red eyes and set ablaze both of its claws before attacking with all it had. Lightning arcs covered Cain¡¯s body as he moved his body just the right amount to dodge those attacks. His speed was not that far from the Obsidian Bear¡¯s, and his mastery over Lightning Armament was close to level 3. The Obsidian Bear attacked with absolute ferocity, but none of his strikes managed to land. It was frustrating that its claws always passed a few centimeters away from the human but could not truly reach him. However, the one thing that disturbed the Obsidian Bear the most was that no matter how the human¡¯s body moved, he never broke eye contact. Those two red eyes were digging deeper and deeper into its mind and increasing the mental pressure. It carried on for fifteen minutes, and the Obsidian Bear was already exhausted. The Wave Beast had immense strength, but its vitality was not that impressive, meaning its resistance was flawed. That, plus the mental pressure of Cain¡¯s red eyes, pushed the Obsidian Bear to the limit in less than twenty minutes. Fear began to appear in the Obsidian Bear¡¯s eyes as it fought to catch its breath and saw that the man in front of it stood as if nothing had happened. It lacked the strength to run away and to continue fighting, which in the Wave Beast¡¯s society meant only one thing. Cain noticed the look in the beast¡¯s eyes and jumped onto its back. The Obsidian Bear¡¯s body trembled when it saw that and was preparing to receive a deadly blow, but nothing happened. The Obsidian Bear slowly turned its neck and saw the human sitting on its back with his legs crossed. He then pointed in a direction before his eyes burst with red light. It did not know what was happening but did not dare to disobey, and using what little strength it had left, the Obsidian Bear began to run in the direction Cain pointed. There was no need to hide their presence since they moved through the domain of the Obsidian Bear. Although that sight confused the other Wave Beast, none dared to get closer as their instincts warned them about the danger of the human with the red hood. After almost two hours of running, the Obsidian Bear felt a pat on its back and understood that it needed to stop. It then saw how the human got down from its back and began to walk forward calmly. The Obsidian Bear did not know what to do, but when it saw that the human looked back with coldness, it trembled before walking by his side. The man and the beast did not take long to reach a small lake beneath a waterfall. It was very shallow, and there was no presence of any other life form in the surroundings. The Obsidian Bear saw how the human pointed toward the waterfall, and upon focusing on it, the beast detected a hidden cave from where the scent of more than a dozen of men emerged. Cain took a fruit the size of a fist from his space ring and threw it toward the Obsidian Bear. The beast did not hesitate to swallow it immediately as it felt the fiery power in it. That fruit was the Fire Heart, something he got alongside his Blood Refinement Art from the lair of the Metal Hyena during the events that led to the death of Nira and Dimitri. Since he had ripped it ahead of time, making the Fire Heart lose most of its power. Still, it was more than enough to revitalize the Obsidian Bear and grant it a slight boost to its vitality. After devouring the Fire Heart, the Obsidian Bear felt full of energy and stronger than ever. Still, it did not lose focus and saw the red eyes still concentrated on it. The Wave Beast was smart enough to understand its job. Although more than a dozen people were inside that cave, it would rather fight all of them than enrage the monster by its side. Once again, a sense of wildness and ferocity appeared in the Obsidian Bear¡¯s eyes as it focused on the cave hidden by the waterfall before dashing toward it. A second after the Obsidian Bear crossed the waterfall and entered the cave, Cain heard the sound of screams and explosions. ¡°?AHHHH!¡± ¡°A Wave Beast!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± ¡°Fight!¡± ¡°It is too strong!¡± ?Help me!¡± ¡°Run!¡± Cain not only heard the chaos inside the cave but saw everything that had happened since he sent his invisible Ego Wave into it. That was not all he did since he had also disabled their alarms, which is why none of them noticed their arrival. Although the group inside the cave had seventeen members, only three were Level 3 Wave Warriors, and most others were at Level 1. There was no way a force like that could face a Level 5 Obsidian Bear in such a narrow space like a cave. Cain turned around and left the forest while screams still rang behind him. None of those people would be able to escape, and there was nothing of value inside that cave, so there was no point in him wasting more time here. Chapter 149 - 149 First in all 149 First in all There was a large building in the Imperial Lightning Fort, and its proximity to the Titan Tower should tell everybody just how important that place was. Unlike most buildings in the fort, where soldiers could go in and out without a problem, there were guards at the front gates, and their aura put them at the Wave Champion rank! It had two words unleashing an imposing power in the front, and every soldier would show deterrence when they looked at them. Military Investigation Bureau. The Military Investigation Bureau was in charge of all types of criminal investigations across the Collapsing Lightning Sector, and their power was massive. A single order from them could deprive a Count of all their belongings and mark them as a criminal or, even worse, a traitor. They answer to no one but the Collapsing Lightning Duke. The more serious the type of investigation done by the Military Investigation Bureau, the higher the floor where it would occur. Right now, on one of the lower floors, a group of five people was going through some files. ¡°The Mayor from Rouk City seems to have died from a complication of the wounds taken during the Dark Races¡¯ invasion.¡± The one that spoke was a man with a large belly. Despite his unaesthetic appearance, he had a thriving life force, making it clear he was in good health. ¡°Mmm, the coroner detected no foul play during the autopsy, but it is still odd for such a sudden death.¡± A very tall woman with a weird robe carried on, expressing her opinion. ..... The moment she said that the other four nodded and began to pay closer attention to the files, going through all the data regarding Rouk City over the last month. Seeing those five people work was an impressive sight. It was as if they shared a single mind and were open to all points of view, not discarding anything before doing a proper investigation. After thirty minutes, they looked at each other and nodded before declaring that Mayor Clacius¡¯ death resulted from his wounds and no other party was involved. During their investigation, the death of the seventeen men in the forest near Rouk City caught their attention, but that group sent a request for help during the attack through their A.I. Chips and clearly stated that the cause was a Wave Beast. ¡ª While the Military Investigation Bureau group completely disregarded Cain¡¯s name, it spread among the cadets and soldiers in the fort like wildfire. The reason for that was pretty simple, the Pillar of Strength and the Pillar of Resilience¡¯s Cadet Rankings had changed again, and the new N¡ã1 was no other than Saint of Killers. That not only stunned low-level soldiers, but even captains were shocked due to that impressive feat. For the first time since the rise of the Pillars of Trial, a single cadet took first place in all five! After the Pillar of Resilience¡¯s Cadet Ranking had changed, a large crew had formed outside the Pillars of Trials, but they only caught a glimpse of Cain before he entered the Pillar of Strength. Once Cain took the N¡ã1 position in the Pillar of Streght¡¯s Cadet Ranking, there were thousands of people waiting to see him, but he seemed to have vanished. Cain walked calmly toward his residence as his presence seemed to vanish. He had no desire to exchange pleasantries with thousands of people he did not know, so he used Void Breath after finishing with the Pillar of Strength and quietly returned to his home. ¡®My name must have reached every corner of the Imperial Lightning Fort by this point.¡¯ There was a smile on Cain¡¯s face as that thought crossed his mind. Popularity was not something that Cain cared about since his time in school showed him just how insignificant that was. The reason for his smile was that the rise in his fame would undoubtedly mean an improvement in his destiny, which would translate into Destiny Force. Cain did not believe even for a second that he could decipher the mysteries of destiny, but he knew that achieving impressive feats would help him, so he did them. It was already Sunday, and Cain prepared to sleep so he could be full of energy for tomorrow¡¯s class. Still, before doing that, he reviewed the information recollected from Clacius¡¯ encrypted communication device. The mysterious force never got face-to-face with Clacius. All their dealing went through the encrypting communication device. That force provided Clacius routes to sell his stolen goods, access to a hidden network where he could buy all sorts of illegal things, and even protection from the authorities to a certain point. In exchange for that, Clacius needed to hand over fifty percent of his net gains and be ready to carry on with any command the mysterious force would give him. Clacius had done business with the force for a long time, but eight days ago was the first time they sent him a direct order. He had to attend a meeting that would happen six weeks from now and wait for further instructions. Although that order was vague, and Clacius had no idea what would happen once he reached that place, he knew that going against that mysterious force would be the same that committing suicide. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he analyzed all the information at his disposal. ¡®Nothing good happens when an underground organization calls for a meeting of their members.¡¯ He could take many paths, but the one that was out of the question was informing the authorities. First, there was no good way to explain how he got all this information, and second, such a mysterious organization must know how to cover its tracks. They would silence anyone that threatened their anonymity. Cain considered discussing this matter with Zarak, but he shook his head after some consideration. He knew that his Master would not care about him killing Clacius, but he also knew this one would not bother to move a hand to interfere with that meeting. ¡®Big fish care about big matters, and small fish care about small matters.¡¯ While to Cain, a meeting of people at the level of Clacius was very important, for someone like Zarak, it was insignificant. ¡®I still have time for the meeting to take place. I will use this time to enhance my strength and skills so I can take care of whatever happens on my own if needed.¡¯ After deciding his path, Cain began to speak with Apex. ¡°Apex, do your best to gather all the possible information about where the meeting will take place. Also, can you locate other encryption communication devices? I don¡¯t need the information in them, just their location.¡± The System Spirit remained silent for a moment. Cain waited since he knew this one was assessing the viability of the task. ¡°I can locate other encryption communication devices using the code left by the one used for Clacius, but to do it, I will have to use Destiny Force to enhance the [A.I. Chip Module]¡¯s powers.¡± ¡°How much will it take?¡± Cain did not immediately agree. Although he had nearly two thousand points of Destiny Force, each was extremely valuable. ¡°I will need around fifty to one hundred points.¡± Cain contemplated for a minute before nodding. Going blindly to the meeting of an underground organization was one of the most stupid things one could do. While Cain wanted to prevent any dark scheme that would emerge from that meeting, his desire for justice was not so high that it could blind him and shut his survival instincts. ¡°Ok, then I will proceed with the hacking. I will inform you when I finish.¡± Cain nodded at Apex¡¯s words and knew he could thrust this one to carry on that task without flaw. With that problem out of the way, Cain finally went to his bed and drifted into unconsciousness. The sun had already come out by the time Cain woke up. He carried on with his usual ritual, bowing to his father¡¯s altar before dashing toward his class. Cain reached the auditorium and saw that Orin was already there. The girl was very diligent, always arriving early. When Orin noticed Cain, her eyes narrowed. She felt the young man¡¯s strength had significantly grown, and the short hair on his head hinted he went through marrow washing. Just like everybody else in the fort, Orin had heard that Cain obtained the N¡ã1 position in every Cadet Ranking in all the Pillars of Trial. Orin was originally one of the cadets that hid their strength until Jonathan¡¯s test forced her to reveal it. Hence, she knew there were hidden monsters in the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy. However, the girl seriously doubted that there was anyone among the cadets that could really face Cain head-on. Cain had no idea what Orin was thinking and did not really care. He just returned her nod before waiting by her side for Jonathan. Chapter 150 - 150 Test the limits of battle power 150 Test the limits of battle power Like always, Jonathan appeared out of nowhere in front of Cain and Orin the second the class started. His eyes widened when he saw that Cain¡¯s cultivation had risen to Level 4 and that he went through another session of marrow washing. ¡®Originally, I thought his Wave Talent would hold him back, but it seems he had already found an answer.¡¯ Jonathan showed a small smile before focusing on the class at hand. ¡°Today, I will teach you the arts of patience and adaptability. Both do not require great physical might or skills but a state of mind that can endure drastic changes, always focused and serene, not letting your emotions or even your instincts affect your judgment.¡± Cain and Orin showed solemn expressions as they heard that. Learning a physical skill, no matter how complicated, would always be easier than grasping an entire state of mind. ¡°For assassins, patience and adaptability are extremely important. You must be patient enough not to be tricked by your target into attacking before time and end in an ambush. You must also be adaptable to recognize the opportunities that present themselves in front of you.¡± Jonathan carried on with the class, showing all types of cases where the lack of patience and adaptability resulted in the assassin¡¯s death. He also taught the duo how to handle the stress and tension of such situations, so their minds would always be clear. Cain knew he had an advantage in this type of training thanks to his Ego Eternal Path of Power, having already reached Mind Over Body. Still, he was giving everything he had to learn as much as possible from Jonathan. The class ended after roughly ten hours, leaving both Cain and Orin mentally exhausted. The duo nodded to each other before leaving for their respective residences. Cain used Embryonic Breathing to rest and spent the rest of the night cultivating before going to a new Genetic Coder Class. ..... As usual, Cain and Camil would address subjects of Genetic Coding that were too advanced for the rest of the class. The other cadets were already used to it, so they only focused on their work and would ask for Camil¡¯s help from time to time. Cain¡¯s mastery over the Golden Vectors was growing better and better, but it was still challenging to advance. Just a 1% improvement in the Flaw Percentage proved to be a monumental task. By the end of the class, and thanks to Camil helping Cain solve most of his doubts, he was able to create a Golden Vector with a 7.5% Flaw! Advancing from a 9% Flaw to a 7.5% might not seem much, but doing it in a single week was incredible. Camil was truly shocked by Cain¡¯s talent, which was evident by the amazement in her eyes as she stared at the capsule with the improved Golden Vector. ¡®At this rate, he might be able to create a 0% Flaw Golden Vector before the year ends and could delve into the realm of Grand Genetic Coders!¡¯ Camil knew just how incredibly a fifteen-year-old Grand Genetic Coder was, but she kept her composure. If she were to tell Cain just how exceptionally gifted he was again and again, that could affect the young man¡¯s drive. When the class ended, Cain left alongside Lurin and Ophelia, and before they split apart, he gave each a Wave Virus. The duo once again felt awkward receiving such a valuable gift, but he had already left before they could say a word. Cain valued friendship a lot, and he made the ones he gave to the duo with a 0% Silver Vector, so they were not really that expensive for him. Although Cain focused mainly on Golden Vectors, he still created Wave Virus with 0% Flaw Silver Vectors to sell them. Genetic Coding training required a massive amount of wealth, but Cain could fix it by selling his creations. As the Young Lord from the Valentine Family, Cain knew he could ask Zarak for money, but he refused to do that. It was not a naive sense of arrogance, but he knew that if he did it once, it would happen again. Unless Cain always wanted to be reliant on Zarak¡¯s help, he needed to find his own way. Of course, if a serious problem were to happen where his life or the life of someone important to him was in danger, he would not hesitate and request his master¡¯s assistance. Once Cain reached his residence, he bowed to his father¡¯s altar, took a shower, and went to sleep. After waking up and feeling his body and mind refreshed, he extracted his Genetic Chamber from his space ring and began creating an Enhanced Wave Drive¡¯s Genetic Chain. There were five Golden Vectors at his disposal, so Cain focused his mind on creating five Enhanced Wave Drive¡¯s Genetic Chains. Once he finished, he focused on the best, and a slight frown appeared. [Enhanced Wave Drive¡¯s Genetic Chain: Increase of Wave Talent by 9.3%] ¡®The best from the last batch was 9.2%. That meant I only improved 0.1%.¡¯ That almost null improvement bothered Cain a little, but he understood that even Grand Genetic Coders would find it hard to reach the theoric limit of an Elementary Wave Virus. Cain focused and fused the Golden Vectors with the Genetic Chains according to their efficiency. He then took the best, injected it into his body, and underwent the process of adapting to the genetic modifications. ¡®System, scan me.¡¯ A few seconds after Cain uttered that command, a virtual screen appeared in his sight. [Scanning Vessel ... ... -Vessel¡¯s ability to drive Wave has increased by 9.0% -Vessel¡¯s current Wave Talent is Low Tier 5] The improvements in the Golden Vector and Genetic Chain allowed Cain to create a Wave Virus that could improve someone¡¯s Wave Talent by 9%. Cain nodded and stored the other four Wave Viruses in his space ring before adopting a meditative position and cultivating. ¡ª Weeks began to pass, and Cain honed his cultivation and abilities more and more. His abilities as an assassin had improved drastically, having mastered Void Breath to perfection. As for his Wave Viruses, he had already begun to create Gold Vectors with a 3% Flaw. Besides his military specialization and Profession, Cain also made improvements in his Hypnosis Master Path and was sure that he was very close to becoming a 3-Star Hypnosis Master. Cain had just opened his eyes from a cultivation session and saw how the wave crystal and Dragon Blood Grass in his hand crumbled to dust. As he saw that, Cain almost burst into laughter and understood how far he had come. That wave crystal and Dragon Blood Grass was almost 20000 military credits, a sum that he could not even imagine when he had just entered the military academy. Yet, now his space ring was full of them. Cain regained his focus and concentrated on the rushing Astral Wave moving through his body. ¡®Thanks to my Wave Viruses and the effect of marrow washing, I have advanced extremely fast. My meridians have already begun to branch after piercing my bones and are ingraining themselves into my muscles. During Level 5, I will significantly boost my strength and speed due to the qualitative enhancement my muscle fibers will obtain once my Astral Wave goes directly through them.¡¯ Cain was delighted with his improvement and felt his strength should be enough to defeat Level 5 Wave Warriors without a problem, even if he faced several of them at once. However, something still disturbed him: the meeting organized by that mysterious underground organization that Clacius had to attend. ¡®There are still two weeks until the meeting. Apex already obtained the information of all those with encrypted communication devices like the one held by Clacius and hacked into their agendas, making it clear they would also attend.¡¯ Most of the people attending that meeting were mayors and other civil officers. Cain did not fear any of them, but there were more complicated figures like the son of a Viscount. And to make things worse, Cain had no idea who the mysterious organization would send. He would be entering the lion¡¯s den and whether he could come up alive was yet to be seen. Cain took a deep breath and calmed as he considered what he would do. After a few minutes, a sharp look appeared on his face, and his eyes burst with a mighty red light. ¡®No matter what, I need to know what they are doing. People like that are capable of sacrificing anyone for their gains, even the most innocent of all. Whether I interfere or just gain information about their plans will depend on their strength during that meeting.¡¯ Cain decided his plan of action and how to tackle this problem, but there was one thing he would do before that meeting. ¡®I need to test the limits of my battle power.¡¯ Chapter 151 - 151 Dread-Lightning Lion 151 Dread-Lightning Lion Deep within the Whisper Forest was an area covering dozens of kilometers packed with Level 5 Wave Beasts. These creatures were the leaders of giant packs with thousands, and sometimes dozens of thousands of underlings. On top of a mountain, gazing over all those Level 5 Wave Beasts, there was an even stronger creature. It was almost two meters tall, with golden fur that seemed more resilient than any common metal, and lightning arcs revolved around him, unleashing an aura of destructive might and immense speed. That creature was the Dread-Lightning Lion, a Wave Beast with a Lineage that could help it rise all the way to a Wave Champion rank. The days of the Dread-Lightning Lion were calm, as it only had to unleash its aura to keep all other Wave Beast at bay and devour the offering its underlings would bring to it every morning. It would only face danger when facing other Wave Beasts that wanted to take its domain, but thanks to its strength, it never lost. Right from the start, the Dread-Lightning Lion felt that something odd had happened since its underlings had not brought him the morning offerings. Wave Beasts have a strict hierarchy, and any form of rebellion was punishable with death, so there was no way those Level 5 Wave Beasts would simply forget their duties. The Dread-Lightning Lion rose, and its Life Wave burst with power as it noticed a presence on the mountain right next to the one it was sitting on. Wave Beasts take great pride in their instincts and perception, so the fact that the Dread-Lightning Lion did not notice the human until now disturbed it greatly. The Level 6 Wave Beast focused on the human and saw it was wearing full black armor with a red helmet. The one thing that drew its attention the most was the red light coming from his eyes. Although the human¡¯s sudden arrival shocked the Dread-Lightning Lion¡¯s heart, it survived thanks to its power and ability to control its emotions. ..... ¡°ROAR!¡± The Dread-Lightning Lion roared with all its strength, calling for its pawns to come. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that. There was nothing wrong with calling for reinforcements. Actually, it was the smart way to do things. However, most Wave Beasts were too terrified of looking weak in front of their pawns, so they would rather risk their lives than ask for help. Facing the Level 6 Dread-Lightning Lion would already be challenging, and doing it while dozens of Level 5 Wave Beasts attacked from the sides would be impossible. Luckily, Cain did not have to worry about it. When he arrived at this place, the first thing he did was test the limit of his assassin¡¯s skills, and the result was impressive. The Dread-Lightning Lion saw that no one answered his call, and as it focused on its sense of smell, it detected a faint smell of blood in the air. Immediately, the Wave Beast¡¯s eyes widened as it understood what had happened. All its pawns, dozens of Level 5 Wave Beast, were dead, and the one that did it was so silent that no one noticed it until all of them had perished. It was clear to the Dread-Lightning Lion that the man in front of it was responsible for its pawns¡¯ death. That also provoked a flash of realization in its eyes, as the Wave Beast understood that running away would leave it vulnerable, and the only way it could survive was by killing the man now that he was in its perception. ¡°ROAR!¡± The Dread-Lightning Lion roared again, but this time it was not calling for help but unleashing every ounce of power inside its body, ready to take this as a life-and-death battle. A pillar of yellow lightning burst from the Dread-Lighting Lion that rose more than twenty meters into the air, generating a picture that only natural phenomena could provoke in the Old World. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he felt the might of the Wave Beast, and he knew that if he were to underestimate it, even with all his gifts and powers, he might lose his life in this forest. ¡®Good!¡¯ Cain came to this forest to test the limit of his battle power, and the only way to find it was to face an enemy that could put his life in danger, a battle where a single mistake could mean the end. His Astral Wave burst with immense strength as he unleashed a 2000% Wave Burst, and his heartbeat was so strong that it generated a sound that echoed through the forest as he activated Asura Form: First Gear. That was not all, as arcs of blue lightning began to move across his body, similar to how the yellow ones did with the Dread-Lightning Lion. The human and the Wave Beast had Lineages that focused on lightning conversion. Still, Cain trained with a technique, giving his blue lightning the same power as the Dread-Lightning Lion¡¯s yellow despite the difference in their cultivations. Cain and the Dread-Lightning Lion increased their auras more and more, filling the air with arcs of blue and yellow lightning until they finally reached their peak and leaped toward the other. The two mountain peaks were almost fifty meters apart, but Cain and the Dread-Lightning Lion unleashed so much strength that they clashed in the air without losing momentum. ¡°?Boom!¡± A yellow and blue lightning explosion appeared between the mountains when Cain and the Dread-Lightning Lion clashed. Both used speed to enhance their strength, but the Wave Beast came on top during the first clash. The Dread-Lightning Lion showed a small smile as it saw that its claw pushed the human¡¯s arm back, but it did not last long. Cain saw in Virtual Sight that he would lose the first clash with the Dread-Lightning Lion, which is why before the claw sent him crashing down, he twisted his body and connected a ferocious kick to the beast¡¯s temple. ¡°Boom.¡± ¡°Boom.¡± Two small blasts echoed through the forest once the human and Wave Beast crashed into the ground. The Dread-Lightning Lion rose from the ground with pain on its face since the collision harmed it. Unlike the Wave Beast, Cain¡¯s face showed nothing. He was not hiding his pain since right before the collision with the ground, he used Wave Focus and directed all of his Astral Wave to his back before morphing it into a soft substance through Wave Transmutation. Cain showed a small smile as he noticed the almost null damage he endured by displaying an inhumane speed of control over the Four Basic Wave Arts. However, that smile did not last long as coldness and killing intent burst from his eyes when he focused on the Dread-Lightning Lion again. The Wave Beast noticed the human¡¯s gaze and answered with the same ferocity as it flashed forward, ready to hip him apart with its claws. Cain did not simply wait for the Wave Beast but flashed forward as the lightning around his arms grew denser. Less than a second after that, he saw a claw coming from above, ready to split him to pieces, but he dodged to the side while still moving forward. The Dread-Lightning Lion could not believe that the human had dodged its attack. One of the keys behind its power was its immense speed, but the human was even faster. Actually, Cain¡¯s speed was not faster than the Dread-Lightning Lion, even with Asura Form, but he used his martial skills and Virtual Sight to dodge that lightning claw. Unfortunately for the Wave Beast, it did not have time to wonder about the secret behind the human¡¯s speed as a fist with immense strength, speed, and penetration force landed on the side of its body. Cain saw how his punch sent the Wave Beast flying away, but he was surprised to see that it managed to recover control mid-air before landing on the ground and using its entire body as a torpedo. Even with his immense speed and martial skills, Cain could not dodge that attack, so he was forced to form a cross with his arms and focus all his Astral Wave in them to block that strike. The Dread-Lightning Lion¡¯s head clashed directly with Cain¡¯s guard and sent him flying away, breaking several trees in his path. A ferocious light appeared in the Wave Beast¡¯s eyes as it ignored the pain of its fractured ribs and dashed toward the human. Cain had weakened the damage of the collisions by covering his back with his transmuted Astral Wave. Still, the initial clash left an iron taste in his mouth, indicating internal damage. He then saw how the Dread-Lightning Lion bounced toward him with its claw about to reach him. Yet, this time he was able to counter it. Just as the claws were about to reach him, Cain dashed forward and sent a kick toward the Dread-Lightning Lion¡¯s jaw, sending the creature back. Cain did not waste this opportunity and dashed forward, ready to unleash a barrage of strikes, but just as he was about to reach the Dread-Lightning Lion, he saw how the beast¡¯s body glowed. That glow made Cain¡¯s instincts scream danger. He immediately stopped his advance, tearing some of his muscles due to the inertia, before jumping back and covering his entire body with lightning. Less than a second after the Dread-Lightning Lion¡¯s body glowed, a blast of immensely powerful yellow lightning emerged, discharging an extremely destructive force in all directions. Cain had escaped from the blast¡¯s epicenter, but the yellow lightning would still reach him with enough power to overcome his defenses. Despite the massive drop in his energy pool that it would generate, he activated his Nullity Armor¡¯s ability, inducing a force field that protected him. The yellow lightning¡¯s blast made Cain feel his entire body would melt, but thanks to all his protection, he escaped without receiving a lethal wound. ¡®That was close. Had I been in the core of the blast, I would have died.¡¯ Chapter 152 - 152 Killing the Dread-Lightning Lion 152 Killing the Dread-Lightning Lion Cain¡¯s breath was rough, and although he avoided lethal wounds, the lightning blast scorched the skin beneath his armor. ¡®That was a very close call. According to my information, only Level 7 Dread-Lightning Lions have that Lightning Blast ability, but it seems this one is special.¡¯ Cain focused on the state of his body and understood that he had less than a fourth of his energy pool left. Surviving that Lightning Blast did not come cheap. However, Cain knew he was not the only one weakened by that blast. The Dread-Lightning Lion rose from the ground with a pale face, and the Life Wave around its body was in severe disarray. Unleashing an attack that could obliterate everything in a one-hundred-meter radius required massive energy and took most of the Dread-Lightning Lion¡¯s Life Wave. The Wave Beast and the Godslayer Human looked at each other, and they saw the weakness in the other. However, they also saw their killing intent and knew this battle would last until one of them was dead. Cain flashed forward at full speed, but his movements were odd. There were strange patterns in them that seemed to leave afterimages. He used his enhanced speed and assassin¡¯s footwork to confuse the enemy¡¯s mind. The Dread-Lightning Lion¡¯s eyes widened with shock as its eyes could not show it the real one. Yet, it was wise enough to stop relying on its sight and focus on its sense of smell. The Wave Beast was sure that it could find out the enemy by his smell, but the next second an even greater sense of shock assaulted it. Its nose failed to pick up the human¡¯s scent! ..... Cain showed a cold smile as he noticed that. Void Breath was an extremely advanced assassin technique that could hide someone¡¯s scent. Before the Dread-Lightning Lion could get over the shock, Cain tackled it. He used all of his strength and momentum to bring the massive body of the Wave Beast against large boulders on his path, making deep wounds appear on its back. Cain was about to make the final clash against a small mountain when he noticed how the Dread-Lightning Lion opened its maws and attempted to bite his shoulder. He let go of the beast and jumped back to save himself from that deadly bite but ended up in an unstable position, leaving him open for an attack. The Dread-Lightning Lion did not lose that chance, and its right claw burst with yellow lightning as it struck Cain¡¯s left arm, sending the human flying away. ¡°Boom.¡± A small explosion echoed through the forest once Cain clashed against the mountain he initially wanted to ram the Wave Beast into. Despite the pain, Cain immediately rose from the crater made by his body and dashed back into the fray. His entire body rotated as he punched the incoming Dread-Lightning Lion¡¯s head, fracturing the beast¡¯s jaw. The Dread-Lightning Lion felt a pain like no other as its jaw shattered due to that punch. Despite having lost one of its weapons, its maws, it did not lose its fighting will since it saw the Godsalyer Human¡¯s left arm was not moving. Its last claw strike must have fractured the human¡¯s left arm, significantly weakening his fighting power. Cain noticed how the Wave Beast focused on his left arm but showed no emotion as he flashed forward and sent a tornado kick. Using rotation and torque is how Cain could take full advantage of the Asura Form since those actions would transform speed into brute power. The Dread-Lightning Lion lunged and answered that kick with its claw, generating a new blast of yellow and blue lightning. It had won due to its superior strength during the initial clash, but things were different now. Cain was not jumping from one mountain to another, allowing him to deploy his true martial skills, and while it was easier and faster to strike with his arms, the strength that his legs could unleash was superior. He pushed away that claw with his first kick, and once he landed on the ground, he twisted his entire body again and sent a new tornado kick straight toward the Wave Beast¡¯s head. The Dread-Lightning Lion saw the immense strength behind that tornado kick and knew that if it were to land on its head, it could crack it. Relying purely on its survival instincts, the Wave Beast managed to move its body in the last second, allowing the kick to land on its right shoulder instead of its head. ¡°Ahhh!¡± A cry of pain emerged from the Dread-Lightning Lion as that kick sent it flying away. The Wave Beast did its best to stand up as soon as possible, but when it attempted to put some weight on its right leg, it almost fell to the ground. That last strike had broken its shoulder! Cain did not hesitate before flashing forward with all his strength before the creature could adopt a stable posture. ¡°AHHH!¡± The Dread-Lightning Lion yelled with even more strength despite its broken jaw when Cain¡¯s right shoulder collided with its chest. ¡°?BOOM!¡± Blood leaked from the Dread-Lightning Lion¡¯s mouth as that blow provoked massive internal damage before sending it crashing against a mountain. Cain saw that the Wave Beast had difficulty standing up, and its Life Wave almost vanished and knew it was time to finish this battle. He focused on his right arm and made a fist before extending two fingers. His Astral Wave began to gather on his right arm as more and more of it transformed into lightning, making it appear like a lightning spear. The Dread-Lightning Lion only saw a blue flash before an arm covered in lightning pierced its neck all the way through. Its eyes twitched for a second before they lost their light, and the creature trembled for a second before dying. Cain did not remove his arm from the Dread-Lighting Lion as he began to mobilize Blood Refinement Art, using the Wave Beast¡¯s blood to fill his body with vitality and heal his wounds. The amount of blood essence Cain could obtain from a Level 6 Dread-Lightning Lion was massive. Even if Wave Beasts were inherently weaker than Wave Warriors, their vitality was just as mighty. Cain began to smile as he felt how the scorched skin began to peel off, and his left arm¡¯s fracture slowly healed. His domain over the Blood Refinement Art had grown immensely due to the daily practice, and he devoured every last drop of blood from the Dread-Lightning Lion in less than thirty minutes. ¡®My wounds have healed, but my Astral Wave is almost empty. I will need more time before returning to my peak.¡¯ Before exploring the surroundings, he stored the Dread-Lightning Lion¡¯s corpse inside his space ring. Even if Cain left no blood in the Wave Beast, someone could still use its carcass for all sorts of Wave Artifact or drugs. Cain took a deep breath before focusing on his Ego Wave, making it invisible, and releasing it outside his body. Just like he always trained in Embryonic Breathing, he had not let go of his Free Ego training and had become very good at it. The domain of Wave Beasts usually had very special herbs and all sorts of cultivation treasures, so Cain wanted to explore everything before returning to the Imperial Lightning Fort. His Ego Wave could reach a radius of two hundred meters, and everything in it, no matter how small or hidden, would appear in Cain¡¯s mind as clearly as if he was holding it in his hands. Everything was fine at first, and Cain smiled from time to time as he found out all sorts of herbs and minerals in the mountains, but when his Ego Wave reached the crown of some trees one hundred and ninety meters away from him, his eyes narrowed, and coldness emerged in them. However, Cain¡¯s coldness lasted less than a second, and his smile returned as he began to walk into the mountains, away from the trees. He was very careful and took his time to pick up every herb and mineral he could find. Those were all very valuable, so there was nothing wrong with his behavior. However, what was extremely weird was when Cain got down to pick a herb, and while giving his back to the forest, he took out a wave crystal from his space ring and put it in his mouth. Cain was very careful, mobilizing the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique very slowly so no one could see that his energy pool slowly began to fill up again with dense Astral Wave. ¡®There are five of them. Three are Level 4 Essence Wave Warriors, one is a Level 5 Astral Wave Warrior, and the last is a Level 6 Essence Wave Warrior. By their clothes, I can tell they come from a Wave University. They most likely came to kill the Dread-Lightning Lion. The fact they are focused on me and have hidden their presence tells me all I need to know.¡¯ The coldness hidden inside Cain¡¯s heart grew even stronger as he got deeper into the mountains. Chapter 153 - 153 The right path 153 The right path The five students closely followed Cain, but their expressions were not the same. The trio at Level 4 showed apprehension, while the man at Level 5 was more composed, but the look on his face showed he did not feel very comfortable with this. However, none of the four dared to go against their group¡¯s Level 6 Essence Wave Warrior. She was a young woman with green hair and vertical pupils. When the Level 6 Essence Wave Warrior arrived at this zone, she was surprised to hear those explosions. As she guided the group to move forward quietly, shock appeared when she saw such a young man fighting her mission¡¯s target. At first, she was just surprised, but greed appeared in her eyes after seeing how the young man killed the Dread-Lightning Lion before using the creature¡¯s blood to heal himself. The student knew that getting that technique would be almost impossible, but who knew what kinds of treasures were inside his space ring? If the young man were another student at her Wave University, she would not have been so bold, but that was not the case, and who could say he did not die at the hands of the Dread-Lightning Lion? The Level 6 Essence Wave Warrior was ready to deploy her jamming device once they were close enough to the young man. Even if this one was strong, the battle with the Dread-Lightning Lion should have exhausted him, and she had four more people by her side. Once the girl saw the young man getting deeper into the mountain, she pushed her group to move faster since that was a perfect place for them to rain spells at him from high ground. The greed in the girl¡¯s eyes almost exploded as she activated her jamming device and reached the other side of the small mountain. Nevertheless, a sense of shock and confusion replaced those emotions. The Level 6 Essence Wave Warrior had just seen the young man move to this location, but no one was there. She was not alone in her confusion since the other four also thought that they would see the man and had already charged their attacks. ..... Suddenly, the girl¡¯s eyes grew sharp as she made her Wave Cloak burst with all her might, generating powerful winds to cover her body. ¡°Watch out!¡± The only reason for the young man to vanish like that was if he already knew they were following him, so the girl immediately entered a battle state thinking that danger was imminent. When the other four heard the girl¡¯s words, they grew tense, thinking that the young man that single-handedly killed the Dread-Lightning Lion knew their intentions and would attack them. The Wave Cloak of the four exploded with immense strength as they pushed their perception to the peak, ready to answer any incoming attack. Despite their young age, the five students adopted a tight battle formation that would allow them to enhance each other¡¯s strong points while covering their weaknesses. The five students remained like that for several minutes, but nothing came. Still, they did not lower their guard, as they knew that an attack could come at any time, and the fact it had yet to happen only proved the enemy¡¯s patience. None of them knew that the man they were guarding against had already left those small mountains and headed to the Whisper Forest¡¯s exit. Cain could monitor the movements of those five with his Ego Wave, so it was very easy to vanish using Void Breath once he was out of their perception. At first, Cain had considered killing all of them after figuring out their intentions. Even if the one that drove them in that direction were the Level 6 Essence Wave Warrior when push came to shove, the other four would have still attacked him and taken his belongings after killing him. He even came up with a plan. First, Cain would have hidden his presence and secretly hypnotized the three Level 4 Essence Wave Warriors. After that, he would have used the trio to create mayhem, and during the chaos, he would have attacked from the shadows, greatly wounding or even killing the Level 6 Essence Wave Warrior. As for the Level 5 Astral Wave Warrior, someone like that was no longer any threat to Cain. The only path for that man would have been dying under his might. Of course, things could always go south, but even in that scenario, he was confident enough in his skills and speed to at least run away with his life. Ultimately, the only reason Cain did not kill that group was that he did not need to do it. Not every interaction with a hostile force required him to obliterate them. The number of people that had shown animosity or even killing intent toward him was not small and would continue growing as he advanced on his path of power. Maybe killing that group would have filled him with vigor and some sense of justice since they dared to think of killing him, but a wave of problems would come next. Investigating forces would surely come from that group¡¯s university, and since Cain did not hide the fact he came to this place, it would only be a matter of time before they figured out what happened. Cain was no longer an orphan without any background. He was the most talented cadet from the Imperial Lightning Fort and the Young Lord of the Valentine Family, so he was not afraid people could twist the facts to make him the guilty party so they could use the power of the empire¡¯s laws against him. The higher-ups from the Imperial Military Force would not let one of their most shining stars fall into some scheme. Yet, that would not erase the animosity he would gain from that group¡¯s Wave University and families. In the end, Cain chose to avoid the conflict. He would have only gained a faint sense of superiority if he had killed all of them, which was not worth it. Of course, if the group had wounded him or attacked someone he cared about in any way, no matter their background, Cain would have killed them all without hesitation. ¡°Hahaha, you are maturing really fast, brat. There is nothing wrong in killing an enemy, but jumping straight to murder when someone shows the most minimal sign of animosity only shows you lack self-control.¡± Cain heard Apex¡¯s voice as he jumped from one tree to the other, making no sound. A small smile appeared on his face, and he knew that, for some reason, the praise of the System Spirit felt much better than anything he would have gained from killing those five students. ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s get to important matters. I have been going through the information we got from Clacius, and some things don¡¯t add up.¡± Cain¡¯s face grew solemn when he heard that. He knew that anything related to that mysterious underground organization could prove extremely dangerous and needed to be careful about it. ¡°According to Clacius¡¯ information, the meeting was only supposed to last two days at most, but some of the people attending it had free their schedule for entire weeks. What is also odd is that the ones with a shorter period of time are at the lower end of the list of people attending the meeting, such as mayors, civil leaders, and others like that. All the while, the ones with a more extended schedule time are at the higher end of the list, such as sons of Noble Families, army members, and Wave Universities students.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he analyzed that new information. He knew there were many reasons for something like that, such as the mysterious organization dividing the meeting into two parts, and those like Clacius only allowed for the first one. Still, Cain felt that the truth behind it was not so simple. ¡°I know I am missing something, but this new information doesn¡¯t change our plan. Apex, have you already figured out the best target?¡± ¡°There are several that meet your requirements. I will send the information to you, so you can choose the one you like the most.¡± Cain nodded at the System Spirit¡¯s words. There was still a little more than a week before the meeting. That should be enough for him to take care of the finer details of the plan and get ready. If Cain was honest, there was not a small part of him telling him to forget about this meeting and pass down the information to the authorities anonymously, but he also knew that would not fix anything. A solution like that would grant him only a little peace of mind. The danger was definitely considerable, but something deep inside told him that he could rise higher and higher by choosing this path. It was fine to avoid trouble as he did just now by not engaging with that group. What was unacceptable was letting fear stop him from taking a path he felt deep inside was the right one. Chapter 154 - 154 Saharo City 154 Saharo City A special vehicle moved through the streets of a large city with more than one hundred million people. No matter who, all those that watched it would show respect and awe due to the crest engraved in the doors. It was a blade covered in arcs of revolving water and belonged to the Samar Family, a Noble Family with a Count. A young man was inside the vehicle, and as he saw the expression on the people¡¯s faces, a nasty smile appeared. ¡°Hahaha, those commoners are so ludicrous. Just my Family Crest is enough to make all of them vow.¡± The scion¡¯s looks were not that good, and the expression on his face only worsened things, but he did not care since no one outside the vehicle could see him. His name was Simon Samar, and he was Count Samar¡¯s seventh son. Simon Samar had always liked to look down on others as it made him feel superior to the rest, something he desperately needed due to his actual position in the Samar Family. Even if he was not the seventh in the line of succession, all of his brothers and sisters were not only older but also much more powerful and talented. To be fair, Simon had a powerful bloodline as the son of a man that managed to become a Count, but his lack of effort and undisciplined nature made it very difficult to advance in cultivation. Despite Simon¡¯s Lineage and resources, he barely reached Level 3 at seventeen years old, and it seemed that he would fail to surpass the first cultivation bottleneck, preventing him from reaching Level 4. Although not all were the same, there was a lot of fighting in Noble Families, not just between the old generation that wanted to rise higher but also among the young scions that sought to hoard the best resources for them. ..... Someone like Simon, who did nothing but waste time and showed little to no commitment, was considered trash and left with the most basic resources. Of course, in Simon¡¯s mind, the disparity between the treatment of him and his sibling had nothing to do with him and everything with jealousy and envy of others. Luckily for him, a mysterious organization contacted him less than a year ago. They promised to provide him with all sorts of unique cultivation treasures and Wave Viruses in exchange for his loyalty and sharing his family¡¯s secrets. Simon did not hesitate to accept their offer. The fact he was essentially betraying his family did not bother him because, in his mind, they betrayed him first. The mysterious organization kept its word, and the resources they sent were so powerful that even though Simon barely trained a couple of hours a week, he managed to advance to Level 4 and was already on his way to Level 5. A few weeks ago, the mysterious organization commanded Simon to come to a special meeting in a small city. They told him that he needed to free his schedule for a few weeks and that he would return to his family like a new man and get the respect he deserved. The mysterious organization had never lied to Simon, so he was sure they were telling the truth, and his blood burned with excitement and anticipation. As the vehicle left the city¡¯s gates and headed forward, Simion¡¯s smile grew wider. ¡°The time for everybody to recognize just how amazing I am has finally arrived.¡± Simon uttered those words inside the vehicle as he looked at the only other person inside it. He was a middle-aged man with golden hair, a bulky body, and a large scar on his face. That middle-aged man was a Level 5 Astral Wave Warrior that the Samar Family assigned as Simon¡¯s bodyguard, something very common in Noble Families. Simon had no worries about revealing things in front of the man since the mysterious organization already took care of it. Although the bodyguard acted as always, there was a command implanted in the deepest part of his mind that stopped him from betraying Simon. Or at least that is what the mysterious organization told the scion. When Simon looked at the servile expression on the bodyguard, he showed an expression full of contempt. ¡°Hmph, Loras, you always acted so high and mighty despite being a mere bodyguard, and now I can do whatever I want with you.¡± The bodyguard only nodded at Simon¡¯s words, showing no resistance or other emotions. Having a Level 5 Astral Wave Warrior as a slave made Simon feel amazing, and just as he was about to continue tormenting the man, it happened. ¡°?Boom!¡± The vehicle carrying Simon and Loras was dozens of kilometers away from the city when someone descended from the sky and crashed on the ground before them. Simon was shocked, and his mind froze for a moment as he did not know what to do. He had never faced any real danger in his life, so he was not able to react when he saw a man with black armor and a red helmet appearing in front of his vehicle. The first thing that Simon thought to do once his mind began to work again was to call for help and send Loras toward the enemy, but suddenly he felt two red eyes focusing on him and throwing everything else into darkness. ¡ª A vehicle with Samar¡¯s Family Crest reached Saraho City. That was a small city surrounded by a scorching desert. There were not many resources growing in a place like this, but there were also almost no Wave Beasts in the surroundings, so it was very peaceful. Due to the current technology of the Godslayer Humankind Empire, an inhospitable environment like a desert could not make people¡¯s life difficult. Still, it was odd to have tourism, but hundreds of people have arrived over the last couple of days, and all of them were special in some way. Of course, the news that hundreds of civil officers and scions from Noble Families arrived simultaneously in Saraho City would have alerted someone, but 99% of them hid their true identities. Simon got down from his vehicle alongside a middle-aged man with black hair and a large scar on his face. He looked at the surroundings, and as he saw the commoners looking in his direction with awe, a contemptuous smile appeared on his face. After having enough of the people¡¯s gazes, Simon and the middle-aged man enter the finest hotel in the city. The scion had already made a reservation, and several beautiful women escorted him to one of the finest suites. ¡°Loras, you have one of the cheapest rooms. Wait there until it is time to leave.¡± Simon spoke those words as he laughed with the women by his side. The middle-aged man nodded before focusing on the receptionist, who handed him a key. He then went to his room, and he adopted a meditative position once he reached it. A Wave Cloak covered his body, and the density and power of this one corresponded to that of a Level 5 Astral Wave Warrior. As he trained, parts of his Wave would morph into streams of water from time to time, matching the cultivation technique that the Samar Family gave to the bodyguard. Simon¡¯s debauchery and Loras¡¯ training were transmitted to a secret location in Saharo City by special cameras that were imperceptible to the naked eyes of Wave Warriors. It was not just their behavior, the one that was recorded, but the one of everyone in the entire city. Saharo City might seem normal on the outside, but it was much more than that. There was not a single corner of it that was not under absolute surveillance. A group of fifteen people was in front of screens showing the movements of the hundreds that came to the special meeting. They recorded every single action they took in detail. An old man with golden hair and a stern look was supervising those fifteen special investigators. From time to time, special reports would arrive, and he would decide whether they were worth follow-up or should be dismissed. Suddenly, the old man¡¯s eyes grew sharp as he focused on a report and waved his hand, making a virtual screen appear in front of him. The more he saw, the colder the look in his eyes grew before a small smile appeared. ¡°So we finally got our first rat. He is pretty good, and if it were anyone else, he might have gotten away, but for someone like me with decades of experience, it is as if you were holding a sign telling me your real identity.¡± The old man wrote some words, ensuring special focus was on that specific individual before carrying on with his work. It would have been easy for him to arrest that person or even straight away go for the kill, but he did not do it. There were more efficient ways of handling people like that. Chapter 155 - 155 Into the belly of the beast (I) 155 Into the belly of the beast (I) Simon continued his days as expected, not giving any thought to his cultivation. Meanwhile, his bodyguard did what he was supposed to do, training and waiting for his master¡¯s command. Only two days after their arrival, Simon finally received further instructions and how he and his bodyguard should proceed. The duo gathered in the lobby, and both wore strange helmets that seemed to hide their identities. Simon might not be that smartest, but he knew that the meeting would involve not just the mysterious organization but also others like him that were working for it. The mysterious organization was extremely powerful, and Simon knew he had already sold their soul to them. Still, he did not want others to know his identity since that could prove dangerous. After all, if his family were to find out about his betrayal, they would kill him on the spot. Simon and Loras got into the elevator as instructed, but before they could touch one of the buttons, it began to move on its own and dashed down with a speed that even a Level 4 Wave Warrior would find shocking. It stopped after a few seconds, but Simon was sure they were hundreds of meters underground. Even with the current technological advancements of the Godslayer Humankind, building an underground city was a logistical nightmare, so Simon did not expect much. However, a sense of absolute shock assaulted Simon once the elevator doors opened. As the son of a Count, he had seen a lot throughout his life, but that sight was incredible. It was a city, not any smaller than the one owned and controlled by the Samar Family. Despite being deep underground, natural light came from the ceiling, and the buildings were hundreds of meters tall. The one thing in which this city could be considered different from those above ground was that it had very few people living in it. That made sense, considering that this place belonged to the mysterious organization, and there was no way they would just let anyone live in it. ..... ¡°My father is a Peak Wave Champion, and my great-grandfather became a Major in the Imperial Military Force thanks to his impressive feats against the Dark Races. It took all their effort, blood, and wealth to build our home, yet the mysterious organization did something even more impressive.¡± Simon clenched his fist as excitement began to run through his veins. ¡°I am sure this is just one of the many underground cities they have across the empire, and their hands might even reach all the way to the capital!¡± The idea of working for such a powerful organization made Simon¡¯s body tremble. He was sure that with their help, he could become the next Family Head of the Samar Family! The sound of doors opening, not too far away from him, woke Simon of his thoughts of grandeur, and he saw a couple coming from another elevator. It was a man and a woman, but both wore Cloaking Helmets, hiding their true appearance. Still, it was not enough to cover the woman¡¯s impressive figure. Simon could not stop looking at the woman, and his helmet did not hide the lust emerging from his entire body. The woman noticed it but only sneered before walking away with her guard, not paying any more attention to Simon. ¡®That bitch.¡¯ Simon grew furious as he saw the way that woman treated him. He had such a twisted mentality that he thought the woman should be grateful for his lust. Although the scion would have wanted to teach the woman a lesson, he did not dare to break the rules of this place. Small criminal groups might be unorganized and act like savages. Nevertheless, any underground organization that managed to prosper to this level must have regulations, and they would enforce them with even more brutality than the empire itself. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Simon suppressed his wrath and spoke to Loras as the duo advanced to their final destination, a large building at the center of the underground city. They came across many people on their way, but none interacted with the duo. There was no fear in the citizens, but they kept away from anyone new. Simon attempted to remain calm, but the closer he got to the large building in the center, the more nervous he got. He had no idea what would happen next, and although the mysterious organization had provided him with many lucky chances, things could go south very fast. The path toward the building was long, and Simon could not take any vehicle toward it, having to walk. Anyone smart enough would have figured out that it was done intentionally by the mysterious organization since they could instill a sense of might in the people that came to this place. After almost an hour of walking, Simon and Loras finally reached the building, and it was even more impressive when they were right in front of it. The entire structure was built with what seemed like an obsidian metal, and special surveillance systems monitored every corner of it. Simon took a deep breath as he walked across the gates into the building. The interior was just as amazing as the outside, and when he entered, a young blonde woman with a large smile walked toward him. ¡°Welcome. It is a pleasure to meet you, Young Lord. If you follow me, I will escort you to the tenth floor, where the meeting will soon occur.¡± Simon was taken aback by the woman¡¯s beauty and charm, and his body and mind instantly relaxed as they heard her voice. Once again, the mysterious organization¡¯s schemes fooled the scion, and he did not realize the woman¡¯s effect on him was due to a technique. There was not much practical gain for the mysterious organization with this type of trick since Simon was already completely under its grasp. The reason was to test the scion¡¯s mental fortitude and adjust their assessment of him. Simon did not even think of asking her name and was about to nod when his eyes lost focus for a second. It was very fast, and no one noticed it since he was wearing a helmet, but after it happened, an urge affected his mind. ¡°Before that, could you please guide me to the nearest bathroom?¡± The blonde woman was a little surprised by that request, but while it was odd to ask something like that at this point, there was nothing wrong with it. ¡°Sure. The man¡¯s bathroom is located on the hall to your left.¡± Simon nodded toward the woman and glanced at Loras before both went toward the bathroom. The blonde woman¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw the duo vanishing into the bathroom. The next second, a virtual screen appeared in front of her, showing both Simon and Loras using the urinals. There were several angles, so there was no way Simon and Loras could do anything inside the bathroom without her noticing it. She did not find anything suspicious in Simon and Loras¡¯ behavior, but even so, she did not let the duo out of her sight. That level of dedication and responsibility was something the mysterious organization honed in the woman¡¯s personality since birth. If that was the indoctrination they employed even in their lowest members, one could only imagine what those at the higher ranks went through. The woman saw Simon and Loras leave the bathroom, and she shut down the virtual screen when they were back in her sight. ¡°Sorry for the delay.¡± ¡°No problem at all, Young Lord. Please follow me.¡± The blonde woman kept smiling at Simon as she guided the duo toward a teleportation matrix. Simon was surprised when he saw the transportation method used in this building. Not even the home of his family had teleportation matrices. When it came to efficiency, they were not much better than a simple elevator, but they provided incredible security. You could shut it down, stopping invaders from going to the upper floors, or do it once they were already there, trapping them. Creating a teleportation matrix, even the most basic, required expertise that even Grand Wave Crafters did not have. That just proved the level of wealth and power of the mysterious organization. The blonde woman guided Simon and Loras toward the matrix and saw the duo vanish before going back to the entrance of the building. Simon and Loras saw an intense flash before appearing in a massive black room. There were no windows or any other physical exit, and the only light source was shining spheres floating on top of them. There were already dozens of people inside the room, and many were using Cloaking Helmets. The rest also covered their faces, but they did it with robes or other devices that could only trick the human eye. Simon was curious about the people¡¯s real identity, but soon all his focus concentrated on the old man at the head of the room. Chapter 156 - 156 Into the belly of the beast (II) 156 Into the belly of the beast (II) It was not just Simon that focused on the blonde-haired old man. Everybody in the room soon turned to him since not only was he accompanied by a dozen warriors wearing the same golden armor, but his own aura was shockingly powerful. The old man did not say a word and kept looking at the people present with eyes that seemed capable of figuring out their deepest secrets. More and more people were reaching the tenth floor of the building, and one way to split them would be the quality of hiding devices. It was clear that the ones with Cloaking Helmets possessed greater wealth. Everybody kept their distance from each other since even if they were working for the same organization, they were all criminals to a certain point. The blonde old man remained silent until the final person arrived. Only then did he unleash a wisp of his aura, drawing the attention of the entire room. ¡°Since everybody has arrived, let me welcome all of you to Saharo City, the True Saharo City. My name is Orlando. I know all of you have questions about why we summoned you, and I will answer them in time, but before that, let me show you just a glance at the true nature of our mighty organization.¡± Those words unleashed an ominous aura in the room, making everybody nervous. Sadly, there was nothing they could do other than wait. Orlando took a blood crystal sphere of his space ring and then crushed it, unleashing a red shock wave that spread across the room at supersonic speed! ..... Simon was shocked by that red shock wave, and even if he was a Level 4 Wave Warrior, there was no way he could have dodged something that moved faster than the speed of sound. Luckily for Simon, the red shock wave did not harm him. Other than some slight discomfort, there was nothing wrong. ¡®Was he just showing off?¡¯ That thought crossed Simon¡¯s mind when he heard it. ¡°?AHHH!¡± ¡°HELP ME!¡± ¡°IT HURTS!¡± Simon¡¯s eyes widened as he saw people falling to the ground with an expression of utter agony. They were suffocating, and their skin turned red as they bled from every single orifice in their bodies. It was the first time Simon had seen something like that in his entire life, and his body could not stop trembling. Those people were enduring agony so immense that some were bashing their heads against the ground, hoping to end their lives faster. The idea that it could happen to him was more than Simon could endure, and he almost ran toward the magic matrix to get out of this building, but he saw that it was no longer active. ¡°I am trapped.¡± It was not just Simon, who thought that, but many others. The people in this place were those willing to sell their souls to some mysterious organization in exchange for resources, taking the easy path. They were not exactly the prototype of individuals with great willpower. Yet, there were a few that managed to keep their composure, looking straight at Orlando. Orlando watched the reaction of everybody, and the look in his eyes grew sharper and sharper. Every action he took had deep meaning behind it since the people in this place were part of something that involved the full power of his organization. Actually, Orlando was unaware of the true purpose of what they were doing here, but he knew that the higher-ups considered this something extremely important, and they would punish any flaw with a fate worse than death. The people affected by the red shock wave stopped screaming, not because they were dead. The force inside their bodies paralyzed every muscle, making it impossible for them to emit a single sound. Still, the look in their eyes made it clear the agony had not diminished at all. Orlando unleashed his aura a second time once the screams stopped and focused on the people unaffected by the red shock wave. ¡°The reason why those people entered that state was not the red shock wave. That force only activated something that had already been inside their bodies for a long time.¡± Some people in the room showed flashes of enlightenment when they heard those words, but others, like Simon, needed more information. ¡°The ones on the ground are civil officers that had accepted the help of our organization for years. Many believe themselves to be special, but the truth is that they were the most dispensable of all our members. We altered all the cultivation resources they consumed, the same with their food and the air they breathed during the night. Slowly their bodies were transformed into cultivation furnaces. The red shock wave triggered the process, resulting in their current state.¡± Orlando saw how the people looked at him, and a small smile appeared. They were fearful of an organization that could poison people without them noticing it. However, the greatest feeling was apprehension since if they could do this to their members, what protected them from becoming the next guinea pigs? Nothing in these people¡¯s minds could hide from Orlando¡¯s sight. He reached his current position, not due to his battle power but his intelligence and wisdom. ¡°All of you are.¡± Simon and the others were confused by those words, but Orlando carried on immediately. ¡°If you are wondering whether or not you are dispensable, the answer is that all of you are. No one in this room is irreplaceable to the organization, not even I. Those words might not be nice to hear, and you might even pity those in the ground right now, but what if I tell you that their sacrifice is so that all of you can rise to a level where even Wave Champion would only be a stepping stone!?¡± Orlando shouted those last words, and immense greed replaced the fear and apprehension in the eyes of the people. Becoming a Wave Champion was an incredible feat, not only due to the power you could gain but also because your lifespan would rise exponentially. However, according to Orlando, with the sacrifice of those on the ground, they could rise to an even higher level. ¡®?A Wave King!¡¯ Just the idea made Simon show a vicious smile. Although there was just one more rank, the difference between a Wave King and a Wave Champion was like the difference between a small child and a silver-back gorilla. The destruction a Wave King could unleash was enough to level entire cities with millions of people, and their lifespan could reach more than one thousand years! Even if it meant killing ten times more people, Simon would not hesitate to do it with his own hand if he got the chance. Orlando noticed the reaction of the people in the room and was not surprised. The reason humankind managed to secure its place in Aether was their greed. ¡°Now, I will need all of you to follow my instructions to the letter as the process itself is very delicate, and even the slightest mistake could lead to a disaster. I will reactivate the teleportation matrix. We will go to the eleventh floor, where I will explain in greater detail what will happen to all of you and the key behind awakening a power that will allow you to rise into the sky like divine beings.¡± The people in the room turned toward the teleportation matrix, excited about what will happen next. As for those on the ground still riddled with unbearable agony, none of them mattered. Orlando was about to activate the teleportation matrix when his hand froze in the air. ¡°Oh, right. Before we go to the eleventh floor, we should take care of some pests.¡± Those words alerted Simon, and when he focused on the old man, he saw this one looking in his direction, and his entire body froze with fear. He did not know what was happening, but if Orlando saw something wrong, it could lead to him sharing the fate of those on the ground. Luckily for Simon, as he got a better look, he saw that Orlando was not focusing on him but on the duo behind him. It was the duo that he saw when he arrived in this room. The young woman looked back at Orlando, and unlike Simon, she was able to remain calm under the old man¡¯s gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you are referring to, Sir. I received an invitation to this meeting just like everybody else.¡± She did not just use those words but also took out her Cloaking Helmet, showing her real appearance, hinting there was nothing to hide. Orlando showed an even greater smile when he saw how calm the woman was. ¡°Your disguise is flawless, and you even find a way to simulate the density and style of your target¡¯s Essence Wave. Just looking at you, and even if I were to scan your body, there would be no difference between the two, but you made a critical mistake. Your behavior, temperament, and aura are those of a seasoned warrior, not a pampered child that never worked a day in her life.¡± Chapter 157 - 157 Level 8 Essence Wave Warrior 157 Level 8 Essence Wave Warrior ¡°Your behavior, temperament, and aura are those of a seasoned warrior, not a pampered child that never worked a day in her life.¡± The people in the room were already moving away from the young woman after Orlando spoke those words. None of them had any connection with her, and they would not risk enraging such a powerful organization just for a pretty face. The young woman and her bodyguard were alone, but despite the overwhelming pressure, neither lost control. ¡°I am sure such a powerful organization like this kept an eye on all its future members and should have known that I spent the last six months in reclusive training. Solitude can change a person, especially if they rediscover themselves during that journey.¡± Orlando kept smiling as he heard that, and after a moment, he softly nodded. ¡°It is true that solitude can change humans. After all, we are sociable creatures.¡± The woman¡¯s eyes narrowed as she heard that. Orlando agreed with her, but the look on his face made it clear he still considered her a spy. ¡°The man by my side is my bodyguard, who you have hypnotized, so he would follow my command without hesitation and never reveal sensitive information about me. However, I am sure that the primary directive in his mind is to be loyal to the organization. Since he kept following my orders, should not that be enough to prove I am who I say I am?¡± ..... After that, many people in the room began to look between Orlando and the young woman and were not sure that she was really a spy. Now that she mentioned it, they all turned toward their guards and understood she was most likely right. In that case, there was no way her bodyguard would still be by her side if she were a spy. The reasoning and wisdom in the young woman¡¯s words only made Orlando¡¯s smile grow wilder. ¡°You are impressive. How disappointing that you already sealed your fate by coming to this place. First of all, we hypnotize the guards so that they obey whom we told them, and if one of you had attempted to betray us, they would have killed you. However, if you trick them into thinking you are the person you supplanted, they will obey you. Hypnosis is powerful but is not omnipotent, and mistakes can happen. At the end of the day, it is like I say. Everything falls into your behavior. Habits that you don¡¯t even know you have.¡± Orlando waved his hand, and a virtual screen appeared on top of him, showing the young woman entering her room. There was one segment that repeated over and over again. It was the moment she closed the door and immediately took a step to the side. ¡°Every time you enter a room, you move your body outside the door, positioning yourself behind the frame, the most solid point in the structure. That would save your life if an attack came from behind the moment you closed the door. You did it with speed too fast to be a movement you recently learned and must have been ingrained in your behavior to the point that it became an instinct. Now, how could a pampered child that spent the last six months in reclusive training could have learned that?¡± The moment Orlando finished with his words, the guard beside the young woman unleashed his Wave Cloak and pushed his Wave Burst to the limit before punching forward. That attack was ferocious, and gales around the guard¡¯s body enhanced his speed, but they did not end there. A sharp wind revolved around his arm, transforming this one into a drill that flashed toward the young woman¡¯s head. Simon was the closest to the young woman and could feel the might of the guard¡¯s Astral Wave. ¡®His Astral Wave is much denser than mine or Loras. He is a Level 6 Astral Wave Warrior!¡¯ Simon was shocked as he realized the man¡¯s strength, making him wonder just what type of Noble Family would give a guard with such power to some low-level scion. That only made Simon even more curious about the spy¡¯s identity and that of the person she was supplanting. Even if he saw her face, that did not mean he would know who she was. After all, the Collapsing Lightning Sector was gigantic, with hundreds if not thousands of Noble Families. Everybody expected that the guard¡¯s tornado fist attack would kill the young woman since her aura was average, and she did not seem particularly strong. However, just as the fist was about to land, her eyes grew cold, and her true aura exploded. An Essence Wave that sent the entire room into chaos burst from the woman¡¯s body and gales even more potent than those of the bodyguard covered her body. She skillfully took a step back, dodging the tornado punch and putting some distance before raising her fist. It happened extremely fast, and the only thing the scions in the room saw was the young woman raising her fist before opening her palm and unleashing an invisible force that projected the bodyguard toward a wall at shocking speed. There was a massive indentation in the bodyguard¡¯s chest, and he was bleeding from his eyes and ears. Whether or not he was alive was hard to tell, but that mattered little to this point for the scions. They only cared that the young woman neutralized the Level 6 Astral Wave Warrior in a single attack. Simon saw that, and before he could figure out what was happening, Loras grabbed him and jumped back toward the teleportation matrix. Loras¡¯ behavior was not odd as the bodyguards of everybody else did the same, protecting their masters. Simon was terrified of the young woman, and the idea he could endure the same fate that her bodyguard made him want to run. Suddenly, his eyes lost focus for a second, and panic filled his heart. ¡°Activate the teleportation matrix!¡± Simon shouted as he slammed the matrix on the ground, hoping to activate it and leave the room. Orlando only sneered as he saw the cowardly behavior of Simon, and when he saw this one slamming the teleportation matrix, killing intent appeared in his eyes. For the old man, the building¡¯s teleportation matrix was much more valuable than any of the scions in the room. Still, he did not lose focus since all of them were valuable, even the spy. ¡°Level 7, no. You are a Level 8 Essence Wave Warrior. You must be pretty talented and hardworking to have taken that path instead of directly advancing to Wave Champion.¡± The young woman¡¯s aura was bursting with immense power, but she knew she had little time and had to run. If she did not leave the building fast, she would remain trapped in this underground city for the rest of her life. She glanced at the teleportation matrix that was the only way to get out. Unlike the foolish behavior of Simon, she knew that hitting it would be useless, and the only way to activate it was by taking control of it. Orlando saw how the young woman¡¯s Essence Wave grew even stronger as she dashed toward him at a shocking speed. He did not even have to say a word before the seven golden guards by his side flashed forward. The youngsters in the room were shocked once again as they saw that the seven golden guards were all Level 6 Astral Wave Cultivators. A golden flame set their bodies ablaze, pushing their aura to an even higher level! When the young woman saw the strength of the seven golden guards, a solemn expression appeared on her face. She did not hesitate before taking a two-edged sword with a narrow pointed blade. When she was thirty meters from the group, her Essence Wave focused on the rapier as she waved the weapon to the ground. The next moment, dozens of needles made of highly compressed air appeared in the ceiling before falling to a shocking speed toward the seven golden guards. The Astral Wave Warriors were forced to stop their march and raise their guard, focusing their golden flames in their arms to block those air needles. Although flames were not known for their defensive power, and that attack drained a significant part of a Level 8 Essence Wave Warrior¡¯s energy pool, the seven Level 6 golden guards were able to block it without suffering serious injuries. It was clear that those golden flames were special to allow a Level 6 Astral Wave Warrior to show such power. Nevertheless, the young woman knew that could happen, and the sole intent of her air needle was to stop the march of the golden guards. She advanced until being less than five meters away from them before raising her left fist and then opening it. Like before, the woman unleashed an invisible force, sending the seven golden guards flying away. The golden guards¡¯ condition was much better than her bodyguard, maybe due to the young woman having to split her attack between the seven or the protection of the golden flame. She knew that attack would not be enough to kill those seven golden guards, but it would give her enough time to reach Orlando, who was now unprotected. Chapter 158 - 158 Puppets 158 Puppets The young woman¡¯s Essence Wave erupted with even greater power as she focused it on her rapier and thrust forward. She did it not only once but four times, and for each, a tornado-like attack burst forward. Those tornadoes were aiming at Orlando¡¯s arms and legs. Although the attacks would not kill him, they would maim the man, granting the young woman the chance to take control of the teleportation matrix. Orlando saw those powerful tornados coming his way, and while he kept smiling, his eyes were solemn since the tornadoes¡¯ strength could cripple him. He took a deep breath as he unleashed the full might of his Essence Wave, and the power in it was much denser than what a Wave Warrior should have. Simon and the other youths in the room were shocked to realize that the old man was a Wave Champion. The young woman with the rapier also noticed that, but there was no fear in her gaze. Although common sense dictated that a Wave Warrior could never defeat a Wave Champion due to the massive difference in their energy pools, cultivation had never been such a narrow path. You could not determine the victor of a battle merely by the amount of Wave inside their bodies. Orlando also knew that which is why he took this battle so seriously. Just as the tornados were about to collide with him, something emerged from his space ring, positioning itself right in front of him and blocking the attack! The young woman¡¯s eyes widened when she saw that something had blocked her attack easily. Immediately, her instincts screamed with danger, and she jumped back. ¡°?Boom!¡± ..... Just where the woman had been a second ago, a palm landed with so much force that it unleashed a booming shock wave. The responsibility for that attack fell on a bulging humanoid creature covered in scars, measuring more than two meters tall. ¡°Impressive. It has been a long time since I had to get involved in a fight.¡± Orlando spoke toward the young woman, and a burning Essence Wave covered his hands. Thousands of tiny threads emerged from his fingertips and reached the bulking humanoid creature, granting him control. He did not say anything else before his finger twitched. The movements were minimal but made the bulking humanoid dash toward the woman with immense momentum. Despite its massive body, the humanoid creature was incredibly fast and reached the young woman instantly. It raised both of its arms before bringing them down with immense force. That bash had the strength to shatter every bone in her body, but the young woman managed to dodge the attack in the last second before countering with her rapier. The winds around her body gave her impressive speed, but her rapier failed to surpass the defenses of the bulging humanoid. She constantly tried to distance herself from the enemy since a melee battle would not suit an Essence Wave Cultivator like her. Unfortunately for the young woman, the humanoid was just as fast as her and attempted to bash her into the ground again and again. Simon¡¯s eyes glowed with thrill and awe as he saw that battle. A burning desire moved through his veins as he saw that bulging humanoid¡¯s power and how Orlando controlled it safely from a distance. For a coward like Simon, who desired power more than anything, controlling a puppet was the perfect battle path. Of course, the scion did not take into consideration the insane level of dexterity needed for that path or that it was almost impossible to take it being an Astral Wave Cultivator. He was ready to ask for it once all this was over and became a proper member of the mysterious organization. After all, they would give him a path to the Wave King rank, so the puppet technique was nothing important. Orlando knew that many of the scions were impressed by his unleashed power, but their thoughts could not matter less to him. Right now, he only cared about neutralizing the woman, which was proving more challenging than he initially believed it would be. Luckily for the old man, the bulging humanoid had finally cornered the young woman, and there was no were to run anymore. Orlando smiled as he controlled the bulging humanoid to launch a palm strike toward the young woman. That attack was not strong enough to kill her but would do enough damage so that she could not fight anymore. However, just as everybody thought the fight was about to end with the young woman defeated, a burst of wind blasted the bulging humanoid creature to the other side of the room! A sense of utter shock appeared in Orlando¡¯s eyes when he saw how the young woman blasted his puppet away. Still, he regained his focus the next second, proving the might of his willpower. The old man saw how the wind revolving around the young woman grew denser and adapted better to her body. It was as if another force was enhancing her spells. The young woman did not stand still, and immediately after pushing the bulging humanoid out of the way, she flashed toward Orlando with speed much faster than before. Orlando¡¯s eyes widened as he saw the young woman coming toward him like a force of nature, but he kept calm and analyzed everything. He did not know the exact source of the new power in the woman, but the extreme focus on her face and the slight sense of urgency gave him a hint of what it might be. The young woman was almost close enough to unleash a certain death spell on Orlando when seven figures bathed in golden flames dashed toward her. The seven golden guards she had defeated before had managed to return to battle, and they attacked her with everything they had. Although the rest of the people in the room could not say for sure, the way those golden guards acted without fear of death hinted that they were possible under some type of hypnosis. The young woman did not care about those guards¡¯ circumstances since her life was on the line right now. She waved her rapier down, generating air needles that fell from the ceiling just like before. Nevertheless, this time there was a special force enhancing those air needles, granting them enough power to penetrate the golden guards¡¯ defenses. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Cries of pain emerged from the golden guards as the air needles pierced their bodies, riddling them with deep wounds. Some were unlucky, and the projectiles landed in their heads, killing them on the spot. The young woman flashed past the golden guard after neutralizing them. Just as the unique force enhancing her power was about to vanish, she unleashed a final spell by gathering all her Essence Wave into her rapier and thrusting it forward. A tornado emerged from the rapier with a strength more than five times larger than the one she unleashed before and headed straight toward Orlando. Initially, the young woman wanted to capture the old man alive in case this one had a special way to activate the teleportation matrix and also to use him as a hostage. She could no longer afford that luxury and would just have to find the key to the teleportation matrix in the old man¡¯s corpse. Unfortunately for the woman, Orlando brought another puppet from his space ring before the tornado could connect. This time it was a fat creature with a repulsively large belly. The tornado landed on the creature¡¯s body and began to drill into it, sending flesh and blood in all directions. Although the attack left a massive hole, the puppet fulfilled its purpose and protected the old man. The young woman was shocked to see another puppet. She knew just how valuable those creatures were and did not think Orlando would have two of them. Before she could even consider her next step, the bulging humanoid appeared by her side. The puppet had a deep indentation on its chest that affected its movements, but its body still had immense strength. Orlando had retaken control of the bulging humanoid puppet while the young woman focused solely on the last tornado strike. A palm strike landed on the young woman¡¯s body, sending her crashing against a wall while puking blood due to the severe internal damage she had just received. Orlando immediately dashed toward the young woman. Taking advantage of the fact she could not move, he put a device resembling a collar on the back of her neck. The artifact sent an electric shock into the young woman¡¯s body, leaving her unconscious and ensuring she would remain that way. It was only then that Orlando was able to relax. He looked at the dead golden guards and his wounded puppets and could not help but sight. ¡°I miscalculated her power. Who would have thought that such a young woman could cause so much damage.¡± Orlando did not hide his words, so the other people in the room heard him, but he did not care and was just venting out a little. Chapter 159 - 159 Guinea pigs 159 Guinea pigs Orlando could not help but sigh as he figured out how much he would spend to fix all the damage the fight caused. Four of the seven golden guards were dead, and both of his puppets were severely damaged, with the last one so broken that it would be a miracle if it could be fixed. Although the old man was annoyed, he remained calm and carried on with his duties. He grabbed the young woman and put her on his shoulder. ¡°I might have lost a lot, but a Level 8 Essence Wave Warrior with the ability to summon the power of the Law of Wind is a fair trade.¡± Orlando then turned to the rest of the youths in the room with a stern expression. ¡°All of you gather in an orderly line so we can move to the 11th floor. I am not in the mood for questions or delays.¡± None of the youths dared to question Orlando and immediately did as he told them to. The old man was a Wave Champion with powerful puppets under his control, and none of them could face him. Once the youths were ready to advance to the 11th floor, Orlando waved his hand and reactivated the teleportation matrix. Immediately after that, the teleportation matrix began to glow, and people with lab coats emerged. They did not say a word before moving toward the people bleeding from their eyes on the ground. Simon almost forgot about the civil officers turned into living furnaces due to the shock of the battle between Orlando and the young woman. Those people were supposed to help him and the others to obtain the power to become a Wave King, but he had no idea what would happen to them. ..... Orlando did not interrupt the scientists and led the youths into the teleportation matrix, moving all of them to the 11th floor. Unlike the 10th floor, which was a white square with nothing on it, there were dozens of people and all sorts of scientific equipment on the 11th floor. A moment after Orlando and the youths arrived, an old woman with a hunchback and wearing a mask walked toward them. She glanced at the youths, and finally, her eyes landed on the young woman on Orlando¡¯s shoulder. ¡°She seems a little special. As for the rest...¡± The masked woman did not say anything more before walking away. The youths could feel the disdain in the masked woman¡¯s voice, but there was no way out at this point. If they were to try to fight back or run, Orlando would not have to do anything, as their own guards would take care of them. Orlando glanced at the youths, and they all followed the masked woman to another room on the 11th floor. There were no people in the new room, but there were eighteen Recovery Capsules, one for each. However, what truly drew the youths¡¯ interest was the giant cauldron behind the capsules. The cauldron was not a fairy tail artifact, old and full of cracks, but a metallic construct with all sorts of intricated matrices. As for the reason why the Wave Crafter chose to give it that form, no one knew. ¡°Listen up, and listen carefully. I am not fond of explaining my experiments, especially to a bunch of children who cannot understand their magnificence, but your chances of success will improve if I do it.¡± Although the words of the masked woman were humiliating, all the youths focused their attention on her since this could determine whether they lived or died. ¡°You will enter the Recovery Capsules. After that, a refined bloodline will fill the capsules before coursing through your body. Your genes will enter a state of accelerated mutation, trying to adapt to the new bloodline. If you succeed, you will awaken a new Lineage, one with the power to raise your talent to the Wave King level.¡± The masked woman paused at this point and turned toward the youths, who were full of excitement and thrill. There were many ways to improve your talent, but the most basic one was obtaining a powerful Lineage. Unlike the enhanced talent granted by forming a solid foundation during your cultivation, you did not need to work for a Lineage, something really in tune with these youths¡¯ personalities. They would only need to let their bloodline enhance their bodies and energy pool by eating and sleeping. Orlando saw the exhilaration in the youths, and he almost shook his head. If obtaining such a powerful Lineage were so easy, why would the mysterious organization give it to a couple of brats that lacked discipline and not to its own members? Of course, the blonde old man did not say a word, and if these youths wanted to live in fantasy land, he would let them. ¡°I will warn you, the process can become extremely painful, but you must do your best to remain conscious and guide your genes to adapt to the new bloodline instinctively. If you fall unconscious, the chances of success will drop significantly.¡± That was the last thing the masked woman said before waving her hand and opening the Recovery Capsules. Some youths knew the woman must be hiding something from them, but there was little they could do at this point, and it was clear she would not be answering questions. ¡°Take out your clothes and get into the capsules. The men first and then the women. The crystal of the Recovery Capsules will turn opaque once closed, so all of you don¡¯t have to worry about people looking at your naked bodies.¡± The masked woman did not really care about the sense of purity of these youths, but things would go better if they were relaxed. She did not waste time and made all men undress and get into the Recovery Capsules. Once the men were inside the capsules, they scanned their bodies and sent the information to the masked woman¡¯s A.I. Chip. Their information appeared immediately in front of her, except for one that had a delay of one second. The masked woman frowned when she saw that and turned toward the youth whose information had a delay. Simon began to tremble when he saw the masked woman focusing on him, and he attempted to cover his body awkwardly. When the masked woman saw Simon¡¯s cowardly behavior, she relaxed since there was no way someone like that could be tricking them. She waved her hand, and the capsules closed before the crystal turned opaque. It was then the turn of the women. They removed their clothes as fast as possible before getting into the Recovery Capsules. Orlando undressed the young Level 8 Essence Wave Warrior before putting her into a capsule. He looked at her for a moment, but there was no lust in his eyes, only a contemplative light. In the end, the old man only shook his head and decided against taking out the Paralyzing Collar in the back of her neck. Although her probabilities of success were almost null if she was unconscious, Orlando knew she would try to get free the moment she woke up, and her power might grant her a chance. The Recovery Capsules with the women closed down, and the moment that happened, scientists began to enter the room with stretchers carrying the living furnaces. One of the scientists, a young man with two vertical scars above his eyes, walked toward the masked woman and bowed before speaking. ¡°Lady Morgana, there are a total of one hundred seventy-two living furnaces. Should we process?¡± As soon as the masked woman nodded, the scientists began to throw the naked living furnaces into the giant cauldron before connecting this one to the Recovery Capsules. The giant cauldron began to glow as its magic matrices got into effect, and its interior began to reach an immense heat. It was impossible to say what was happening to the people inside the artifact, but it did not take long for a potent smell of blood to inundate the room. All those people that the mysterious organization had transformed into living furnaces were in unbearable agony, so no matter how scorching the heat was, surely they were all happy the pain finally ended. The scientist with the scars and two more remained in the room, watching the giant cauldron while the rest grabbed the stretchers and left. Minutes passed, and the scent of blood became more and more intense. Before long, a red liquid emerged from the cauldron and began to fill the eighteen recovery capsules. None of the youths knew that the new bloodline circulating inside their bodies came from the living furnaces. Although it was not the same, they were consuming the blood of other humans, technically making them cannibals. Less than a minute after the capsules were full, groans of pain emerged from them, and they grew stronger. ¡°Come on, my little guinea pigs. The more you endure, the more useful data I will get.¡± The masked woman smiled as she stared at the Recovery Capsules and the data reaching her A.I. Chip. Chapter 160 - 160 Holy Child 160 Holy Child ¡°Morgana, I am curious. Just what type of chance do they have of success?¡± Orlando spoke as he looked at the giant cauldron sending more and more blood into the Recovery Capsules. ¡°Hahaha, success? There is none!¡± The masked old woman could not help but laugh as she heard Orlando¡¯s question. That answer surprised Orlando. He knew that they were experimenting on these youths, and they were all disposable assets, but the fact there was no chance for them to succeed surprised and confused him. Morgana saw the curiosity in the blonde old man¡¯s eyes, and since she was in a good mood, she chose to share a little. ¡°This is just the first clinical trial of the First Phase of the Olympus Project. The sole goal of this experiment is to gather as much information as possible from them so we can use it in the second clinical trial, and so on.¡± Orlando¡¯s eyes widened a little as he heard that, and the curiosity in his gaze only increased. Whatever the Olympus Project was, it involved massive resources and manpower. Luckily for the old man, for the first time in a very long time, Morgana found herself in the mood to chat, so she continued speaking. ¡°The bloodline running through the youths¡¯ bodies generates all sorts of chances in their genome. Most of them are mistakes that will lead to systemic failures and diseases, but some are beneficial and part of the Lineage that corresponds to that bloodline. ..... Our job is to map the genome of these eighteen. We must record the Lineage¡¯s genes they had awakened and figure out the flaws so they will not happen in the subsequent clinical trial. Most of them will die in around a week due to the accumulation of genetic flaws, but it doesn¡¯t matter. The lucky ones will survive, but their bodies will slowly crumble due to the damage in their genes. We will send those still alive to their homes since they could give us more information. If they think they can live, their bodies could find a way to adapt. Although the chances are small, miracles happen in science.¡± Morgana smiled as she thought of the magnificence of this experiment. As someone that dedicated her life to Genetic Coding, this was her dream job. ¡°Ahh, I wish I could know more about this incredible Lineage we are searching for, but sadly I am only part of the First Phase. After it is over, my involvement in the project will be over. It seems that my Genetic Coding abilities are not enough.¡± Orlando thought he had just heard wrong as those last words did not seem possible. ¡°How can that be true!? Although your age makes long hours of work hard, you are a Quasi-Saint Genetic Coder.¡± Orlando did not care that his words revealed some secret since there were only Morgana¡¯s three disciples and the brainwashed bodyguards. Morgana sighed as she heard that and shook her head. ¡°Although they gave me little information, the ones in charge of the Second Phase of the Olympus Project will be Saint Genetic Coders. I could have become an assistant with my Quasi-Saint Genetic Coder credentials, but my frail vitality makes it impossible. It doesn¡¯t matter. Being a small part of this project will be the most outstanding achievement of my life!¡± The voice of the masked woman filled with energy as she spoke the last part. She was ready to give everything she had in this clinical trial. ¡°This useless garbage spent their life without giving anything back to the world. They should be grateful that their life will finally have meaning.¡± Morgana¡¯s eyes went to one of the bodyguards on the ground. He was the man that came with the Level 8 Essence Wave Warrior and ended up severely injured. ¡°Cristian, toss him into the cauldron. Since that girl can not leave this place alive, there is no point in this bodyguard keeping his life. It is better if we used him as fuel.¡± The scientist with the scars in his eyes nodded. Without hesitation, he undressed the bodyguard before tossing this one into the cauldron. ¡°All bodyguards, stand before the capsules of your masters.¡± As soon as those words left Morgana¡¯s mouth, the seventeen bodyguards in the room moved. ¡°If the people they need to protect perish, toss them into the cauldron. I will go to sleep now. It might take me two weeks. You will be in charge until then. I expect to see accurate data when I come back.¡± Although sleeping for a couple of weeks might sound odd, Cristian and the other two scientists only bowed toward Morgana. Morgana trusted that her students would do a good job, and she left along with Orlando, who had other assignments in the city. Cristian and the other two scientists were extremely diligent with their work, analyzing every piece of information that reached their A.I. Chips and discussing it among themselves. The way the trio discussed Genetic Coding was unlike what one could find in a class administered by the Imperial Military Force. They described procedures that broke any ethics code and were truly cruel. Although the concept of ethics in the Godslayer Humankind Empire was unlike the one spread across the Old World, where the idea of a divine being looking over us affected our decision-making, there was still a consensus around it. Using human lives to figure out Genetic Chains was a clearly unethical use of Genetic Coding. Yet, the mysterious organization for which the trio worked did not have a problem with it. The days passed, and the screams inside the Recovery Capsules grew louder, and it was clear that some of the youths inside were at the last leg. One of them was about to fall unconscious due to the pain. The first one that would fail was no other than the seventh son of the Samar Family, Simon. His willpower was so weak that he could no longer resist the pain and only wanted to give up and forget everything. Cristian heard Simon¡¯s screams stop, and then he saw on his A.I. Chip that this one had fallen unconscious. He simply shook his head before walking toward the scion¡¯s bodyguard. Since Simon fell unconscious so soon, the chance that he could endure until the clinical trial was over was zero. That is why Cristian was about to toss Loras into the cauldron full of boiling blood. Just as Cristian was about to grab Loras¡¯ body, his eyes unleashed a red light that no one in the room noticed. Cristian was starting to undress Loras when he saw in his A.I. Chip that Simon had woken up. He was confused, but after hearing the scion¡¯s screams renewed, he returned with the other two scientists and continued his work. ¡ª Cristian did not know that currently, inside Simon¡¯s mind, there was an ancient voice shouting at full power. ¡°Holy Child, you must endure this agony and carry on. A destiny so majestic as yours can not end here. Wake up and bear this agony as you are one of the Godslayer Humankind¡¯s Shooting Stars!¡± Simon had just fallen into unconsciousness when a force acted on his brain and brought him back to reality. The pain was just too much for someone like him, and he was about to fall unconscious again when he heard those words. The scion was about to shout, asking for the name of the person inside his mind. He was so stupid that he did not understand that doing that would have revealed that person¡¯s presence to the scientists. Luckily, the blood and pain affected Simon¡¯s speaking ability, and the voice interrupted him. ¡°Holy Child, do not speak. Just think out loud, and I will be able to hear you. Before anything else, allow me to alleviate some of the pain you are feeling.¡± Simon¡¯s eyes widened when he felt his unbearable agony diminish greatly. It was still painful, but he could think and kept a resemblance of serenity. ¡®What is a Holy Child?¡¯ At this point, many questions crossed the scion¡¯s mind, but he first uttered this one. ¡°You are a Holy Child. You are an anomaly, a divine gift of Aether to the Godslayer Humankind. A hidden force inside you will awake with time and grant you the power you deserve. I am a Holy Spirit, and my purpose is to guide you once the force has awakened. I was supposed to wake up with your hidden power, but the danger to your life accelerated things.¡± The voice inside Simon¡¯s head spoke all those words with a sense of ancientness and majesty that would draw awe into the heart of some people. As for what type of people, those would be children. That tale was so ridiculous that only a child or an extremely stupid and narcissistic person would believe it. One could imagine how Simon reacted to the tale that he was the mighty Holy Child. ¡®I am special. I knew it!¡¯ Chapter 161 - 161 New use for the module 161 New use for the module ¡°He really believed that children¡¯s tale? How can someone be so stupid?¡± Apex¡¯s voice echoed inside Cain¡¯s mind as this one used his Ego Wave to create a telepathic link between his mind and that of Simon. Although Cain shared Apex¡¯s wonder at Simon¡¯s stupidity, he did not have time to relax as he focused on making sure none of the scientists noticed his invisible Ego Wave. ¡°I have learned a lot about this person and knew that striking his ego was the right thing to do. How is the hacking going on?¡± ¡°I am doing my best to finish it as fast as possible, but the device has high-level firewalls, so even if I am consuming your Destiny Force to enhance the module, it will still take some time. It would have been easy if I could use brute force, but that would have alerted the old man and made all our hard work useless.¡± Apex knew the urgency of their situation, so he was doing his best to finish the hacking. Cain could only internally sigh when he heard the System Spirit. He knew that a single mistake could lead to his doom and had to be patient. ¡®Ahhh, I really bit off more than I could chew this time. I had the feeling that they would sacrifice those at the lower end of the guest list, but who would have thought that even those at the higher end would suffer the same fate? Even if these people were the drags of their families, they were still Nobles and had fathers and elders with the might of Peak Wave Champions. Yet, the mysterious organization for which Orlando and Morgana worked did not care about inciting their rage. ..... It was clear to Cain by this point that this mysterious organization had power that could face off even peak powerhouses like his master, Zarak. Cain had considered sending a request for help to Zarak. Although it would have been awkward, what was a little embarrassment compared with his life? However, Apex detected a unique force field that would pick up any message sent to the outside world. That meant that if Cain wanted to get out of there, he could only depend on himself. As he searched for a way out of his current predicament, Cain remembered how thigs started. Everything began when Cain appeared in front of Simon and Loras. Before the duo could do anything, he hypnotized them and got into the vehicle. The vehicle moved on its own toward Saharo City while Cain interrogated both Simon and Loras until he knew every secret of the duo. Since the mysterious organization had plans for the scion, Cain decided to take the role of the bodyguard. It was not easy, but he managed to mimic Loras¡¯ Astral Wave density and emulated the characteristic of the man¡¯s cultivation technique using his superb domain over the Four Basic Wave Arts. With everything Cain learned about Loras, killing the man was not a problem, but he did not know if the mysterious organization would find out somehow. That is why he injected a Wave Virus that led to brain death in the bodyguard while keeping the rest of the organs working. Apex managed to hack Loras¡¯ A.I. Chip, generating a backdoor that redirected every message or calls this one received to Cain. The last part of the disguise was the physical one, and Cain managed to achieve it by using One Hundred Faces. He obtained the artifact during the two weeks he had of preparation after testing the limits of his battle power. Cain made a very good judgment call by taking the role of bodyguard, but now he had to keep the useless scion alive, or else Cristian would throw him into the cauldron full of boiling blood. Not wasting time, Cain continued using his hypnosis abilities to diminish Simon¡¯s pain while he guided this one. ¡°Yes, Simon, you are unique. You have been special from the moment you were born. Although you are facing a calamity, there is good news. If you surpass it, the hidden power inside you will finally awake!¡± Simon could not stop his body from trembling as the idea of awakening his dormant power filled him with an immense thrill. Cain noticed the state of the scion and carried on. ¡°Follow my guide, and you will have a one hundred percent chance of surpassing this trial, but you must do everything I say.¡± ¡®I will, Holy Spirit!¡¯ Simon¡¯s reaction resembled an innocent child¡¯s, but Cain knew the scion¡¯s past, so he did not feel guilty for tricking this one. ¡°Good. Try to mobilize the bloodline through your body according to my instructions.¡± Cain had not been wasting his time these past few days. He had been paying attention to every word the scientists said, learning more about this unique bloodline and how it affected people¡¯s genomes. Using his own Genetic Coding knowledge and the [Basic Virtual Simulation] tool, Cain came out with ways to handle the bloodline so the genetic flaws that emerge would diminish. Of course, it was a complete lie when Cain told Simon that everything would be fine if this one followed his guidance. The scion¡¯s genome was so full of mistakes by this point that the best Cain could do was slow things down. Cain was doing his best, and the guidance he gave to Simon should have allowed this one to endure several more days, but the scion kept making mistakes and failing to keep up with his commands. ¡°Holy Child, that is not what I told you to do.¡± ¡®I know, but I thought this could work better. It was as if the hidden force inside me was telling me to do it.¡¯ When Cain heard Simon¡¯s thoughts, he almost went berserker. It took everything inside him to keep calm and carry on. ¡°I see, don¡¯t trust your instincts too much, Holy Child, as the hidden force inside you is still dormant and could make mistakes.¡± ¡®Hmm, ok.¡¯ Cain wanted nothing more than to strangulate Simon as he heard that narcissistic response, but he endured and carried on. Despite Cain¡¯s best efforts, the genetic flaws in Simon were gathering too fast, and he would perish at any moment. The only reason the scion had not fallen unconscious by now was Cain¡¯s Ego Wave. ¡®Useless piece of shit. I am doing my best and exerting my mind to its limit, and you can not follow some simple instructions!¡¯ It was very odd for Cain to lose his temper, but Simon¡¯s stupidity drove him to the limit. He was about ready to stop blocking the pain so that this one would understand the consequences of not obeying his words. ¡®We fear not God-like rivals, but pig-like team members. I finally understand what the people in the Old World meant by that. ¡® Cain took several deep breaths and regained his focus as he tried to figure out how to help Simon survive the genetic flaws. ¡®Wait! Genetic flaws!¡¯ A flash of enlightenment crossed Cain¡¯s eyes as he remembered one of the first ordeals he faced shortly after obtaining the Absolute Life From System. ¡®System, repeat to me the description of the [Genetic Coder Module].¡¯ [Genetic Coder Module: Module meant to grant Vessel the means to control life¡¯s fundamental building blocks. -Tools: ¨C Basic Genetic Stimulation ¨C Basic Genetic Suppression ¨C Basic Genetic Enhancement] The description immediately appeared in Cain¡¯s mind, and he focused on the second of its tools. In the past, he had intended to use [Basic Genetic Suppression] to fix the flaw of the Lightning Lupus Bloodline. In the end, he did not do it since his willpower grew so powerful that those emotional outbursts became insignificant, so he never got the chance to use it. However, according to the description of the [Genetic Coder Module], its power did not limit itself to just his genes. ¡®System, can I use the [Basic Genetic Suppression] tool on people other than myself?¡¯ Although the answer from the Absolute Life Form System came almost instantly, as always, Cain felt that the wait was eternal since it directly impacted his chances of leaving this underground city alive. [Vessel can use all the tools of the Genetic Coder Module on other life forms, but specific conditions need to be met. -There must be a connection between Vessel and the target. It can be physical contact or intangible powers like an Ego Wave. -The target must willingly accept the effect of the system¡¯s module on their bodies. It can not be forced, and the slightest resistance will generate a failure. Note: Use of Genetic Coder Module¡¯s tools on people other than Vessel has a price three times higher.] Cain did not know whether to laugh or cry when he saw all that. The fact that the [Genetic Coder Module] could work with other people filled him with a sense of thrill, but the price was like a dagger to the heart. He had always done his best to save his Destiny Force, and now he would have to waste it in garbage like Simon. ¡®Ahh, whatever. I can always get more in the future, but I can not buy a new life.¡¯ Chapter 162 - 162 The reason is luck 162 The reason is luck With his life on the line, Cain did not hesitate to use his Destiny Force to suppress Simon¡¯s genetic flaws, but there were some things he needed to do first. ¡°Apex, is your hacking of Simon¡¯s Recovery Capsule working?¡± Cain had made sure Apex would hack Simon¡¯s Recovery Capsule from the beginning, which is why there was a delay when Morgana received the information to her A.I Chip. Although it was dangerous and could have revealed his presence, he could not let anyone know exactly what was inside Simon¡¯s body. ¡°Is fully operational. I can alter the data, deceiving the scientists into thinking what you want.¡± Apex had the firm belief that Cain should handle his problem on his own. Still, when the young man gave him a task, the System Spirit always did it flawlessly. ¡°Good. I will use [Basic Genetic Suppression] to reduce the genetic flaws in Simon¡¯s genome. Make sure that the data coming out of the Recovery Capsule only shows a normal pattern.¡± Cain knew that the scientists would grow suspicious if they saw that Simon¡¯s genetic flaws had suddenly vanished. With Apex¡¯s hacking, they would not realize anything and would think that the scion was resisting due to his willpower. ¡°Well thought, brat. I already made the alterations to the Recovery Capsule, so you can use the [Genetic Coder Module] whenever you want. Oh...¡± Apex suddenly made a pause before speaking again with a cheerful voice. ..... ¡°The hacking on that woman¡¯s Paralyzing Collar is finally over. You can wake her up whenever you want, and I also hacked her Recovery Capsule, so the scientists will not know what is happening to her.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Cain was thrilled, and the crushing pressure on his shoulders diminished. From the moment Cain entered this place, he felt like he was at the bottom of an ocean, and with every second that passed, he sank deeper and deeper. However, he felt his body rising to the surface for the first time. Cain noticed how Simon once again deviated from his instructions leading to a rise in the rate at which the genetic flaws appeared. He wanted nothing more than to shout to this one, but he knew that a hard approach would not work for the scion. ¡°Holy Child, I have great news. I will be able to channel a wisp of the hidden power inside your body, this will improve your condition, but you must not resist and let it flow freely.¡± ¡°Do it now!¡± Simon did not express his gratitude, nor did he show some resemblance of appreciation to the ¡°Holy Spirit¡± working so hard for him. With a personality like that, any relationship he could form in the future would crumble into nothing due to his own actions. Cain saw Simon as nothing more than a parasite, so he did not bother with that arrogant response. He connected the [Genetic Coder Module] to the scion, and after paying a small fortune in Destiny Force, [Basic Genetic Suppression] began to act. Simon felt a wave of vigor running through his body, erasing nausea and weakness that assaulted him. There was a large smile on his face, and he was sure the hidden power inside him would fix everything. Cain, on the other hand, was not so happy. He could not help but frown as the Absolute Life Form System informed him of the results of using [Basic Genetic Suppression] on Simon. [Basic Genetic Suppression has been correctly applied to the alien target. -79% of genetic flaws have been suppressed. The other 21% are beyond the current capabilities of the Genetic Coder Module] Not only did [Basic Genetic Suppression] fail to erase the genetic flaws in one session completely, but there were some high-level flaws that the [Genetic Coder Module] could not handle. That meant that even if Cain kept using [Basic Genetic Suppression], the high-level genetic flaws would keep piling up until there was nothing he could do to help Simon. Of course, as the process carried on, Lineage¡¯s genes would also awaken in Simon. However, they appeared at such a low rate that the scion would be long dead before those enhanced genes could do any good. Cain took a deep breath as he tried to figure out the best path forward. ¡°Apex, can you use my Ego Wave to speak to Simon and guide him like I have been doing?¡± Since the System Spirit lived in his soul and could speak directly to his mind, Cain guessed this one could also talk to others using the force that originated in his brain. Apex did not answer immediately, and when he did, the tone of his voice made it clear how he felt about guiding unruly and narcissistic garbage like Simon. ¡°Ahh, I guess I will have to do it.¡± Cain only inwardly smiled as he heard the System Spirit¡¯s downcast voice. Next, he focused and split his Ego Wave into two branches. One of Cain¡¯s Ego Wave¡¯s branches remained with Simon, and the other went to the young woman that almost managed to defeat a Wave Champion alone. ¡ª The name of the young woman that had fought Orlando was Iris. She knew her mission would not be easy, but she had prepared and was confident in her capabilities. Unfortunately for Iris, she underestimated the mysterious organization¡¯s might and how dedicated the people working for it were. A simple mistake led to Orlando figuring out her identity, and the moment the old man put the Paralyzing Collar on the back of her neck, she knew her life was over. However, to Iris¡¯ shock, she opened her eyes and was surrounded by waves of blood as a feeling of weakness and nausea assaulted her. Even if Iris was a seasoned warrior, facing such a surreal scene just after waking up threw her mind into chaos. Luckily, a voice echoed inside her mind before she could do anything drastic that would reveal her state to the scientists. ¡°Relax, little girl, you are in a Recovery Capsule. Do not use your Essence Wave or attack the capsule, as that would alert them and throw all my hard work to waste.¡± Iris¡¯ eyes widened when she heard a voice that had a sense of ancientness she had only found in great powerhouses that had lived for hundreds of years, if not thousands of years. Of course, the voice inside Iris¡¯ mind belonged to Cain. He managed to generate that ancient aura by replicating the state of mind of his past life, where he looked down on the entire world and left rivers of blood in his path. Cain did not really like his past life, and his ancient tone could have been better, but he managed to trick Iris. ¡°I have hacked the Recovery Capsule in which you are, so there is no reason to fear the scientists discovering you are awake unless you reveal yourself by attacking the capsule. I am speaking to you through my Ego Wave, but I am very far away, so don¡¯t try to fight it, or else the connection could break.¡± Iris was suspicious of the voice since there was no way she would just trust someone she had never met before and appear out of nowhere when she was in extreme danger. However, the fact the man was speaking to her through Ego Wave meant he most likely was a powerhouse. She knew of the Ego Eternal Path of Power and the force known as Ego Wave. According to her understanding, anyone with high control over it was most likely a Peak Wave Champion, and there was a high chance that the man she spoke to was at an even higher level. Nevertheless, the strength of that man did not put Iris at ease. It could be someone from the mysterious organization trying to trick her or some sadistic powerhouses that just wanted to play on her hopes. ¡°Could Senior tell me why you are helping me?¡± Iris expressed her concern and confusion, but she did it with a respectful tone. She did not want to alienate the man in case this one had good intentions. Cain knew he could not answer that question as he did with Simon by appealing to the scion¡¯s ego. Still, he was not worried since he had already planned everything. ¡°The reason is simple little girl, luck.¡± Iris was confused by those words, but she remained silent and kept listening. ¡°You were lucky I was flying past Saharo City as you battled that Puppet Master. Usually, I will not get involved in matters at your level, as that would be like a grown man getting between children¡¯s arguments. However, your use of the Law of Wind surprised me. I knew there was no way you could endure the experiment while unconscious, so I sent my Ego Wave in here to wake you up and give you a fighting chance.¡± Iris¡¯ suspicions diminished after hearing that since it made sense. She knew that some powerhouses would do things on a whim, and it was not odd to hear that some were helping young geniuses. Chapter 163 - 163 First death 163 First death Iris knew that her domain over the Law of Wind, no matter how minuscule, was an impressive feat considering she had yet to become a Wave Champion. So, it made sense that a powerhouse would want to help her. Iris was about to continue questioning the ancient powerhouse when a sense of pain, weakness, and nausea assaulted her. She felt incredibly sick as if her entire body was malfunctioning. Before the young woman could even ask what was happening, she heard the ancient voice again. ¡°What a cruel method. Although I must admit, whoever came up with it is very ingenious, and his talent in Genetic Coding is impressive. Girl, right now, a bloodline is flowing through your body, trying to change it into a hospitable host. It¡¯s doing that by generating changes to your genome. The problem is the genetic flaws left behind, which are the reason for your health problems. You have been unconscious all this time and unable to guide the bloodline, leading to many genetic flaws. Luckily, since you are a Level 8 Essence Wave Warrior, your genes are resilient, and the damage has yet to reach catastrophic levels.¡± Iris clenched her fist when she heard that, but along with the rage, there was a sense of hopelessness. Other than soul injuries, genetic damage is the worst type of impairment you could suffer. Even if Iris could find a way out of this place, she had no idea how to fix those genetic flaws, and spending the rest of her life in a state of perpetual sickness was not life at all. There was no fate worse for a warrior than to see their bodies crumble, and they could do nothing to stop it. ..... Just as despair was about to set on Iris¡¯ heart, she heard something that shocked her entire body. ¡°Little girl, I will proceed to suppress the genetic flaws to the best of my capabilities. Refrain from resisting since I have to do this without my tools and only using my Ego Wave.¡± Iris could not believe what she had just heard, but the next second she felt a strange power reaching into the core of her cells. If she resisted, she was sure the force could not affect her, but there was no way she would fight back against the power that could save her warrior path. A sense of awe and wonder appeared in Iris¡¯s eyes as she felt all the pain and nausea vanishing and her vitality rising again, even stronger than before! ¡®Incredible!¡¯ Iris could not believe what was happening. The genetic flaws she was certain would cripple her seemed to be vanishing, and things did not end there. Although it might be an illusion due to the sudden improvement in her condition, Iris felt even stronger than before. ¡°Senior, you are amazing. Might I know your name?¡± Iris wanted to know the name of the man to whom she owed her health, but no answer came. For a moment, the young woman started to think she had made a mistake by asking for that sort of personal information. The reason for Cain¡¯s silence was not Iris¡¯ question but the surprise he felt when he saw the data that the Absolute Life Form System gave him. [Basic Genetic Suppression has been correctly applied to the alien target. -94% of genetic flaws have been suppressed. The other 6% are beyond the current capabilities of the Genetic Coder Module] The number of genetic flaws that emerged in Iris¡¯ genome was not small, but very few of them were able to reach such an outlandish level that the [Genetic Coder Module] could not fix. ¡®Amazing, her genome is showing remarkable resilience. It makes sense for her DNA to be more stable than others due to her being a Level 8 Essence Wave Warrior, but even then, it should not be this impressive.¡¯ Cain was not blindly guessing since his Genetic Coder¡¯s knowledge allowed him to reach that conclusion. ¡®It might be that strange power that Orlando referred to as the Law of Wind.¡¯ Cain was very interested in that strange power that allowed Iris¡¯ battle strength to skyrocket, but he kept focus and carried on with the main task. Just as Iris was about to apologize for her question, the ancient voice returned. ¡°People call me King.¡± Cain did not want to let the young woman wait, so he just uttered the first name that came to his mind. He had never been good with names, so why waste his time with them? When she heard how the powerhouse referred to himself, Iris showed a strange expression. ¡°Uh, Sir King...¡± ¡°Just King.¡± ¡°King, I am extremely grateful for your help, and although it might be shameless of me even to ask, could you rescue me?¡± Iris was sure that King was incredibly powerful and could take her out of this underground city without any danger to his life. ¡°Ahh, sorry little girl, but although I am fond of talent, I am not willing to offend The Organization for someone I don¡¯t know. I am powerful enough to enter the underground city, kill everybody, and take you and the others out. Yet, as I told you before, that would be like adults interfering in a children¡¯s game. None of the people in the city could do anything to me, but when The Organization finds out about my involvement, they will hunt me until the world ends.¡± Iris grew downcast after hearing that response, but she did not lose her composure and began to shout insults. King owed nothing to her and had already helped her by suppressing the defective genes on her genome. ¡°I understand. I am very grateful for King¡¯s help, and no matter what, I will never forget it.¡± Iris spoke with a voice full of gratitude before her eyes reached an incredible focus, and a spark appeared in them for an instant. Since no one could come to rescue her, Iris was ready to break out of the Recovery Capsule and do her best to leave this underground city. She knew her chances of success were next to zero, but she refused to wait inside this capsule while new genetic flaws arose in her genome. ¡°A will powerful enough not to lose composure and show gratitude and sufficient resolve to bet your life instead of waiting for someone to come and rescue you. I like your personality, girl, but there is no reason to be so hasty while you are in the midst of obtaining a massive lucky chance.¡± Iris was about to make her Essence Wave burst with all her power when she heard King¡¯s voice again. ¡°Lucky chance?¡± She did not understand what the ancient powerhouse was talking about. No matter how one looks at it, her situation could not be worse. ¡°Girl, the bloodline running through your body is also generating Lineage¡¯s genes, which belong to an extremely powerful one. The problem is that genetic flaws appear at a much higher rate, but that doesn¡¯t need to be the case. Although I can not directly help you, I can guide you while you find a path to survival on your own.¡± ¡°But wouldn¡¯t that make The Organization target you?¡± ¡°Girl, there are unspoken rules among people of my power. While I can not save you, there is no problem with me showing a path for you as long as you are the one that forges it. The Organization will know that someone helped you, but since I did not involve myself directly, they might not even bother to find out my identity.¡± Everything made sense for Iris, and she nodded, pushing her focus to the limit so as not to lose a single word King spoke. ¡°I will guide you on how to revolve the bloodline inside your body to diminish the genetic flaws this one will cause and enhance the rate at which the Lineage¡¯s genes appear.¡± Iris nodded, and she followed Cain¡¯s guidance to the letter. They were the same instructions he had given to Simon, but the young woman not only followed his words as if they were a divine creed, but she also showed a granular control over the bloodline. Cain was delighted with Iris¡¯ attitude and continued guiding her while improving his understanding of the bloodline by hearing the discussion of the scientists. Apex was also doing his best to guide Simon, but the dumb scion kept making mistakes, not listening to the System Spirit¡¯s advice and choosing paths that only led to more genetic flaws. Cain was aware of Simon¡¯s circumstances and was sure it would not be long before he had to spend more Destiny Force just to keep this one alive. The next day, something happened. One of the youths in the recovery capsules could no longer endure it and fell unconscious. Moments later, his heart stopped beating, and he had no brain activity. The first casualty among the eighteen youths inside the Recovery Capsules finally appeared. Chapter 164 - 164 Into the cauldron 164 Into the cauldron Cain did not feel anything when he saw the woman die. All the people here were willing to work for the mysterious organization and could not blame anyone but themselves. He was sure they would dispose of the body but underestimated the level of commitment the scientists in charge of this clinical trial had. Cristian turned toward the dead woman and waved his hand, making large tubes emerge inside the Recovery Capsule, which pierced into the corpse. The next second, a heartbeat appeared, and the bloodline renewed its movement through the young woman¡¯s body. There was no brain activity, but by keeping her heart still working, they could keep gathering information. Of course, the genetic data they could obtain from a reanimated corpse was worse than the one obtained from a living being, but something was better than nothing. Cristian then walked toward the young woman¡¯s guard and tossed this one into the giant cauldron, letting him sink into the boiling blood. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed when he saw that, and he used the [Basic Scan Force Field] to analyze everything that happened with the guard from the moment this one touched the boiling blood. He was surprised to find out that the inner temperature of the giant cauldron had diminished significantly. The device now focused its power on purifying the blood and sent the bloodline into the youths¡¯ Recovery Capsules. The one in charge of melting the guard¡¯s bodies was the boiling blood, which was actually the best path energy-wise. ..... ¡°Apex, do your best to keep Simon lucid but don¡¯t worry about the number of genetic flaws amassing inside him.¡± ¡°Oh, I know he is garbage, but if the genetic flaws inside him reach a high enough level, his body will crumble before shutting down. If that happens, you will be thrown into the giant cauldron.¡± Cain inwardly smiled when he heard that, and his heart reached an immense resolution. ¡°I will be thrown into the cauldron sooner or later. The trio might not detect my Ego Wave, and I could even trick Orlando, but I can not say the same about Morgana. That masked old woman¡¯s battle power seemed to have weakened tremendously due to her old age, but that doesn¡¯t mean her willpower suffered the same fate. There is a high chance she is already at the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, so if she enters this place, she might detect my invisible Ego Wave.¡± Apex did not say a word, but he was surprised and impressed by Cain¡¯s wisdom. The young man was exerting his mind to the limit by helping Iris and Simon, yet he still could keep an eye on the dozens of external factors in his surroundings. Although Cain¡¯s rapid growth made Apex happy, the golden humanoid could not help but look to the crack in the gargantuan gate and wonder just how much the Red King¡¯s ego had influenced the young man. ¡°I will keep him lucid until the time comes that we have to toss him away. I have finally managed to hack into the building surveillance devices, and we can know the movements of everybody inside it. Luckily, other than the 1st and 11th floors, all the others are empty. I do have bad news, and that is the [A.I. Chip Module], even with the Destiny Force¡¯s reinforcement, lacks the power to take control of the teleportation matrix. However, there is a silver lining: as long as someone uses the teleportation matrix on any other floor, I can hijack the energy source to activate the matrix on the 11th floor.¡± ¡°That is better than I expected!¡± Cain was thrilled with Apex¡¯s accomplishments. Although it would have been better to obtain complete control over the teleportation matrix, he knew that not everything could go according to plan. Not wasting time, Cain carried on with his work, making sure to help Iris to the best of his abilities. Thanks to his hard work, plus the use of the [Basic Data Gathering and Analysis] and [Basic Virtual Simulation] tools, he figured out a way to match the ratio at which the Lineage¡¯s genes and the flaw genes appeared. If Morgana where to find out that, she would have been shocked since it was something she only expected to obtain on the third clinical trial. Still, it would not have been enough to properly awaken the Lineage since the genetic flaws would have been too much, but that is where the miraculous powers of the [Basic Genetic Suppression] tool enter. Cain had already used the powers of the [Genetic Coder Module] for a second time on Iris to reduce the number of genetic flaws in her genome. The flaws in Iris¡¯ genome were far from reaching a catastrophic level. Still, Cain wanted to prevent the apparition of those so disastrous the current [Genetic Coder Module] could not suppress. Although the cost of Destiny Force was reaching a very high number, Cain had given Iris a crucial role in his plan to leave this place. He needed to ensure the young woman grew as strong as possible, with nothing hindering her battle power. Everything was going great, but after two and half weeks, Morgana had woken up. Through the surveillance cameras, Cain saw how the masked old woman immediately headed to the room with the capsules. Iris was following King¡¯s instructions when this one suddenly stopped speaking. Her instincts began to act, and she felt that something was wrong. ¡°Little girl, you have done great, but I will have to leave you for a moment since there is a little problem I need to face. Although I can no longer communicate with you, rest assured that I am still watching over you. Do not lose patience; keep revolving the bloodline inside your body, as I taught you. According to my calculations, it will not be long before the Lineage¡¯s genes inside you reach a high enough number that will allow you to awaken this mighty Lineage. The next time I speak to you, it will be the time you have to use all your power to escape this place. I have already hacked most surveillance elements and am currently working on the teleportation matrix. Before I leave, let me suppress the genetic flaws again.¡± Iris felt the special force reaching the core of her cells, and her condition improved drastically, once again enhancing her power. That strength burst resulted from the genetic flaws diminishing while the Lineage¡¯s genes kept rising. As she felt the immense strength running through her veins, an overwhelming sense of gratitude invaded Iris¡¯ heart. ¡°King, allow me to tell you my name before you leave. I am Iris Xurong.¡± The fact that Iris revealed her name proved her deep trust in the mighty powerhouse. ¡°Good luck, Iris Xurong.¡± ¡ª ¡°Holy Spirit, I am feeling dizzy again. Extract some of the hidden power inside my body.¡± Simon¡¯s voice was full of arrogance, and the way he treated the ¡°Holy Spirit¡± was not better than a dog. Apex already had more than enough from the stupid and narcissistic scion, so while Cain kindly said goodbye to Iris, he chose to repay Simon¡¯s manners. ¡°Oh, that is no longer possible.¡± When Simon heard that, he grew furious. In his mind, the Holy Spirit was nothing more than a servant that needed to obey the command of the Holy Child. ¡°How can you refuse my command! Do you understand how special I am!?¡± ¡°About that, it turns out I was wrong. You are not a Holy Child. You are just an asshole. Good luck or whatever. I don¡¯t care.¡± Simon¡¯s eyes widened as he heard that before the force that had helped him endure the torment vanished. Absolute terror invaded his heart, and he was about to shout loudly when a wave of unbearable pain assaulted him. Without Cain¡¯s Ego Wave helping him reduce the pain, Simon had to face all that alone. ¡°?AHHHHH!¡± Cristian and the other two scientists were surprised to hear that scream of pain coming from Simon¡¯s capsule. Up to now, the scion had been able to endure the pain just fine, so they were a little surprised by the sudden change. Nevertheless, Simon was acting like most youths were doing by this point, so they did not bother. Besides, the screams did not last long, as the scion¡¯s heartbeat and brain waves soon stopped sending signals. Cristian saw that and waved his hand, making tubes impale Simon¡¯s corpse to reignite this one¡¯s heartbeat, just as Morgana entered the room. The masked old woman saw how Simon¡¯s corpse was reanimated but did not say a word since all that was part of the clinical trial. ¡°Lady Morgana.¡± Cristian and the other scientists bowed the moment Morgana entered the room. Morgana nodded to the trio before her eyes went through the Recovery Capsules and saw the condition of the youths. She was a little surprised that Iris was still alive but attributed it to her high cultivation and the Law of Wind¡¯s support. ¡°Cristian, give me a summary of your analysis.¡± ¡°Yes, my Lady.¡± Morgana and Cristian began to speak while another of the scientists undressed Simon¡¯s bodyguard and threw this one into the giant cauldron full of boiling blood. Chapter 165 - 165 Points of view 165 Points of view ¡°Well done, Orin. Your use of Void Breath has improved greatly over the last few weeks. You are able to hide your presence to a level even Peak Wave Warriors might have a hard time detecting it.¡± Orin nodded to Jonathan¡¯s words as she continued moving from one corner of the room to the other, applying footwork that could disorient most people as her vital signs became undetectable. Void Breath no longer drew all of her energy, and she could easily use it on a battlefield. Jonathan nodded as he saw the cadet¡¯s dedication, but as he looked around the room, he could not help but frown as he noticed that someone was missing. Cain had informed Jonathan that he would miss a few classes, which the teacher accepted. Jonathan already had taught them the essence of assassination to Cain and Orin, and the purpose of these last few classes was to polish their techniques. Jonathan did not question Cain¡¯s decision to skip the last classes since he knew the young man took the art of assassination seriously. There must be a really important reason why he chose to leave the fort. ¡®Ahh, I hope that brat is fine.¡¯ He could only sigh as he imagined the dangers Cain should be facing before turning toward Orin and focusing on the girl. ¡ª The next day in the Genetic Coder Class, Camil was helping the cadets to create Silver Vectors, and she looked at the spot where Cain used to sit. ..... Cain had also informed the woman that he would not be attending the last classes, and there was even less problem with him missing these than those from Jonathan. His mastery over Genetic Coding reached a level where Camil could only keep teaching him once this one became a Grand Genetic Coder. Cain had already begun to create almost flawless Golden Vectors, and he could synthesize complex Wave Viruses, so there was not much to teach him other than to refine his abilities. Camil was not the only one worried about Cain since Lurin and Ophelia also acted the same. The duo kept leaving a seat empty among themselves despite Cain not coming to classes. ¡ª A young man sat inside a volcano that unleashed a heat capable of melting metal. He adopted a meditative position less than fifty meters away from the lava, and one could see burn marks all over his body. Despite the youth¡¯s condition, energy and vitality overflowed his body as golden wisps of red flames coursed through his skin. Suddenly the youth opened his eyes and took a capsule with a red liquid before injecting it into his chest. The Wave Virus began to circulate inside the youth¡¯s body, inducing fever, but it was not long before a wave of immense hunger assaulted him. Luckily for the youth, energy, and vitality were two things his body was currently overflowing with, and soon he felt the increase in his Wave Talent. As he stared at the empty capsule, the youth could not help but frown. It lasted less than a second, but that lack of focus almost made the golden red flames go wild, threatening to consume his flesh and blood as fuel. ¡°Brat, keep focused on your cultivation and do not let the outside world taint your mind. What is the point of worrying about something when you don¡¯t have the power to change it?¡± That voice did not come from the sky but deep within the volcano¡¯s lava. The idea of a man submerged in something like that was outrageous since the lava¡¯s temperature was a fifth of the Old World¡¯s sun¡¯s surface! Yet, it was happening right now. Levi immediately nodded as he heard the words of his master and adopted a meditative position before shutting down everything else. It seemed that the owner of the voice noticed Levi¡¯s commitment and chose to speak again. ¡°According to my knowledge, your friend is still alive. If something changes, I will tell you.¡± Levi did not open his eyes but softly nodded as he focused on his training. ¡ª Zarak was in the midst of his training, and a raging Astral Wave burst from his body with so much power that it could easily flood entire cities and break buildings to pieces. Even though Zarak took the Ego Eternal Path of Power as his main path, that did not mean he neglected his Astral Rebirth Path of Power since it was also a fundamental core of his battle power. Despite the might of Zarak¡¯s Astral Wave, the room¡¯s walls endured their power, proving just how mighty the Titan Tower was. Zarak¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that the teleportation matrix was about to act, and he retracted that bursting Astral Wave back into his body. Abin appeared in the room before walking toward Zarak, bowing, and immediately going straight to business. ¡°Young Lord has yet to return to the Imperial Lightning Fort, and there is no trace of him being in the Whisper Forest, where he was supposed to be.¡± Cain had to take a mission to leave the fort, and he chose one in the Whisper Forest. It was not uncommon for the cadets to take assignments just so they could go somewhere else, but as long as they showed proof of their work, everything would be fine. However, while Cain¡¯s mission was incredibly challenging, he was supposed to return already. Zarak frowned as he heard that and looked toward the Whisper Forest. ¡°He spoke with his Genetic Coding and Assassination Specialization teachers while leaving Wave Viruses for his friends that would last precisely until graduation. That brat is very calculative, so the number of viruses is not coincidental.¡± Abin understood the meaning behind those words. It seemed that Cain did not plan to return before graduation. ¡°Lord, could you not use your Ego Mark to track him and know his exact whereabouts?¡± If Cain were to hear Abin¡¯s words, he would be shocked that something in him could allow someone to know his precise location. Although he would definitely not be happy about it, that mark already saved his life once. Zarak put the Ego Mark on Cain the first time they met, and it was the power that allowed him to appear out of nowhere and protect this one from the mighty Abyssal Demon. Zarak only sighed as he heard Abin¡¯s recommendation. ¡°My Ego Mark can only tell me Cain¡¯s exact location when I am relatively close to him. Now, it can only tell me whether he is alive, which is the case.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Abin nodded, and her understanding of the Ego Eternal Path of Power increased slightly. ¡°Should I deploy our forces to look for the Young Lord?¡± Zarak considered it for a moment before shaking his head. ¡°That brat is surely on an extremely dangerous mission. If he contacts us calling for help, inform me immediately. Until then, it is up to him to survive this ordeal.¡± Zarak considered Cain a true divine genius in the Ego Eternal Path of Power, but it was not the inborn active Ego Eternal Matrix that granted him that title. It was the cadet¡¯s willpower and determination to face his problems head-on. That attitude could lead Cain to his death but could also grant him the destiny of a fenix, rising from danger stronger than ever. ¡°I will enter secluded cultivation. Do not disturb me unless it concerns Cain or a Sector-Level threat.¡± Abin bowed and immediately left the room. Just as she left, a ferocious river manifested and began to clash against the walls. The wall that resisted the Astral Wave capable of leveling a city began to crack under the crash of that mighty river. ¡ª Of course, not everybody was worried about Cain¡¯s disappearance, and some were thrilled with the idea that the young genius had bitten more than he could chew and ended up dead. Zamir and Lumir¡¯s spirits had significantly risen after hearing the rumors that Cain might have perished, and they were not the only ones. Far away from the Collapsing Lightning Sector, a person much more important than the two scions also followed the news about Cain. A young man sat in a meditative stance in a large room made of volcanic rocks while rivers of burning flames landed on top of his body. He circulated those flames through his veins, improving his Astral Wave and physique. Things did not end there since those flames were incredibly painful, but that was a good thing since it helped him temper his willpower. That young man was not other than Magnus Hellblazer, the greatest genius the Hellblazer Family had seen in the last thousand years! Magnus¡¯ eyes opened as a message arrived through his A.I. Chip. ¡°My Lord, there has been no news of Cain Laurifer over the last couple of weeks. There is a high chance he could be dead.¡± Magus heard Marik¡¯s voice, and a contemplative expression appeared on his face. ¡°Proceed with our plans in the Collapsing Lightning Sector. Until we do not receive definitive information about his demise, we will carry on as if he was alive.¡± Magnus cut the communication the next second and focused on his training. He did not need to hear Marik¡¯s response since he knew this one would follow his commands. Chapter 166 - 166 Blood Energy (I) 166 Blood Energy (I) The young man that drew the attention of dozens of people across the Gaia Continent was currently at the bottom of a giant cauldron, feeling how his entire body was boiled alive by a river of scorching blood. The heat was excruciating, and the moment Cain was outside Morgana and the other scientists¡¯ view, he immediately activated his Wave Cloak. Unfortunately for Cain, while his Astral Wave Cloak granted a layer of protection, it was not enough to fight off the heat. Things could change if he used Wave Burst, but that sudden spike in energy could alert Morgana, so he could not do it. Cain¡¯s body was livid red due to the heat, but what happened to his face was even more shocking, as this one was melting. Of course, that was not really Cain¡¯s face since, even for someone like him, something like that would carry a level of unbearable pain. The thing that was melting was Cain¡¯s One Hundred Faces. Although the Wave Artifact proportioned exceptional levels of camouflage, it was not meant for battle and could not endure such a hostile environment as a cauldron full of boiling blood. Cain took the mask out before it could harm his actual face as he stood at the bottom of the giant cauldron with his eyes closed. He could not see, but thanks to the [Basic Scan Force Field] tool, he knew everything that happened in the room. The [Basic Scan Force Field] did not have the Ego Wave¡¯s range or unique abilities, but it could cover Peak Wave Champions without these ones noticing it. Cain came to that conclusion when Jonathan entered the scope of the force field and did not realize it. Of course, things were different if Cain used the [Basic Scan Force Field] tool to do any sort of invasive maneuvers. Right now, Cain¡¯s whole focus was on Morgana, and every second the old masked woman passed inside the room, he came closer to his death. ..... The exchange between Morgana and the other three scientists was impressive and involved a high level of Genetic Coding knowledge. Yet, Cain did not have the luxury of enjoying it. Due to his mastery over Wave Cloak, Cain could keep it active for days, if not weeks. It was his body that would crumble before his energy pool drained. If Morgana left, Cain was ready to activate his Wave Burst to a very low percentage, enough to provide proper protection for his body but not so high that the three scientists would notice. Unfortunately for Cain, the masked old woman seemed energized as she spoke about Genetic Coding, and it did not look like she would leave anytime soon. Cain¡¯s willpower was at the First Realm, allowing him to keep calm even in some of the most extreme conditions, but even he could not help but grow anxious when he felt that his eyelids began to burn. They would not last long, and the next thing to be scorched by the heat would be his eyes! Just as things were about to escalate to the point of no return, Cain¡¯s mind and heart filled with determination as he opened his mouth and swallowed a mouthful of blood. It was like drinking fire; if he had not used Wave Focus to cover his intestines with Astral Wave, this would have melted. Now that the blood was inside Cain¡¯s body, he could use it to fuel the Blood Refinement Art without worrying that someone outside could notice it. The reasons why he did not do this from the beginning were plenty. Cain had no idea what there was in this blood, but he knew that it crippled hundreds of people and provoked incredible pain. Still, the main reason was that this was human blood, and no matter how you look at it, he was consuming the blood of his own race as food. Although Cain had consumed the blood of Dark Races¡¯ warriors for his Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique, it was not the same. He had overcome the empire¡¯s indoctrination but still saw members of the Dark Races as alien life forms, making things like eating their flesh and drinking their blood much easier. Some would rather die than drink the blood of their race due to how a civilization could judge them, but Cain stopped caring about that the moment his life was on the line. He would not die just to avoid angering hypocrites that would have done the same if they were in his place. The moment the blood reached his stomach, Cain mobilized the Blood Refinement Art, and he could not hide the sense of awe and shock that assaulted him. Whenever Cain mobilized the Blood Refinement Art, he would purify the blood and obtain blood essence that would then nurture his body. However, there was no need for purification right now as the blood inside his stomach instantly transformed into blood essence, overflowing his body with vitality. Things did not end there since the amount of blood essence generated was so much that not only was it enough to heal the damage caused to his skin by the scorching heat, it reignited his body¡¯s refinement. Cain¡¯s domain over the Blood Refinement Art had reached a very high level, and the only reason it could not advance further was its nature as an auxiliary technique. Auxiliary techniques granted an immense boost to someone¡¯s strength, but the user¡¯s cultivation limited their growth. Cain had pushed the Blood Refinement Art to the absolute limit his Level 4 Wave Warrior cultivation could obtain. Yet, thanks to the incredibly pure and potent blood essence, that limiter was breaking apart. Cain was ecstatic as he realized that, and he began to revolve the Blood Refinement Art at full power, ensuring his skin would heal from any damage while tempering his body. Those mouthfuls of blood lasted less than five minutes, but Cain would simply consume another and carry on. He was not afraid that Morgana or the others would notice something in the volume of the cauldron since more than one hundred corpses generated this blood. Cain not only felt how any damage he endured due to the scorching heat healed instantly, but his body was also growing stronger shockingly fast. Three days had passed, and Morgana did not leave the room, talking to no end with the three scientists, but that no longer bothered Cain. She could stay in the room as long as she wanted since he did not want to go anywhere and was perfectly fine at the bottom of that cauldron full of boiling blood. The blood was just too amazing, and Cain could not help but feel that this giant cauldron was perfect for training his Blood Refinement Art. Cain was so focused on his training that he almost forgot about the world and fell into a state of trance, but what he saw in his [Basic Scan Force Field] drew him back to reality. Another of the youths had perished due to the genetic flaws in her genome reaching a catastrophic level. Cristian saw that, and his face showed nothing as he waved his hand, making tubes enter the young woman¡¯s body so they could reignite her heartbeat before glancing at one of the other scientists and returning to his conversation with Morgana. The scientist walked toward the deceased¡¯s guard and stripped her before throwing her into the giant cauldron. Like all the others, that guard was brainwashed to the point that even if they were about to die at the hands of the mysterious organization, they would show no disloyalty. The guard fell into the boiling blood like a rock and began to submerge immediately. The hypnosis had shut down her survival instincts to the point that she did not even close her eyes. She was about to lose her vision due to the boiling blood scorching her eyes, but just before that happened, she saw a young man at the bottom of the cauldron. A sense of shock appeared on the woman¡¯s face when she realized that someone was alive inside this cauldron. She was about to inform Morgana and the others when a finger pierced through her eye and reached her brain, instantly killing her. Cain¡¯s eyes were still closed, but there was a bursting red light in them as he removed his finger from the guard¡¯s head. He knew nothing about the woman, and she might very well be a good person that found herself in a bad situation, but none of that mattered. She was about to reveal his presence, and Cain would not allow anyone to endanger his life. There was no guilt or remorse in his mind or heart, and he simply carried on with the Blood Refinement Art. The golden humanoid deep inside Cain¡¯s soul dimension saw that level of brutality and smiled since he was glad the young man could make the hard choice when needed. However, the next second he turned toward the place where the Alter-Ego resided and saw how the cruel and merciless part of this one grew a little stronger. Unlike all Alter-Egos that represented one person¡¯s will, the one inside Cain was made by his heroic nature and the Red King¡¯s ego. Chapter 167 - 167 Blood Energy (II) 167 Blood Energy (II) Cain immersed himself in his cultivation, and his sole focus was enhancing his Blood Refinement Art as fast as he could. Every ounce of strength would be helpful in his escape from this place, and the time was coming closer and closer with each day. He had spent almost two weeks inside the giant cauldron full of boiling blood. Thanks to the incredibly potent blood essence he obtained with each mouthful, his Blood Refinement Art had advanced at a crazy speed. After thirteen days of non-stop training, Cain was surprised by a strange feeling. It was as if thousands of ants were trying to excavate a path out of his bones, through his muscles, and break the skin so they could finally exit his body. Cain grew ecstatic as he felt his body go through another session of marrow washing, and he began to push his Blood Refinement Art with even greater strength. Every session of marrow washing was a lucky chance that would increase his strength and Wave Talent and help him establish a more robust foundation for his future cultivation. A foul black substance began to excrete through Cain¡¯s pores, but luckily the boiling blood incinerated it all instantly. Cain consumed the boiling blood faster and faster so he could revolve the Blood Refinement Art with greater strength. At this point, his body began to tremble, and a sudden rush of energy overflowed his veins. It was a new form of energy that tempered Cain¡¯s flesh and blood and appeared just at the right moment since it helped him push out even more of the pollution inside his body. Cain did his best to control the thrill of feeling this new power and focused on his marrow washing as an impressive amount of black filth left his body. ..... It carried on like that for a very long time until Cain felt he clashed against a wall, and no more pollution left his body. He felt as if there was something that stopped him from carrying on with his marrow washing. There was nothing that Cain could do about it, and now that things finally calmed down, he focused on the new energy coursing through his body. After understanding its nature and the events that led to it, he came to a single conclusion. ¡®I managed to break through to the second level of the Blood Refinement Art and obtained Blood Energy!¡¯ Cain knew that he should only have been able to enter the Blood Refinement Art¡¯s second level after becoming a Wave Champion, but it seemed that the giant cauldron and an almost endless source of blood essence helped him circumvent that wall. He experienced a massive boost in his strength thanks to the breakthrough in the Blood Refinement Art, and his marrow washing improved his condition and the speed at which he could mobilize his Astral Wave. There was a massive overall increase in Cain¡¯s strength, and there was no better time to have that than now when he found himself in great danger. ¡®Absolute Life Form System, scan my body.¡¯ Cain could not wait and commanded the system to show him his new strength. [Scan of Vessel completed ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 4 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Pseudo Tier 6 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 3.3 Agility: 2.1 Vitality: 4.4 Wave: 1.6 ???: ??? ¡ª Marrow washing: 74% completion ¡ª Note: According to the data gathered, the new energy source inside Vessel belongs to the power known as Blood Energy. This energy is not generated naturally by the body, so Vessel will need to refine more by using blood essence once depleted. ¡ª Quantifying Blood Energy according to the parameters used to measure Astral Wave. ¡ª Blood Energy: 5.1] Cain knew he had grown very powerful, but those stats shocked him. His strength and vitality were the main focus of his Blood Refinement Art, reaching the standard for a Level 6 Astral Wave Warrior! There was also an increase in his speed thanks to his enhanced muscle mass and bone density. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he took another mouthful of boiling blood and revolved the Blood Refinement Art. A small smile appeared on his face, and he sighed as he felt the result. ¡®I can still use the Blood Refinement Art to obtain blood essence, so I can heal my body or replenish my Blood Energy, but there is no effect on my power. It seems that even with high-level resources, I will not be able to advance in the art without first increasing my cultivation.¡¯ Cain was not surprised since he knew that no matter how great your auxiliary technique could be, your main source of strength would always be your cultivation base. ¡®It is fine. This new power should grant me a good enough chance to leave this place. And it seems that the time is about to arrive.¡¯ Cain used his [Basic Scan Force Field] to see the situation around the room and knew the first clinical trial was about to end. The giant cauldron had a tenth of its original volume occupied, and only three youths were left alive by this point. As for what happened with the guard, they all found their end inside the rivers of boiling blood. Morgana had left, and only Cristian and the other two scientists were in the room. Cain was sure that the masked old woman would return to see the end of the clinical trial, and he needed to act the moment that happened. Since Morgana was absent, Cain was not afraid of the trio detecting his Ego Wave, so he sent it toward Iris. ¡°Little girl, I am back.¡± Iris could not help but smile when she heard King¡¯s voice again inside her mind. Still, she did not lose composure and kept her mind focused. ¡°I am delighted to hear your voice again, King. I have followed your instructions to the letter, but I am afraid I have yet to awaken the new Lineage.¡± Iris had done her best and could not help but feel disappointed. King had told her that the Lineage was close to awakening, but she did not manage to do it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Actually, the number of Lineage¡¯s genes inside you is more than high enough, but the genetic flaws are preventing the evolution of your genome. I will fix that immediately.¡± Iris was shocked to hear the ease with which King spoke of a problem she could not even comprehend. However, she did not have time to be absent-minded as the familiar force began acting on her genome. As the genetic flaws in Iris were suppressed, she felt like a new force inside her genes was finally set free and began to fill her body with immense power. Cain waited until Iris¡¯ power reached its peak before speaking to her again. ¡°Use this time to get used to your new power. The moment the gate to this room opens, I will activate something that will raise mayhem, and you will need to push your Wave Cloak to its maximum power to protect yourself.¡± King did not give her details about the mayhem source, but Iris trusted this one so much she did not question him and was ready to follow his command. ¡°After that, make sure you rush to the teleportation matrix as fast as possible. The moment someone on the 1st floor activates it, it will also activate here on the 11th floor, and you will use it to leave this building.¡± Cain carried on, giving more and more instructions to Iris, giving her an exact path from this place all the way to the surface. Iris nodded and made sure to engrave every single word in her mind, making sure she would remember all of it. Once King finished, she began to adapt to the enhanced strength, speed, and vitality that the Lineage granted her. Cain lay flat on the giant cauldron, making sure what remained of the boiling blood still covered his body. His eyes grew sharp when he saw that Morgana had woken up and was coming to the room. He focused on Simon¡¯s corpse, specifically the contents of this one¡¯s stomach. He did not allow the Recovery Capsule to scan the scion because of the trump care he left inside. The price he had to pay for them was so high that when Cain remembered it, he almost cried. Everything happened extremely fast. The moment the gate opened, and before it could close, Cain activated the thing inside Simon¡¯s corpse. ¡°Now!¡± Iris heard that voice in her mind, and without hesitation, she pushed her Essence Wave to the limit, making her Wave Cloak burst with immense strength while generating a protective whirlwind around her body. The burst in the Wave from the Recovery Capsule that held Iris shocked Cristian, the other two scientists, and Morgana, who was just entering the room. ¡°?BOOM!¡± Before they could get over the shock of Iris still conscious and full of power, the Recovery Capsule with Simon exploded, unleashing mighty flames that destroyed everything. Chapter 168 - 168 Escape (I) 168 Escape (I) Morgana and the three scientists acted immediately, unleashing their Wave Cloaks. Cristian and the masked old woman could resist the flames, but the other two scientists in the room were not so strong and instantly incinerated. That duo was the no only one harmed since the open door allowed direct access to the rest of the floor, allowing the flames to kill or maim almost everybody in it. Morgana and Cristian jumped out of the room, and both of them had severe burn wounds all over their bodies. The masked old woman was pale and could barely keep her Wave Cloak bursting. Before the duo could even take a breath, Iris, wearing full armor and wielding her rapier, flashed toward them while dark winds moved around her body. Orlando had left Iris¡¯ space ring with her belongings to one of the now-dead scientists, and since they did not bother to brand them, it was easy for the young woman to take back possession of it. Cristian immediately put himself in front of Morgana as his Astral Wave exploded, and his skin turned metallic bronze. He knew that Iris was a powerful Level 8 Wave Warrior but was sure that the genetic flaws should have hindered her power and that he should be able to contend with her with his Level 7 cultivation. However, Cristian made a grave mistake since not only were the genetic flaws on Iris very few, but the Lineage that awakened inside her body granted more than just a rise in her physical strength. Iris waved her rapier, sending large sharp arcs of dark wind toward Cristian and Morgana. Cristian¡¯s eyes widened as he saw how those arcs of dark wind cut his bronze skin as if it was nothing. Iris¡¯ attack split his body into almost a dozen pieces, and he died instantly. ..... Morgana was also shocked by the outrageous power that Iris unleashed, and a flash of enlightenment crossed her eyes since she knew the reason. However, now was not the time to think, and using the precious second that Cristian¡¯s protection gave her, she flashed toward her room. Iris saw the masked old woman trying to run, and she did not hesitate before sending another wave of dark wind blades. Morgana used all her power and managed to cross the door, but not before having endured several deep cuts on her body that reached all the way to the bone. After entering the room, the door closed, and Iris could do nothing about it. If she attacked with everything she had, the door would break, but it would take too long, and time was something she did not have. The moment Simon exploded, all sorts of alarms began to ring across the building. On the 1st floor, Orlando had seen Iris¡¯s ferocious attack through his A.I. Chip and immediately dashed toward the teleportation matrix. Orlando had already summoned both of his Wave Puppets. Both the muscular and fat ones were present, but if you look closer at the second, you will notice it was different from the one he used in his last fight with Iris. When the old man reached the 11th floor, he immediately made his Essence Wave explode and sent both of his Wave Puppets forward, ready to fight with everything he had. Orlando saw through his A.I. Chip how Iris had dashed toward the teleportation matrix, which is why he was ready for a big battle, but the only thing he saw was wounded scientists and flames. He looked around the room, pushing his focus to the limit, but there was no sign of Iris anywhere. Finally, one wounded scientist looked at the old man and spoke. ¡°She left through... the teleportation matrix just... as you arrived.¡± The man used all his strength to share that vital piece of information with the Wave Champion. Ornaldo¡¯s eyes widened as he could not understand how Iris could have used the teleportation matrix since only he and Morgana could control it. A door opened, showing the wounded Morgana, and she stared right at Orlando. ¡°No matter what, you must capture her. She has awakened the Lineage!¡± If before Orlando was surprised, now he was utterly shocked. The fact that someone other than the mysterious organization had that Lineage running through their veins was something they could not allow. Despite the turmoil in his heart and mind, Orlando quickly regained focus. ¡°People will come to help you in less than a minute.¡± Orlando only uttered those words before activating the teleportation matrix and returning to the 1st floor. He saw how the building¡¯s main gate busted open and a figure jumping from one house to the other, moving farther and farther away. Iris¡¯s speed was impressive, and her momentum increased with every jump. Of course, guards were coming from all over the underground city to stop her. However, those behind her were too slow and could not catch up. Those were the lucky ones since Iris cut to pieces every single person in front of her. Orlando saw everything through the countless cameras positioned across the city. Iris¡¯ new power frightened him, but he knew that if she were to escape, then the higher-ups would blame him, and a quick death would be mercy. He returned the fat Wave Puppet to his space ring before jumping onto the shoulder of the muscular Wave Puppet and commanding this one to chase after Iris. Iris¡¯ eyes narrowed as she felt a powerful presence coming after her and noticed the muscular Wave Puppet dashing toward her with Orlando on its shoulder. Part of her wanted the rematch, but she knew every second counted and focused on her goal, the elevators. ¡ª On the 11th floor, jets of water were putting out the flames while the rest of the scientists were doing their best to get up. Morgana looked at the destruction with pure hatred as she wondered just how much valuable information had been lost. The death of Cristian and the others did not affect her, as her mind only cared about Genetic Coding. She walked toward the room where the giant cauldron and Recovery Capsules were, wanting to see how much was lost. However, the moment she crossed the door, a red flash appeared in front of her. A sense of absolute doom assaulted Morgana, and she summoned her Wave Cloak, but this one was unable to stop two fingers bathed in red lightning from piercing her neck. Morgana¡¯s eyes were full of disbelief, and the last thing she saw were two red eyes before dying. Terror appeared in the hearts of the scientists as they saw Morgana¡¯s lifeless body falling to the ground, and then they saw a man with a red helmet walking out of the room. Before any of the scientists could do anything, a mighty Ego Wave overflowed the floor. ¡°Die.¡± The scientists¡¯ eyes lost focus when Cain uttered those words, and their hearts stopped beating the next second. Cain showed nothing as he saw all that death and did not lose time. He stored Morgana¡¯s body in his space ring and other corpses belonging to high-level scientists before dashing toward the teleportation matrix. The teleportation matrix activated, and Cain¡¯s figure vanished just as a group of five people appeared. They were all golden guards, but the one at the lead had a larger build, and there was clear wisdom in his eyes. The group¡¯s leader was confused as he saw only corpses in this place. They were supposed to help the wounded and take special care of Morgana, but there was no sign of the old woman in this place. He had no idea that someone could have hacked the teleportation matrix, so the only explanation that came to his mind was that Morgana and the others still alive teleported to the 1st floor just as they arrived at the 11th. Not willing to waste time, the group leader gave instructions to return to the 1st floor, and they did it immediately. When they appeared on the 1st floor, the group leader frowned again since no one was present. However, his confusion did not last for long since a blinding light appeared in the bathroom, and the next second, a blast of mighty flames covered the 1st floor, killing everybody in it. ¡°?BOOM!¡± Orlando was dashing forward with all his speed when he heard that explosion and turned around, only to see flames coming out of the building¡¯s 1st floor. Panic appeared on his face as he attempted to communicate with Morgana or the squad he sent, but none responded. The old man¡¯s mind immediately concluded that Iris had left bombs, just like the one she used to escape, on the 1st floor and killed Morgana and all the survivors. ¡°You dare!¡± Orlando was beyond furious since he understood how valuable Morgana¡¯s life was and what would happen to him since he failed to protect her. Iris was just as shocked as Orlando by the explosions, but she did not lose focus and continued her journey toward the elevators. Chapter 169 - 169 Escape (II) 169 Escape (II) Orlando knew that Iris¡¯s goal was the elevators since they were the only path to the surface, so he had sent orders for the guards on the upper Saharo City to come down and make a defensive formation around them. There were dozens of guards in a battle formation in front of the elevators. Iris could feel their strength, and while they were all weaker than her, their number was high enough to make things very difficult. She knew it would not be easy, but she was ready to fight with all she had to reach those elevators. Just as Iris was about to enter battle with those guards, a blinding light appeared in one of the elevators before another explosion occurred, unleashing a sea of fire. ¡°?BOOM!¡± That explosion originated from the elevator that Simon and Cain took to reach the underground city. It was the first place he put his bombs, and they were the last to be activated. The sea of fire struck the back of those dozens of guards, taking them by surprise, killing many, and injuring the rest. ¡°King!¡± Iris knew that the only one that could be responsible for that explosion had to be the man that saved her life. Her eyes showed an immense resolution as she seemed to summon the power of the Law of Wind, transforming herself into a humanoid tornado and advancing with unstoppable might. ..... Orlando¡¯s eyes widened as he saw the explosion that broke his men¡¯s battle formation just before Iris crushed everybody in her path to pieces and rose to the surface through the elevator shaft. In the old man¡¯s mind, the one responsible for all this had to be Iris, but he could believe the woman managed to trick all of them and plan all these traps without no one noticing it. ¡®How can someone so young plan schemes at this level!?¡¯ Along with that thought, a monstrous killing intent emerged in Orlando¡¯s eyes. He could not allow someone so dangerous and full of potential to keep breathing since they could become a great threat in the future. Not paying attention to the cries for help from his wounded men, Orlando took one of the elevators unaffected by the explosion and rose to the surface. The elevator was extremely fast, and the old man hoped it would be enough to diminish the distance between him and the young woman. The moment Orlando entered the elevator, a figure moved between the shadows and the flames. No one noticed him, and in a matter of seconds, he vanished through the same elevator shaft that Iris used to rise to the surface. Orlando had just reached the surface when he heard a blast and saw Iris breaking the building¡¯s doors and flashing away. No one could stop her, and Saharo City did not have walls that could prevent someone like her from leaving. The muscular Wave Puppet immediately chased after Iris, making expressions of utter shock in all the residents of Saharo City as they were not use to such a sight. Iris and Orlando moved so fast that they had already crossed the walls of Saharo City and began to move through the desert in a matter of minutes. Orlando was a Wave Champion with a much larger energy pool. Still, Iris did not have to overexert herself since she was much faster, which is why they moved at a similar speed, with the distance between them not shrinking enough so it could start a battle. The old man could not reach the young woman, and he saw how a forest began to appear in the distance. He knew that if they were to enter it, it would not be hard for Iris to lose him, which was something he could not allow. Orlando¡¯s Essence Wave busted with power, and the hand with which he controlled the Wave Puppet set ablaze. The muscular Wave Puppet began to tremble for a second before growing larger and its skin turning green. Orlando¡¯s technique pushed the humanoid into overdrive, generating internal damage but also greatly enhancing its physical might. Iris¡¯ eyes narrowed as she noticed the change in the muscular Wave Puppet and saw the distance between them shrinking. She did not lose calm and carried forward, reaching the forest. Just as the muscular Wave Puppet was one hundred meters away from Iris, she turned around and stroked forward with her rapier, generating dark wind spears. Orlando immediately jumped out of the Wave Puppet¡¯s shoulder and positioned behind this one as he saw that attack coming his way. A solemn expression appeared on his face as he saw those dark wind spears penetrating the humanoid¡¯s flesh. The Law of Wind did not enhance those attacks, but the dark force that originated from Iris¡¯ new Lineage granted her enough power to surpass the muscular Wave Puppet¡¯s defenses. The old man was a seasoned warrior, so he did not lose focus and pushed the Wave Puppet forward, accepting that barrage of dark wind spears in exchange for reaching the young woman. Iris saw how the muscular Wave Puppet resisted her dark wind spears attack before appearing in front of her and sending a ferocious punch toward her head. The young woman took a deep breath, and while the air was still filling her lungs, she sent a palm strike forward. The muscular Wave Puppet¡¯s massive fist and Iris¡¯ small palm were about to clash, and everybody could figure out the winner of such an exchange, but the outcome was not what one would have expected. Just as Iris¡¯ palm and the Wave Puppet¡¯s fist were about to collide, a bubble of super-compressed air appeared between them. ¡°?Boom!¡± The bubble exploded, unleashing a powerful burst of wind, repelling the muscular Wave Puppet¡¯s punch. It also allowed Iris to use that force to push her body back, generating some distance between her and the Wave Puppet. Iris had just landed on the ground when she focused her Essence Wave on her rapier before piercing it into the ground. Orlando saw that and immediately jumped more than a dozen meters into the air before summoning the fat Wave Puppet beneath him. He did that just before a giant rapier made of black wind emerged from the ground. The giant dark wind rapier landed on the fat Wave Puppet, greatly damaging this one¡¯s belly but failing to harm the old man. Right after that, Orlando and the fat Wave Puppet landed on the ground, and he took control of the muscular Wave Puppet, sending this one to fight against Iris. He could have both of his Wave Puppets out, but controlling both of them with enough expertise that they could be useful in a battle was beyond his capabilities. Iris had noticed that Orlando could only properly control one Wave Puppet at a time, but that did not make things much easier for her. She saw the muscular Wave Puppet coming toward her and waved her rapier into the ground, forging a wall of wind that stopped this one for a moment, allowing her to generate dozens of dark wind needles in the sky. Orlando focused his control over the fat Wave Puppet making this one embrace him, generating a layer of protection against the attack. Once the last dark wind needle fell from the sky, Orlando focused on the muscular Wave Puppet, but he could not give a single command before Iris carried on with her attack. Iris¡¯ power skyrocketed as she summoned the force of the Law of Wind for the second time, generating four dark wind tornadoes that clashed with the muscular Wave Puppet¡¯s shoulders and knees. There was nothing Orlando could do but see how those dark wind tornados maimed the muscular Wave Puppet, destroying its extremities. Iris turned toward Orlando with cold eyes full of killing intent. Now that the muscular Wave Puppet could not act, it was the perfect time to carry on with her onslaught, but instead of doing that, she turned around and vanished into the forest. From the beginning, she did not seek to defeat the old man but cripple the muscular Wave Puppet, so this one could not chase after her. There was an immense rage in Orlando¡¯s heart as he saw Iris leaving, but there was nothing he could do. She was too fast, and even if he could keep up with her, without the muscular Wave Puppet, there was no way he could defeat the young woman. ¡°Ahhh.¡± Orlando sighed, wondering how he would explain all this to the higher-ups when a sense of utter doom assaulted him. He glanced behind him and saw a red flash coming his way, aiming a ruthless attack directly at his heart. Using every ounce of strength left in his body, Orlando pushed his body to the side. That saved his life, but the red fash still took his right arm off. Orlando clenched his teeth as he jumped back and put the fat Wave Puppet between him and the attacker. His eyes narrowed as he saw that the one that almost killed him wore a metallic suit and a red mask. The man in the red hood glanced at the right arm that held a space ring in one of its fingers before turning toward the old man, devouring every ounce of blood in the extremity. Chapter 170 - 170 Killing a Wave Champion 170 Killing a Wave Champion Orlando¡¯s eyes widened with shock as the man in the red hood devoured the blood in his severed arm until there was not even a single drop left. Just when he thought the fight was over, a new threat appeared. As the man in the red hood devoured the blood, the red lightning around his body grew stronger and thicker. There was a solemn expression on Orlando¡¯s face as he focused on the Astral Wave of the man in front of him. Although he could not accurately measure the cultivation of the man in the red hood since he lacked Ego Wave, judging by the Wave¡¯s output, he guessed this one was a Level 7 Astral Wave Warrior. Normally, someone at that level would not be a threat to a Wave Champion like him, but he lost his right arm, space ring, and muscular Wave Puppet. Not to mention that the chase and fight with Iris almost depleted his energy pool, and he was losing blood very fast. ¡°Who are you? Do you understand who you are facing? I am part of an organization even Sector Dukes do not dare to antagonize!¡± Orlando hoped that his background would draw fear in the heart of the red-hooded man, but it seemed that would not be the case as the killing intent in the eyes of this one only grew stronger. ¡°Thump!¡± A heartbeat echoed through the forest as Cain activated the First Gear, and his skin turned red. Asura Form had already become a default state for him regarding serious battles, as it exponentially enhanced his speed and the brute strength he could unleash. Things did not end there as Cain took a deep breath and pushed his Wave Burst, which was already at a shocking 2000%, to 3000%! ..... Wave Burst put Cain¡¯s body under tremendous stress the more it rose. Before 2000% was his limit, but the breakthrough in the Blood Refinement Art allowed him to reach an even higher level. Of course, a 3000% Wave Burst meant that Cain¡¯s energy pool would deplete very fast, no matter how talented he was with his Wave Cloak, but he never intended this fight to be one of attrition. Finally, the last upgrade in his strength came as Cain began to circulate the Blood Energy through his body and enhance his Lightning Armament. That gave Cain¡¯s blue lightning a blood-like color. Orlando¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that massive burst in his opponent¡¯s strength, and he set ablaze the Essence Wave in his left hand. Clearly, the man in the red hood would not leave without a fight, and trying to run would only leave his back open to more sneak attacks. The fat Wave Puppet¡¯s body began to tremble as it entered overdrive, growing larger and its skin turning green. Although its primary purpose was as a defensive tool, it did not mean this one could not deploy an impressive battle power. Cain saw the burst in the strength of the Wave Puppet, and his eyes glowed with resolution. He flashed forward as his blood lightning and Astral Wave enhanced his right fist. Orlando saw the man flashing toward him at a shocking speed, and he sent the fat Wave Puppet to attack this one, sending a palm strike that seemed capable of tearing down a small building. The strength in the fat Wave Puppet¡¯s palm strike was impressive, but its speed was subpar, to say the least, making it very easy for Cain to dodge it. However, he did not do it and chose to counter the palm with his fist. ¡°?BOOM!¡± The clash between the fat Wave Puppet¡¯s palm and Cain¡¯s blood lightning punch generated a shock wave due to the immense power behind them. Cain moved back three steps, and he felt his right arm trembling, but there was a smile on his face since his punch pushed back the fat Wave Puppet the same amount of steps as him. For the first time in his life, he clashed directly with a Wave Champion that was able to deploy full power and managed to hold his ground. It would have been easy for Cain to disappear once he left the underground city. No one could perceive him, so it would not have been a problem for him to vanish, but he chose to chase after Orlando. There was a burning desire inside Cain¡¯s heart to test just how powerful he had become, and he knew that only a Wave Champion could push him to unleash all his power. A year ago, Wave Champions were legendary creatures that Cain could only look at in wonder, but now he had the power to threaten the lives of these! Cain did not wait even a second before flashing back into the fray, charging his arms with blood-lightning and Astral Wave. Orlando could not help but frown as he saw that the red-hooded man did not target him but his Wave Puppet. He could not believe this one did not know that the best way to fight a Puppet Master was to go after the puppeteer. However, there was not much for Orlando to do other than carry on with the fight, using everything he had so the fat Wave Puppet could crush his enemy. ¡°?Boom!¡± ¡°?Boom!¡± ¡°?Boom!¡± More and more shock waves echoed through the forest as palm and fist collided with a power surpassing Wave Warriors¡¯ limits. It lasted roughly thirty seconds before Cain jumped back, putting some distance between him and the fat Wave Puppet. Cain¡¯s arms trembled, and his mouth had an iron taste due to the blood in it, but that did not erase his smile since he was able to decipher the fat Wave Puppet¡¯s battle style, and that was not all. ¡®System, display the information of the target.¡¯ Usually, the [A.I. Chip Module] would have problems scanning targets stronger than Wave Warriors due to the energy defenses of these ones. Still, direct physical contact like the one deployed in a melee fight allowed the system to go through with the scan. [Target scan successful. ¡ª Class: Wave Artifact Type: Battle Puppet ¡ª Strength: 10.1 Speed: 4.5 Vitality: 17.2] Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he analyzed that information. ¡®Other than its vitality, the rest of its stats fall into the realm of Wave Warrior. Even then, its attacks made my arms tremble. Even with all my upgrades, it would be tough to fight a Wave Champion and come victorious.¡¯ Cain focused on the Wave Puppet and began to walk calmly toward this one. Orlando frowned as he saw the man in the red hood approaching the fat Wave Puppet. He felt something was wrong, especially with how this one¡¯s body moved, waving from one side to the other. Waiting would not help him, so Orlando made his Essence Wave burst before commanding the fat Wave Puppet to attack with all it had. Cain smiled as he saw the Wave Puppet coming at him, full of killing might. Dozens of palm strikes came his way, but he could easily dodge them. Virtual Sight¡¯s accuracy improved immensely once the [A.I. Chip Module] was able to scan the target, and Cain could predict every movement of the fat Wave Puppet seconds before they happened. Orlando saw how none of his attacks managed to land, and terror began to appear in his heart. ¡°?Boom!¡± The old man heard a blast, but it was not his Wave Puppet¡¯s attack the one that provoked it. It was his opponent¡¯s left hook, the one that unleashed that shock wave and things only grew worse for the old man from that point on. Cain had just connected a left hook, and as his body waved to the other side, he twisted it, not losing any momentum, and carried on with a right hook. His body gained more momentum as he moved from the right to the left, dodging all the fat Wave Puppet¡¯s palm attacks while unleashing hook after hook. ¡°?Boom!¡± ¡°?Boom!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± Blast after blast echoed through the forest as Cain¡¯s body gained more speed, and his strength increased with every single punch. Cain had developed a technique that used the bodily control learned during his assassination training and allowed him to unleash the maximum power of his Asura Form. Orlando could only see with shock as the fat Wave Puppet no longer carried on with his command due to the ferocious onslaught it was receiving. Cain¡¯s body moved so fast that it seemed it left after images and powerful gales moved around his back and arms. ¡°?BOOM!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± It did not take more than ten seconds for the fat Wave Puppet¡¯s head to burst to pieces under the might of those punches. Orlando could do nothing but see how his Wave Puppet fell to the ground after the red-hooded man destroyed its head. Even if it was a machine, its center of command was on its artificial brain; without it, he could not control it. ¡°WAIT!¡± Orlando was only able to utter that word before a hand covered in blood-lightning pierced its heart. Cain saw how the light in the old man¡¯s eyes vanished and showed no hesitation before activating the Blood Refinement Art, devouring Orlando¡¯s blood to recover some of his stamina. ¡®I have become a little strong.¡¯ That was the only thought on Cain¡¯s mind after killing the Wave Champion and vanishing from the forest Chapter 171 - 171 Blood Lightning (I) 171 Blood Lightning (I) Today was a special day for the Imperial Lightning Fort. Thousands of cadets were in a perfect military formation in the central area of the fort, all in absolute silence. Although everybody was a cadet, the ones at the front row were the stars, and their auras were the greatest. They were the ones that obtained the highest scores in their classes, harvested the most military merits, and whose cultivations rose above all others, with many of them reaching Level 4 Wave Warrior! On a large battlefield with dozens of thousands of soldiers fighting, the damage a single Level 4 Wave Warrior could do was minor. Still, that power could allow them to preserve their lives, something those at Level 3 and beneath found much more challenging. The fate of most soldiers with a Level 4 cultivation or higher was not dying on the battlefield but enduring wounds so severe they could not return. In that case, the Imperial Military Force would give them administrative jobs in other branches. Respect and care for war veterans was a rule engraved in the empire by the First Emperor of Humankind, Adam. If you give your health to the Imperial Military Force, this one will pay you back. The front row of the military formation had faces Cain would have recognized, like Levi, Lurin, Orin, Lumir, and Zamir. There were also individuals who had kept an extremely low profile during the military academy but finally decided to show their true power. Those cadets chose to reveal their power since this ceremony not only marked the end of their life in the military academy, but it was also the time when those that had done exceptional work this past year would be rewarded. Suppose their battle power and military merits were high enough. In that case, the Imperial Military Force could reward them with titles such as First Lieutenant, granting them a giant leap forward in their path in the military. ..... Levi stood by Lurin¡¯s side, and the duo could not help but show complicated expressions as they noticed the one cadet that was missing. Cain had not returned to the fort and would miss the graduation. Of course, the fact that Cain was not here did not necessarily mean he was dead, but missing the graduation would mean that all the merits he gained the past year would become null. He would have to start his military path from the lowest stage. Unlike Levi and Lurin, others were delighted to see that Cain was missing. There were those like Zamir and Lumir that hated him, while other geniuses were happy that they would not have to compete with the genius no one could surpass. In front of the cadets, there was a large podium with dozens of teachers. Those were the people that guided these youths during their time in the military academy. And flanking the podium were twenty young men and women. Each of them had an aura mightier than any cadets¡¯, and they were the new generation of Vice-Captains. Since those cadets would most likely end up under one of them, it was suitable for the Vice-Captains to be present. Among those twenty, there was someone that Cain loathed, Uriel. A man walked to the front of the podium and stared at the cadets with a solemn expression. He had gray hair and a thin constitution, but anyone who focused on his body would feel crushing pressure, making it clear he was not weak. That man¡¯s name was Rodrick, and while none of the cadets had seen him before, he was the one in charge of the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy. All the decisions that affected the cadets had to come through him first. ¡°I congratulate all of you for finishing your mandatory service. If you choose to live as a civilian, I wish you all the luck in the world, and may you have a life full of peace and happiness in our prosperous empire. As for those who will join the Imperial Military Force, I tell you right now, we are a meritocracy. There are no treasures or resources so precious you can not obtain them as long you prove your worth to the military. I will give you the first proof of the rewards that hard work provides by granting the ranks to those who have proven worthy of them.¡± Rodrick waved his hand, and the next second, a giant holographic screen appeared above him with the title of Lightning Cadets. On that screen, there were 72 names. Those were this generation¡¯s best cadets, and each of them would get a rank in the military according to their power. Rodrick made that list according to the cadets¡¯ battle power and the amount of Imperial Military Credits they had gathered since those were the most reliable form of measuring someone¡¯s merits. Everybody immediately focused on the N¡ã1, and most cadets could not help but feel awe as they saw that name. N¡ã1 Cain Laurifer ¨C +1.5M Imperial Military Credits/ Early Level 6 Battle Power. Despite Cain not having returned to the Imperial Military Fort for over a month, he still secured 1st place in the Lightning Cadet Ranking, and the 2nd place was not even close. N¡ã2 Lumir Huren- 679.250 Imperial Military Credits / Pseudo Level 5 Battle Power. Unlike the awe that caused Cain¡¯s numbers, when the cadets focused on those of Lumir, many of them sneered. They suspected that Lumir had requested the help of soldiers to carry on with multiple missions at once, so he could inflate the number of Imperial Military Credits he had gained. That was, of course, against the rules, but none of the cadets could provide evidence of that, and accusing someone of a crime without proof was a grave crime in the Godslayer Humankind Empire. Lumir did not care about the gazes of the rest of the cadets since he was about to be pushed to 1st place in the Lightning Cadet Ranking. The fact he would be stealing Cain¡¯s place filled him with excitement. Rodrick gazed at the screen above his face and saw that the N¡ã1 Lightning Cadet was not present. He was about to erase Cain¡¯s name from the ranking when his eyes narrowed as he looked to the distance, and he was not alone since Jonathan did the same. A figure flashed toward the military cadet formation at an incredible speed and appeared beside them before they could even react. He was a young man with black hair, green eyes, and arcs of red lightning moving around his body. Shock, excitement, happiness, awe, anger, rage, and many more emotions appeared on the cadets as they saw that the strongest cadet in the Imperial Lightning Fort had returned. Cain was exhausted since he pushed himself to the limit to arrive in time, but he did his best to hide it, showing no weakness at all since it would not fit the N¡ã1 Lightning Cadet. Cain would have wanted to arrive before the ceremony, but not everything was possible. He saw the expression of Rodrick and knew he was not out of the woods yet. The Imperial Military Force valued talent, but it also valued discipline and a sense of responsibility. Arriving at the last second was not proof of that. It was clear to Cain that Rodrick intended to punish him for his mistake, but he was smart enough to act first. Before the man could even say a word, he brought a large beast from his space ring. ¡°I apologize for arriving so late, but I encountered this Shadow Phanter during my travels, and I took the chance to test my assassination skills.¡± Teachers, soldiers, and cadets focused on the beast after Cain took it out of his space ring, and they saw that it was intact other than a small hole on the back of its head. However, that was not the most impressive thing. What shocked everybody was the strength of the Wave Beast, which they were able to deduct by its size and other physical characteristics. ¡°That is a Level 6 Shadow Panther!¡± One of the cadets was unable to remain calm and shouted once he realized the strength of the Wave Beast. All the cadets stared at Cain with a sense of utter amazement. The assassination of a Level 6 Wave Beast would be challenging, but that of a Shadow Panther, a beast known for its speed and reflexes, was beyond shocking. Cain noticed how the harsh light in Rodrick¡¯s eyes weakened a little but was still there since the Level 6 Shadow Phanter¡¯s assassination did not explain his delay. He expected something like that, which is why he took another body from his space ring. Everybody saw a large Wave Beast emerge from Cain¡¯s space ring. It was so mangled that they found it hard to discern its type, but after a few seconds, they did it. If they were shocked before, now a sense of utter stupefaction assaulted them. ¡°That is... that is a Level 7 Golden Back Gorilla!¡± Cain saw all those eyes focusing on him, and he smiled. ¡°Soon after killing the Shadow Panther, I encountered this Golden Back Gorilla and was forced to run and hide. However, I managed to turn the tables and beat him to death.¡± Chapter 172 - 172 Blood Lightning (II) 172 Blood Lightning (II) Silence reigned as people found it hard to believe what they were seeing. For Cain to have beaten that Level 7 Golden Back Gorilla like that, his battle strength must be above at least equal to a Peak Level 7 Astral Wave Warrior. A fifteen-year-old with a battle power at that level, just how amazing was that!? Cain smiled as he allowed everybody to see those two Wave Beasts. He was not afraid of anyone finding anything weird on them since he really did kill them both with his own hands, using his assassination skills with the Shadow Panther and pure brute strength with the Golden Back Gorilla. After defeating the Early Wave Champion, he found those two Wave Best in the forest and killed them in order to have a reason for his delay. With his new power, taking care of Level 7 Wave Beasts was easy. Rodrick glanced at the corpses, and by the burn marks left by lightning on the Golden Back Gorilla, he was pretty sure that Cain killed both Wave Beasts. Yet, he was also wise enough to see that the cadet was hiding something from him. He looked to the teachers behind him and saw that all those that had taught Cain were quietly nodding, expressing their support for the young man. ¡®Ahhh, this brat. There is no damage, and he was smart enough to present a valid reason, so I guess I could let things slide this time.¡¯ Rodrick was about to speak, reprimanding Cain a little before telling this one to take his rightful place, when a voice echoed around the fort. ¡°He must be cheating!¡± ..... That powerful shout came from one of the cadets in the front row, and he was no other than Lumir. The large green youth¡¯s face was full of frustration and rage. Lumir was so close to being promoted to the N¡ã1 Lightning Cadet, which would have allowed him to gain a powerful status in his family, but now it seemed he would remain as the N¡ã2. In Lumir¡¯s mind, the N¡ã1 place belonged to him. He could not allow Cain, who had vanished for more than a month, take it from him. When the rest of the cadets heard Lumir¡¯s yell, none focused on Cain and wondered whether or not he had cheated, but in the green youth. In the Godslayer Humankind Empire, accusing someone of a crime or breaking the rules of the military without any form of evidence was a crime. Zamir¡¯s eyes widened as he heard Lumir¡¯s yell, and he glanced at his friend before shaking his head, indicating to this one that he should not proceed with his words. Uriel also focused on Lumir, but the look in his face was much colder. He could not believe that the cadet he had worked so hard to help was so stupid. Lumir could feel everybody¡¯s eyes focusing on him, but the pressure only made him even madder. They were supposed to look at him with awe and envy, not as if he was a madman. ¡°There is no way he would have killed both of those Wave Creatures alone. Someone must have killed them for him, or maybe he just found those bodies lying around and took them.¡± Rodrick, the teachers, and the Vice-Captains could only shake their heads as they listened to Lumir¡¯s words. The cadet provided no proof at all, and his explanations made even less sense. If Cain had someone with the strength to take care of those creatures by his side, he would not have arrived so late at the graduation ceremony. As for finding them just lying in a forest somewhere, that was even more idiotic. If the one that killed them had to run and leave the corpse behind, other Wave Beasts would have devoured them in a matter of minutes. Rodrick saw that Lumir was about to continue spitting nonsense, but before he could shut up the cadet, a red flash appeared in front of the green youth. Lumir was unable to react when a hand bathed in red lightning grabbed his head and slammed him into the ground with so much strength that he felt his skull was about to shatter. He looked to the assailant and saw two eyes glowing with a red light that infused a sense of absolute terror in his heart, and the feeling only grew stronger as the grip around his head tightened, making his bones crack. The fear of death had already shattered Lumir¡¯s will, and he did not dare to fight back against Cain, but a flash of hope appeared in his heart as he saw a figure bathed in shining light flashing toward him. The one coming to his rescue was no other than Uriel, but just as Lumir thought he was saved, he saw that Cain began to smile as his heartbeat burst with might and his skin turned red. Uriel¡¯s eyes were cold as he sent a palm strike toward the back of Cain¡¯s head. That would push this one away from Lumir but could also lead to brain damage, something the Vice-Captain had no problem with. Just as Uriel¡¯s palm covered in shining light was about to reach Cain, this one turned around and responded with a fist bathed in blood lightning. ¡°?Boom!¡± A small shock wave echoed once the palm and fist collided, and everybody saw how Uriel moved back almost ten meters. Uriel could not hide his shock as he saw that Cain¡¯s attack had pushed him away. That punch carried immense strength, and the blood lighting burned the skin on his palm. The next second, that shock turned into pure killing intent as Uriel realized the way the others were looking at him. He was a new Vice-Captain and the most promising one of this generation, but a cadet defeated him! Uriel¡¯s Astral Wave exploded as he unleashed the full might of his Wave Burst. Before, he had only attacked using Wave Cloak, as he did not want people to blame him if his palm strike caused brain damage to Cain. Cain saw the bursting Astral Wave of this one and saw that it surpassed that of Iris. It was near Orlando¡¯s level, but Uriel was still a Wave Warrior, making this one energy pool extremely impressive. Seeing the immense power of his opponent only made Cain smile. His eyes glowed with red light as he used his Ego Wave to push his Wave Burst to 3000% and unleashed his Blood Energy¡¯s full power. There was an immense battle intent in Cain¡¯s heart as he stared at Uriel and remembered their first encounter. He no longer needed anyone¡¯s protection and could face the Vice-Captain alone. Dense shining light covered Uriel¡¯s skin, while wide arcs of blood-lightning revolved around Cain¡¯s body. The cadets were about to break battle formation as they wanted to avoid becoming collateral damage from the fight between Cain and Uriel. However, before the duo could start their battle, Rodrick shouted, and his voice generated shock waves that focused around the duo. ¡°Enough!¡± When Cain heard that voice, he felt like an invisible power was taking control of his body. It was similar to the power of hypnosis but used a different path and did not rely on putting your target in a susceptible state of mind. Uriel could not do anything against that force, and his body froze instantly as his Wave Cloak vanished. Unlike Uriel, Cain¡¯s eyes began to glow with a red light that became more and more powerful. Cain would have been unable to fight back if it had been before the events in the True Saharo City. Still, after everything he endured and the trials he surpassed, his willpower experienced a radical change. Finally, the red light reached its zenith before the sound of breaking glass appeared inside Cain¡¯s mind, and then his Ego Wave burst like a volcano! ¡°?BOOM!¡± Everybody could see how a giant red force field emerged from Cain¡¯s body and raised to the sky like a mighty blood dragon. Rodrick showed an expression of pain as blood leaked from the corner of his mouth due to the backlash of having his technique broken. However, he barely registered that as his eyes could not leave the mighty Ego Wave that emerged from Cain. That mighty red force field drew the attention of everybody in the Imperial Lightning Fort. The weak only saw a majestic sight, and the strong understood the nature of that force and could not help but feel awe as they realized from whom it came. Zarak was in his room in the Titan Tower and turned toward the mighty pillar of Ego Wave with a smile. He had detected Cain¡¯s presence thanks to his Ego Mark when this one was one hundred kilometers away from the fort, but he had not perceived the change in the youth. ¡°Hahaha, this brat. Whatever happened to you, it must have been truly challenging for your willpower to have evolved beyond Wave Champions¡¯ limits and finally enter the realm of Wave Kings.¡± Chapter 173 - 173 Blood Lightning (III) 173 Blood Lightning (III) The red force field vanished the next second, and Cain¡¯s mind felt a sense of clarity like never before. He felt his brain working much faster, but he could not focus on that for much time due to the sudden headache he felt. Cain grabbed his head as the pain faded, and only then he looked around and see eyes full of shock and awe focusing on him. Luckily for Cain, just as things were about to go out of control, Rodrick shouted, drawing back all the attention. ¡°Explain yourselves!¡± Once again, shock waves emerged from Rodrick¡¯s voice, but this time they spread across all the cadets, not focusing on a single person. Uriel smiled as he heard those words, sure that Cain had gotten into serious trouble, and he was ready to make things even harder for the cadet when he felt Rodrick¡¯s eyes focusing on him. Uriel turned toward Rodrick with confusion, as he did not understand the meaning of this one¡¯s gaze. ¡°Well, I am waiting for your explanation.¡± Rodrick was not only demanding Cain to explain his actions against Lumir but also for Uriel to give a reason for his sudden attack. ..... Uriel felt an immense sense of shame as he saw that all the Vice-Captains were looking at him as if he was a clown, waiting for him to entertain them. Still, no matter how he felt, the young man did not dare to go against Rodrick. ¡°Cain attacked one of his fellow cadets without reason, so I sought to apprehend him and bring him to justice.¡± It was clear to everybody that Uriel¡¯s true goal was not just to detain Cain, but his words did make sense. ¡°That is not your role, nor do you have the authority to act over other cadets or even soldiers that are not under your direct command. It is not the first time you have made a mistake like this. I should not have to say this to you, who is already a Vice-Captain, yet I have to. The Imperial Military Force is not your family¡¯s fiefdom!¡± Rodrick¡¯s last words unleashed more shock waves that pressured solely on Uriel, making this one kneel. ¡°This mistake will go on your military record. Return to your formation.¡± Uriel¡¯s eyes widened as he heard that. The humiliation was bad enough, but a mark so soon on his military record would make it much harder to advance in the ranks. A poisonous hatred emerged in Uriel¡¯s heart, but he did not target Rodrick since this one was too powerful, choosing instead to blame Cain for all his problems. Cain noticed the hatred in Uriel¡¯s eyes but showed no fear and simply turned toward Rodrick. ¡°According to the rules and regulations of the Imperial Lightning Fort, a cadet can act in self-defense if he is attacked first or feels threatened.¡± Rodrick turned toward Lumir, who was still lying on the ground with an expression of utter terror. ¡°He threatened you?¡± ¡°Words are dangerous and can induce physiological damage that is much harder to defend against. Lumir¡¯s accusation made me feel in danger, so I acted. Since I did not cause permanent damage, there is nothing wrong with my actions according to the military rules.¡± When the teachers heard Cain¡¯s words, many of them silently nodded. Unlike Uriel, who was trying to make excuses, Cain gave an explanation backed by the Imperial Lightning Fort¡¯s military codes. Rodrick analyzed everything before sighing and shaking his head. Cain had gone overboard, but Lumir was guilty of throwing accusations without any form of proof. ¡°Everybody, return to your place so the ceremony can continue.¡± Ultimately, Rodrick chose to ignore both Lumir and Cain¡¯s transgression and carried on. Cain smiled as he took his place in the front row, right at the beginning of the military formation. Rodrick stared at the young man, and as he saw that confidence and determination, he could not help but smile. As someone who dedicated his life to the military, he was happy to see that the next generation was full of power. ¡°Cadet Cain Laurifer, for your exemplary display of both power and duty, having displayed a battle power above Level 7 and amassed Imperial Military Credits that surpass the 1.5 million, I grant you the rank of Vice-Captain!¡± Rodrick¡¯s voice was loud and seemed to have a special power as it echoed across the entire Imperial Lightning Fort. ¡°From now on, you are the Blood Lightning Vice-Captain!¡± ¡ª In a distant location of the Collapsing Lightning Sector, five persons were floating in the sky. Each of them had military clothes, and the stripes on their shoulders made it clear that none had ranks beneath Major. Among the group was a face that Cain would have recognized. She was the first Astral Wave Cultivatior that he knew used cold weapons. Major Luma stood in the sky looking at the ground, and there was a solemn aura around her. She was not alone since everybody in the group had severe expressions. The only one that had a resemblance of calm was the old woman at the front of the group. She had long white hair and wrinkles all over her face, but despite her appearance, her life force was full of power. All four Majors looked at the woman with a sense of utter respect and awe as they knew that her power was something none of them could even compare with. The old woman¡¯s eyes glowed with golden light as her Wave Cloak manifested. She then activated Wave Burst, and gales like the ones released by a tornado assaulted the sky. A single person affecting the environment just like a natural disaster was incredible, but Luma and the others knew that was the power of a Wave King! She then raised a finger, and her Essence Wave began to mutate gradually, generating a massive flaming rock, not unlike a meteorite. The flaming rock grew larger until it became more than fifty times the size of the old woman, and only then did she throw it. ¡°?Boom!¡± ¡°?Boom!¡± ¡°?Boom!¡± ¡°?Boom!¡± Several shock waves echoed across the sky before the meteorite landed due to this one breaking the sound barrier and moving faster and faster with each second. ¡°?BOOOOOOOM MMMMMM!¡± Finally, the meteorite conjured by the old woman landed on the ground and generated a massive explosion, leaving a crater with a radius of over 10 kilometers! That attack would have been more than enough to destroy a great city of the Old World with a population of over 5 million people! That amazing display of strength left Luma and the other Majors in utter shock. Nevertheless, as they looked left of the crater generated by the meteorite, the somber aura that assaulted their heart only grew stronger. Right next to the crater left by the meteorite was a palm print that was more than five larger! It was crazy to even think of it, but Lumar saw it with her own eyes. Someone unleashed a palm strike that destroyed everything in a radius of 50 kilometers. And it was not just the size but also the depth that was much greater than the one left by the old woman¡¯s meteorite. ¡°This was supposed to be where Saharo City was, am I right?¡± The old woman¡¯s words brought Luma back to reality, and she immediately nodded. ¡°Yes, Colonel Mira. This was the exact location of Saharo City. We lost all forms of communication three days ago, and our satellites showed a distorted image due to the density of residual energy in the air, which is why we had no idea the city was gone already.¡± The old woman, Colonel Mira, nodded before taking a deep breath and unleashing a golden force field. She then infused her Essence Wave into her Ego Wave, making the force field range extend in all directions and allowing it to see everything several kilometers underground. When Mira saw the ruins of an underground city, her eyes narrowed. At this point, even she, a mighty Wave King, also adopted a solemn expression, and if one looked with care, one would notice a flash of fear on her face. ¡°Has there been any news of Dark Races¡¯ powerhouses in this area?¡± Luma immediately shook her head and spoke with confidence. ¡°This is not the act of the Dark Races. The entire Collapsing Lightning Sector had been under strict surveillance after the last Gaia Invasion.¡± As soon as the old woman discarded the Dark Races, the fear in her eyes grew even stronger and became hard to hide. ¡°We must leave.¡± Luma and the others were confused by those words, but before they could even ask for an explanation, Mira turned around and flew away at supersonic speed. That only made their confusion stronger, but fear emerged in their hearts as they analyzed the Colonel¡¯s actions. Mira must have figured out who was responsible for the destruction of Saharo City and would not get involved with those people no matter what. Luma and the other Majors did not hesitate following the old woman. Chapter 174 - 174 The Organization 174 The Organization A bald man with a long beard walked across a large hall made of dark rocks through which large arcs of lightning moved. He finally reached the end of the hall and stood in front of a large gate that was more than ten times his size. The man adopted a battle stance before putting his hands on the gates and splitting them up. His muscles bulged as he used immense strength, and drops of sweat appeared on his face due to the effort. Those that knew the bald man would have been shocked to see that just opening some doors would prove that difficult since he was immensely powerful. It took him around thirty seconds before he finally opened the gates, and as soon as he did that, a thick arc of black lightning emerged from the center of the room and flashed toward him at a shocking speed. The bald man¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that black lightning and could see that the power in it was more than enough to obliterate an entire city. He summoned his Wave Cloak and sent a palm strike forward, shattering the lightning arc. Despite the immense strength of the bald man¡¯s palm strike, he was not able to obliterate the lightning arc, and the pieces came crashing against the walls on the other side of the gate. Luckily, the dark rocks attracted that wild and powerful energy and absorbed it before it could damage the place. A smile appeared on the bald man as he felt the burning sensation on his hand and looked to the center of the room. ¡°It seems that Your Highness has fully recovered.¡± There was a man inside the room, and dark electric plasma covered his entire body, leaving only his blue eyes visible. ..... Those that knew this place understood that the massive gate¡¯s purpose was not to keep someone locked-in but to prevent this man¡¯s power from accidentally destroying the entire Titan Tower. The man inside the room was none other than the slayer of the Atrox God that attempted to destroy the Imperial Lightning Fort, one of the mighties Sector Dukes in the entire Godslayer Humankind Empire, the Black Lightning Titan, the Collapsing Lightning Duke! ¡°I assume you have important news to interrupt me during my training.¡± The Collapsing Lightning Duke¡¯s voice was deep and carried a force capable of shaking the earth. Most people, even mighty Wave Kings, would feel terrified by the Collapsing Lightning Duke¡¯s presence, but the bald man showed nothing but calm. ¡°My Lord Duke, orders have arrived from the capital.¡± The Collapsing Lightning Duke¡¯s blue eyes began to glow with a white light when he heard those words. ¡°So they are finally making a move. It was about time. Carry on, Luther.¡± The bald man named Luther nodded before taking a golden scroll from his space ring. ¡°The actions of the Wave Beasts during the 56th Gaia Invasion were an affront to the Godslayer Humankind Empire¡¯s might and must be punished. The only price that can wash away their crime is blood. In the Collapsing Lightning Sector, every Wave Beast that is more than 100 kilometers away from the Sector¡¯s border must be eliminated without exception. The ones in charge of the carnage must be first-generation from the Imperial Military Face and Wave Universities. Accurate measurement must be done as it will affect the upcoming Opening of the First Titan Abode.¡± Luther spoke for almost half an hour, giving the mission details to the Collapsing Lightning Duke before closing the scroll. ¡°The total extermination of the Wave Beasts in the entire Sector. That old man acted viciously this time, but it makes sense considering the abode¡¯s opening and the current state of the war overseas. Since they had already made a deal that only the first-generation would participate in this mission, they took care of the negotiations. Good, one less problem to take care of.¡± The Collapsing Lightning Duke finished with his retrospection before focusing on Luther again. ¡°Tell me, is there anyone remotely impressive from this new generation of soldiers.¡± ¡°There are several, my Lord Duke. There is...¡± Luther did not finish his sentence as he saw how the Collapsing Lightning Duke began to look at him and understood this one did not care about a list and only wanted to hear about the N¡ã1. ¡°The mighties cadet in this generation is an orphan called Cain Laurifer. He arrived at the Imperial Lightning Fort shortly after his fourteen-year-old birthday and is currently fifteen. His current status is that of Zarak Valentine¡¯s core disciple and the Young Lord of the Valentine Household. He is considered a top-tier genius in hypnosis, Genetic Coding, and assassination. According to the newest information, he is a Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior with a marrow washing over 70% completion. He has an excellent foundation and tempered his body with a high-grade auxiliary technique. He had an Inborn Awakened Ego Eternal Matrix and reached the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power less than six months ago. Coincidently during his ascension to Mind Over Body, he faced a wounded Atrox Wave Champion and killed this one. This morning, Cain Laurifer¡¯s willpower evolved beyond the limits of a Wave Champion and entered the realm of Wave King. The most precise measure of his battle strength puts him between Levels 8 and 9.¡± The Collapsing Lightning Duke¡¯s eyes widened a little as he heard all that. Cain¡¯s destiny was rising higher and higher, and there seemed to be nothing he could not do right. Of course, other than a little surprise, that provoked nothing in the Collapsing Lightning Duke. Cain was still too young, and whether or not he could rise to a level where he could act as a true powerhouse for the Godlayer Humankind was hard to tell. ¡°There is also something I should mention, Lord Duke. I am not certain, but it seems that the cadet Cain Laurifer can use Blood Energy.¡± The Collapsing Lightning Duke frowned when he heard that. ¡°He is supposed to be an orphan and should have no relation to the Blood Sea. What did your investigation show?¡± ¡°There is indeed no connection between Cain Laurifer and the Blood Sea. The most plausible explanation is that he came in contact with one of its core arts during his journeys and didn¡¯t even know about them.¡± Luther was very diligent and erased any question about Cain¡¯s origin immediately. ¡°I see. The Blood Sea is not the sharing type, and I am sure it won¡¯t be long before the news reaches their shores.¡± The Collapsing Lightning Duke could unleash a destructive might even mightier than the Old World¡¯s nuclear bombs, but even he was wary of that Blood Sea. That was enough to tell everybody just how dangerous they were. ¡°Should we act proactively, Lord Duke?¡± The fact they were careful did not mean they were afraid, and Luther¡¯s eyes glowed with a flash of killing intent as he spoke. The Collapsing Lightning Duke analyzed everything for a moment before softly shaking his head. ¡°They would not dare to send a Titan to catch a boy. Give Zarak all the information about the Blood Sea so he can protect his disciple. That man is fond of battle, so I am sure he will like this arrangement.¡± Luther nodded, and with a single message sent through his A.I. Chip, he took care of all that. ¡°There is one final point we need to attend, Lord Duke. Is about The Organization.¡± The Collapsing Lightning Duke had shown little concern about the genocide that would soon take place in his Sector, and even the Blood Sea only managed to bother him a little. However, the moment Luther mentioned The Organization, a solemn expression appeared on his face. ¡°Carry on.¡± He waved his hands, closing the gates Luther had worked so hard to open. Luther was also aware of the danger of speaking about The Organization, so he just nodded when he saw the Collapsing Lightning Duke closing the gate. ¡°Recently, reports of a destroyed city reached us. The name was Saharo City, but the important part was the underground city built beneath this one. The one that destroyed it was not a Wave Beast or a member of the Dark Races, and they left no trace of their presence. There are also reports of scions, civil officers, and even soldiers vanishing all across the Sector. Many had marked Saharo City or a location nearby as their destinies. By what I could get from my contacts in the capital, it is happening all across the empire.¡± The Collapsing Lightning Duke clenched his fist as he heard that. There were very few things he feared in this world, but The Organization was one of them. If he could face them head-on, the Collapsing Lightning Duke would jump into battle right away, but The Organization never left the darkness. That was their power, and no one dared to antagonize it. ¡°Make sure the Pillars are ready to be mobilized. In case things go out of control, contact me.¡± The Collapsing Lightning Duke said nothing more before closing his eyes and returning to his training. Chapter 175 - 175 Massive fortune 175 Massive fortune Cain, Levi, Lurin, Ophelia, and many other cadets were drinking and eating as they laughed. After the graduation ceremony ended, they all came to a bar inside the fort. While the Imperial Lightning Fort worked as the center of operation for the Imperial Military Force inside the Collapsing Lightning Sector, it was also a city with millions of soldiers, many of whom considered this place their home. Humans were social creatures, so there were bound to be distractions, such as bars inside the fort, where the soldiers could gather and have fun. There were even special areas where the families of high-ranking soldiers lived. Cain was now a Vice-Captain in the Imperial Military Force, while Levi, Lurin, Ophelia, and the others at the table were First Lieutenants. All the people present had already fought side by side during the defense of Korin City from the Wave Beast¡¯s horde. ¡°Hahaha, when you arrived, the faces of Lumir and Zamir were epic. Those two thought they could accumulate all the attention and fame with their underhanded methods, but you busted their bubble.¡± Lurin laughed as he remembered what happened with the duo when Cain arrived and took his position as the N¡ã1 Lightning Cadet. It was clear he did not have a good impression of them and enjoyed seeing them fail. Cain only smiled and drank his beer as the group praised his feats. His constitution and mind were so strong that the level of alcohol in the beer could not affect him, and it tasted like mud. Of course, seeing that everybody was having a good time, Cain would not bring it up and just continue drinking. ¡°Although I am surprised by the actions of that new Vice-Captain, the one called Uriel. He attacked without saying a word, and even though he was not using Wave Burst, that palm strike to the back of the head would have crippled any normal Level 4 Wave Warrior.¡± Levi¡¯s voice was somber and cold as he remembered the actions of Uriel. There was even a flash of killing intent in his eyes. The events with Uriel made everybody serious, but one person broke the tension. ..... ¡°Who cares about that guy? Did not Cain counterattack push him away? As time passes, the difference between their strengths will only diminish.¡± Ophelia¡¯s face was red due to the alcohol, but her words were true. Levi, Lurin, and the others remember how Cain managed to easily counter Uriel¡¯s palm strike and the ferocious appearance of this one as his entire body was bloody red. Cain saw the awe in the people across the table when they remembered his power. However, he did not let that trick him. Whenever Cain felt he was strong, he just had to remember the attack of the Atrox God and how he could have done nothing to save himself. That allowed him to always push himself beyond his limits and never settle for his current talent or power. ¡°By the way, you really like the color red, don¡¯t you?¡± Cain almost spat his drink when he heard Levi¡¯s words. The truth was that he indeed liked the color red, but it was just luck that all his techniques would adopt that shade. Asura Form pushed his cardiovascular system to the limit, turning his skin red, while the charge of Blood Energy into his Lightning Armament also altered the color of this one. As for his Ego Wave, that was just chance. ¡°Hahaha, I guess you could say so.¡± The group continued talking and laughing until late in the night when everybody returned to their residences, back in the cadet section of the fort. It would take a week for their new home to be ready. Once Cain reached his residence, he bowed to his father¡¯s altar for a few minutes before taking a shower, eating a small meal, and then going straight to bed. He slept very little over the last few weeks, and even with his mental fortitude and brain power, it still pushed him to the limit. Cain woke up after almost twenty hours of sleep. That was an immense amount of time, considering how high his vitality was. When he finally woke up, he felt refreshed and full of energy. ¡°Great. I am in peak physical and mental condition.¡± Cain smiled as he analyzed the state of his body and mind. He filled his stomach before taking a small bag from his waist, and inside it were dozens of space rings. Those belonged to Morgana, Orlando, Cristian, the scientists, and the youths and bodyguards that perished during the clinical trial. During the time that Cain traveled from Saharo City back to the Imperial Lightning Fort, Apex hacked into all of them, and his A.I. Chip had already branded them. Cain first analyzed the belonging of the youths, bodyguards, and Orlando. His body almost trembled as he saw the wealth he had gathered. There were all sorts of Wave Artifacts, Wave Viruses, drugs, cultivation resources, and more. Although many of those resources did not suit his cultivation path, and none of the Wave Artifacts were useful, Cain could always rely on Apex to use the black market and change them for something he could use. ¡°Apex.¡± ¡°I know. I will keep the ones of use and change the others for things you need. Should we look for something other than Dragon Blood Grass to continue tempering your body?¡± Apex was extremely diligent when giving a mission, and Cain was sure it would not take long before all those illicit goods vanished from his possession. Cain¡¯s body had grown so powerful and thoroughly tempered by blood essence that it was time to search for something new. ¡°Any suggestion?¡± ¡°You have improved your constitution to a very high level thanks to the Blood Refinement Art, and tempering it more with auxiliary techniques or resources before rising to the Wave Champion Rank will be almost impossible. Since that is the case, you should focus your energy on your marrow washing. There is something called the Whale Lightning Orb. It contains a massive amount of lightning inside, and it is extremely useful to purify your body and help your marrow washing.¡± When Cain heard that, he used the military network to look for the Whale Lightning Orb. ¡°So it is an object found inside Wave Champion Beast, and their price is...¡± Cain¡¯s voice froze, and his eyes widened as he saw the price for a single one of the orbs. ¡°70.000 Imperial Military Credits! That is almost three times the price of the Dragon Blood Grass!¡± The price shocked Cain, but after a moment, he sighed and nodded, indicating for Apex to obtain them. Cain was perfectly aware of how important marrow washing was for an Astral Wave Cultivator and had a critical role in how far he could rise. Money meant nothing compared with the brute strength that high cultivation would grant him. Now that he finished with those, Cain began to look into the space ring of the scientists. They were all Genetic Coders, and a large smile appeared as he saw the resources inside those space rings. There was even a Recovery Capsule inside Cristian¡¯s space ring, which would make things much easier for Cain in the future. Finally, it was time for Cain to open Morgana¡¯s space ring. He was full of expectations since the woman had lived a long life, and she was supposed to be a Quasi-Saint Genetic Coder. What Cain saw inside the space ring left him in utter shock. Not only was there a massive amount of resources meant for Grand Genetic Coders, but there was something even more impressive. ¡°No way.¡± Cain could not believe his luck as he saw a series of books inside Morgana¡¯s space ring. When he scanned them with his Ego Wave, he saw that they were all of the woman¡¯s Genetic Coder¡¯s experiences. Usually, people would not write things in physical format, as digitalizing the data into your A.I. Chip would make things much more manageable. Cultivators had all sorts of strange habits, and one of Morgana¡¯s was to write on a piece of paper. Maybe Morgana¡¯s fascination with physical writing was due to her old age and knowing that everything inside her A.I. Chip would be erased once her brain stopped working. Whatever the case, Cain could not be happier with those books. In them was not only a thorough path from the basics all the way to Pak Grand Genetic Coders but also hundreds of recipes for Wave Viruses. Cain took a deep breath and calmed his heart before speaking with the Spirit System. ¡°Apex, you recorded every word Morgana, and the scientists uttered when they spoke about the Genetic Chain, right?¡± ¡°Who do you think I am? Of course. I even hacked into all the Recovery Capsules so we could have all the data from the other 16 youths, not just Simon and Iris.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Cain¡¯s smile widened as he heard that. He had not forgotten about the Lineage that Morgana was searching for, and since it was so powerful, he wanted it for himself. Chapter 176 - 176 Laws and marrow washing 176 Laws and marrow washing Cain had just reached his new residence and was ready to continue his experiments in Genetic Coding when a voice appeared in his head. ¡°Brat, it is me.¡± Zarak¡¯s voice echoed inside Cain¡¯s mind as this one used his Ego Wave to communicate. Cain was surprised to hear Zarak¡¯s voice and realized that this could stretch the Ego Wave for such a long distance. He was able to keep calm and wondered whether his master had questions about his actions during the last month. However, Zarak¡¯s question had nothing to do with that. ¡°Tell me, where did you get your body refinement auxiliary technique?¡± Cain was a little confused by the question since Zarak already knew about the Blood Refinement Art, but this was the first time this one asked about it. Although he was not fond of revealing his secret, Zarak had shown him there could be trust between them, so he decided to tell the truth. ¡°I found it in a corpse during a mission. I obtained the information from its A.I. Chip, which failed to self-destruct after the user¡¯s death.¡± ¡°Did you kill that person?¡± ¡°No, he was dead long before I arrived.¡± ..... ¡°Oh, so that is how. In that case, you are good.¡± The confusion on Cain¡¯s face only grew. There was clearly something going on with his Blood Refinement Art. ¡°Is there a problem, Master?¡± Zarak did not answer immediately, and only after a moment did Cain hear his voice again. ¡°Your technique has a problematic origin, but since you did nothing wrong, there is no need to worry. I will take care of things, and if anything changes, I will let you know.¡± After that, Cain felt Zarak¡¯s Ego Wave vanish. He was still full of questions, but it seemed he would not get any more information. Instead of worrying about things he could not control, Cain began to look at his new residence, which starkly contrasted with the one he had as a cadet. The place was almost five times larger, with rooms designed specifically for his training and experiments. Cain would have wanted to go ahead and make the Genetic Chain for the new Lineage, but that was not possible yet. Only after becoming a Peak Grand Genetic Coder would his abilities reach the minimum requirement to pursue such a task. ¡°Let ¡®s start.¡± With that word began weeks of non-stop training. Cain would improve his cultivation with wave crystals while using Lightning Wave Orbs to temper his body. Cultivation occupied half of Cain¡¯s time. He divided the rest between his Genetic Coder training and Hypnosis Master training. Time always seemed to run short, but luckily Cain¡¯s Ego Wave had grown so powerful that he could do more than one thing simultaneously. He noticed it shortly after his Ego Wave burst with power and broke the force that Rodrick used to paralyze him. According to the information he got from Zarak, that was his willpower breaking through the limits of a Wave Champion. Once that happened, those with talent in the Ego Eternal Path of Power gained the ability to split their minds in two, being able to generate two completely different trains of thought at the same time. Cain was still at the First Realm, but now that his willpower evolved to the Wave King level, his brain became much stronger, and soon his Alter-Ego would show signs of growth, allowing him to harness its power. Thanks to his powerful vitality and Ego Wave, Cain only needed two hours of normal sleep a week. Of course, he still required rest daily to work correctly, but his Embryonic Breathing was more than enough, and he could use it while cultivating. Three weeks passed like that, and only then did Cain stop his training and decide to take a decent night of sleep. However, before that, he used the system to analyze his cultivation and body. ¡°System, scan.¡± Seconds after Cain uttered that command, the always reliable system carried on with the task. [Scan of Vessel completed ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 4 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Pseudo Tier 6 (Low Tier 6) ¡ª Stats: Strength: 3.3¨C>3.8 Agility: 2.1¨C>2.6 Vitality: 4.4¨C>5.1 Wave: 1.6¨C>2.3 Blood Energy: 5.1¨C>5.6 ¡ª Marrow washing: 74% completion ¡ª Note: Wave Virus inside Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 16.7%] It had been just three weeks, but Cain¡¯s cultivation had significantly advanced, thanks to his mighty Wave Talent that resulted from his high percentage marrow washing and the new Wave Virus he obtained from Morgana¡¯s books. The new Wave Virus was much better than the Enhanced Wave Drive he obtained from Camil. Its name was Blood Revolution, and it used your vitality to fuel your cultivation. While Blood Revolution was impressive, to say the least, only people like Cain, whose vitality was impressively high for their current cultivation, could use it without suffering from side effects. The sale of Wave Viruses like this one was prohibited since there was no shortage of people that would endanger their lives for a cultivation boost. Cain had no problem keeping them since he never intended to sell them. Not only was it very costly, but the difficulty of the Blood Revolution¡¯s Genetic Chain was also at the standard of a Grand Wave Virus. He would gain more by selling Enhanced Wave Drive in bulk than by spending an entire day creating a single Blood Revolution. ¡®I am much stronger than before, and the speed at which I consume Life Wave and transform it into Astral Wave is impressive. From what I can see, it is just a matter of days before I become a Level 5 Wave Warrior.¡¯ Cain adopted a solemn expression as he thought of his next breakthrough and how it would be an extremely important step in his cultivation. There was no way Cain would have forgotten about the power of the Laws that Iris had used during her fight in the underground city of Saharo. That was a might that Cain definitely wanted to master. However, there was no mention of the Laws in any part of the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique. At first, he thought it was a secret power only a few knew of so early in their cultivation, like the Ego Eternal Path of Power, but he was wrong. Apex had managed to obtain information about the power known as the Laws, thanks to his constant hacking of the Empire Science Academy. In a very basic way, the Laws were the matrix of the world. The forces that made everything work as it was supposed to, making fire produce warmth and ice generate cold. You can summon their power by gaining some understanding of them, just like Iris did with the Law of Wind. However, that was a gift reserved for those that follow the Essence Evolution Path of Power. The Essence Wave inside their bodies enhanced their perception and allowed them to study the Laws. Technically, someone that follows the Astral Rebirth Path of Power could still study the Laws, but that would be futile. By the time they gained even a bit of comprehension, the boost it would grant to their battle power would be insignificant. Of course, if the Essence Evolution Path of Power had access to such a gift as the Laws, while the Astral Rebirth Path of Power had nothing to compete with, the second would have vanished long ago. While the Astral Rebirth Path of Power did not grant an enhanced perception capable of studying the Laws, it allowed its user to go through marrow washing. Once the percentage surpassed 75%, an Astral Wave Cultivator would gain a boost to their strength and talent just as high as an Essence Wave Cultivator that managed to begin their comprehension over the Laws. After Apex told Cain that, this one remembered the words that Wink told them at the beginning of the training in Wave Cultivation. ¡®Essence Wave focuses on perception, while Astral Wave focuses on the foundation. Mine reached an impressive level thanks to the Blood Refinement Art breakthrough to level 2.¡¯ Cain was delighted with his current foundation, but that did not mean he would not push it harder. That is why he spent so much money on high-level cultivation resources. Finally, Cain went to sleep and woke up as the sun rose. He took a shower, ate a small meal, and bowed to his father¡¯s altar before leaving. Cain did not take long to reach a large field where hundreds of soldiers were in perfect military formation. There was a sense of discipline in their eyes, making it clear there was no one among them that did not have a strict sense of discipline. Cain noticed that among the First Lieutenant, there were Levi, Lurin, Ophelia, and many other familiar faces. The military organized people according to their affinity, so finding themselves in the same battalion was not odd for those who had worked together. ¡®My life as a soldier finally begins.¡¯ Cain smiled as that thought crossed his mind. ¡ª End of Book 2. The Rise of the Blood Lightning Genius. Chapter 177 - 177 Full power punch 177 Full power punch Book 3 ¨C Journey through the Blade Mountain ¡ª Cain did not position himself with the soldiers but went ahead and placed with the four people in the lead. Those were Vice-Captains, just like him. Suddenly, Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he felt a presence approaching. Before he could detect the newcomer¡¯s exact location, a man descended from the sky and landed in front of the Vice-Captains. He was almost two meters tall, with black hair, blue eyes, and a muscular body. A large black halberd behind his back unleashed a powerful blood scent. The man¡¯s aura told Cain this one was an Astral Wave Cultivator. It was the second time he saw a user of Astral Wave using a weapon instead of just relying on their bodies. The first one was Major Luma. Cain knew that using cold weapons had nothing to do with your power. It all depended on your battle style and whether or not a weapon could allow you to unleash a great battle power. Zarak was one of the strongest life forms he had seen, and this one used only his body. What truly drew Cain¡¯s attention was the fact the man could fly. Not all Wave Champions have that power, and he did not quite understand how one could do it. The man that was supposed to be the battalion¡¯s Captain stared at the Vice-Captains, and his eyes remained on Cain for a few seconds. ..... Cain did not find it odd for the Captain to focus on him. After all, he was extremely young and a cadet a month ago. Technically, Vice-Captain was not an official rank in the military. It was a special position given to people that have displayed great talent and merit so that they could hone their leadership skills. ¡°My name is Aaron Gartun, but you can call me Captain. I am not fond of words, and my motto is simple. Work hard, embrace responsibility, and do not make excuses. Most important of all, confront your challenges without hesitation. If you follow that, we will have no problems.¡± Aaron¡¯s voice was thunderous and reached every single soldier. He then focused on the Vice-Captains again. ¡°A step forward. Name your years of service and your cultivation.¡± The five Vice-Captains nodded. One by one, they took a step forward. ¡°Benjamin Ceres, Sir. Twelve years of service. Level 8 Astral Wave Warrior.¡± ¡°Caleb Ceres, Sir. Twelve years of service. Level 7 Essence Wave Warrior.¡± ¡°Andrew Catan, Sir. Seven years of service. Level 8 Astral Wave Warrior.¡± ¡°Jason Hernandez, Sir. Nine years of service. Level 7 Essence Wave Warrior.¡± ¡°Cain Laurifer, Sir. The first year of service. Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior.¡± When Cain uttered his name, the soldiers began to look among themselves. The chatter would have started if they were not in a strict battle formation. The tales of Cain Laurifer had spread more than just among the cadets. All the soldiers had heard of the young man who gained the N¡ã1 place in all the Pillars of Trial, killed a wounded Atrox Wave Champion, reached the graduation ceremony with the body of Level 7 Wave Beasts, and could clash with a Level 9 Vice-Captain. However, while all those stories were awe-inspiring, they were, in the end, stories. Very few of them had truly seen Cain¡¯s might. They were supposed to follow him into battle but knew nothing about him and whether or not he could handle the pressure of the battlefield and have the lives of hundreds of people on his shoulders. ¡°So you are supposed to be the N¡ã1 Lightning Cadet, the genius whose battle power breaks all the charts and whose mind is as sharp as a seasoned warrior.¡± Aaron smiled as he spoke those words, but there was a cold light in his eyes as his aura began to rise, and soon a blast of Astral Wave emerged from his body. ¡°I don¡¯t care if Rodrick gave you the rank of Vice-Captain for your merits. If you are going to lead in my battalion, you must prove yourself to me!¡± Aaron¡¯s aura grew even stronger, and his eyes began to glow with silver light as the Astral Wave grew denser and revolved tightly around his body. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that silver light. It was clear that the Captain had already reached the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, and while he could not be sure, it seemed that this one¡¯s willpower was much greater than that of Major Luma. A flash of realization crossed Cain¡¯s eyes as he understood that not because you have a higher rank, your strength would be greater. However, Cain did not waste his time with those thoughts, as he had to focus on the challenge in front of him. ¡°I can not test your true leadership skills until we reach the battlefield, but I can test your battle power. Hit me with all you have, and if I find your strength insufficient, you can forget about having a leadership role in my battalion.¡± Aaron¡¯s aura seemed to reach its peak as he uttered those words. His skin turned chromatic, with red diagrams covering every corner of his body. Cain knew the man was serious, and if he did not show extraordinary battle power, he would lose the position he had worked so hard to obtain. He took a deep breath, and without hesitation, he unleashed the full power of his Astral Wave and Blood Energy. ¡°?Boom!¡± A small shock wave emerged from Cain¡¯s body due to the sudden energy output, shocking the other four Vice-Captains. They were all at a higher cultivation level, but Cain¡¯s Wave output did not fall behind any of them. Cain¡¯s energy pool was already greater than an average Level 4 Wave Warrior, and by using a 3000% Wave Burst, the might he could unleash was terrific. Not to mention he also controlled his Blood Energy using his Ego Wave, making sure this one revolved around his body at an extremely fast speed, pushing his physical might to an even higher level. ¡°Thump!¡± Things did not end there as Cain¡¯s heartbeat became so strong that all the soldiers could hear it, and everybody saw how his entire body became red. Aaron had read Cain¡¯s file and knew about his extraordinary gifts. Still, what he saw shocked him. ¡®A Level 4 Wave Warrior can really unleash such a powerful aura?¡¯ He did not look down on Cain, and his eyes glowed with an even stronger silver light as he pushed his Wave Burst to 800%. Cain walked calmly toward Aaron until he was right before this one. He then adopted a battle stance before using Wave Focus to gather every ounce of power he had into his right fist. ¡°?Boom!¡± Another shock wave emerged as an outlandish amount of energy gathered on Cain¡¯s right fist. Part of the Astral Wave transformed into red lightning, while the rest focused solely on enhancing that fist¡¯s physical power. Aaron¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw the level of control that Cain¡¯s had with his Astral Wave, and he understood that the willpower of the young man had already surpassed the limits of a Wave Champion. Cain could display granular control over his Astral Wave during Levels 2, 3, and the beginning of Level 4 without a problem since his willpower was that of a Peak Wave Champion. It was like a large man controlling a small wooden sword. However, thanks to his 3000% Wave Burst, the amount of Astral Wave that Cain was manipulating matched that of a Level 8 Wave Warrior. It was clear that while Cain¡¯s Astral Wave was growing, his willpower did it much faster. Aaron did not say a word and waited for Cain to attack. If he used Wave Focus, he could easily endure the punch without much damage, but that would be a low trick and would not sully his reputation like that. Cain clenched his teeth as he channeled more and more of his energy into his right fist. He felt a monstrous pressure on his muscles and circulatory system but kept pushing forward. All the Vice-Captains had already moved away, not wanting to be caught in the blast that punch would generate once it made contact. Cain exhaled, releasing all the air inside him, allowing his muscles to contract even more, making it easier to put his entire body weight on his fist. Just as Cain was about to launch that punch, his entire body began to rotate. The torque started in the soil of his feet, rose to his waist, and grew stronger with his back and shoulders, finally generating a massive force that exponentially increased the strength of the fist. Aaron¡¯s eyes widened as he saw Cain¡¯s superb martial skill. He was shocked that such a young man could display that skill level, but he could only take that blow that landed right on his abdomen. ¡°?BOOOM!¡± The sound that originated was not different from the one of a missile landing on a building before shattering it to pieces. Chapter 178 - 178 The Hunt 178 The Hunt ¡°?BOOOM!¡± The sound that originated was not different from the one of a missile landing on a building before shattering it to pieces. Aaron clenched his teeth as that punch violently pushed his body back. Luckily, his feet were still in contact with the ground, so he was able to use the friction to diminish the momentum and regain control of his body in a matter of seconds. Everybody saw how Aaron¡¯s body stopped twenty meters away from Cain, with a clear fist imprint in its abdomen. What left everybody shocked was the blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. Even Aaron was surprised to see that. His body was incredibly resilient, and the technique he trained not only transmuted his skin but all the flesh and viscera, granting him overwhelming defensive power. The fact that Cain was able to generate internal damage in someone so powerful as Aaron left all the soldiers in a state of shock. Cain showed a small smile as he saw the effect of a full-power punch that carried every ounce of strength on his body. Of course, he understood that doing something like that in an actual battle was impossible since there was no way the enemy would stay still for over a minute while you charged your attack. Cain¡¯s smile did not last long as a wave of pain assaulted him. Hairline fractures were all over his right arm due to the immense stress and the recoil of hitting something as hard as Aaron¡¯s body. That was not all since he also pushed his circulatory system to the extreme, leaving him in complete exhaustion. ..... It took a moment for Cain to calm his breathing, and as he straightened his body, he saw that Aaron was already in front of him. The duo looked at each other before nodding, and then Cain returned to his position in the military formation alongside the rest of the Vice-Captains. A grateful expression appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he stared at Aaron. Although some might think that this clash was the Captain making things hard for him, he knew things were not like that. That display allowed all the soldiers to see Cain¡¯s might, appeasing their doubts over having someone so young and inexperienced as a Vice-Captain. Aaron waited for a few moments and allowed everybody to get over the shock before speaking again. ¡°Many of you are in the first year of your military service, and we usually will go to some minor conflict areas where battles between armies of the Godslayer Humankind and the Dark Races occur. However, things will be different this generation.¡± Cain and the other soldiers adopted solemn expressions as they heard that. Everybody in this place was ready to march into war against the Dark Races, but it seemed that their first mission as true military members would not be that. ¡°As all of you should remember, during the last Gaia Invasion, hundreds of Dark Races powerhouses attacked large cities in the Collapsing Lightning Sector, killing millions. However, that amount of death was just a fraction of the lives lost to the endless Wave Beasts¡¯ stampedes that took place all over the Sector. Some of you might think that the Wave Beasts were just taking advantage of the chaos, but you would be wrong. In reality, the ones on the top of the food chain made a pact with the Dark Races¡¯ powerhouses to kill as much as possible.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard that, but he was not surprised. He had arrived at a similar conclusion, not that it mattered anymore. His eyes began to glow with red light as he remembered the pungent smell of blood in Rouk City. He was not alone since the killing intent emerged in the hearts of everybody in the battalion. Dozens of millions of men, women, and children perished under the stampedes of the Wave Beasts during that time. Wave Beasts did not differentiate between soldiers and civilians or old and young, so they killed everybody. Aaron nodded as he felt the killing intent in his soldiers. They would need it to carry on the next task. ¡°The Emperor had sent a command that humankind must eliminate every Wave Beast in the four Sectors that suffered the onslaughts during the Gai Invasion. That included the Collapsing Lightning Sector. There must be no Wave Beast left in the Sector by the end of the year!¡± Cain¡¯s heart was full of killing intent a moment ago, but his eyes widened when he heard that order. He was outraged by the Wave Beasts¡¯ actions and the loss of human lives, but what the Emperor wanted was genocide! The total extermination of the Wave Beast race in the Collapsing Lightning Sector meant the death of billions of those creatures. ¡°Humans, your thirst for vengeance knows no limit, and neither does your hypocrisy.¡± Cain heard Apex¡¯s voice inside his mind and clenched his fist. ¡®They attacked during our time of weakness, leveling entire cities and killing dozens of millions of our kind.¡¯ That thought appeared in Cain¡¯s mind, which Apex could read. ¡°Oh, I see. You invade their forest, butcher their race day and night for food and sometimes just for fun, but they should never think of invading your homes.¡± Cain frowned since he knew that the way Godslayer Humankind treated Wave Beasts was not different from how the Old World¡¯s humans acted with farm animals. ¡°Brat, the only real crime that the Wave Beast committed was not adapting to the universal forces as well as your race. They are weak, and you are strong. You can kill them, but they can not pay you back.¡± The frown on Cain¡¯s face grew even stronger when he heard that, but Apex had not finished. ¡°There is nothing wrong with your race killing theirs. When humans arrived at Aether, you were weak, and I am sure Wave Beasts killed your kind just for fun. The strong kill the weak. That is a fundamental truth of the universe. There is nothing wrong with that. What I detest is using excuses to shine a beacon of justice over your actions.¡± Apex did not say anything else after that, but a contemplative expression appeared on Cain¡¯s face. Those words carried a very important message. Unfortunately, he had no time to focus on them since Aaron carried on with his words. ¡°The mission is called The Hunt and will be a joint effort between the full power of the Imperial Military Force and Wave Universities.¡± That piece of information made many of the soldiers frown. Everybody knew that the relationship between soldiers and students was not good, but Aaron continued speaking. ¡°No one above the Wave Champion level will participate in The Hunt.¡± If before the soldiers frowned, now they were confused, and fear began to appear in their hearts. While Wave Beasts tend to be weaker than Wave Cultivators at the same level, some creatures earned the title of King Beast. Those creatures reached a cultivation rank equal to Wave Kings, and a single one of them was more than enough to kill dozens of Wave Champions. Although a large army made solely of Wave Warriors and Wave Champions could kill a King Beast, the number of casualties on the human side would be astronomical. Cain was also worried, but he knew that there was no way they would send them on a suicidal mission, which is why he was not surprised by Aaron¡¯s following words. ¡°The higher-ups already took care of the King Beast in the Sector, so we will not have to worry about them. Our only enemies will be Wave Beasts and Wave Champion Beasts.¡± The soldiers relaxed after hearing that. Killing Wave Champion Beasts would not be easy, but as long as they use their wisdom and formations, they can do it without much problem. After that, Aaron waved his hand, and a file reached the A.I. Chip of every single soldier. It had all they would need to know about The Hunt, as well as the reward they could get. Cain wanted to analyze the information immediately but needed to focus on his commanding officer. ¡°Are there any questions?¡± Among the First Lieutenants, Levi heard that and wanted to ask about what Wave Universities would join forces with the Imperial Lightning Fort, but he knew it was not his place since that question was meant for the Vice-Captains. ¡°What Wave Universities would join us?¡± Luckily for Levi, one of the Vice-Captains made that question, and he was no other than Cain. Cain did not make that question because of Levi. He wanted to know if those people he encountered when he fought the Lightning Lion would appear. ¡°Every Wave University in the Collapsing Lightning Sector would participate in The Hunt. As for those of other Sectors, I can not say for sure, but people of the Hellblazer University and Endless Shadow University might come since they are the closest to us.¡± Seeing that there were no more questions, Aaron nodded and left. Chapter 179 - 179 Leadership (I) 179 Leadership (I) Aaron did not say a word or give Cain and the other instructions. There was no need for that. They were Vice-Captains and should be able to know what to do without the Captain telling them. A soldier must know how to follow orders, and a commanding officer must know what to do in their absence. Cain and the other Vice-Captains clasped their hands and bowed as Aaron vanished in the air before turning to their troops. Cain focused on his battalion and saw there were a total of three hundred soldiers. Of course, giving orders to every one of them was inefficient, so he needed to select squad leaders. The other Vice-Captains waited in silence as Cain carried on with his job. They had done that same task when they first became Vice-Captains and knew it was difficult. Cain had the personal record of every soldier under his command. Still, even with his cognitive abilities, it would take a long time to analyze everything and decide which were the best for the positions of squad leaders. Luckily, he had something at his disposal with even greater computational power than his own brain. Using the [A.I. Chip Module], he made it so the system would show him all the people that matched his requirements. ¡°When I say your name, walk forward!¡± Cain uttered ten names, and those people walked orderly toward him. ..... The Vice-Captains were surprised that Cain could come up with the squad leaders so fast. Some of them thought he might be rushing things, but when they saw the people he selected, they were indeed the best for the job. All ten had great leadership skills, had proven their courage and wisdom on the battlefield, and developed personal relationships with most of their comrades, making it easier for them to harvest their strength. However, when the Vice-Captains saw the last three soldiers that Cain named, a complicated expression appeared on their faces. That trio was impressive when it came to leadership skills, but there was one problem: they were too old. Those last three soldiers were only Level 3 Wave Warriors and were around seventy years old. The lifespan of a Godslayer Human was 150 years old, so they were far from natural death or any cognitive detriment, but their age had already started to affect their strength. The veterans were weak due to not improving their cultivation for so long, which induced atrophy in their meridians. That, plus their age, made them even weaker than a normal Level 1 Wave Warrior. You needed strength to lead people into a battlefield since you were the one they would all follow. If you were too weak and could not fulfill that responsibility, or even worse, end up dying, it would leave your squad in a vulnerable position. Cain knew all that and saw a perfect example of how age could affect someone¡¯s battle power with Morgana. If he had to guess, the old woman was a Peak Wave Champion, but he killed her with a single strike. Yet, Cain still chose the trio to become squad leaders. Their minds were perfect for the job, even if their bodies were not. Luckily, he had a way to fix the latter. ¡°I chose you to become squad leaders. Do you have any questions or something you would like to share with me?¡± Seven of the squad leaders showed determination as they heard Cain¡¯s words and were ready to take the task head-on. However, the three veterans look at each other before softly nodding and raising their hands. Cain turned toward the trio and saw the oldest bowing before speaking. ¡°Vice-Captain Laurifer, I am First Lieutenant Michel. My brothers and I thank you for this honor, but we believe our abilities would be of greater use in other areas.¡± Michel¡¯s words were very crafty. He thanked Cain for selecting them and chose to give the excuse they could work better somewhere else so as not to embarrass this one for making a poor judgment call. Cain smiled as he heard those words. The trio had obtained great merits during their lives in the military, which is why they were all First Lieutenants despite their weak cultivation. If Michel and the other two sought to retire from active duty and obtain a desk job, it would be extremely easy with their record, but Cain could see that they wanted to remain on the battlefield as long as they could. Cain did not say a word at first, instead taking three sets of objects from his space ring. Each set contained a Wave Virus, wave crystal, and Dragon Blood Grass. The Wave Virus was one of his latest accomplishments, explicitly designed by Cain in case he found people like Michel. As for the Dragon Blood Grass, he no longer actively bought it, but there was plenty left in his space ring. ¡°These are Telomerase Regenerators. They are Grand Wave Viruses that revert, in some measure, the effects of aging in your bodies. It will not increase your lifespan, but your constitution will return to the state where it found itself thirty years ago.¡± Michel and the other two veterans gaze at the Wave Viruses in Cain¡¯s hand as if it was a miracle. Regaining the strength of their middle-aged bodies would be incredible. And that was not all. ¡°It will also allow your body to heal all sorts of atrophy. If you use the Wave Virus with these two, your cultivation could obtain the full power of a Level 3 Wave Warrior.¡± If before the trio was shocked, now they were in utter stupefaction. Regaining their youth and fixing the damage that time did to their meridians would be a dream come true. Utter silence reigned among the soldiers as they heard Cain¡¯s words, as the wonder was just too much. ¡°You are a Grand Genetic Coder!?¡± One of the Vice-Captains could not help but shout as he saw the Wave Viruses in Cain¡¯s hands and heard its effects. Only Grand Wave Viruses could induce permanent changes in someone, and only Grand Genetic Coders could make them. Cain turned toward Benjamin, the Vice-Captain that shouted those words and nodded. His abilities were already at the peak of the Elementary Genetic Coders before going to Saharo City. They rose to the next level right after obtaining Morgana¡¯s books describing her life experiences. The three veterans, Michel, Samir, and John, stared at the sets in Cain¡¯s hand with absolute longing. If they have it, they could spend the next decades in the military acting like true soldiers and leading people instead of barely fulfilling their duties due to the weakness of their bodies. ¡°The wave crystal is worth 10.000, the Dragon Blood Grass 20.000. As for the Telomerase Regenerator, even if I charge you the lowest price, it would still be 50.000. In the end, each set cost 80.000 Imperial Military Credits.¡± Those words brought the trio back to reality, and they could only shake their heads. Even if they sold all they had, there was no way they could obtain the 240.000 Imperial Military Credits needed to buy the three sets. Cain knew that the price would be too much for the trio. If he was honest, he had no problem giving it to them, but that would generate all sorts of issues, which is why he took the following path. ¡°I know you do not have the resources to buy these sets, but you can not expect me to give them to you for free. I usually spend around half a million military credits a month for my cultivation, so money is tight. However, since you are under my command, I can sell them to you on credit. Every Wave Beast killing during The Hunt translates into military credits, and you will transfer three-quarters of what you gain to me until your debt is paid. Are you fine with this arrangement?¡± Michel, Samir, and John showed large smiles as they heard that and immediately began nodding. With a youthful constitution and restored cultivation, the number of credits they could get would be much higher than in their current condition, so there were only gains by accepting Cains¡¯ deal. Cain smiled and handed the sets to the trio. He was sure they would give everything they had once they reached the battlefield. The other Vice-Captains looked at Cain with respect and were impressed with how he handled the situation. Everything action he took was well thought out, including the fact he charged for the sets. If Cain had just given the sets to the trio, that would have alienated the other soldiers since they would have wanted the same, and there was no way he could have given so much to the three hundred under his command. After handling the squad leaders, Cain stared at the rest of the soldiers, and his eyes glowed with red light as he unleashed the full power of his Ego Wave. Chapter 180 - 180 Leadership (II) 180 Leadership (II) After handling the squad leaders, Cain stared at the rest of the soldiers, and his eyes glowed with red light as he unleashed the full power of his Ego Wave. ¡°All soldiers under my command, besides the squad leaders, adopt a meditative stance and relax your minds.¡± Cain¡¯s words confused the soldiers, but years of military training instilled a deep respect for the chain of command, so everybody did as their commanding officer told them. A mighty force field emerged from Cain the next second, instantly covering the three hundred soldiers. ¡°Sleep.¡± As soon as Cain uttered that word, the soldiers fell unconscious one by one. However, they were not simply falling asleep. Everybody saw how the Wave inside their bodies began to revolve much faster, and an expression of utter peace appeared on their faces. All the Vice-Captains saw with utter shock as, in less than five minutes, all three hundred soldiers under Cain¡¯s command entered Embryonic Breathing. Cain felt tired after that, but a large smile was on his face. After his willpower evolved to the Wave King realm, the quality and quantity of his Ego Wave underwent an evolution. Before, it would have been a challenge to hypnotize thirty people, but now he could do three hundred. Of course, it also helped that none of the soldiers under Cain¡¯s command were above Level 5. The stronger the Wave Warrior, the greater their mental fortitude, and the harder it would be to put them in the state of compulsion needed for hypnosis. ..... ¡®I wonder how powerful my current hypnosis ability has become. I should at least be a 4 Star Elementary Hypnosis Master by now.¡¯ Cain did not lose too much time thinking about his power and instead began to discuss battle formations with his squad leaders. The other Vice-Captains were silent for a moment, and their faces had awkward expressions as they stared at their battalions. They originally intended to render assistance to Cain, but this one needed none of it, and his legend only became stronger as he displayed his hypnosis and Genetic Coder abilities. Of course, as seasoned soldiers, they did not let that bother them. All the Vice-Captains called their squad leaders forward and began to discuss strategies to face Wave Beasts¡¯ hordes in their own terrain. Cain was doing the same. He had used the [A.I. Chip Module] to scan all the soldiers and develop all sorts of battle formations to help them maximize their power and cover their weaknesses. The squad leaders were surprised by Cain¡¯s battle formation, and he was surprised by the input they gave to his strategists. While there were no massive changes, it would make things easier and possibly save lives. Aaron returned after five days. He glanced at the soldiers and focused on Cain. A smile appeared on the Captain¡¯s face as he saw the squad leaders and how the rest of the soldiers were in a state of Embryonic Breathing. Cain was not the only Hypnosis Master in the Imperial Lightning Fort, but there were many that would not use their abilities with their soldiers since no one would pay them. ¡°Sir.¡± All five Vice-Captains bowed once they saw Aaron arrive. ¡°Well done. I have good news. We will be part of the force that will strike one of the main clusters of Wave Beasts, the Blade Mountain.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard that. He knew about Blade Mountain due to the legends that originated around it and the fact it was a location marked as certain death for anyone that entered it, even if they were Peak Wave Champions. ¡°We will march in one week. You have until then to make preparations. We will gather in the port and aboard the Lightning Star Cruiser.¡± Aaron waved his hand after that, sending the Vice-Captains a file with information about Blade Mountain before turning around and leaving. Cain did not analyze the information on the spot. He turned toward his battalion first and woke them up. ¡°Disperse.¡± That was all Cain and the other Vice-Captains said before leaving. They had a lot of things to do, and every minute counted. Cain returned to his residence and bought all sorts of goods, working every single minute until it was finally time to depart. He and every soldier under Captain Aaron went to the Lightning Start Cruiser. They were not alone since thousands of soldiers from other battalions were also getting into the Star Cruiser that would march to Blade Mountain. It was not the first time Cain got into a ship like this, but luckily this time, he was a Vice-Captain and had his room. As soon as Cain reached his residence, he took a long shower, ate a small meal, and slept. Once he woke up and felt all the past week¡¯s exhaustion vanish, he began. Cain waved his space ring, taking out several hearts from Level 7 Wave Beasts, three Whale Lightning Orbs, and dozens of wave crystals. He waited until his body was in perfect harmony before starting to cultivate. It did not take him long before the Astral Wave inside his body burst with power, and the meridians pierced deep into his muscles. The meridians reached deep into the muscle, merging with the muscle fibers, meaning that Cain was finally rising to Level 5. That would greatly boost his physical strength as the Astral Wave could now flow directly into his entire body¡¯s musculature. However, it was not the rise in his cultivation that drew such a solemn attitude in Cain or for which he made so many preparations. It was what would happen alongside it. According to Apex¡¯s information obtained from Empire Science Academy, once the perception of an Essence Wave Cultivator reached a certain level, they could begin to understand the Laws, which would greatly boost their battle power and talent. Those that followed the Astral Rebirth Path of Power would find it almost impossible to perceive the laws, but they have access to something just as impressive. Once their marrow washing crossed the 75% threshold, they would experience a small form of rebirth. Cain felt how the rise in his Astral Wave attempted to purge the pollution deep inside his body, but it proved extremely hard. He had expelled a significant amount of the filth accumulated since birth, but the one left was deep inside his marrow, making it much harder to remove. Luckily, Cain had prepared. He used the Wave Beasts¡¯ hearts to revolve the Blood Refinement Art, harvest the lightning power of the Whale Lightning Orbs, and draw the Wave from the wave crystals. All that helped Cain¡¯s body, and finally, after five minutes, he felt like a wall was breaking inside his body. The next second, a foul substance, much more disgusting than the ones he had seen before, was expelled from his body. Cain smiled as the marrow washing finally crossed the 75% threshold, but he did not relax since he knew things were far from over. Shortly after Cain expelled that foul substance, his entire body began to bleed. It was as if he was sweating blood, and it happened very fast. Now that his marrow was more than 75% clean, it began to produce a new form of blood, and the old one had to disappear. The name of this process was Blood Renewal, and the benefits Cain would obtain were superb. Blood Renewal required massive vitality to be completed, but Cain was ready. He pushed the Whale Lightning Orbs and wave crystals to the side, focusing solely on the Wave Beasts¡¯ hearts. Cain revolved the Blood Refinement Art as fast as he could, devouring those hearts¡¯ vitality. Suddenly, he focused on his old blood and saw that while it was at best subpar compared with the new one, it was still full of energy. A decisive light appeared in Cain¡¯s eyes as he used his Ego Wave to focus on his blood vessels, perceiving the old blood and then using it as fuel for the Blood Refinement Art! Cain was literally eating himself. Those were the actions of a madman, no matter how you look at them. However, the effect of that was incredible. The Blood Refinement Art worked almost three times faster when Cain used his own blood to activate it. That surprised him, but he did not lose focus and carried on. Cain felt how his old blood was gradually vanishing while the new one replaced it, and things did not end there. Along with the new blood, there was a reforge of his blood vessels. The blood vessels were growing thicker, more resilient, and even more flexible as well. New branches emerged from them, making it easier for the blood to reach the organs. Blood Renewal was divided into several steps, the first being the generation of new blood and the reconstruction of blood vessels. After that, there would be a gradual transformation of the viscera, with Cain¡¯s body improving in every single aspect. Chapter 181 - 181 N掳1 Rising Roc 181 N¡ã1 Rising Roc The Lightning Star Cruiser reached its destination after almost two weeks of travel. It began to descend on a zone full of rocks and unleashed a gravitational pulse that leveled the ground, generating a plane field. Such a level of destruction was simple for the Lightning Star Cruiser. While the ship¡¯s offensive power could only match that of a Peak Wave Champion due to its lack of dexterity, it could endure the attacks of Wave Kings. Not that far from where the Lightning Star Cruiser had landed, there was another ship just as impressive as this one. It had a picture of a giant golden bird engraved on it. More than ten thousand individuals were around the ship, and one thing they all had in common was their youthful appearance. Large metallic houses were built around the ship, making it seem like a military camp. All those youths were students from Wave Universities, and they did not come alone since not too far away from them, there were ten elders whose power was much higher than a Wave Warrior. These teachers only acted as watchers and would not interfere in the battles or anything else for that matter. In the center of the encampment was a small structure that worked as the center of operation. All those inside it had powerful auras, but the two at the lead were the most impressive of all. ¡°It seems that the forces of the Imperial Lightning Fort have finally arrived.¡± One of the two imposing youths spoke with a large smile as he gazed at the descending Lightning Star Cruiser. He had a handsome face, green shining hair and eyes, a thin yet muscular body, and a large black sword floating behind him. After speaking those words, he looked at the man by his side. This one was just as young as him but had black hair and fiery red eyes. ..... The physical characteristics of this man made it so that the entire group already knew of his background since there was only one Noble Family with a Lineage like that, and they were the overlords of an entire Sector. Just the Hellblazer Lineage was not enough to impress the young man with shining green hair. Nonetheless, he knew that the youth by his side was one of the great geniuses of this generation, and even more important, this one worked with the greatest genius of the Hellblazer Family. ¡°Brother Amos, the two people you came to see should be in that Star Cruiser, right?¡± The young man called Amos also looked toward the Lightning Star Cruiser, and there was a cold light in his eyes. ¡°According to my information, they are both there. The bastard is talented enough to enter a battalion that would come to this place. As for the other one, his talent is superb, and there is no way the higher-ups in the military would have sent him to any other site but this one.¡± When the other students in the room heard the last part, many looked at each other with expressions full of confusion. Eventually, one spoke. ¡°No matter how that person is, since he is part of the military, his talent could never compare to people like us.¡± The one that spoke was a massive youth, almost two meters tall, with brown hair and bronze-like eyes. He was one year younger than the rest of the people in this room, but no one had rejected his presence as his power and talent allowed him a place during the decision-making. Many students nodded as they heard the tall youth¡¯s words. When it came to the military as a whole, they would not dare to look down on it, but individually they could never lose. Their logic was not so flawed. After all, Wave Universities were where the most outstanding talents chose to embark on their cultivation path. There were exceptions like Levi, who hated the Hellblazer Family, and Lurin, whose family took the military as the main path for their power, but they were very few. Amos¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard that, and he focused on the tall youth. ¡°My younger brothers did the assessment. Are you saying he made a mistake?¡± Those words made the large youth grow pale, and no one else dared say a word. Even if that person was not present, no one dared to disrespect him. That man was just fifteen years old, but his talent and wisdom allowed him a place among the ancient monsters of the Hellblazer Family. ¡°No, no, no. I would never dare to disrespect Lord Magnus. Someone like me could not compare with the wisdom of your younger brother. I am very sorry.¡± The tall youth immediately began to apologize. Even if both had the same age, he could not hold a candle to Magnus Hellblazer. ¡°Hahaha, brother Amos, there is no need to put Jortar in such a complicated position. He was just uttering a common point of view held by those in Wave Universities. If we are honest, even I found it hard to believe there is such a talented youth among the military, but if your esteemed brother says so, it must be right.¡± The young man with shining green hair¡¯s voice calmed the situation and made everybody relax. Jortar turned toward the youth with an expression of gratitude. ¡°It is just as Lord Dominic said. I meant no offense to Lord Amos.¡± Amos no longer bothered Jortar and turned toward Dominic. ¡°How do you think we should proceed?¡± Amos was a very arrogant individual, making it even more impressive that he would ask for Dominic¡¯s guidance. The green youth considered things for a moment before speaking. ¡°I am sure your younger brother made a good assessment of that man¡¯s power, but it would be useful if we do it with our own eyes. If you or I were to challenge him to a battle, it would generate all sorts of problems since we are one year old and both Level 9 Wave Warriors.¡± Dominic then turned his eyes back toward Jortar and showed a large smile. ¡°Luckily, we have the N¡ã1 Rising Roc in here.¡± Jortar showed a smile full of pride as he heard that, and his eyes began to glow with fighting spirit. It was clear that Dominic wanted to use him to test the military genius, and he had no problem with that at all. ¡°I am happy to help Lord Dominic.¡± ¡°Good. This is what we will do.¡± ... Shortly after the Lightning Star Cruiser had finally landed, soldiers began to emerge from it. Ten figures acted first, rising to the sky and landing in an elevated position where they could see everything. Those were the Captains. In this mission, just like the university teachers, they could only watch and were not allowed to interfere in any part of The Hunt. The rules for The Hunt stated that only first-generation Godslayer Humankind could participate. What that meant differed depending on whether you spoke about Wave universities or the military. In Wave Universities, the first generation had no connection to cultivation. It meant all students who had yet to reach seventeen years old. As for the Imperial Military Force, the first generation were all those that had yet to become Wave Champions or had arrived at that level within the first three years of their service. Besides Cain, every Vice-Captains beneath Aaron had spent over five years in the military and was over twenty years old. However, since none were Wave Champions, they were considered part of the first generation. It was clear to all that the Godslayer Humankind Empire made a big concession to the Imperial Military Force when it came to the term of the first generation. Twenty-four Vice-Captains soon left the Lightning Star Cruiser, and when they saw all the Captains looking at them from a distance, they understood that everything from now on would be up to them. Not all the Vice-Captains got along with each other, but they were all smart enough to work together in this first phase. No one would gain anything by delaying the generation of the encampment around the Lightning Star Cruiser. The military was known for its strict discipline and teamwork, so it was not hard for them to generate a proper military encampment. There was still a lot of daylight by the time they finished, and the Vice-Captains were about to gather in the center of command when they saw a group approaching. Levi was doing his work when he noticed that group, and his eyes burst with killing intent as he saw one of the men among the group. He immediately recognized Amos, and although he did not know the Hellblazer Family¡¯s plan, they could not be good. Levi clenched his fist, and a golden flame appeared in it, but after a moment, he relaxed it. ¡®Jumping into the fight would be stupid. Besides, the one at the lead is not Amos.¡¯ Jortar walked with a smile full of arrogance as he approached the military encampment. Chapter 182 - 182 Overwhelming might (I) 182 Overwhelming might (I) Cain finally woke up from his cultivation, and as soon as he did, he felt two strange sensations. There was a state of pure serenity, as if his body had finally got rid of the shackles that had restricted him for over a decade and a bursting power that filled every cell with strength and vitality. That was not all since every breath he took and every beating of his heart worked in perfect sync. Cain¡¯s body was intuitively rejecting the air pollution, and his blood moved more than three times faster, despite this one growing much denser. Before Blood Renewal, Cain¡¯s body was an old watch. It worked as intended, but there were imperceptible flaws generated due to the oxidation brought by time. Now those were gone, and a mystic force refined every gear. Cain¡¯s face showed a smile, and he was ecstatic by the feeling of power running through his body. ¡°System, what is my current percentage of marrow washing?¡± [Scanning Vessel. ... Marrow washing: 79%] ¡°An increase of only 5%, despite all my preparation and the constant use of Whale Lightning Orb. I guess it makes sense. The pollution that remains is engrained deeply in my marrow. Purging the last 25% is supposed to be several times harder than the first 75%.¡± ..... Although Cain would have wanted this marrow washing to be higher, it was a significant increase, and he still was far from advancing to the Wave Champion rank, so there was a lot of time. ¡°According to the knowledge that Apex gathered, after obtaining a 50% marrow washing, the gate to becoming a Wave Champion is already open. However, those that enter with that percentage limit their growth, and it would be a miracle if they reach Late Wave Champion. Only those that experienced Blood Renewal can reach Peak Wave Champion and have a slight chance to enter the Wave King Realm. As for Flawless Marrow, that is not really 100% marrow washing, but 95%. That is one of the highest theoretical levels, and you are supposed to carry on with your marrow washing during Early Wave Champion. While it is near impossible, if you obtain a 100% marrow washing, your talent and foundation will experience a qualitative evolution. Yet, the number of geniuses that have reached that is extremely small. It is not just resources that are needed to achieve that. You must also have great luck.¡± Cain went through the knowledge regarding the advance from Wave Warrior to Wave Champion inside his mind and nodded. He was progressing very well, and thanks to the lucky chance obtained through the blood of hundreds of people and his Blood Refinement Art, he could reach 100% marrow washing. Of course, Cain knew that the possibility was very slight and that he would need to push himself beyond his limits during the four following levels. Cain rose from his meditative position, went to the bathroom, and cleansed his body of all the filth it had accumulated. After that, he wore his blue robe and attempted to mobilize his Astral Wave. Shock appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he saw just how fast his Astral Wave moved through his body. It was as if the roads in Cain¡¯s body had become highways. That made it easier for him to achieve his maximum Wave output much faster and granted him a superb talent regarding Wave Focus! ¡°My battle power obtained another massive increase thanks to Blood Renewal. If I were to fight Orlando again, I could have killed this one in less than a minute.¡± Cain analyzed his power, and while killing an Early Wave Champion at full strength would have been hard, he should be able to handle an Early Wave Champion Beast. After finishing with all the introspection, Cain looked at the day and hour, and his eyes widened. ¡°Dammit. Blood Renewal took much longer than I anticipated. It seems that the Lightning Star Cruiser had landed several hours ago. I should not get into too much trouble since the battles will not start until the next day, but as a Vice-Captain, I should be among those that guide the encampment.¡± Cain could only sight as he made his way out of the ship. There was nothing much he could do, and he would make sure to explain his situation to the other Vice-Captains if they asked. Cain was just stepping away from the Lightning Star Cruiser when he heard shouting and frowned. He noticed how two sides had formed, one made solely of soldiers while the other composed of students. Right between the two sides, a battle was going on. One of them was a large youth with rock-like skin, and the other was a soldier with draconic arms. Cain recognized Lurin and could see that the transformation technique of this one had grown more powerful. However, while he had no idea who the student was, this one was not only powerful but also very fast. Lurin showed great battle power and skill, but it was clear that the student was much more powerful and had higher cultivation. Lurin was a Late Level 4, while the other had reached Level 5 long ago. Cain frowned as he saw the battle but had no idea what was happening. He noticed that the university teacher and the Captains were looking from a distance, so this must not be that serious. Before doing anything, Cain wanted to know more, so he calmly walked toward the military side. He planned to ask one of the soldiers what was going on and only then interfere if needed. Unfortunately, while Cain did not want to draw attention, someone sent it to him. ¡°Cain!?¡± As soon as that word appeared, the battle between Lurin and Jortar froze, and everybody focused on the person that uttered it, including Cain. The voice did not come from the soldiers but from a student with a martial robe from Hellblazer University. He was a youth with a scranny constitution and a pale face. By how the other students looked at him, it was clear his status was not great. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he stared at that student. He could not help but feel he had seen this one before, and after a few seconds, he finally remembered. He looked much worse than the last time Cain saw him, and there was nothing of the arrogance or pride he usually showed, but that student was not other than Jonathan. That was the young man that betrayed Cain¡¯s friendship and made his life in school a nightmare. Back when Cain was in the Hellblazer Sector, Jonathan was a thorn in his heart that he could not remove. However, after everything that happened this last year, after all the death, battle, and almost dying more times than he could count, Cain had actually forgotten about Jonathan. There was no hatred or resentment in Cain¡¯s heart for Jonathan. Not because he had forgiven this one. It was just that Jonathan was so insignificant that there was no point in even remembering him. ¡°Hello,¡± Cain said nothing else toward Jonathan before turning toward Lurin and Jortar and walking toward the duo. A feeling emerged in Jonathan¡¯s heart when he saw how Cain acted toward him. It was something he had not felt in a long time, making rage appear on his face. ¡°You dare to ing...¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Before Jonathan could even finish his sentence, another of the students shouted at him, making fear appear on his face. Cain noticed that interaction but did not care. Jonathan was nothing for him, and he couldn¡¯t care less about this one¡¯s predicaments. The silence only intensified as Cain walked toward the duo, becoming the center of attention for both sides. Everybody in the military knew about the Blood Lightning Vice-Captain, while those from Wave Universities with powerful backgrounds knew the N¡ã1 Lightning Cadet. Jortar was able to get over the shock of seeing Cain¡¯s sudden appearance. A vicious smile appeared on his face as he threw a vicious punch at Lurin¡¯s chest. Lurin was surprised by the attack, and he could do nothing to avoid it. He could only make a shield with his arms and prepare to receive the punch. However, just as the punch was about to land, Lurin saw how Jortar¡¯s eyes widened with fear before immediately jumping back and making his Astral Wave burst with even greater strength. Lurin was confused by Jortar¡¯s reaction, but he then turned to the side and noticed Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with a cold red light. Cain did not use hypnosis on Jortar since that could be considered an extreme offense worthy of a battle to the death. He simply used his Ego Wave to project his killing intent toward the student, and it worked just fine. ¡°First Lieutenant Lurin, come here.¡± As soon as Lurin heard those words, he immediately worked toward Cain before bowing. All eyes focused on Cain, waiting to see what this one would do next. That pressure could affect many, but he had endured much worse. Chapter 183 - 183 Overwhelming might (II) 183 Overwhelming might (II) ¡°Blood-Lightning Vice Captain.¡± Lurin clasped his hand and vowed once he reached Cain¡¯s side. Whether or not they were friends did not matter in events related to military conduct. ¡°Explain.¡± Cain was like a rock, immune to the gazes of the thousands of people around him, focusing only on Lurin and Jortar. ¡°Shortly after we finished with the encampment, hundreds of students came to our side, and that man began to spout nonsense. He shouted that there should be a friendly spar between the best N¡ã1 Rising Roc and the N¡ã1 Lightning Cadet. At first, we chose to ignore him, but soon he began to taunt us. His words were full of arrogance, and the way he spoke about us made it seem that the military would only be helpful as cannon meat. It did not take long for him to question the honor and bravery of us soldiers, something I could not allow, so as one of the best 1st-year soldiers, I challenged him to a battle.¡± Lurin¡¯s eyes were full of resolution and courage, something that resonated in the hearts of many soldiers. However, those who had spent decades on the battlefield and the Vice-Captains showed complicated expressions as they heard his words. ¡°Hmph, don¡¯t twist my words! I never say that the military was good for nothing.¡± Jortar immediately refuted Lurin¡¯s declarations. Even if he looked like a brute, he was more than smart enough to know what would happen if he insulted the Imperial Military Force. It did not matter that Jortat was in a Wave University, and his future was bright and glorious. He knew that insulting the Imperial Military Force was a great sin in the eyes of the Godslayer Humankind Empire. Cain focused on Jortar and knew that while the students were wise with words, the meaning behind them was clear to all the soldiers. However, that was not the part that drew his attention but the fact that this one wanted to fight against the N¡ã Lightning Cadet, meaning he. ..... That drew some confusion, and Cain¡¯s eyes went to the people behind Jortart, specifically the youths with shining green hair and fiery red eyes. It did not take a genius to know that the shot callers were those two. ¡®By their emblem in their robes, they come from the Hellblazer Universe and Sundering Sky Roc University. Those are the best Wave Universities from the Hellblazer Sector and the Collapsing Lightning Sector. ¡® Cain could not help but frown as he did not intend the agenda behind the duo, but he did not lose too much thought in that, and his eyes returned to Lurin. Lurin was surprised by those eyes as they unleashed a shocking pressure and coldness. He had learned about the Ego Path of Power recently from his father and knew that Cain was generating a clash between their wills. He had experienced a lot of battles and near-death experiences in the last half a year, so he thought he could handle those red eyes much better than the first time he saw them in Korin City. However, Lurin felt that the pressure of those eyes was much more potent than before. He understood that whatever he faced, Cain had endured something much worse. ¡°You say he insulted the honor and bravery of our military, but since when have those pillars of our brotherhood become so weak that the words of a mere child could put them in question? We are about to enter a gruesome fight against millions of Wave Beasts. Death is inevitable, yet you chose to participate in a battle and risk getting injured for something so vain.¡± Lurin¡¯s eyes widened as he heard that, and his face grew pale, losing all the fighting will he had before. Something similar happened to all the other soldiers watching from the side. Veterans and the Vice-Captains acted differently than the rest of the hot-blooded soldiers because they knew getting injured before the war was a great mistake. ¡°Your actions did not just put your life in danger but also that of your fellow comrades. What happens if you are too injured to fulfill your role in the battle formation, if you need to be escorted out of the battlefield, or if a medic needs to spend time healing you and neglecting others?¡± Lurin began to tremble, and a great sense of shame appeared on his face. There was a deep sense of belonging to the military inside his heart, and he saw all the soldiers fighting by his side as brothers. The fact his stupidity risked their life was something he would never forget. ¡°Lurin Sinar, due to your lack of discipline and awareness, I take away your rank as First Lieutenant. You are now a Second Lieutenant. Since this is your first deployment as a true military member, there will be no data in your military record. Now leave.¡± Lurin did not say a word and just nodded before returning with the rest of the soldiers. Benjamin Ceres, one of the Vice-Captains that worked under Captain Aaron, glanced at Lurin before staring at Cain. Lurin was part of his battalion, so Cain did not technically have the authority to demote this one. While others might think that Cain was harsh, Benjamin knew that was not true. When the battle ended, he would have harshly reprimanded Lurin and left a striking mark on this one¡¯s military record. That would have made Lurin¡¯s rise in the military ranks much harder. However, now he was just demoted to Second Lieutenant, something that would not really affect his military path other than delay it a few months at best. Benjamin stared at Cain for a long time before nodding. Since this was the first time Lurin made this sort of mistake, he would let it slide. Cain returned the nod toward Benjamin before calmly walking toward Jortar, only stopping when they were less than five meters away from each other. ¡°Who are you again?¡± Cain¡¯s eyes were still bursting with red light as he made that question. Jortar was surprised by the pressure he felt when looking at those red eyes. His instincts told him that he should leave, but that was not possible since Dominic and Amos were right behind him. ¡± I am Jortar Hammer. A second-year Sundering Sky Roc University student and this generation N¡ã1 Rising Roc! Of all the first-year students in the entire Collapsing Lightning Sector, I was the best!¡± Jortar shouted those words, hoping they would fill him with courage, which they did. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard all that. The Sundering Sky Roc University was the best Wave University in the entire Sector, so if Jortar was the N¡ã1, there was nothing wrong with this one saying he was the best of all the first-year students. As for the Collapsing Lightning University, there was no such thing in the Collapsing Lightning Sector. The relationship between Wave Universities and the Imperial Military Force was complicated, to say the least. Wave Universities were put in place by Noble Families, with the mightiest family usually founding the strongest university, just like in the case of the Hellblazer Family with the Hellblazer University. The strongest Noble Family in the Collapsing Lightning Sector belonged to no other than the Collapsing Lightning Duke. Yet, this one chose to adopt the path of the military. Technically, both the forces generated by the Wave Universities and the Imperial Military Force are under the command of the Emperor of Godslayer Humankind. However, the emperor only gave missions to the Wave Universities, and the Noble Family in charge could choose how to handle them according to their wishes. It was not wrong to think of the students of Wave Universities as the personal army of Noble Families. Cain stared at Jortar, and before choosing to do anything, he scanned this one with his [A.I. Chip Module]. The Absolute Life Form System did not take long to finish the task. [Scan of target completed ¡ª Name: Jortar Hammer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 5 Wave Warrior) Lineage: ?? Wave Talent: Pseudo Tier 6 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 5.1 Agility: 2.7 Vitality: 5.6 Wave: 4.0 ¡ª Marrow washing: 66% completion] Cain was surprised by what he saw. Jortar was almost at the limit of Level 5, but his stats could compare with someone at Level 7. ¡®It makes sense. No one who became the best student in the entire Collapsing Lightning Sector could be mediocre. Fighting against him a week ago would have been very hard and the only reason, but things have changed.¡¯ Fighting spirit emerged in Cain¡¯s eyes as he stared at Jortar and ignored the rest of the students. ¡°You wanted to fight the N¡ã1 Lightning Cadet? Well, here I am.¡± ¡°?Boom!¡± Shortly after saying those words, Cain unleashed the full power of his Astral Wave, generating a small blast. The Wave he generated was incredibly dense and pure. The power of his aura began to rise higher and higher as mighty gales formed around his body. Chapter 184 - 184 Overwhelming might (III) 184 Overwhelming might (III) Cain¡¯s Astral Wave shocked the people that saw him. It was extremely dense, not matching that of a normal Wave Warrior. Increasing the quantity of your Wave was not hard by raising your level or training special cultivation techniques, but improving its quality was much more complicated. The fighting intent expressed by Cain made all the Captains frown. They were extremely pleased with his original calmness and how he analyzed the situation, but wasn¡¯t he now making the same mistake that Lurin? ¡°Aren¡¯t you acting against your own words?¡± Among the students from the Wave Universities, one of them was able to maintain a clear mind under Cain¡¯s bursting might. It was not other than the youth with shining green hair, Dominic. Those words made many students look at Cain with contempt as if he was a hypocrite, and many of the soldiers could not help but frown as well. Cain only smiled as he saw all that, and his eyes bursting with red light focused on Dominic and Amos. Such serenity made the duo frown. Even if Cain¡¯s talent was as high as they were told, what bothered them more was the mental fortitude of this one. ¡°It is true, entering a mock fight before a war is beyond stupid, as your wounds could affect not only you but also the people fighting by your side.¡± Cain confused many with those words. If he knew, then why would he enter a battle? ..... ¡°The reason why I chose to fight is simple. This person can not leave a single wound on my body.¡± Utter silence reigned after that, as people could not believe what they had just heard. Cain and Jortar were at the same Level, and it was clear that the second could also unleash a battle power much greater than that. Jortar grew furious as he clenched his fist. He would not lie and say that the battle against Cain would be easy, but the fact he could not leave a single wound was preposterous. It was not only Jortar that grew angry but all the students as well. The young man was the N¡ã1 Rising Roc, the mightiest of the 1st-year students in the entire Collapsing Lightning Sector. Cain was saying that the best of them could not put a single hand on his body. ¡°I must say you are truly confident in your abilities, so how about we make this a little more interesting?¡± Dominic showed a smile as he hinted at a bet, and those around him also smiled. It was not news that those that came from Wave Universities had much greater wealth than soldiers. After all, Noble Families would spare no expense in training their greatest geniuses. Cain saw the students¡¯ smiles and waved his hand without a word, making a pile of wave crystals emerge from his space ring. The students¡¯ smiles froze when they saw those wave crystals. It was more wealth than many of them had seen in their entire life. ¡°I bet 100 low-quality wave crystals. They have an estimated price of 1 million Imperial Military Credits.¡± Dominic¡¯s eyes widened as he saw that pile of wave crystals. He knew they were all real, and their worth was accurate. To tell the truth, Dominic was not confident in Jortar¡¯s chances, but he did not care about making a bet since he thought Cain could not possess much wealth. That was a mistake, and if he were to back down now, he would be making a fool of himself. Dominic sent a poisonous stare in Cain¡¯s direction before waving his hand, making three wave crystals appear. Although they were far from the amount Cain took out, each of Dominic¡¯s wave crystals shone with much great might. They were mid-quality wave crystals, and their value was not less than the one hundred low-quality of Cain. ¡°The bet is set then. Let the battle start.¡± Cain sent the 100 wave crystals back into his ring before focusing on the young man in front of him. Jortar could not help but grow nervous as he saw the massive bet put in this fight. Even though he had said nothing, he knew Dominic would blame him in case of a loss. ¡®Dammit!¡¯ Jortar cursed inside his mind before his Astral Wave exploded with even greater strength, and a rock armor formed around his body. The students and soldiers saw how Jortar transformed into a 2.2-meter golem, and that was not all. Metal pipes formed on the golem¡¯s back, legs, and arms. Lurin¡¯s eyes widened as he saw that, and he clenched his fist as he understood that Jortar had only been playing with him. He would have lost in less than a minute if this one had shown that form from the beginning of their fight. Amos was also surprised by that golem since it was an ability that surpassed the capabilities of an average Wave Warrior and entered the realm of Wave Champions. ¡°That is one of the Hammer Family¡¯s core techniques, Elemental Juggernaut. Jortar reached level 3 of that technique, something reserved for Wave Champion, thanks to the help of his Lineage.¡± Dominic¡¯s words clarify some of Amos¡¯ doubts. ¡°I see. In that case, there is a chance that he could win this battle.¡± Cain was also surprised by the sudden rise in power from Jortar, but everything was still under control. He activated Virtual Sight before pushing his Wave Burst to 2000% and generating his blood lightning. Jortar focused on Cain and did not hesitate before charging to this one. Just as they were right next to each other, the metal pipes in the golem¡¯s arms unleashed a flaming Astral Wave, granting its punch an immense burst in speed. Everybody saw how Jortar unleashed a barrage of punches that moved at a startling speed, but what shocked them was how Cain dodged every single one easily. Jortar did not lose focus. Right after sending a left hook, he ignited the metal pipes on his right leg and sent a vicious kick toward Cain¡¯s waist. That kick was more than three times faster than the punches, and many of them thought that Cain was doomed. Just in the last second, right as the kick was about to land, Cain made a small jump, dodging the attack and landing on Jortar¡¯s back. Jortar¡¯s entire body grew tense as Cain had landed in the perfect position to release a vicious attack on his back, but to his surprise, nothing came. He was able to jump forward and turn around, only to see Cain waiting calmly. Amos and Dominic showed cold expressions as they saw that. The reason why Cain did not attack Jortar¡¯s back was not that he could not, but he did not want. Jortar also understood that. Being looked down on by the enemy made an immense hatred emerge in his heart, and he immediately jumped back into the fray, sending attacks with more and more power. The look on the students¡¯ faces grew worse as the fight carried on. Cain was dodging every single one of Jortar¡¯s blows. After a minute, Jortar understood that he would not be able to defeat Cain in a direct fight, so he needed to use his mind. Cain saw how Jortar jumped back before raising the Astral Wave on his body. ¡®What is he trying to do?¡¯ Virtual Sight could predict the enemy¡¯s movements as long there was information about them in the [A.I. Chip Module]¡¯s database. It could not anticipate techniques it did not know. Finally, after a few seconds, Jortar¡¯s Astral Wave reached its peak. He stomped the ground, generating a shock wave that shattered the earth in a radius of two hundred meters around him. Cain lost his balance as the earth beneath his feet shattered to pieces, but that was the least of his problems since Jortar marched toward him at full speed. The pipes on the golem¡¯s back and legs acted at full power, and Jortar crossed his arms, transforming his body into a massive battering ram that flashed toward Cain at more than 300 km/h. Cain knew he could not dodge since he lacked a stable surface, but he only showed a smile. He did not need to dodge that attack. Just as Jortar was about to crash with Cain, everybody saw how the Astral Wave covering his body vanished. No matter if they were students or soldiers, none of them could understand what was happening. The strength behind Jortar¡¯s attack was dreadful, and if it were to land on Cain¡¯s unprotected body, it could very well kill this one. ¡°?BOOM!¡± An explosion echoed through the mountains as Jortar reached Cain. The next second, everybody saw a figure being blasted away. ¡°?Boom!¡± ¡°?Boom!¡± ¡°?Boom!¡± The figure clashed against trees and rocks, shattering all of them in its path. According to logic, the one that should have been sent flying away after the two clashed should have been Cain, but it was Jortat who was puking blood two hundred meters away. Chapter 185 - 185 Overwhelming might (IV) 185 Overwhelming might (IV) All eyes returned to Cain, and they saw the reason behind that shocking scene. They were mistaken when they thought he had shut down his Wave Cloak, deactivating all his defenses. What happened was that Cain had redirected all his Astral Wave into his right fist. He used that monstrous amount of power to counter Jortar¡¯s march, sending this one flying away while puking blood. However, it did not diminish the shock they all felt even after knowing how it happened. Cain¡¯s Astral Wave was already denser and purer than the rest of the Wave Warriors present, but now he was able to mobilize it at an incredible speed through Wave Focus. Aaron and the other Captains were seeing everything from a distance, and utter awe appeared on their faces as they understood the secret behind Cain¡¯s power. They all knew the young soldier had superb control over his Astral Wave thanks to his willpower, but there was only one way he could achieve those feats they just saw. ¡°He went through Blood Renewal!¡± Those words reached the teachers close to them, making utter shock appear on their faces. ¡°Impossible! How can such a young soldier have experienced Blood Renewal?¡± One of Wave University¡¯s teachers uttered those words, but deep down, they all knew it was the truth. The teacher could not control his voice, so those words echoed through both encampments, allowing soldiers and students to hear them. Most of them did not understand what Blood Renewal meant, but a considerable portion did, and the way they looked at Cain was as if this one was a monster. ..... ¡°He experienced Blood Renewal at Level 5! No wonder my younger brother gave him such a high assessment.¡± Amos spoke with a somber tone. Dominic was just as shocked by the news, but he maintained a calm expression, showing the might of his willpower. Cain noticed the gazes of everybody around him and only showed a small smile before his eyes focused on Jortar. ¡°Enough games.¡± ¡°Thump!¡± Along with Cain¡¯s words appeared a heartbeat so strong that all the students and soldiers near him could hear it. They all saw how Cain¡¯s skin turned blood red, giving him a ferocious appearance like a monster that made his way out of hell. A smile full of delight appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he felt the state of his body. Normally First Gear of Asura Form would push his cardiovascular system to the limit, but that was no longer the case after Blood Renewal. However, Cain did not lose time and pushed his Wave Burst to 3000% before concentrating all of it on his legs, arms, and spine. ¡°Boom.¡± A small blast emerged from Cain¡¯s location as this one pushed his body forward with a fantastic speed. Jortar was just rising from the ground, and even now, he did not understand how it all happened. The last thing he remembered was about to clash with Cain when a sharp pain appeared on his chest, and an incredible force threw his body away. Unfortunately for Jortar, he could not think of anything else before a red monster appeared before him. Cain grabbed the golem¡¯s face, and without reducing his speed, he kept marching forward, using Jortar as a battering ram against all the trees and rocks on the path. Captains, teachers, soldiers, and students saw how Cain dragged Jortar through the ground, only raising this one to break the obstacles on his path. The difference between their powers was simply too much. Jortar felt as if he was a puppet being dragged by Cain, and the rage in his heart allowed him to gain a moment of clarity. The metal pipes on his arm activated, allowing him to send a vicious punch at Cain¡¯s chest. That attack carried a massive amount of power, and since they were very close, it would reach its target instantly. Unfortunately for Jortar, Cain saw everything, and with Asura Form, he was more than fast enough to react. Cain let go of Jortar¡¯s face and dodged the blow before countering it. Cain¡¯s punch landed right on Jortar¡¯s temple, making the brain of this one shake, but things did not end there. He sent a kick to Jortar¡¯s chest. Jortar¡¯s massive golem form rose over ten meters in the air, and just as he was about to descend, Cain appeared next to him. ¡°?AHHH!¡± A scream of pain emerged from the earth golem as Cain connected a ferocious kick in Jortar¡¯s back, sending this one crashing into the ground. ¡°?BOOM!¡± Jortar generated a small crater on his landing, but he did not remain there for long as Cain sent another kick to his chest. That started an onslaught as Cain pushed Jortar from one place to another, not giving this one even a second to rest. Cain had just made Jortar clash against a large boulder, burying this one in it, when his eyes narrowed. ¡°Enough!¡± Along with that word came a bright green arc of wind that cut the ground between Cain and Jortar. Cain focused on the attack and was sincerely impressed by its might. Not only was it fast, but he knew it could morph and change path according to the caster¡¯s wishes, something Astral Wave Cultivators like him could not do. There was no killing intent in that attack, and the caster did not hide his actions, so Cain was not enraged by it. He turned toward the origin and saw that the one who attacked was no other than Dominic. The young man with bright green hair stared at Cain with a stern expression while wielding his sword with his right hand. A powerful aura was evoked from every corner of his body and seemed to harmonize with the natural force. ¡®Apex?¡¯ Cain spoke with the System Spirit while focusing on Dominic. He wanted to scan this one, but only if no one noticed it. ¡°His energy defenses are special, but he is still a Wave Warrior, so there should be no problem. At most, he would feel something odd happening, but he would have no way of knowing its origin.¡± ¡®Good enough. Absolute Life From System, scan him.¡¯ As soon as Cian uttered that command inside his mind, the Absolute Life Form System acted, using the [A.I. Chip Module] to scan Dominic. Dominic frowned, and the grip of his sword tightened as he began to look around. He felt someone watching over him but could not find out who. It did not last long, and Dominic felt nothing wrong with him, but the experience still bothered him greatly. Cain noticed that, but he did not care as he only paid attention to the virtual screen that appeared inside his mind. [Scan of target completed ¡ª Name: ?? Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Essence Evolution (Level 9 Wave Warrior) Lineage: ?? Wave Talent: Middle Tier 6 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 3.4 Agility: 9.5 Vitality: 6.1 Wave: 12.9 ¡ª Note: Strange force surrounded the target. Similar to the one displayed by Iris. It matches the description of the power known as Laws.] Cain was surprised by Dominic¡¯s stats, especially the physical speed of this one. It would be high even for Astral Wave Cultivators, much less for Essence Wave Cultivators. He was not surprised that Dominic already had access to the Laws, but it complicated things. While the raw enhancement granted by Blood Renewal was better than the one obtained by getting into contact with the Laws for the first time, the latter was full of variations. Determining whether Blood Renewal or Laws were better was impossible. It was like saying whether a spear or a sword was a better weapon for war. Both of them had strong points that the other lacked, but in the end, it was all about the user. Despite knowing the chances of victory were small, Cain¡¯s eyes still burned with fighting spirit. Fighting opponents that were stronger than him was the only way of breaking beyond his limits. Dominic noticed that battle intent, and he responded with his own. The sword in his hand began to tremble as a powerful gale emerged from it. Cain smiled toward Dominic before deactivating his Astral Wave and Asura Form. ¡°It would be an exciting fight, but I can not allow myself to get injured,¡± Cain said before calmly walking toward Dominic and raising his palm. Dominic clenched his fists for a second but did not delay things and took out the three mid-quality wave crystals from his space ring before handing them to Cain. Cain smiled as he got into contact with those wave crystals. The density and purity of the Wave inside them were something those of low quality could not compare. Using mid-quality wave crystals to train would improve Cain¡¯s cultivation speed, but he knew that would be a waste. For Wave Warriors, there was little difference between cultivating with low-quality and mid-quality wave crystals. Cain did not dally too much on his thought and stored the wave crystals before turning around. ¡°Back to work. We must be ready to fight at any moment!¡± Those words were enough to mobilize thousands of soldiers. Chapter 186 - 186 The life after high school (I) 186 The life after high school (I) ¡°Back to work. We must be ready to fight at any moment!¡± Only the three hundred men had to move when they heard his words, but other than the Vice-Captains, no one remained standing. Cain¡¯s overwhelming might was enough to mobilize almost fifteen thousand soldiers. His commander¡¯s aura was born of a combination of his tremendous power, the immense respect he drew from the soldiers¡¯ hearts, and his Wave King¡¯s willpower. Most of the Vice-Captains did not care that the soldiers under their command would instinctively follow Cain¡¯s orders. Yet, there was a small group that did not think like that, and leading them was no other than Uriel. The young Vice-Captains clenched his fists as he stared at Cain and realized just how strong this one had become. ... ¡°Hahaha, Aaron, you sure got lucky. To have such a monster in your battalion. That boy¡¯s military feats are bound to be overwhelming.¡± One of the Captains burst into laughter as he saw Cain commanding the soldiers back to the encampment. He had a thin constitution, but a scorching heat surrounded him, making it clear he was very strong. ¡°I like that brat. Extremely cunning and fierce. I can not get enough of the faces of those snobs. ¡± Another Captain praised Cain with a smile. ..... She was a very tall woman with blue hair. There was a fierce aura around her body, and around her waist, there were a long blade and small daggers. The Captain did not hide her voice, and her smile only grew more prominent as he saw the anger in the university teachers. There was no secret that members of the Wave Universities saw themselves as superior in many aspects to the military, including training. However, Cain had beaten the best 1st-year student of the entire Collapsing Lightning Sector without receiving a single wound. The only reason Jortar was still alive was due to Cain containing himself and not sending his attack to vital points like the back of the head or spine. None of the Captains cared about the annoyed expression on the teachers, and they kept talking among each other. ¡°You told us that boy was strong, but not this much. You brat dare to keep secrets from me. Why did you not tell us he had experienced Blood Renewal?¡± The old among the Captains spoke, and the way he talked with Aaron was as if he was speaking with a child. Although it might seem odd, Aaron said nothing about how the old man referred to him as a brat. Aaron only showed a smile as he stared at the old Captains. He still remembers when he was a new soldier sent to the old Captain¡¯s battalion. ¡°Geezer, stop spouting nonsense. That boy should have crossed the 75% threshold during the trip to the mountain.¡± The rest of the Captains softly nodded as they heard that. Each room in the Lightning Star Cruiser was isolated entirely from the rest of the world, making it a very good and secure cultivation ground. It made sense for Cain to have chosen that place to carry on with his breakthrough, not to mention that the density of the Life Wave in Blade Mountain was more than ten times higher than the ones around the Imperial Lightning Fort. That was especially true now that all King Beasts were gone and no longer devouring the energy in the surroundings. As the Captains talked, the night finally arrived, and it did not come alone. ¡°ROAR!¡± ?AWW!¡± ¡°OHHH!¡± The sound of Wave Beasts emerged from the forest near both encampments, and the situation changed significantly. Those roars belonged to the millions of Wave Beasts they would be fighting real soon. Although soldiers and students were the hunters, none were naive enough to think that there would not be casualties among them. The Wave Beasts would not just lay down and accept their death. They would fight with everything they had and kill as many humans as possible before dying. Soldiers were able to handle the pressure of those roars better than students since many of them had spent years on the battlefield. Still, that did not mean they were unaffected since not knowing what was hiding in the darkness was terrifying. That was not the worst part. What bothered the soldiers and students most was not knowing if a horde of Wave Beasts would suddenly march out of the forest and toward them. Hiding during the night in their Star Cruiser would be counterproductive. It would waste time and make it harder for them to adapt once they have to move the encampment deep into the forest. In the Wave University¡¯s encampment, Dominic and Amos saw how many of the students became anxious as they heard those roars. The duo nodded to each other before waving their hands, making dozens of people march around their encampment¡¯s perimeters. It did not take long for dozens of three-meter tall black pillars to cover the Wave University¡¯s encampment¡¯s perimeters. ¡°These are Sentry Posts. They will form a force field that will detect any incoming enemy, warning us of the danger in time and sending energy attacks.¡± Dominic shouted, and his voice echoed through the zone, reaching students and soldiers. ¡°All Wave University¡¯s students can rest peacefully,¡± Dominic spoke those last words before sending an arrogant smile toward the soldier¡¯s encampment. Aaron and the rest of the Captains saw that and could not help but frown. They knew about Sentry Posts, and the reason the military was not using them was that not only were they extremely expensive, but they also used a crazy amount of wave crystals to work. Now that the students were able to sleep well, they could advance faster than the soldiers, who would have to spend their night alert in case a horde appeared out of nowhere. Dominic and Amos knew that, which is why they were willing to waste a small fortune on the Wave Artifacts. However, their smiles froze the next second. Moments after the Sentry Posts appeared around the students¡¯ encampment, a majestic red force field emerged from the center of the soldier¡¯s encampment. It rose for hundreds of meters, giving everybody a shocking sight before it crashed down, flooding the soldier¡¯s encampment, and it did not stop there. The red force field also crossed into the nearby forest, and everybody could hear Wave Beast¡¯s howling in fear before running away. There was no way that a bunch of weak and unintelligent Wave Beasts would be able to discern the power behind that Ego Wave. They only understood that it was the willpower of a Wave King, and therefore they needed to run if they wanted to remain alive. Once the force field finished with the Wave Beasts in the forest, it pulled back, forming a halo around the soldier¡¯s encampment. Cain could see and hear everything inside his Ego Wave, so it was not good to cover everything. ¡°Stay inside the halo, and you will be safe.¡± Cain¡¯s voice echoed, and his words were much more reassuring than those of Dominic. Dominic and Amos told the students that the Sentry Posts would warn them about danger and give them time to react, while Cain declared boldly that every soldier inside the red halo would be safe. ¡°Hahaha, that boy is amazing. Not only did his willpower match that of a Wave King, but his mastery over Free Ego is superb. Not to mention that the timing was perfect. Just as those cocky brats wanted to show off their wealth, that boy beat them with true power.¡± The old Captain laughed with all his strength as he saw that sight, and the rest of the Captains did the same, making sour expressions appear on the university teacher¡¯s faces. Dominic¡¯s eyes grew cold as he saw that Ego Wave, and he clenched his fists. However, he did not let rage overcome his mind and took a deep breath before turning toward a large man close to him. ¡°Bring them to me.¡± The large man nodded before walking toward a corner of the student¡¯s encampment. ... All the students were looking at the red force field with awe and envy, but one among them showed complete disbelief. That young man could not believe it. No, he could not accept the reality that was presented in front of him. Jonathan, Cain¡¯s old high school ¡°friend,¡± was sitting with a pale expression and empty eyes, looking at the Ego Wave born of a Wave King¡¯s willpower. As he saw that red force field, Jonathan could not help but remember his last interaction with Cain. It was still clear in his mind how he defeated this one with a single fist after bragging about how he would enroll in Hellblazer University. Back then, Jonathan was sure he would become a shooting star at Hellblazer University, rising above everybody and becoming a powerful noble in a matter of time. However, the reality was not only hard but vicious. What Jonathan obtained once he got into Hellblazer University was everything but glory. Chapter 187 - 187 The life after high school (II) 187 The life after high school (II) Jonathan still remembered his first day at Hellblazer University. The last years in his high school, where he was practically an overlord to the others, filled him with a sense of superiority, and it did not disappear when he reached the campus. He walked with his head high and with Cinthy by his side. His ability to bring someone with him made his sense of superiority even higher. However, Jonathan soon noticed that something was odd. Unlike the other students on the campus, he and Cinthy had to wear a mandatory green outfit, and whenever people saw it, they would throw nasty smirks in their direction. Jonathan was confused but confident about getting an answer after his first class. The moment he reached the auditorium, he saw that everybody in that place wore green uniforms, and none seemed remarkable in any form, unlike the other students from noble families. When the teacher reached the auditorium, Jonathan wanted to ask about the special uniforms they were all wearing. The teachers in his high school treated him as a boss, so he was used to shouting at them. Unfortunately for Jonathan, the old man that gave this class was not happy about it, and the moment this one heard a student demanding an answer, he reacted ferociously. Jonathan did not even notice when a palm slapped him so hard that he crashed against the wall with a bloody mouth and broken teeth. The other students were shocked and lowered their heads, not daring to utter a sound. After venting out a little, the old teacher was in a better mood and explained to everybody their situation. Even though they attended Hellblazer University, they were not technically students but part of the Grass Class. The Grass Class was a particular class that the Hellblazer University generated to gather low-level students that would one day become the Hellblazer Family¡¯s foot soldiers. Those who dreamed of becoming great warriors and rising to the stars were idiotic to think this place would grant them that chance. ..... That realization shattered the heart of many of the people in the Grass Class. They all had similar backgrounds, children of humble origins who were blessed with Wave Talent better than anyone around them. Unfortunately, while they thought themselves unique, they were very common. They might be one in a thousand, but with a Sector whose population is in the dozens of billions, they were nothing special. That realization broke some, but others reacted differently. If they were bound to be foot soldiers, they would be the king of the foot soldiers. Jonathan also sought that path, but even among the Grass Class, he was nothing remarkable. He lacked spells that could allow him to use his Essence Wave properly, and more powerful students that followed the Astral Rebirth Path of Power easily crushed him. Although Jonathan lost the fight for leadership of the Grass Class, he was still mildly talented, so he should have been able to have a fair time at Hellblazer University. Sadly for the young man, something happened that put him on the blacklist of the Grass Class Leader, and people began to bully him. Just like Jonathan did with Cain, rallying the entire high school against this one, the Grass Class Leader did the same with him. The shock of once again being a weak student intimidated by others after being a king for the last years was more than he could handle. A Heart Nightmare emerged in Jonathan, and despite having spent a year in Hellblazer University, he was still a Level 2 Essence Wave Warrior. When Jonathan saw Cain again, something reignited inside him. Jonathan felt that if he could crush Cain again, he would feel like his previous self, which is why he acted so enraged when this one ignored him. Although he did not dare to say a word after the Grass Class Leader shouted at him, Jonathan planned to find Cain after everything was over and teach this one a lesson. However, Jonathan¡¯s stupid dreams broke when he saw how Cain unleashed an overwhelming power that defeated the best 1st-year student in the Collapsing Lightning Sector. Unlike Jonathan, who became a joke for everybody in his class, Cain rose to become a dragon among men capable of commanding more than ten thousand soldiers. ¡°It can not be right. It must be a mistake.¡± Jonathan uttered those words again and again. His eyes had lost focus, and his mind could not process all that was happening. However, when Jonathan noticed a young man with a large body and brown hair come by, he instinctively reacted and rose from the ground before saluting. ¡°Jonathan greets Grass Class Ruler, Samir!¡± Jonathan¡¯s willpower and dignity had faded a long time ago, and he did not dare to infuriate the Grass Class Leader, which is why he reacted like that. However, while the young man with brown hair usually smiled when he saw Jonathan full of fear, this time, he was enraged as this one shouted Grass Class Ruler so high. ¡°Grass Class Ruler? I did not know there was such a title in Hellblazer University.¡± It was only after hearing those words that Jonathan noticed that there was a man next to Samir. This one wore an impressive robe with a bursting volcano on it. ¡®A member of the Hellblazer Family!?¡¯ Jonathan was sure of his guess once he saw how the usually arrogant Samir reacted so meekly with this man. ¡°Haha, Lord Josef, do not take the words of this stupid person seriously. He is clearly spouting nonsense. I would never dare call myself the Grass Class Ruler when we all know that the Hellblazer Family is in control and we are mere foot soldiers.¡± Samir smiled as he lowered his head so much that he almost bowed to the man. Jonathan was surprised to see that. He found it hard to believe that the always cocky Samir would lower his head like that. However, those thoughts vanished from his mind the next second and were replaced by overwhelming rage as he saw the person behind the duo. ¡°YOU!¡± The target of Jonathan¡¯s rage was no other than the woman he brought with him to the Hellblazer University, Cinthy. Chapter 188 - 188 Cain Laurifer鈥檚 background 188 Cain Laurifer¡¯s background ¡°YOU!¡± When Samir heard Jonathan¡¯s shout to Cinthy, his eyes grew cold, but he did not dare to do anything with Josef next to him. Jonathan noticed Samir¡¯s eyes, and he immediately shut up and lowered his head, but that did not diminish the loath and rage he felt in his heart. He still remembered how Cinthy acted with him in high school and was sure the woman would follow his every command once they reached Hellblazer University, but things did not go according to his wishes. The moment Cinthy saw that Jonathan would be nothing more than an average student among the Grass Class, she moved on. Cinthy used her charms to cling to someone else, and that person was no other than the strongest member of the Grass Class. Due to Samir¡¯s relationship with Cinthy, he used his power on the Grass Class to target Jonathan, making the life of this one a living hell. After all that, it was no wonder that Jonathan hated Cinthy so much, but he could do nothing about it. Not only was the woman under Samir¡¯s protection, but unlike his, her cultivation had advanced, and she was already a Level 3 Essence Wave Warrior. Cinthy did not take her eyes away from Jonathan, and there was nothing but disdain in them. She looked at Jonathan the same way she looked at Cain when they were back in high school. Josef saw how Jonathan and Cinthy acted around each other, and since he found the woman in Samir¡¯s residence, he could deduce the relationship between the trio. However, nothing of that mattered to him. If it weren¡¯t for this assignment, he would not even bother to speak with people of the Grass Class. ..... ¡°Samir, go back to your post. As for you two, follow me to the center of command.¡± Josef did not say anything else before turning around and walking to the student encampment¡¯s center of command. The trio had no right to ask questions and could only follow his order without hesitation. Other than physical training and cultivation, all the students in the Grass Class were indoctrinated into following the Hellblazer Family¡¯s orders, so it was no wonder that Samir, Jonathan, and Cinthy did what Josef told them. It did not take long for Josef, Jonathan, and Cinthy to reach the center of command. The moment Jonathan and Cinthy stepped inside, they immediately grew nervous as they saw more than thirty geniuses, all with powerful auras much stronger than theirs. ¡°Lord Dominic, I brought the duo you requested. They are Jonathan Carvery and Cinthy Orland from the Hellblazer Academy¡¯s Grass Class.¡± Dominic had not even glanced at the duo when they entered the building, but his eyes grew sharp and focused on them after hearing that. ¡°I see. Thanks for your help.¡± Josef only nodded before walking toward Amos and standing behind this one in complete silence. Cinthy and Jonathan grew increasingly nervous as they saw these people focusing on them. They knew enough to understand that everyone here had a powerful background and could get rid of them with a simple command. ¡°You two, come closer.¡± The duo did not dare to disobey Dominic¡¯s words and approached him. ¡°Do you know why I sent someone to bring you here?¡± Jonathan was so nervous he could not speak, much less figure out what was happening, but Cinthy was different. The woman took a deep breath before answering. ¡°It is due to our relationship with Cain Laurifer.¡± Dominic¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw the confidence in Cinthy¡¯s voice and smiled before nodding. ¡°That is right. It is exactly because of that.¡± Cinthy showed a lovely smile as she heard Dominic¡¯s response. Although the young man did not praise her, she took those words as such. Jonatha saw that, and the rage in his heart only grew stronger. ¡®This slut!¡¯ There was nothing he would have wanted to do now more than to push Cinthy to the ground, but he did not even dare to look up, much less do something like that with so many powerful people around him. Dominic saw how they reacted but cared very little about their feelings. ¡°You two will tell me all you know about Cain Lurifer¡¯s past and your relationship with him. By the way, I am aware of a lot of the information you are about to give me, so I advise you not to hide or lie about anything to me.¡± Dominic¡¯s voice grew cold at the last part, making it clear to Cinthy and Jonathan that telling the truth was their only path. Complicated expressions appeared in the duo when they heard Dominic¡¯s command. If they told the truth about their relationship with Cain, then everybody here would know that they paid for his kindness and friendship with nothing but cruelty and betrayal. However, Jonathan and Cinthy did not dare lie, so they told everything they knew about Cain and their relationship. When the people in the room heard how Jonathan and Cinthy began to bully Cain when they gained power, disdain appeared on their faces. Even if the students did not like Cain, that did not mean they would despise any less those that betrayed their friends. Dominic did not show anything and continued hearing everything with a calm expression and nodded from time to time until the duo finished with their report. ¡°I see. So Cain Laurifer endured all that and managed to keep his head high all this time. No wonder his willpower is so immense. It will be tough to handle a man like that.¡± ¡°How can that be right? Can you just use your background to take care of him!¡± Jonathan had just uttered those words when he realized where he was and immediately shut his mouth. He was terrified of everybody here but could not endure it when he heard how Dominic praised Cain. Even now, Jonathan could not accept that Cain had grown so much while he was nothing but a shadow of his previous self. Dominic¡¯s calm smile grew cold as he heard how Jonathan dared to utter what seemed to be a disagreement with his opinion. If it weren¡¯t for Jonathan¡¯s connection to Cain, he would have never allowed this one in his presence. However, Dominic also noticed that many people looked in his direction after Jonathan¡¯s words. Although killing someone was against the laws and codes of the empire, it was not as if they had not done it before. Of course, killing a Vice-Captain like Cain would not be easy, and if there were any evidence left, it would generate all sorts of problems. Yet, it could be done if they were smart about it, and this was the perfect chance since they were in a place full of powerful enemies. Dominic glanced at Amos, and this one nodded. There was information that the member of the Hellblazer Family had only shared with Dominic, but it seemed it was time for the others to know it as well. ¡°Cain Laurifer might have been an orphan a year ago, but now he is the Young Lord of the Valentine Family. Regarding background, Cain¡¯s is as strong as mine, maybe even stronger!¡± Utter silence appeared in the faces of everybody present, and the news shocked Cinthy and Jonathan more than anybody. The friend they threw away because they believed it was too weak to be alongside them now had a background they could not even imagine. Chapter 189 Enemies in all fronts Chapter 189 Enemies in all fronts "That is true!?" A voice came from a corner of the room, and people turned only to see the badly wounded Jortar with an expression of utter shock and defeat on his face. Cain had wounded him severely, but since none of the attacks generated brain trauma, Jortar was able to regain consciousness after a couple of hours. Jortar felt no gratitude at all toward Cain for this one not aiming at vital organs and wanted nothing more than to pay back the humiliation. He knew that defeating Cain in a direct battle would be pointless and was preparing to use the power of his family, but now that was not possible. The Hammer Family was a Noble Family with a Marquess as its founder, and Wave Kings were among its members. Just one Wave King was enough for a Noble Family to stand among the highest ranks of the empire, but how could Jortar not know about the Valentine Family? That Valentine Family only had one member, but it was one of the Nine Pillars of the Collapsing Lightning Sector. Every family with some power in the Sector knew that Zarak Valentine was capable of crushing Wave Kings with nothing more than his pure willpower! Offending a monster like that was something Jortar knew his family would never do. If things were to escalate and he offended Zarak, no one could save him. Dominic saw the awe in the eyes of Jortar and the others. Although he was not happy, he understood it. After all, going from an orphan with zero talent to the greatest genius of the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy and the Young Lord of the Valentine Family in less than a year was beyond amazing. After a moment, Dominic''s eyes returned to Cinthy, and a scheming light appeared in his eyes. "Young Lady, do you think you could reignite Cain''s feelings for you under the proper circumstances? I will do all in my power to help you with that if you think you''re up to the task." Cinthy was surprised by that proposition, as were the other people in the room. After a moment, an arrogant expression appeared on her face, and she began to smile. If she could charm Cain, she could become the Young Lady of a powerful Noble Family as strong as Dominic''s. It would not be hard since, in her mind, Cain was surely still in love with her. "With Lord Dominic''s help, I am sure Cain will fall under my charm. I dare to say that he has not forgotten about me." Cinthy''s arrogance surprised the people in the room, and they could not help but think the woman was delusional. She really thought highly of herself, yet she was nothing but average. "I am glad you are so confident in your abilities. Go to my residence and wait for me there. We will speak of our next movements in private." Dominic spoke with a charming smile, and Cinthy did not hesitate before nodding. She did not show any reluctance to be alone with Dominic; even if something were to happen, it was not like it would be the first time. One of the men behind Dominic walked toward Cinthy and guided her out of the center of command. After Cinthy was gone, Dominic turned toward Jonathan with a cold expression. "You are useless to me since I doubt Cain Laurifer even remembers you. If you utter a word of what you saw here, you will be charged with treason and die. Return to your post." Jonathan''s eyes showed the disbelief in which he found himself. Once again, the woman he once thought was his property rose above him, and he stood there like a clown. There was no will in Jonathan''s eyes as he walked away from the room like a zombie and returned to his residence in the Grass Class section. None of the presents cared about him, and they doubted he would survive the first month of The Hunt. "Do you really believe that woman can charm Cain Laurifer?" Amos asked the question on everybody''s mind once Jonathan left the room. "Hahahaha, of course not." Dominic busted into laughter the moment he heard that. "If Cain Laurifer were the kind of man that would fall for a woman like that, he would have never risen to his current position. However, that doesn''t mean we can not use her to affect his mind." A scheming light appeared in Dominic''s eyes as a devious plan formed in his mind. --- Back in the soldier encampment, Uriel was walking toward the center of command, and his face could not be uglier. He was not alone since four other Vice-Captains were walking alongside him, and their expression showed annoyance at the current situation. The primary source of the anger of the five Vice-Captains was the red force that covered the soldier encampment. These five were unusual among the rest of the Vice-Captains since they all came from mighty Noble Families and had their full support behind them. The ancestor had sent them to the military with the sole goal that they could gain merits and rise among the ranks, and each of them received a lot of wealth so they could use it to help them in their task. Those Noble Families even asked for a lot of favors so the five would end up in the same battalion so that they could help each other in that mission. The Imperial Military Force knew about their behavior, but as long as they respected the rules and codes of the military and did their job well enough, they turned a blind eye. Uriel and the other four Vice-Captain knew surveillance would be a significant problem in the first part of The Hunt, so they used their own money to buy Sentry Posts just like the ones used by Dominic. They had been ready to show their Sentry Posts right after Dominic did it, becoming the center of attention for both the student and soldier encampments, but all that planning went to waste once Cain unleashed his Ego Wave. Uriel could do nothing after that happened. If he took out his Sentry Posts after that, he would only be making a fool of himself. "This is the second time that brat got in my way. There will not be a third!" Chapter 190 First march Chapter 190 First march "Remember, we must present a solid front. If we allow that brat to carry on unchecked, we will lose our chance to shine. We must convince the rest of the Vice-Captains to side with us." The other four Vice-Captains nodded as they heard Uriel''s words. Making an enemy of such a talented man like Cain was not something they wanted, but siding with Uriel had proven beneficial for all of them again and again, so they would follow him. Uriel understood that his bond with the other four was not so strong that they would give their life for him, but he knew how to manipulate their greed. As Uriel approached the soldier encampment''s center of command, a solemn expression appeared on his face. Even if he hated Cain, there was no way to deny the might of the red force field this one was unleashing. Uriel did his best to hide it, but his eyes showed envy. He knew about the Ego Eternal Path of Power and that Cain was a divine genius for reaching the First Realm at such a young age. Of course, Uriel was sure that if he had been born with an awakened Ego Matrix, his achievements in the Ego Eternal Path of Power would have been even more outstanding than Cain''s. "Despite his talent in the Ego Eternal Path of Power, he is still a brat. Using his Ego Wave as this must push his mind to the limit. I am sure he can not focus on anything else now, so we must take advantage of it." Uriel was full of confidence, but the moment he entered the center of command, a sense of shock appeared on his face. Cain stood at the center of the room in front of a holographic platform that depicted the entire Blade Mountain. He flawlessly explained the troops'' movements through the thousands of kilometers of forest and the hundreds of mountain ranges. "You are late," Cain spoke as he stared at the five with eyes glowing with red light before focusing again on the holographic platform. He was not putting up a strong front or overexerting himself. If his willpower were still at the Peak Wave Champion Rank, it would have been hard for him to use Ego Wave and focus on other tasks, but things are different now. The willpower of a Wave King was exponentially stronger than a Wave Champion! It not only allowed Cain''s mastery over Free Ego to be much greater, but his mental powers were so great that he could carry on two completely separate trains of thought. For example, right now, part of his mind was focused on his Ego Wave, monitoring the entire encampment, while the other part explained the battle formation to the rest of the Vice-Captains. The four Vice-Captains beside Uriel frowned as they saw that. Clearly, Cain had more than enough mental power to keep his Ego Wave across the encampment and develop fantastic battle strategies. Uriel could feel their gazes but was just as confused as them. According to his understanding of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, it should take all of Cain''s focus to perform this level of Free Ego. power. "As you can see, an extensive mountain range divides the first section of the forest into two large The group was the last to arrive since the other forty-five Vice-Captains were already there, so even if they were enraged by Cain''s words, there was nothing they could say. They remained silent as they approached the holographic platform, focusing on Cain''s words, looking for a flaw they could exploit. Uriel clenched his fists as he heard Cain''s strategies since they were better than what he could develop. They took full advantage of the terrain, enhancing the army''s defensive and offensive power. "As you can see, an extensive mountain range divides the first section of the forest into two large areas, so we will not have to worry about those coming from the Wave Universities. My battle formations are somewhat crude right now as I am unaware of the battle power and specialties of the other battalions, so I am open to any input. I will do my best to improve them with each battle. I suggest we use my battle formation and thoroughly analyze them after the first encounter with Wave Champion Beasts. Also, I will generate a chat room where every battalion can share their status, and I will adjust the battle formation mid-battle." When the other Vice-Captain heard the last part, they all showed shock and awe in their eyes. Cain''s battle formations were already better than anything they could come up with, but the fact that he declared he would adjust them mid-battle was incredible. "Are you sure you can bear that responsibility?" A young man with golden hair and blue eyes spoke solemnly. When the other Vice-Captains turned toward him, they all showed respect. Cain recognized the man as Antony Farlight. He was just a year older than Cain but was already a Level 9 Essence Wave Warrior, and his aura''s might made it clear he was far from average. There was no ill will in Antony''s voice, and he was sincerely impressed by Cain''s strategies, but while adjusting the formation mid-battle would be of great help, it could easily lead to catastrophe. Cain stared at Antony, his eyes bursting with red light. "I would not have proposed it if I was not sure I could do it." Antony stared at Cain for a moment before nodding and turning toward another person in the room. "I am fine with it. What about you, William?" The one Antony called William was a young man of his same age, with black hair and brown eyes, whose body unleashed a shocking physical might. William stared at Cain for a moment before nodding. After seeing that Antony and William accepted, all the other Vice-Captains nodded. The last ones to respond to Cain''s strategies and plans were Uriel and the other four Vice-Captains by his side. The animosity between Uriel and Cain was no secret, so even if this one rejected the plans, the other Vice-Captains had already spoken. Uriel was smart enough to know when not to fight, so he just nodded, along with the other four. Like that, the battle formation and plans for the first march were complete, and the entire military force was ready to march with the first ray of sunlight. Chapter 191 Bloodless #4 chapter 191 bloodless #4 191 bloodless #4 when the first ray of sunlight appeared in the sky, thousands of soldiers and students marched into the forest before them. an extensive mountain range divided the area, so the students took the left side and the soldiers right, ensuring no interaction between them for the first months of the hunt. cain and the other vice-captains took the lead, marching with the rest of the soldiers into the forest. their first enemies were wave beasts between levels 3 and 6, so it was no wonder they could carve a bloody path through them with little effort. cain''s battle strategies shone from the first day, allowing all battalions to work in synergy and improving each squad''s survival capabilities. just the first day, the soldiers killed over forty thousand wave beasts, with zero casualties among their ranks! as the light of day was vanishing, the soldiers returned to their encampment with large smiles on their faces. not only did they get massive amounts of nutritious food, but they also gained many military credits. the next few days carry on the same, with the soldiers'' power completely overwhelming the wave beasts in their path, leaving nothing but a trail of death behind them. on the seventh day of their march, things changed, and the atmosphere grew tense for the soldiers as they finally clashed with a horde led by wave champion beasts! there were a total of nineteen wave champion beasts with over ten thousand powerful wave beasts under their command. it was a force that could have easily leveled a small country in the old world! cain, antony, william, and uriel took a step forward, each targeting a wave champion beast. thanks to their wave artifacts, skills, ma-- cultivation, they could face wave champion beast individually, reducing the pressure on the rest of the army. ??????????????xt.?????? the rest of the vice-captains formed teams of three or two to face the rest of the wave champion beasts, while the squad leaders mobilized the soldiers under their commands to suppress the thousands of wave beasts in front of them. cain''s eyes narrowed as he focused on a wave champion beast that resembled a ferocious two-meter-tall chimp with wisps of fire all over its body. he took a deep breath before exploding his astral wave and blood energy and activating asura form. despite all his advantages and gifts, cain was still a level 5 wave warrior, so he had to fight with all he had from the beginning to face a wave champion beasts. the other vice-captains did the same, unleashing all their power as they focused on their opponents. "roar!" "awwww!" the wave champion beast began to roar as their life wave burst with immense power, rallying the thousands of wave beasts beneath them. both sides charged full of killing intent, and in seconds, the sounds of explosions arid broken bones echoed across the battlefield. nove/lb-in the battle continued for hours, with human and wave beasts'' bodies falling to the ground. the captains focused their energy on their eyes, improving their eyesight to glimpse the battle between the human army and the horde. they were not the only ones since someone else focused on the soldiers, and that person stood thousands of meters in the sky. he was a three-meter-tall man with skin so white that it resembled a corpse, and there was not a single hair on his head. a black armor covered his muscular body, leaving only his head unprotected. despite not being a single cloud in the sky and the man''s striking appearance, no one on the ground could see him. there was no emotion on the man''s face as his eyes narrowed, allowing him to see a young soldier covered in red lightning. thanks to his power, he could see cain as if this one was right in front of him. he was about to step forward, ready to flash toward cain at supersonic speed when his eyes narrowed and turned to the side. less than five hundred meters away to his left was a man with a blue robe. "collapsing lighting pillar, soul breaker zarak." the man''s face remained emotionless, but he clenched his fists, making powerful gales around his body. zarak smiled as a blue light burst from his eyes, making the sky tremble. "bloodless force, bloodless #4." the man focused on zarak, and a monstrous aura emerged from his body, making the sky tremble. "since you know who i am, you know why i am here." bloodless #4''s aura kept rising, growing even stronger than zarak''s. zarak''s smile did not vanish, but his eyes grew cold, and the power of his ego wave increased. "i know. however, that boy is my core discipline. there is some information that your leaders should know about how he obtained the blood refinement art." "it doesn''t matter. cain laurifer can share it once we are in blood see" bloodless #4 did not care about zarak''s words, making it clear he would take cain with him. zarak stopped smiling, and bloodless'' #4 attitude made it clear that words would not work. he took a deep breath as a mighty river manifested around his body. when bloodless #4 saw that river, he immediately raised his guard. "i am impressed. despite your low cultivation, your ego path of power already took a step into the third realm. if it were one of my brothers in the lower ranks, they would have to run." bloodless #4 also took a deep breath, and his power skyrocketed, reaching an even higher level than zarak''s. "however, you alone are not enough to stop me!" the blue light in zarak''s eyes exploded as he heard that. his smile returned as he adopted a battle stance, and a revolving stream of water covered his right arm. "fighting against someone in the upper ranks of the bloodless force would push me beyond my limit, and it might not be enough. however, you made a mistake." bloodless #4''s eyes narrowed as he heard that, and he pushed his focus to the limit, concentrating solely on zarak. "what mistake?" he had just uttered those words when a feeling of incredible danger assaulted him, and he felt a sharp pain in his back. ''who says i am alone?'' bloodless #4 heard those words and noticed a figure covered in shadows behind him. that individual managed to hide his presence and had just pierced his back with a blade, reaching all the way to his spine! Chapter 192 Fighting 30.000 meters above the ground 192 fighting 30.000 meters above the ground n//ove1b1n bloodless #4 was shocked. his perception was incredible, and even if he had focused on zarak, that individual''s assassination skill must be superb to land a sneak attack on him. and that was just the start since the blade managed to make its way past his armor and reinforced skin and unleashed a strange force that began to numb his body. bloodless #4 clenched his teeth as he clenched his fist and threw a ferocious punch behind him. just the movement of his hand unleashed a gale that could shatter a small building. however, before bloodless #4 could land his attack, zarak tackled him. "boooommm!" zarak''s body carried such a massive momentum that the moment he clashed with bloodless #4, a sonic boom appeared in the sky, echoing across the forest beneath them. bloodless #4 felt like a raging ocean had clashed with him, exerting pressure in all directions, making it near impossible to fight it back. zarak, bloodless #4, and the man covered in shadows flashed across the sky, moving at supersonic speed away from the sky above the soldiers. bloodless #4 did not simply allow the opponent to overcome him. an incredible amount of astral wave and blood energy reinforced his body, and he used all his strength to fight back. zarak could barely believe the strength that bloodless #4 could unleash, and he clenched his teeth as he tightened the grip around this one''s body. zarak was not the only one shocked, as the eyes of the man covered in shadows were full of awe and disbelief when he felt that his blade could not pierce into bloodless #4''s spine. everybody knew that astral rebirth cultivators had incredibly resilient bodies, which was especially true for someone with bloodless #4''s cultivation. even then, the toughness of his bones was simply too much. the man covered in shadows unleashed a blast of essence wave and infused it into his dagger, allowing it to go deeper into bloodless #4''s body. one restrained with all his power, the other pushed his weapon deeper and deeper, and the last fought back with all he had. the trio carried on like that until they finally clashed against something. the trio was thirty thousand meters above the ground, but they clashed with something even higher, the peak of blade mountain. "?boom!" large boulders and dust burst in every direction as the trio crashed, but it did not last long as a sonic boom cleaned the area. a figure emerged from the crashing zone while puking blood. that sonic boom originated when bloodless #4''s punch landed on zarak''s chest, and he was not over. the man twisted his body and sent an elbow strike toward the figure covered in shadows behind him. the attack was extremely fast and precise. the man covered in shadows was able to take his dagger and jumped back at the last second. unfortunately for the man covered in shadows, bloodless #4''s elbow still reached his chest, exploding his body into a sea of darkness. zarak regained control of his body quickly, and the sea of darkness reformed next to him, showing no other than the teacher of the assassination military specialization, jonathan. "how are you?" zarak glanced at jonathan and saw that this one could not stop coughing blood. "his attack shattered my sternum, and my left lung collapsed. i can still fight, but taking another strike like that could be deadly." jonathan did his best to regulate his breathing as he circulated his essence wave through his wounds, accelerating the tissular regeneration. zarak nodded and immediately positioned himself between bloodless #4 and jonathan. bloodless #4 did not immediately chase after the duo. although his condition was better, he was also severely wounded and needed to focus his energy on purging the numbing force left inside his body. that was not all since dozens of cuts reached the bone on the elbow he used to hit jonathan, numbing the entire right arm. "you are just a wave king, yet you were able to pierce my defenses before i even noticed your presence. the aegon family''s assassination techniques are superb. consider me impressed." jonathan was slightly surprised by those words, and a smile soon appeared as he clasped his hand. even if they were opponents, he respected the other side. "it is an honor to hear those words from a member of the legendary bloodless force. i must also congratulate you. not only is your body extremely durable, but your poison resistance is also incredible. the virus in my blade can destroy the nervous system of a wave king in a matter of seconds, but it is barely working for you." bloodless #4 raised his right arm and clenched it with all his strength, making it seem that space itself would shatter! "members of the bloodless force temper their bodies from the inside out, and our lineage grants us a flawless immune system. the fact you numbed my arm and legs is impressive." bloodless #4 made a pause at this point. the next second, a torrent of incredibly dense astral wave burst from his body, generating a pillar that seemed capable of shattering the sky! "enough words. i will take that boy with me. if you insist on interfering with my mission, you could die." zarak and jonathan adopted solemn expressions as they saw that outstanding amount of astral wave. it was so much that even if they combined their energy pools, it could not equal half of it. "i will take the lead and do my best to generate an opening. when you see it, attack without hesitation, even if it means going through my body. i will survive if my heart and brain are not damaged." jonathan nodded to zarak''s words before his body melted into streams of shadows that fused with the sky, generating a dark domain that covered everything in a radius of two thousand meters! zarak''s aura exploded as he combined his ego wave and astral wave, pushing the power of his body to the absolute limit before flashing toward bloodless #4 at supersonic speed! bloodless #4 did not wait for zarak and flashed forward as blood energy burst from every cell of his body! "boooooommmmmmmmmm!" blue and red streams clashed, generating a blast of energies that flooded the sky above blade mountain, generating a death zone for anyone beneath the wave champion level! Chapter 193 Inferno Ape 193 inferno ape a few minutes prior to the first clash between zarak and bloodless #4, the battle between the human army and the wave beast horde reached its zenith. "?boom!" a level 7 golden rhinoceros rose more than two meters into the sky when a fist triggered a blast of golden flames in its belly. all the soldiers around that scene focused on the man that had slipped beneath the massive wave beast and killed it so brutally and beautifully. he was a young man with black hair and fiery red eyes bathed in majestic golden flames. of course, that was no other than levi hellblazer. levi was a level 5 astral rebirth cultivator, but his attacks could do lethal damage to level 7 wave beast! due to levi''s inexperience on the battlefield, he was not fit to take the role of squad leader but was under the command of a man that knew how to fully explode his power. levi''s squad leader was frederick, a man in his fifties. despite his old age, frederick was a level 4 essence wave warrior, so he was still able to unleash the full power of his cultivation. frederick realized levi''s battle power from the beginning and reconstructed the entire squad''s formation around the young man. levi''s battle style involved large explosions, which could lead to friendly fire on a battlefield like this one, but frederick emptied the area around the young man. levi only had to worry about blowing every single wave beast in front of him to pieces. a small smile appeared on levi''s face as he saw the corpse of the wave beast and felt his strength. ''i can kill peak level 7 wave beast with a single attack. it almost kills me, but this golden flame is worth it.'' levi analyzed the power of his golden flame when a series of blasts in the distance drew his attention. "?boom!" "?boom!" "?boom!" he looked where the vice-captains were fighting the wave champion beasts and focused on one in particular. a man bathed in red lightning clashed against a beast covered in flames, and powerful blasts echoed across the battlefield every time they collided. levi could not help but clench his fists as he saw that battle. each of their punches could equal his full-power golden flames explosion, and both were moving so fast he could not keep up with them. levi was confident he could match any other top-tier vice-captain in time, but the one bathed in that red lightning was different. they were the same age, and levi was by far stronger the first time they met each other, but in a short year, things had reversed. it was cain''s first year as a soldier, and he was already fighting at the highest level on a battlefield that involved wave champion beasts! a decisive light appeared in levi''s eyes as he made his golden flames burst with even greater strength and heat before charging toward the wave beasts in front of him. cain did not notice levi''s gaze nor the hundreds of soldiers looking at him with awe and admiration. all his focus was currently on the inferno ape, as he could not allow any distraction. despite the inferno ape being one of the most powerful early wave champions, cain was able to fight against it on equal ground for several hours. it was clear that blood renewal not only exponentially increased his strength and talent, but it also pushed his stamina to an incredible level. not far from cain was an even mightier battle involving a man bathed in golden light and a two-meter-tall lion with silver fur. the one that battled this horde''s leader was antony, the level 9 vice-captain. he used light force in his attack, similar to uriel, but followed the essence evolution path of power. antony used a bow, and golden light enhanced every arrow he fired. his skill was superb, and his attack carried ephemeral power that constantly improved his attack speed and penetration power. nove-lb-1n it was clear to anyone with a high enough cultivation that antony had gained some insight into the law of light. that allowed his attacks to achieve not only extreme speed but also all sorts of variations. "booooooommmmmmmmmm!" just as the battle between the vice-captains and the wave champions beast reached its zenith, an immense explosion occurred in the sky above them. that was when zarak collided with bloodless #4, but no one on the ground knew that. the explosion was so potent that the shock waves reached the ground, hurting the ears of the low-level warriors and beasts. while it hurt only those beneath level 3, the explosion was so surprising that everybody, including vice-captains and wave champions beasts, looked to the sky. that behavior was not due to a lack of discipline or battle awareness but an instinctive response none could overcome. since everybody on both sides looked to the sky, no one should have been able to take advantage of that opening, but things were not so simple. there was one person among the thousands of soldiers whose willpower was able to overcome that instinctive response. when cain heard that blast, his ego wave exploded with power, allowing him to retain full control of his body. he saw how his enemy, the inferno ape, looked to the sky and lowered its guard, allowing him a perfect chance to fire his strongest attack. the inferno ape was still looking at the figures coursing through the sky when he heard a sound resembling an old world''s fighting jet. the early wave champion beast was only able to glance at the man that balanced his body from one side to the other so fast that gales formed around his body before a right hook carrying a massive momentum connected on its head. "?boom!" cain''s right hook woke up everybody. soldiers and wave beasts turned toward the human covered in red lightning, only to see how he unleashed a barrage of punches over the inferno ape. "?boom!" "?boom!" "?boom!" "?boom!" Chapter 194 Blood Lightning Killer 194 blood lightning killer "?boom!" "?boom!" "?boom!" "?boom!" each of cain''s punches carried every ounce of strength on his body, enhanced by his torque and lightning, allowing them to reach overwhelming power. "crack!" before the other wave champion beast could do anything to help their brethren, the sound of breaking bones echoed across the battlefield. cain ended his onslaught with one final right hook, where he concentrated every ounce of astral wave he had! "?boooommmm!" the inferno ape''s head was thrust into the ground by cain''s final punch, generating a massive crater and shattering every bone in its skull. silence reigned on the battlefield as humans and beasts focused on the dead inferno ape before turning to the young man bursting with blood lightning above its corpse. "ahhhh!" the sound of a beast''s howl drew everybody back to reality, and they saw antony unleashing a barrage of golden arrows the size of spears over the silver blood lion. the essence wave cultivator took advantage of cain''s performance to attack the horde''s leader, and while he could not kill it, his spears did a lot of damage. "fight!" antony shouted with all his strength as he pushed his wave burst to its limit and continued his attack on the silver blood lion. the soldiers'' fighting spirits exploded as they saw the dead inferno ape and the wounded silver blood lion. they pushed their energy to their limit, ready to use every last drop of wave inside them during the next couple of minutes! even after killing the inferno ape, cain did not take his eyes off the beast. he formed a blade with his right hand and pierced the chest of the early wave champion beast, draining its blood to regain some of his stamina. cain felt the inferno ape''s blood essence reaching his body and restoring his strength while using his ego wave to analyze the battles between the vice-captain and wave champion beasts. in less than five minutes, cain had drained more than eighty percent of the inferno ape''s body. he took a deep breath as his blood energy exploded, and the next second he vanished. the earth crawler, a wave champion beast resembling a giant armadillo with long claws, was fighting a group of vice-captains when it perceived a red flash above its head. unfortunately for the wave champion beast, cain''s attack was too fast and could not prevent the punch covered in blood lighting from landing on the back of its head. that attack was so powerful that it paralyzed the wave champion beast for a second, something that vice-captains fighting against it took full advantage of. nove/lb-in cain had already dashed to another wave champion beast when a sea of spells landed on the earth crawler. he was too tired for a direct fight but could use his assassination skill to perform sneak attacks over the wave champion beasts, generating an opening that the other vice-captains could use. that was not the only thing that cain was doing, as the thousands of soldiers suddenly moved across the battlefield in a strange pattern under his command. the wave beasts did not understand what happened until it was too late. the soldiers fighting the bulk of the wave beast horde divided into two sides, attacking from the flanks before surrounding them and starting a carnage. "imperial lightning fort!" "imperial lightning fort!" the wave champion beast saw how the beasts under their command were dying by the dozens every second, but they could do nothing since defending from the blood lightning killer took all of their attention. howls of pain and explosions filled the battlefield as the human side unleashed absolute carnage, killing thousands of powerful wave beasts and over half of the wave champion beasts before they finally began to pull back. cain did not let bloodlust distract him from the danger of the battlefield, and once the sun began to set, he mobilized the army back to the main encampment. the faces of the soldiers as they reached the encampment were pale as they had drained until the last drop of wave inside their bodies during those last few minutes of battle. however, they showed radiant smiles on their faces. today they experienced the first clash with creatures whose power matched that of mighty wave champions, yet not only did they survive, but they obtained an overwhelming victory! no matter whom, every soldier could not help but glance at the young man at the front of the army. whether it was intuitive or otherwise, no one dared to move past him as he led them into the encampment. cain was exhausted and had little to no astral wave left in his body, but he stood straight as a majestic red force field covered his figure. just as the soldiers emerged from the forest, the students did the same, but their circumstances could not be more different. unlike the soldiers who trained their minds to face the battlefield''s cruelty, seeing their comrades die was almost too much for many students. if it weren''t for their cultivation improving their willpower, many students would have already developed signs of post-traumatic stress. at the lead of the thousands of students were dominic and amos. neither showed any concerns about their comrade''s state of mind since those not fit for the battlefield would die, and there was no point in wasting their breath in them. dominic''s eyes narrowed as he glanced at the soldiers and was surprised to see cain at the lead and how all of them were full of fighting spirit even after what should have been a battle full of hardship. cain stopped moving when he felt dominic''s gaze, and all the soldiers behind him did the same. he was beyond exhausted and was taking all his power to stand straight, but he was aware of just how vital motivation was for an army, especially with the plan he had in mind. cain did not take his eyes off dominic as he channeled the last drop of astral wave left in his body along with his blood energy before raising his fist. an arc of blood lightning emerged from cain''s fist, rising over three meters into the air. "imperial lightning fort!" those words reached every soldier, making them feel as if their blood was burning, and they could not stop themselves from raising their arms, just like cain before shouting in unison. "imperial lightning fort!" "imperial lightning fort!" "imperial lightning fort!" Chapter 195 Path to New Beginning chapter 195 path to new beginning "imperial lightning fort!" the shout of the soldiers reached all the way to the captains, and they could not help but smile as they saw how cain took advantage of the moment to boost morale while pressuring the students. you needed more than brute strength to become a great military leader. powerful cultivation made you a good soldier, but a good commander was someone wise enough to know how to explode the power of the others around you, and cain was a master in it. "that brat. no matter how you look at him, he is the perfect army weapon." aaron spoke with respect in his voice, and the other captains softly nodded. amos and dominic did not care at the beginning that the state of the soldiers was better than that of the students since, for starters, they only cared about the strong ones, but there was also the fact they were younger and would be able to increase their cultivation exponentially during the next few months. yet, cain''s actions made the duo look very bad in contrast, and if there was something they did care about was their reputation. ultimately, the duo could do nothing, so they only looked away and entered the command center. cain saw that his feat had the intended effect and smiled before walking straight into his residence, and right before entering, he shouted. "we will continue our march in two days. use this time to rest and take advantage of the military credits you have amassed. i left a book called path to new beginning in the military network. you can look at it if you so desire." the soldiers were ecstatic about the day off since they were exhausted, and although cain took the decision without consulting them, none of the vice-captains said a word about it. according to their calculations, overcoming their first encounter with a horde led by wave champion beasts would have taken four days, but they did it in just one. as for the book path to new beginning, the vice-captains were curious and immediately looked into it. the description was simple, and it said to have a path to level 4 for soldiers of both the astral rebirth and essence evolution path. guides like this one were very common, so it did not draw much interest, but shock suddenly appeared in the vice-captains'' eyes as they read the final part of the summary. [three months are estimated for a level 3 wave warrior to advance following the golden path in the guide. however, those in a more difficult financial position could take the silver path, which only required 35.000 imperial military credits. according to the book, the success rate did not change, but you will need eight months instead of three. there was also the bronze path. this one only required 15.000 imperial military credits and had a time frame of two years. but it was only helpful for those without meridian atrophy. as they read the book, a flame ignited in the soldiers'' hearts, and their battle will grew even stronger. reaching level 4 might be nothing for someone like cain, but for the average soldier was a dream come true as they would enjoy a strong body until they were extremely old. out of nowhere, all those soldiers that could barely hold their bodies a moment ago ran toward the star cruiser to use the teleportation formation to buy the resources stated in the book. antony and the other vice-captains would have normally punished such undisciplined behavior, but seeing the fervor in their soldiers'' eyes made them smile. they look at each other and cannot help but wonder how cain came up with such a thorough cultivation guide. the vice-captains under captain aaron knew of cain''s abilities as a grand genetic coder, but the book was still too amazing as it adjusted to the needs of everybody, not just a few. in the end, all the vice-captains only took it as another fantastic feat from the youngest of them, who performed the first kill against a wave champion beast. actually, the one that created the path to new beginning was apex, under cain''s request. apex used the [a.i. chip module] to monitor the veterans, which cain helped after first taking control of his battalion, during the entire journey as they healed. that information and all the cultivation knowledge he had gained from the empire science academy was enough for apex to create the book using [basic virtual simulation] and [basic data gathering and analyzing]. cain knew that his actions would cause a lot of movement, but he did not care and threw himself into his bed and began to sleep soundly. he was too tired to project his ego wave across the encampment, but it would not be a problem since they had made the closest horde run a few hours ago. cain did not simply lower his guard; the [basic scan force field] was still working at full power, ready to warn him of any danger. even if soldiers surrounded him, he would not blindly trust them. the lack of cain''s ego wave did not surprise the vice-captains since he had already communicated his state and ensured they were ready to keep an eye during the night. although the chances of an attack were almost zero, overconfidence was a key to failure. the soldiers spent a night without a red force field protecting them for the first time since the star cruiser landed, but they were all so excited about path to new beginning that they did not even notice it. cain woke up after roughly twelve hours and felt all his body and mind exhaustion disappear. a small smile appeared on his face as he felt the strength of his body, but it did not last long since a decisive expression soon replaced it. "i request all vice-captains to join me in the center of command in an hour. i have a crucial subject to discuss that involves the entire military force." cain sent that message to the a.i. chip of all the vice-captains before looking into his space ring and ensuring he had everything he needed for the next part of his plan. "tell me, apex. what do you think my chances of success are?" although they did not speak much, cain knew that apex was always by his side. "your chances to achieve that goal are 60%, by what i could tell from their interactions with you. but that was before killing the wave champion beast and publishing the book. now, do they even have a choice?" cain only smiled as he heard that and left his tent. Chapter 196 Hunt Leader chapter 196 hunt leader cain did not take long to reach the command center of the military encampment and nodded once he saw that all the forty-nine vice-captains were there. "why did you call all of us so suddenly? we had important business to attend to and can not leave them due to your whims!" the one that shouted was no other than uriel, and the expression on his face showed the discontent in his heart. no matter how well the army went, the fact that the one shining was someone he hated made every victory feel awful. the other vice-captains frowned as they heard the way uriel spoke to cain. the young man had already made a very good impression on them due to his hard work and superb military skills, which gave them great wealth. however, none of them bother to correct uriel since they also wonder about the reason for cain''s summoning. cain saw that all the vice-captain focused on him, and with a calm expression, he walked to the holographic board in the middle of the room and displayed the entirety of blade mountain. "we are currently in the forest that surrounds the true blade mountain, and there is a mountain range that divides our path and that of the students for the next five thousand kilometers." the vice-captains nodded, but it did not answer their question since that was something all of them knew. "once we cross those five thousand kilometers, we will reach the foot of blade mountain, a zone rich in cultivation resources once dominated by king beasts. although the dozens of wave champion beasts currently populating that area are surely having a feast, they will not be able to consume all of them fully." once again, cain stated a piece of information that all the vice-captains were aware of, but the purpose of this meeting was starting to become clearer. "i want to enforce a plan that will allow us to reach that zone in less than three months. that way, not only will we be able to prevent the wave beasts from consuming too many of the resources, but we will also reach a lot sooner than the students, saving us the trouble of splitting the riches with them." shock appeared in the vice-captains as they heard cain''s intentions. although it would benefit them to reach the foot of the mountain before the students, traveling such a considerable distance in such a short time will be incredibly dangerous, and things could go wrong very quickly. cain was aware of the dangers of his plan, which is why he needed the vice-captains to agree on something if he wanted to implement it. "i am confident in achieving that goal in that amount of time if i take the role of hunt leader." benjamin heard those words as a force coming from cain attempted to put his mind and body in a susceptible state. he had seen cain''s hypnosis skill and chose not to resist. everybody saw how benjamin''s eyes lost focus before this one adopted a meditative position on the ground, and his wave began to revolve much faster than before. "embryonic breathing!" one of the vice-captains shouted with envy and amazement on his face. embryonic breathing was nothing special for someone like cain, but each instance was a small lucky chance for the wave warriors present. not only did it allow their bodies to cultivate much faster, but it also cleared their minds of all the stress and pressure of the battlefield. "benjamin is a level 8 wave warrior. you are a 4-star elementary hypnosis master!" to become a 4-star elementary master at fifteen years of age was beyond amazing. however, cain had not finished! "i am not a 4-star elementary hypnosis master!" cain''s voice made the entire room grow dead silent as he turned toward antony. the level 9 essence wave warrior was surprised by the intent in cain''s eyes. he adopted a solemn expression before nodding and shutting down his mental defenses, allowing his mind to be as susceptible as possible. cain pushed his ego wave to its maximum and focused his mind with all his power. his eyes grew bloodshot, but by forcing himself to this limit, he hypnotized antony and made this one enter embryonic breathing. "you are a 5-star elementary hypnosis master!" the vice-captains could not believe what they just saw. cain was a 5-star elementary hypnosis master, which meant if he took the next step, he could hypnotize wave champions! of course, becoming a grand hypnosis master was incredibly difficult and could take years, but that did not matter to the vice-captains as cain right now could help each of them enter embryonic breathing. that already was enough to throw away all their concerns, but there was still one more thing that cain had to offer. after taking a moment to relax his mind from the immense effort he had just unleashed, cain waved his hand and took out fifty red capsules with a blood-red liquid. "each capsule contains a wave virus by the name of berserker state. once injected, your body will enter an overdrive state, exponentially enhancing your speed and vitality while improving your body''s hemostasis. it will last an entire hour, but you will be left extremely weak once the effect is gone. your body will need at least three days to recover if you are an astral rebirth cultivator and six if you follow the essence evolution path of power." although the side effect of berserker state was dire and would impede them from participating in the battlefield for days, it was life-saving. who would not want a trump card they could deploy in a deadly situation, allowing them to leave the battlefield with their life and no permanent sequels? uriel''s face was pale as he saw how the other vice-captains noded among each other, and it was clear they had already made a decision. Chapter 197 Wave Champion in two months 197 wave champion in two months cain saw the desire in the vice-captains eyes as they stared at the wave viruses and the duo in embryonic breathing. in their minds, they were already enjoying an enhanced cultivation speed and superb survival skills. "a berserker state is considered a grand wave virus, and their market price is 150.000 military credits. i can sell them for 90.000 on credit, and if you do not use them by the end of the hunt, you can hand them over, and you will not owe me anything." if they were honest, the vice-captains wished they could get the wave viruses for free, but they all understood that cain was already offering them an incredibly good deal. 90.000 imperial military credits was a massive amount as those were the prices of resources used by wave champion, and even if they gained a lot of credits right now, it would take around two months for them to amass so much. however, there was not a single vice-captain that thought of refusing cain''s deal. they could always get more money but could not buy a new life. "as for embryonic breathing. it will be free for level 7 wave warriors since it requires little to no effort on my part. those at levels 8 and 9 will pay 150 and 750 credits for each session, respectively. you can also pay me on credit, redirecting part of your military exploits during the hunt toward my account. there will be no interest. you might not know it, but most 5-stars elementary hipnosis masters charge between 7000 and 10000 imperial military credits." like the wave viruses, the vice-captains were ready to accept cain''s deal. even if they did not move a muscle, they would gain much more than enough to pay for the hypnosis, thanks to the soldiers working under them. uriel saw how the vice-captains looked at each other and began to nod softly. it was clear to him that they were ready to accept cain as the hunt leader, something he could simply not tolerate. "i refuse!" uriel shouted with strength. he had very little regard for becoming the center of attention and carried on with his words. "i and the other four vice-captains under captain robert refuse to accept you as hunt leader!" the four vice-captains next to uriel were surprised to see how this one decided on their name without even consulting them, causing great annoyance. even though they tend to side with uriel, that does not mean they would do everything he said, especially with cain offering such an attractive deal. uriel noticed the anger in those four and immediately sent a secret message through his a.i. chip. "bear with it. if the five of us refuse to comply, his battle formation and tactics will not work, making it pointless for him to be named hunt leader. i promise to compensate each of you for this." the four vice-captains sighed softly before adopting severe expressions, making it clear they were with uriel. cain nodded and did not waste time. he indicated for the vice-captains to take the capsules with the wave virus before giving everybody their assignment. in less than an hour, every single vice-captain knew their role in the new plan and how they had to move forward from now on. there would be countless moving pieces on the upcoming battlefield, and some vice-captains could simply not keep up with them. luckily, they only needed to obey cain''s command and adjust according to his instruction during the battle. "one final point. antony, how long do you think it will take you to become a wave champion?" although questions regarding his cultivation were a sensitive topic for the young man, antony immediately answered cain''s question. clearly, the level 9 wave warrior did not speak empty words when he accepted cain as the hunt leader. "i am currently suppressing my cultivation to raise my understanding of the law of light to the deep basic understanding level before my breakthrough. i am confident in achieving that goal in four months." cain was surprised by what he just heard from antony. just like there were levels of marrow washing, there were also levels of law comprehension, and what antony sought to achieve in the law of light was equal to attaining flawless marrow! he stared at antony for a moment, focusing on the eyes of this one, and saw the determination to carry on with that mission and the confidence to achieve it. "i can lend you 2 million military credits and prepare peak wave viruses to assist your cultivation, but i need you to become a wave champion in the next two months." spending two million military credits just to speed up someone else''s advance to the wave champion rank could sound insane, but cain did not think so. speed was of the essence for his plan, and if he wanted to succeed in this endeavor truly, he needed a powerful wave champion that could work as the head of the spear. he had only three choices for that job since all the other level 9 wave warriors would have to leave the hunt if they broke into the wave champion rank, as they would no longer be considered first generation. uriel was not a choice as the man hated cain, and although he knew he could count on william, it was better to have a wave champion that followed the essence evolution path of power on the battlefield as they had a greater range. antony was surprised by cain''s offer and did not immediately accept it. he could become a wave champion in a month if he wanted, but that would mean neglecting his foundation, which he was unwilling to do. two million credits would be enough to buy the resources needed to enhance his law of light comprehension, and he would still have money for medicines that could purify and temper his essence wave. if it was anywhere else, antony might have rejected that offer, but he knew that his military exploits in the hunt would exponentially rise when he became a wave champion. it was not crazy to think he could amass two million military credits in two months of killing wave beasts. cain smiled as he saw antony nod, and while it cost him more than half of his savings, it was worth it. now all the pieces were in order. Chapter 198 Lightning-Fall Mantis 198 lightning-fall mantis [cain laurifer has now become the hunt leader, becoming the great commander of the entire military force. all soldiers must obey his orders without hesitation. a new military strategy has been implemented, with the ultimate goal of advancing 5000 kilometers within three months to reach the foot of blade mountain before the student force.] the thousands of soldiers in the military encampment woke up only to see a message reach their a.i. chips with the signature of their respective vice-captains. it came as a shock for the soldiers that cain managed to attain the highest level of authority over such a massive force, but it was not hard to accept it. cain had shown again and again how formidable he was, and the idea he could achieve the impossible had already emerged in the minds of the soldiers. although learning that they would have to advance 5000 kilometers in just three months made some soldiers grow nervous, to say the least, their fears slowly faded away as they remembered the marvelous battle formations of their new hunt leader. it did not take long for the fear to transform into greed as they imagined just how much wealth they would attain once they reached the foot of blade mountain, not to mention that the idea of pissing off the student force made many of them laugh. by the time the soldiers emerged from their tents, there was no fear in their eyes, only a ferocious battle intent along with monstrous greed. forty-five vice-captains were waiting at the entrance of the forest, and as they saw the state of their soldiers, some could not help but feel surpise at the resolution in their eyes. they then focused on the man at the center, and there was awe in their eyes as they understood the amazing work this one had done in motivating the soldiers from the moment the star cruiser landed. cain stood at the head of the entire military force, and his eyes glowed with battle intent as he unleashed the full power of his ego wave, generating a massive red force field that charged into the forest like a tsunami. "kill!" words of encouragement or a motivational speech would have been useless, with every soldier already bursting with powerful willpower. cain uttered that simple word before leading the thousands of soldiers forward. asura form worked at full power as cain battled an early wave champion beast named fire-ice two-headed lion. the beast constantly blasted ice and fire from its maws, forcing cain to dodge them before flashing back into the fray and attacking. the battle pushed cain as the creature was truly powerful, but it was not so much to put his life on the line, and it would be a matter of time before they managed to gain an edge and slaughter this horde. ''it might take us three days to end this horde before moving forward.'' that thought just crossed cain''s mind when suddenly, his eyes widened with shock and dread. he turned to the left and stared at two level 8 vice-captains fighting a two-meter-tall gorilla-like wave champion beast. "watch out!" the two level 8 vice-captains heard cain''s shout, but while they did not lose focus of their enemy, they grew confused. even if the opponent was a rock ape, they were able to handle it. half a second after cain''s warning, the duo caught a glimpse of a blue flash, but it was too late. before they could even react, one of the level 8 vice-captains was split in half! the other vice-captain could only see in shock as his comrade and friend perished. he had no time to mourn as the blue flash came his way, and just as death seemed inevitable, a red figure appeared before him. cain''s teeth clenched as he used his gauntlets to stop a sharp blade covered in blue lightning. his arms trembled as the strength behind that attack was so much that his bones cracked, and if it weren''t for his blood energy and astral wave reinforcing them, they would have broken. it was only then that the enemy became visible to everybody. the one that killed that level 8 vice-captain with a single strike before this one could even see it resembled a one and half meter mantis covered in lightning. the rest of the vice-captains were able to identify the beast as a lightning-fall mantis, a creature known for its sharp blades, monstrous strength, and incredible speed. however, the most shocking part was its aura which put it a level above the rest of the early wave champion beasts. the lightning-fall mantis was a middle wave champion beast! although the difference between an early and middle wave champion beast might not seem much, that could not be farther from the truth. the disparity between their battle power was not different from the one between a level 1 wave warrior and a level 4! all the vice-captains knew they would face middle wave champion beasts, but they did not expect it to be so soon and that the enemy would emerge out of nowhere and kill one of them. Chapter 199 Defeat 199 defeat "fall in order!" before chaos could spread, cain''s voice echoed across the battlefield. immediately after that, a battle formation appeared in the mind of the vice-captains to face the current situation. it would not last long and force everybody to overexert themselves, but it was their only choice unless they wanted to suffer massive casualties. cain did not have the luxury of focusing on anyone else who was not the monster before him and left the task of rearranging the battle formation to apex. he made his astral wave burst with so much strength that even with his impressive constitution, he felt his body would crumble in a few minutes, but that was the only way he could face the middle wave champion beast. "ahhh!" cain roared as he condensed his astral wave around his arms and legs, pushing the mantis'' scythe away before sending a tornado kick. the kick was very strong, with cain using all his torque, but it only pushed the lightning-fall mantis less than three meters upon impact. cain clenched his teeth, and he felt his leg go numb. the body of the lightning-fall mantis was incredibly tough. however, cain did not have time to focus on that as the lightning-fall mantis immediately flashed back into the fray and hacked with its two scythes, aiming at his neck and torso. cain was pushed to his limits by the beast''s speed and skill, but he was able to dodge both scythes. however, his armor was not unscathed, as there was a deep cut that came dangerously close to his skin. unfortunately, those two strikes were far from everything, as the lightning-fall mantis kept hacking toward cain with immense strength and speed. cain did his best to dodge the attack, but sometimes he was forced to use his gauntlets to block it, and every time he did it, his arms trembled. cain found himself struggling against the formidable lightning-fall mantis. despite his best efforts, the creature proved to be too powerful, relentlessly pushing him back and inflicting numerous cuts on his armor. cain had just blocked a strike that pushed him over fifty meters back and saw how the lightning-fall mantis jumped toward him, ready to give the final blow. luckily, while the lightning-fall mantis was in mid-air, a barrage of light arrows landed on it, sending it crashing into the ground. antony joined the fray, and his essence wave was bursting at full power as he raised his bow and kept firing all sorts of projectiles against the middle wave champion beast. it was only at that moment that cain was able to relax for a moment. he knew that fighting the middle wave champion beast alone was not possible, but the other vice-captains needed time to reorganize before one could come to help him. cain''s arms trembled, and they were not of much use, but he did not hesitate before joining the fight. he flashed forward at full speed, and before the lightning-fall mantis could stabilize its body, he kicked it in the chest with all his strength. "everybody, give me your analysis of the battle." cain spoke with a calm voice as he commanded the vice-captains. everybody else had the right to feel flustered and angry by their current situation. yet, as the great commander of the entire military force, that was not a luxury he could allow. the serenity in cain''s voice helped the vice-captains to calm their minds and recount their points of view of the battle. ultimately, their situation was not that dire, and the only reason they felt it like that was the death of one vice-captain and the sudden appearance of a middle wave champion beast. if antony or william were to become the wave champion, they would be capable of defeating the lightning-fall mantis on their own, perhaps even killing it. cain hoped that antony would break through before they encountered any middle wave champion beasts, but his calculations were wrong. the good news was that it was only a matter of time before they could crush the wave beast''s horde led by the lightning-fall mantis and move forward. nevertheless, time was of the essence if they wanted to reach the foot of blade mountain before the student force. cain analyzed the situation but could not come up with an answer. ''none of the vice-captains can unleash a power-up or killing strike great enough to take down the lightning-fall mantis. even my strongest attack, blood revolution, may not be enough, not to mention that to unleash that barrage of hooks, i need around a second of preparation, and the beast''s scythes will cut me more than ten times by then.'' suddenly five persons entered the center of command. they were uriel, and the other four vice-captains under captain rober, and each of them had a nasty smile on their face. "i can see that vice-captain arnold is missing, and william is not looking very well. does the mighty hunt leader need some help?" it was clear that uriel and the others had learned what happened to the main force and came to gloat, making many of the vice-captains furious. cain could perceive the contempt and ridicule in uriel''s tone but remained composed. reacting would only serve to satisfy uriel''s intentions. "it isn''t likely we will find an answer at this moment. we will not march tomorrow and take the day to rest. everybody, return to your tents." cain ignored uriel and did not waste any more words before leaving the command center. Chapter 200 Blood Hand 200 blood hand once cain reached his tent, his composed expression broke apart, and an immense rage emerged in his heart. "goddammit!" cain shouted with strength, ensuring his voice did not leave the tent. he had pure killing intent toward the lightning-fall mantis, who dared to mess up with his plan and wanted nothing more than to crush uriel''s face with his fist. as the great commander of the entire military force, he could not show those wild emotions in front of anyone else, as it was his job to remain calm, since only then could the others freak out. it took him a few minutes, but after letting all that out, cain was able to regain his composure. now that he was genuinely calm, he did not need to use his ego wave to control his emotions and could focus solely on the task. cain began to think of ways to overcome this ordeal, but it was hard to find an answer. he first looked at his armor, which was full of cuts, and knew he needed to change it. the idea of buying a wave champion-level armor crossed cain''s mind, but he soon discarded it. wave artifacts need to consume the user''s wave to work correctly, and while cain was impressive in every sense, his astral wave was similar to that of a level 6 wave warrior. if one were to use wave champion-level wave artifacts with an inadequate amount of astral wave, the effect would be comparable to placing a solid piece of metal on their body. while it may be able to block the initial impact of an attack, it would not be effective in reducing its kinetic force. to achieve success, cain had to infiltrate the wave beast''s horde and eliminate the lightning-fall mantis. however, there were challenges ahead, with the chief one being cain''s inadequacy in dealing with the middle wave champion beast''s impenetrable defenses. cain vividly recalled the impact of his kicks on the beast''s body, and he was aware of its incredible resilience. ''advancing to level 6 could give me the edge to surpass the lightning-fall mantis''s defenses.'' as that thought crossed cain''s mind, he emitted a command to the absolute life form system. ''system, scan me.'' like always, the system complied with cain''s order, and a virtual screen appeared before him in a few seconds. [scan of vessel completed --- name: cain laurifer race: godslayer humankind path of power: astral rebirth (level 5 wave warrior) lineage: lightning lupus wave talent: middle tier 6 (high tier 6) --- cain looked into the sky before rising from his feet and bowing. "yes. everything was going according to plan, but i am now facing an enemy too powerful to surpass in the immediate future." "the world will always be full of things that break our plans and shake our rhythm, no matter how strong you are. the only way forward is never to give up and learn from every defeat, as it is in those that you truly grow." zarak''s words were full of wisdom, born from the same defeats that cain had just experienced. "anyway, i am speaking to you right now because i have a way to help you." cain did not have the time to ask what zarak was referring to when a white gem the size of his palm reached his hand. despite its size, it was extremely heavy and glowed with a beautiful starlight. "brat, that is a saint technique. i will explain more about them once we see each other again. you only need to know that it will immensely help you. to access the information in it, you usually need to put the gem on your forehead and focus solely on it, but since you have a free ego, send your ego wave into it. do not let anyone else use it; you must always have it in your possession. if you lose it, the consequences would be dire." cain could discern the solemnity in zarak''s voice, and he adopted a serious expression before nodding to the sky. only then did he feel the ego wave of his master disappear. cain stared at the starry gem and did not immediately send his ego wave into it. he first adopted a meditative stance on the ground, using embryonic breathing to clear his mind of any worry, and only then did he begin. the instant cain''s ego wave reached the starry gem, his eyes widened, and there was a sense of absolute shock in them. an image appeared in his mind, but no words existed. instead, he saw a man full of scars before a small mountain, with a fierce expression on his face. "?ahhhhh!" the man unleashed a roar that triggered shock waves as a pillar of immense blood energy rose from his body with so much strength that it seemed it would reach the sky. he then adopted a martial stance before channeling all that energy into his right fist. cain''s amazement grew as he saw how the fierce man''s right hand began to change. each finger morphed until the entire hand now resembled a blood gem. what shocked cain so much was not the sight but the fact he could discern the thoughts and emotions of the fierce man as this one activated that technique. and finally, the most fantastic part came. cain could not say for sure, but the fierce man''s cultivation seemed to reach the peak of the wave champion level, yet that was all this one needed to destroy the mountain in front of him with a single punch! cain could not believe what he just saw. wave champions were incredibly powerful, able to perform physical feats like moving faster than the speed of sound and leveling buildings, but shattering a mountain with a single punch was the domain of wave kings! after the fierce man''s punch, the image vanished, and cain gained access to a sea of information. it was more than just words. in it, he gained access to the insight, feelings, and wisdom of the one that engraved the technique into the starry gem. "blood hand." cain uttered the name of the technique that he found inside the starry gem, and its power was simply incredible. with it, he would gain more than enough strength to surpass the defenses of any middle wave champion beast. Chapter 201 Blood Index 201 blood index cain began to analyze the information about blood hand, and after half an hour, he obtained a basic understanding. ''there are five levels in this technique: blood index, blood fingers, blood fist, blood claw, and blood shockwave. you must have reached the second level in the blood refinement art to train this skill and develop blood energy. that already is an absurdly high requirement for a wave warrior since the second level was supposed to be exclusive for wave champions, and that is just the beginning. i must condense my blood energy, channel it into my hand, and then use it to manipulate the molecular structure, exponentially enhancing strength and durability. blood hand generates immense pressure on the cultivators'' bodies. i can train the first two levels as a wave warrior. however, there is a way to begin the third level before becoming a wave champion: by achieving flawless marrow.'' cain took out his ego wave from the starry gem the next second as he analyzed all he had just learned. blood hand was simply too fantastic, and the power it could provide for wave warriors and wave champion was off the charts, so it was the requirements and complexity of the skill. suddenly cain''s eyes widened as he stared at the starry gem. now that his ego wave was out of it, he found himself unable to cultivate the technique. the words were still in his mind, but they lacked the insights and perception of the person that engraved them. cain could not train without the starry gem. if he wanted to share his knowledge with someone else, it would be impossible without handing it over. asking cain to explain blood hand to someone else would be like asking him to explain a rainbow to a blind man. he would not know where to start. ''is this the might of a saint technique?'' cain could not help but wonder if all saint technique were as profound and strong as the one he was currently holding. not wanting to waste any more time in useless thoughts, cain sent his ego wave back into the starry gem while at the same time bringing out of his space ring several wave champion beast''s hearts. the amount of blood energy needed to train blood hand was much greater than the one that cain currently had inside his body, so unless he wanted to use his own blood, he would have to use that of the beasts he had killed over the past month. cain put his left hand over the pile of wave champion beast''s hearts while raising his right index finger. he devoured the blood essence of the hearts and transformed it into blood energy. then he condensed it before channeling it into the right hand''s index finger. while cain was training blood hand, three figures were thousands of meters in the sky, watching over him. they were not other than zarak, jonathan, and bloodless #4. zarak and jonathan nodded to bloodless#4 and waited. they knew that cain was extremely hard-working and had divine talent in the ego eternal path of power, having achieved a wave king level willpower at fourteen. however, the ego eternal path of power and the astral rebirth path of power were not the same. cain had an impressive foundation, but that was due to his hard work, not necessarily a manifestation of his talent. a true talent in the astral rebirth path of power was the ability to decipher the mechanism in the body and learn to untapt the hidden power of your cells. while the essence evolution path of power focused on deciphering the mysteries of the world around you, the astral rebirth path of power looked within, taking your own body as a world that needed to be explored and understood. thinking that you could rise in the astral rebirth path of power just by consuming an immense amount of resources was naive. zarak and jonathan look at cain with anticipation. the duo could not help but expect the young man to show them an impressive sight again, just like he had done many times before. however, the duo''s excitement began to fade away as the hours passed, and cain showed no sign of even getting near the first level of blood hand. bloodless #4 said nothing and let the hours pass, but it was clear to the duo that this one was growing impatient. finally, after eighteen hours of waiting, a frown appeared on his face. "it seems that the generation of blood energy during the wave warrior rank was pure luck, and his talent in the astral rebirth path of power is average at most." zarak and jonathan could not help but sigh as they heard that. bloodless #4 was not cruel with his words, just giving his objective analysis of cain''s talent. "i have to go back to blood sea. he only has a rudimentary understanding of the blood refinement art and is unable to figure out the remaining techniques on his own, so it''s not a big deal. nevertheless, i will retrieve the saint technique. it''s pointless for him to possess it." zarak nodded at bloodless #4. the technique was not his, and he did not have the right or power to stop bloodless #4 from taking it back. "i will speak with..." zarak was just about to establish a telepathic link with cain to retrieve the starry gem when this one opened his eyes, and a burst of blood energy emerged from his hand. the trio saw how the tip of cain''s right index finger began to change, adopting a blood-metallic color. that meant that cain had entered the first level of blood hand. zarak and jonathan showed small smiles as they saw that. nevertheless, eighteen hours to achieve that was still too long, and they could see that bloodless #4 still intended to take the starry gem back. however, everything changed when the trio saw that the transformation of the finger did not stop at the tip. a human index finger is composed of three bones that mark the point at which it can bend, named the proximal, middle, and distal phalanges. cain managed to transmute the distal phalange of his index finger, and it carried on. it only stopped once a blood-metallic color covered the middle phalange portion of the index finger. zarak and jonathan were not familiar with blood hand, but they could tell from the shock on bloodless #4''s face that whatever cain had done was impressive. Chapter 202 Killing the Lightning-Fall Mantis (I) 202 killing the lightning-fall mantis (i) bloodless #4 did not say a word to the duo and kept his eyes on cain. he saw how the index finger of the young man began to vibrate before this one used it to pierce the ground. cain''s index finger entered the earth as if the ground was snow and his finger a piece of hot metal, but that was far from everything. the ground began to shake before breaking apart, and the area around cain''s index finger trembled before being pulverized! "he advanced so much in the first level in only eighteen hours!?" bloodless #4 was having a hard time keeping his composed expression. he was extremely familiar with blood hand and knew that the first level, blood index, focused on channeling your blood energy into a single finger, causing it to vibrate rapidly at a molecular level. this vibration enhances the finger''s strength and sharpness, allowing the user to pierce through tough materials and deal catastrophic damage to the target. "is it true that he never trained a saint technique before?" bloodless #4 was having difficulty accepting that cain''s talent in the astral rebirth path of power could be so high, so he considered the possibility that the young man had already entered into contact with a saint technique that worked similarly to blood hand. zarak could see bloodless #4''s solemnity, and this one did not hesitate before answering. "i have never taught or seen him use one in any fight. although i can not discard him finding one in his journeys." zarak gave an honest answer. cain''s luck was always great, and he might have found one saint technique on his travels. after careful consideration, bloodless #4 dismissed the possibility and shook his head. he had witnessed cain''s battle with the lightning-fall mantis and knew that the young man would not have held back any techniques while fighting for his life. in the end, bloodless #4 had to acknowledge that cain possessed exceptional talent in understanding the body''s mechanics. it can be said that bloodless #4 was both right and wrong. while cain had not previously trained in a saint technique, his exploration of the red king''s memories provided him with a deeper understanding of the human body, making the training of blood hand a more manageable task. that wisdom was part of cain and would only help him in his journey through the astral rebirth path of power, so it did not provide a false impression about his talent. bloodless #4 remained silent momentarily, and he analyzed the situation before turning toward zarak. "i need to return to blood sea. the starry gem with blood hand belongs to that boy now. it is fine as long as he doesn''t hand it over to someone else." zarak was full of questions, but bloodless #4 only gave the duo a short nod before flashing away. zarak and jonathan looked at each other and could not help but smile awkwardly again. cain''s talent in blood hand was so exceptional that blood sea would undoubtedly show an even greater interest in him from now on. once cain was sure no one was listening, he began to explain his plan, and the look in the vice-captains'' constantly changed between shock and awe. it was insane by any measure, but everybody felt the confidence in cain''s voice as he spoke, making them believe it could be done. everybody needed to fulfill their roles, and the most important one was tasked to no other than the weaker among them, orin. if the girl made the slightest mistake, everything was over. "i might be asking too much of you, but it is essential that you do it perfectly. are you confident in fulfilling this mission?" orin would be lying if she said she did not feel the pressure of the mission cain assigned, but a decisive expression appeared on her face as she nodded. "i will." she said nothing more, but those two words were enough for cain. other than orin, only his assassination skills were enough for the mission, but he would be busy elsewhere. "now, assemble your troops. we march at the break of dawn." the vice-captains nodded at cain''s command and shouted the order, ensuring all the soldiers were ready to march. thousands of soldiers formed in front of the military encampment, and soon confusion and shock appeared on their faces. the death of one of the vice-captains was clear to everybody, but now not only was william missing, but no one could see the hunt leader, cain. uriel and the other vice-captains under captain robert were in formation in the distance, and when they saw that cain was missing, smiles full of mockery appeared on their faces. "i told you. that brat was not fit to take the role of great commander. anyway, i will call a meeting once this day''s march ends and take advantage of the situation." "haha, uriel, your insight is as sharp as always." "we always knew that brat would fail, just like you said." uriel''s smile grew wider as he heard the compliments of the other. as for the fact they were complaining each day of the past month, he chose to ignore it. antony saw the confusion in the soldiers but offered no explanation, and after detailing today''s battle formation, they marched. Chapter 203 Killing the Lightning-Fall Mantis (II) 203 killing the lightning-fall mantis (ii) after a few hours of marching into the forest, the military force clashed with the wave beast''s horde, but things didn''t go as usual. for some reason, the vice-captains implemented a battle formation that focused so much on defense that they barely killed any wave beast. of course, that also translated into a decrease in the number of casualties on their side, but if they were not going to harm the horde, what was the point of marching? antony and another level 9 vice-captain were fighting with all they had against the lightning-fall mantis. the duo also focused on defense, but every minute was a test against such a formidable opponent. antony orders the military force to retreat at the first signs of sunlight beginning to fade. the vice-captains and the rest of the soldiers followed the command and orderly pulled back. it was not hard since, despite the long battle, they had not wasted much energy. the lightning-fall mantis and the rest of the wave champion beast saw the soldiers move back but did not chase, leaving that task to their underlings. at their level, they have developed enough wisdom to understand the essence of ambushes and traps and know that blindly following the soldiers could lead to disaster. the wave champion beasts even used wave beasts with the ability to fly to keep an eye on the soldiers as they moved back and ensured none remained behind. once the humans were far out of sight, the wave champion beasts got near the corpses on the ground. the beasts considered the evolution cores and rebirth hearts as treasures since they contained an immense amount of nutrients and refined wave that could help with their evolutions. the lightning-fall mantis picked the strongest corpses, but no one dared to say anything as it was the only middle wave champion beast present. there were very few bodies, so the beast was able to carry all of them into its cave. the rest of the wave champion beast divided what remained and could hear the sound of bones cracking from the lighting-fall mantis'' cave, making them drool, but none dared to get near. one should not let the fact that they were working together against the soldiers fool them. wave beasts were highly territorial, and that aspect of their life only grew stronger alongside their cultivation. if any of the wave champion beasts were to get anywhere near the lightning-fall mantis'' cave, it might be enough to start a battle to the death, which is why they all stayed away. the rest of the wave beast''s horde returned after chasing the military force, and the first thing they did was consume the bodies on the battlefield. there were no more humans as the wave champion beasts took those away, so they ate their own kind. the sound of breaking bones and tearing flesh echoed across the battlefield. usually, such gruesome sights and noises would make training harder, but wave beasts did not need things like meditation. they only needed to consume enough energy and let their lineage do the rest. that was a very straightforward path but also very limited. once wave beasts reached the peak of what their lineage could grant them, they found themselves unable to progress anymore, no matter how much energy they obtained. deep within the night, the sound of breaking bones vanished from the lightning-fall mantis'' cave. the middle wave champion beast had finished devouring the last corpse, and there was a bloody smile as it felt its life wave beginning to surge due to all the nutrients it had just got. "ahhhhhhhhhhhh!" the lightning-fall mantis screamed with even more strength as the blast sent it crashing to the ground. the explosion generated a massive hole in its back and wounded every inner organ, including its heart! cain smiled when he saw the damage in the lightning-fall mantis and knew this one was over. even if it was still alive, that wound was lethal, and it would not recover from it. however, cain''s smile vanished the next second. he was still in the air and could feel the thousands of fierce gazes focused on him. now came the part that was just as hard as killing the lightning-fall mantis, surviving the wrath of the thousands of wave beasts about to launch themselves toward him, full of killing intent. cain knew that all the wave beasts knew of his presence, so he unleashed the full power of his ego wave. a picture of the forest appeared in his mind with all the wave beasts and the wave champion beasts in it. ''the good news is that the other wave champion beasts have their lairs far away from this place, most likely due to their fear of the lightning-fall mantis. the bad news is that a sea of wave beast is in my path out of this place.'' cain''s ego wave gave him a map with the position of every enemy, but that was far from enough to escape. "roooaaarrrrrrr!!!" the entirety of the horde began to roar as they trampled each other in order to reach the human. killing intent was not the only thing in their hearts, and they could not hide their desire to eat cain alive as they felt the bursting vitality of this one. cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw how the wave beasts looked at him, and he could imagine what would happen if they managed to trap him. the red light in his eyes grew stronger as he suppressed all his fear and worries and pushed his cognitive abilities to their absolute limit. dozens of wave beasts had already made their way to the zone where cain was about to land and launched themselves with their maws open, wanting nothing more than devour him. cain''s heartbeat grew more and more potent as the beasts got closer, but he could not be calmer. there was no room for doubt, fear, or uncertainty in his mind if he wanted to survive! the instant cain felt the tip of his foot reach the ground, his astral wave and blood energy exploded with so much strength that it sent all the wave beasts near him flying away! killing the wave beasts wounded in the blast would have been easy, but cain did not hesitate before pushing asura form to the limit and running away as fast as he could. if one saw it from the sky, it would be an epic sight worthy of legends. a massive horde made of dozens of thousands of giant beasts dashing toward a young man bathed in red lighting, and how this one managed to carve a path through them using nothing but his body and mind. Chapter 204 Killing stroke (I) Chapter 204 Killing stroke (I) Cain focused around 80% of his Astral Wave on his legs in order to improve his speed. While 100% was an option due to his mastery over Wave Focus, that would leave the rest of his body defenseless, which would be deadly in a situation where hundreds of attacks would come at him every second. He had not run more than five hundred meters when another tide of Wave Beasts launched toward him, with the one at the lead being a Level 5 Horn Beast. Even without using his Astral Wave, Cain could have easily defeated a Level 5 Wave Beast, but now such an insignificant opponent presented a genuine problem. If he were to kill it, that would slow him down and weaken his body''s momentum, allowing the rest of the horde to gang up on him. No matter how strong and resilient Cain was, fighting hundreds of Wave Beasts attacking from every direction was nearly impossible. And even if he could, everything would be over once the Wave Champion Beasts reach him. Cain bent his knees and passed beneath the Horn Beast, moving forward without losing momentum. The way in which Cain maneuvered his body was superb, showing granular control of every extremity and an awareness of the surroundings that could only be described as supernatural. After nearly half an hour and five hundred kilometers, the amount of Wave Beasts around Cain had reached such an outrageous number that he was forced to begin killing some of them in order to advance. Luckily for Cain, a single thrust of Blood Index blasted every Wave Beast out of his path, but that gradually diminished his speed and momentum. Things were becoming more dangerous for Cain as he could feel the Wave Champion Beasts coming closer. He was just as fast as them using his top speed, so any delay in his path pushed him closer to a horrible scenario. Cain''s eyes narrowed. His Ego Wave showed how a Wave Champion Beast surpassed the others and was already extremely close to him. That Early Wave Champion Beast''s name was Earthfiend Monkey, a beast known for its speed and strength. It was the beast that wounded William, forcing the young man to use the Berserker State Wave Virus. An instant after the blinding light appeared, an explosion emerged from the ground, ripping the flesh on the Earthfiend Monkey''s back and killing all the Wave Beasts around them. That explosion froze the entire horde, and they saw a single figure emerge from the blast. Cain was covered in a dense cape of his Astral Wave and Blood Energy that was working to the limit, but even with that, there were burn wounds all over his body. Despite all the damage and pain, Cain''s eyes were cold as he sent the command through his [A.I. Chip Module] and activated all the bombs buried in this place. Blinding light covered the area between the two mountain ranges, and fire explosions killed everything around them. It was a majestic sight. Hundreds of Wave Beasts perished in those explosions, with thousands more being wounded. It was like a chain reaction, and they were in the middle of it. Things only worsened for the horde since the next second, hundreds of figures emerged from the mountain ranges. The Wave Champions Beast were shocked by the sudden appearance of the humans and could not understand how they hid from their aerial surveillance. Cain gracefully descended to the ground as he saw the bloodlust in the soldiers'' faces and the fear in the horde. Everything that brought them to this place began to rewind in his mind. Chapter 205 Killing stroke (II) 205 Killing stroke (II) At the start of the day, while the entire army thought that Cain remained in the encampment, he had actually marched alongside them, hidden among the rest of the soldiers. He suppressed his battle power, making everybody on both sides think he was just another Level 4 Wave Warrior. When Antony gave the order to pull back, Cain used Void Breath to hide his presence and made his way to the Lightning-Fall Mantis'' cave, which he found using his sense of smell. That was where Cain''s hidden movements ended, but those of the rest of the military force just began. Antony guided the entire military force back to the encampment. The instant they were outside the range of the aerial Wave Beasts, he took the five hundred strongest soldiers and marched under cover of the night. It was not easy, as they needed to advance thousands of kilometers in less than two hours and do it without alerting the horde. The one that had the most defiant and crucial job was no other than Orin. She had to remain in the enemy territory, scan the area, and wait until the last moment before placing the bombs. If she did it too early and a Wave Beast detected a single one, Cain would have lost his escape route and most likely perished under the horde''s might. Considering her battle power, if any Wave Beast were to detect her, there was no way she could have survived, so the danger she faced was no less than Cain''s. Despite all the danger and the narrow window of time, Orin did a flawless job, avoiding the detection of the Wave Beasts and placing all the bombs in the right place. "Kill everybody!" Cain''s voice echoed across the battlefield as he reached the ground. There was no more Blood Energy inside him, and his Astral Wave would follow suit, so he did not hesitate before flashing away. "Protect the Hunt Leader!" "I will hand it over to the Hunt Leader." An Early Wave Champion Beast''s corpse was a treasure, but no one said anything. No one would dare to fight against Cain for it. Once that was over, Orin''s energy and that of the rest exploded as they marched deeper into the wild horde, killing everything in their path. Antony had not remained still, commanding the Essence Wave Cultivators to fire more and more spells on the Early Wave Champion Beasts. The Astral Wave Cultivators descended from the mountain ranges just in time to blaze across the Wave Beasts that were just a second ago under a rain of spells. Despite the low number of soldiers, those who took part in this mission were the best of the best. There was no one among them beneath Level 4, and a considerable portion had reached Level 5. The explosion had caused chaos in the wounded Wave Beast horde, leaving them vulnerable to the soldiers. Additionally, the loss of the Lightning-Fall Mantis and Earthfiend Monkey only made things worse. Antony and the other Vice-Captains did not lose time, and after unleashing one final tide of explosions over the horde, they charged toward the Early Wave Champion Beasts full of killing intent. Cain had already left the battlefield behind him and calmly walked toward the encampment with a wave crystal in his right hand and a heart in his left. He was extremely tired, and it took everything he had to fulfill this mission, but it was worth it. Cain accomplished an impressive feat by tricking thousands of Wave Beasts into a death trap and even deadly injuring a powerful Middle Wave Champion Beast. However, what truly mattered to him was the lesson he learned. A loss did not signify the end. He understood that with determination and persistence, anything could be achieved! The red light in Cain''s eyes began to burn with an even brighter light as his willpower grew stronger. Chapter 206 Silent hypnosis 206 Silent hypnosis The soldiers had already left their tents by the time the first ray of sunlight appeared in the sky but were in disarray as they did not know what was happening. Not only was yesterday''s battle futile, but now hundreds of soldiers were missing, including all Vice-Captains except for Uriel''s group. Uriel and the other four Vice-Captains had already assembled their soldiers and were in formation, ready to march into the forest. From the moment Cain became the Hunt Leader, they had been working on their own, so the disappearance of the other Vice-Captains did not affect their battle formations. Nevertheless, Uriel could not help but frown. He had planned to summon all the Vice-Captains yesterday in order to remove Cain from his role as Hunt Leader, but they just vanished without saying a word. ''What is happening? Why would the strongest soldiers leave at night and shut down all communication with the main force?'' As Uriel was trying to figure out what happened, he saw that the soldiers began to focus on him. He was the highest-ranking commander present, which incited the soldiers to seek his guidance. Uriel''s eyes narrowed as a smile emerged on his face. He knew as much as the rest of the soldiers, but that would not stop him from taking advantage of the situation. "There are military movements taking place right now under the command of the Hunt Leader. You are not fit to take part in it and should wait for further information if you are deemed worthy." Although vague, that answer helped the soldiers solve some of their doubts. Uriel would have wanted to spread malice against Cain and the other Vice-Captains among the troops but had no idea what was happening to them and was smart enough not to spread misinformation with the Captains looking from a distance. "I will take the role of commander for the time being. All squad leaders should come to me so I can brief you on the current situation and also ask some questions." Taking orders from someone else but their Vice-Captains was odd for those soldiers. Still, they were confused, so many were ready to follow Uriel''s words. Cain turned toward Uriel, and the red light in his eyes exploded as he unleashed his Ego Wave. When the soldiers saw that red force field emerge from Cain''s mind, they moved away since no one wanted to get caught in the crossfire. Uriel''s eyes widened as he was surprised that Cain would act like that, inciting a physical conflict after a few words, but it made him happy. His cultivation was near the peak of Level 9, and he was confident in overcoming Cain. There was no way for a Wave Warrior to avoid an Ego Wave that moved so fast that not even Wave Champion could dodge it, so Uriel just received it before making his Astral Wave burst. The Captains saw that and frowned as they found it hard to figure out how to proceed. Infight during a military mission was absolutely against the rules, and although Uriel started it with that threat, Cain escalated things into a physical conflict. The student forces had not left their encampment. Amos and Dominic saw with excitement the discord generated between Cain and Uriel. Any weakness in the military force was good for them, not to mention that Cain was digging his grave by breaking the rules in the presence of the Imperial Lightning Fort''s Captains. Golden light covered Uriel''s body as he was ready to fight against Cain, but suddenly, a sense of absolute doom assaulted him as his instincts began to scream danger. Before Uriel could even take a step, four weapons charged with Wave appeared on top of his head, heart, neck, and spine. The attackers were not other than the Vice-Captains in Uriel''s group! "Simon, Anton, Harol, Jack. What do you think you are doing!?" Uriel shouted, but then he saw that the eyes of the four had lost focus. "You hypnotized them!" Those words shocked everybody. The Captains, Wave University''s teachers, soldiers, and students could not believe what they heard. The fact that Cain was an Elementary Hypnosis Master was not a secret, but being able to instantly hypnotize four Level 8 Wave Warriors against their will without saying a single word was shocking. Hypnosis skills at that level meant that Cain was one step away from becoming a Grand Hypnosis Master! Chapter 207 Mark in military record 207 Mark in military record Cain retrieved his Ego Wave the next second and tilted his head. Before he would even open his mouth, the other Vice-Captains spoke. "Vice-Captain Uriel, you should be careful with your accusations. No one is controlling me. I simply can not allow you to act in such an unruly way against the Hunt Leader, and I think my friends feel the same." Horal, the second strongest member of their group, spoke. He was nearly two meters tall, and the point of his spear was touching Uriel''s neck. "I think the same as Vice-Captain Harol." "So do I." "That makes four of us." Uriel''s heart was full of disbelief. The way the four reacted was similar to someone hypnotized, but he had no way to prove it. Things grew even more weird when the four retracted their weapons and turned toward Cain. "Hunt Leader. We remember your words from before about choosing a bad leader. I hope we can speak a little more." Cain stared at the four calmly before turning around and walking to his tent. "I am tired. Once I wake up, I will find a way to talk with those truly interested in joining me." Simon, Anton, Harol, and Jack nodded toward Cain before dismissing their soldiers and silently walking to their tents. Uriel was the only one remaining, having difficulty deciding what to do next. The soldiers were shocked to hear that. They knew that Cain had taken part in a mission to handle the mighty Lightning-Fall Mantis, but none of them could have imagined he had mortally wounded the Middle Wave Champion Beast. Everybody thought that Cain would be ecstatic that Antony brought the Lightning-Fall Mantis'' corpse, but when they turned toward him, they could see his eyes bursting with red light and coldness. "My instructions were clear. You were supposed to do the greatest possible damage to the horde and wound the Early Wave Champion Beasts before returning. Who gave you the authority to defy my command and track down the Lightning-Fall Mantis?" Cain''s voice was harsh, and the red light in his eyes only grew colder as he spoke those words. Antony lowered his face and dared not look directly at Cain. The other Vice-Captains could not help but sigh as they saw that. Antony took the risk of going after the Lightning-Fall Mantis because the Vice-Captain the beast killed was one under the same Captain as him. Still, while the Vice-Captains understood Antony''s rage, that did not give him the right to defy Cain''s orders. The chain of command in the military was absolute, and disregarding an order was a grave crime. Cain took a deep breath as the red light in his eyes vanished, but there was still coldness in them. "You performed a great feat by leading the five hundred soldiers into the mountain ranges and preparing the ambush. However, a good deed does not erase a bad one. I will mark this offense in your military record, and I will make sure to write in detail the events that led to it." Antony showed a small smile as he heard that. A mark on his military record was by no means something he could simply ignore, but the last part of Cain''s words meant there would be a context that would diminish the burden of his offense. "Thank you for your consideration, Hunt Leader." Cain nodded and sent the Lightning-Fall Mantis into his ring before walking toward the command center. The Vice-Captains did not need a word before immediately following the young man. Chapter 208 New Wave Champion 208 New Wave Champion "How it went?" Cain did not waste time, and once he and the Vice-Captains reached the center of command, he ordered a detailed description along with video footage of the ambush. Antony and the other Vice-Captain nodded and gave their report while sending video files through their A.I. Chips. Cain focused on the words of the Vice-Captains and ordered the Absolute Life Form System to analyze the videos and give him a detailed analysis. Once he studied everything, a small smile appeared as he sighed. "Good. Since the damage was so immense, it doesn''t matter if there is no infight between the surviving Early Wave Champion Beasts." The Vice-Captains were a little confused by those words, but after a moment, the smartest were able to understand it and turned toward Antony. The Level 9 Essence Wave Cultivator also deciphered Cain''s words, and a complicated expression appeared on his face. Cain refrained from commanding them to pursue the Lightning-Fall Mantis due to its vulnerable condition, making it incapable of defending itself against the Early Wave Champion Beasts. Moreover, as only one of them could consume it, there was a high likelihood of conflicts arising among the beasts. "There is no need to mourn over the past. You made a mistake and should learn from it. I am not angry, but it will take a lot for me to trust you again like I did before." Antony clenched his fists as he raised his head and looked directly at Cain with eyes full of determination. "I will prove my worth and regain my honor." Cain read those messages, and scorn appeared on his face. The truth was that the four Vice-Captains on Uriel''s side had attempted to contact him and offered all sorts of deals, but the main idea behind them was that they would work as spies for him. It was clear to Cain that they wanted to work for both sides and wait for a winner to rise before deciding who to follow. Only a fool would trust people like that, and he could only use them as disposable pawns, so the fact they were angry did not matter to him. "Apex, please handle them. You can use costly rewards to calm them if it helps. They are garbage, but I still have use for them, so keep them on the hook." "What a boring task, but since it will only take me ten minutes, I will do it." Cain nodded at the System Spirit and focused on his cultivation. He could easily handle those four but did not want to sour his mood by arguing with traitorous rats. The next day, the entire military force marched into the forest, ready to slaughter. A day was far from enough to allow the horde to heal from their wounds, and the soldiers were like a tsunami, obliterating everything in their path. William rejoining the military force, plus Antony''s enhanced willpower and Cain''s Blood Index were enough for the combined power of the Vice-Captains to kill all the wounded Early Wave Champion Beasts. The military force gained momentum after that major victory, and in the days that followed, they eliminated anything that got in their way. Nine days after the demise of the Lightning-Fall Mantis, just as the soldiers were in battle formation, ready to march into the forest, a burst of Essence Wave emerged from one of the tents along with a shining light. The Vice-Captains turned to the tent, and they all knew that Antony was rising to the Wave Champion Rank! Chapter 209 Level 6 209 Level 6 The light coming from Antony''s tent kept growing stronger, just like the density of the Essence Wave, drawing a sense of profound awe in the hearts of all those seeing it. Members of the student force also noticed the scene in the military encampment, and those with a powerful background and cultivation knowledge understood the meaning behind that phenomenon. os and Dominic displayed somber expressions as they saw that. The light could only mean that Antony was rising to the Wave Champion Rank after having developed a Law Comprehension over the Law of Light that reached the Deep Basic Understanding Level. Even the duo that was among the greatest geniuses of their generation and had the backing of extremely powerful Noble Families had to admit that it was an incredible achievement. Anyone with a Deep Basic Understanding of a Law or a Flawless Marrow would have a direct path to the peak of the Wave Champion Rank, and as long as their destiny kept rising, it would not be hard to become Wave Kings. A Wave King had the right to call himself a monarch and had the might to crush mountains with their bare hands! The Essence Wave density coming from Antony finally reached its zenith before the young man emerged from it, bathed in glorious golden light. He jumped more than fifty meters in the sky and was able to remain there, standing in the air like a legendary being. Walking on air was an ability all Wave Champions had, but not all of them could master it. You either needed a lot of training or an extraordinarily dense and powerful Wave. The awe and admiration of the soldiers only grew stronger as they saw Antony in the sky. Antony could not hide the ecstatic expression on his face as he felt the power running through his body and how his breakthrough improved his already potent sensitivity to the Law of Light. Amos and Dominic stared at Antony, and the moment they felt the power of this one, they clenched their fists. Although they were extremely close to Wave Champion, they were still at Level 9. There was no way Antony could have more resources than two scions like them, so there was only one explanation for this one to rise to Wave Champion faster and with such a solid foundation. Antony did not beat Amos and Dominic in terms of hard work or resources, but he had access to daily sessions of Embryonic Breathing, something the duo did not. It made sense, after all, no matter how strong Amos and Dominic were, they did not have the means to bring a 5-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master to a military mission. The duo glanced at each other, and a flash of enlightenment appeared in their eyes as they figured Antony''s edge and looked toward another point in the military encampment. Cain was oblivious to what was happening outside his tent since, just like Antony, he was also in the midst of a breakthrough. However, unlike the Wave Champion bathed in golden light, a thick layer of foul filth covered his body. After almost two months of using prime resources, Cain could no longer suppress his cultivation, and his meridians finally extended all over his muscular system. Every muscle fiber, whether smooth, skeletal, or cardiac, was now constantly nurtured by Astral Wave, and Cain could instantly improve it, exponentially enhancing his strength and speed. Now that was over, Cain''s meridians progressed toward their next target. The goal of Level 6 was for the meridian to reach the skin, allowing the Wave Cultivator to have a direct path from their energy pool into the outside. Agility: 4.1-->.4.5 Vitality: 7.3-->7.9 Wave: 4.2-->4.6 Blood Energy: 7.4-->7.9 --- Marrow washing: 84% completion --- Note: Wave Virus inside Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 16.7%] Although the improvement did not seem that massive, the last time Cain measured his stats, he was near the peak of Level 5. Cain clenched his fists as he felt his strength and analyzed his stats with delight. ''My vitality is comparable with someone at Level 8, but even more important, my marrow washing advanced by 5%!'' There was nothing more important for Cain than his marrow-washing percentage since it had a critical role in the might of his foundation and how fast he could advance in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. If Cain followed this trend, he would reach a 99% marrow washing by the time he entered Level 9. Unfortunately, obtaining a 5% improvement by level without a massive lucky chance would be impossible as it would become more demanding the more he progressed. "I need to figure out a path to improve my marrow washing. I still have time since, even with my enhanced Wave Talent, I will not reach Level 9 before the end of the year." Cain couldn''t help but laugh after saying those words. He never thought he would reach a point where he had to worry about advancing too quickly in his cultivation. Chapter 210 Three vs three (I) 210 Three vs three (I) The increase in Antony''s power and Cain''s ability to single-handedly take care of the most powerful Early Wave Champion Beasts made it so that the military force crushed everything in their path. Ten days before the deadline, the military force finally surpassed the end of the massive mountain range that divided their path and that of the student force, reaching Blade Mountain''s foot! From afar, Blade Mountain was a massive structure, with its peak rising for dozens of thousands of meters, but only once they were right beneath it could the soldiers perceive its majesty. Hundreds of indentations, patches of forest, and caverns spread across the massive mountain. The density of the Life Wave around it was so deep that small clouds formed from time to time. "Everybody get in formation!" Cain''s voice echoed, pushing the soldiers'' minds out of the majestic mountain and into the task at hand. The sole goal of rushing to this place despite the danger they would face was to secure the massive amount of resources spread across Blade Mountain''s foot. King Beasts inhabited Blade Mountain before the start of The Hunt, so the resources they could get from here were high enough to make even Peak Wave Champions green with envy. "The entire military force will be divided into four groups. One will remain here and form a new encampment, while the other three will spread across the terrain. Every single thing of value in this place, we will take it!" Cain''s words made the greed in the soldiers'' hearts grow even more potent. Some might never see resources of this level again in the future, so they would not leave anything behind. Cain left Lurin in charge of generating the new encampment. The young man had regained his position as First Lieutenant due to his impressive feats over the last three months and had shown great skill in terms of logistics. Lurin would not work alone since Levi and Orin would be by his side, ensuring the new encampment defenses. The leaders of the three groups in charge of scouring the terrain and harvesting the resources would be Cain, Antony, and William. Cain could use his Ego Wave to silently explore the terrain, avoiding unnecessary fights. In contrast, Antony and William could use overwhelming power to crush any Early or Middle Wave Beast that would get in their way. The last one had also evolved to Wave Champion three days ago, having achieved Flawless Marrow, and his battle power was phenomenal. For the next week, the military force worked non-stop, harvesting everything remotely valuable that appeared in their sight. They used every second of sunlight, and were times they would not return to the encampment until deep in the night. Unlike the duo, the density of the third Wave Champion among the students was very low. Clearly, the man exchanged his foundation for a higher cultivation speed and did not come remotely close to Flawless Marrow. Cain did not react to the man''s words and continued walking forward. The name of the third Wave Champion among the students was Carl. He came from a Noble Family with a Marquess and had a powerful Lineage, and there was nothing but excitement in his heart at the start of The Hunt. However, the threat of death was too much for someone like him, and things reached a climax when an Early Wave Champion Beast almost ripped his head off. That experience shattered his will, so he decided to ignore his foundation and forcefully advance to Wave Champion. Carl felt great frustration after sacrificing his foundation for cultivation speed, so when he saw how a mere soldier ignored him, he exploded. "Who do you think you are!" Current schedule: 7 chapters a week. Bonus chapters: Over 400 power stones: 1 extra chapter. Over 800 power stones: 2 extra chapters. Over 1200 power stones: 3 extra chapters. Chapter 211 Three vs three (II) 211 Three vs three (II) "Who do you think you are!?" Carl''s Astral Wave burst as he shouted toward Cain. He did not bother to hide the rage on his face nor his intention to fight. Silence reigned as soldiers and students saw that. Dominic and Amos had unleashed their auras, but neither deployed their Wave Cloak since that would quickly escalate things. Cain stopped moving and slowly turned around as a red light burst from his eyes, and the full power of his Ego Wave emerged the next second. The red force field rose like a mighty pillar into the sky before crashing down on Carl, forcefully scanning this one. The student could not do anything since he had not even taken a step in the Ego Eternal Path of Power. Carl could not fight against the red force field, but luckily two blasts of dense Waves appeared next to him, making Cain retrieve his Ego Wave. Carl smiled as Dominic appeared by his side, making courage return to his heart. Dominic did not really care about Carl, but he could not let Cain simply look down on the student force. "You took all the resources in the zone, including the ones on our side of the mountain." "I just did what you would have done in our place. Not to mention, since when do I have to ask for permission to take something I want?" Cain''s voice was cold, and it was clear he was not willing to back down. "Hphm, we would never have acted so shamelessly as you!" Carl shouted toward Cain, but his words made Dominic frown since anyone could see the falsehood in them. "What a ridiculous lie. And even if what you say is true, that only means you are stupid." "YOU!" Carl could not contain his rage and was about to flash forward when two figures appeared next to Cain, each unleashing a Wave much greater than his own. Amos'' eyes grew sharp as he emptied his mind of everything else and focused solely on William. William flashed forward, dodging Amos'' punch and landing a palm strike on the chest of this one, sending him flying away. Carl''s eyes widened as he saw the level of the battles that the other Wave Champions could achieve, and he knew he did not come anywhere close to that. ''We are at the same cultivation level, yet there is so much difference between us!'' "THUMP!" A powerful heartbeat drew Carl''s attention, and he saw how Cain continued walking toward him, unleashing a blast of Blood Lightning. Carl clenched his teeth as he made his Astral Wave explode, making his entire body adopt a silver color as black armor covered him. He was not over as he took out a massive spiked rod from his space ring, and the force enhancing his skin spread into the weapon. The red light in Cain''s eyes reached its zenith as he stared at the Wave Champion before him. This would be the first time he had a genuine fight against a cultivator above the Wave Warrior Rank. Orlando was a very weak Wave Champion that rose upon reaching Level 7, not to mention the old man was exhausted before the fight even started. ''Let''s see how much I have grown in half a year.'' Current schedule: 7 chapters a week. Bonus chapters: Over 400 power stones: 1 extra chapter. Over 800 power stones: 2 extra chapters. Over 1200 power stones: 3 extra chapters. Chapter 212 Three vs three (III) Chapter 212 Three vs three (III) Carl clenched his teeth, and his heartbeat grew faster as he saw Cain''s red eyes focused on him. There was no way he could keep calm facing the willpower of a Wave King. "AHHHH!" Carl shouted as he made his Astral Wave burst, waving his spiked rod toward Cain with all his power. "?Boom!" The spiked rod generated a small blast upon impact but did not come close to hitting its target. Cain easily dodged the rod, and his eyes narrowed as he saw the clumsiness with which Carl used the weapon. While the scion could use his skill to enhance the weapon, it was clear he had little proficiency in it. ''Unless your weapon mastery is as good as the one you have over your own arms, there is no point for Astral Cultivators to use them. It must be a decision made out of fear.'' All those thoughts crossed Cain''s mind as he saw the rod on the ground, but he did not waste too much time in useless thoughts and carried on with his counter, sending a blow covered in Blood Lightning to Carl''s liver. As soon as his punch landed, Cain knew there was a problem. It had massive strength since he focused most of his Astral Wave, but Carl''s resistance after using the skill and wearing the armor was no joke. Carl felt pain, but there was also a smile on his face as he understood that his body could handle Cain''s attack without much problem. He raised his rod from the ground and waved it to the side with so much strength that it generated a small gale. Cain pushed his body to the ground, dodging the weapon again before rising with all his strength and sending an uppercut. He hoped the blow would shake Carl''s brain, giving him a moment to trigger Blood Revolution. The scion''s eyes widened with pain, and before he could even adjust, another blow landed on his jaw, making his eyes lose focus for a second. "BOOM!" A blast echoed across the battlefield as Cain connected a full power punch into Carl''s chest, sending this one flying away. Although the scion paralysis was the perfect chance for Blood Revolution, Cain feared that using it alongside Blood Hand could crack Carl''s skull and produce severe brain trauma. Cain deactivated Blood Hand the next second and flashed toward Carl, sending a ferocious kick that carried all his torque to the scion''s head before this one could get up. That was just the beginning of Cain''s onslaught. Blood Hand did its job wounding Carl greatly, and now his normal attacks were enough to handle the rest. Soldiers and students saw the battle between their best warriors, and their expressions could not be more different. The first group was full of excitement, while those in the second could not help but look away. The fight between Dominic, Antony, Amos, and William was close, with neither side being able to overwhelm the other. Nevertheless, Cain practically tossed Carl around like this one was a puppet. Those powerful enough understood that the key behind Cain''s dominion was not exactly the young soldier''s strength but his enemy''s lack of battle awareness. The only thing Carl gained by using a rod was that Cain could easily predict his movements, so victory was never a question. It was just a matter of time before the soldier emerged victorious, but Cain did shock people by being able to fire strikes that could easily break Carl''s defenses. "BOOOMMMM!" A final blast marked the end of the battle as Cain activated Blood Hand one last time to punch Carl in the chest, burying this one into the ground. Chapter 213 Going up Chapter 213 Going up "BOOOMMMM!" Dominic and Amos noticed the blast and glanced to the side, only to see Cain standing atop an unconscious Carl. ''?Garbage!'' ''Useless!'' The duo cursed in their minds when they saw that Carl not only lost against Cain but was not able to last for over ten minutes against someone that had yet to become a Level 7 Wave Warrior! Dominic unleashed a small tornado while Amos triggered a massive explosion, pushing their respective opponents away before pulling back. Antony and William were about to chase after the duo but stopped once Cain raised his hand. "The fight is over. Remember to stay in your lane, or else the next time, I will not contain myself." Cain kicked Carl''s massive body, sending this one crashing toward Dominic before turning around. "Back to the encampment. Take the rest of the day to rest." The instant the thousands of soldiers heard those words, they all immediately followed the command. Cain''s aura had grown so strong that his word was law, and everybody had to follow them no matter their strength or military rank. Dominic saw how the military force acted around Cain and could not help but clench his fists. Again and again, he found himself losing against Cain. If not for his cultivation, he would have no way to compare himself with that young monster. Dominic was quite arrogant, being the scion of an extremely powerful Noble Family that had existed for thousands of years and whose authority on the Collapsing Lightning Sector was only second to the Collapsing Lightning Duke. He could not conceive that someone who came from nothing was stealing the spotlight from him. ''Hmph, no matter what, I will teach you that your place is beneath me.'' A vicious light appeared in Dominic''s eyes as he glanced at a group of women at the back of the student force. That was a group of beautiful women with decent cultivation since none was beneath Level 4. However, many had downcast expressions on their faces, and the other student looked at them with a mixture of pity and disdain. --- Cain had told the soldiers to rest since, from tomorrow, they would not avoid battles and continue with their mission of exterminating every Wave Beast in the area. He had just reached his tent and was preparing to sleep when he heard a voice in his mind. In the following weeks, soldiers and students began to advance up in Blade Mountain, killing all the Wave Beasts in their path and harvesting more and more resources. Each group took a different edge to keep a certain distance between themselves. An invisible line divided Blade Mountain, and neither side crossed it since they had more than enough fighting the immensely powerful Wave Champion Beasts on their path. After rising over ten thousand meters into Blade Mountain, the number of Wave Beasts they found decreased tremendously to the point that there were packs of only twenty to one hundred creatures. Nevertheless, their individual power rose to a whole new level. It was not hard to find packs made of fifty Wave Beasts, with none beneath the Early Wave Champion Rank and more than a handful at the Middle Wave Champion Rank. Cain was in his tent, analyzing the current state of the battlefield. The situation right now made moving with a massive army impractical. Although sending thousands of low-level Wave Warriors to attack those packs full of Wave Champions Beasts would certainly weaken the enemy, the casualties would be astronomical. And there was also the fact that powerful soldiers could not fight at full power for fear of collateral damage. Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he analyzed his own strength and felt the bursting Astral Wave inside him. It had been over two months since he reached Blade Mountain''s foot, and the combination of high-level resources and the constant battle had solidified his cultivation. "System, in my current state, what would happen if I fight the Lightning-Fall Mantis in a direct one-on-one battle?" The Absolute Life Form System immediately carried on with the command, and Cain felt how it produced countless simulations before answering. [According to data obtained from one thousand simulations: -There is an 8% chance of Vessel killing the Middle Wave Champion Beast. -A 81% chance of Vessel forcing the Middle Wave Champion Beast to run with severe injuries. -A 10% chance of the Middle Wave Champion Beast forcing Vessel to run with severe injuries. -A 1% chance of the Middle Wave Champion Beast killing Vessel.] Cain showed a small smile as he analyzed that information. He was powerful enough to defeat Middle Wave Champion Beast, but a single mistake could lead to his death, so he could not lower his guard. Chapter 214 Killing a Middle Wave Champion Beast (I) 214 Killing a Middle Wave Champion Beast (I) "My current strength allows me to lead a team that can face hordes with a small number of Middle Wave Champion Beasts. Good." Only Antony and William could surpass Cain in battle strength in the entire military force in Blade Mountain. Uriel was also very strong, but the pressure of this mission and lack of resources had pushed back the young man''s cultivation, and he remained a Level 9 Wave Warrior for the moment. "System, give a list of every soldier capable of enduring the onslaught of an Early Wave Champion Beast for an entire minute without assistance. Exclude Uriel, the Vice-Captains working with him, and every soldier in their squads." Although ignoring ten percent of the military force would reduce the number of soldiers available, Cain would not pick people he did not trust for a mission where a single wrong step could lead to catastrophic casualties. The Absolute Life Form System had already scanned every single one of the thousands of soldiers fighting beside Cain, so it was able to do that analysis. It took around five minutes before a list with one hundred and seventy-eight names appeared in Cain''s mind. Cain was slightly surprised to see that Levi, Orin, and Lumir were among those capable of facing an Early Wave Champion Beast. As he analyzed their stats, he saw that the trio had already become Level 7, and their foundation was very strong. If they kept their momentum, there was a high chance they could reach Flawless Marrow or Deep Basic Law Understanding. He was even more amazed when he saw that Levi had generated a secondary energy pool similar to his Blood Energy and that the strength stat of this one surpassed his. ''?A Saint Technique?'' Cain was still much stronger than Levi, but it was clear that the young man from the Hellblazer Family had found some lucky chances. "Good. I will take the trio into my team." "Charge into that place!" All the soldiers heard Cain''s voice in their minds as he commanded them to enter a large cave five hundred meters ahead, only to see him vanish the next second. The leader''s disappearance could rock the mind of most soldiers, but the ones that were part of this group had absolute trust in Cain''s power and intellect. Levi and two Level 9 Vice-Captain were the first to enter the cave. There was a radiant sun in the sky, so the place was full of light, making it easy for the trio to see the twenty-three Early Wave Champion Beasts inside. And if that was not enough, there was an even mightier beast at the back of the pack. "PAWOOOO!" The sound of an elephant trumpeting emerged from the back of the cave, and the entire force could see a massive beast nearly three meters tall with dark silver skin. It was a Silver-Heart Elephant, and its mere trumpeting generated a sonic blast that almost sent the soldiers flying away. All the soldiers could feel Silver-Heart Elephant''s aura, and it was clear the beast had already become a Middle Wave Champion Beast, maybe even stronger than the Lightning-Fall Mantis. Just as the massive Silver-Heart Elephant was ready to march forward, a figure covered in Blood Lightning appeared out of nowhere next to its face. The Middle Wave Champion Beast was shocked, and before it could do anything, the humanoid figure landed a devastating blow on its right eye, making it explode. Chapter 215 Killing a Middle Wave Champion Beast (II) 215 Killing a Middle Wave Champion Beast (II) "KILL!" Cain''s voice echoed across the cave, erasing the fear from the Silver-Heart Elephant''s trumpeting in the soldiers and filling them with vigor. The battle formations for the soldiers had already been distributed, so they all knew what to do. Cain smiled as he saw the soldiers instantly adopt battle formations and charge toward the Early Wave Champion Beast, free of fear and full of conviction. However, he could not split his focus for much longer as the Silver-Heart Elephant soon raised from the ground, unleashing a powerful Life Wave. Cain stared at the creature''s head and saw how his punch completely shattered the eye and the bones around it. Although the damage was significant, it was far from crippling the Middle Wave Champion Beast. That attack carried the full power of Cain''s Blood Hand, not to mention it took the Silver-Heart Elephant by surprise. ''It can''t compare with the Lightning-Fall Mantis in terms of speed, but its vitality and defenses are formidable.'' "PAWOO!" The Silver-Heart Elephant unleashed a battle cry full of killing intent and wrath as it dashed toward Cain, ready to trample the insolent human that dared to destroy its eye. Cain''s eyes grew cold as he clenched his right fist with even greater strength. The Blood Lightning devoured the Middle Wave Champion Beast''s blood around him, making the power of his Blood Hand even mightier as he flashed forward. One was a massive beast over twenty tons, while the other was a young human weighing less than one hundred kilograms. There was no need to speculate about the winner in a direct clash, but just as they were less than fifteen meters away, Cain raised his right arm. Shock appeared in the Silver-Heart Elephant when he saw a sphere of red lightning emerge from Cain''s hand. It knew that humans could use spells, but those with the dark purple Wave usually used melee skills. The sphere instantly reached its face, and now confusion appeared on the Silver-Heart Elephant as the attack had no power at all. Just as it wondered what the human''s plan was, it noticed that this one was no longer in front of it. The fight with the wounded Middle Wave Champion Beast became so simple for Cain that he could use his Ego Wave to analyze the battle of the rest of the soldiers. ''Good, none of them has received a severe injury yet, and their teamwork is excellent.'' Suddenly, Cain frowned as he saw the golden flames covering Levi''s body. They were extremely similar to the ones used by the death guards that worked for Orlando, the Wave Champion puppetmaster. He remembered very well how those golden flames increased the guards'' battle power, but they did in exchange for their blood vitality. A flash of killing intent appeared in Cain''s eyes as the idea appeared in his mind that someone was using his friend for some form of experiment. However, Cain soon relaxed once he noticed that Levi''s golden flames tapped into the young man''s blood vitality, using it as fuel, but at the same time, it made it grow. ''His Saint Technique.'' There was no way a technique with such power would feel beneath the level of a Saint Technique. It was clear to Cain that the ability had dangers, but if Levi chose to take that path, then everything was all right. ''A man must be ready to endure the consequences of their choices.'' Cain smiled as his father''s voice appeared again in his mind. "PAWOOO!" The Silver-Heart Elephant roared with strength one more time, and its Life Wave burst with power. The smile on Cain''s face made the beast think the human was mocking it. "Hmph." Cain only sneered as he saw the Silver-Heart Elephant marching toward him like a crazy beast. "Stupid beast." Chapter 216 Killing a Middle Wave Champion Beast (III) 216 Killing a Middle Wave Champion Beast (III) "Stupid beast." If the Silver-Heart Elephant had shown wisdom, the battle would have been prolonged for a very long time due to its powerful defenses, but now that it attacked like crazy, things changed. Cain dodged the tusk charged with Life Wave that sought to drill his chest and dashed forward as his index finger morphed into a blood gem, and he used it to pierce into the Silver-Heart Elephant''s neck. The Silver-Heart Elephant''s eyes widened as the finger managed to pierce its defenses. Cain did not hesitate before taking the finger out, leaving a massive hole behind that began to bleed profusely. Although the Silver-Heart Elephant managed to push Cain away, its legs were trembling, and it wouldn''t be long before it fell to the ground dead. Cain continued striking the Middle Wave Champion Beast while conserving his energy and making sure to avoid any form of injury. "?Boom!" In five minutes, the Silver-Heart Elephant could no longer remain straight and plummeted into the ground, generating a small blast due to its massive weight. Soldiers and Wave Champion Beasts turned toward the blast only to see how Cain buried his entire arm into the dying Silver-Heart Elephant''s eyes, devouring the blood of this one. No?v(el)B\\jnn Just as the Middle Wave Champion Beast''s heart stopped beating, Cain vanished, and the next second, a cry echoed across the cave. "AWWWW!" One Early Wave Champion Beast screamed in pain as Cain pierced its back with his index finger, shattering its spine and destroying many inner organs. Not even a second after, Cain removed his finger from the Early Wave Champion Beast''s beck and vanished into the darkness again. Fear emerged in the Early Wave Champion Beasts, while the soldiers took the chance that their opponent lost their focus to pushing their offensive. For the next two months, Cain, William, and Antony led their groups higher and higher into Blade Mountain, killing packs full of powerful Wave Champion Beasts. The amount of wealth the trio amazed was shocking, even to Peak Wave Champion. Each kill of a Wave Champion Beast meant a direct reward in terms of military credits, not to mention they could do whatever they wanted with the bodies. The gains did not limit to simply wealth as the dense Life Wave, nutritious meat, and life-and-death battles pushed forward the cultivation of everybody. There were even Vice-Captains that reached the absolute peak of Wave Warrior and only chose not to rise to Wave Champion as they would have to leave Blade Mountain. Facing Middle Wave Champion Beasts stopped being a problem for the military force, but they faced a new problem once they reached the mid-way point to Blade Mountain''s peak. "?BOOOOMMMM!" A massive shock wave emerged once Cain connected his right fist to the arm of a Wave Champion Beast. He had morphed four of his fingers into blood gems and channeled a massive amount of Astral Wave into the arm, so despite the beast blocking the attack, he should have done a significant amount of damage. Nevertheless, the Wave Champion Beast barely moved after blocking Cain''s punch, and the next moment it waved its arm, sending him flying away. Cain was in mid-air and without any control over his body when he saw a beast resembling a gorilla twice his size, with four arms and flaming hair. Just as the Wave Champion Beast was about to lunge toward him, a man covered in ice energy tackled it, sending it more than twenty meters away. "?AHHHHH!" The Wave Beast instantly regained control over its body and roared in rage toward William before a sea of golden arrows landed on it. Cain, William, and Antony fought together because the enemy was a Hell Gorilla, a Late Wave Champion Beast! Chapter 217 Victory over a Late Wave Champion Beast 217 Victory over a Late Wave Champion Beast Antony''s light arrows were extremely fast, and the young man''s archery skills allowed him to grant them superb rotation and penetration power. Those light arrows had proven extremely effective even among Middle Wave Champion Beast with great defenses, so it was no wonder an overwhelming shock would assault Antony''s heart when he saw the Hell Ape jumping toward him with minor wounds. Antony immediately generated platforms of Essence Wave in the air, kicking them and pushing himself up as he sought to put distance between himself and the formidable beast that sought to rip him to pieces. Unfortunately for Antony, he was not the only one that could use Air Walk as platforms of Life Wave formed beneath the Hell Ape''s feet that this one used to rise forward without losing momentum. Just as the Hell Ape was about to reach Antony, two figures intercepted it. One was covered in red lightning and the other in cold energy, and both fired a powerful blow to the Hell Ape''s stomach, sending this one crashing to the ground. "?Boom!" A blast echoed once the massive figure of the Hell Ape reached the ground, but not a second passed before this one rose and flashed toward William. The young Astral Wave Cultivator''s eyes widened when he saw the Late Wave Champion Beast''s massive fist appear right before him. He could not dodge it, so he made a cross with his arms and generated a thick ice layer on top of them. "CRACK!" The ice shield crumbled instantly under the might of the Hell Ape''s punch, but it was able to drain some of its power. It sent William flying away but failed to break any of the young man''s bones. Before the Hell Ape could chase after William, a thick light spear blasted into its face. The attack infuriated the beast, but most importantly, it hindered its vision and affected his senses. "?BOOM!" 14:58 Antony did not hesitate to send his most powerful attack once he saw the Hell Ape wounded. He tenses his bow, generating arrow after arrow of light to appear in the sky. Over two hundred arrows of light appeared in the sky, draining almost all of Antony''s energy pool before falling with immense speed and power over the Hell Ape''s figure. The Hell Ape raised its arm over its head, defending itself from the light arrows. The brain trauma hindered its body''s movement and domain over Life Wave, making its Wave Cloak lose much power. By the time the last light arrow had fallen from the sky, there were dozens of bloody holes all over the Late Wave Champion Beast. "Ice Age Clash!" Before the Hell Ape could even take a breath, William clashed against this one. A thick, incredibly cold ice armor full of spikes covered the Astral Wave Champion''s body, and he collided with the Late Wave Champion Beast. "AWW!" The Hell Ape was sent flying away while screaming in pain. The clash not only left new holes all over its body but also left a layer of frost energy that froze its skin and muscles, leading to cellular death. Before the Hell Ape''s body could even touch the ground, Cain flashed toward the beast. His arms were broken, but his legs still worked, so he sent a vicious kick covered in Astral Wave and Blood Energy to its head. Just as the Hell Ape seemed to reach its end, the beast''s fur ignited with powerful flames that pushed the trio away. Cain, William, and Antony were not able to get near the Late Wave Champion Beast and saw how this one used that chance to run away. Although the trio wanted to kill it, they were exhausted and wounded, so chasing after the Late Wave Champion Beast was not wise. Antony and William glanced at Cain for a second, and after this one nodded, they went to help the rest of the soldiers. The duo was tired and had little energy left, but they were able to put pressure on Middle Wave Champion Beasts. Cain would have wanted to help, but little energy was left in his body, and he received severe wounds that needed immediate attention. Chapter 218 Clash with the student force 218 Clash with the student force Cain removed several Wave Champion Beast''s hearts from his space ring before generating a mantle of Blood Lightning that devoured the blood in them and sent it into his body. His eyes grew sharp, and his Ego Wave burst with power as he focused all the Astral Wave and blood essence into his arm to improve the speed at which they healed. Dozens of battles took place around Cain, with the soldiers battling over thirty Early Wave Champion Beasts and six that had already reached the Middle Wave Champion level. The soldiers made sure to stay away from Cain to avoid interrupting his recovery, and none of the Wave Champion Beasts dared to get anywhere near him. After five hours and having devoured the blood of nearly twenty Early Wave Champion Beasts'' hearts, Cain''s arms had fully healed, and most of his internal wounds were already gone. Cain raised his arms and clenched them, smiling as he felt his strength. He then focused on the battlefield and released a small sigh. The battle with the horde was a victory, and there were no casualties on their side, but all the Middle Wave Champion Beasts managed to escape, and most of the soldiers endured severe wounds that would force them to rest for several days. It was clear to Cain that they were not ready to advance beyond this point. The battle with the Hell Ape pushed the trio to their limits, and they nearly lost their lives more than once. A clash with a horde with more than one Late Wave Champion Beast would carry significant casualties among the soldiers. After cleaning the battlefield, Cain led the soldiers back to the encampment, where they were told to rest for the next two days. Cain reached his tent and shut down communications as he adopted a meditative stance and focused. His heart had no frustration since he knew they would face resistance like this, and it happened later than he expected. Of course, that did not mean he would just accept it. Immediately, his mind began to search for ways to improve his power and that of the soldiers around him. There was not much to do regarding battle formation or equipment since they already used the beast they could handle, so the answer had to emerge from within. ''My current skills can unleash the full power of my Astral Wave and Blood Energy. Blood Hand is an exceptionally powerful technique, and searching for a new Saint Technique would be foolish. The best path forward is either awakening my Visualization Technique or evolving my Asura Form.'' Asura Form was a skill of Cain''s previous life, and just like one would expect from the name of First Gear, there was a second one. He had meditated extensively on the technique and used the Absolute Life Form System to decipher the next step forward. --- The next month went by without incident, with Cain, Antony, Williman, and all the soldiers that fought by their side growing stronger. "?BOOM!" The sound of explosions and broken bones echoed as Cain and his group butchered a pack of Wave Champion Beasts. There were merely twenty-five of them, with a single Middle Wave Champion Beast leading them, so it was not hard for the soldiers to kill all of them in less than an hour. Cain buried his hand in the Golden Winged Wolf''s chest, devouring the creature''s blood essence when his eyes narrowed as he looked to the left. He was the first to see it, but it did not take long for the rest of the soldiers to notice the presence of a group made of forty-two students. Dominic was the group''s leader, and his eyes grew cold as he stared at Cain and the rest of the soldiers. A tense atmosphere emerged the moment both groups looked at each other. Although there were fewer students, four of them had already become Wave Champions. Still, many Level 9 soldiers with powerful foundations and great battle experience could face them. In the end, it was impossible to say which side would be the winner in a clash, but one thing was inevitable, and that was that there would be substantial casualties on both sides. Cain removed his hand from the Middle Wave Champion Beast and sent the creature into his space ring as he stared at Dominic. A red light appeared in his eyes as he focused on the students and was ready to strike with killing intent if the other party showed any sign of violence. Although Dominic had a powerful desire to crush Cain, he was smart enough not to pick battles he could not win. If he attacked and even one of the soldiers managed to escape alive, he would be charged with breaking the codes and rules of the Godslayer Humankind Empire. "Let''s go." Dominic said nothing else before leaving with the rest of his forces. The soldiers relaxed as they saw that and carried on recollecting the spoils of the battle. ''Everything is fine, but more and more clashes will happen as we remain in the area. I must ensure our forces are ready to handle any student''s incursion.'' Chapter 219 Invitation 219 Invitation Over the next month, soldiers and the students had several encounters, and there were times when battles almost started. It was common for those children of Noble Families to look down on regular soldiers, so they were enraged by the fact that they were taking down the packs they sought to kill. However, there was nothing the students could do since they could only depend on their strength in this place, and the backing of their families did not matter. Cain made sure that the soldiers knew they had to avoid conflicts and focus on increasing their power so they could face the Late Wave Champion Beasts but also gave the order to answer to any act of violence from the student side with absolute prejudice. Antony and William were growing more and more powerful, having solidified their cultivation and making strides to the Middle Wave Champion level. Both were now using Wave Artifacts that greatly enhanced their battle powers and mastered new and more powerful techniques, making their combined power equal that of a Late Wave Champion Beast. It would not be hard for both of them to take on the Hell Ape on their own if they faced this again, but the problem was that the packs at Blade Mountain''s peak had more than just one Late Wave Champion Beast. Simply relying on the duo would be foolish since there was not enough time to raise their cultivation to a level where they could take care of multiple Late Wave Champion Beasts independently. The entire military force had to grow powerful enough so they could at least hinder the movements of Late Wave Champion Beasts. Cain understood that, which is why he focused on improving the power of the soldiers and his own. Right now, he was in his tent, and there was an expression of absolute focus on his face as his Astral Wave burst with power, and a foul substance emerged through his pores. He had suppressed his cultivation as much as he could. Yet, right now, his meridian had finally extended over his entire muscular system and pierced his skin, generating a direct path from the Rebirth Heart to the outside. The power of Cain''s Wave Cloak, Wave Focus, and Wave Burst grew exponentially after finishing with Level 6, and now he needed to branch his meridians again. In Level 7, a cultivator must branch their meridians, generating a path from the outside world into their Sacred Organs. It would form a route for the Life Wave to enter the body, drastically improving your cultivation speed and stamina. A cultivator''s meridians were like a new extremity, so branching them was an excruciating process, but Cain''s eyes exploded with red light as he suppressed the pain. He could not allow any distraction as he had to focus on using his bursting Astral Wave and Blood Energy to cleanse his marrow. Every second counted, and Cain would not allow anything to mess with the improvement of his foundation, erasing everything from his mind other than the purification of his marrow. After his Astral Wave calmed down, Cain relaxed. He opened his eyes and waved his hand, generating a blast of Blood Lightning that burned all the filth covering his body. Cain clenched his fists, and a large smile appeared as he felt his strength and energy improvement. That thrill only grew stronger when he saw how all the fingers in both hands transformed into blood gems, and the force began to extend to the rest of the fist. Once Cain managed to alter both hands, he would have reached the limit of the second level of Blood Hand. He would have to wait to become a Wave Champion to start the third level or achieve Flawless Marrow. "System, scan me." The Absolute Life Form System followed Cain''s command as always, and it did not take long for a stream of information to appear in his mind. Despite the improvement of 4% in his marrow washing, his Wave Talent did not improve, but Cain expected something like that. The higher the Tier, the harder it was to improve. The only thing that bothered Cain was the improvement of his marrow washing. It was 4%, which was very good, but even if he could keep that rate, which would be extremely difficult, he would only reach Flawless Marrow before becoming a Wave Champion. Many geniuses took Flawless Marrow as their goal, and Cain was among them until not too long ago, but now he wanted to rise even higher. To achieve a level that even the greatest geniuses of military Noble Families could only dream of, a 100% marrow washing! "I need to find a way to drastically improve the tempering of my bones if I want any chance to reach that level." Cain was determined to do all in his power to reach that goal. It would not be easy and force him to push himself beyond his limits repeatedly, but the gains would be incredible if he managed to do it. Just his foundation would attain a level where Wave King would not be a possibility but a certainty. --- After Cain''s rise to level 7 and the upgrades of William and Antony, along with the overall improvement of all the soldiers, the military force was able to once again march higher into Blade Mountain, facing packs led by Late Wave Champion Beasts. Nine months had passed since The Hunt''s start, and the military force had risen over thirty thousand meters into Blade Mountain. At that point, the area had all sorts of craters and fists indentation. Most believe it to be the remains of a battle between King Beasts, but those were actually left by a certain clash between three very powerful cultivators. Cain returned to his tent when night fell, and he was so exhausted that he fell to the ground. They had just faced a pack with two Late Wave Champion Beasts, and the pressure he, Antony, and William faced was overwhelming. It was not the first time they faced that particular pack, but today was the day they pushed themselves and used every ounce of power inside their bodies to kill the Late Wave Champion Beasts instead of just making them flee the battlefield. Just as he was about to fall asleep, Cain saw that a message had reached his [A.I. Chip Module], and the one that sent it was no other than his counterpart in the student force, Dominic. There was no doubt that Dominic hated his gut, and he had no problem with that since the feeling was mutual, which is why Cain was so confused to see this one sending a message to him. He had nothing to lose by seeing what was inside, so he opened the file and got an invitation. Dominic wanted the soldier force led by him, Antony, and William to help the student force take care of a pack. Dominic knew that Cain would have many questions, so he wrote all the details into the file. It turned out that the student force had come in contact with a mine full of wave crystals, and it seemed there were mid and even high-quality wave crystals inside. Although the scion would have wanted to keep everything for himself, there was a strong pack with four Late Wave Champion Beasts protecting the mine and devouring the wave crystals inside it. If they did not move fast enough, those beasts would eat everything and leave nothing, so speed was of the essence. After reading that letter, Cain had a lot to consider, but the first thing he did was rest. He closed his eyes, and after making sure the Absolute Life Form System surveilled the area, he fell asleep. Five hours later, Cain opened his eyes. He was still tired but had regained enough strength for a reconnaissance mission. Dominic did not reveal the localization of the wave crystal mine in the message, but it was not hard for Cain to predict the movements of the student force using the times they clashed with the soldiers as a reference. Cain left the encampment after ensuring Antony and William were ready to handle any possible night incursion. Then he traveled to the side of the mountain occupied by the student force, and after almost two hours, a mine full of wave crystal appeared in his Ego Wave. Chapter 220 Lightning Lupus fight 220 Lightning Lupus'' fight Cain slowly spread his Ego Wave into the mine, analyzing every Wave Beast inside. His mastery over Free Ego was high enough to hide it from those beasts as he thoroughly analyzed their battle powers. Just as he reached the bottom of the mine, he felt two sets of eyes focusing on him. Cain did not hesitate before immediately retrieving his Ego Wave and using Void Breath to hide his presence before leaving the arena. "ROAR!" "SSSSS!" Powerful bestial howls emerged from the mine as two Wave Champion Beasts detected someone watching them. Luckily, Cain had been very careful, not revealing his presence and leaving the place as soon as those Wave Champion Beasts detected his Ego Wave. Cain glanced at the mine as he fled. For those beasts to detect his Ego Wave, they were not only extremely powerful, but their perception was top-notch, so any assassination attempt for his part would be suicide. ''Peak Wave Champion Beast.'' A cold light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he understood that two of the four so-called Late Wave Champion Beasts were Peak Wave Champion Beasts. There was a chance that Dominic did not know, but it was most likely that the scion knew and just hid it. The good news was that the number of Wave Champion Beasts inside the mine did not surpass forty, although half were Middle Wave Champion Beasts. Cain returned to the encampment and called William and Antony to his tent. There he explained what he found out and discussed their next step. Although Cain was the Hunt Leader, accepting Dominic''s invitation was not something he felt comfortable doing without asking for the opinion of the other two. After some discussion, the trio decided to accept Dominic''s invitation. Sooner or later, they would have to face that pack, and it was better to take care of them before they consumed every wave crystal inside the mine. Cain did not waste time and responded to Dominic with the condition for the work, exactly what they would take care of, and the amount of wealth they would keep for themselves. Dominic was surprised when he saw that message since it had information about the mine and pack that he had not disclosed. However, he did not delay things and accepted Cain''s conditions since they were fair. Once Cain saw that everything was in order and the fine details of the mission were taken care of, he sent a message to the soldiers'' A.I. Chips, informing them of the conjoin mission between the soldier and student forces. 15:00 "RUMBLE!" The sound of lightning drew Cain''s attention, and he turned to the entrance of the mine as a mighty wolf emerged from it. The Peak Wave Champion Beast had white fur bathed in blue lightning. A small smile appeared on Cain''s face as he stared at the Peak Wave Champion Beast he had chosen to face, a Lightning Lupus. The Godslayer Human and Wave Beast looked at each other and felt the bloodline running in the other. However, the only response they incited was killing intent. The fact they shared the same Lineage did not matter as they were from different species, and right now, one had the sole mission of killing the other. Cain''s energy exploded as Blood Lightning covered his body, and the fingers in both hands transformed into blood gems. He would not see the end of this fight if he did not unleash all his strength from the star. Not far away from Cain, William unleashed all his power, generating an ice armor to grow above his Wave Artifact. Once the aura of the duo reached its peak, Cain and William flashed toward the Lightning Lupus, and they were not alone since the seven strongest Essence Wave Cultivators among the soldier force moved behind them. The Lightning Lupus'' Life Wave burst and flashed toward Cain and William just as the Essence Wave Cultivators unleashed a barrage of spells against it. Those spells moved at supersonic speed as the Essence Wave Cultivators pushed their energy to the limit, but even then, the Lightning Lupus could dodge all of them while approaching the duo. It was about to reach Cain and William when several light arrows that hid in the shadow of the other spells collided with its body. Antony had hidden his aura and joined the other Essence Wave Cultivators, only showing his power in the last second so he could take the Lightning Lupus by surprise. Those light arrows did minor damage to the Lightning Lupus due to the powerful defenses of the lightning armor around its body but hindered its movements long enough for Cain and William to land a punch in its chest. Cain and William''s joint strike sent the Lightning Lupus flying toward the mine entrance''s edge, but before the dust could disperse, the beasts flashed back into the fray. William raised his arms in the last second as a lighting claw clashed with it. The Lightning Lupus'' paw was small, but the young man felt a mountain crashing against him. The Lightning Lupus'' reflexes and speed surprised the rest of the soldiers, but there was one that knew just how fast and durable the beast was. The instant the Lightning Lupus'' claw stroked against William''s arms, a kick bathed in Blood Lightning and charged with a massive amount of Astral Wave landed on the beast''s ribs. That claw strike sent William flying away just as Cain''s kick pushed the Lightning Lupus to the side, and that was just the start since a new barrage of spells fell into the beast before this one could get up. Cain''s eyes burst with red light as the full power of his Ego Wave focused on the Lightning Lupus'' movements and instructed the soldiers when and where to attack. He knew that if the beast was left unhindered for a second, at least one of the Essene Wave Cultivators behind him would die. Chapter 221 Blade Dimension (I) 221 Blade Dimension (I) The battle between Cain, Antony, William, and the seven Essence Wave Warriors against the Lightning Lupus lasted over half an hour and leveled everything around them. Deep wounds were all over the Lightning Lupus, with parts of its body covered in a layer of frost, but the humans were not any better. Cain''s left arm was broken, and so was Antony''s right leg, and there was a large cut on William''s chest as a claw strike managed to pierce his armor and reach his skin. "?BOOM!" A shock wave echoed across the battlefield as a fist bathed in Blood Lightning collided with a lightning claw. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he felt the bones on his wrist and shoulder about to snap, but he resisted long enough until a light spear collided in the Lightning Lupus'' left ribs. The light spear pushed the Peak Wave Champion Beast away with a bloody hole in its chest, and just as it turned toward the shining young man in the air, a barrage of spells came at it. The beast had no problem dodging those spells but allowed Antony to fire light arrows that forced it to pull back. It took all of the Lightning Lupus'' focus to dodge those arrows, which is why it did not notice William appear right behind it. An ice armor that covered Williman burst with cold energy the instant he tackled the Peak Wave Champion Beast. "AWW!" The Lightning Lupus yelled in pain as the tackle sent it flying away, and things were not over. While the beast was in mid-air, Cain jumped toward it and fired a ferocious right hook to its head. "Crack." The sound of bones cracking emerged from the Lightning Lupus'' skull as that blow sent it crashing into the ground. Antony, William, and the seven Essence Wave Cultivators smiled when they heard that sound since it meant that the damage to the Lightning Lupus had reached a critical point. None of the soldiers wanted to lose that chance, and they flashed at full speed toward the crashing zone as they made their Wave explode and were ready to unleash their mighties attacks on the wounded Peak Wave Champion Beast. "Go away!" The soldiers were around fifty meters away from the Lightning Lupus, a perfect distance to fire their spells, when they heard Cain''s voice, and the next thing they saw was a blast of lightning. Powerful arcs of lightning spread in every direction from inside the Lightning Lupus, instantly covering a radius of forty meters. The second they heard Cain''s voice, the soldiers stopped advancing, saving themselves from the blast, but their instinct screamed danger as the lightning arcs began to spread out even further, at blinding speed and with outrageous strength. All the soldiers immediately ran away from the Lightning Lupus, but the lightning arcs were so fast that it caught one of them in a second, and everybody saw how it vaporized his body, killing him on the spot. The lightning arcs grew even stronger after killing that soldier and continued spreading. Just as another of the Essence Wave Cultivators was about to get caught, Cain appeared in front of this one and put his arms forward as he formed a shield with his Blood Lightning. Awe appeared in the hearts of the Essence Wave Cultivators as they saw Cain holding back the wave of blue lightning arcs. It was like a man stopping the might of a tsunami on his own. Cain''s bloodline granted him resistance to lightning, and his Blood Lightning was of higher quality than the blue lightning, but the power of the Lightning Lupus was too great. His entire body trembled, and burn marks spread across his skin as he held the lightning wave. "RUMBLE!" The earthquake grew even more powerful, generating massive crevices all across Blade Mountain, and just as things seemed they could not get any more wild, the mountain peak shattered as a giant beam of energy rose into the sky. "BOOOOMMMM!" The energy beam seemed to have clashed with an invisible wall in the sky, and giant cracks appeared before collapsing, leaving behind a ten thousand-meter large portal! Cain''s mind froze for a second as he saw that gargantuan portal in the sky. "GO!" Apex''s voice echoed inside Cain''s mind, making a burst of red light emerge from his eyes as he clenched his teeth and ran up the mountain. Cain was the first but was not the only one, as all Wave Champion Beasts began to run toward the portal, forgetting about their fights. Soldiers and students were shocked to see that even those dying Wave Champion Beasts moved toward the portal as if a force they could not resist compelled them to go. Most people were confused and shocked by the portal, but Dominic and Amos understood what it meant, and a ferocious greed emerged from their hearts as they forgot about everything else and prepared to flash forward. However, Dominic stopped at the last second, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes as he flashed toward the student encampment. When they saw Cain and Amos dashing toward the portal, everybody understood that whatever was on the other side would be amazing. Current schedule: 7 chapters a week. 1/7 Bonus chapters: Over 400 power stones: 1 extra chapter. Over 800 power stones: 2 extra chapters. Over 1200 power stones: 3 extra chapters. Redsunworld Creator''s Thought Chapter 222 Blade Dimension (II) 222 Blade Dimension (II) Cain''s body burst with Blood Lightning as he pushed forward, using the last shred of energy left in his body to reach the massive portal in the sky. Although his eyes remained in the portal, his Ego Wave had silently spread around, showing him the actions of humans and beasts. Cain saw how Amos unleashed blasts from the bottom of his feet in order to impulse his body forward, and he was not alone since all the soldiers and students were also making their way to the portal. The behavior of soldiers and students made sense, but Cain could not help but frown as he saw the way the Wave Champion Beasts were acting. Every beast in the entire Blade Mountain began to run toward the portal as if their life depended on it. The way those beasts acted was as if they were under the control of powerful hypnosis, and they would not hesitate to give their life in order to fulfill the command implanted in their mind, which was to enter the portal. That was already weird enough, and what came next shocked everybody as a gravitational pulse emerged from the portal and covered the entire Blade Mountain. Cain felt that force went through his body and did nothing to him or the other humans, but it affected the Wave Champion Beasts, raising them from the ground and driving them into the portal. Some of those Wave Champion Beasts weighed over thirty tons, but the gravitational force raised them as if they were feathers and drove them into the portal at a shocking speed. The Captains and university teachers were watching the state of Blade Mountain using the devices in their respective Star Cruisers, and what they saw was a picture that came from legends. Hundreds of humans were rising to the mountain peak to reach a massive ten thousand meter large portal that was currently sucking hundreds of Wave Champion Beasts! Cain ran at full speed, but he saw how the others were closing in, and there was not much energy left in him since the battle with the Lightning Lupus left him exhausted. However, he was unwilling to allow anyone, whether a soldier or student, to rush past him. A decisive light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he channeled what little Astral Wave was left inside him into his feet and jumped with all his strength. Amos, Antony, and William saw how Cain jumped to the sky, and they did not understand what he sought to achieve. There was no way he could have mastered Air Walk as a Level 7 Wave Warrior, and even if it did, that was not faster than climbing the mountain. However, the trio then saw how Cain landed on the back of one of the Wave Champion Beasts that the portal''s gravitational force pulled from the ground, and they understood the plan of this one. Cain wanted to use the Wave Champion Beasts as stepping stones in order to reach the portal faster! If that was not a high enough display of wisdom and ingenuity, what happened next reached the peak. Cain had just landed on one of the beasts as he buried his hands on its back. ?AWW!" The Wave Champion Beast screamed in pain when that hand pierced its back and reached its heart, but its eyes did not leave the portal in the sky. Cain devoured a burst of blood essence that he transformed into Blood Energy to enhance his legs'' power and jump toward the next beast. "?Boom!" There was so much strength in Cain''s jump that he generated a small shock wave, and everybody saw how he raised to the sky at a speed that not even Wave Champions could equal. Amos, William, and Antony saw that, but although their feelings toward Cain differed, the trio admitted that his ingenuity was superb. They noticed that some sought to emulate Cain''s actions and shook their heads. "You dare!" The eyes of the Elder from the Hellblazer Family burst with rage when he saw how a mere Wave Warrior dared to ignore his words, and the jet of flames coming from his feet grew even stronger, improving the speed at which he approached the portal. "?BOOM!" An explosion echoed across the sky when the middle-aged man seemed to have crashed against an invisible wall surrounding Blade Mountain. The crash sent the middle-aged man stumbling back, but he was able to regain control of his body extremely fast before focusing on the portal in the sky. This one seemed to have generated an invisible force field around Blade Mountain, limiting certain people''s passage. The middle-aged man had lived for a long time and knew that this type of dimension seemed to prefer young people full of potential and disdained old geezers like him who had already reached their growth limit. "You can not stop me!" Most people in his position would have given up, but the Elder from the Hellblazer Family was unwilling. People think that a Wave King was a great monarch, and they were right most of the time, but there were cases when they only worked as glorified babysitters. That was the case of the middle-aged man, which is why he was ready to burn everything in his path in order to enter that dimension. "?BOOM!" Flames emerged from the middle-aged man''s body as he prepared to force his way in. His actions might harm the young people inside Blade Mountain, but he couldn''t care less. Current schedule: 7 chapters a week. 2/7 Bonus chapters: Over 400 power stones: 1 extra chapter. Over 800 power stones: 2 extra chapters. Over 1200 power stones: 3 extra chapters. Chapter 223 Blade Dimension (III) 223 Blade Dimension (III) "Hellblazer Burst!" The flames covering the Elder glowed with a red light as if blood was being used as fuel. He then flashed forward like a meteorite toward the invisible force field, ready to blast a hole through it. Fear appeared in the hearts of the soldiers and students on the mountain when they saw that. Even the dumbest of them understood that the clash between the Elder and the force field would generate a rain of fire that would fall on them. A crazy light appeared in the Elder''s eyes as the idea of obtaining the treasure on the other side of the portal appeared in his mind. Just as he was about to clash with the force field, a figure appeared in front of him and grabbed his neck. "?BOOM!" The clash between the Elder and the unknown figure generated a blast of flames, but giant streams of water emerged from the body of the first and instantly extinguished them. Shock and fear appeared in the Elder''s heart when the hand tightened around his neck. He saw the blue light in the eyes of the other person, and any idea of fighting back vanished from his mind. The man who managed to stop the Hellblazer Elder was a legendary figure in the soldiers'' hearts and someone scions were always warned to stay away. Zarak stared at the Hellblazer Elder with coldness. He put more and more power on his left hand, suffocating the middle-aged man before using his right fist to punch this one right in the chest. "AWW!" The Elder unleashed a cry of pain as blood and pieces of his internal organs emerged from his mouth, and things were far from over since Zarak was not satisfied with a single blow. "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" Every blow of Zarak on the Elder had so much power that shock waves spread across the sky. After the fifth blow and seeing how the middle-aged man was about to fall unconscious, he unleashed one final punch with all his strength. Zarak''s punch sent the Elder flying away, making him dive thousands of meters before crashing into the ground. Soldiers and students saw how the Elder generated a massive crater upon impact and did not know whether he was alive or not, but they did not care either. Even the scions of the Hellblazer University did not care since the Elder''s actions almost put their life in danger. Just as they wondered what would happen next, they saw an incredibly powerful blue Ego Wave emerge from Zarak and clash against the invisible force field covering Blade Mountain. Unlike the Hellblazer Elder, who acted rashly and unleashed more power than he could control, Zarak displayed absolute dominion over his Ego Wave. The blue Ego Wave spread across the force field, trying to find a way in, and when it found there wasn''t one, Zarak extended his palm and began to squeeze. The Ego Wave mimicked its master and squeezed around the force field, trying to break it. "RUMBLE!" The force field trembled under the Ego Wave''s pressure but remained firm despite Zarak exerting enough power to crush a small mountain. Zarak retracted his Ego Wave after a few seconds since it was clear that the force field protecting the Blade Mountain had more than enough power to stop him. A sense of shock and awe appeared in Cain''s eyes when he noticed how that shining light took less than three minutes to completely heal his body and regenerate all that the cocoon had taken from him. ''This shining light! It is stronger and more pure than any other energy I have used before.'' Cain did not lose this opportunity and adopted a meditative position, trying to mobilize that shining light to cultivate. The shining light posed no resistance, and Cain felt how it nurtured his flesh and blood, strengthened his meridians, and tempered his Astral Wave. As the starry light improved his cultivation and foundation, Cain focused on the blood cocoon that wantonly devoured it. Although whatever was inside was certainly essential for this place, there was nothing he could do about it other than wait. Cian did not hesitate before activating Embryonic Breathing in order to push his cultivation speed to a new level. He stood like that for over an hour before opening his eyes since the starry light faded. "Thump!" Just as the starry sky stopped nurturing him, a heartbeat emerged from the blood cocoon, and it was the first of many. "Thump!" "Thump!" "Thump!" Cain noticed as the heartbeats grew faster and more powerful, as cracks emerged on the blood cocoon. It did not take long for the blood cocoon to shatter to pieces, and what appeared in front of Cain was a sword, more specifically, a machete. The weapon was not very long or wide and had a red handle with a thin chain. Cain stared at the weapon for a moment and felt as if it was part of him, which taking into consideration its component, it was. Current schedule: 7 chapters a week. 3/7 Bonus chapters: Over 400 power stones: 1 extra chapter. Over 800 power stones: 2 extra chapters. Over 1200 power stones: 3 extra chapters. Redsunworld Chapter 224 Sword Monster 224 Sword Monster Cain opened his palm, and the machete instantly flew to him. At the moment it was in his grasp, he teleported out of the dimension full of starry light. He appeared in a forest packed full of giant trees that rose over one thousand meters with crowns so large that they covered the sky. However, what truly mattered was the immense weakness that assaulted him. "System!" Appearing in an unknown place and having most of his strength gone was not a good combination, so Cain immediately commanded the Absolute Life Form System to scan the surroundings and check the state of his body. Like always, the faithful system gave Cain an answer. [Analysing... --- -Basic Scan Force Field works without any problem. No life forms are near Vessels. -Unknown force invaded Vessel''s body, weakening body and energy pool to the standard of a Level 1 Wave Warrior. --- Searching for a counter against weakening force. ... ... ... -There are possible solutions, but they will require time for the system to provide them. Permission to use the full power of the system in the task?] Cain did not immediately answer the system. Now that he knew there was no immediate danger, he took a moment to analyze his surroundings and talk with the one who incited him into this place. "Apex, do you have any specific information regarding this dimension?" Cain was not illiterate regarding the type of phenomenon, like the portal above Blade Mountain. Although his knowledge was shallow, he knew there were times when special dimensions would spontaneously open and were the key to unique inheritances. Those inheritances may have been left behind for an ancient powerhouse or generated by the world. The second was rarer and also much more valuable, coming into existence once a specific place''s Laws and natural power reached a zenith. 21:17 Cain continued walking forward as if he had not noticed it, and once the creature finally showed itself and lunged toward him from the back, he easily dodged the attack and hacked with his machete. The weapon landed right in the center of the creature''s chest, leaving a deep cut and sending it flying away over ten meters. "AWWWW!" A cry of rage and pain emerged from the creature. It had a humanoid body made of wood and flesh, with a single arm that held a large sword. Cain stared at the creature, and his eyes grew sharp as he saw that the flesh in it seemed to belong to a Wave Champion Beast. ''So that is where they end up.'' Thousands of Wave Champion Beasts entered the portal. Cain had wondered what happened to them, and it seemed that whatever was in control of this place used them as a component for the monsters like the one in front of him. "AWW!" The monster roared for a second time, generating a blast of Life Wave before charging toward Cain with absolute bloodlust in its eyes. Cain was able to dodge the monster''s sword strikes with ease. They were both at the same cultivation level, but he could use his Ego Wave to enhance his speed of thought and reflexes. After a few minutes and verifying that the monster could only use melee strikes without any spell or skill, Cain decided to end it. He dodged the monster''s sword before cutting its neck with the machete. The creature fell to the ground after having its head separated from its body and immediately began to tremble, unleashing a dark mist and withering. Cain jumped away and held his breath while using his Wave Cloak to prevent the mist from entering his body. He did not know what it was or if it was poisonous. However, while he did not want to be near it, the machete had other plans. It unleashed a suctioning force that drew the mist, leaving nothing left. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he felt he had regained a little strength and focused on the weapon. ''It seems that the machete is fighting back the weakening force, and it grows more powerful by devouring the mist left by those Sword Monsters.'' After all the mist was gone, the Sword Monster''s corpse crumbled into a pile of dust except for a small red orb. Current schedule: 7 chapters a week. 4/7 Bonus chapters: Over 400 power stones: 1 extra chapter. Over 800 power stones: 2 extra chapters. Over 1200 power stones: 3 extra chapters. Redsunworld Creator''s Thought Chapter 225 Developing swordplay 225 Developing swordplay Cain stared at the red orb and picked it up before sending his Ego Wave into it. He immediately noticed the immense blood vitality and pure Life Wave inside. The quantity was small, but the quality was superb. After making sure there were no other Sword Monsters around, Cain focused on the red orb and began to absorb its energy. Awe and shock appeared in Cain''s eyes as he felt how the power purified his Astral Wave and tempered his flesh and blood. The effect of training with the red orb was better than anything Cain had used before. Not only was the energy overwhelmingly potent, but it was also very serene so he could use it non-stop. Unfortunately, Cain drained the red sphere in less than three minutes, and this one crumbled into dust, just like the red of the Sword Monster''s body. Cain began to smile as a red light emerged in his eyes. The red spheres were what he needed to temper his body so he could rise above Flawless Marrow. ''I will need thousands of these red spheres to generate a qualitative improvement in my constitution.'' Killing intent emerged in Cain''s eyes as he focused on the forest. Logic stated that the closer he got to the center, the more numerous and stronger the Sword Monster would be. Cain took a deep breath as he began to walk faster and faster into the forest. Despite his speed increasing, his presence grew weaker and weaker until it practically vanished. He was not going to wait for the Sword Monsters'' attacks and intended to be the hunter, killing those monsters so the machete would fight off the weakening force and collect the red spheres. If he was a normal cultivator, following that path would have been complicated, but he had the Absolute Life Form System working as a scout. It did not take long for another Sword Monster to appear in the [Basic Scan Force Field]''s range, and Cain did not hesitate before silently approaching the beast. Unlike the first Sword Monster that Cain battled, this one was nearly three meters tall, with huge arms holding two massive swords. Like Wave Champion Beasts, it seemed that the monsters were not the same and had unique features. The Sword Monster was on a tree''s branch, over fifty meters above the ground, waiting for the presence of a human to attack when suddenly, a figure appeared behind it. It raised one of its swords, stopping the machete from cutting its head, but that careless defense broke its stance, making it easy for Cain to send it crashing into the ground with a single kick. "?Boom!" Cain saw how the Sword Monster stood up from the ground without much problem, but the fall broke one of its arms, and it could no longer hold two swords simultaneously. ''Its battle power equals that of a Level 2 Wave Warrior, but while its defense and strength are formidable, it has very low agility.'' "AWWWW!" The Sword Monster roared with rage as it focused its Life Wave on its sword and legs before escalating the three in order to reach Cain. ''There is no wisdom in them, only killing intent.'' Cain shook his head at the foolish behavior of the Sword Monster. He charged his Astral Wave into his legs and jumped toward the monster. Taking advantage of the fact that it could not move freely with the sword buried into the tree''s trunk, he cut its head off. --- Over the next few days, Cain no longer advanced deeper and instead chose to fight Sword Monster strong enough to push him, but not so much that he could not divide his attention. The battles took a while as he no longer fought with the intent of just killing the Sword Monsters but learning from their swordplay. The Absolute Life Form System also analyzed all that Cain saw and learned. Although the focus was on figuring out a way to handle the weakening force, developing swordplay took less than 5% of its computational power. In only three days, Cain''s domain over the machete went from a complete lack of it to one that did not fall too much behind his control over his own arm. Cain''s swordplay focused on speed and strength, exploiting the enemy''s blind spots and openings to land decisive strikes. Every strike sought to sever limbs and leave deep cuts that reached the internal organs. After those few days of training, Cain faced another Sword Monster that was as powerful as the one welding three weapons. It had two large swords and a very thin body that seemed to exude speed. The Sword Monster flashed at Cain and hacked from above and to the right, aiming at the young man''s head and waist. Just as those swords were about to reach their target, Cain used his machete to push one away and block the other. Next, he twisted his machete in a small circle, cutting the Sword Moster''s wrist and severing that hand! Now that the machete was no longer a handicap and could use it as intended, Cain became much more powerful. "AWWWW!" The Sword Monster unleashed a roar of pain of rage as it hacked with his remaining hand, but Cain countered it. Cain''s machete flashed toward the left but did not aim at the sword. "AWWWWWWWW!" The Sword Monster screamed with greater strength this time since the machete cut his elbows, severing his only arm left. It could not yell for much longer as the machete separated its head from the rest of its body. Current schedule: 7 chapters a week. 5/7 Bonus chapters: Over 400 power stones: 1 extra chapter. Over 800 power stones: 2 extra chapters. Over 1200 power stones: 3 extra chapters. Redsunworld Creator''s Thought Chapter 226 Temporary alliance 226 Temporary alliance Cain and a Sword Monster with a single arm were fighting on top of a very thin tree branch. The human and the monster displayed superb footwork, and their weapons clashed at an impressive speed. Despite only having a single arm, the Sword Monster could manipulate its weapon better than any of the monsters Cain had faced before and was able to blend attack and defense flawlessly. Cain took a step back just in time to avoid a sword from cutting his neck, and then he immediately moved forward, hacking with his machete. The battle was extremely intense and pushed him to his limits, but that was precisely the type of training that allowed him to advance so fast. After a month inside the forest, Cain''s cultivation returned to the start of Level 4, and he unleashed Level 6 battle power thanks to his Blood Energy and Ego Wave. His mastery over the machete grew with every battle, and it was reaching the point that he felt extremely comfortable with the weapon by his side. That was just the improvement in terms of his machete''s ability to shield him from the weakening force. Cain''s cultivation had undergone a terrific refinement thanks to the red orbs, with his Astral Wave reaching an exceptionally pure state. As for the improvement in his constitution, it was hard to tell for sure, but Cain was confident that his next marrow washing would be extremely potent. A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes when the machete and the Sword Monster''s weapon clashed, and neither could push the other back. He stomped the tree''s branch with his feet, breaking the part in front of him and sending the monster falling to the ground. No?v(el)B\\jnn While the Sword Monster was still mid-air, Cain lunged toward it at full speed and hacked with so much strength that it split it in two. Dark mist emerged from the corpse and was devoured by Cain''s machete as he took the red orb and deposited it into his space ring. He had killed so many of these monsters that consuming the red orbs directly after a fight was no longer productive. The battle was hard but did not leave Cain exhausted, so he was ready to advance further when a figure appeared at the edge of the [Basic Scan Force Field], and it was not a Sword Monster. Cain focused on that place for a moment, and after some thinking, he went forward. --- A young man with golden hair fought a massive Sword Monster that held a sword nearly as large as its body. Every swing of the bastard sword generated small gales due to its power, but the young man maintained a safe distance. The weapon in the young man''s hand was not exactly a sword, as it would be better to call it a blade due to its form. It was not that large and thin, granting it great speed but also fragility. Luckily, that was not a problem due to the young man''s battle style. Every time the young man waved his blade, arcs of golden light would emerge from it and flash at immense speed toward the Sword Monster. The Sword Monster was able to shatter most of the arcs of golden light, but some managed to reach its body, leaving deep wounds. "AWWWW!" A cry of rage and pain emerged from the Sword Monster as it charged toward the young man, ready to split this one from the head down. The young man saw the wild charge of the Sword Monster, and his Essence Wave burst to its limit, making a golden light cover his entire body. Instead of moving back, he pushed his focus to its limit and waited. Just as the Sword Monster appeared by his side and hacked down toward his head, he took a single step to the side, using his blade to hit the bastard sword''s upper edge and burying it into the ground. The bastard sword nearly vanished into the ground due to its potency, temporarily immobilizing the Sword Monster since these creatures could not let go of their weapons. After that, the young man''s golden light exploded with even greater power and began slashing at the Sword Monster with a shocking speed. All the blade strikes did not only cut since they also unleashed arcs of golden light, making the wounds extremely deep. Now it was Antony''s time to ask Cain about his understanding of this place. "I don''t know much other than it seems to be a natural inheritance since it communicates to us through feelings instead of actual words. Also, touching the wall of light will take you out of this dimension and back to the real world." Antony was surprised to learn that he could leave this place by simply touching the wall of light, and when he wondered how Cain managed to figure it out, he looked at the red force field that moved around him. "Our next step should be making our way into the center of the forest, but slowly and focusing on developing our swordplay. There must be a reason why the dimension forces us to use the swords at all times." Antony agreed with Cain''s strategy. Simply rushing forward and ignoring their weapon would be a dire mistake. "By the way, before we move forward, I need to ask. How many people have you killed?" Antony was surprised by that question and could see in Cain''s eyes that this one needed an answer. Current schedule: 7 chapters a week. 6/7 Bonus chapters: Over 400 power stones: 1 extra chapter. Over 800 power stones: 2 extra chapters. Over 1200 power stones: 3 extra chapters. Redsunworld Creator''s Thought Chapter 227 Fight with students 227 Fight with students Antony stared at Cain for a moment before shaking his head. He had taken part in all kinds of missions, including capturing criminals, but never was he forced to take a life. Cain was a little surprised. He found it hard to believe that Antony had reached this far without having to murder someone, but he also saw that this one was telling the truth. "Brat, don''t use yourself as a frame for what is common." Apex''s voice echoed inside Cain''s mind, making him release a slight chuckle before sighing. Taking a life had become a very normal thing for him, especially after those months inside the dream of his past life in the awakening of his Alter-Ego. ''Am I becoming more like my previous life, insensible to everything?'' Cain did not lose too much time on those thoughts and simply shook his head. "When we meet other people, follow my lead and do not hesitate." Antony''s eyes grew sharp as he understood the meaning behind those words and nodded. They were in a separate dimension full of people seeking to obtain whatever treasure was inside. He was not naive enough to think that everything could be solved with words. Now that was out of the way, and after Antony recovered enough energy, the duo flashed toward the center of the forest. Cain and Antony spent the next two weeks going from one battle to another. The duo advanced quickly, but not as fast as they could since they deliberately prolonged certain fights for hours when finding a Sword Monster with a swordplay that they could learn from. Right now, Cain and Antony were fighting against a three-meter-tall Sword Monster that held a single longsword between its hands. Despite its massive size, the monster moved its body and waved its sword phenomenally fast. A rain of small arcs of light fell to the Sword Monster, but this one was able to shatter all of them with a single wave of its sword, and without losing momentum, it twisted its body and parried a machete bathed in Blood Lightning that sought to cut its head off. Cain frowned as he saw how the Sword Monster easily pushed him back, and things only grew more dire as this one chased after him. He managed to dodge most of the sword strikes, but some managed to reach him and cut past his armor and into his skin. None of those wounds were deadly or weakened his battle power, but everything could change if he made a single mistake. Cain endured that barrage for thirty seconds, and his eyes grew sharp as a new shower of arcs of light fell from the sky above the Sword Monster. The Sword Monster unleashed a powerful strike that sent Cain flying away before shattering all the arcs of light above its head. That was supposed to be it, but there was a reason why Antony took thirty seconds to unleash that attack. The broken pieces of the arcs of light became sharp needles that flashed toward the Sword Monster from all directions at speed this one could not avoid or block. The Sword Monster could only raise its arms to defend its head as the rain of light needles pierced into its body. Unfortunately for the monster, as it did that, Cain appeared right in front of it and hacked with all his strength, severing its right leg off. "AWWWW!" A cry of rage and pain emerged from the Sword Monster after losing its leg and falling to the ground. Now that it could not adopt a battle stance, it took less than three minutes for Cain and Antony to destroy the monster''s head. Antony had already predicted that but did not move away, and as the bastard sword came his way, he dodged to the side with ease before unleashing a flurry of blade cuts that shattered the bark armor. The Astral Cultivator was taken by surprise by the melee attack and was able to push Antony away by waving his bastard sword, but the damage he endured was too much since there was not a part of his body that was not bleeding. "Marlon, help me!" Now that the battle had become too dangerous, the Astral Cultivator shouted for his friend to come by his side so that this one could cover their retreat and they could escape. When no answer came to his plea, an ominous feeling appeared in the Astral Cultivator''s heart, and he turned his eyes away from Antony only to see how a figure bathed in red lightning held Marlon by the neck and suffocated him. "Cain?" An overwhelming fear appeared in the heart of the Astral Cultivator when he realized that one of the worst nightmares of the student force had come for him. "Hmph, where are you looking?" The Astral Cultivator heard a sneer in front of him before a barrage of arcs of light landed point-blank on his chest. Current schedule: 7 chapters a week. 7/7 Bonus chapters: Over 400 power stones: 1 extra chapter. Over 800 power stones: 2 extra chapters. Over 1200 power stones: 3 extra chapters. Redsunworld Chapter 228 Bloodshed 228 Bloodshed Marlon slowly opened his eyes, and there was a confused expression on his face as he looked around, trying to figure out what just happened. The last thing he remembered was two red eyes and then losing consciousness due to suffocation. He looked down and saw his hands and legs tied up, but the sword was still in his hands. The rope around Marlon''s hands and legs was made of special flexible steel, so he could not easily break out of it. "Chris!" Marlon shouted when he noticed his comrade was by his side, and fear emerged in his heart when he saw the dozens of deep cuts on this one. Chris turned to the side and stared at Marlon, but a voice interrupted them before he could say a word. "I was getting bored. Now that the two of you are awake, we can start." Marlon and Chris turned to their left and saw Cain walking toward them. They also noticed Antony resting against a tree, but this one seemed to have no interest in them. Antony knew that Cain was more suited to handle this type of situation, so he just watched. Cain''s eyes glowed with red light as the power of this Ego Wave burst, and he sent it to the duo''s minds. Chris and Marlon trembled for a second, and their eyes almost lost focus, but they were able to resist. A flash of pain appeared on Cain''s face as the duo managed to resist his hypnosis. He was a 5-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master, and the scions had no overwhelming willpower, so the hypnosis should have worked. Unfortunately for Cain, this dimension weakened his Ego Wave but did not affect people''s mental defenses. "Ahh, I guess we will have to do it the hard way!" Chris could not stop trembling as the shadow Cain cast over his heart was too great, but Marlon was different. "Who do you think you are to tied me! I am the son of Marquess Galadriel!" Marlon was the only son of a Marquess, a mighty Wave King who had pampered him all his life. No matter how great the trouble he got in, his father would always make all go away. That upbringing made Marlon think there was nothing he could not do as long as the victims had a lower background. 21:21 "Untie me now, and I will pardon this..." Marlon could not finish his sentence as Cain grabbed him by the chest and began to strike his face. Before Jortar''s arm could descend, a shock wave echoed across the forest, and a red flash propelled toward the trio at a shocking speed. The next thing everybody saw was an arm covered in rock armor holding a long sword flying away. "?AHHHHH!" Jortar unleashed a scream of unbearable pain as a machete just cut off his right arm, and the next second, a sense of nausea and vertigo pushed him to the ground since he no longer held his sword. Carl''s eyes widened as he saw that, and all the fierceness in his heart vanished, replaced by an immense fear when he saw two red eyes focusing on him. "Wait!" Carl could not say anything else before Cain flashed forward and began to strike. The scion defended himself but was no match for Cain, and in less than ten seconds, the machete severed his right wrist, making a hand and sword fall to the ground. "?AHHH!" Like Jortar, Carl unleashed a scream of pain before the weakness of losing his sword threw him to the ground. Antony appeared on the battlefield once all was over. He had to move as fast as possible, but Cain was faster. Just as the duo turned toward Orin and were about to ask if she needed help to recover, the women spoke. "There is no time to lose. Amos'' team ambushed mine. I escaped under William''s command to find help, but these two followed me." Orin did not lose time, going straight to the point, and the expression on her face made clear the urgency of the matter. Antony frowned when he heard that, and he knew that they needed to act fast. "How do we handle them?" Antony had just finished his question when he saw Cain cut Carl''s head off before flashing toward Jortar and doing the same to this one. Current schedule: 7 chapters a week. 1/7 Bonus chapters: Over 400 power stones: 1 extra chapter. Over 800 power stones: 2 extra chapters. Over 1200 power stones: 3 extra chapters. Redsunworld Creator''s Thought Chapter 229 Turning the tables Chapter 229 Turning the tables Cain did not wait for a second or explain his ruthless behavior to the duo as he stored the space rings of Carl and Jortar before picking Orin and putting the women on his back. "Where?" Orin was a little taken aback by the sudden bloodshed. Still, as someone who took the Assassination Military Specialization, she could focus her mind in a second. "Six o''clock. Nine thousand meters!" Cain''s Blood Lightning burst with power as he flashed in that direction. Antony did not remain behind, using his Light Armor to follow the duo. --- "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Elemental explosions and shock waves echoed across the forest as nine young men with university marks fought against a group of six soldiers. Two long swords clashed repeatedly in the center of the battlefield, one bathed in explosive flames and the other in cold energy. Amos and William fought with all they had, using every ounce of energy and strength in their bodies to finish the other. There was no need to hide the killing intent in their hearts since things had escalated beyond the point they could achieve a peaceful outcome. Although the battle between Amos and William was the mightiest, the ones around them were just as spectacular, especially one of two young men fighting with golden and red fire. Levi used all his power to face Josef, the second-strongest student from Hellblazer University. Neither could overcome the other, and just like Amos and William, their battle reached an impasse. The problem for the soldiers was that while they did not fall behind in terms of average individual power, the scions had the numerical advantage. The wounds on the soldiers keep growing, and it will only be a matter of time before they would crumble. "Ahhh!" William''s eyes narrowed when he heard that scream and saw that one of the soldiers was losing a hand and pulling back to not lose his life as well. "Bastard! You will pay dearly for this crime once we leave the dimension!" "What are you talking about? All of you perished under the hands of the Sword Monsters. That is what we saw and what everybody in the empire will believe." Amos mocked William as he wielded his sword with more and more strength, unleashing powerful blasts of flames with each impact. The young man from the Hellblazer Family knew very well what would happen if the Imperial Lightning Fort learned about his ambush of soldiers, which is why he would not leave anyone alive. "You should have handed over that boy. Maybe then you could have kept your life." "Hmph, if I were to hand over my comrades just because some piece of shit says so, then I will be no better than the pigs of the Hellblazer Family." "What happened with Jortar and Carl?" Amos had sent the duo after Orin after wounding the girl, and they should have been more than powerful enough to handle her. Yet, Orin appeared with Cain, so the outcome of those two could not have been good. "The same thing that will happen to you." Cain''s voice was cold as the Blood Lightning burst with power, and he calmly walked forward. "Hmph, you are underestimating me!" Powerful flames covered Amos'' body, burning the cold energy that froze the muscles on his right shoulder, allowing him to hold his sword with both hands. "I estimate you just fine." Cain''s voice had not faded when he flashed toward Amos and began hacking with his machete. Amos was able to follow those attacks with his eyes as he had regained a lot of his previous strength, but Cain''s swordplay beastly surpassed him. That, plus the wounds on his body, pushed him into a defensive stance he could not escape. The situation around the battlefield took a large turn since Antony''s power helped the soldiers surpass the students by a slight margin. Levi relaxed now that the rest of the soldiers were fine and could focus on Josef, slowly pushing back this one with his golden flames. Amos saw that, but there was nothing he could do. He could barely move as Cain kept him pinned into a specific part of the battlefield. After a few minutes, wounds started to appear on the students as Antony''s attacks were too fast and unpredictable for them, and even Josef was beginning to lose ground against Levi. "Pull back!" Amos issued that order, wanting to leave this battlefield before they suffered wounds that could diminish their battle power. He was ready to use all his power to push Cain away since he believed this one would cling to him, but things did not go that way. As soon as Amos attempted to escape, Cain pulled back, leaving him alone. Confusion briefly filled the scion''s mind, but then he understood Cain''s goal. "Look out!" Josef heard Amos'' voice, but he could not lose focus as Levi attacked with a nearly suicidal might once he attempted to move away, not allowing his mind to concentrate on anything else. That was a grave mistake since Josef only perceived the machete cutting his neck when it was too late. Redsunworld Suy nghi? cu?a ngu?o??i ta?o Chapter 230 Merciless (I) Chapter 230 Merciless (I) Josef''s eyes were full of disbelief as his mind failed to process when the machete separated his head from the rest of his body. Cain grabbed the head mid-air and used his machete to pierce the corpse, using the Blood Refinement Art to devour the blood inside as he stared at Amos and the other students. "None of you will be leaving." A red force field full of killing intent rushed toward the students and covered them. Since the other party attacked them and attempted to take their life, there was no reason why he would let them escape. Although Cain''s brutality and slaughter intent surprised the soldiers, since things escalated to this point, with Joseft already dead, it was better to go all the way. Amos'' clenched his teeth when he saw that, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes when he saw how the rest of the students behaved. If they were ready to fight with their life on the line, they would have a chance, but Josef''s horrific death already broke their fighting spirit. There was no way Amos would fight to the death, and he was ready to escape, leaving the rest of the students that saw him as a leader to their luck. However, before Amos or Cain could make a move, a voice emerged from the trees. No?v(el)B\\jnn "Such merciless and killing intent. You really do honor your military code name, Saint of Killers. However, I can not let you kill so many promising stars from the empire." A man emerged from the trees and was not alone since a young woman was beside him. Cain''s face did not change because he had already perceived that man''s presence thanks to his [Basic Scan Force Field]. The one who spoke was no other than Dominic, and he was not alone since Cinthy was by his side. The power dynamic changed once again. Cinthy''s power was so little no one bothered with her, but Dominic''s aura was powerful and sharp, not to mention that the young man''s mastery over the sword should be the greatest of everybody present. Cain focused on the sword in Dominic''s right hand, and it was a bastard sword, very similar to the one the scion used in the real world. His mastery over the machete was good, but he was not so arrogant as to think he could surpass the swordplay of someone that dedicated his life to it. Only after thoroughly analyzing Dominic did Cain''s eyes turn toward the young woman, and he could see fear in her eyes. The fact she was here was already strange since she was a Level 3 Wave Warrior and not a very talented one. Dominic showed a small smile as he saw Cain focus on Cinthy, and then he put his hand over the woman''s shoulder, making her tremble. The reaction of the student was different, with many of them sneering. Some even began to whisper, wondering how they were so afraid of a man with such a weak mentality. The soldiers did not dare to show such contempt, but it was clear they were not fond of that sort of behavior in a leader. Still, since it did not cost them anything, none would interfere with Cain''s saving Cinthy. However, things would never be so easy with Dominic taking the lead. "I don''t intend to fight since that would not be counterproductive, but just handing her over because you say so doesn''t seem fine. You took the life of a valuable member of our group, so you must pay for it. Hand over all your red orbs and return Josef''s space ring." Cain''s eyes grew colder, and its red light shone with a ferocious might, indicating just how much rage was in his heart right now. Still, he deposited his red orbs in Josef''s space ring and walked forward. "Don''t move!" Dominic did not allow Cain to take more than a single step before shouting, raising his sword. He would not let such a powerful Astral Cultivator get in striking distance. Cain''s eyes narrowed, but he did not challenge Dominic''s words. "What you propose?" "There is a distance of two hundred meters between us. Leave your sword fifty meters ahead, and then I will release Cinthy. You will throw the space ring to me when she reaches the sword. If you don''t do it, I will send a barrage of wind blades forward, killing her." Cain stared at Dominic for a moment and did not accept immediately, but once the scion began to tighten the grip on Cinthy''s shoulder, he sighed before nodding. Antony and the rest of the soldiers frowned when they saw that. Letting go of his sword would leave Cain vulnerable, jeopardizing all their lives. Unfortunately for the soldiers, it did not seem that Cain could see the dangers, and he lunged his machete, making it land fifty meters ahead. Immediately, his face grew pale, and it seemed there was little to no strength left in his body. Dominic focused on Cain for a few seconds before finally letting go of Cinthy. The moment she was free, the young woman immediately walked forward, and the only reason she did not run seemed to be her fear of Dominic. Once Cinthy reached the machete buried in the ground, Cain used what little strength was in his body to throw the space ring toward Dominic. Cinthy began to walk faster and faster past that point, and in the last ten meters, she almost jumped toward Cain, landing on the chest of this one. The instant Cinthy reached Cain''s embrace a poisonous greed replaced the fear in her eyes and a small sword in the form of a dagger emerged from her sleeve. Blood painted the ground the next second. Chapter 231 : Merciless (II) Cain''s blood tainted the ground beneath his feet, and a sense of utter shock filled the hearts of all the soldiers and students as the Ego Wave vanished from the battlefield. Even in his weakened state, Cain could use his Free Ego, but the wound appeared so dire that he could not even think. That scene paralyzed everybody except for the one that orchestrated the entire thing. Dominic showed a vicious smile as he saw the blood falling into the ground. For the last few months, he had been training Cinthy in the art of deception and even went to the extreme of obtaining a robe that could hide things from Ego Wave. Everything the scion did was calculated considering every possible factor. He even tricked the students by his side, all to allow Cinthy close enough to land a lethal blow to Cain. The fact that losing your sword in this dimension left you in an extremely weakened state was just what Dominic needed. Dominic was ready to carry on with the next phase of his plan, taking advantage of the soldiers'' shock to kill everybody and take control of the student force, when a voice echoed. "Is this the best you have?" That voice was so cold that it made Dominic, the scions, and even the soldiers tremble. It had no rage or anger, the opposite. There was a lack of emotion in it, so disturbing that the willpower of those youths present could not tolerate it. "So disappointing." If the others were shocked, one could not even imagine the terror flooding Cinthy''s heart as she saw two red eyes focusing on her. Cinthy''s body began to tremble, and her instincts screamed for her to run away, but she could not move due to the hand holding her short sword. The blood on the ground was indeed Cain''s, but it was not due to the sword piercing his chest but him holding the blade with his right hand. "Please, forgive..." Cinthy was not able to finish her sentence as Cain pushed her sword away, leaving her so weak she could do nothing to stop the young man from grabbing her by the neck and raising her into the air. The turn of events made it hard for students and soldiers to react, not knowing what to do, but Dominic regained focus very fast. Dominic did not understand how Cain saw behind his scheme or why this one could retain that much power despite losing the machete, but none of that mattered right now. He needed to act fast and attack before Cain retrieved the weapon. The scion''s Essence Wave charged the bastard sword, and he was ready to send a mighty blade wind when Cain held Cinthy''s body between them. "If you attack, she will die first." Dominic couldn''t care less about Cinthy now that the woman was no longer of use, but Cain had yet to finish speaking. "Of course, if you don''t value the life of the people following your commands, go ahead and kill her." The bastard sword had already risen into the air when Dominic heard that and noticed the change in the students behind him. Even if he did not care about Cinthy, how the rest of the scions looked at him was very important for his future. "You don''t care about her, and neither do I. And unlike you, I am someone that keeps his word." Dominic frowned as he did not like to depend on the good faith of other people during a deal, but Cain''s words were true. He did not care about Cinthy; if this one were to kill her after getting the ring, it would not affect him. After some consideration, the scion threw Josef''s ring toward Cain, and this one caught it with his free hand. "Since I have the space ring, I will keep my word and send her to you." She was about to be free, but for a reason that escaped her comprehension, Cinthy began to tremble, and her instincts could not stop screaming. Under everybody''s gaze, Cain tossed Cinthy in the air before channeling every iota of Astral Wave and Blood Energy into his right fist. "Here you have her!" Cain shouted as he punched Cinthy in her sternum, shattering all the bones in her ribcage and sending her flying toward Dominic. That level of cruelty and mercilessness in that attack was something students and soldiers had never seen before. Cain did it in a way that she would suffer but would not end her life. "?AHHHH!" A scream of utter agony emerged from Cinthy''s mouth, along with a mouthful of blood and pieces of her internal organs. Dominic was taken aback by that brutality, so he only reacted once Cinthy''s body was less than ten meters away. The woman''s body blocked his view, but he felt a powerful force rushing at him. He waved his bastard sword, generating a gale that forcefully sent Cinthy flying to the left, and then he saw how Cain was about to reach him. Cain had used Cinthy''s body to cover his movements. The machete was already on his hands, and a massive amount of Astral Wave and Blood Lightning covered it. Dominic buried his bastard sword on the ground, generating a wall of sharp wind blades in front of him. Those wind blades could cut steel, but Cain''s eyes showed no hesitation, and he drove forward, making dozens of deep cuts appear all over his body, but also allowing him to hack with monstrous strength toward Dominic. Dominic raised his bastard sword from the ground and used it as a shield, but Cain''s strength surpassed his by a large margin. The machete pushed the bastard sword down, burying itself on the scion''s shoulder and destroying the sternum. The pain was immense, but Dominic knew he could not let it overcome him. He clenched his teeth and focused his Essence Wave on his left palm before touching Cain''s chest. Cain''s eyes widened as a powerful air cannon burst directly into his chest, pushing him away. Dominic felt how the machete seared his muscles and bones on the way out, but he ignored the pain before turning around and flashing away. Cain was not just going to let the scion flee, and the instant his feet touched the ground, his Astral Wave burst at full power before chasing after this one. He left two simple words for the rest of the soldiers. "Kill everybody!" Chapter 232 : Advance to Level 8 "Kill everybody!" Those words carried a sense of brutality and decisiveness that affected all those who heard them, although in different ways. The students felt an overwhelming fear while a slaughter intent flooded the soldiers'' hearts and minds. Not even a second went by before Levi and Orin flashed toward the students, full of killing intent, and it did not take long for the others to follow along. Now that Cain was gone, chasing after Dominic, the student force''s overall power was not inferior to that of the soldiers, but their fighting spirit was gone, and the only thing on their minds was to escape. It was not hard to figure out how a battle between a group full of killing intent and courage against one that saw no chance of victory would go. The fight did not last more than ten minutes; in that window of time, four students perished, and the rest managed to escape with grave wounds. Antony and the rest were taking care of the students'' Wave Artifacts and space ring when they saw Cain returning. There was no need to ask how the battle went since they saw him holding Dominic''s severed right arm. The scion must have managed to run away, but not without suffering severe wounds and losing one of his limbs. Although regenerating an arm would not be that difficult for someone with Dominic''s resources, they were in a secret dimension with no connection to the outside world, so they doubted he would manage to fix it. All the soldiers adopted respectful stances the moment they saw Cain and allowed him to take whatever he might want from the spoils of the battle against the students. It was their power and help that saved their life, but even more important, his scheming and ruthless mind drew awe and terror into their souls. Cain was not humble and took a good portion of the red orbs and some wave crystals. He had no interest in the Wave Artifacts, drugs, or anything else that the students left since he had better things. After that, the soldiers saw how Cain buried his machete in the soldiers'' corpses, draining the blood out of these ones in order to restore his Blood Energy and vitality. Although Dominic was wounded during the chase, the scion was still very powerful and skillful with the sword, so Cain did receive some injuries and depleted most of his energy pool. The dimension might be weakening all those youths'' bodies, but it did not truly diminish their vitality, so Cain felt a rush of blood essence through his body that equaled that of Wave Champion Beast. The soldiers saw all that but did not say a word and waited silently. Instinctively they saw Cain as their leader and were waiting for his instructions on how to advance. Cain did not take long to recover most of his energy, and his body was at full vitality after devouring all the blood in those corpses. He noticed how the soldiers were looking at him. Just as he was about to give them instructions, his eyes narrowed, and he saw one student alive on the battlefield. Antony almost trembled when Cain''s red eyes focused on him. He immediately understood the reason for that gaze. A dying young woman covered in blood was not far away from them. "Are there any questions?" Levi considered things for a moment before raising his hands. "I have one, but it is unrelated to battle formation and strategy." Cain glanced at Levi and could figure out what this one wanted to ask. It was something all soldiers wanted to know but were too afraid to ask in case they offended him. Antony, William, Lurin, Levi, Orin, and the others could not prevent their minds from wondering how he overcame the dimension''s weakening force after losing his machete. Cain stared at the soldiers for a moment before nodding and making his red force field manifest around his body. "This dimension weakens us by affecting the vibrational frequency of our bodies and Waves." That piece of information alone was impressive, and they guessed that Cain was able to come to that conclusion thanks to his Ego Wave. Still, that did not explain how he was able to counter it. Cain then raised his index finger, and this one transformed into a blood gem and unleashed a small vibrational force. "Thanks to my training, I have knowledge of vibrational powers. Although somewhat shallow, it was high enough to allow me to learn the vibrational frequency that my machete uses to counter that of this dimension. Then my Ego Wave forced my cell to replicate my machete''s vibrational frequency, allowing me to use part of my power after losing the weapon." There was awe in the soldiers'' eyes as they understood a little of just how amazing the Ego Wave of someone at Mind Over Body was, but they were also disappointed since none of them could do something like that. After that, there were no more questions, and everybody moved out. Cain remained with Antony as their battle style covered the weak points of the other and had already developed excellent teamwork. Around a week after the clash with Dominic and Amos'' group, Cain felt a change in his body. The weakening force made it hard to discern the advance of his cultivation, but the [A.I. Chip Module] took care of that. The duo had finished taking care of a powerful Sword Monster and moved to a safe location before Cain adopted a meditative position on a branch and unleashed his Ego Wave. "My Ego Wave will cover an arena of two hundred meters around us. Stay one hundred meters in front of me, so you can stop anyone from coming near." Antony heard that and then saw the red force field soon become invisible. He understood that Cain was about to advance to Level 8. Chapter 233 : To the second stage Antony understood that Cain wanted him to be one hundred meters away to act as a shield against any intruder and keep a safe distance between them. The Essence Cultivator did not feel anything wrong about that. After all, they have known each other for less than a year. Cain saw Antony adopting a solemn attitude before flashing forward, remaining precisely one hundred meters away from him. He then put his back against the tree''s trunk and waved his hands, taking out a pile of red orbs and a medium-quality wave crystal. A sense of complete focus appeared in Cain''s mind, and he emptied his mind of everything as he carried on with his advancement. The Astral Wave inside his body burst with power as his meridians grew, finishing their new circulatory system that connected the outside world directly to the Rebirth Heart. From now on, his skin would act as a natural filter, taking the Life Wave from the surroundings and sending it straight into his Sacred Organ for transformation. A system like that meant a massive increase in his stamina and cultivation speed. At this point, Cain felt a weird sensation and knew he could induce a qualitative change in his Astral Wave if he wanted, which would provoke an evolution of his body''s constitution. Since he reached the peak of Level 7, Cain could evolve into a Wave Champion if he so desired, but there was no way he would take that path. Not only would that path be worthless in this dimension, but it would waste a lot of his potential and practically sever his journey to Wave King. Level 8 and Level 9 were special cultivation levels. Their goal was to improve the cultivation foundation, fix any flaws that could have remained during their journey through Levels 1 to 7, and increase their mental capabilities. In detail, Level 8 made the cultivator generate an entirely new set of meridians that would rise from the Rebirth Heart and reach the only organ that had yet to be altered by the Astral Wave, the brain. It was an extremely delicate process since the brain was the home of the soul dimension that contained the essence of your soul and your Ego Eternal Matrix that embodied your personality. If the cultivator had done everything right, the meridians would nurture the brain cell with a refined Astral Wave, translating into a higher speed of thought and reflexes, along with improved computational skills and cognitive abilities. Cain''s focus reached its limit as he divided his mind into two essential tasks. He used the Astral Wave burst to induce a potent marrow washing and carefully spread his meridians across his brain. Filth emerged from Cain''s pores as the meridians reached the outer layer of the brain known as the cerebral cortex. As soon as the meridian penetrated into the cortex, Cain felt a boost in his cognitive abilities. His perception, memory, attention, language, and decision-making all suffered a massive improvement. After around half an hour, the burst of Astral Wave finally calmed down, and the expansion of the meridians across the cerebral cortex stopped its growth. Cain opened his eyes, and a sense of awe filled his heart when he saw the way in which his brain could now handle the sensory information. That was not all since the initiation of voluntary motor movements also improved, meaning the delay between tough and actions diminished significantly. Cain''s mental abilities were already impressive due to the power of his Ego Wave, but now they have reached the level where they could keep up with those of a Peak Wave Champion. Of course, that did not mean that Cain could fight against a Peak Wave Champion. No matter how fast his brain could process the information, if his body could not keep up with it. ''I am at the early stage of Level 8. Next comes the expansion of my meridians to the corpus callosum, thalamus, and hypothalamus for the end.'' Cain smiled as he felt the power of his body and mind, but the next second he almost puked due to the disgusting smell that his improved sense of smell picked up. He immediately waved his hand, burning all the filth covering his body. Only then did he relax and send a familiar command to the Absolute Life Form System. ''System, scan me.'' Cain also noticed the qualitative improvement of his Astral Wave, which was definitely due to the red orbs he kept consuming day and night, refining and cleansing his energy pool. The improvement of the Wave Virus'' effect was simply due to Cain''s growth as a Grand Genetic Coder. Their Wave Talent stayed the same because it would take much more than that to rise to Tier 7. Of all the stats, the one that mattered to Cain the most after his marrow-washing percentage was his vitality. It had already overcome the boundaries of Wave Warrior and reached the realm of Wave Champion, which was very important for the evolution of his Asura Form. Cain stood up with a smile, but he immediately frowned. While he could feel there was more strength in his body, the dimension''s weakening force did not allow him to use any of that. The only way he could deploy the full power of his current cultivation would be if his machete completely nullified the force affecting his vibrational frequency. However, that would take simply too much time. Antony noticed that Cain had finished his breakthrough and walked toward him as they discussed what to do next. They were close enough to the center of the forest to catch a glimpse of the pillar of light in it. "My Astral Wave is nearly fully tempered, and I can no longer improve my swordplay with the Sword Monsters. There is no point in remaining longer in this forest. What about you?" For obvious reasons, Cain''s energy pool was smaller than Antony''s, so it took less time for him to refine his Wave entirely. "The red orbs have tempered around ninety percent of my Essence Wave. As for my swordplay, there is also little room for improvement fighting against the monsters in this forest." Cain considered everything, and after a few moments, he devised a path for the two of them. "Let''s keep moving to the pillar of light. If you have yet to fully temper your Wave by the time we reach there, I will guard you for five days." There was still a lot of time before the wall of light reached them, and Cain was sure this was not a test of speed, but still, he did not want to remain in the forest when there was no reason for it. Antony showed a smile and nodded. Cain''s path was very good, and he was more than happy to take it. With that over, Cain and Antony began to move forward. The Essence Wave Cultivator spent every moment with the red orbs, and since the energy of this one was so calm, he could even use it while running. They met several Swords Monsters in their path, some of them really strong, but that was only due to their cultivation, not the swordplay. The duo did not waste too much time with them, killing them as fast as possible before continuing. After a week, the duo finally reached the majestic pillar of light. It had a radius of over two hundred meters and rose so far into the sky that it seemed capable of reaching the peak of this dimension. Antony had yet to fully temper his Essence Wave and did not want to advance to the next stage without doing it. Cain kept his word and guarded this one for five days. Cain and Antony were not the only ones that reached the pillar of light, but everybody stood at a safe distance from the others as they did the final refinement of their Wave. Luckily for the Essence Cultivator, he only needed three days to refine his energy pool, giving him the confidence to handle any threat on the other side of the pillar of light. Cain nodded toward Antony once this one finished training and walked forward, putting a hand over the pillar of light. Chapter 234 : Severing Domain The instant Cain touched the pillar of light, his body fused into this one, and he rose into the sky before vanishing from the forest. Many people saw that and feeling more confident, they also advanced to the pillar. Cain''s mind went blank after touching the pillar, and the only thing he felt was moving from one place to another at a simply overwhelming speed. When his sight returned, and he saw his surroundings, a sense of overwhelming danger assaulted him. The reason for that was the hundreds of Sword Monsters surrounding him from all directions. His first thought was to unleash every iota of Astral Wave and Blood Energy from his body to face those monsters, but to his shock, he could not do it. There were hundreds of monsters around him the second he reached the second stage, and he could not use his energy pool. How was he supposed to fight all of them? Luckily, while the Sword Monsters'' eyes were full of slaughter intent and it was clear they wanted nothing more than to lunge toward Cain and reap him to pieces, it seemed that they could not move. Learning that the dimension paralyzed the Sword Monster calmed Cain, and he was able to analyze things with a cold mind. He first realized that he had a small crystal in the center of his forehead, but he had no idea what its use was. Then he focused on the monsters'' power, and they were all at Level 6. It seemed that this dimension generated enemies according to his cultivation. The higher his level, the stronger the enemies would have been. Also, while he could not use his Astral Wave or Blood Energy right now, a weakening force was no longer diminishing his cultivation. He was sure that once the trial began, he would be able to use the full power of his cultivation to face the Sword Monsters. Just like when he entered the Forest Dimension and felt an intent in his mind telling him to reach the pillar of light, there was also a new intent here trying to communicate the essence of this trial. Although it took a little time for Cain to fully understand it, it was clear in the end. The intent wanted to seal some of his senses. As for how many, that was up to Cain to decide. The more senses he lost before the battle started, the greater the reward would be in the end. The number of Sword Monsters was near endless, and Cain just had to keep killing until no more energy was left in his body. Then he would need to touch the crystal in his forehead to advance to the third stage. Having understood the essence of the trial, Cain had to decide which of his senses he would have to give up. Although someone like him could use his Ego Wave to replace all of them, he was sure that the dimension already thought of that and would not let him use his red force field. Luckily, he had a power that not even the dimension seemed capable of suppressing or even detecting, the Absolute Life Form System. Right now, Cain could not use his Free Ego, but nothing was hindering the power of his [Basic Scan Force Field]. Cain had no time to care about the change in the crystal since not even a second after killing those five Sword Monsters, more came at him, full of killing intent and ferocity. The speed at which his machete moved was just the right one to sever those Sword Monsters before they could get near him. Cain could have easily unleashed attacks that would have killed dozens of these Level 6 Sword Monsters if he wanted, but this was a test of skill and endurance. That was why he limited Wave Burst to 500% and refrained from using Blood Hand or Asura Form. Just those two skills would have made Cain unstoppable in this place for the first few minutes, and hundreds of Level 6 Sword Monsters would have perished, but then he would have drained his energy and been forced to leave this place. The machete carried on with its arcs, splitting all the Sword Monsters into pieces. A radius of two and a half meters around Cain was empty of everything despite hundreds of monsters doing all in their power to reach the young man. Severing Domain was a sword skill that combined small body movements and long arcs with the machete, using the weapon''s slicing power to split everything that entered it. It was an awe-inspiring domain skill, especially since it only took the system a few minutes to come up with it, but it would only work with unintelligent monsters. A well-trained army would find a way to exploit its weaknesses, sacrificing some people if needed to stop the machete and then overwhelm Cain. Cain''s eyes burst with red light as he hacked in all directions. He had to use the full power of his Ego Wave to enhance his speed of thought, or else he would make a mistake or read the [Basic Scan Force Field]''s hologram wrong. If that were to happen, he might not even have the time to touch the crystal and die at the hands of the Sword Monsters. Sword Monsters attacked from all directions, and some even jumped toward Cain so they could attack from above, but the machete split all of them. All of the monsters burst into dark mist upon death, so there was no pile of corpses amassing around Cain and forcing him to move, which was good. Ten minutes had passed since the start of the fight, and the numbers perished under the might of Cain''s machete reached over three hundred, but there was no end to them. Cain did not feel tired, and his breathing was calm, but he frowned as he felt the numbness in his arms. The machete''s edge was extremely sharp and could easily cut the Sword Monsters'', but the speed at which he had to move his arms was too much, and his muscles were starting to realize it. Unfortunately, Cain could not slow down. If he did it, his machete might lack the momentum to cut the several Sword Monsters at once, and that would force him to fight on the run, depleting his stamina even faster. This trial would not be easy and would push Cain''s mind and body to their absolute limit. Chapter 235 : Star ''How much time has passed? I am so tired I can barely discern the passage of time.'' Cain''s eyes burned with such a potent red light that it seemed capable of shining over the dimension, but that was like the last flash of heat from a candle about to turn off. He had split apart so many Sword Monsters that he could not keep up with the number, but no number was high enough. The more he killed, the better it would be, so he just carried on non-stop. The numbness in Cain''s arms extended to his legs at first bore spreading to every part of his body. That did not last forever since soon, a wave of pain replaced it, and he could feel how the muscle fibers broke due to the immense effort, but he just clenched his teeth and carried on. Every second that passed was a chance to kill another Sword Monster and absorb their dark mist. Still, it also carried a tortuous pain since his relentless movements with the machete already overexerted his body to the point it began to destroy itself from within. The crystal in Cain''s forehead had already turned blacker than night, but he felt there was more to it. Cain felt something was missing and was very close to reaching it. That feeling pushed him to continue hacking despite every fiber of his body urging him to rest. The domain around his figure diminished to one meter due to the physical exhaustion, and it would not be long before those Sword Monsters got close enough to really do some damage. Right now, it only took a minor wound for him to lose his tempo, which would mean the end of this trial. By that point, he either touched the crystal in his forehead and ended the fight or perished under the monsters'' claws. Cain clenched his teeth and hands with so much strength that they were bleeding as he pushed his body forward despite this one already starting to shut down. There was, but a stream of his Astral Wave and Blood Energy left inside him, and he was stretching them out so they could last just one more second. Finally, although Cain did not know it, he killed 3.300 Sword Monsters, and it was at that moment the crystal in his forehead began to change. The crystal shivered briefly before a shining dot appeared in its center, like a lone star in a dark sky. Just like Cain felt something was missing even after the crystal turned dark, the emergence of the star told him he had completed his mission in this place. He was so tired that turning his attention to the crystal, even for an instant, allowed one of the Sword Monsters to cross his domain and leave a long wound on his right shoulder. That wound threw his body to the ground and allowed the dozens of Sword Monsters around to lunge toward him with their weapon first. As the swords were about to impale his body from every direction, Cain touched the crystal on his forehead with his left hand. The terrain was completely barren, with nothing but the fog, so nothing stopped Cain''s movements. That jump propelled his body forward with immense power, allowing him to cross hundreds of meters in a few seconds. Cain''s Astral Wave and Blood Energy grew more and more powerful mid-air, and once he finally touched the ground again, he flashed forward at a phenomenal speed, covering more than one hundred meters every second. The fog severely hindered Cain''s senses, and it did the same with his Ego Wave, but he could still unleash it forward, allowing him to locate his enemy before this one appeared in his line of sight. After two minutes of running at full speed, Cain''s pupils dilated as his Ego Wave showed him his prey. Blood Lightning and Astral Wave coursed through the machete as he tightened its grip. A powerful gale emerged ahead, blasting in all directions. It was clear that the person who unleashed that attack felt that someone was coming but could not figure out the location of the enemy. Cain showed a cold smile as he saw that gale, and he once again jumped forward with all his power, breaking apart the wall of wind and appearing right in front of the enemy he wanted to kill so much. The machete collided with a bastard sword used as a shield. However, the first was coated in Astral Wave, and the immense strength of an Astral Cultivator was behind it, while Essence Wave enhanced the second, so the clash did not end in a draw. "YOU!" Dominic shouted that word before Cain''s machete sent him flying away. He could not understand how the young soldier managed to find him so fast, and it was even more shocking that the machete sent him flying away. Although his left arm was still missing, Dominic was a powerful Early Wave Champion, and the second dimension healed almost all of the wounds that Cain left in his body. The fact that Cain could so easily overcome him in a battle of strength made him understand how dangerous the young soldier was and that he could not let this one live. Cain noticed the killing intent in Dominic''s eyes, but that only made his smile grow wider and his heartbeat stronger as he activated Asura Form. He immediately chased after Dominic, and the Blood Energy in his right palm increased. Dominic knew he could not let this become a melee battle, but he could do nothing to stop the next clash due to their proximity, so the best path forward was to diminish Cain''s momentum. He was confident in handling the machete as he got an estimate of Cain''s physical strength during that last collision. The scion buried the sword in the ground, regaining control over his body before opening his mouth and unleashing a mighty gale. Cain pushed forward despite facing winds that could send small vehicles flying away. Still, that diminished his momentum, affecting the strength of his next attack. Dominic raised his bastard sword, confident that he could handle the machete, but when Cain''s weapon touched his, he felt an unstoppable power that nearly broke the bones on his arm. Chapter 236 : Betrayal "Ahhh!" Dominic could not help but release a small scream of pain as the power of the machete was simply too much and sent him flying away without control. He managed to block it, but its force traveled from the bastard sword to his arm, all the way to his body and inner organs. It was like getting rammed by a giant truck. Even if a shield were in front of you, the impact force would still reach you and do severe damage. Despite the pain and injuries, Dominic did not have time to rest since Cain jumped toward him, and the machete descended right at his head. His bastard sword unleashed a small blast of air that pushed his body to the left, saving his head from being divided in two. "?BOOM!" Dominic''s eyes widened when he saw an explosion occur right next to his head due to the machete overwhelming force. Unlike most scions who only participated in battles where there was no danger for their lives, Dominic had experienced all kinds of fights throughout his life, and more than once, he had found himself in life-and-death battles. That granted him a powerful battle awareness, allowing him to quickly discover the key behind Cain''s monstrous strength. It was not the machete or the energy covering the weapon but Cain''s hand which allowed those strikes to carry so much power. All five fingers had turned into blood gems, and the transformation showed signs of extending to the rest of the hand. As someone that mastered swordplay, Dominic knew the importance of the strength of your arm and hand. A firm grip could grant stability and control, ensuring greater precision and accuracy, but that was not all. A powerful grip granted a greater power transfer. When the grip is firm, the force generated by the body''s movement can be efficiently transferred to the sword, resulting in a more powerful strike. The energy from the wielder''s muscles is effectively channeled into the blade, maximizing its impact. Dominic could not be certain about the nature of Cain''s technique, but it was clear it enhanced this one''s hands, allowing every strike of that machete to carry so much power that nothing could stop it. That analysis took a long time to describe, but less than a second had passed since the machete clashed with the ground instead of on Dominic''s head. Cain''s eyes followed Dominic''s head, and he waved his machete to the left, breaking the ground beneath him. Dominic could not avoid the attack, so the only thing he could do was to use the bastard sword as a shield despite knowing that the impact would still harm him. "?BOOM!" A new explosion of kinetic force occurred when the machete touched the bastard sword, sending Dominic flying into the air while puking blood. Dominic did not have a moment to rest before being forced to block again, as Cain appeared in the air in front of him and hacked down with both hands. "?BOOOOM!" "?AHHH!" William roared as he made his Astral Wave burst at full power and defended from the wind blades, but the golden sword had done too much damage. It took around five seconds for the combined damage from the golden sword and wind blades to kill William! Dominic''s face was pale as he was forced to use a secret technique that overdrew his energy pool and left him in a state of exhaustion, but that did not stop a small smile from appearing on his face. The scion knew about Uriel as he had done his research on all Vice-Captains. He was confused about all that had just happened, but it was clear that the golden swordsman was not on Cain''s side, and the enemy of my enemy was a friend. Uriel took his sword from William''s chest and did not bother to look at Dominic, focusing solely on Cain with nothing but a crazy killing intent in his eyes. In the past few months, Uriel''s words had turned upside down. He could no longer trust in the allies that once followed his every command, and his position in the military kept falling. Everything he had worked so hard for was crumbling, and the one he blamed for that was right in front of him. Even if it meant sacrificing his sense of duty and brotherhood, Uriel did not care as long as he could end the nightmare that was Cain Laurifer. Cain broke the tornado apart, and he could see Uriel''s craziness and Dominic''s killing intent. The tables had turned, and he would now be facing two Wave Champions that focused on speed and who could cover each other''s weak spots. Defeating Uriel and William in a direct fight would be nearly impossible for Cain, but he was not focusing on that. Right now, Cain''s eyes could only see William''s corpse lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood. They had fought together for the good part of a year, and although William was not someone of many words, Cain knew he could trust that man to follow his command without fear or hesitation. In every sense of the word, William was an exemplary soldier and would have become a great military leader in the future, but that glorious path was severed. Cain knew that the reason Uriel killed William was because of him. Of course, one could easily put the blame on Uriel''s despicable behavior or William''s lack of awareness, but Cain was not like that. He was smart enough to understand that he should not feel guilty about it, but emotions were not logical. ''I should have killed Uriel. I grew overconfident in my ability to handle him, resulting in William''s death. I made a mistake.'' Cain''s eyes grew colder as the red light on them burst with monstrous rage. There were no emotions on his face, but that only made it even more terrifying. Dominic and Uriel trembled when those red eyes turned toward them, and for an instant, they felt in the presence of an ancient monster capable of erasing entire civilizations. "I WILL KILL YOU!" Chapter 237 : Black castle "I WILL KILL YOU!" Cain''s voice echoed across the fog, full of such a monstrous killing intent that it froze the blood of anyone that heard it. A pillar of reddish purple energy emerged from his body and rose into the sky as he made his Astral Wave, and Blood Energy burst with all their power. That wild explosion of energy did not last long since the next second, Cain compressed all of it to its limit around his body and machete. Then, he stomped the ground with so much strength that a cloud of dust covered his figure, and the only thing that emerged from it was a red force field that drove forward like an unstoppable tsunami. Dominic and Uriel could not help but tremble as Cain''s Ego Wave surrounded them, as they could feel all the rage and anger on his enemy and the fact that he would not stop at anything to kill them both. Things grew more dire when the red force field became invisible, and neither could feel it anymore. The duo immediately got close to each other. There was no trust between the scions, but they knew that Cain was their enemy and needed to work together, or they would die. Uriel took the front, making his Astral Wave burst at full power, while Dominic rose to the sky with phantom wings. Their battle formation was the most common between Astral and Essence Cultivators, but something more complex would not work since they knew nothing about each other. The fact that two Early Wave Champions from Noble Families would not dare to make the first attack against a Level 8 Wave Warrior was ludicrous, but that precisely was what happened. Dominic and Uriel did not dare to enter the dust cloud since they feared Cain''s assassination skills. However, nothing happened after ten seconds of waiting, confusing the duo. Suddenly, Dominic''s eyes widened, and he waved his bastard sword, generating a powerful wind that dissipated the cloud of dust. "Dammit!" Dominic could not help but shout in anger when he saw that Cain had vanished. The cloud of dust and the Ego Wave that sowed fear into their hearts were just distractions, giving Cain time to escape. Uriel''s face grew pale when he saw that Cain had left. He had killed William, and if anyone in the Imperial Lightning Fort found out, he was dead. The fog was too heavy, and Uriel had no way of following Cain''s tracks, but Dominic was different. The young Essence Wave Champion put his bastard sword on his forehead, and the next second, a gale emerged from his body and expanded in all directions. There was not much power in that gale, but it expanded with an overwhelming speed, and Dominic would know everything that came into contact with it. "There!" Dominic pointed to the north, and the duo flashed at full speed. Uriel''s body glowed with a golden light as he dashed forward like a madman. The only way he could keep his life after leaving this place would be to end Cain''s. Dominic did not have Uriel''s crazy zeal since nothing would happen to him even if Cain revealed his part in William''s death. Still, he needed to kill Cain since this one grew too fast and would become a serious problem in the future. That proved a grave mistake since just as Uriel was above the dust cloud, Cain rose from this one and attacked with his machete. The attack took Uriel by surprise, and he attempted to parry with his golden sword, but the machete had so much power that it pushed his weapon away, leaving Cain a free path. Horror appeared in Uriel''s eyes when he saw Cain preparing to hack with the machete again, but to his luck, he was not alone. Dominic fired two wind blades toward Cain''s back, and the only way to avoid them would be to move away from Uriel immediately. Uriel smiled as he was sure that Cain would choose to dodge the wind blades, but a sense of utter doom assaulted his heart as he saw two red eyes focusing on his skull. "WAIT!" Cain ignored Uriel''s plea for mercy and hacked with his machete, burying the weapon on top of the scion''s head. Right after ending Uriel''s life, he redirected as much of his Astral Wave as possible into his back to protect it from Dominic''s attack. The wind blades landed on Cain''s back, cutting through the layer of Blood Lightning, Astral Wave, and armor, severing the muscles and damaging the bones. Cain clenched his teeth as he endured the pain. He used Uriel''s corpse as a platform, killing this one and driving his body toward the black castle. Dominic''s eyes were full of fear when he saw Cain''s removing the machete and pieces of Uriel''s brain falling to the ground. That level of determination to kill the enemy, even if it meant suffering a severe wound, was something he did not have. ''I need to kill him!'' Dominic knew there was already an irreconcilable enmity between him and Cain, so he had to end the life of this one right here, and now, or else there would be no other chance. The scion channeled his Essence Wave into his bastard sword to unleash his final blow, but a golden projectile forced him to interrupt its charge. He could easily push it away and saw it was Uriel''s golden sword. That attack posed no threat to someone like Dominic but was able to delay his attack and give Cain a chance to get near the castle. "DIE!" Dominic roared as he waved his bastard sword down, using all the Essence Wave left in his body to fire a massive tornado composed of thousands of tiny wind blades. Cain could see the attack with his Ego Wave, and the side effects of Berserker State were kicking in, but none of that mattered as he crossed the gate into the castle. As soon as Cain entered the castle, the gate of this one shut down, stopping Dominic''s attack from coming in. Chapter 238 : Sword Avatar "?Nooooo!" Dominic shouted with rage as he could not accept that Cain had managed to escape alive after killing Uriel. If he was able to do something like that while being a Level 8 Wave Warrior, what would happen when this one became a Wave Champion? His strongest attack was unable to make even a dent in the black castle, and trying to force his way in would be a total waste of time. "Dammit!" Rage and resentment flowed through Dominic''s heart as he hacked to the ground with blind fury. It took a long time for him to calm his heart, and only then did he focus on the crystal on his forehead and head to his castle. --- Cain lost consciousness shortly after crossing the gate. The wounds on his body and the drain on his Astral Wave and Blood Energy were extreme, and it took him three days to finally wake up. Even then, he could not stand up and had to crawl into a wall to adopt a sitting position. He looked at his surroundings and realized that the interior of that massive castle was a vast white room. The only thing inside it was his machete, which had vanished from his grip and now floated in the center of the place. Just like in every other stage of this dimension, Cain figured out the next step by perceiving the intent sent into his soul. He needed to touch the machete to start the final stage of the inheritance. What would happen there was impossible to know, but if he succeeded, it would mark the end of the trials. Cain was very lucky that this trial would only start when he was ready, allowing him to heal from the many wounds on his body and the side effects of Berserker State. The first thing he did was take a lot of medical drugs from his space ring and the ones he stole from Josef and Uriel. That stabilized his condition after a few hours, and then he took a bunch of Wave Champion Beasts'' hearts and wave crystals. A stream of vitality and Astral Wave coursed through Cain''s body over and over again. Slowly, the state of his flesh, blood, and meridians improved, becoming even stronger than before. When talented cultivators are pushed to exhaustion, they can exert even greater power than their previous limit, and once they heal, they rise even stronger. It was similar to a water well, capable of holding more liquid when excavated beyond its limit. Four days and more resources than a standard Level 9 Wave Warrior needed to cross into Wave Champion, but Cain managed to recover from everything, and the strength of his body and mind was never better. Cain rose from the ground and checked his body before focusing on the machete. He needed to touch it to start the final trial of this inheritance. Improving his cultivation would be useless since he was sure that would only make the future enemy even more potent, so instead of wasting time, Cain walked forward with eyes full of red light. If Cain had not reinforced both arms with Astral Wave and Blood Lightning in the last second, the attack would have fractured his arms, essentially ending the battle. "?Boom!" Another sonic boom echoed across the room as the Sword Avatar flashed toward Cain, but just as it was ready to send one of those devastating punches, a powerful heartbeat appeared. "Thump!" Cain activated Asura Form as he was able to react to the supersonic movements of the Sword Avatar, dodging the right punch aimed at his head and responding with a counter that used the full torque of his body. ''Even if you possess some incredible technique, you are just a soulless entity without authentic battle experience.'' Those were Cain''s thoughts as his punch, in which he charged a massive amount of Astral Wave, was about to land on the Sword Avatar''s head. However, once again, the Sword Avatar proved its might as it quickly bent its outstretched arm at the elbow, throwing Cain''s counter off-angle. Cain''s eyes widened as he saw that skill level, but his instincts kicked right away, sending a left hook, a move the Sword Avatar mimicked perfectly. One punch carried a massive amount of Astral Wave and Blood Lightning, while the other generated a shock wave. Cain and the Sword Avatar suffered during the clash. Still, the human endured more damage since the Astral Wave surrounding the entity vibrated in such a way that it acted like a cushion, diminishing the kinetic force of any attack that came in contact with it. Cain''s eyes almost lost focus due to the blow to the face, but he regained control very fast, thanks to his Ego Wave, and moved away from the Sword Avatar. His eyes were sharp as he stared at the enemy, and he understood something. ''All that time I used it, the machete was not only getting stronger but was also learning from me. My battle skills and martial technique are under its domain.'' Facing an opponent with the same physical and energy stats, whose martial skills were as good as yours, but who could display more powerful technique than yours? That was a really dangerous trial, and unlike the others, there was no way out of the castle, and things would only end when one of the two perished. The only silver lining in all of this was that the Sword Avatar had weaker mental fortitude than Cain since it lacked an Ego Wave, and even though its vibrating Astral Wave diminished a lot of the damage in the last blow, it still numbed the entity''s body. Cain did not lose his chance and flashed forward, sending an uppercut to the Sword Avatar, but this one reacted at the last second, putting both arms above its jaw. That blow sent the Sword Avatar into the roof, but just as Cain intended to follow after this one, it kicked the air, allowing its body to deploy what seemed to be Air Walk. Chapter 239 : Second Gear Cain''s eyes widened as he saw the Sword Avatar generate sonic booms with its feet, moving across the room''s ceiling at supersonic speed. Although Astral Wave Champion could move through the air using Air Walk, none of them could do it with such dexterity and speed, not to mention that the Sword Avatar was doing it using the same strength and energy pool that Cain''s. Cain followed the movements of the Sword Avatar with his eyes, but while his mind could follow the enemy, his body was too late to react, and a sharp pain appeared on his back. "Ahhhh!" A scream of pain echoed across the room as the Sword Avatar punched Cain''s back with so much power that it almost fractured his spine. That attack sent the human flying away and would have been much worse if not for this one redirecting all his Astral Wave to his back at the last second. Cain clenched his teeth and spat the blood on his mouth as he regained control of his body and sent a kick to the Sword Avatar that had lunged toward him. That kick landed on the Sword Avatar''s chest, but once again, the vibrating mantle of Astral Wave drained most of its kinetic force. It did little damage to the Sword Avatar but pushed it back, giving Cain a few moments to regain his breathing and figure out what to do next. Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he figured out that the only way to break the Sword Avatar''s defensive layer would be by using Blood Hand, but the technique drained his energy very fast, so he had to be sure when to use it. He flashed forward, ready to exert so much pressure on the Sword Avatar that this one could not move freely, and then unleash a barrage of devastating attacks using Blood Hand. However, just as he was about to reach the Sword Avatar, the body of this one began to generate a humming sound before splitting into three identical figures. Such techniques could trick the eyes, but should not be a problem for someone like Cain with a powerful Ego Wave. Yet, Cain could not help but clench his fists since the humming sound also acted as a barrier against the red force field, forcing him to rely only on his sight. "The one on the left!" Luckily, Cain had an even more powerful tool to scan the enemy. The [Basic Scan Force Field] detected the real one, and Apex shouted the information into his mind. The three Sword Avatars flashed toward Cain but were slower than before. That technique seemed to put a lot of pressure on it, weakening its physical might. Cain hid that it knew the real one until they were right in front of each other. Then, the fingers on his right and left hands turned into blood gems, and he punched the real Sword Avatar with both fists! "?Boom!" "?Boom!" Each punch generated a small blast due to the immense power behind them and sent the Sword Avatar flying away while puking blood. The strength of Cain''s fists managed to break through the vibrating Astral Wave. After being sent flying away for the seventh time, Cain felt he was losing consciousness, so he clenched his teeth and generated a field of Blood Lightning around his body. The Sword Avatar did not jump into the red lightning since Cain could not keep it for long, and there was no need to take unnecessary injuries now that the victory was clear. Cain puked a mouthful of blood as he attempted to regulate his breathing. A small smile appeared on his face as he saw his current state and knew there was only one way forward. "So be it." The red light in Cain''s eyes reached its zenith as the speed and strength of his heartbeat skyrocketed. "THUMP!" Cain''s entire body began to tremble and become redder, affecting even the sclera of his eyes. It was a truly fiendish appearance, no different from the depictions of devils in the Old World. He felt his blood surging with so much force that it immediately ruptured many of his vessels. Every second of this left severe internal damage, but it granted an overwhelming speed and strength in exchange. "Second Gear!" The Sword Avatar heard those two words, only to be sent flying away the next second, crashing against the room''s wall. Shock appeared in its eyes as the speed of Cain overcame it! Second Gear granted Cain an instant acceleration that neared Mach 2, meaning two times the speed of sound! The Sword Avatar did not have time to analyze how Cain could do something like that, as the human was already in front of it, ready to unleash a new attack. It was too fast, so it only managed to raise its arms and focus its Astral Wave on them. Cain''s hand fingers turned into blood gems as he fired punch after punch toward the Sword Avatar, ready to break this one defensive and then its skull. The Sword Avatar did not just take the onslaught quietly, as its Astral Wave began to vibrate with even more strength before unleashing an immensely powerful sound wave. Cain was surprised by that attack, and the sound wave made his eardrums bleed, disorienting him enough for the Sword Avatar could connect a straight blow to his chest, sending him flying away. Speed and strength were massively improved during Second Gear, but it did nothing to enhance defense. Actually, the intense internal damage endured by the second did any new damage Cain received much more severe. Cain regained control over his body very fast, but not before puking a mouthful of blood. His legs trembled but stood straight by sheer willpower. Time was of the essence, so Cain was ready to dash back into the fray immediately, but then he noticed how the Sword Avatar inhaled more and more air into its lungs. If just the Astral Wave could unleash such a powerful sonic wave, then one could only imagine what the Sword Avatar could do with a scream. Cain immediately transmuted the Astral Wave around his ears, making it a filter for sound waves, and used his Ego Wave to shut down his sense of hearing to prevent neural damage. After that, Cain flashed forward at full speed, but just as he was halfway to the Sword Avatar, this one stopped inhaling, and then he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. Chapter 240 : A fight of resolve Cain saw a small hole the size of a grain of rice on his shoulder. His mind had reached such a high level of concentration that he could figure out what happened instantly. The Sword Avatar did not unleash a sonic scream. Instead, he packed a crazy amount of air into his lungs and used sonic waves to compress it before releasing it like a projectile capable of traveling at supersonic speed. It was not just one since a barrage of those projectiles emerged from the Sword Avatar''s mouth and flashed toward Cain at a speed that was nearly impossible to dodge. Anyone else would have pulled back, but Cain just clenched his teeth and flashed forward, using Virtual Sight to predict the path of the projectiles. Even with that, it would be impossible to dodge them at such a close distance, but he could make sure they landed on parts of his body that would not affect his battle power. The Sword Avatar shot those projectiles faster but could not stop Cain from appearing right in front of it. Cain activated Blood Hand in his right hand. He struck directly toward the Sword Avatar''s solar plexus, generating a momentary contraction of the diagrams and removing all the air from his enemy''s lungs. Right after that, Cain sent a left hook toward the Sword Avatar''s head, blasting this one into the ground and immediately following with a kick that sent it back into the room''s walls. The Sword Avatar''s bones cracked under the immense power of Cain''s attack, but it was not defenseless. Just as Cain sent an ax kick toward its neck, it made its entire body spin, dodging the attack. Next, the Sword Avatar generated a shock wave from the sole of its feet, pushing him away from Cain before rising into the air. Cain''s eyes narrowed as the Sword Avatar moved across the ceiling at supersonic speed, but this time he was able to keep up with this one. The Sword Avatar appeared on Cain''s left and sent a kick to the back of this one''s head, but the human bent his knees right at the last moment. Cain saw the kick pass above his head before rising and using his body''s momentum to send an uppercut toward the Sword Avatar. The Sword Avatar used both arms to block the uppercut, but the blow still sent it flying away. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw shock waves emerge from the Sword Avatar''s feet at the last second. The entity jumped back to diminish some of the strength in his punch. ''It is adapting.'' That was Cain''s only explanation for such a fantastic display of martial skill. Still, he did not waste time and flashed toward the enemy. Two red figures flashed across the room, moving at supersonic speed and unleashing blows that surpassed Mach 4. The intensity of this battle was one people could only expect from Late Wave Champions. The idea that two Wave Warriors that had yet to reach the peak of that rank could create a battle like that was preposterous, yet, it was happening right now. Cain and the Sword Avatar clashed over one thousand times when the latter rose to the air and generated a new rain of supersonic air projectiles. This time they were smaller and weaker but also faster, forcing Cain to block with his arms. His eyes widened as he felt the Sword Avatar appear behind him and understood the projectiles were a simple distraction. Cain turned around and attempted to move away, but it was too late, and the Sword Avatar''s hands were already on his chest. The Sword Avatar''s indexes and middle fingers were touching, forming the figure of a diamond. "?BIIIIIII!" The Sword Avatar felt its rib cage shattering, but it endured the pain as his hands formed that diamond shape again. Cain did not hesitate before moving away, but one of the clones was there, and to his shock, it exploded and released a blast of shock waves. Those shock waves pushed Cain back to the Sword Avatar. There was no way to avoid that sonic cannon now, so Cain could only raise his arms and concentrate all his Astral Wave and Blood Energy in the front, forming a bloody shield. "?Biiiii!" The sonic cannon was weaker this time due to the Sword Avatar''s exhaustion, but it was still strong enough to push Cain''s body dozens of meters while he puked blood. Cain felt his lungs no longer working, and his heartbeat was about to slow down. If that were to happen, he would not be able to trigger Asura Form again. ''Five seconds!'' Cain knew he would not last more; if the battle did not end by then, he would die. A last burst of red light appeared in his eyes as he flashed forward. The Sword Avatar did not simply wait after sending Cain back. It had inhaled a massive amount of air and received the incoming threats with a rain of projectiles. Cain made the muscles on his back and arms bulge. He used them as a shield against the projectiles and stood before the Sword Avatar in less than a second. However, just as Cain sent a devastating punch, the Sword Avatar opened its mouth so much that its jaw was almost dislocated, only to release a massive air boom to Cain''s fist. "?BOOM!" A total sense of shock appeared on Cain''s face as the air boom burst his right hand off, but that did not stop him. He used his bloody wrist to strike the Sword Avatar''s head and sent it crashing into the walls! That attack surprised the Sword Avatar since the idea that someone could carry on with their attack like that was impossible for it. "?FHHHHH!" Before the Sword Avatar could recover, it heard a weird sound similar to that of an Old World jet and then saw Cain''s body moving from one side to the other. Cain pushed his body to the breaking point as he unleashed his last attack on the Sword Avatar. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Hooks from the right and left landed on the Sword Avatar''s head, all carrying every ounce of Cain''s strength and enhanced by his torque and speed. "?BOOOOMMMM!" As Cain was about to lose consciousness, he poured all he had into the last blow and shattered the Sword Avatar''s head! Chapter 241 : Flawless Marrow Cain fell to the ground and began to bleed from every hole on his face as his body could not stop shivering. The internal damage was so massive that there was severe organ failure. Still, even after all that, there was a smile on his face since he had won! Just as Cain was about to slip into unconsciousness, a force in the room grabbed his body, bringing him into the center of the room and raising him into the air. In the next second, the corpse of the Sword Avatar shattered into countless dots of red light that flashed toward Cain''s chest, piercing his skin and traveling across his body all the way to the Rebirth Heart. Cain could do nothing and fell unconscious. The red dots of light inside his heart began to fuse into what seemed to be a small machete the size of a grain of rice. At that point, Cain woke up due to the sudden stream of information that flooded his mind. It was an incredibly profound cultivation technique, the mighties he had seen in his entire life. Not only did it have a path to train his Astral Wave, but there were also several techniques in it, including every single one that the Sword Avatar used during their fight. However, Cain did not have time to focus on it since the machete inside his heart began to spin, drawing a massive amount of extremely pure Wave and vitality into his body. Golden streams emerged from every corner of the room and flooded Cain''s body. An expression of utter comfort appeared on Cain''s face as the energy healed his wounds and was potent enough to regrow his lost right hand. That was not all it did since the energy also tempered his flesh and blood while purifying his energy pool. Second Gear had done severe internal damage, one so dire that Cain could have perished in his sleep even with a vitality equal to a Wave Champion, but the energy mended everything. Once all his wounds were gone and his energy pool was full again, Cain felt his body growing stronger, and then it came. At the start, it began as an itch, but then it grew to a horrible sensation as every pore of his body opened up, adjusting. Then it came time for the bones, all trembling as if they were being squeezed, leading to cracks. All the internal damage healed instantly as the invisible force kept exerting a monstrous pressure on the bones, and it was not long before Cain began to sweat blood. The feeling was horrible, but Cain could not hide the thrill and excitement in his heart as the force was purging the filth in his body, making him go through the most vigorous marrow washing of his entire life. After five hours, the machete inside Cain''s heart stopped spinning, and the dimension no longer sent any more energy into his body. Cain''s body slowly descended to the ground, and the expression on his face was one of absolute serenity. He had never felt more immaculate than at this moment. It was as if a layer of filth that hindered his mind and body went away. "System, scan me." The Absolute Life Form System followed the order, and an accurate measure of Cain''s constitution reached his mind in a few moments. [Scan of Vessel completed --- Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind It was extremely broad and explained in detail how to advance through Wave Warrior, Wave Champion, Wave King, and even how to tackle the realm that came next. All the Sword Avatar''s techniques were now open for his training, with many more that could be acquired once he rose to Wave Champion. "Sonic Blade Fusion." That was the name of the Saint Cultivation Technique, and to Cain''s surprise, it was not just for Astral Rebirth Cultivation since there was a version for Essence Evolution Cultivators that was just as strong. Although it was a little surprising, it made sense since there was no way the dimension would have known who would claim the inheritance. It would have been very weird if an Essence Evolution Cultivator had surpassed all others but could not train the Saint Cultivation Technique. Some might think that Cain could now attempt to train the Essence Evolution Path of Power, becoming an Astral-Essence Dual Cultivator, but things were not so simple. It was common knowledge that simultaneously training both Paths of Power would only lead to failure. First of all would be the lack of time and resources, especially for young people. There was also the fact that there was no point in training both paths if they were not at the same level. The assistance a Level 9 Essence Warrior cultivation could give a Middle Astral Wave Champion was practically nothing. Techniques and spells require a specific type of Wave, so it would not help your energy pool have two types of Wave inside your body. However, neither of those problems was impossible to resolve. Someone talented and wealthy enough could travel the path of dual cultivation. Although it would take a little more time to advance through the ranks, they would be extremely powerful. According to Sonic Blade Fusion, dual cultivation was taboo because becoming a Titan in both paths would be impossible. You must pick one. As for a reason cultivators could not become a Titan in both paths, Sonic Blade Fusion did not give too many details other than the fact that you have only one soul. Imagine going through all the effort to raise both paths to the absolute peak, one step away from becoming a Titan in each of them, but having to pick one and forget about the other. Would it not have been better to focus all your effort on a single path, making it even stronger? Cain allowed his mind to lose itself in the information, as the feeling of improving his knowledge of cultivation was genuinely fantastic. He was not bothered by the warning about dual cultivation inside the technique since he had never considered that path. Cain did not sell himself short and knew he was a divine genius in the Ego Eternal Path of Power and very talented in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power, but it took everything he had just to get a chance to Void Marrow. Trying to achieve that while also focusing his mind on the Laws without diminishing his cultivation speed would be nearly impossible. Instead of being average in two things, it was better to be great in a single one. After going through all the information, Cain extended his right hand, and a machete materialized in his grasp. It was similar to the one he used during the first two trials but much better. He could load as much of his Astral Wave as he wanted into the weapon, and this one would improve its quantity and quality, allowing the hacking power to rise exponentially. Cain needed to use the machete as a catalyst to train Sonic Blade Fusion. All the Life Wave that reached his Rebirth Heart would be refined first by the machete, improving his cultivation speed, and it was also needed to practice several techniques. "They say that all good weapons deserve a name. Since we reach this point by killing everything in our path, I think I should call you Slaughter." "You suck at names!" Cain''s heart Apex''s rebuke but did not care. He knew he was not good with names, but it was not like he would go around saying it. Chapter 242 : Leaving the dimension Cain did not waste time, sending Slaughter back into his Rebirth Heart before taking several Wave Champion Beast''s hearts from his space ring. He drove the Life Wave in the surroundings into his heart, and the machete began to spin, improving the speed at which the energy transformed into Astral Wave, but that was far from all. Sonic Blade Fusion not only improved your cultivation speed, but at the same time, it also tempered your body. Small sonic booms emerged from the machete, traveling through the body and tempering Cain''s flesh and blood. Those vibrations not only strengthened Cain''s flesh and blood but also stimulated his cells, improving his vitality and self-healing abilities. Cain mastered the first level of Sonic Blade Fusion very quickly, as if he was relearning something he had forgotten. He had never trained in the technique or even something related to the energy of sound, but it seemed that he gained some of the Sword Avatar''s comprehension. Once he found his rhythm, Cain began to devour the blood from all those hearts and use their Blood Energy to alter the molecular structure in his right hand. Although the right hand he recovered thanks to the dimension''s power was just as good as the original, it lacked the molecular tempering of training Blood Hand, forcing Cain to do it all over again. Luckily, since he had already mastered the metamorphosis, it only took him five hours to finish, and there was good news. After finishing the metamorphosis of the finger, Cain was able to continue with the knuckles, then extend it to the rest of the hand. That meant Cain advanced to the third level of Blood Hand, Blood Fist! Cain had been stuck at the second level for quite a while now, unable to carry on since Blood Fist required the constitution of a Wave Champion or be a Wave Warrior with Flawless Marrow. There was excitement and thrill in Cain''s eyes as he carried on with the transformation, doing it with both hands. He only stopped after nine hours and had changed half of the hand since that was his limit. Cain needed more training if he wanted to change both hands entirely. After that was over, Cain turned his focus to the skills and abilities inscribed in Sonic Blade Fusion, but he was not able to carry on due to exhaustion. The battle with the Sword Avatar pushed his mind and focus to the limit, and even if the energy of the dimension could heal his body and restore his stamina, the mental strain was still there. Cain lay on the ground, closed his eyes, and fell asleep in seconds. He stood like that for nearly ten hours before finally waking up, and when he did, his mind was sharper than ever. The dimension had already sent an intent to Cain''s mind, and he knew that if he wanted to leave, he just had to say it. That would expel him and everybody else from this place, back to Blade Mountain. There was no reason to leave right away since he could train in peace inside the room, and there were no threats. "?Boom!" Dominic''s mind was still adjusting to the sudden change when he heard a sonic boom. The next second, a hand grabbed his head and pushed him into the ground with so much strength that it nearly left him unconscious. Before the scion could mobilize his Essence Wave, a fist landed ferociously on his Evolution Core, paralyzing the energy pool. Cain had just pinned down Dominic to the ground, and his right hand transformed into a blood gem as he intended to blast the head of the scion with a single punch. However, just as Cain was about to kill Dominic, a ferocious voice descended from the sky. "Damm, mongrel, what do you think you are doing to my son!" Cain felt his eardrums trembling due to that powerful voice. He did not attack, but neither did he let go of Dominic. Instead, he looked to the sky and saw a middle-aged man unleashing a powerful aura that resembled a massive elemental storm. The man was one meter and ninety centimeters tall, with black hair and green eyes, holding two long swords in his hands, and covered by powerful gales that seemed capable of shattering buildings. "Dad, save me!" Dominic endured the pain and shouted to the sky, but he spoke no more as Cain began to squeeze his neck with so much strength that he could no longer breathe. "Mongrel, you dare to disobey the words of Alexander Martel!" A green force field descended from the sky as Alexander unleashed his Ego Wave and made it fall on top of Cain. It was so fast that Cain could not even see it, but the next second he felt a crushing pressure on his mind. Alexander''s willpower sought to crush Cain''s spirit and force this one to move away from Dominic. The rest of the youths that saw that immediately moved away. Even those with a good relationship with Cain did not dare to get close since there was nothing they could do when facing something like that. Fear, doubt, and a sense of submission sought to invade Cain''s heart as he faced that green force field, but then a red light appeared in his eyes, making any shred of hesitation vanish. A powerful red force field emerged from Cain''s brain. Although it was not strong enough to fend off Alexander''s Ego Wave, it was able to protect Cain from it. Alexander''s eyes widened when he saw Cain looking back at him without any form of fear, but before he could do anything else, a blue force field manifested in the distance. Chapter 243 : Middle Wave Kings willpower The blue force field was even more potent than Alexander''s, and while the middle-aged man was full of killing intent toward Cain, he could not distract himself and had to keep his focus on the enemy in the sky. "Zarak Valentine!" Zarak''s aura exploded as he stared at Alexander, and his Ego Wave grew more and more powerful as if pushed against the green force field. "You dare to send your Ego Wave against my discipline!" The blue force field that emerged from Zarak''s brain attained a relentless and ruthless aura as it grew chaotic and full of power, just like the ocean during a storm. Many powerhouses from Noble Families and other great powers were present, but the moment Zarak unleashed his power, over ninety percent pulled back. Things escalated to a point where they would only be making fools of themselves if they interfered. As for those that had the power to face Zarak, they chose to wait and see how the clash between those two ended. Alexander could not win in a clash of willpower against the Pillar of the Collapsing Lightning Sector and had to rely on his Essence Wave to improve the might of his green force field. Alexander could resist the blue force field by fusing his Essence Wave with the Ego Wave, but that fragile balance broke once Zarak made his Astral Wave burst at 5000%. Just as the blue force field was about to overwhelm Alexander, an even mightier Ego Wave descended from above the duo. It was dark gray and was able to push back Zarak''s Ego Wave easily. Blade Mountain trembled as the power of that gray force field stood at a level that it could break the earth apart. Zarak frowned as he saw that ancient and devious willpower. He looked to the sky and saw a man standing over eighty thousand meters above the ground. The owner of that mighty dark fray force field that made Blade Mountain tremble was an old man with long gray hair, green eyes, and a malevolent expression. When the rest of the powerhouses saw that man, everybody pulled back since there was no one that could match him. Zarak had always displayed a fearless aura, but even he adopted a solemn attitude when he saw that old man. He was far from invincible, especially when facing people that had lived for thousands of years. "Martel Family''s High Elder, the Dark Roc, Sebastian Martel." The old man''s eyes grew sharp as he focused on Zarak, making his Ego Wave push with even more strength against the blue force field. "You are very talented, but you need another five hundred years of cultivation before facing me!" The dark gray force field became nearly unstoppable once the old man fueled it with his Astral Wave. "FUCK YOU!" Cain had lost the ability to think for a second, but his willpower exploded with power, breaking away the compulsion and allowing his rage to dictate his words. Sebastian trembled for a second, and a trail of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth as a sense of utter shock assaulted his heart. For Cain to have overcome his compulsion, the willpower of the young man must have already evolved to the Middle Wave King Rank! Although it might seem there was not much difference between the willpower of the Early and that of a Middle Wave King, the truth was the complete opposite. The higher your cultivation rank, the longer it takes to rise to the next level, and the same goes for the Ego Eternal Path of Power. Cain was still a fifteen-year-old boy, yet his willpower already reached the Middle Wave King. That cultivation speed in the Ego Eternal Path of Power was simply inconceivable, even if he was a divine genius born with an activated Ego Matrix. Before, Cain was only a bother to Sebastian, but now the eyes of the old man glowed with profound killing intent. There was clearly bad blood between the young man and Dominic, meaning he was an enemy of the Martel Family. The old man focused on Cain, and when he felt the vibrant state of this one, the shock that assaulted his heart grew to a whole new level. "Flawless Marrow!" Sebastian could not hide his voice, and when the other powerhouses heard it, they were just as shocked as the old man. They focused on Cain, and thanks to their high cultivation, they were able to see the signs, but even then, it was hard to believe it. Even Zarak, who knew that Cain''s talent in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power, was shocked. A fifteen-year-old body with an Ego Wave equal to a Middle Wave King and who attained Flawless Marrow while being a Level 8 Wave Warrior. How many years had passed since the Collapsing Lightning Sector saw a monster like that? The feelings of the powerhouses were a complete contrast. Those like Olivion and Zarak could not be happier since Cain would become a great soldier in the future. However, those from the Noble Families look at Cain with hostility for the same reason. Cain would become a great Pillar of the Collapsing Lightning Fort, improving the might of the Imperial Lightning Fort. Sebastian''s killing intent exploded as he prepared to flash toward Cain. With his power, it would only require him to put a finger on the young man to kill this one. However, before the old man could even take a step forward, an even mightier killing intent emerged from Olivion. A dark fire melted the gold in hand around the Pillar, and soon this one became skeletal and bathed in a toxic aura capable of poisoning the air. "Touch him, and you will die!" Olivion''s words were cold, and his Essence Wave burst with so much strength that the sky above Blade Mountain trembled. Chapter 244 : True power Sebastian stared at Olivion and could see the determination in the eyes of the Collapsing Lightning Pillar. Although killing Cain would solve many future problems for the Martel Family, he was not willing to bet his life on it. "Hmph." The old man only sneered toward Olivion before turning toward Cain. "Brat, let go of Dominic, now!" He did not use his willpower to force Cain since that would be useless, so he just shouted those orders. The killing intent in his eyes made it clear what would happen if Cain refused. Cain stared at Sebastian with rage before turning toward Zarak. "He killed one of my friends inside the dimension." Zarak''s eyes grew cold, and killing intent appeared in them, but as he stared at Sabastian, Alexander, and the rest of the powerhouses that came from Noble Families, he could not help but sight. "There are a unique set of rules implemented by the empire when it comes to inheritances, so we can not use his actions to charge him with a crime. I understand the desire in your heart, but it is impossible to bring him with us without triggering a battle in which we could not keep you safe." Cain''s heart was full of killing intent, and the red light in his eyes grew stronger, but he understood the harsh truth. He was too weak to fulfill the desire in his heart and had to let Dominic go. In the end, it was all about power. It did not matter whether Dominic broke or not the rules of the empire. What mattered was that Cain lacked the strength to face the powerhouses of the Martel Family. "Ahhh." Cain sighed, and the red light weakened as he was about to let go of Dominic''s neck when he his eyes widened. Shock appeared on his face as he looked from one direction to the other. Sebastian, Olivion, Alexander, and Zarak were confused by Cain''s behavior. It seemed he was looking for someone, but no one was around him. The shock and confusion on Cain''s face did not last for long, and soon a cold smile appeared as he turned toward Dominic. "Goodbye." Absolute terror appeared on Dominic''s face as he saw Cain''s hand turned into a blood gem before falling on his head with monstrous power. "?Boom!" Dominic''s head could not resist Cain''s punch and exploded like a balloon full of blood. Silence reigned as people found it hard to believe what they just saw. Cain killed Dominic by blowing this one head under the gaze of two powerhouses of the Martel Family! "?Bastard!" Alexander could do nothing as the Titan''s index finger touched his forehead. That was the last thing he saw before the back of his head exploded, throwing pieces of his brain in all directions. Silence reigned after the powerhouses in the sky saw Alexander''s horrific death, but the man was not over. After killing Alexander, he vanished from Cain''s side, only to appear right in front of Sebastian the next instant. Sebastian''s eyes widened as he saw the man''s entire arm transform into a red gem, driving toward him with the power to pulverize mountains. His instincts kicked in, allowing him to cover his body with his wings before channeling all his Astral Wave in them. "?BOOOOOOM!" A shock wave that made the sky tremble occurred when the Titan''s fists clashed with Sebastian''s wings, sending this one flying away for over twenty thousand kilometers before crashing against the ground, forming a massive crater. The destructive power in that fist did not fall behind a small atomic bomb of the Old World, which is why it was so surprising to see Sebastian rising from the crater and flashing away at a speed that surpassed Mach 10. A flash of surprise appeared in Titan''s eyes when he saw Sebastian flying away. "Impressive. I intended to end his life with that attack. The Dark Roc Lineage is stronger than I thought." The Titan could have chosen after Sebastian and would have caught this one after a few minutes, but he just shook his head. It was not worth the trouble. He then looked around at the rest of the powerhouses, and they all lowered their heads when they saw his eyes. The only ones that dared to look back were Olivion and Zarak. "Not bad. At least you dare to face the apex, unlike others that only look up to it." The meaning of those words was clear to everybody, making the expression of the powerhouses that looked away turn sour, but the Titan was just talking out loud and did not care about them. The only one that really mattered to the Titan was the young man on the ground, looking at him with eyes full of willpower and determination. "Brat, remember our talk. Someone will come to pick you up in a month. Make sure all your affairs are in order by that time." That was all the Titan said before taking a step forward and vanishing. Cain clenched his fists as he could not stop his heart from beating with more and more strength due to the excitement. That was the power to force your will on the world, ignore the consequences, and just do what you desire. That man did not care about the rules and codes of the empire or the retribution of the Martel Family; he just went ahead and killed Alexander before trying to do the same with Sebastian. ''That power. I want it!'' The red light in Cain''s eyes grew more and more powerful as the desire for strength in his heart evolved to a whole new level. Chapter 245 : Natural Holy Weapon The red light in Cain''s eyes exploded with power as he felt something growing inside him. A sense of warmth filled his mind, and he knew that its origin was no other than his Alter-Ego! Bliss filled his heart since he knew that it finally happened. The Alter-Ego had grown enough for him to start harnessing its power. Its name would come on its own over the next few days, and he could begin the training of his Visualization Technique. That feeling of growth came with something else, killing intent! Amos saw everything that happened, and the shock in his heart was hard to suppress. A few moments ago, there was a large smile on his face when he saw Alexander about to kill Cain, but now the middle-aged man lay in a puddle of blood with half his head blown up. When the scion from the Hellblazer Family saw Cain''s eyes turn in his direction, full of killing intent, he felt his instincts scream. There was not an ounce of confidence in his heart that he could face Cain, and no one would risk offending a Titan if this one killed him. Luckily for Amos, a man bathed in red flame appeared behind him the next second and grabbed him by the shoulder before both rose in the sky like a pillar of fire, only to vanish into the distance the next second. Cain frowned as he saw Amos leave, but there was nothing he could do about it. His wrath moved to another target, a corpse fifty meters away whose head was divided in two. A ball of super-condensed Blood Lightning appeared on his hand before being shot toward the corpse, pulverizing this one. "You!" An old man in the sky shouted in rage as he saw how Cain pulverized the body of a young man from his family. To the Godslayer Humanking, burying a corpse was the best type of rest that could be given, so cremation was considered dishonorable. Zarak also frowned when he saw that the corpse belonged to a soldier. He had seen how Cain did not get along with that person, but pulverizing the body was going too far. Cain looked at the old man in the sky and saw that while there was rage, there was also impotence since this one would not dare to touch him. He did not need to explain, but he did it anyway in the form of a video that he sent to the old man. The old man''s eyes widened when he saw the contents of the video. Panic appeared on his face as he needed to speak with Cain so this one would not reveal it to anyone else, but it was too late since the video was sent to everybody present. In the video, it was clear how Uriel attacked William from the back and how Cain split the head of this one with a machete. Seeing those eyes full of scorn and disdain made the old man''s face pale as he understood that his family''s status would take a severe hit once the actions of Uriel spread out. "A good burial is too good for a traitorous piece of shit." Those words made the old man tremble, and his heart burned with rage as he looked at Cain. He would like nothing more than to kill Cain, but he was sure Zarak would kill him if he made a single move. "Hmph." "Yes. I must thank the Pillar for his help during this ordeal. I will not forget it." Olivion smiled as he heard those words and saw the seriousness on the young man''s face. He was happy to see that Cain did not get cocky for having the backing of a Titan and remembered the person that helped him. The higher-ups in the Imperial Lightning Fort did not expect blind loyalty for the soldiers, only for these ones to remember who had their back when they were young and weak. "I did not do much. By the way, you were the one that obtained the natural inheritance birthed by Blade Mountain, right?" Those words made the eyes of the powerhouses in the sky grow sharp. Many shocking things had happened over the last few hours, but the reason they came here was for the natural inheritance. Cain was the most likely to have gained it since no one else that entered the dimension came close to his level, but maybe they were wrong. Cain glanced at the powerhouses in the sky and saw the intrigue in their eyes. Had it been before the appearance of the Titan, Olivion''s question would have carried all sorts of problems, but now it was perfect. Since the people would find out about him gaining the natural inheritance sooner or later, it was better to reveal it now that no one would dare to put a hand over him. Cain extended his hand, allowing Slaughter to emerge from his heart and signaling for Olivion to take it. Olivian extended his hand, and the machete traveled to him at supersonic speed. Slaughter''s aura immediately faded once it was in the hands of the Second Pillar, surprising the powerhouses. The weapon seemed to have wisdom and only showed its true power in Cain''s hands. Olivion sent his Ego Wave into the weapon to analyze it and was able to see its true power and nature. "I see. It is a Natural Holy Weapon. It seems to work as the core of a cultivation technique, and from what I can see, it can guide you to Apotheosis. An impressive weapon and an even mightier cultivation technique." The greed in the powerhouses'' eyes greatly diminished when they heard Olivion''s words. All of them would have wanted to secure the weapon and cultivation technique for themselves since it would have improved their personal battle power, but a Natural Holy Weapon was not worth risking their lives. Of course, there was a chance that Olivion could be lying, but if that were the case, then things would have escalated to the point that it surpassed their abilities. Cain saw the powerhouses leave after learning about his natural inheritance. The only ones that remained were Olivion and Zarak, and the duo was waiting for him to return to the Imperial Lightning Fort. The trip to Blade Mountain and The Hunt was over. ---- End of Book 3. Journey through the Blade Mountain. Chapter 246 : Moving pieces Book 4. A war that painted the sky red. --- Magma covered a room, reaching a temperature so high that it would set ordinary people ablaze in a matter of seconds. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Explosions echoed across the room as two individuals fought inside. Their battle style was similar, using glowing red flames that unleashed devastating explosions. However, while one had coldness and killing intent in his eyes, the other had confusion, terror, and unwillingness. "Please stop. Why are you doing this? I know things did not go as planned in Blade Mountain, but this is too much!" The one that shouted was no other than Amos. The young Wave Champion did all he could to face the opponent but was weaker in every field. He constantly looked for a way out, but the room was locked, making it so that no one could come in or out. Amos was a Wave Champion with Flawless Marrow, so one would expect the person that pushed him to that extreme to be another Wave Champion, but that would be wrong. The one that had Amos running was younger and a Level 9 Wave Warrior, but his power was much greater. "Your behavior at Blade Mountain was clearly not what I commanded. You antagonized Cain Laurifer repeatedly while I told you to learn more from this one and see the chance of an alliance. However, any form of relationship between that man and me has been tainted by your actions." That voice belonged to one of the greatest geniuses that the Hellblazer Family had seen in its life, Magnus Hellblazer. He had commanded Amos to come to his training room immediately after this one arrived in the Hellblazer Sector, and once they were alone, began to attack full of killing intent. Amos wanted to explain, but Magnus managed to find an opening in his defense, unleashing a point-blank explosion in the center of his chest. "?AHHHH!" Amos screamed in pain as the blast pushed him against a wall. He was not able to take a single breath of hair before Magnus landed a vicious kick on his right knee, shattering the leg. Before Amos could say another word, Magnus grabbed his neck and raised him into the air. "You are not foolish enough to ignore my words, which means you are working for someone else, maybe one of my brothers." Magnus''s voice was cold, and the killing intent in his eyes exploded, making a flash of powerful golden light appear on them for an instant. The terror in Amos''s eyes exploded as he heard that. He could not believe someone so young would be so smart and decisive. "In any case, you are no longer useful to me." The golden force field concentrated around Iris, allowing the man on the throne to not only see her face but also to feel her heartbeat and detect the electrical activity in her brain. Iris adopted a solemn attitude as he went through her memories, trying to figure out if she had overlooked anything, but nothing came to her mind after an entire minute. "I am sorry, Your Highness, but nothing is left for me to share. All I remember and learned from King in my report." The man''s golden eyes focused on Iris before nodding. He was sure the woman was not lying to him, and she had no more information about King. "The way he behaved and his moniker, I can not help but think you were in the presence of one of the Dark Kings." Talon''s eyes widened when he heard the man on the throne use the term Dark Kings. "Your Highness, that is information Iris has no clearance to attain!" The middle-aged man''s words might be misleading, but he was actually trying to protect Iris. Sometimes, too much information could lead to danger. "Her talent, cultivation, and merits granted her the right to learn about this." Talos dared not refuse the man on the throne and nodded before turning toward Iris. "The Dark Kings are the shot callers in The Organization. There are supposed to be ten of them, each a Titan with a battle power that surpasses most of the Sector Dukes." Iris'' eyes widened as she heard that. The Sector Dukes were supposed to be the strongest warriors of the Godslayer Humankind Empire, but The Organization had even stronger people! However, something else shocked the young woman and made her frown. "Impossible. King is not that type of person. Why would he attack his people to help me? There must be a mistake!" Iris shouted toward the man on the throne, making Talos react harshly. "Watch your mouth!" Before things could escalate, the man on the throne raised his hand, stopping both. "The Organization is not a monolith. There are clashes between the Dark Kings, just like those between Sector Dukes. Of course, this is only a hypothesis based on very little information, and I could be wrong. However, even if I wasn''t, that doesn''t mean King would be our enemy. Being part of a bad group doesn''t instantly make you bad. Sometimes people have no choice in that matter." There was a profound sense of wisdom in the words of the man. It was clear that his way of seeing things was beyond just black and white. Iris'' eyes widened as she heard that. While she hated The Organization, she was able to understand what the man wanted to share with her. "In any case, you have a new mission now. Find King and bring him to us. An ally like him will improve our chances in future battles against The Organization." Iris smiled and bowed. Finding her savior and thanking him in person was something she really wanted to do. Chapter 247 : Empyrean Sun A young man was floating in the sky, looking at a massive river that extended as far as the eye could see. Despite being described as a river, it was larger than most oceans of the Old World, but that was not the most amazing part. What truly drew awe in the hearts of everybody that saw it was that it was fuelled entirely by pure blood. The young man was nearly two meters tall despite only being seventeen. He had a handsome face with sharp brows and wore a red robe covered in golden runes. His eyes were closed, so he was not admiring the view of that massive river of blood but using it as an energy source. His body generated a devouring force that brought streams from the river into his Rebirth Heart. Suddenly, a middle-aged man appeared behind the young man, and when he saw how this one brought those streams of blood into his body, pure awe appeared in his eyes. The middle-aged man knew how toxic and chaotic the energy inside that blood was and that even Wave Kings were careful when using it, but the young man showed nothing but calmness. "Is there something you need to share with me, Ezra? The young man''s voice was soft and calm, yet it carried such a powerful intent that made the middle-aged man feel nervous despite his Early Wave King cultivation. "Young Lord, I have learned the reason why the Blood Duke left for Blade Mountain. It all has to do with a person named Cain Laurifer. To protect this one, Blood Duke killed a powerhouse of the Martel Family and severely injured their High Elder." The peace and calm in the young man faded once he heard the name Blood Duke, and he adopted a solemn attitude as they carried on. "Tell me more. I assume you have investigated that person already?" "Yes, Young Lord Zima. Cain Laurifer, sixteen years old, a Vice-Captain from the Imperial Lightning Fort, Level 8 Wave Warrior with Flawless Marrow, reached the third level of Blood Hand, secured the natural inheritance of Blade Mountain, and has in his possession a Natural Holy Weapon. According to my assessment, his current battle power will allow him to defeat Middle Wave Champions and fight those at the Late Stage. His current talent would grant him a free pass to the peak of Wave Champion and a high chance of becoming a Wave King. His talent in the Ego Eternal Path of Power is even more remarkable, with the idea he reached the Middle Wave Champion already circulating among powerhouses. By all measurements, he is a Tier 1 Genius." Ezra did not discourage Cain or look down on this one just because they were on opposite sides. Disparaging your opponent while exalting your own achievements was something only those without trust in themselves would do. Zima knew he could trust Ezra for this type of task, which was why he had trusted that the information was correct. "I see. Cain Laurifer is indeed a genius, and his mastery over Blood Hand is better than most of the so-called Blood Children. Still, he is not part of us, and his inclusion would only lead to future weakness. "Hmph, brat, I read your thoughts by interpreting the waves of your souls, but that requires focus, something I can not give when I am in the midst of hacking or helping the system to carry on with battle formation and the likes. Not to mention that the more powerful your soul becomes, the harder it will be for people to read your thoughts." "Oh, I see." Although learning about Apex''s limitations would have excited Cain and filled his mind with all sorts of plans for using it, now it was interesting and nothing more. The relationship between him and Apex had grown a lot from the moment they met, and Cain would not hesitate to put his life in the hands of the System Spirit. A smile appeared in the golden humanoid as he focused on Cain''s soul and perceived the feeling and thoughts of this one. Knowing the level of trust that Cain put in him calmed some of the worries of the System Spirit. "I felt my Alter-Ego had grown large enough during the clash with that old man''s Ego Wave. I just need to let go of my mind, and the name will come on its own." The first step to channeling the power of your Alter Ego was to obtain its name, and Cain was finally ready to do it. He closed his eyes, letting go of everything that was not the red orb, and saw how this one began to change. The energy in the red orb was a duality, with one side full of life and the power of growth, while the other had nothing but destruction and the force of oblivion. Slowly the red sphere grew from a grain of rice to the size of an apple, and that was far from all since the duality of its forces was no longer in a chaotic fusion state. Instead, the power of life and destruction split, generating what seemed to be a yin-yang symbol. And just like in one, there was a spot containing the energy of the other on each side. It was at that point that the Alter-Ego unleashed waves of radiation that began to flood Cain''s soul dimension. The growth of the Alter-Ego was the growth of willpower that translated into the growth of the soul. Cain showed utter bliss as the Alter-Ego radiation made his soul grow stronger, and slowly a name came to his mind. It was the name of his Visualization Technique, which embodied the path of his Ego Eternal Path of Power. "Empyrean Sun." Cain uttered those two words, and the next second, a golden flame full of vitality flooded the inside of his body. It filled him with incredible energy and stamina, making him feel it could heal any damage as long as a single cell of his body was left. Of course, that feeling was an exaggeration brought by the sudden burst in vitality, but Cain was sure that if he had this power during his fight with the Sword Avatar, he would not have ended in such a pathetic state at the end of the battle. Chapter 248 : Wave Champions soul force Cain nearly lost himself in the golden flame that ran through his veins. Of course, they were not really flames but a manifestation of the positive side of his Alter-Ego. He took a deep breath, rescinding the flames back to the crimson orb, before closing his eyes again and focusing on the other part of his Alter-Ego. The intent of the left side of his Alter-Ego carried a sense of annihilation and domination. It was a power that sought to reing everything and destroy those that did not submit. Unlike what one would expect from a power emanating such intent, there was no evil or malice. It was like a force of nature, fulfilling its purpose without emotions. Cain could not help but feel odd about that side of his Alter-Ego since it meant that a part of his psyche saw him as an absolute ruler and that all life forms should bow toward him. He was sure to never have felt like that in his time on Aether, but he could not say the same about his life as the Red Kings. The feeling of supremacy above all things that he felt inside that dream was still clear in his mind. Everything was beneath him, and that was the right order of things. That state was not sociopathy, meaning that relationships still had meaning, but they only had it as long as they were favorable or had some use. If a person went away, regardless of their meaning or how important they once were, they would no longer matter. ''A life with no pain. A mind focused on a single task with no distractions.'' Cain''s body shivered as that thought crossed his mind, and he felt a powerful temptation to give in. If he followed that path, his path to power and glory would be much easier, but he did not want to accept that state of mind. After all, that path would mean that all the pain he felt for the death of friends like William, partners like Beelze, or family like his father, would vanish, and they would no longer matter since they were no longer with him. Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he focused his mind, no longer allowing the intent of the dark side of his Alter-Ego to distract him, and he finally sought to channel its power. As a Duality Alter-Ego, Cain would gain two sets of abilities from it, which sounded amazing, but there was a problem. Unlike the bright side of the crimson orb, which he could channel effortlessly, trying to mobilize the dark side was like asking a child to raise a car. Cain could feel the power in the crimson orb''s dark side, but there was resistance from it, and he lacked the brute power to overcome it. A frown appeared on his face since this made no sense. The Alter-Ego was the metaphysical manifestation of his personality and ego, belonging only to him, so there was no sense in this one resisting his command. Unfortunately, Cain had no one to ask for guidance since there was no one that could help him solve the mysteries of a Duality Alter-Ego. "Ahhh!" Cain sighed, but he soon smiled again since the power of the bright side of his Alter-Ego was terrific. He took a moment to analyze the state of his body. The golden flame was just the active state, but an Alter-Ego also had passive abilities, like Zarak''s oceanic constitution. It would be hard to measure those changes with accuracy since it was hard to detect even for someone with an Ego Wave like him, but luckily there was a tool inside his soul capable of doing it with immense precision. That would be the name of the crimson seed inside his soul dimension from now on, and it would evolve alongside its power. Cain rose from his meditation stance and looked around him before letting go of his body and focusing on his mind. A Visualization Technique could grant your body great powers and unique supernatural abilities. Still, its true goal was the growth and improvement of the Ego Eternal Path of Power. Cain''s eyes glowed with a powerful red light as he unleashed his Ego Wave. A mighty red force field emerged from his mind and soon spread across his room before piercing through the area where Vice-Captains resided. Many soldiers were shocked by the sudden emergence of the red force field, and a sense of awe assaulted their hearts as they saw how it began to rise into the sky. It did not take long for the red force field to rise five hundred meters, but that was far from all, as it kept growing more and more, like a mighty red dragon that was aiming to sunder the sky. Finally, it reached its zenith, and everybody in the Imperial Lightning Fort could see a red force field that extended five thousand meters! Zarak was in training when he felt that Ego Wave and a smile appeared on his face as he saw that red dragon. It was clear to him that Cain had finally begun to harness the power of the Alter-Ego and could use Free Ego at the level of a true Middle Wave King. The red force field did not remain for long and soon returned to its origin. All the soldiers started toward that residence, and their eyes showed a sense of complete awe and wonder. Cain Laurifer had already become a legendary figure in the hearts of most soldiers, having emerged from the most humble of backgrounds and rising into the sky in just two years. Despite only being a Vice-Captains, no Captain actually dared to command him, and even Majors were reluctant to give him an order since there was no way to say what type of rank he would get after the merits gained during The Hunt. Cain was ecstatic as he felt the power of his Ego Wave. He felt his mind working much faster, and his ability to understand the mechanics of his body improved significantly. The golden humanoid inside Cain''s soul dimension saw how the energy force field that was Cain''s soul trembled for a second before evolving! "Hahaha, brat, you are really good. Your soul force evolved to that of a Wave Champion!" Cain was taken back to reality by Apex''s words, and as he comprehended what that meant, a sense of absolute wonder assaulted him. His body had crossed into the realm of Wave Champion a long time ago, and his willpower was already at a much higher realm, but the soul was the core of an individual''s existence. Improving your soul force beyond your cultivation requires incredible lucky chances and supreme effort. Cain''s Ego Wave constantly nurtured his soul force, and the lucky chances he got during Blade Mountain''s natural inheritance were of immense help. The massive improvement of his Ego Wave gave him the final push and helped Cain''s soul force to evolve beyond the limitation of a Wave Warrior, rising to the Wave Champion. There were many benefits with a mightier soul force, but the one that really thrilled Cain was something only he had. "Since my soul force is at the Wave Champion rank, doesn''t that mean I can awake another module!?" Chapter 249 : Facing the Collapsing Lightning Duke "Since my soul force is at the Wave Champion rank, doesn''t that mean I can awake another module!?" Modules were the core components of the Absolute Life Form System, and each was incredibly powerful and helpful. There was not a day that Cain did not actively use the [A.I. Chip Module]. While his reliance on the [Genetic Coder Module] had diminished lately, he did not forgo that this one was the reason for his superb talent as a Genetic Coder, not to mention it was thanks to this one that he managed to carve a plan to escape the underground Saharo City. The limitation regarding numbers and power of the Absolute Life Form System''s modules was related to his soul force, which should usually grow with each cultivation realm. Now that his soul force evolved to the Wave Champion rank, he should have the capacity to not only evolve the [Genetic Coder Module] but also unseal the next one. "That is right, brat. Since your soul force rose to the Wave Champion rank, your soul is strong enough to endure the pressure of releasing a new module." Cain could not control the thrill in his heart as he heard Apex''s words. The powers of the modules defied logic, and he was sure the next one would not be less amazing than the other two. "System, how much Destiny Force do I have?" Cain had not been paying too much attention to his Destiny Force lately since there was no need to use it, and he had allowed it to stock up. Yet, now it was finally the time to use it. The Absolute Life Form System answered Cain''s question like always. [Destiny Force: 9824] That was a massive number, more than nine times larger than the one he got a year ago after killing the Wave Champion Atrox, but it made sense. After all, Cain had killed all sorts of geniuses, attained great lucky chances, and established relationships with all great powerhouses, raising his destiny to a whole new level. Cain smiled since that amount was more than enough to evolve the [Genetic Coder Module], take advantage of its new tools, and use the new module. Excitement and thrill built up inside Cain as he could not wait to command the system to unlock the new module and see just how amazing it was. Yet, just as Cain was about to command the system, a message reached his [A. I. Chip Module]. [Cain Laurifer. The Collapsing Lightning Duke has summoned you. Report to the Titan Tower immediately.] "What!?" Zarak had already told him that the Collapsing Lightning Duke wanted to talk with him, but he did expect the man to have such awful timing. He was just about to learn about a new module, something that had intrigued him since the moment he got access to the [Genetic Coder Module]. "Ahhh." At the end of the corridor formed by those gravity pillars was a man sitting on a throne. He had short black hair, blue eyes that glowed with white light, a muscular body nearly two meters tall, and his aura was so powerful that it seemed capable of twisting space around him. The man had a black robe covering his figure with two words on it. Collapsing Lightning. It was evident to Cain that man was no other than the Collapsing Lightning Sector Duke, the strongest man in the entire Sector, the one that killed the Atrox God that invaded Gaia, a Titan of the Godslayer Humankind! The aura of the Collapsing Lightning Duke was so intense that for a second, Cain forgot he was looking at a human, and what appeared in his sight was a bolt of black lightning that could level entire Sectors! A red light appeared in Cain''s eyes, allowing him to regain focus, and it exploded with even greater strength as he took a deep breath and began to walk forward. Luther saw that, and there was a flash of surprise on his face. The fact that Cain could adapt so fast to the pressure of the Collapsing Lightning Duke was impressive. The Collapsing Lightning Duke was also a little impressed, but then shock appeared in his eyes when he felt Cain''s soul force and realized it had already evolved to the Wave Champion rank. Strengthening your constitution or improving your understanding of the Laws was not too complicated, and while there were very few treasures that could help the willpower, there were many ways in which you could evolve it, but the soul was different. Improving your willpower would have an effect on your soul force, but that would be hard enough to make it evolve. Treasures that improved the soul were incredibly scarce; even if you found one, it did not mean you could use it. The soul was fragile, and any type of energy sent into it could lead to severe problems if not appropriately guided. The Collapsing Lightning Duke deduced that Cain must have gotten great lucky chances during Blade Mountain''s natural inheritance to achieve such massive improvement. In the beginning, there was only curiosity in the eyes of the Collapsing Lightning Duke since, despite Cain''s talent, he was not unique, and there were several other geniuses at his level across the empire. However, now that he saw the improvement in the soul force that the young man attained without the help of anyone, that curiosity transformed into interest. A smile appeared on the Collapsing Lightning Duke as the white light on his eyes grew stronger, and the next second an incredibly powerful force field emerged from his mind and drove toward Cain at full speed. Cain''s eyes widened as he saw the white force field coming his way like a tsunami that could sink entire cities in a second. He was not foolish enough to try and fight it, and instead unleashed his Ego Wave, covering his body with it, and continued walking forward. Luther was shocked to see the Collapsing Lightning Duke unleashing that white force field, and even more when he saw how Cain managed to continue walking beneath its immense pressure. Facing the willpower of a legendary figure like the Collapsing Lightning Duke was not easy, but Cain''s face showed nothing but calm as he carried on until he was five meters away from the throne. Chapter 250 : Sky Rising Pill Cain looked straight into the eyes of the Collapsing Lightning Duke before bending a knee and adopting a knight stance. "Your Highness, Vice-Captain Laurifer is reporting for duty." The Collapsing Lightning Duke showed a small smile as he saw the solemnity of Cain''s military etiquette. He nodded before waving his hand. "Rise, Major Laurifer." Cain''s eyes widened as he heard that. He knew that all his achievements and merits would improve his rank in the military, but he found it hard to believe he jumped past Captain and immediately became a Major. However, while he was very happy about that honor, he also felt conflicted. A rank in the military was not just a title but a statement that you have made a difference and your hard work secured the safety of the people of the Godslayer Humankind. Cain became an actual soldier around a year ago, so attaining the same rank as some veterans that put their lives on the line countless times for the safety of commoners did not feel that great. Luther noticed the look on Cain''s face, and his smile grew wider. The more he learned about the young man, the more he liked this one. It was clear to Luther that Cain was someone that really loved and appreciated the military, unlike Uriel and his kind, who only wanted to rise higher in the ranks to improve their status in their families. "Young man, I can see you have reservations but believe me, you have earned that rank. The amount of military merits you have gathered is more than some Majors obtained in their entire career. Of course, just the amount of military merits is not enough. Yet, you have already done an excellent service by taking care of traitorous garbage and teaching a bloody lesson to those that thought they could look down on the military just due to the power of their families." Luther''s calm voice removed all of Cain''s reservations about his current rank. The young man rose from the ground and bowed to the bald man before focusing on the Collapsing Lightning Duke with a smile full of determination. The Collapsing Lightning Duke stared at Cain for a moment before speaking. "What sort of deal did you make with the Blood Duke?" Cain was slightly surprised by that question, and the name Blood Duke was completely unknown to him. Only now did he learn that the man with whom he made a deal called himself Blood Duke. Although he did not like to reveal his business to other people, he was currently a soldier of the Imperial Lightning Fort, and a superior officer was asking a question, so he had to answer it. Besides, there was nothing wrong with it, and it did not affect the military in any way. The energy and vitality were off the charts, but the most impressive thing was the purity in them. "That is your reward for taking the position of N¡ã1 Killer in The Hunt across the entire empire. Although it was the portal to that unique dimension, the one that killed most of the powerful Wave Champion Beasts, you were the one that gained the natural inheritance, so I made sure they were counted as yours." Cain gave a small bow to the Collapsing Lightning Duke since he was sure many others would have wanted to give the credit for those kills to their sons and daughter. Luther did not waste time and began to explain the might of that small pill. "The name of that pill is Sky Rising Pill. It is a Peak Saint Pill, and even among powerhouses, it is considered a great treasure. A young genius can use it during their evolution to the Wave Champion Rank. It will drive forward their marrow washing, strengthen their meridians, and improve their energy pool." Cain was amazed by what he just heard. Any of those effects would be of immense help, but the three together would help him rise to the Wave Champion with a very powerful foundation. "The Sky Rising Pill is meant to be used during the evolution to Wave Champion, and using it on any other occasion would waste a lot of its potential, but you should employ it during your rise to Level 9." Cain was surprised when he heard the advice of the Collapsing Lightning Duke. He did not blindly accept the advice or reject it, instead asking for more information. "Could you elaborate, Your Highness?" The Collapsing Lightning Duke did not feel offended by Cain''s words since, in his mind, only a fool would follow the cultivation advice of someone they had never met before just because they were stronger than you. "In normal circumstances, there would be no reason to use it during Level 9 and waste nearly half of the pill''s power, but you are in a unique position right now. During the Ascendance of the Blood Moon, there is a special event in which you will have access to even better assistance to your evolution to Wave Champion. Of course, whether or not you can use it will be up to you. If you use the Sky Rising Pill during Level 9 and attain that lucky chance during Ascendance of the Blood Moon, you could evolve to Wave Champion with Void Marrow." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard that. He was not surprised that the Collapsing Lightning Duke would know about his intention to attain Void Marrow since it was something any genius like him would pursue. What truly mattered to Cain was the special events in the Ascendance of the Blood Moon that could help him push his marrow washing through the final hurdle. He was not arrogant to think that he had already secured Void Marrow just because he attained Flawless Marrow at Level 8 and had been looking for a lucky chance, but it seemed that the lucky chance found him this time. Chapter 251 : Gluttony Module "I thank you for your advice, Your Highness." Cain clasped his hand and bowed toward the Collapsing Lightning Duke for his words. The Collapsing Lightning Duke nodded before staring into Cain''s eyes for a while and finally raising his index finger, generating a drop of blood. He began to charge a massive amount of black lightning into it, and once it reached its zenith, he sent it toward Cain. Cain''s eyes widened when he saw that drop of blood flash toward him, and it was so fast that before he could do anything, it landed on his shoulder, generating a strange rune in the form of a lightning arc before vanishing beneath his skin. He could not help but frown since even if he detected no danger from the drop of blood, he did not like people doing things to his body without asking. "Blood Sea had never been a simple place, and right now, the dangers for an outsider like you could not be more serious. When the time comes, the rune will act on its own. If you are lucky, you might not need it." The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s face was pale, making it clear that generating that drop of blood came at a great price. He saw the inquisitive gaze in Cain''s eyes but was not in the mood to answer questions and signaled for Luther to take the young man out. Luther bowed to the Collapsing Lightning Duke and brought Cain to the teleportation matrix. Once they were back on the first floor, he began to speak as they walked toward the exit. "Major Laurifer, there is a reason why the Collapsing Lightning Duke did not give you an explanation about the rune on your shoulder. You should forget it exists and depend only on your power for the trial that would come in the future." Cain''s eyes narrowed when he heard that. He understood the meaning behind the words of the bald man, and while he nodded, he was not the type that would let things slide. Once Cain was out of the Titan Tower and dashing back to his residence, he spoke to the system in his mind. "System, what is the current state of the [A.I. Chip Module]." Unlike the other modules, the [A.I. Chip Module] would evolve alongside his soul force and would not need his direct intervention. [A.I. Chip Module has evolved after the breakthrough of Vessel''s soul force to the Wave Champion Rank. .... A.I. Chip Module: - Cellular Analysis - Data Gathering and Analysis - Virtual Simulation - Scan Force Field - Hacking] Cain saw that, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes. Although the only difference in the description was the lack of the word basic, he knew that the power of all the tools had evolved immensely. [Gluttony Module: Module meant to grant the Vessel the ability to transform all things into power for his growth. Tools: -Earth Fiend Flame: Capable of devouring matter and energy. It can send 5% of all it consumed into the Vessel. - 10 points of Destiny Force can be used to increase the Earth Fiend Flame''s devouring speed by 10% for 24 hours. It can be stacked up to 100 times. - 100 points of Destiny Force can be used so the Earth Fiend Flame drives the energy and vitality it generated directly into the Vessel''s body and energy pool. Training speed is 75% slower than if the Vessel takes active control over the energy and vitality. -Devourer Dimension: Dimension meant to hold food for the Earth Fiend Flame. It can hold anything with an energy level beneath the Apotheosis Rank. To send living entities into it, they must be paralyzed and unable to resist.] The description of the [Gluttony Module] was tricky at times, like the fact he would only get 5% of everything the [Earth Fiend Flame] consumed. From a certain point of view, it did not make sense. There was always a loss in the energy of the things we consume, like, for example, when Cain used wave crystals. Cain could focus and try to send every single iota of energy into his Rebirth Heart to transform into Astral Wave, but it was impossible to consume 100%. There was always a loss, but it was small, around 7%. Still, that meant that Cain would get 93% of the energy from the things he consumed, something much higher than the 5% the [Earth Fiend Flame] would give him. However, unlike him, which could only consume certain things, the [Earth Fiend Flame]''s description had the words energy and matter, making a wild idea appear in Cain''s mind. "System, could I use the [Gluttony Module] to devour an entire mountain?" The idea of consuming a mountain was crazy, but there was a reason why its name was Absolute Life Form System. [As long as Vessel can send it into the Devourer Dimension and its energy level is beneath the Apotheosis Rank, nothing stops you from consuming an entire mountain.] Cain showed a large smile as he could not contain his excitement. Regardless of their strength, all cultivators were constantly searching for resources, and he just got a tool that completely solved the problem. Cain began to fantasize about the future. There might be a time when his strength reached such a divine level that he could use the [Gluttony Module] to consume stars and maybe even suns! Those wild dreams did not distract him for long, and after a few moments, he was able to concentrate again and immediately tested the efficacy of the [Gluttony Module]. He took several Wave Artifacts from his space ring meant for Wave Warriors. None of them had any use for him, and most people in his place would either sell them back or give them as rewards, but now there was another path. A red force field covered all of the artifacts, and the next second, they were teleported into the [Devourer Dimension]. The [Earth Fiend Flame] expanded the instant they appeared, covering them with fire. Cain closed his eyes and saw how the artifacts melted, generating a stream of energy that he could use to improve his cultivation. Chapter 252 : New Lineage (I) The amount of energy he got from those Wave Artifacts was not much, but the speed with which the [Earth Fiend Flame] managed to consume all of them was shockingly fast. It made sense since the [Gluttony Module] should be at a level according to his soul force, meaning for a Wave Champion. Since that was the case, it should be easy to devour Bronze Wave Artifacts meant for Wave Warriors. The [Earth Fiend Flame] left nothing of the more than a dozen Bronze Wave Artifacts in less than three minutes. Although they did not give much energy individually, all of them added up to a large amount. There were many things Cain wanted to try with the [Gluttony Module], but there was something he needed to do first. Now that he had unlocked the new module, it was time to evolve the old one. "System, evolve the [Genetic Coder Module]."No?v(el)B\\jnn As soon as Cain gave that command, he heard the robotic voice of the system in his mind. [The evolution of the Genetic Coder Module requires 1000 Destiny Force. Does the Vessel desire to carry on with the command?" "?Yes!" [Evolving the Genetic Coder Module] Cain once again felt a sharp pain in his mind that was soon replaced by a feeling of heaviness. Luckily, it did not last long, and he was good as new in a few seconds. [Genetic Coder Module has evolved. ... Proceeding to display new tools. ... -Genetic Stimulation -Genetic Suppression -Genetic Enhancement] Just like with the case of the [A.I. Chip Module]''s tools, the only difference in the name of the new ones was the lack of the word basic, but Cain knew that their power must have reached a whole new level. Cain analyzed [Genetic Stimulation] and saw he could now evolve his Lightning Lupus Lineage to the Pseudo Wave King Level, the maximum theoretical purity, but what truly drew his attention was the [Genetic Enhancement] tool. The previous version generated serious drawbacks that he was unwilling to accept, and he hoped the new one would be better. "System, display the capabilities of [Genetic enhancement]." [Displaying available genetic enhancements: ... ... Cain did not push through and instead chose to rest, as he needed to be at his peak if he wanted any chance of creating the Lineage''s Genetic Chain. Right before going to sleep, Cain sought to test the abilities of the [Gluttony Module]. He sent dozens of death Wave Champion Beast into the [Devourer Dimension], where the [Earth Fiend Flame] set all of them ablaze, generating streams of energy and vitality. The speed at which the [Earth Fiend Flame] consumed them was fast, but not so fast as with the Bronze Wave Artifacts. Clearly, the higher the level of the resources, the more it would take to consume. Cain spent 100 Destiny Force to improve the devouring speed by 100% and another 100 points so the [Earth Fiend Flame] would drive the energy and vitality into his Rebirth Heart and body. That way, he could train even if he was sleeping. With everything in order, Cain went to sleep, and there was a relaxed expression on his face as he felt his Astral Wave and body growing stronger. Cain slept for seven hours, a lot considering that his vitality diminished the amount of sleep his body needed. He immediately began to work on the creation of the Genetic Chain. The Genetic Chain of that Lineage was so complicated that Cain had to buy another batch of materials. He worked entire days and only went to sleep once he felt the exhaustion was diminishing his abilities. That carried on for one and a half weeks and more than a dozen new batches of materials. Cain was wealthy even by the standards of Wave Champions, but he burned over half of his money for this. Nevertheless, all the effort and resources spent were worth it for Cain once he saw the perfect Genetic Chain. He managed to create it, and after combining it with the Flawless Grand Golden Vector, he obtained a Wave Virus capable of engraving a new bloodline into his genome. "I did it!" Cain could not help but shout as he saw the capsule with golden liquid before him. After taking a moment to calm his heart, he focused. "System, analyze the Grand Wave Virus." Although the Grand Wave Virus in his possession seemed to be at a level above the Wave Champion realm, he hoped that the system would be able to analyze it. [Analyzing Grand Wave Virus. ... ... ... ...] The analysis was taking longer than Cain expected, and just as he thought it could not be done, he heard the robotic voice in his mind. [Analysis of Grand Wave Virus completed. Lineage corresponds to an entity that reaches the Apotheosis Realm upon maturation. There is a focus on strength and a disposition to the element of shadows and the force of darkness. Expected growth in all areas upon implantation. Name of the Lineage unknown.] Cain showed a large smile, and the trill in his heart was hard to describe. His Lineage had lagged behind lately, but now he could implant a new one whose power would enhance his power and talent. Chapter 253 : New Lineage (II) Cain wanted nothing more than to use the Wave Virus immediately. Still, he was exhausted and understood that the generation of a new bloodline would put his body under immense stress. The Grand Wave Virus would do all the work on its own, but it would demand a massive amount of vitality and energy, so it was better if he was in peak physical and mental condition for the job. Haste makes waste, and he had put too much and spent too much money into the Grand Wave Virus for a mistake to happen now. Cain spent another 100 points of Destiny Force for the [Earth Fiend Flame] to fill his body with energy and vitality before sleeping. Cain allowed his body to wake up independently after it had enough rest. He then sent twenty-five corpses of Wave Champion Beast into the [Devourer Dimension] before making a pile of hearts appear before him. Energy and vitality would come from the [Earth Fiend Flame] and his revolution of the Blood Refinement Art. According to the [A.I. Chip Module], that would be enough for Cain''s body to generate the new bloodline. Cain took a deep breath, allowing his mind to grow sharp in case of any problem, before taking the capsule with the Grand Wave Virus and injecting it into his chest. At first, nothing happened, but two minutes after the golden liquid entered Cain''s body, he began to tremble. A fever assaulted him so intensely that an average Wave Warrior would pass out and suffer brain damage, but luckily his high vitality prevented any sort of damage. Cain immediately began to circulate the Blood Refinement Art and his Sonic Blade Fusion Cultivation Technique so a powerful torrent of vitality and energy would course through his body, granting it all the nutrients it could need for the creation of the new bloodline. It was a very slow and painful process. Still, Cain''s eyes burned with red light as he felt the Lightning Lupus Bloodline taking a secondary role as a new and more powerful Lineage took the primary role in his body''s physical constitution. Cain began to experience physical changes after the first hour, with his bones and muscle fibers growing stronger, denser, yet at the same time more flexible. "Cracks!" That sound emerged from Cain''s skeleton as his bones grew larger and thicker, increasing his height to 1.90 meters. He was just seventeen, and his body had yet to mature fully, so it was likely he would reach over 2 meters in the near future. There was not a part of Cain''s body that was not improving, and even his energy pool was increasing, allowing him to hold more Astral Wave. No dream came to Cain this time since this was not a bloodline he awakened but one artificially generated inside his body by a Grand Wave Virus. Finally, after six hours of great pain, the bloodline had fully taken over Cain''s body, and the changes were over for the time being. His face was pale due to the immense stress and exhaustion, and he was sitting over a pool of his own sweet due to the high fever. "System, scan me." It took all that was left of Cain''s strength to shout that command, and he kept his eyes open as he wanted to see just how strong he had become. The Absolute Life Form System did not make Cain wait and immediately carried on with the task. [Scanning Vessel. ... ... ... Scan of Vessel completed --- Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 8 Wave Warrior) Lineage: ??? Cain smiled as he saw Sonic Dash and Shadow Constitution work flawlessly together. He stopped after a few minutes and then took a piece of Silver Wave Artifact from his space ring. The first thing he did was transform his right hand into a blood gem and punch the chess plate, leaving a large indentation. Next, he took a deep breath and used Darkness Fusion, which allowed a dark aura to cover his fist. Cain punched the Silver Wave Artifact again, and this time the damage was so great that it left the entire chess plate full of cracks. He was surprised by the increased destructive power that the dark aura granted to his attack was phenomenal. The darkness had a corrosive impact, affecting the particles of both organic and inorganic matter. Cain threw the chess plate up, and as it fell, he took Slaughter out and covered it with the dark aura before hacking. The Silver Wave Artifact offered little resistance as the machete cut it in half. The abilities that his new Lineage granted him were superb. Not only did his Shadow Constitution work perfectly with his Sonic Blade Fusion technique, but it would also work perfectly alongside his assassination tactics. As for Dark Fusion, it was very powerful but consumed a lot of Astral Wave, so he would only use it in life-and-death battles. Ultimately, the new Lineage increased his overall strength and granted incredibly powerful techniques, but there was still room for improvement. "System, display the [Genetic Enhancement] tool." [Displaying available genetic enhancements: ... ... Due to the Genetic Coder Module''s current capabilities, there are no adverse effects on genetic enhancement, but Vessels'' current genetic map can only endure one. For a new enhancement, there needs to be an evolution of the genetic sequence. The projected outcomes are specific to the Avernus Bloodline. Different bloodlines will generate different outcomes as the effect on the genome will vary. ... -Enhanced Genetic Strength: Enhance genes focused on physical strength. Projected outcome: Increase strength by 20%. -Enhanced Genetic Speed: Enhance genes focused on physical speed. Projected outcome: Increase speed by 9%. -Enhanced Genetic Vitality: Enhance genes focused on vitality. Projected outcome: Increase vitality by 15%. ] Cain showed no hesitation in his choice. There was no point in being average in everything, and pushing your forte to the limit was always better. "System, activate Enhanced Genetic Strength." [Cost of Enhanced Genetic Strength is 1000 Destiny Force. Vessel wish to continue?] Cain was a little surprised by the number since it was much higher than the 100 points the previous version demanded, but he carried on. "Yes." As soon as Cain uttered that word, he felt how a force began to act over his genes, and then his muscles and bones grew stronger. It did not take long, and once all of it was over, a sense of immense strength coursed through Cain''s body.No?v(el)B\\jnn Chapter 254 : Bloodless #1 [Vessel''s strength: 14.5] Cain clenched his fist as he saw that number since it was simply overwhelming strength for a Wave Warrior. It was a strength that matched that of some Wave Champion that evolved after Flawless Marrow. With his current strength, Cain was sure he could take Late Wave Champion head-on without the need to use assassination skills. ''I have grown much more powerful over these last few weeks. Now that I have [Gluttony Module] and the improvement of my body done by Sun Seed and then Avernus Lineage, I am much more confident in handling anything that could happen in Blood Sea. It is time to look at Silver Wave Artifacts.'' Cain''s current energy pool was high enough for him to drive Wave Artifacts meant for Wave Champions, so he used the military interface to lose for one. It did not take long before a black set of armor caught his attention. "Berserker Armor." That was the name of the armor set that caught Cain''s attention and consisted of a chest plate, gauntlets, and boots. It did not have special abilities, and it only focused on protection. Cain had no problem with the artifacts not providing skills since he no longer had any need for them since his repertory of spells and techniques covered all of his necessities. The entire set was worth 300.000 military credits, expensive even for Wave Champions, but Cain did not hesitate to buy it as it would be of great help and would not need new armor until his Astral Wave could drive Gold Wave Artifacts. After all his training and experiments, there was only one week left for his journey to the Blood Sea, and Cain was trying to figure out the best way to use that time. Standard cultivation would not do much, but then an idea came to his mind. There was something in his space ring that had a massive amount of vitality and energy and could devour with the help of his [Gluttony Module]. Cain waved his hand, and the corpse of Alexander Martel appeared in front of him. He had devoured all the blood in the body, but there was still a lot of energy left in his skeleton, tissues, and Sacred Organ that he could drain through the use of the [Earth Fiend Flame]. The ethical and moral dilemma of using the bodies of his own kind as a source of nutrients was something Cain overcame a long time ago. He would never do it with a friend but had no reservations about devouring an old bastard that attempted to kill him. Cain covered the body of Alexander Martel with his Ego Wave, and once the red force field completely encompassed this one, he was able to send it into the [Devourer Dimension]. Once Alexander Martel''s corpse reached the [Devourer Dimension], the [Earth Fiend Flame] immediately set it ablaze. Still, unlike Wave Artifacts and the corpses of Wave Champion Beast, it did not immediately start generating streams of energy and vitality. There was a massive improvement in his hemostasis and the regulation of his various bodily functions, along with enhanced control over his hunger, thirst, sleep, sexual behavior, and emotions. Finally, the end of the fifth day arrived, and the energy and vitality that emerged from the [Devourer Dimension] into Cain''s body diminished considerably. The 500% increase in the power of the [Earth Fiend Flame] was over, and Cain would not spend more Destiny Force in it since there was very little left, and he wanted to save it for an emergency. The [Earth Fiend Flame] continued consuming Alexander''s corpse, and with its current speed, it would do it for the next one and a half weeks, when nothing would be left. Cain could feel that his meridians had already wrapped around 90% of his brain, and he was close to evolving into Level 9. ''I doubt that the Ascendance of the Blood Moon will immediately start after I appear, so there is still time. I must be at the peak of Level 9 by then to use the lucky chance in that event if I want to achieve Void Marrow.'' Being so tired that he could barely open his eyes by the time the envoy of Blood Sea arrived, it would not be good, so Cain went to sleep. Cain woke up the next day and spent this time creating new Wave Viruses that could help him improve his Wave Talent and survival skill. On the seventh day, as he was still working, he heard a knock on his door before this one opened on its own. Two people crossed the door, and one of them was someone Cain already knew. "Good day, Major Laurifer. I see you really do work non-stop." Luther smiled at Cain as he guided a three-meter-tall bald man with white skin covered with black armor into the room. Cain nodded to Luther, but his eyes could not leave the pale giant next to this one. It was not the man''s imposing body that disturbed him but the feeling of immense danger this one generated in him. He felt no different than a mortal in front of a raging bear, knowing there was no way to survive if this one decided to attack. Luther saw the severity in Cain''s eyes and nodded since that was the perfect response in front of the man by his side. Even he had a hard time keeping calm. "The gentleman by my side is Bloodless #1. He will bring you to Blood Sea." Chapter 255 : To Blood Sea Cain stared at the man named Bloodless #1 for a moment before clasping his hand and performing a small bow. He did not know anything about the man, but it was clear this one was a powerhouse and strength deserved respect in the Godslayer Humankind Empire. Bloodless nodded toward Cain, and he began to look at the young man in detail. He noticed an impressive physical constitution and a sharp light appeared in his eyes when he noticed the soul force of this one. Just like the Collapsing Lightning Duke, Boodless #1 was surprised to see that someone so young as Cain had evolved his soul force to the realm of Wave Champion at level 8. "So you are the one His Highness sent me to bring to Blood Sea. Your current abilities are remarkable for someone so young. Let''s go." Bloodless #1 said nothing else before turning around and walking out of the residence. Cain was a little surprised by the overbearing attitude of the man, but he was not bothered too much since all powerhouses had extravagant personalities. He had already packed all his belongings in his space ring, so there was no need to delay things. As for Luther, he just smiled and did not really care about Bloodless #1''s attitude. He just followed Bloodless #1 and Cain, and then the three got in a military vehicle. The military vehicle moved at an impressive speed, nearly supersonic, but that was too slow for someone like Bloodless #1. He could have easily risen into the sky and reached the exit of the Imperial Lightning Fort in a few seconds. However, no matter how overbearing Bloodless #1 was, he was not crazy enough to ignore the rules of the Collapsing Lightning Duke. Soldiers saw the vehicle moving across the fort''s streets at supersonic speed, and some could recognize Cain inside it. Seeing the greatest geniuses of the Imperial Lightning Fort in a vehicle alongside someone so striking as Bloodless #1 generated wild ideas in those young soldiers, which would surely evolve into even wilder gossip. Cain couldn''t care less about the rumors that could spread about him since only those with too much free time on their hands would pay any attention. His mind was not on the bald, pale giant before him. The only thing Cain perceived from Bloodless #1 was an immeasurable physical strength and nothing more. There was no aura or density of Astral Wave that could suggest a certain cultivation level. For all Cain knew, this man was a Titan. The Imperial Lightning Fort will respect the right of the Blood Duke to summon Cain toward Blood Sea, but they should know that if their scheme resulted in the young man''s death, there would be consequences. Bloodless #1''s eyes narrowed when he heard the name First Pillar. If there were two people he would really not want to fight, those would be the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Pillar. He did not say a word and just walked toward the fort''s exit. "I will make sure to remember the words of the Collapsing Lightning Duke." Cain clasped his hand and performed a small bow toward Luther before going after Bloodless #1. Luther saw the duo leave and commanded the vehicle to take him back into the Titan Tower. There was nothing he could do other than wish Cain good luck and hope to see the young man again in the future. Cain exited the fort and searched for Bloodless #1''s ship, but there was nothing, and before he could even ask what kind of vehicle they would take, the man pointed to the northwest. "Blood Sea is 44.210 kilometers in that direction." Bloodless #1 calmly began to walk in that direction. Cain stared at Bloodless #1, and then a light of realization appeared in his eyes as he understood what was happening. "We are going to walk all the way!?" The distance that Bloodless #1 just described was larger than the circumference of the Old World, so walking all the way was crazy. "Not walk, run."No?v(el)B\\jnn Chapter 256 : Blood Runes and Blood Core "Not walk, run." Bloodless #1 said nothing else before flashing forward, immediately reaching a speed of over two hundred meters per second. ''Crazy bastard!'' Cain shouted in his mind, but there was nothing he could do other than start running. Two hundred meters was fast, but he was able to keep that speed without too much problem. Unfortunately for Cain, Bloodless #1''s speed just kept increasing, and it was not long before a sonic boom appeared. "?Boom!" Bloodless #1 broke the sound barrier, and his body began to move at supersonic speed. Cain was fast and strong, but moving at supersonic speed was impossible by only relying on his physical prowess, so he had to rely on Sonic Dash. Bloodless #1 stopped improving his speed after breaking the barrier of sound, which was good for Cain since he was running at full speed. If you were to look at the duo from the sky, you would see two figures moving at supersonic speed in a straight light to the northwest. As for all the trees, rocks, and Wave Beast, too slow to get out of their way, they were shattering to pieces. Bloodless #1 was like a train, breaking everything in his path without losing momentum at all. None of the branches, dust, and blood that might result from those clashes touched Bloodless #1''s body. It was like a force field around him, keeping him immaculate. Cain caught them and immediately understood what they were. One was a source of immense vitality, and the other could not be anything but a Saint Technique. Each of them would greatly help Cain, but this one did not use any and stared at Bloodless #1. There was no such thing as a free meal in this world, especially from someone you had never met before, so Cain wanted to know the price of the Saint Technique and the Blood Orb. Bloodless #1 saw Cain''s stoic heart and nodded. The core emotion that drove humans was greed, and while it allowed us to make great things, it could also lead people to their doom. True cultivators must know how to use it for their benefit and not succumb to it. "Good, I like your emotion control. The stronger you are, the more useful you will be for the Blood Duke. The Blood Orb can be considered a gift. As for the Saint Technique, use it freely, but you must return it to me once you leave Blood Sea." Cain nodded after hearing that. Whatever machination the Blood Duke had for him required him to become stronger. That meant he was not a disposable pawn, at least not for the moment. The first thing that Cain did was send his Ego Wave into the starry gem to see what type of Saint Technique was inside it. A name immediately reached his mind and was one he was very familiar with. "Blood Refinement Art." A smile appeared on Cain''s face since this was just what he needed. He needed a body refinement technique to help him unlock his body''s full potential during the Wave Champion Rank and into Wave King. Cain had already reached the peak of the second level of the Blood Refinement Art, and the information he got from the skull''s A.I. Chip provided a description from the third and four levels, but the starry gem had the whole technique. "Blood Runes and Blood Core." Those were the names of the third and four levels of the Blood Refinement Technique. Chapter 257 : Bloodflow Fury Just like when Cain sent his Ego Wave into the starry gem that held Blood Hand, an illusion appeared in his mind, and he saw a man standing on top of an ocean full of blood. What surprised Cain was the fact that the man was Bloodless #1. It seemed that the powerhouse was the one that engraved the technique into the starry gem. For a moment, Cain wondered if he engraved his understanding of a Saint Technique in the future, whether people would see a picture of him going over the technique. Those thoughts did not last for long as soon his focus returned to Bloodless #1 as this one went over the Blood Refinement Art. Bloodless #1 started from the beginning, devouring the blood beneath his feet and using it to nurture his flesh. Then came the formation of Blood Energy. Those were the first and second levels of the Blood Refinement Art, something Cain knew very well, but the next part was completely new for him. Once the Blood Energy in the body reached its peak and you could not hold any more of it inside, it was time to create Blood Runes. A Blood Rune was the crystallization of Blood Energy, each very small but capable of holding massive amounts of energy. Creating a single rune meant the evolution to the third level of the Blood Refinement Art. The process of creating each Blood Rune was extremely complicated, but Cain could gain a basic understanding and tap into the experiences that Bloodless #1 engraved in the starry gem. As you advance to the third level, the amount of Blood Runes inside your body will increase. The final number was determined by your constitution, with those with a strong physique able to hold much more than others. In the end, the number of Blood Runes inside your body will reach its apex, and at that point will come the fourth level, the creation of the Blood Core. If generating a Blood Rune was complicated, the birth of a Blood Core was nearly impossible to decipher. Cain''s cognitive abilities were superb thanks to his soul force and Ego Wave, but even he had difficulty figuring out how to evolve from the third level to the fourth. Seeing the wonders that the body could achieve was beyond amazing for Cain. The Essence Evolution Path of Power deciphered the mysteries of the world and nature, tapping into the power of the Laws. Yet, the way the Astral Rebirth Path of Power analyzed and modified the body was not any less wonderful and intricate. Cain''s eyes regained focus shortly after the illusion showed every part of the third and fourth levels of the Blood Refinement Art in detail. He stared at Bloodless #1 before bowing, expressing his appreciation. After that, Cain did not lose time and used the Blood Orb to increase the amount of Blood Energy inside his body. His constitution had already reached the Wave Champion level a long time ago, allowing him to attain the peak of the second level of the Blood Refinement Art. It was still a little too soon to evolve into the third level since Cain''s body could still hold more Blood Energy, but he could practice the creation of Blood Runes. That way, as soon as his current capacity for Blood Energy reached its limit, he could instantly advance to the third level. However, you must go even further to unlock the full power of the technique. You must control your blood flow to the point your ventricular ejection and ventricular filling are no longer automatic processes and are under your command. From what I have learned from my brother''s reports, you already have a skill that allows you to increase your blood flow. And since you are at Body Over Mind, the only thing you need to control your ventricular filling and ejection is practice." Bloodless #1 stopped speaking, and his eyes grew sharp as he began to unleash a barrage of attacks that combined punches, kicks, along with elbow and knee strikes. Cain''s pupils dilated as he focused on Bloodless #1. Every attack was followed by another with even greater strength, leaving no openings. Bloodless #1 heart rate increased along with the speed of his and strength of his strikes. The attacks were growing so profound and fast that Cain could only see a blur and was not able to decipher the power behind them. The way Bloodless #1 deployed those kicks and punches was amazing and so complex that not even supercomputers of the Old World could analyze them. After demonstrating just how complex Bloodflow Fury could become, Bloodless #1 slowed the speed of his attacks until they stopped. "The second fundamental component of Bloodflow Fury is Vital Pressure Point. It refers to our ability to land precise strikes to the vital pressure point along with the body''s meridians, exploiting the interconnectedness of blood flow and energy pathways. By targeting these points, we disrupt our enemies'' blood flow, temporarily weakening them or inducing temporary paralysis. It allows for efficient and precise strikes that maximize the effectiveness of our attacks. There are four basic strikes on Bloodflwo Fury: Flowing Fist, Crimson Knee and Elbows, Tempest Kick, and Vessel Strike." Bloodless #1 extended his arm forward and relaxed his shoulders before unleashing punches that moved like lighting and shadows, fast and unpredictable, in patterns that left no opening and could break any defense. "Flowing First. You must channel your blood flow into your fists, enhancing the impact and speed of their punches." After that, Bloodless #1 retracted his arms and moved his right leg forward and his left leg back. Right after adopting that position, he unleashed a barrage of kicks with overwhelming strength that could extend way further than the fists. "Tempest Kick. You channel your blood flow into their legs to deliver powerful kicks capable of devastating impact. They have a lesser speed than Flowing Fist but greater strength and range." Cain''s made sure to engrave every moment and word that came from Bloodless #1 since what he was learning was superb. Chapter 258 : Blood Rebirth After Tempest Kick, Blooless #1 took a deep breath, and his heartbeat grew even more potent as a red glow emerged from his elbows and knees. He then began to unleash strikes with them that carried so much strength that giant gales formed due to their momentum. "Crimons Knees and Elbows. By channeling my blood flow across my knees and elbows, you can deliver bone-crushing blows that can incapacitate opponents and are especially good at breaking defenses and armor." Cain instinctively nodded as he doubted a bone, armor, or shield could endure those strikes. "Finally comes Vessel Strike. It is the essence of the technique and the hardest to master. I form a fist with my hand before making the middle and index fingers protrude." Bloodless #1 adopted that hand position and began to strike with a strength and precision that defying logic. Instead of a hammer like Flowing Fist and Tempest Kick, Vessel Strike was a nail aimed at a small point and doing horrible damage. "Vessel Strikes allow me to obstruct or redirect blood circulation of an enemy momentarily, weakening his defenses and temporarily diminishing their strength, providing an opening for further attacks." After finishing that last barrage of strikes, Bloodless #1 lowered his arms and broke his fighting stance before turning at Cain. "Show me what you have learned." Cain''s eyes were sharp as he nodded at Bloodless #1 and closed his eyes. He was going through every move the man did, trying to remember their essence and how to replicate them. Bloodless #1 did not get upset because Cain made him wait. On the contrary, that was precisely the behavior he expected from someone like the young soldier. Instead of rushing things, taking a moment and preparing yourself was better. Cain kept his eyes closed for an entire hour, but when he finally opened them, there was a bursting red light as he adopted the Bloodflow Fury''s battle stance. His heartbeat increased as he activated First Gear, driving his blood flow fast enough to carry on with the most basic form of the technique. Bloodless #1 saw Cain''s skin turn red just before this one unleashed a barrage of strikes that combined the Flowing Fist and Tempest Kick. He nodded and expected Cain only to unleash that level since the other two techniques required a much stronger blood flow, and he did not expect the young man to have that type of technique. "THUMP!" Bloodless #1 was wrong and saw with shock how Cain''s body turned even redder, his veins bulging and his heartbeat hammering with so much strength that it resembled a bell. Cain activated Second Gear along with the power of the Sun Seed, balancing the destructive powers of the first with the regeneration of the second. That increase in his blow flow and agility allowed him to unleash Crimson Elbows and Knees and Vessel Strike. A small smile appeared on Bloodless #1 as he saw Cain''s skill and talent. There was nothing better for someone that wanted to teach than a gifted and hardworking student. "Raise your shoulders, lower your center of gravity, straighten your back." Each stage is countless times harder to achieve than the previous one, and upon reaching the Golden Blood Stage, my vitality and energy would be high enough to evolve into a Wave King." Cain did not hide anything since there was no way a powerhouse like Bloodless #1 would have less cultivation knowledge than him. Bloodless #1 stared at the city surrounded by that sea of blood as he talked to Cain. "You are correct; there are four stages, and you can evolve beyond Peak Wave Champion upon attaining Golden Blood Stage. However, although you could become a Wave King at that point, it would be nearly impossible to advance beyond the early level, and that would most likely be the end of your road." Cain nodded since that was a piece of information that the Sonic Blade Fusion had already shared with him, but he did not lose focus. "That is what theory says, but there is no such thing as absolutes in cultivation; take me, for example. I evolved to Wave Champion with borderline Flawless Marrow, so I should not have been able to achieve Mercury Blood. Yet, through great effort and the help of my seniors, I managed to fix that flaw and do what the theory says could not happen." Bloodless #1 raised a finger to his mouth and bit it, making a small wound, before allowing a drop of golden blood with a silver glow to fall to the ground. "?Boom!" Shock appeared in Cain''s eyes when he saw how a single drop of blood fell to the ground with the might of a cannonball. It was so dense that despite measuring less than a centimeter in range, its weight had to surpass ten kilograms. Cain stared at Bloodless #1 with pure awe as he wondered what kind of strength the man''s circulatory system had. "As you can see, there is no flaw that can not be mended with enough effort and hard work, but the same goes the other way around. You must never grow complacent about your current achievements, no matter how high they are, since that is the key to failure." It would be easy for a genius like Cain to fail to understand the meaning of those words since it already became routine for him to stand up above the rest of the people his age, but the solemn light in his eyes made it clear he paid attention. Bloodless #1 nodded as he saw that Cain did not let his current achievement cloud his judgment. "Very good. The Blood Duke is waiting for you in the Blood Pagoda. Do not make him wait." Those were the last words that Bloodless #1 said before vanishing. Cain was a little surprised to see Bloodless #1 disappeared just like that but immediately regained his focus as he stared at the Blood Pagoda again. Chapter 259 : To the Blood Pagoda (I) One way to reach the island would be by swimming, but Cain was not dumb enough to jump into a sea full of blood. There was no way to know what kind of Wave Beasts where there it or if the blood itself was toxic. Luckily, a large city was built on the shore. Unlike most cities built in the Godslayer Humankind Empire, there were no walls around it. That would be deadly in most cases due to Wave Beasts hiding in the forest, but the place was completely barren of such vegetal life. Humans focused on keeping a stable balance with the ecosystem but did not go out of their way to create forests or the like. Usually, no large settlement would form in such barren terrain, but it was clear to Cain that the sea of blood proportionated all the energy and vitality that people and cultivators could need. There were other problems since mortals could not survive without the proteins and vitamins given by vegetables, but those were easily fixed by either pharmacologic technology or commerce. Cain did not bother too much with how such a city could thrive and instead focused on the bridge connecting to the island, which he could use to reach the Blood Pagoda. Things would probably not go so smoothly, but there was no point in delaying things. He descended the mountain and used Sonic Dash until reaching close enough to the city. People were going on with their lives, but just as he was about to get near them to learn a little more about their lives, he noticed a strange expression on their faces. Most people saw Cain with a mixture of curiosity and caution. There was nothing wrong with that, especially if this was a place that did not receive many outsiders. Yet, there was a small percentage of the population whose gazes made Cain frown. He could feel their hostility and disdain, which made no sense since he had never seen those people. What was even weirder was that some of them were much lower than Cain in terms of power and status. Still, they dared to look down at him with contempt and did not even bother to hide their emotions. People looking at him as if they were superior was something Cain was used to since he had seen it many times in scions, but the gazes of disdain came from commoners. All that brought great confusion to Cain, as their behavior was irrational, but he soon got an answer. "Racial prejudice." Cain heard Apex''s voice in his mind and could not help but frown as he remembered an ideology of the Old World. ''Racism?'' It was true that the Godslayer Humankind Empire indoctrinated people on the idea that humans were superior to Wave Beast and the Dark Races, which is why they were allowed to kill them without remorse, the idea that some humans were better than others just for the colors of their skin was no longer present. Just as Cain focused on the disciples, many opened their eyes and turned toward him. He immediately felt the hostile gazes in around half of the disciples, a much more significant proportion than the one in the city. That told Cain that the ideology of racial superiority based on their bloodlines came from the island and was stronger in the disciples than in commoners. That was not good news for him since it meant he would find himself in a place where half of the population would hate him just because of the blood running through his veins. If there was one thing that Cain was not in the mood to handle was bigotry and ignorance, so he just ignored the gazes of the disciples and continued to the bridge. However, before he could get a foot in it, two disciples got in his way. "We are the Blood Bridge''s guard." "And we do not allow people like you to enter Blood Island." Cain stared at the duo, whose appearance could not be more typical. Both had large bodies with bulging muscles but were just Level 9 Wave Warriors, and neither had a particularly good foundation. There were many ways in which Cain could handle them, with the most straightforward being crushing both of them using brute strength, but there was a reason why Bloodless #1 left him on the mountain and made him walk to the Blood Pagoda alone. Cain needed to prove how he could handle a situation where the answer was not brute strength. It was true he could crush the duo in a second, but that would only give the people he hated an excuse to throw him in jail or maybe even worse. A more subtle way would be to use hypnosis, and he was sure no one of the people present would even notice it, but there were extremely powerful individuals watching every move he made. Using the name of Bloodless #1 or the Blood Duke would also not work since even if they believed him, that meant he needed to rely on them for something so simple as reaching the Blood Pagoda, proving that he lacked in terms of wisdom. Luckily, there was another path Cain could take, which relied on no one else but his own status. He waved his hand, taking a small card from his space ring and showing it to the duo. As soon as the two disciples guarding the bridge saw it, the expression on their faces changed, and they were not alone since the rest on the shore were also surprised when they read the words on the crystal card. [Imperial Lightning Fort Division: Major Cain Laurifer]. Even if they were racist garbage, there was no way a few mere Wave Warriors would dare to look down on the Imperial Army. "I am a Major of the Imperial Army. I came from the Imperial Lighting Fort to speak with someone in the Blood Pagoda. Anyone in my path will consider an interrupting military affair, and I have the right to report their crimes to the capital." Chapter 260 : To the Blood Pagoda (II) The two guards looked at each other when they saw Caim''s military identification. Their behavior was typical of bullies, valiant against those they believe themselves superior but afraid of the ones with strength. Never would they dare to disrespect the Imperial Army, the strongest force in the entire empire under the command of the current Emperor of Humankind. Resentment and rage appeared on the duo''s faces, but in the end, they only sneered before moving away from Cain''s path. "We would never dare to obstruct a Major from the Imperial Lightning Fort during a mission, but I must warn you that the bridge is in repairs, and there could be problems with the force field keeping Wave Beasts away." Cain stared at the guard that spoke those words before focusing on the bridge. It was over five thousand meters long, with large pillars every one hundred meters generating a sky-blue veil that covered the road. Since it was a straight path, with nothing obstructing his view, Cain could see all the way to the other end of the bridge. There were no problems with the pillars or the sky-blue veils, but he noticed someone stopping people on the other edge of the bridge. There could be actual problems with the bridge, but the most likely answer was that someone with enough power sent orders to these disciples, ensuring they generated trouble for Cain. It was likely that the sky-blue veil protecting the bridge would shut down once he was in the middle of it, leaving him exposed to the attack of the Wave Beasts living inside the sea of blood. Cain only shook his head at such a foolish trap and simply walked forward. The two guards smiled as they saw Cain walking to the bridge and were ready to send the signal when this one was in the middle of the road. "?Boom!" However, those smiles froze when they heard a sonic boom and saw Cain vanish, only for this one to appear more than three hundred meters into the road in less than a second! A bridge over five thousand meters was long, but someone moving at supersonic speed could cover it in less than twenty seconds! One of the guards was able to overcome the shock and immediately used his A.I. Chip to communicate with someone. "He is moving at supersonic speed!" As soon as the guard sent that message, the sky-blue veil covering the bridge turned off, and not even a second later, the blood around the bridge grew restless. Cain could feel several eyes on him, some belonging to extremely powerful people, but he kept moving forward and did not take his eyes away from the road. He had covered a third of the path when several figures emerged from the sea of blood and lunged toward him. "Hmph." Cain sneered before walking deeper into the island, making his way toward the Blood Pagoda. He kept his bloody machete in the open, ready to handle anything they could send him. That certainly made him look hostile, but he was not in the mood to be friendly right now. As Cain got deeper into Blood Island, he began to analyze his surroundings, and the first thing he noticed was the thin red fog covering the island. Just breathing the red fog made Cain feel energized, and he was sure that a prolonged exposition could affect your constitution and maybe even your genes, especially if you were exposed during your gestation. The mystery about the special Lineage in everybody living near the sea of blood became a little clearer for Cain. Still, he really wanted to know the origin of the racial superiority mentality. Humans indeed had a tendency to arrogant and narcissistic behavior, but the idea of racial superiority was disdained from the beginning of the empire when Adam guided people of all ethnicity and ideologies against the Dark Races. After that, the notion of believing yourself superior for a racial aspect had been considered extremely idiotic. The fact they generated this racial identity behind a Lineage made things easier to understand, but still, for a large part of the population to hate those they never saw before, you needed indoctrination. Cain glanced at the people and saw that almost everybody had a red robe indicating their position as disciples, and that around a third of them looked at him with some degree of contempt. The rest of the disciples either ignored him or threw inquisitive gazes, curious about the presence of an outsider on the island. Still, none of them got near Cain, nor the other way around. Cain considered it wiser to reach the Blood Pagoda and speak with the Blood Duke, learning about the situation on Blood Sea, before doing anything that could lead to more problems. Luckily, it seemed that the direct clashes stopped after the bridge. The person behind it saw what he wanted to know or was afraid of generating a clash within the island''s boundaries. Blood Island was not very large, so Cain did not take long to reach the Blood Pago. When he stood in front of the massive building, he was surprised by the density of the red fog around it. It was an impressive sight, but he did not waste too much time, instead walking into the Blood Pagoda. As soon as he crossed the gates, a familiar face appeared. Bloodless #1 looked at Cain and nodded before turning around and indicating for the young man to walk with him. Cain walked with Bloodless #1 as he looked at the first level of the Blood Pagoda. Unlike the Titan Tower, where there was nothing but the teleportation matrix, Cain saw nearly a dozen people drinking and talking there. There was one thing in common with all of the people here: they were Wave Kings and looked at him with hostility! Chapter 261 : Purist Path Seeing the sentiment on the first floor could make someone think that the powerhouses of Blood Sea all hated outsiders, but Cain knew it could not be so simple. If the racist ideology spread so deep into the organization, there would be no point in the Blood Duke asking him to come here. If Cain had to guest, someone in the darkness was acting again, trying to pressure and intimidate him into running away with the leg between his legs. The aura of all those Wave Kings could have crushed the spirit of an average Wave Warrior, but Cain''s willpower was too high to succumb to something like that. He even looked back at those powerhouses, remembering their faces. Bloodless #1 ignored those eyes and did not bother with the Wave King. Not like any of the present would dare to focus on him. He glanced at Cain, and when he saw the young man''s composure, he showed a small smile and nodded before turning to the machete in the young man''s hand. "You are using your Natural Holy Weapon?" Cain no longer bothered with the Wave King and turned toward Bloodless #1. "Yes. I developed a domain skill with it, so it is perfect when it comes to handling crowds. Besides, too many eyes are sizing my battle power right now." Before his trip with Bloodless #1, Cain''s skill with his arms and machete were around the same level, so it made sense for him to prefer the latter, but things changed after learning Bloodflow Fury. Yet, Cain still used Slaughter on the bridge, hiding his maximum battle power and hand-to-hand skills. Bloodless #1 understood all of that, and his smile grew wider. Every action the young man took was calculated. "Very good. Let''s go." Bloodless #1 and Cain got into the teleportation matrix and vanished from the first floor the next second. The next second they appeared in the ceiling of a large room, which would not have been a problem if the floor was full of boiling blood. Unlike Bloodless #1, which could remain in the air as if defying gravity, Cain began to feel as soon he appeared in the room. He had yet to master Air Walk, so he could not generate solid platforms of Wave he could use to stand in the air. Luckily for Cain, he could use Sonic Dash, generating small shock waves from the soil of his feet that could keep him in the air. Now that he was no longer falling, Cain was able to give a more thorough analysis of the boiling blood. He sent his Ego Wave into it, and even the red force field felt a searing heat, so it could not last for long inside. ''My body is stronger than most Wave Champions, and I have to use Blood Energy to temper my flesh and blood, yet I could not last a single second inside it.'' Just as he wondered about the use of boiling blood, he saw a man emerge from it. He had the appearance of a middle-aged man with a scar on his face, and streams of blood were going into his body through his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Bloodless #1 showed an awkward expression, and the Blood Duke''s eyes twitched as they heard Cain''s words since the city was indeed called Blood City. The duo had the power to level cities and burn rivers, but there was little they could do about their ancestor''s taste in names. The Blood Duke''s eyes regained their focus immediately, and a sharp light appeared as he stared at Cain. The young man was able to defuse the situation and distract him for a moment. "Ahhhh." It was clear to the Blood Duke that Cain''s scheming mind was not any less impressive than his cultivation talent, so trying to play tricks would be futile. Instead of wasting time, he took a direct approach. "I am sure you were able to notice the dichotomy between the members of Blood Sea. That is the result of the ideologies of the Purist Path spreading across the island and city. I am the leader of the opposite party, the Integrationist Path." Cain''s eyes grew cold as he remembered the scorn with which those people looked at him. "So they call themselves purists. What a fancy word for what they truly are." That comment was enough for Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 to understand what Cain thought of the people of the Purist Path. "The leader of the Purist Path is the High Blood Elder. I have done my best to limit the spread of that ideology, but it is currently gaining power." Cain understood the problems with which the Blood Duke found himself. "It is easy to hate and resent someone if the people you trust tell you they are the source of all the problems in your life. Learning to care for and appreciate someone you know nothing about is much harder." The Blood Duke was glad to hear that, as it meant Cain understood it was not inbred ignorance the source of that mentality. Our view of the world is molded by what people around us teach us, and if your brother and father taught you that it was fine to hate a specific group, you would believe it to be true. "The Purist Path was not born out of thin air, but to understand its origin, you must first learn about the Ascendance of the Blood Moon. I am sure you have done some research and understand that it is an event that occurs every ten years and evolves into something even more significant after one hundred years. However, it is more than just trials or a lucky chance. It is connected to the origin of the Blood Sea and the bloodlines running through the veins of everybody in it." The Blood Duke made a pause at this moment, and a serious expression appeared on his face as he stared at Cain. "Tell me, how do you think this sea of blood that extends dozens of thousands of kilometers came to exist?" Chapter 262 : Blood Maiden "Tell me, how do you think this sea of blood that extends dozens of thousands of kilometers came to exist?" Cain did not answer immediately and began to think very deeply about that question. The Blood Sea extended was immense, and the amount of blood full of overwhelming vitality in it was so powerful that even Titans could use it for their cultivation. A natural inheritance could have given it birth, but Cain seriously doubted that. The reason was simple, natural inheritances were born after enough world energy gathered in a particular place, and he did not believe something like the Blood Sea could have been born that way since the time and forces needed would have been simply outrageous. After serious consideration and discarding several ideas, only one answer came to Cain''s mind. "The corpse of several extremely powerful life forms?" Extreme powerhouses change their bodies and souls to a terrific degree, and those forces and energy do not simply vanish upon their death. If left alone, it disseminates into the environment, giving birth to all kinds of phenomena. Bloodless #1 and the Blood Duke stared at Cain with wonder due to the young man''s impressive insight. That level of wisdom could not be born just out of mere intelligence but needed worldly experience that someone so young as Cain should have yet to gain. The Blood Duke stared at Cain''s eyes for a moment before softly nodding. "You are half right. It indeed came from death but of a single beast." Cain''s eyes widened as he heard that, and there was a pure shock in them. The idea that the corpse of a single life form could have made the Blood Sea was inconceivable. If that was really the case, that beast should have been at a level at which even Titan could only look up. There was no reason for the Blood Duke to lie to him, which prompted Cain''s mind to figure out where such a beast came out. If the Wave Beast Race had such a mighty champion, then it would have been able to conquer a continent for itself, maybe even the entire Aether. Since that was not the case, there was only one possible answer, but the idea shook Cain to the core. He looked up to the ceiling, but his eyes aimed at something much higher. After seeing how Cain reached a conclusion and seeing him look into the sky, the Blood Duke nodded. "That is right. We hypothesize that the life form whose corpse made the Blood Sea came from that place." Despite having the strength of a nuclear weapon capable of unimaginable destruction, there was a solemn expression on the Blood Duke''s face as he looked to the space beyond the sky. "The Astral Sea." Astral Sea. Those were two simple words, but they inspired a sense of respect, awe, and even fear in the heart of every single Titan and God of Aether. The boy caught my attention, and I took him under my guidance. Despite the harshness of growing up as an orphan where half of the population hated you for no reason other than who your father was, Ivan thrived. He managed to secure second place in the Blood Champion Tournament, but someone killed him two and a half months ago." Every word was like a dagger for the Blood Duke, and he clenched his fists with so much strength that blood came out of them. It was clear that he came to see the boy as his own, and the fact that someone had ended Ivan''s life filled his heart with rage and sadness. Cain could not help but sight as he heard all that. He did not feel too sad about Ivan''s death since he never met that person, and the fact they had similar backgrounds did not change things. What bothered him was that the Blood Duke gave him Ivan''s position. That would antagonize people in the Integrationist Path because they would think he did not deserve that position, and the ones that were behind Ivan''s murder would try to do the same with him. The Blood Duke''s eyes regained focus, and he grew serious as he stared at Cain. "As a Blood Champion, your mission will be to protect the Blood Maiden during her trials and shine as much as you can to show everybody the might of the Integrationist Path." ''And there it is.'' This Century Ascendance of the Blood Moon will not only be about the trials but also a race competition between the Integrationist Path and Purist Path. He was tasked to protect the Blood Maiden, which he would do with his impressive skills and by drawing attention and making him a target. Cain only nodded and did not bother to express any complaints. "And whom am I supposed to protect?" The Blood Duke waved his hand, making a portal appear, from which a young woman emerged. Cain felt his heart racing as he saw her small face, sky-blue eyes, and short white hair. Every part of him wanted to protect her no matter the cost. The reason for those feelings in Cain''s heart was that the one that emerged from the portal was no other than Beelze! However, a red light appeared in Cain''s eyes, breaking the illusion and showing him the authentic appearance of the young woman. The Blood Maiden had long red hair, green eyes, a beautiful face, and a well-defined body. Yet, none of that mattered to Cain since, right now, the only thing in his mind was rage. "YOU DARE!" Chapter 263 : Assassination attempt on the first day "YOU DARE!" Cain''s rage exploded as a red force field full of killing intent emerged from his brain, focusing on the young woman he was supposed to protect. Very few things could incite Cain to lose control of his feelings. One of them was insulting the memory of his late father, the man he worshiped more than anyone else in the words. The other was someone using the image of the only woman who showed what true love meant and gave her life to save him. Beelze''s face as he held her in his arms still appeared in Cain''s mind from time to time, and every time it hurt. Time had slowly closed that wound, but it remained and might never fully disappear. The Blood Maiden''s expression when she appeared in the room was one of disinterest since she did not expect much from a Wave Warrior, but it was not her place to question the Blood Duke''s decisions. However, right now, Cain was like a ruthless monster, and those red eyes would not rest until her head was in a spike. The red force field was about to clash with the Blood Maiden, drowning her, when the Blood Duke acted. "Hmph!" It only took a sneer from the Blood Duke to shatter Cain''s Ego Wave, making his body tremble and puke a mouthful of blood. Cain cleaned the blood from his mouth as he turned toward the Blood Duke. His eyes were cold, but he managed to get his emotions under control. "Ahhhh." The Blood Duke could not help but sigh since he did not want this to happen, but he did not get too angry with Cain. He had an idea of what had just occurred and could not blame the young man for his enraged behavior. "Shura''s Lineage tends to generate an emotional response in people when they first meet her, making them see in her their deepest desire, the one they longed for more than anyone else in the world. It is an innate ability, and she has no control over it."No?v(el)B\\jnn Focus returned to the Blood Maiden as she recovered from the initial shock of Cain''s killing intent. She frowned as coldness appeared on her face. "Why is there a need to ask for forgiveness? He should be the one imploring my mercy for his unruly behavior!" Shura''s heart was full of rage as she stared at Cain, and it seemed she was ready to fight. Yet, as soon as the Blood Duke looked at her, she immediately calmed down. Cain gave one final glance to the young woman before turning toward the Blood Duke. In those eyes, there was no sense of friendship or anything resembling that, only pure pragmatism. "I will protect her and kill anyone at the Wave Champion Rank that intends to harm her. However, I will prioritize my life if we face Wave Kings." The room was not very large, with a bed on one side and a small table on the other. It was minimalistic but had all Cain could need, so it should be enough. However, Cain had only taken two steps into the room when a message appeared in his mind. [WARNING! ?WARNING! There is an individual in the right corner of the room. He is hiding his presence with a high-level technique, but Vessel''s Ego Wave should be able to detect him if focused on that point. Interference stops the A.I. Chip from doing a correct scan of the target. A jamming signal has been put in place. There is no way to communicate with the outside world.] Just before his pupils could enlarge and his heartbeat increased as the body started the fight or flight response, Cain used his immensely powerful willpower to block it. ''An assassin? So fast? They did not wait a single day before sending someone to take my life. For my senses not to catch him, that person must be very powerful and have mastered the art of assassination to a level even greater than mine.'' Cain''s mind worked at a shocking speed, trying to decipher every path he could take right now. Moving back into the teleportation matrix would not be wise since he would be in extreme danger if the assassin interfered somehow with it. No one would come to help him, so he had to take care of the assassin alone. The only silver lining was that the assassin did not know Cain had already discovered him. Cain continued walking forward, not losing any momentum, as if nothing had happened. He reached his bed, waving his hand and taking several objects from his space ring. All of the things that Cain took out of his space ring were common necessities, but just as his hand was out of the hidden figure''s field of view, Slaughter appeared in it. ''When facing an assassin, you must assume they had extensively researched you. That meant they would know all your moves, but also that the shock and surprise they would feel if you showed them something new would be much greater.'' Cain remembered the words of his Assassination Military Specialization teacher as the grip of Slaughter tightened, and a red light appeared in his eyes. A red force field flooded the room, showing Cain the assassin''s exact location as his Astral Wave burst, and he activated Second Gear. A figure covered in shadows materialized in the corner of the room, and his eyes were sharp as he saw the machete coming his way. He did not run away and instead used a small dagger to answer the machete. Cian could not hide his surprise when he saw how the figure covered in shadows managed to parry every attack he made with his machete. Those emotions only grew stronger in Cain''s heart when the figure covered in shadows pushed forward, using a super dagger technique to push Slaughter out of his grasp! Chapter 264 : Saint Void State Technique There was utter shock on Cain''s face as the machete was sent away from his grasp, but as the assassin came closer, a cold smile appeared. His heartbeat grew even stronger as he pushed Second Gear to the limit, ensuring Sun Seed flowed his body with golden flames so it would not crumble under pressure. Cain''s hands and wrists turned into blood gems as dark energy covered his extremities, and then he adopted the battle stance of Bloodflow Fury. "CLANK!" The sound of steel clashing against steel echoed inside the room as Cain pushed the dagger out of his path before unleashing Flowing Fist and Tempest Kick against the man covered in shadows. Immense surprise appeared in the assassin''s eyes when Cain hit his dagger with so much strength that it nearly sent it flying away, just like he had done with Slaughter. According to his knowledge of the young man, this one did not excel in strength and definitely did not possess a top-tier melee close-range technique. Yet, the assassin could not negate what he was seeing as the barrage of punches and kicks pushed him back toward the corner where he came from. Cain''s eyes were full of killing intent as he pushed himself to the limit, and all his attacks were aimed at vital points. He felt his muscle tearing due to the effort but could not afford to slow down since a single breath would be enough to diminish his momentum, something the assassin could take advantage of. Despite Cain''s speed and technique, the assassin could dodge every single attack, never once having to block, but things changed when he was finally pushed back into the corner. Such narrow space would limit your attack speed, but Cain only changed to Crimson Knees and Elbows, making them glow as he sent a knee strike toward the assassin''s groin. That knee could break steel walls, so the damage it could do to a person''s crotch would be no joke. Cain was sure his attack would generate enough damage and pain to incapacitate the assassin long enough he could use Blood Revolution. That was his killing blow, and the strength he could unleash with it now was enough to kill a Peak Wave Champion. However, just as Cain''s knee was about to land, the assassin melted into a puddle of shadows. Before Cain could overcome the shock, the assassin appeared right behind him. ''?A Wake King!'' That feat was something no Wave Champion could do, so the only explanation would be that the assassin was a Wave King! "Your counter-assassination techniques have improved a lot, young man." Just as Cain''s mind worked at full power, trying to figure out a way out of this problem, he heard the assassin''s voice, and there was a mixture of surprise and relief in his eyes. Shadows slowly dissipated, showing the figure of the assassin, and it was no other than Jonathan, the Assassination Military Specialization''s teacher. Cain turned around and looked at Jonathan with confusion as he deactivated Second Gear, Blood Hand, and Darkness Fusion. There was no rage in his eyes for the pseudo-assassination attempt. If Jonathan had truly wanted to kill him, there was no way he would not have lasted more than three seconds. "I appreciate the information." "Oh, a warning is not all I brought with me." Jonathan smiled as he waved his hand and took a starry gem from his space ring. "Here is the complete Void State Technique, including the fourth and fifth levels that raise its tier to a Saint Technique." A flash of desire appeared in Cain''s eyes as he focused on the starry gem. He had reached the limit of the third level a long time ago, and his assassination skills had stagnated. The fourth and fifth levels of Void State could really help him improve Cain''s assassination skills, and the fact they were categorized as a Saint Technique meant they were truly superb. Cain stared at the starry gem for a while before looking at Jonathan. "Assassinations?" Nothing was free in the world. No matter how good the relationship between Cain and Jonathan was, the Void State Saint Technique belonged to the Aegon Family, and they would not just hand it over without expecting something in return. Cain learned the art of assassination to take care of his enemies, not to make a job out of it. After all, he had easier ways to make money, like hypnosis or selling Wave Viruses. "We have more than enough assassins in the Aegon Family, many of them much better than you. We were hoping you could use your influence on the Blood Duke to facilitate a deal between the Aegon Family and Blood Sea, so we can purchase some unique cultivation resources that grow in this area. Of course, we are not expecting you to do it right now since your words have little weight in the Blood Duke''s decisions, but things would change if you do well in the Century Ascendance of the Blood Moon." Jonathan went straight to the point, explaining what the higher-ups of the Aegon Family hoped to get in exchange for the Saint Technique. "A trade deal?" Cain smiled as he heard what the Aegon Family wanted. Although he had never done one, it was all about relationships and influence, something he would have if everything went well. He did not hesitate before accepting the proposition. The best way of handling a group of assassins was to have better technique than theirs, so he needed the Void State Saint Technique. Jonathan smiled and threw the starry gem toward Cain before his body melted into shadows again, only to vanish from the room the next second. Cain could not help but feel awe at the might Jonathan could unleash through the use of the Laws. ''They are truly an unfathomable power.'' Chapter 265 : 99% ''They are truly an unfathomable power.'' Although the Essence Evolution Path of Power lacked the force to transform your body at a molecular level, the power someone could attain through the use of the Laws was incredible. Cain felt really tempted by them, but he did not waste time on useless thoughts and focused on the task at hand. Before deciding how to allocate his time over the next month, he sent his Ego Wave into the starry gem to see just how strong Void State was. Like with his other Saint Technique, when Cain sent his willpower into the starry gem, his mind was transformed into an illusion. However, this time there was not just a person but a small city with a road full of people. The setting confused Cain, but he was able to find the man that engraved the technique into the starry gem. He was two and a half meters tall with a muscular body, long white hair, and pale skin that seemed never to have touched sunlight. Despite that striking appearance, the man could walk by the side of the road, not calling the attention of anyone who did not stand directly in front of him. That was a flawless display of Void Breath, but the next part truly drew Cain''s interest. The man''s eyes began to glow with silver light as he unleashed his Ego Wave, covering himself with it before taking a deep breath and completely shutting down his vital signs. Next, he began to walk among the crowd. Since the road was so full of people and the man''s body was so massive, not bumping into someone was near impossible. He did not even make an effort to avoid it, but that was where the shocking part came. Even after bumping into his massive body, the people could not see him! The man stood before them, but they frantically looked around, trying to find the person they clashed with. Cain''s eyes widened, and he understood that the fourth level of Void State required more than just superb body and energy control. You needed a mastery over Free Ego that even he found hard to attain. Void State did not have a requirement over your cultivation base, but the difficulty was greater than any of Cain''s techniques, including Blood Hand. After meddling among the crow, the man walked forward, and even after unleashing his Astral Wave, he was still invisible to everybody around him. Cain could not take his eyes off the man, and he noticed how this one walked to a small group two hundred meters ahead. His eyes widened when he focused on the group since it was a Wave King surrounded by an entourage of Peak Wave Champions! The Astral Wave that the tall man with white hair unleashed made it clear to Cain that this one was a Peak Wave Champion, yet it seemed he was ready to assassinate a Wave King in plain daylight while nearly a dozen people surrounded this one. No one would believe that an assassination would be possible under those circumstances. Still, Cain saw clearly how the man''s presence vanished to an even higher degree, and now the people that got in touch with him were also covered by his cloaking aura. Just as he was less than two meters from the Wave King, the man made his Astral Wave explode before concentrating everything on his index finger and attacking. The Wave King''s eyes widened as his instincts reacted, but it was too late since the man''s finger had already pierced the back of its head, right on the soft spot where the skull connected with the spine. "Sister Shura, is there any problem with your Blood Champions?" Although the young woman smiled, Shura could see the mockery in her eyes. "Hmph, Ametria, I do not need your help. Since you are ready, then leave." Shura'' felt a great fury against Ametria, but the one she was outraged against was no other than Cain, who had yet to arrive. "I don''t want people to think I am taking advantage of your situation. I will wait with you." Ametria delaying her departure made things even more embarrassing for Shura, and she knew it. The argument did not limit only to the Blood Maidens. There were two people high in the sky whose strengths allowed them to stand above everybody else. One of them was the Blood Duke, and the other was an old man with bloody eyes, long white hair, a short body, and wrinkles all over his face. Despite the seemingly weak appearance of the second, his strength was high enough to crush mountains with a movement of his hands. "Your judgment is flawed. An outsider can not be trusted." The High Blood Elder spoke toward the Blood Duke, and there was a disapproving light in his eyes. The Blood Duke stared back at the old man, and while he showed nothing on his face, he was furious on the inside. ''This damm brat!'' He had made many concessions to Cain, but that did not mean he would allow a Wave Warrior to act as this one pleased and ignore his words. A message was sent two hours ago, informing Cain about the departure, but this one was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, the Blood Duke and the High Blood Elder looked toward the Blood Island as they felt a presence approaching their location at supersonic speed. Cain finally appearing did not erase the Blood Duke''s rage since this one was arriving two hours late, but as he focused on the young man''s body, a large smile appeared on his face, and all the anger was gone. On the contrary, the High Blood Elder, who had shown no interest in Cain before, focused on the young man with cold eyes. The reason for the reaction of both supreme powerhouses was that they could feel Cain''s marrow-washing percentage, and it was over 99%! Chapter 266 : Futile chase Besides the high marrow-washing percentage in Cain, both men also perceived his Level 9 cultivation and the slightly chaotic state of this one, meaning he had just advanced recently. Cain was amid his breakthrough when the message of the Blood Duke arrived, and he could not interrupt it as it was imperative to take full advantage of it. As soon he stabilized the bursting Astral Wave running through his meridians, he immediately flashed to this place. The Blood Duke and High Blood Elder were the first to perceive him, but it did not take long for others to hear the sonic booms and see a figure flashing to their location. "?BOOM!" He landed right in the middle of the two dragon-like Wave Beasts, raising a cloud of dust. It soon dispersed, showing a young man with pristine skin and a vibrant life force. A red robe covered his body, but unlike the other disciples, the engraving on his back did not depict his position in Blood Sea; instead, it had the emblem of the Valentine Family. The Blood Duke had asked Cain to wear it to ensure everybody knew about the young man''s background. Cain''s purpose in these trials was to prove to everybody in Blood Sea that cooperation and integration were the right path forward. Although the Valentine Family was a relatively new Noble Family, the fame of Zarak Valentine had already spread across the Collapsing Lightning Sector as the youngest of the Nine Pillars. That also clarified that Cain''s background included the Imperial Lightning Fort, the strongest power in the entire Sector. Cain knew that all of that would only increase the focus on his person, but he did not care. After learning about the assassination contract on Shura, he understood that no matter how bright the spotlight shone on him, the one they were truly after would be the young woman. Instead of wasting his time focusing on the machinations of the Blood Duke, he made it his mission to keep Shura alive. That would be enough to repay his debt to the Titan. Although he did not want it, Cain attracted a lot of attention, but he kept a composed expression as he turned his eyes toward the Wave Beast of the Purist Path. The first one to catch his attention was the Blood Maiden. She was around the same age as he and Shura and was already an Early Wave Champion, and it seemed she rose to that level with a very high marrow-washing percentage. As for her beauty, that mattered very little to Cain since there was no way he could feel attracted to a woman that looked at him as if he was garbage. Cain then turned his eyes toward the Blood Champion and saw that each was very strong, with a high cultivation and solid foundation. None of them would be easy to defeat, but only once his eyes reached the man at the end of the Wave Beast, a sense of danger assaulted him. The last of the Blood Champions was a tall young man with short black hair and a handsome face, but the most striking part was his eyes, which had red pupils. Zima saw Cain looking at him, but unlike the rest of the Blood Champion, he did not show disdain and simply nodded. Those of the Integrationist Path were not happy with the blonde man''s behavior, but neither were they fond of Cain right now. Ultimately, they did not interfere, maybe considering it would be below them to meddle in a dispute among young people. As for the powerhouses in the Purist Path, all of them were happy to see the fight since they believed the young man would teach Cain a painful lesson. ''Ahhh. What an annoyance.'' Cain felt frustrated when he saw the blonde man walking toward him. The fight would not be easy, but he trusted his abilities. What bothered Cain was that winning would not make things better for him or the sentiment toward the Integrationist Path. The only thing people would see would be an outsider striking down one of their own. When they were one hundred meters away from each other, a red light covered the young man''s leg, and he flashed at supersonic speed, appearing in front of Cain''s in a quarter of a second. A cold smile appeared as he sent his hand forward, intending to grab Cain by the neck. The blonde man was very fast, but just as his hand was about to reach Cain, this one flashed away, putting some distance between each other. "I am not interested in involving myself with people that see me as inferior, nor do I desire to fight with any of you. It is best to keep our paths separate unless you want to establish a meaningful conversation." Cain immediately attempted to defuse the situation, making clear the reason for his reluctance to interact with people on the Purist Path. Of course, while his logic made sense, some stared at him as if he was a coward too afraid to fight. The blonde man heard Cain''s words but did not care about them. The only thing in his mind was that a Level 9 Wave Warrior managed to escape from his grasp, and everybody saw it. A sense of shame assaulted him, making his hatred and rage toward Cain grow even stronger. "Come here and fight!" The blonde man shouted in rage as he flashed toward Cain, but this one managed to keep the distance between them. Cain was faster than the blood man, but his movements had a certain rhythm that made his presence vanish from time to time. That made it very hard for the Late Wave Champion to follow him. The people of the Purist Path that were all smiles in the beginning, could not help but frown when they saw how one of their Blood Champions could not catch an outsider, despite the massive difference between their cultivations. High up in the sky above everybody else, the Blood Duke saw that scene with a smile since Cain''s behavior was what he wanted. Chapter 267 : Creating a Blood Rune "?BOOM!" Finally, a blast occurred, but it was not due to a clash between the blonde Blood Champion and Cain. It happened when a young man with short black hair dived toward the ground between them. The newcomer had short black hair, green eyes, and an impressive two-meter and twenty-centimeter stature. He came from the dragon with Shura in it, and his cultivation was the same as the blonde Blood Champion from the Purist Path, but the physical pressure he unleashed was much greater. "Surin!" The blonde man chasing after Cain shouted, and he adopted a solemn expression, raising his guard and moving back. "It is enough, Jeremy. Go back to your group and stop making a fool of yourself. If you want to keep delaying things, the one you will have to face is me!" Surin''s blue eyes glowed with a golden light, deploying willpower at the peak of the Wave Champion Rank. Jeremy stared at Surin for a moment but did not dare to fight against this one with so many people watching over them and simply sneered before turning around and returning to the Purist Path''s Wave Beast. Cain saw how Jeremy left and then turned toward Surin before nodding. "Thanks for that." Although he was not in danger, Jeremy was becoming a problem since Cain could not solely focus on defense in a situation like that. After all, his opponent''s energy pool was much greater than his. Surin turned around and glanced at Cain with cold eyes before speaking in a stern voice. "If you can not fight, your presence will only become a hindrance to Lady Shura." Not wanting to waste any more time, Surin jumped out of the ground, landing softly on the Wave Beast right behind Shura. Cain noticed the animosity in Surin''s eyes. Still, unlike Jeremy and the rest of the people in the Purist Path, the young man''s feelings targeted him, not his ethnicity or bloodline. ''Well, at least he hates me for the content of my character nor for the blood running through my veins.'' That thought nearly made Cain burst into laughter as he trashed such an iconic slogan from his Old World. He did not want to waste time either, so he jumped to the Wave Beast and sat in the back, away from the rest of the Blood Champions. Ametria glanced at Cain with disdain and loath for a moment but did not keep trying to make a scene and patted the Wave Beast''s head, making this one rise into the air and fly away at supersonic speed. On the other hand, Shura could not help keeping her eyes on Cain. She remembered clearly how that young man managed to speak back to the Blood Duke and how his willpower seemed capable of shattering everything on his path. Someone like that could not possibly be a coward that was too afraid of fighting a Wave Champion. ''Was his bravery with my uncle all a facade?'' Shura could not help but think as she stared at Cain, trying to decipher just what kind of person the young man was. "My Lady?"No?v(el)B\\jnn Surin''s words brought Shura back to reality, and she shook her head, erasing all those thoughts and focusing on her mission. She tapped the Wave Beast''s head, and this one rose into the sky, leaving Blood Sea. As soon as both dragons vanished from their sight, people on the ground began to disperse, but the same could not be said about the powerhouses in the sky. ... Scan of Vessel completed --- Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 9 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Avernus Lineage Wave Talent: Middle Tier 7 ( High Tier 7) --- Stats: Strength: 14.5-->16.7 Agility: 8.1-->9.2 Vitality: 14.1-->15.8 Wave: 9.0-->10.4 Blood Energy: 12.5-->12.9 --- Marrow washing: 99.07% completion --- Note: Wave Virus inside Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 20.1%] Cain smiled as he saw his stats. He had felt the surging power in his body after the breakthrough to Level 9, but it was even better than he expected. The one that did not obtain a massive improvement was his Blood Energy, but the reason for that only made Cain''s smile grow wider. His body finally reached saturation, and he could raise his Blood Refinement Art to the next level. Rising to the third level meant the generation of Blood Runes, which was an extremely complicated process, but Cain had already mastered it during his journey with Bloodless #1. Not wanting to waste time, Cain took a deep breath and adopted a meditative position before closing his eyes. He took control of the Blood Energy in his body, redirecting it into his Rebirth Heart, where it began to condense. Thirty minutes later, Cain''s body trembled as a glowing crimson rune was now inside his heart. Chapter 268 : White Heat Breath Shura, Surin, and the rest of the Blood Champions were talking calmly when their eyes widened, and they looked to the back of the Wave Beast. Shock appeared on their faces when they felt the burst of Blood Energy coming from inside Cain''s body. Cain did not want to draw attention, but the generation of the Blood Rune generated a qualitative change in the Blood Energy running through his body, and he could not avoid its radiation from being noticed by the others since they were so close to each other. The Blood Champions focused on Cain, as they could not believe what they just saw. All of them trained in the Body Refinement Art and were familiarized with the change in their Blood Energy upon the generation of Blood Runes. Still, reaching the Blood Refinement Art''s Third Level while being a Wave Warrior was someone only one of them managed to achieve. Surin remembered just how hard it was for him to develop the Blood Rune, and unlike Cain, the Lineage running through his veins was tailored to improve the skills based on blood. Despite having that advantage over the other, Cain still managed to equal his feat. Cain noticed the eyes of all the Blood Champions but did not care and carried on with his training, taking the blood orb that Bloodless #1 gave him from his space ring. He had generated the Prima Blood Rune, which contained the totality of his Blood Energy, and now it was time to create Secondary Blood Runes to increase his energy pool. The blood orb contained a massive amount of vitality and blood essence, helping Cain generate Secondary Blood Runes much faster. The first Secondary Blood Rune emerged in just ten minutes, and the second came even quicker. After creating five of them, Cain felt that he reached his limit. ''I need to improve my cultivation and the strength of my body to continue generating more Secondary Blood Runes. System, show me my Blood Energy.'' A second after that command, a virtual screen appeared in Cain''s sight. [Blood Energy: 12.9 -->15.1] Such a massive improvement made Cain smile. An energy pool of fifteen points was something usually reserved for Wave Champions. Yet, he managed to get it while being a Level 9 Wave Warrior, meaning it would only grow larger upon his breakthrough! Focus returned to Cain''s eyes as he calmed the excitement in his heart. He had indeed grown stronger, but the assassins that would come for Shura would not be weak, and if he grew complacent, they might take his life. ''My cultivation has already stabilized, and I can increase it again.'' Cain sent several corpses of Wave Champion Beasts and Silver Artifacts to the [Devourer Dimension] so the [Earth Fiend Flame] could generate a stream of energy and vitality to his body while at the same time taking wave crystals from his space ring. He adopted a meditative position and closed his eyes while making the Wave run through his meridians, ignoring everything else. Of course, a slight decrease in their energy pool was much better than having their bodies react slower due to the freezing cold, so they all did it. All except for one. Cain became the center of attention of the group again, and just as they wondered what he was trying to do, he took a golden capsule from his space ring and injected it into his neck. Shura and the Blood Champions saw Cain''s body tremble for a moment before his skin gained a shining glow, and they noticed his sparkling white breath. "Was that a Grand Wave Virus?" Unlike the Blood Champions, who felt awkward interacting with Cain, Shura did not have those problems and asked the man directly. Cain had noticed Shura''s objective attitude and silently nodded since that would make protecting her much easier. "Its name is White Heat Breath. It is a 3-Star Grand Wave Virus that generates a thick layer of brown fat beneath my skin, acting as a natural thermoregulator. That will protect me from the cold. The virus also generates an enzyme that acts at the level of my lungs, improving my ability to separate oxygen from carbon dioxide in the air I take in, keeping the first inside my lungs and exuding the second." Surin and the rest of the Blood Champion were amazed by the effect of the Wave Virus, especially the last part. They understand that high places with cold air affect your breathing and drain your stamina. Cain considered things momentarily before focusing on Shura and throwing a golden capsule at her. If she could respond better to threats, it would be easier for him to keep her alive. Shura caught the Wave Virust and stared at this one for a moment before frowning. She had used her A.I. Chip to scan it, but there was no information in it. All the goods sold through the empire''s network had a certification since there were people in charge of analyzing the products, making sure they were legit. That was especially true for Wave Virus and drugs. Cain did not get angry at Shura for her words; after all, only an idiot would inject something inside their bodies that a complete stranger gave to them. "I made it." Chapter 269 : Into Ice Crown "I made it." Shock appeared in the eyes of Shura and the Blood Champions when they heard that. Cain had already demonstrated a superb talent in Astral Rebirth Path of Power along with a divine Wave Talent. And now they learned he was also a Genetic Coder capable of creating 3-Star Wave Viruses!? "That is impossible!" One of the Blood Champions could not help but shout after hearing Cain''s words. He was a tall young man with short blue hair, green eyes, and a small scar on the side of his neck. The name of the Blood Champion was Radin. He was nineteen years old and was also a Genetic Coder, but unlike Cain''s, his abilities only granted him the title of 1-Star Grand Genetic Coder. It was very impressive for someone so young as Radin to be a Grand Genetic Coder, and it was an achievement that took all his effort and energy, so he could not believe that someone like Cain was already a 3-Star Grand Genetic Coder. Cain glanced at Radin but did not offer any explanation to the man and simply focused on Shura. The intent in his eyes was clear; if the woman did not want the capsule, she could return it. Shura stared at Cain for a moment before deactivating her Wave Artifact and injecting the capsule into her neck. "My Lady!" Surin was surprised by Shura''s actions, and he was unable to stop her. He only could wait with worry as her body trembled for a moment before a shining glow emerged on her skin, and her breath became sparkling. Shura felt that the Ice Crown''s freezing air was no longer a problem since her body could endure the cold, and her lungs did a much better job keeping the oxygen in while releasing the carbon dioxide. "My Lady, do you trust that man so much?" Surin asked Shura, trying to understand the motive behind her actions, and that was a question that aroused the interest of all the Blood Champions. Cain was also slightly surprised by her decisiveness, so he wanted to hear what she said. Shura stared at Cain before softly shaking her head. "I do not trust him, but I trust the Blood Duke''s judgment. He would not have put someone in my team that would purposely harm me." The Blood Champion seemed to relax when they heard that as if they were happy that it was not Cain who she was getting closer to. Surin, Sebastian, Roric, and Martin did not simply superimpose their force field one over the other. Instead, they displayed superb teamwork by spreading their Ego Waves in different directions. The force field spread in the four cardinal directions, generating a domain that could detect any threat in a radius of 850 meters around Shura. After Surin, Sebastian, Roric, and Martin finished with the force field, the other five Blood Champions positioned themselves as an outer layer of protection. Anyone that saw the movements of the nine Blood Champions would understand that it was a battle formation they trained for a long time and had mastered with great effort. The only one that was outside of the battle formation was Cain. He had joined them by order of the Blood Duke in the last month and never met before leaving Blood Sea, and they could not simply add him to the formation. Just as Surin was about to command Cain, he saw the eyes of the young man glow with red light before a force field resembling a blood tsunami emerged from the brain of this one. Cain unleashed his Ego Wave, generating a red force field that extended four thousand meters forward, spreading in all directions. It encompassed the combined force fields of Surin and the others, extending for a much larger area. That massive red force field did not remain for long since the next second, it became invisible, and its aura vanished, making it extremely hard for any Wave Beast to detect it. Surin and the rest of the Blood Champions were shocked by the massive force field that emerged from Cain''s mind, and it was clear that the Ego Wave of the young man was greater than any of them. "Inborn Ego Eternal Matrix." Surin was able to figure out the key behind that Ego Wave immediately since the mightiest genius of the Purist Path was also someone born with it. Enlightenment appeared in the Blood Champions, and they could not help but frown as they saw all Cain''s gifts. It would not be a problem if the young man''s attitude weren''t so aggravating. And if the Blood Champions did not like him already, their feelings grew even worse when they heard him speak. "I will take the scout role, trying to carve out less conflict toward the geysers and warn you about the dangers. However, I will not fight." Some of the Blood Champions grew furious when they heard Cain''s words. They could not believe he was so shameless as to declare he would not participate in the fighting. Yet, before they could say a word, Surin stopped them. Surin stared at Cain and nodded before deactivating his force field and indicating Sebastian, Roric, and Martin to do the same. There was no point in keeping their Free Ego active if Cain''s could cover a much greater terrain than theirs. He then signaled the group to move forward, keeping their defensive formation around Shura. Cain calmly walked behind the group, but a flash of coldness appeared in his eyes for a second as he had detected assassins just as they entered the Ice Crown. Chapter 270 : First assassination Cain had purposely spread his Ego Wave through open fields where Wave Beast would be present and avoided the flank of the mountain range that was perfect for hiding. He did this to generate the impression that he had not noticed anyone when, in reality, his [Scan Force Field] had already detected the presence of the assassins and even showed him their strength. Although Cain could immediately hide his killing intent and coldness, not blowing away his cover, he still frowned. The fact there were assassins at the beginning of their journey meant they were here before they arrived. Shura''s destination for the Purity of Body should be a secret, yet assassins were already waiting for them, so somebody leaked the information. Cain did not bother with the internal power struggle of Blood Sea and focused his mind on the task at hand. ''They are not so dumb as to attack Shura when the nine Blood Champions protect her. In that case, they must be waiting for an opening, which would present itself on its own due to the powerful and territorial Wave Beasts in this place.'' Playing the role of an ignorant scout, Cain followed the group as they headed deeper into the Ice Crown. Cain''s Ego Wave was so strong that he was able to survey the terrain with extreme efficiency, detecting any group of Wave Beasts thousands of meters away, allowing the group to move around them and advance. However, there were times when fighting was inevitable since there was only one path forward, and powerful Wave Champion Beasts were in the middle. Once again, Cain''s red force field was of help since he could relay the exact location of the beasts and their strength, allowing Surin and the other Blood Champions to ambush the enemy. Just as he had stated in the beginning, Cain limited himself to his role as a scout and never interfered in the battles, always remaining at a safe distance. The first two days went without a problem, with none of the Blood Champions receiving any form of injury, but things could not remain calm for long. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he focused on the left, where his Ego Wave showed him a small hollow mountain that contained what could only be described as a gargantuan monster. The beast had not detected his Ego Wave, but it caught the smell of the group, and a killing rage appeared in its eyes. Wave Beasts were territorial, so they would react with ferocity to anyone that dared to invade their domains, which would not be a problem for the group if they were facing a Wave Champion Beast, no matter how strong it was. However, the beast coming their way was not a Wave Champion Beast. "An Ice Juggernaut on our left, two thousand meters, and approaching!" Cain''s words made the body of the nine Blood Champions tense since they knew that an Ice Juggernaut was a King Beast! Surin''s eyes grew sharp as he pushed his focus to the limit, focusing on the location that Cain was aiming for and detecting the presence of an immense beast coming their way. He immediately gave orders to the Blood Champions, ready to face the incoming threat with all their power. Surin and the rest of the Blood Champions made their Astral Wave burst at full power as they attacked. If they reduced the pressure on the Ice Juggernaut for even a second, things could turn out very wrong very fast. Shura''s face was pale after using that bestial claw spell. It took nearly thirty seconds to charge and drained over 80% of her energy pool, but no one could question its power. The teamwork of Shura and the nine Blood Champions was so good that they could face a King Beast head-on, with none of them suffering any type of severe injury. The only one not pushing himself to the absolute limit facing the King Beast was Cain, who looked at the battle from a distance with a calm expression on his face. --- An old man was looking at the youngsters from a distance as they fought against the Ice Juggernaut. The name of the old man was Norman, and he was a lonely cultivator with no relation to any of the great powers of the empire, but the one place he was somewhat famous in was the underworld, where he had gained a lot of fame due to his job as an assassin. Norman learned about the contract on the Blood Maiden due to his criminal contacts and immediately decided to take it. The contract not only came with a detailed description of the target but also the people that would be accompanying her and her destinations. Although going after the Blood Maiden of Blood Sea would mean enraging a Titan, the reward was high enough to improve the old man''s foundation, pushing him to the Golden Blood Stage and granting him a chance to become a Wave King. Norman had already felt his strength deteriorating due to his age, and he could barely deploy the full strength of his Peak Wave Champion cultivation. Since Norma believed it would be easy for him to hide after killing Shura, he decided to take the missions. He had been waiting for a long time for an opening, but the only person he had no information about kept the group away from the Wave Beasts. Time was not his friend since Norman knew he would lose his chance if the group managed to reach the geysers. Luckily, the Ice Juggernaut appeared. A sharp light appeared in Norman''s eyes as he saw the nine Blood Champions pinning down the King Beast and Shura''s exhausted expression. He also ensured the scout was away from the Blood Maiden before going forward. Norman was ready to flash toward Shura, performing a killing blow before running away when his eyes widened as his instincts screamed danger. Unfortunately for Norman, he was too late. By the time he detected the attack, a hand covered in shadows had already grabbed his head while an index finger pierced his temple and destroyed his brain. The last thing in Norman''s eyes was not fear or regret but admiration due to the superb assassination technique behind the attack that ended his life. Chapter 271 : Reachign the geysers Cain''s eyes were cold as he took the old man''s life. He silently sent the corpse into his space ring before looking into the distance. Norman was not the only assassin since there was a duo of middle-aged men with a cultivation at the Late Wave Champion Rank moving toward Shura. Shadows once again covered his body as he made his way toward the duo. The two assassins working together were very much alike, making it seem they were brothers. The one at the lead took a deep breath as he took a small dagger and began silently channeling his Astral Wave in it. Just as the middle-aged man was about to signal his brother to trigger the cloaking spells, he heard a cracking sound, and as he turned his head, a sense of absolute shock assaulted him. There was a young man on top of his brother whose head was aiming in the wrong direction right now. A life of murder and danger had hardened the middle-aged man''s heart and mind, so he kept control even when he saw how the young man shattered his brother''s neck. Pure hate and killing intent appeared in his eyes as he changed his target, but before he could even take a step forward, the same young man on top of his brother appeared before him, sending a fist to his throat. Cain''s blood fist landed point-bank in the middle-aged man''s throat, and if the brute power behind it was not enough, it also generated a shock wave upon impact, increasing the damage. He had not even finished with that attack before he charged the other, taking a deep breath and compressing the air inside his lung. The middle-aged man''s throat became a bloody pulp when a projectile landed on his right eye, destroying it before carrying on into the brain. Unlike Norman, the middle-aged man died with an expression of unwillingness on his face. It took him less than ten seconds to take care of two Late Wave Champions, but there was no smile on Cain''s face. Instead, he clenched his teeth as he took a dagger out of his ribs before focusing his Blood Energy, Astral Wave, and the power of the Sun Seed into the wound. Although it was true that Cain managed to take the middle-aged man by surprise, this one still managed to pierce him with the dagger while he landed the blow to the throat. Luckily for Cain, his armor and bones manage to stop the dagger, keeping it as a superficial wound and not receiving any damage to his internal organs. He regulated his breathing as the Sonic Clone on top of the Essence Wave assassin faded. Sonic Blade Fusion was a superb cultivation technique with several techniques that Cain trained diligently. While he had focused on Sonic Dash and Sonic Armor, he had also gained a decent mastery over Sonic Clones, Sonic Bullet, and Sonic Fists. Five hours was all it took for the ten members of Blood Sea to consume the Wave King''s flesh, leaving nothing else but the bones. It was a truly impressive sight, making Cain wonder if all people of the Blood Sea displayed that kind of ferocious appetite. Cain could have consumed the bones of the King Beast using his [Gluttony Module], but the group did not leave it behind since they could use it to make powerful artifacts or as ingredients for cultivation resources. After everybody had recovered their energy, the group began to move deeper into Ice Crown. The geysers were at the center of the mountain range, and there was still a long way to go. Packs of Wave Champions Beasts were in their path, but the group was able to dodge most of them and kill the rest. Still, the deeper they go, the stronger the beasts and the more common their encounters with King Beasts. The constant battle against the gargantuan beasts with the power to level cities was taking a toll on the Blood Champions'' stamina, and wounds were slowly starting to appear on their bodies, but they carried on. On the other hand, Cain kept taking care of the assassins spread all across the mountain range. Some of them were very powerful, and while their battles ended in seconds and did not alert Shura and the Blood Champions, they were very dangerous. There were all sorts of wounds on Cain''s body, and he did not have time to heal them, so he just focused on stabilizing his condition before moving on. Only Shura had not suffered wounds since she was protected from the Wave Beast by the Blood Champions and from the assassins by Cain. Of course, that did not mean she did not participate in the battles since her spells were part of the reason why Surin and the other Blood Champions could take care of the King Beast so fast. Finally, after a week of pain and suffering, the group reached their final destination, flat terrain at the center of the freezing mountain range with over a dozen geysers spread around it. Those geysers would be the ones that Shura would use for her Purity of Body. Although it had a name full of grandeur, the trial was actually using the special water from the geyser to clean her body from impurities that could have compiled on her skin and blood. Shura was an Essence Wave Cultivator, so she did not go through marrow washing as a Wave Warrior, and now she would use the power of the water to temper her flesh and blood, granting it a pristine state. The water from the geyser was boiling and could burn the flesh of a Wave Warrior in seconds, but Shura''s eyes were full of determination as she prepared for the trial. Chapter 272 : To the second trial Shura would not be the only one using the geysers since Astral Cultivators could also use them to improve the state of their bodies, and that was not all. Other than a purification force, the water in the Ice Crown had healing powers, which all the Blood Champions could use now after many battles against King Beasts. Of course, Shura would not be washing herself with the other men, and she planned to pick one of the far-away geysers to use, but before that, she glanced at Cain. Shura would not lower her guard just because they had finally reached their destination. There was no way to say what kind of beast or danger could be found in this place, and the young man who guided their path to this place was the best to find out about them. Cain noticed Shura''s gaze, and his eyes glowed as a red force field emerged from his mind, covering the geysers and everything in a one-thousand-meter radius around them. The red force field managed to pierce beneath the ground and into the sky, showing Cain that there were no more threats. It seemed that neither King Beasts nor assassins were hiding in this place. "It is safe." Shura nodded and then headed to a geyser before waving her hand, taking out a treasure in the form of a crystal dome that covered the area around her. She could see outside, but no one could see inside. It was best if she was naked when using the water, which was why the Blood Duke had already given her a treasure that she could use to keep her privacy. Surin and the rest of the Bood Champions could not help but glance at the crystal dome, but they did not dare to keep their eyes for long in it. The next second they deactivated their Wave Artifacts and moved toward the geyser. All the Blood Champions were covered in bruises, with some having cracked bones since the battles with the King Beasts had been dangerous. The group noticed Cain moving to one of the geysers, and some sneered since he had not participated in any of the battles and did not need to heal like them. Yet, the moment Cain took out his clothes, the eyes of the Blood Champions widened, and there was a sense of shock and awe on their faces. The bruises on Cain''s body made the ones on the Blood Champions seem like paper cuts, and they were far from the most severe injuries. There were deep cuts on his back and chest, some near the spine and others next to the heart. Cain''s recovery speed enhanced exponentially after using the [Gluttony Module] to devour the life and vitality of the boiling waters, allowing him to heal from his severe wounds in just two days. Not wanting to waste time, Cain focused on Blood Hand. He could already transform both hands, including the wrists, into blood gems but had yet to complete the third level. Blood Fists, the third level of Blood Hand, focuses on pushing the molecular transformation of your hands to the next level. At that point, your hands would be no weaker than Silver Wave Artifacts, and there would no longer be a need to send Blood Energy to trigger a transformation. Cain managed to train the third level as a Wave Warrior thanks to achieving Flawless Marrow, but reaching the peak would be very hard. As for the fourth level, he was confident in his abilities, but trying to enter it before becoming a Wave Champion would be a dream. Five days passed until the crystal dome finally vanished, and Shura appeared. Her skin was sparkling, making her look even more beautiful than before. Surin and the Blood Champions put on their clothes as they emerged from the geyser, and all stared at Shura with dumbfounded expressions. Cain also left the geyser when he saw Shura, but he could keep his composure, unlike the others. It was not that he did not find the woman extremely beautiful, because he did, but his willpower allowed him to maintain control of his emotions much better than the rest. Shura frowned as she did not like people keeping their eyes on her for too long, and the Blood Champions were wise enough to look away the next second. She then stared at Cain, and a small smile appeared on her face as she saw the calm in this one. "Let''s move." Cain glanced at the Blood Champions after hearing Shura''s words, and seeing that they were all ready, he turned to the exit of the geysers. He sent his Ego Wave into the path they took to this place before moving at supersonic speed. Shura and the Blood Champions move behind him, keeping the woman in the center, advancing at supersonic speed as well. It took them a week to reach the geysers, but the path they took should be free of threats since no Wave Beasts should have migrated to the domain of the dead ones. That allowed them to move at supersonic speed, something they could not do before since it would have drawn too much attention. Cain, Shura, and the Blood Champions manage to reach the bottom of the frozen mountain range in less than an hour, marking the end of the first of the Four Trials or Purity. Shura took a small bell from her space ring, and shortly after waving it, the dragon-like Wave Champion Beast appeared in the distance. Chapter 273 : Dodging lightning Cain, Shura, and the Blood Champions move through the sky on the back of the dragon-like Wave Beast. They were advancing at supersonic speed, and since the location of the next trial was not far, they were able to reach it in less than two days. "?BOOM!" That thunderous blast indicated the group had arrived. Cain and the others could see less than one thousand meters away a massive mountain upon which lightning clashed over and over again, covering every portion of it with its destructive power. Unlike regular mountains, the surface of this one was smooth, and the endless barrage of lightning had crystallized some portions. Everybody could see the giant storm cloud above its peak, one that had yet to face even after hundreds of years. Quite fittingly, this mountain had the name Skyfall Mountain. No life forms lived in it, and it was where Shura would take her Purity of Energy. A human settlement could not survive in that environment, and while there were Wave Beasts that thrived in the presence of lightning, they also needed another form of nutrients, and no vegetal life forms could survive in that place.No?v(el)B\\jnn Although it was a place of death and destruction, Skyfall Mountain was a place many powerhouses wanted to visit since there was a special force at its peak that could help even Wave King. However, it was under the domain of the Blood Sea, so no one could get near it without first asking for authorization from either the Blood Duke or High Blood Elder. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he focused on Skyfall Mountain, and a small smile appeared since he did not feel any dangerous presence in this place. It made sense that the assassins had chosen not to attack here since there was nowhere to hide, and the lightning constantly fell from the sky. Shura tapped the Wave Beast''s head, making this one descend on the foot of Skyfall Mountain since flying directly to the peak would have been suicide. Like the last time, once the youths got down, the Wave Beast rose to the air and flew away, only returning once Shura rang her small bell. Shura glanced at Surin and the rest of the Blood Champions, and they immediately adopted a formation. The ten unleashed the Wave Cloaks before slowly fusing them into a single one. Cain was surprised by the Shura and the Blood Champions'' formation, but while it provided great defenses, it was not suitable for battle since they had to stick together and could not move independently. ''The defensive power is not its main attribute. Its focus is making the ten a single massive entity.'' It was not hard for Cain to figure out the reason for that formation. The group knew they could not dodge the lightning, so they combined their Wave Cloak, making the power of the lighting divide into ten, diminishing the impact it would have on their bodies. Shura and Surin turned toward Cain, and both of them frowned. She and the Blood Champions had trained this formation for months, and they could not simply add people since it would bring instability. However, they did not think that Cain could reach the peak of Skyfall Mountain alone. Cain noticed their gazes and showed a small smile before taking a blue capsule from his space ring and, the next second, injecting it into his neck. His body began to tremble the next second, and soon his entire body gained a strong static charge. Another of those lightning pillars fell from the sky, and its target this time was no other than Cain. Shock appeared on the faces of Shura, Surin, and the rest of the Blood Champions when they saw that there was nothing left in the place where the pillar of lightning had just fallen. Even though the Blood Champions did not have a very good impression of Cain, that did not mean they wanted him dead. "It is too soon to plan my funeral." Shura and the Blood Champions heard that and looked ahead, only to see Cain standing there. The shock in their eyes was even greater since Cain had seemingly dodged the lighting pillar, but that should be impossible. Lightning, with a natural origin, traveled at a speed similar to light, which not even Titans could match. Luckily for the group, it seemed that the storm did not like the fact that Cain dodged that strike and sent another. Shura''s eyes widened when she saw how Cain looked into the sky and moved at supersonic speed a fraction of a second before the lightning bolt fell from the sky. It was as if the young man could know when and where the lighting would fall. If Cain were an Essence Wave Cultivator training in the Lightning Law, it would have made sense he could predict the patterns of those lightning bolts, but that was certainly not the case. "Your Ego Wave!" A flash of enlightenment appeared in Shura''s eyes as she noticed how the red force field spread into the sky. Cain was surprised that Shura was able to figure it out so fast. There was no reason to hide it, so he nodded. "You are right. I use my Ego Wave to perceive the state of the atmosphere, electrics charges, and several other pieces of meteorological data. I can use that to predict lightning patterns, allowing me to dodge it." The Blood Champions were shocked to hear that. Although it was theoretically possible to do all that, the cognitive abilities needed to predict lightning strikes in such a short time were incredible. However, none of them could deny that Cain was indeed able to dodge the lightning bolts. "Can you help us?" Shura did not have a problem asking Cain for his help, and neither of the Blood Champions dared to say anything about it. While they could resist the lighting pillars, it left wounds on them. Cain stared at them before analyzing things for a moment, showing a complicated expression. "Yes and no. I can give you the information, but by the time I share it, you will all have less than a tenth of a second to react. Since you move as a group, I doubt you would be able to move in time." Chapter 274 : Splitting lightning Cain was not lying, as it indeed would take too long to relay the information to the group. The time window was too small for Shura and the nine Blood Champions to move simultaneously. Actually, the one doing the analysis was not him but Apex. The System Spirit used the [A.I. Chip Module] to analyze all the meteorologic information before sharing it with Cain. Although the delay from one person to the other was just fractions of a second, it added up. Surin and the other Blood Champions saw how Cain managed to move less than half a second before the lightning pillar fell, so they were sure he was telling the truth. There was not much they could do, so they just prepared to march forward when they saw Shura exiting the formation. "My Lady?" Surin immediately grew worried when he saw Shura moving away from them. She was an Early Essence Wave Champion, and her body could not endure the power of the pillars of lightning falling from the sky. Before any of the Blood Champions could say another word, she raised her hand, signaling them to stop. "Now that I am not in it, you will no longer have to protect me, making it easier for you all to face the lightning." Surin and the rest of the Blood Champions were surprised when they heard that, and awkward expressions appeared on their faces. Although the goal of the formation was to divide the power of the lighting between all of them, the Blood Champions were actually overexerting themselves in order to enhance the defenses of Shura. Now that the formation only contained Surin and the other eight Blood Champions, all Late Wave Champions, it would be much easier to face the lightning pillars. The Blood Champions wanted to say something, but it was clear that Shura did not intend to hear them, and she just stood beside Cain. "Since I am alone, I should be able to act fast enough if I follow your instructions." Cain stared at Shura for a moment and saw the determination in the young woman''s eyes. "We will advance together. Follow my instructions without hesitation, or else I can not guarantee you can reach the peak." Shura nodded and then felt how Cain established a telepathic link with her before both flashed forward at supersonic speed. Surin and the rest of the Blood Champions were not happy about leaving the safety of Shura in Cain''s hands, but there was nothing they could do other than move forward. Now that they did not have to worry about Shura, the group could advance much faster, and those lightning pillars with the might of a Wave King''s spells could not do much damage to their bodies. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Cain and Shura advanced to the peak of Skyfall Mountain. They moved in highly irregular patterns with all kinds of turns, but it helped them evade all the lightning pillars that fell from the heavens. It did not take long for Cain, Shura, and the Blood Champions to see the mountain''s peak, thanks to their improved speed. In it, they saw a sky-blue lightning force field. Silence reigned in Skyfall Mountain as Shura and the Blood Champion were astonished by what they just saw. A young Wave Warrior managed to split apart a pillar of lightning with power above the Wave Champion Rank! Cain did not say a word before raising Shura from the ground, putting her on his back, and flashing at full speed toward the sky-blue lightning domain on the mountain''s peak. Shura''s heart was still filled with shock, which is why she was not able to react to Cain''s actions. Although staying on the young man''s back was undoubtedly faster, she was not comfortable with that type of intimacy, which is why she had not proposed it before. She did not like it, but after Shura saw Cain''s bloody and scorched arm, she chose to remain silent. Surin and the rest of the Blood Champions frowned when they saw how close Cain was with Shura, but they were not in a position to speak and simply moved forward, not leaving the duo behind. Cain advanced so fast that it took him and Shura less than a minute to enter the sky-blue lightning domain, putting them away from danger. Shura was about to tell Cain to let go of her when this one fell to the ground, bringing her with him. A cold light appeared in her eyes as she immediately moved away from Cain. One thing was her staying on Cain''s back as they rose to the mountain''s peak, but laying together on the ground was something completely different. However, just as Shura was about to unleash her rage, she noticed Cain''s eyes were out of focus. ''He felt unconscious!'' The Blood Champions reached the sky-blue lightning domain a few seconds after the duo, and they immediately noticed Cain''s state. It became clear for Shura and the Blood Champions that whatever Cain did to enhance his Astral Wave in such an outlandish way had some drawbacks. "Martin." Shura called one of the Blood Champions, who immediately approached Cain before putting a hand over the young man''s chest. Martin''s hand began to glow as a red fog extended over Cain''s body. A flash of surprise appeared on his face as he turned toward Shura. "My Lady, there are severe internal wounds left by the clash with the lightning pillar, but a golden flame inside his body is already healing the damage. That, plus the effect of the Life Force Lighting Domain, should be enough to help him completely recover in a few days." Shura nodded toward Martin, and she stared at Cain for a moment before adopting a meditative position next to him. Strange expressions appeared on the Blood Champions when they saw that, but none said anything and just focused on recovering from their injuries. Chapter 275 : Howling Forest Cain had just opened his eyes when, all of a sudden, an immense pain assaulted his mind. It was like someone was splitting his brain in half and sewing it back together the next second. Luckily for Cain, the pain just lasted a moment, and his eyes soon regained focus. He looked around, only to see Shura sitting less than two meters away from him. Shura noticed Cain waking up and gave him a thankful nod before returning to her training. ''That is right. I saved her.'' Cain remembered the events that led to his current state. Just as the lightning pillar was about to fall on Shura, he reacted by instinct as his willpower burst with power, allowing him to concentrate all his energy in his right hand. However, even all his Blood Energy and Astral Wave combined could not face the lightning pillar with the might of a Wave King''s spell. Yet, just as he was about to lose, his Ego Wave exploded and fused into his Astral Wave. That allowed his energy pool to grow immensely, giving him the strength to split the lightning pillar in half. After that, his mind was about to shut down in order to protect itself from the backlash of Cain using his Ego Wave in that manner, so he grabbed Shura and rose to safety as fast as he could before falling unconscious. ''Mind Over Wave.'' The ability to channel your Ego Wave into your Astral Wave, allowing the second to grow, was something someone at the Second Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power could do, but Cain had yet to achieve that level. It was not odd for someone to deploy abilities of the next realm in the Ego Eternal Path of Power if they were close enough and there was a burst in their willpower. Cain had done it many times when he had yet to reach Mind Over Body but displayed techniques at that level. However, there are side effects, and the fact that Cain just passed out was lucky. ''I should be careful, but it is not like I can use it again even if I want it.'' Now that everything was in order, Cain rose from the ground and adopted a meditative position as he focused on his arm. Most of the damage was healed thanks to the Life Force Lightning Domain and his Sun Seed, but there were still some charred muscles and nerve damage he needed to fix. Cain sent several of the assassins'' headless corpses into the [Devourer Dimension] so the [Earth Fiend Flame] could extract their vitality and energy before taking a Blood Orb. All the vitality he obtained was channeled into his arm, and it did not take long before the damage was gone, and the extremity was good as new. Once his body was back at its peak, Cain could finally focus on the Life Force Lightning Domain and use it as intended. He took a deep breath and sent the sky-blue lightning arcs into his body, making it course through his bones and muscles, especially into his Rebirth Heart. The sky-blue lightning tempered every muscle fiber and bone on Cain''s body, but its effect on the Rebirth Heart was much more impressive. It refined the Astral Wave inside his body, making it denser and purer, increasing its power and maneuverability. The Howling Forest was full of Wave Beasts, but no King Beast existed. The true danger was the gray fog, which had hypnotic properties, affecting the senses of outsiders and making them see things. Shura''s third trial, the Purity of Mind, consisted of her crossing the Howling Forest, hardening her mind against the illusion that could appear in her path while facing the Wave Champions Beasts that would attack them. The Blood Champions would also face difficulties with this trial since none of them had willpower at the Wave King Rank, and even if they had, it would not be enough since only those at the Middle Wave King, like Cain, could resist the power of the gray fog. "I will use my Ego Wave to guide you in a straight line and warn you in case of any Wave Beast''s incursion. However, once again, I will not take part in the battles and will remain at a safe distance from the rest of you." Shura, Surin, and the Blood Champions'' eyes narrowed when they heard that. Cain was adopting the same attitude back in the Ice Crown, but the group knew better this time. They had seen his battle power and determination, so it was clear Cain did not stay back due to fear of battle. Something was going on that they did not know about, but no one asked a question and simply nodded. Cain unleashed his Ego Wave, extending it into a straight pattern over four thousand meters long. The red force field took the form of a pillar, stopping the group from moving in circles and more than wide enough to warn them about any Wave Beast''s incursion. However, that left the flanks unattended, which would have been fine if they were only facing Wave Beasts, but Cain knew that was not the case. ''They are back, and they are many. It made sense since, unlike Skyfall Mountain, this place is perfect for an ambush, and it would be easy to find openings.'' Cain''s assassin training allowed him to detect signs of people hiding in the forest. He purposely made it seem that they could easily hide from his Ego Wave by staying on the flanks, but the truth was that he had already deployed his [Scan Force Field]. Although the [Scan Force Field] could only cover a five-hundred-meter radius, it would give Cain enough time to respond to any assassin coming for Shura. "Let''s go." Surin gave the command as the Blood Champions adopted a battle formation around Shura, ready to protect her from anything. That way, the young woman would only need to focus on resisting the power of the gray fog, tempering her mind. "Hoowowowowoowowowow." The group had just entered the gray fog when they heard that howl, making their ears ring. Shura and the Blood Champions clenched their teeth as they pushed forward. Cain also adopted a solemn attitude, not due to the fog since this one could do nothing to him, but due to the presence approaching the group. Chapter 276 : Detecting a Wave King A woman was making her way across the gray fog toward Shura and the nine Blood Champions around her. She was just a Middle Wave Champion, but the fog did not affect her. She knew that alone would not be enough to go over the nine Late Wave Champions around Shura and land a killing blow on the young woman. However, she led a group with another four Late Wave Champions, and they only needed an opening to reach Shura and kill her. ''If it weren''t for that brat, everything would have been much easier.'' The woman could not help but think with rage as she stared at Cain, the origin of the red force field that led the group across the Howling Forest. She and the rest of her group had to stay away from the Ego Wave since they knew none of them would manage to hide from it. After two days of tracking Shura and the Blood Champions, the woman and her group finally got their chance when a horde of Wave Beasts attacked. "WACK!" Dozens of Wave Champion Beasts that resembled large ravens lunged toward Shura and the Blood Champions. They were not strong but emitted a screeching sound that should hinder the sight and visions of anyone that heard it. However, to the woman''s shock, Shura and the Blood Champions fought back against the horde, showing no sign of sensory impairment. ''How!?'' Shock appeared on the woman''s face when she saw how Shura and the Blood Champions fought back. Her mental defenses were superb, thanks to her cultivation technique, but even she would have difficulty facing those crows. It took a moment, but her eyes narrowed when she noticed how Shura and the Blood Champions did not look at the Wave Champion Beasts before unleashing their attacks. ''Someone is guiding their moves!'' Awe filled the woman''s heart as she looked to Cain since no one else could be responsible for that. As she stared at the young man, she felt something was wrong. ''Alex, Jeremia, Candice, Lambert. Report your status.'' Radio silence was essential during an assassination since you never knew what kind of device your enemy could have, but the woman contacted her group through the A.I. Chip regardless. No answer appeared, and her instincts screamed danger, telling her to run. Sadly, she only managed to turn around when a blood hand grabbed her neck, shattering her trachea. Absolute terror assaulted the assassin when she saw Cain''s merciless red eyes and noticed how the young man prepared to send an index finger straight into her right eye. There was no way she could overcome Cain''s physical might since she was an Essence Wave Cultivator, but despite the immense pain of having her trachea broken, she clenched her teeth as her eyes glowed. "?AHHHHHH!" A scream of horror emerged from the commoner as the nobleman made him see all kinds of atrocities, and he felt like his skin was being peeled away. Cain''s eyes regained focus the next second, and he could not help but frown before sighing. ''Illusion Kingdom.'' That was the name of the technique, but not only was it required the use of Essence Wave, but it also demanded the mastery of either the Law of Illusions or at least the Law of Electromagnetics. Cain really wanted to train the technique, but there was nothing he could do about it. Even if he found a way to use Astral Wave to replace the need for Essence Wave, he had zero mastery over the Laws. Although it would have been helpful, Cain did not waste his time with the starry gem after learning that he could not practice Illusion Kingdom and stored it. He considered selling the technique, but he shook his head since that could carry all sorts of problems. Great powers might turn a blind eye to some of their people dying, but they would never allow anyone to have their Saint Techniques. Ultimately, Cain decided to leave it inside his space ring until he found some use for it. After six hours, the group rested enough and continued their journey across the Howling Forest. Cain kept steering the group through the gray fog using his Ego Wave, warning them about the hordes and guiding their moves. The Wave Champion Beasts were not a problem, but the number of assassins he found was getting bothersome. Some came alone, and some worked in groups. The latter was more challenging since Cain had to kill the entire group before their comrade would notice that something was wrong. Luckily for him, the gray fog affected their senses, or else there was no way Cain could have taken care of them so fast. Cain had just killed a Peak Wave Champion and focused on closing a wound on his chest when his eyes widened, and his entire body grew tense. The reason for that was that the Absolute Life Form System just sent an alarming message to him. [The Scan Force Field has detected a life form at the Wave King Rank] ''?A Wave King!'' Even if Cain did not consider Wave Kings as unsurpassable mountains anymore, they were still life forms capable of leveling entire cities! Chapter 277 : Plan to face the Wave King (I) Cain could not stop his body from growing tense since the idea of facing a Wave Kings was something he really did not like, but he was able to calm himself the next second after the system showed him the old man''s true strength. ''That old man is reaching the end of his life, and his cultivation took a great hit. Right now, his battle strength is equal to a Peak Wave Champion. Still, anyone who became a Wave King should have all sorts of trump cards under his hands, so underestimating this one would be a great mistake.'' The [Scan Force Field] showed Cain how the old man got close to the group but not enough to perform an attack. It appeared that he only was interested in gathering information. ''?A scout?'' Cain came to that conclusion, but it made him frown. Anyone who could use an old Wave King as a scout was extremely dangerous. The level of danger in this mission skyrocketed just now, and Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he considered what to do with the old man. Killing the old man was possible, but it would not be easy and could end in a fight. Cain had shown the ability to take the life of Peak Wave Champion, but that was during assassinations, and things would be much different in a direct battle where he did not have the element of surprise. "When you lack the certainty of being able to kill the target, the only path left is escaping." Cain remembered one of the most important lessons imparted to him during his Assassination Military Specialization classes, but he knew that was not a possibility. His goal in this place was not to kill the enemy but protect Shura, so he could not simply leave this place. ''The fact he got so close to Shura to gather information means that the gray fog is affecting his senses. I could use that to my advantage.'' The best-case scenario would have been to trap the old man alive and interrogate him, but Cain did not even consider that. If he were to hesitate for even a second, the one dying could be him. Just as Cain prepared to move, the old man ran away, leaving the range of his [Scan Force Field] and vanishing in the fog. Cain frowned, but there was nothing he could do about it other than sigh. If he were to chase after the old man, this one would notice his presence immediately. ''Just what is happening?'' Cain knew the amount of wealth offered by Shura''s head, but he could not help but think there was something behind it. Unfortunately, Cain would not get an answer in this place. He could only keep leading Shura and the Blood Champions across the Howling Forest, warning them about the Wave Champions Beast and taking care of the assassins. However, that radiation that could be deadly for normal Wave Champion was not a problem for the group. As a matter of fact, they were happy to receive it since the Blood Energy inside their bodies reacted instinctively to the radiation, devouring it and growing stronger. The place where the Purity of Blood trial took place was thousands of meters underground, and while there were no Wave Beasts in this place, they had to look out for the magma, which would burst from time to time. Luckily for them, Cain''s Ego Wave could enter the magma, ensuring they found a safe path forward. The group advanced very fast, but even so, it took them almost two days to reach their destination. Cain, Shura, and the Blood Champions found an underground cave under those rivers of magma that glowed with beautiful red light. The light source was the beautiful glowing blood river a few hundred meters ahead at the end of the cave. Its name was Blood Origin Pool. According to the legends, it was once a pool of fire-water, a unique element born from the clash of two opposing forces. The First Blood Duke bathed in its water when he trained to recover, and after thousands of years, it mutated into its current form. Shura, Surin, and the rest of the Blood Champions approached the Blood Origin Pool immediately, but before they could get into it, Cain spoke. "There is something I need to speak with all of you before we use the power of the Blood Origin Pool." Cain said that before waving his hand, making a large pot and dishes appear from his space ring. Shura and the Blood Champions could not help but frown at Cain''s odd behavior as he began to make a meal here all of a sudden. Still, they nodded and sat around the pot. Cain handed Shura and the nine Blood Champions a plate with food and sat in front of them. Before they could eat, he waded his hand, making a pile of severed human heads appear. Shock and horror appeared in the eyes of Shura and the rest the next instant, with some of them instinctively activating their Wave. "Please calm down. These heads belonged to the assassin that came after Shura''s life. I took care of them, and there is no threat in this place, but I am afraid we will face an ambush the moment we leave." Shura and the Blood Champions were still astonished, but they were able to calm down and took a deep breath as they focused on Cain. After the group was able to relax, Cain carried on, and his words sent an ominous aura. "If I am not wrong, we will face a powerful Wave King." Chapter 278 : Plan to face the Wave King (II) "If I am not wrong, we will face a powerful Wave King." Shura, Surin, and the Blood Champions adopted solemn expressions as they stared at Cain. All of them were geniuses, but a Wave King was on an entirely new level, and even if they worked together, it would be very hard to face such an immense threat head-on. "Should we call the Blood Duke?" One of the Blood Champions immediately proposed. Although calling the Blood Duke, or anyone else for that matter, would bring a lot of trouble, the most important thing right now was to survival. Everything else came second. No matter how great of a threat, or even if an army awaited them, they would be safe when the Blood Duke arrived. Unfortunately for them, Cain immediately shook his head. "I am a master hacker. If my hypothesis is right, a jamming force field should cover the underground tunnels. It is not blocking the incoming messages so as not to arouse suspicion in the people on the outside, but we should not be able to communicate with anyone." Once again, a wave of shock assaulted the group''s heart, and as they went through their A.I. Chips, it was just like Cain told them. They could not communicate with the outside world, only receive messages. No one would find it odd that they did not respond to their messages since everybody knew they were on an important mission. "What should we do then?" Shura was able to calm her heart faster than the rest of the Blood Champions. Since Cain was sharing so much information, he must have a way out. Cain did not say anything and just signaled the group to eat. Although none of them were in the mood, they followed his guidance and consumed the food until there was no more on their plates. After that, Cain rose from the ground and went to the Blood Origin Pool before taking a vial and began to collect some of the liquid in it. Blue armor covered the Blood Champion''s body as he stood one hundred meters from Cain. "I had wanted to punch your face for a long time, so I guess it is now or never." Cain and Radin look at each other, but while they activate their armors, none of them use Wave Burst. Despite their desire to fight, they were still able to keep the bigger picture in mind. In that state, neither would be able to do severe damage to the other, allowing them to fight with all their power against the Wave King once they leave this place. Silence reigned inside the underground cave as Cain and Radin exchanged glances, just for a massive shock wave to appear the next second. "?BOOM!" Cain and Radin''s fists clashed, generating a powerful blast. That clash was just the beginning, and both unleashed a barrage the next second. Their punches were fast and precise, and a sharp light appeared in each of their eyes since they noticed that both used Bloodflow Fury. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Cain and Radin were around the same level in terms of skill, but the Blood Champion''s speed and strength were superior. Yet, the one with the upper hand was not other than Cain since it was as if he could predict every move Radin made. Chapter 279 : Plan to face the Wave King (III) Cain could see Radin''s every move and immediately sent a counter, slowly pushing this one back. The reason he was able to crush his opponent was due to Virtual Sight. The ability''s power had evolved along with the capabilities of the [A.I. Chip Module]. Since he had a perfect understanding of Bloodflow Fury, it became even easier for Cain to overpower Radin. It was hard for Radin to hide his rage. The fact that a simple Wave Champion was touring with him was clearly something that he did not find pleasing, and he clenched his teeth as he pushed forward, with his elbow aiming at Cain''s face. Sadly for the Blood Champion, Cain could easily dodge the attack before sending a kick straight into his chin, raising his body from the ground. Cain jumped, not intending to let Radin fall to the ground, and began to send a tempest of kicks that pushed this one higher and higher. "?Boom!" Radin''s body clashed against the ceiling of the cave, but he could not afford to lose focus as Cain''s fists flashed straight toward his head. He managed to move his head at the last second, making Cain''s fist bury itself against the ceiling, but he was not out of danger yet since more punches came after that one. Holes began to appear in the ceiling, but while Radin was being pressured, a sharp light appeared in his eyes as he returned the attack. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw Radin''s kick, unable to dodge it this time, and forced to make a cross with his arm to block it. Shura and the Blood Champions were surprised when they saw that. It was the first time since the start of the fight that Radin managed to land a blow on Cain. Radin''s eyes grew even sharper as he saw that his attack managed to land, and he flashed toward Cain, sending a barrage of kicks and punches toward Cain. This attack no longer had the super technique of Bloodflow Fury, but they were able to reach Cain! It seemed that Radin was able to figure out that Cain could predict his movements if he used Bloodflow Fury, so he changed to a different technique. "We face a danger that would push all of us to the absolute limit, leaving no room for doubt or hesitation. That man is unwilling to compromise and follow my lead, and leaving him alone is not an option." Surin shook his head as he saw how Cain was behaving, activating his Wave Cloak, and the other Blood Champions behind him did the same. "You are no longer fit to be part of our group. We will handle whatever threat is waiting for us outside without you. Now hand back the vial and get out of my sight." Cain''s eyes burst with red light as his Ego Wave spread across the underground cave. "Hmph! If you want to die, go ahead, but I will use the liquid to carve my path out of this place." Surin and the Blood Champions'' Wave Cloaks burst with power as they adopted a battle stance, ready to flash toward Cain. "I will not repeat it. Hand me the vial." Cain heard Surin''s eerie voice but showed no sign of handing the vial with the liquid from the Blood Origin Pool. "?BOOM!" The underground cave trembled due to the intensity with which Cian and the Blood Champion kicked the ground, pushing their bodies forward with incredible might. However, instead of flashing toward each other, they lunged toward a corner of the underground cave. Cain and the Blood Champion charged with all their power. Even Radin, who was supposed to be severely wounded, rose from the ground full of strength. The group behavior made complete sense the next second when a figure appeared in the corner of the cave. Dark wind covered the man''s figure, leaving only his blue eyes glowing with red light. The Wave King assassins had been hiding in the underground cave the entire time! Chapter 280 : Tornado vs volcano The Wave King''s assassin could not hide his shock since the group attack took him completely by surprise. He had been waiting until they got into the Blood Origin Pool since they would be most vulnerable during their training. Although he was a little startled by the pile of human heads that Cain took from his space ring, surprised by the young man''s skills, he smiled after hearing how they thought he was waiting on the outside. His grin grew wider when he saw the in-fighting, but he now understood that all that was just a trick. Even if he was a Wave King, he followed the Essence Evolution Path of Power, and the combined attack of Cain, Surin, and the other eight Blood Champions could prove deadly. "Hmph!" However, the man did not reach his level by luck but rose above the corpses of countless enemies. A dark armor and green feathered gauntlets appeared on his hand, and he pointed both palms toward the youths. "?BOOM!" A tempest with the might to raise houses from the ground instantly emerged from the Wave King''s palms. The immense power of the Wave King''s dark winds sent Cain and several of the Blood Wave Champions flying away, but Surin, Roric, Sebastian, and Martina managed to resist and push forward. Those four were the strongest of the group, and their Ego Wave exploded as they pushed their Astral Wave to the absolute limit, ready to beat their life in this attack. Apprehension appeared in the Wave King assassin''s eyes, but he did not lose calm, and the power of the Law of Wind covered his body, allowing him to transform into a dark stream of wind, passing through the Blood Champions. "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" The combined attacks of Surin, Roric, Martin, and Sebastian made a massive hole in the wall, making the entire underground cavern tremble, but it failed to harm the Wave King. Dread appeared in the Wave King''s eyes when he saw the physical might of the four Blood Champions, and knew he would have ended with severe wounds had those landed on him. However, now he was out of danger, having gained distance to launch his attack freely. The young woman looked at the falling magma with a large smile before glancing at Cain with awe and admiration. She was not alone since the same emotions could be seen in the Blood Champions. All of them remembered when Cain informed them about the presence of the Wave King assassin inside the underground cave. At the same time, he made the pile of human heads appear. The reaction of Shura and the Blood Champions was due to the immense hiding inside the cave, not the gory scene of the heads. Cain knew they might be unable to keep their composure, so he made the heads appear, keeping the facade for the Wave King. He then detailed how they would take care of the man. Every step of the plan was made to confuse the Wave King assassin, not allowing this one to know their next step until it was too late. It was very dangerous, and a single wrong step could lead to failure, but they succeeded, making tons of magma fall on the Wave King assassins. Just as the group felt the weight on their shoulder growing lighter, they saw how the magma began to rise. Pure awe could be seen on the youths'' faces when they saw how a black tornado emerged from the Wave King assassin''s right palm. It was like seeing a volcano clash with a tornado, two forces of nature capable of leveling entire cities, and the tornado was winning! Once the Wave King assassin freed himself from the crushing pressure of the magma, he stopped his dark tornado, allowing this one to fall again, but this time he could move to the side. Coldness and killing intent emerged from the Wave King assassin''s eyes as he stared at the youths. Cain, Surin, and the other Blood Champions stared at the Wave King assassin with caution, but there was no fear in their eyes. It was clear they would face a natural disaster with a human form, but the scorched left arm and severe burn mark all over his body made it clear that the Wave King was not invisible. They could kill the enemy! Chapter 281 : Running Cain, Surin, and the Blood Champions made their Astral Wave explode, putting Shura behind them. The young woman was the assassin''s goal, and she could no longer fight, so they had to attack with all they had, ensuring this one could not get to her. Surin and the other Blood Champions adopted their battle formation, which allowed them to combine their fighting power and cover each other''s weaknesses. They would act as the main fighting force. Cain could remain behind, waiting for an opening, ready to land powerful blows if one were to appear. The ten men were ready to march toward the Wave King assassin immediately, taking advantage of the wounds on this one when they saw a smile appear on his face. An ominous feeling assaulted the ground. The next second the Wave King assassin showed a small bracelet with a small pyramid in it. The pyramid began to glow as six figures emerged from it. Four men and two women appeared in front of the Wave King assassin, and each unleashed a powerful pressure, making clear that their battle power reached the peak of the Wave Champion Rank. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw that one of the men that appeared was not other than the old scout that he saw in the Howling Forest. He had wondered where the old man went, but he never imagined this one would have been with the Wave King assassin all this time. Immediately the power dynamic took a sharp turn. Even if Cain and the Blood Champions had numerical superiority, that was far from enough to make up for the difference between their cultivation with the Wave King assassin''s group''s power. No matter how they look at it, their chances of surviving this battle were not good, and they were even lower when it came to keeping Shura alive. The Wave King''s assassin could unleash a spell that could affect the entire underground cave, and Shura would be too weak to resist it. Cain and Surin glanced at each other before nodding. "Plan B?" "Plan B!" As soon as Cain heard Surin''s confirmation, he sent a red capsule to each of the Blood Champions. "BOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" Cain had just stepped outside the underground cave when he heard a massive explosion occur inside and knew that an immense battle was going on between the Blood Champions and the Wave King assassin''s group. He clenched his teeth, suppressing his fighting spirit, and began to run to the surface at full speed. "Go back. We need to help them!" Shura shouted, trying to break free of Cain''s grasp as she looked into the underground cave. "Shut up!" Cain shouted at Shura, glancing at the woman with coldness as he flashed forward. "They chose to remain behind to give you a chance to survive, and now you want to throw their sacrifice to waste by turning back." Shura clenched her hands with so much strength that they began to bleed as she thought of the Blood Champions'' sacrifice but knew that Cain was right and stopped struggling. Cain no longer looked at Shura after the woman calmed down, keeping his eyes on the road. "They are not dead yet. As long as we reach the surface, we will be outside the Wave King''s jamming signal, allowing us to contact the Blood Sea. If we are fast enough, they might reach before the effect of the Wave Virus turns off." Shura''s eyes glowed when she heard Cain''s words, and she immediately began circulating her Essence Wave. She wanted to regain her strength as fast as possible. Cian silently nodded at the young woman''s behavior before activating Second Gear and pushing Sonic Dash to the limit. He moved faster and faster, jumping through the rivers of magma at supersonic speed. His muscles were tearing up, but he managed to reach the surface in just twenty minutes. As soon as he reached the surface, Cain used his A.I. Chip to contact the Blood Duke, Bloodless #1, Zarak, and Luther. The message was simple. "I am running away with the Blood Maiden from a Wave King assassin." Chapter 282 : Fightning a Wave King (I) "I am running away with the Blood Maiden from a Wave King assassin." As soon as Cain sent that message, he began to run at full speed toward the Howling Forest. Those powerhouses would take some time to arrive at this place, even if they dropped everything they had and flashed at full speed. Cain counted on Zarak to come to his help but was uncertain about the other three. That was why he planned to enter the Howling Forest, using the fog as his cover. "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" Sonic booms echoed one after the other as Cain pushed his body to the absolute limit, achieving Mach 2. He was running two times faster than the speed of sound. "BOOOOOMMMM!" Just as Cain was about to enter the Howling Forest, he heard a massive explosion. Looking back, he saw the Wave King assassin blasting open the earth and rising into the sky. The Wave King assassin''s left arm was gone, and there were wounds all over his body, the most dire being a claw mark on the center of his chest. Despite all that, he was bursting with power and killing intent. Immediately, the Wave King assassin searched for his target, and his eyes grew sharp as he saw Cain and Shura about to enter the Howling Forest. His Essence Wave exploded as jets of super-compressed air emerged from the sole of his feet, allowing him to move at Mach 10! Cain''s eyes widened as he saw the speed that the Wave King assassin achieved, and he understood this one would catch up to them in just a few minutes. He knew there was no way they could outrun the Wave King assassin. Decisiveness appeared in his eyes as he chose his path forward. Shura also saw the Wave King assassin approaching them at a stunning speed, so she was shocked to see Cain stopping after barely going two thousand meters into the Howling Forest. Before the young woman could say anything, Cain put her down and injected a red capsule into her neck. Shura''s skin turned red after the Wave Virus entered her bloodstream, and her heartbeat burst with power. However, unlike Surin and the Blood Champions, her offensive and defensive abilities did not improve; only her speed was enhanced. "The Wave Virus will improve your speed for thirty minutes. I will try to buy you as much time as possible." Cain did not say anything else before focusing on the Wave King''s presence, which was moving closer and closer to them. Shura did not know how to react when she heard that. Cain had repeatedly declared that he would not risk her life for her, yet he was now ready to face a Wave King so she could escape. "I..." --- There was nothing but rage, resentment, and killing intent in the heart of Landrik, the Wave King assassin. He had never wanted to take this mission in the first place, but they made him an offer he could not refuse. Landrik waited in the last of the trials since there was no difference for him if someone else killed Shura, but the group managed to carve their path through a sea of assassins, reaching the underground cave. He was then forced to enter a fight with nine young Late Wave Champion geniuses who seemed ready to give their life and more than happy to perform near-suicidal attacks. Despite his group being stronger, he still ended up with severe injuries. Although Wave Essence Cultivators did not see the foundation of their bodies as an absolute when it came to cultivation, they still had to focus on it since it acted as a vessel for their knowledge of the Laws. All the damage Landrik suffered would have a negative effect on his cultivation, and unless he wanted to be stuck as an Early Wave King for the rest of his life, he needed to kill Shura and claim the reward. That was why he flashed full of killing intent and without hesitation toward the Howling Forest. Since he saw where they entered, it would be easy for the Wave King to find them using his Ego Wave. Flying above the forest would not work since the fog was too dense, and he needed to be inside for his force field to work properly. Landrik pierced the gray fog and flashed forward as he unleashed the full might of his Ego Wave. ''They must have warned the Blood Sea already. I need to act fast and kill both.'' That thought had just crossed the Wave King''s mind when his eyes widened as he detected a red figure behind his back. Landrik could not believe that someone had managed to hide from his senses and Ego Wave to the point that he could only perceive them when they were less than five meters away from him. The attacker had managed to conceal his killing intent flawlessly until the last second. Pure coldness appeared in his eyes as he sent a punch toward the back of the Wave King''s head. Landrik could feel the strength in that punch and knew just how much damage he would endure if it were to land. No Wave Champion could have responded to that attack, but he was a Wave King. With a single movement of his right hand, a air cannon blasted from behind him, landing point blank in the attacker and sending this one crashing toward the ground. Now that he had a moment to concentrate, Landrik was able to identify the attacker and saw it was the same young man that played all those tricks on him. "You little maggot!" The rage in Landrik''s heart burst at the idea that a Wave Warrior attempted to assassinate him. A black tornado appeared on his hand, and he sent it toward Cain. Unlike the air cannon, the black tornado was much slower, but its destructive power was also in a totally different league, more than enough to shatter every single bone on Cain''s body and kill him. Chapter 283 : Fightning a Wave King (II) Landrik showed a malicious grin as he thought of the effect the black tornado would have on Cain. However, that was replaced by shock since Cain bounced off as soon as he touched the ground, dodging the attack. "What!?" Landrik could not hide his surprise. Even if the air cannon was an attack that replaced strength with speed, it was still a Wave King''s spell, so he could not understand how Cain managed to move immediately after taking the attack head-on. "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" The shock only increased in the Wave King''s eyes when he saw how Cain began to bounce from one three to the other, moving in different angles, constantly vanishing from his field of view. Usually, the fact his eyes could not follow the target was not a problem for Landrik since he could rely on his Ego Wave, but Cain was able to hide from the red force field as well using what he could only describe as Saint-level concealment technique. Landrik pushed his focus to the limit as he remained in the air, trying to follow Cain''s movements, but it was getting more challenging since this one momentum increased with every bounce. Not even two seconds after the first attack, Landrik lost sight of Cain before a red figure appeared on his left side. His instincts screamed danger, and he was able to react just as fast as before. A single move of Landrik''s right hand generated an air cannon that sent Cain crashing into one of the trees. Before the Wave King could send another attack, Cain had already bounced off, reigniting his momentum. "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" Landrik''s eyes burned with rage as he tried to keep up with Cain''s movements. He could fly to the sky or exit the Howling Forest, but that would erase any chance he had of killing Shura. Cain continued his rampage, gaining a massive momentum before flashing toward Landrik, full of killing intent. While the Wave King kept sending him crashing into the ground or the trees, only for him to bounce off the next instant. After thirty seconds, Landrik was able to understand what was happening. It was not that the air cannon did not harm Cain, but the young man healed so fast that by the time he clashed against a surface, he was ready to bounce off. If that were all, everything would be fine for the Wave King since it would only be a matter of time before Cain perished, but there were two significant problems. Not only time was of the essence for Landrik, but Cain was moving closer and closer to him. "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" A new series of the blast occurred around Landrik, but this time he was not able to counter Cain''s attack with an air cannon. By the time he had detected the young man, this one was already on top of him. Cain''s hand was like a blade, cutting forward. However, while his aim was Landrik''s neck, this one managed to move in the last second, so he could only cut the chest. Landrik clenched his teeth as he felt the deep cut on his chest before raising his hand and making his Essence Wave burst. "Hurricane Strike!" "?BOOM!" A shock wave spread across the Howling Forest as Cain''s Astral Wave grew exponentially after being enhanced by his Ego Wave, allowing him to break through the wind membrane protecting Landrik. "?AHHHHHH!" The Wave King''s screamed in pain as the blood gem blade pierced his chest, and he and Cain dived into the ground at a speed above MACH 15! "BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!" The clash made the earth tremble, generating a cloud of dust covering dozens of kilometers. By the time this one finally dissipated, one could see Cain standing on top of the Wave King, pushing his hand even more profoundly as he looked straight into his enemy''s eyes. Shock, terror, and unwillingness appeared on Landrik''s face as Cain''s hand pierced his heart, killing him! A Wave Warrior killing a Wave King. That was the type of feat that only happened in the legends of the First Titan of Humankind. It was a feat worth being remembered for hundreds if not thousands of years. Of course, all that fame mattered very little to Cain right now as he took his hand out of Landrik''s chest and fell next to this one, using what little strength he had left to breathe. The Sun Seed was working at full power, trying to heal the damage to his inner organs, but it was too severe, and he was going into cardiac arrest. As for the liquid of the Blood Origin Pool, it was still inside him but was only causing more damage since his body could not handle it. Cain was doing all he could not lose consciousness, as he knew that help was on the way, but he was out of luck. "Lord Landrik is dead!" "What!?" The ones arriving were not members of the Blood Sea or the Imperial Lightning Fort but two of the comrades of the death Wave King! Cain clenched his teeth as he raised his head. He saw the old scout and a middle-aged woman in the distance. Both of them were severely wounded, but even a mortal could kill right now. Fear appeared in the eyes of the old man and the middle-aged woman as they looked around, trying to find the culprit, but in the end, there was no one else other than the moribund young man. Shook emerged in their eyes as they could not understand how a young Wave Warrior could have killed Landrik. But soon, it became killing intent. "Brat, die!" The old man jumped toward Cain as he made his Astral Wave explode, but before he could perform his attack, a giant bestial claw appeared out of nowhere and pushed him back. Cain''s eyes widened when he saw that claw, and Shura appeared in front of him the next second. Chapter 284 : End of danger Cain was confused to see Shura here. The woman should have been far away since even if the fight between him and the Wave King was short, it lasted roughly five minutes. The fact Shura could appear out of nowhere right after the battle started meant she never went far away in the first place. Shura did not look at Cain; her eyes focused solely on the old man and the middle-aged woman. Her Essence Wave burst as she stared at the enemies and strengthened her spell. Although the claw was powerful, the old man had not received much damage from it, and there was a sharp light as he stared at Shura and Cain. As for the middle-aged woman, she was nervous since Shura''s reinforcements should arrive at any time, but seeing the resolution in her comrade''s eyes helped her calm down. "Leave now, and I promise Blood Sea will not chase after you two. We already killed your leader, and that is enough for us. However, if you dare to remain here, no matter the outcome, all of you will die." Shura''s voice was cold, and there was great killing intent in it, but she failed to persuade the two assassins. Cain saw how the two assassins looked at each other before adopting battle formation and knew things were not good. Shura''s wounds had yet to heal fully, and the Wave Virus he had injected in her was not meant for battle but for running, so it would not be helpful during this fight. Shura was aware of her situation and how dire the fight would be, but there was no hesitation in her eyes as she prepared for battle. Her plan was simple; she would unleash her most powerful attack against the duo before grabbing Cain and running away. "AHHH....!" "?BOOM!" Just as the young woman roared in order to give herself more courage as the Essene Wave exploded, a blast occurred. A figure had descended from the sky right on top of the middle-aged woman, blasting her like a balloon full of blood! The old man''s eyes were full of terror and shock as he saw a tall bald man with white skin appear right next to him and felt the warmth of his comrade''s blood all over his body. Unlike the assassin, Cain and Shura displayed radiant smiles as they saw Bloodless #1 appear. Now that one of the strongest powerhouses of the Blood Sea had arrived, they would be safe. "I..." Before the old man could say the next word, Bloodless #1 grabbed his head, making him lose consciousness and storing him in a special space ring. Bloodless #1 had just taken care of the assassins when another figure fell from the sky. A blue force field around the man seemed capable of affecting space-time. Shura clenched her hands so hard that they began to bleed when she heard that. There was rage at the enemy but also at herself since she could not do anything but run as the others were fighting. "Go to the Blood Origin Pool and finish the Blood Trial." Shura was surprised to hear that command from Bloodless #1. She only cared about her friends right now, but seeing Bloodless #1''s cold eyes, she understood something. If she failed to complete the Four Trials of Purity, the people that sent those assassins would have won. Shura clenched her teeth and glanced at Cain one last time before flashing toward the Blood Origin Pool. Bloodless #1 nodded as he saw the focus on Shura''s eyes before turning toward Cain again. His eyes glowed as he inspected the condition of the young man. He saw organ damage along with the liquid from the Blood Origin Pool, making havoc inside Cain''s body. "The fact that he was able to survive this long was impressive and had to do with the power of his Alter-Ego." Zarak''s eyes remained on Cain as he used his own Ego Wave to analyze the young man''s condition, and he had to agree with Bloodless #1. The internal damage that Cain suffered was devastating. "Allow me to help." Bloodless #1 put his right hand on the sphere of shining water and began to flood it with Blood Energy. The next second, the life force skyrocketed, but that was not all since he also used his Lineage to resonate with the Blood Origin Pool''s liquid inside Cain''s body. Zarak was surprised to see how the raging Blood Origin Pool''s liquid calmed down, beginning to revolve around Cain''s body, no longer damaging the internal organs and instead healing them. It took three hours for Zarak and Bloodless #1 to take care of the Blood Origin Pool''s liquid inside Cain, helping the young man restore to his peak, but they were surprised to see another stream of energy and vitality flooding his body. The duo was able to detect that the origin of the vitality and energy came from Cain''s soul. While they were curious, none of them examined it since it should be one of the many secrets of the young man. Unlike the one from the Blood Origin Pool, this one was not full of chaos and danger; the only thing that would happen if Cain did not control it would be the energy dispersing. Zarak did not hesitate before using the full power of his Ego Wave, putting Cain in a profound state of Embryonic Breathing, so the young man''s cells could fully use that energy. At the same time, he began to infuse even more of the vitality of his sky-blue river into Cain''s body. Bloodless #1 saw that, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes as he began sending drops of blood into the shining water sphere. The amount of vitality and energy inside each drop was too much for a Wave Warrior to handle on his own, which was why Bloodless #1 guided the process. Fifteen hours later, the vitality and energy stream from Cain''s soul diminished its potency to one-tenth of what it used to be. Zarak and Bloodless #1 looked at each other when they saw that. They could choose to stop now, but they felt that the state of Cain''s body was in prime condition, so they adopted a meditative position and decided to continue helping with the young man''s training. Chapter 285 : Void Marrow Zarak and Bloodless #1 stood in silence as they used their powers to improve Cain''s constitution, providing this one all the vitality he could use. At the same time, the energy emerging from the dimension inside his soul overflowed his veins. Hours became days, and days became weeks. The two powerhouses stood in a meditative position, never breaking focus until the twenty-fifth day arrived. Cain''s eyes opened, but the lack of focus on them told the duo he had yet to fully wake up. It was a response from his body to what would come next. "?Ahhhhh!" Along with that roar, Cain''s Astral Wave and Blood Energy exploded with immense power, generating a dark purple and red blast of energy from his body. Zarak and Bloodless #1 saw it and understood it was finally time. Cain was in the process of breaking through to the Wave Champion Rank. There was nothing they could do other than provide energy, and the intensity of the evolution would depend entirely on the foundation the young man had established for the last three years. "?AHHHHH!" Cain''s roar grew stronger as he clenched his fists and teeth while a foul and disgusting substance emerged from his pores. Every drop took immense effort to be expelled, but his body kept pushing harder. Zarak and Bloodless #1 frowned as the smell was truly awful, and they burned the foul substance as soon as it left Cain''s body. The marrow washing carried on for two hours before stopping; at that point, a new smell reached the duo. Smiles appeared on the faces of Zarak and Bloodless #1 as they felt the smell of a newborn coming from Cain. It meant one thing. Cain Laurifer reached Void Marrow! As soon as the last drop of pollution emerged from his marrow, Cain''s vitality exploded before blood began to emerge from every pore and orifice in his body. Losing all of his blood would have been deadly, but the process was done following the Astral Rebirth Path of Power principles. As long as there was enough energy, there would not be any damage to Cain''s body or foundation; on the contrary, it would only grow stronger. Zarak and Bloodless #1''s smiles only grew wider as they saw that red blood emerging from Cain''s body since they understood the young man was evolving beyond the Red Blood Stage. He was making his breakthrough, reaching the Blue Blood Stage as soon as he became a Wave Champion! The duo made sure to provide Cain with all the energy and vitality he could need as he evolved. Cain''s evolution took a total of five hours before a peaceful expression appeared on his face. Zarak retrieved his sky-blue river and left Cain''s body on the ground before turning toward Bloodless #1. "I will take my disciple back to the Imperial Lightning Fort. He killed a Wave King for the Blood Duke, so he already paid whatever debt he had with the Blood Sea." There were two reasons why Cain had come to the Blood Sea. To pay the debt he had to the Blood Duke for killing Alexander Martel and for a lucky chance capable of pushing him to Void Marrow. Cain already completed both goals, and there was no reason to remain in the dent of wolves. Bloodless #1 stared at Zarak for a moment before sighing and nodding. Cain''s departure would make things harder for the Integrationist Path, but the young man had already paid his debt with interest. "I will not leave!" Just as Zarak and Bloodless #1 finished their conversation, Cain opened his eyes. He rose from the ground as his eyes burst with red light. Zarak frowned when he heard that and was about to speak, but Cain was faster. "I know my power is insignificant in battles of such a high level like the one about to emerge in the Blood Sea. However, Surin and the others trusted me, and two of them perished so Shura and I could have a chance. I will not leave before evening the scales." Cain had fallen unconscious, but Apex told him everything that happened, and he was aware of the deaths of Martin and Radin. His eyes were full of killing intent as he looked into the distance and saw Shura approaching them. Stats: Strength: 16.7-->23.6 Agility: 9.2-->14.1 Vitality: 15.8-->21.1 Wave: 10.4-->16.8 Blood Energy: 15.1-->16.7 --- Marrow washing: 100% completion Blood Rebirth: Blue Blood Stage --- Note: Wave Virus inside Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 20.1%] Cain found it hard to hide his surprise when he saw the difference between his current stats and those he had at Level 9. There was an increase of over forty percent in his strength and vitality and over fifty percent in his Wave. The only one that did not attain a massive boost was his Blood Energy, but that was because it relied on the amount of Blood Runes. Now that his body had evolved, it could endure a much greater number. The evolution of his Wave Talent was also extremely pleasant news since it would help his cultivation speed, allowing him to advance very fast through the Wave Champion Rank. After seeing the current state of his body, Cain took a deep breath as he stabilized his cultivation, bringing under control the raging Astral Wave coursing through his body. Cain had to be in peak condition for the next part of the Ascendance of the Blood Moon. Usually, once the Four Trials of Purity were over, the Blood Maiden and Blood Champions would march into the Blood Sea, reaching the lair of the Blood Origin Spirit, but things were different this time, Since there were two Blood Maidens, once the Four Trials of Purity were over, the Blood Champions of both sides would have to clash until one side prevailed over the other. It should have been a one-on-one battle, but since Surin and the surviving Blood Champions were not apt for combat, Cain would have to fight all ten fights. The tournament would not have occurred if the assassins had taken care of Shura. However, neutralizing nine Blood Champions was undoubtedly a good consolation prize for the Purist Path and the High Blood Elder. Cain knew his battle strength had grown immensely after his evolution to Wave Champion, but he did not dare to grow complacent since the enemy''s group surpassed him in number and had higher cultivation. Not to mention he would also have to face Zima, someone with an Inborn Ego Eternal Matrix, just like him. It would not be easy, but Cain was determined to take part in it, ensuring justice for Martin and Radin. Of course, the justice he was talking about was an eye for an eye. The trip was silent since neither Cain, Bloodless #1, nor Shura were in the mood to talk. After three hours, the trio could see the Blood Sea in the distance. Although it took less than half an hour from Bloodless #1 to reach the Howling Forest when he went to rescue Cain, he had overexcerted himself and put his body under tremendous stress to achieve such immense speed. There was no need to push himself to that extreme on the trip back. Cain stared at the Blood Pagoda before focusing on the river of blood formed between Blood City and Blood Island. Chapter 286 : Blood Champion Final Tournament "Are there any important matters I must attend to right now?" Bloodless #1 stared at Cain for a moment before shaking his head. There was a lot to discuss about the events surrounding Shura''s attempted murder and the deaths of both Radin and Martin, but they could solve that without Cain''s presence. Cain nodded before breaking free of Bloodless #1 Ego Wave and flashing to the sea of blood between Blood City and Blood Island. "Cain!" Shura shouted when she saw that. Even though none of the Wave Beasts in that body of water was a King Beast, there were hundreds of Wave Champion Beasts in it, all ravenous for human meat. No matter how strong Cain was, he would not last long fighting against hordes of Wave Champion Beasts underwater. Cain did not diminish his speed and submerged into the river. As soon as he did that, the water grew restless since the Wave Champion Beasts detected the presence of human meat, and they immediately lunged toward this one. Shura and Bloodless #1 expected to see a fight and underwater explosions, but just as the beasts were about to reach Cain, they lost their drive. It was not that the Wave Champion Beasts did not want to eat, but they could not find the human anymore. Bloodless #1 could see Cain surrounded by dozens of hungry Wave Champion Beasts, but none of those creatures could detect the young man''s presence. A smile appeared on his face as he thought of the surprise of the Blood Champions of the Purist Path during the tournament. Not wasting time, he continued toward the Blood Pagoda with Shura. Cain had reached the bottom of the blood waters, and his eyes were calm as he saw the dozen of Wave Champions Beasts around him. It would take a single mistake for the beasts to detect his presence and attack him, making this place perfect to train his Void State. Now that he had evolved to Wave Champion, he found that some parts of the Saint Technique that were extremely difficult to master before had become very simple. The advance to a new rank meant an evolution of the genes and cognitive abilities, so it made sense for Cain''s talent and proficiency to have improved so much. ''The forces from this river are enough to saturate my body''s energy absorption. I can improve it by obtaining vitality and energy from the [Gluttony Module] as well.'' Cain immediately sent every single one of the corpses that he still had from the assassins into the [Devourer Dimension]. He would have also wanted to send the Wave King assassin''s body, but Bloodless #1 took it along with the space ring to perform a forensic investigation. Bloodless #1 promised to return the body and space ring once he was over with them, and Cain knew the powerhouse would not lie about it. Ultimately, Cain used quantity over quality, and the amount of energy that the [Earth Fiend Flame] produced was massive, but it was too slow. ''System, show me my current Destiny Force.'' [Destiny Force: 3941.] Cain could not help but frown when he saw that number. He had used most of his Destiny Force during his training before going to the Blood Sea, but his destiny grew exponentially during the Four Trials of Purity. It is true that he used 1000 points to increase the efficiency of the [Earth Fiend Flame] by 1000% before the battle against the Wave King assassin, but killing this one should have made it up. Not to mention that his evolution as a Wave Champion with Void Marrow should have granted a massive amount of Destiny Force. "Hmph, brat, are you forgetting the increase in power of the [Earth Fiend Flame] all that time you were unconscious? If I had not done it, it would have taken you nearly two months to process all the energy from the Blood Origin Pool''s liquid." The Blood Duke''s eyes narrowed as he saw the young woman''s behavior since it was something he had not seen before in her. "Is that boy''s influence?" "Or maybe she is finally seeing through your schemes." Bloodless #1 and the Blood Duke looked at each other after that exchange, and there was no need to pretend there was harmony between the two since there was no one else in the room. "Everything I do, I do it for the Blood Sea." As he uttered those words, a sharp light emerged in the Blood Duke''s eyes. "You know where my loyalty is. I can recognize the merits of your actions, but right now, the Bloodless Force is neutral. I will not mobilize my brothers into a civil war." The Blood Duke stared at Bloodless #1 for a moment before nodding and signaling this one to take out the duo. Bloodless #1 did not waste time and took the corpse of Landrik and the unconscious old man he captured. The duo used the full might of their Ego Waves to scan Landrik''s body and his space ring. They hoped to find some clues that would tell them exactly who sent him after Shura, but after an exhaustive investigation, they came out with nothing. "Hmph, cautious bastard." Rage appeared in the Blood Duke''s face since the Wave King assassin was truly careful, and they learned nothing about this one. There was nothing the Blood Duke could do about it, and he turned to the old man, ready to use powerful hypnosis to question this one, but he was not hopeful. Assassins were not fond of sharing information, especially with their underlings. "Who are you, and what was your role in the assassin''s group?" A powerful intent permeated the voice of the Blood Duke, reaching the deepest parts of the old man''s mind. His eyes were still closed as he answered the question. "My name is Lorius Samsel. I was the previous leader of the Hawk Assassin Group, but due to my age and wounds, my powers decreased. In order to avoid conflict, I gave the leadership to my protege, Landrik, and I took the role of scout." The Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 smiled when they heard Lorius'' answer. Since this one was once the leader and stood with the group for so long, he must have all the secrets they wanted to learn. "Tell me, Lorius, for whom the Hawk Assassin Group works, and why did you go after the Blood Maiden of the Purist Path?" Once again, the words of the Blood Duke reached the core of the old man''s mind. However, just as he was about to answer, his body trembled, and he opened his eyes, showing pure darkness. Chapter 287 : The price of underestimating your opponent(I) Lorius was an old Wave King, but even if he were in his prime, he would not have been able to break free of Bloodless #1''s seal of his consciousness, and much less fight back against the Blood Duke''s hypnosis. Yet the duo saw the man open his eyes which were full of darkness. There was shock and dread in the eyes of the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1, not at Lorius, but at the power that had just taken control of the old man''s body. "Stop him!" The Blood Duke shouted at him, and Bloodless #1 attempted to reactivate the seal he had on Lorius'' mind and energy, but it was too late. "?BOOM!" All the Astral Wave inside the old man''s body flew toward his brain, blasting it to pieces along with the rest of his head. It was a genuinely gruesome scene that made Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 frown. Despite not having attained an answer from Lorius, the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 knew that only one power in the empire had those capabilities. "The Organization." Bloodless #1''s voice was cold as he uttered those two words. Despite being one of the strongest powerhouses of one of the mighties organizations in the Godslayer Humankind Empire, he could not hide the flash of dread in his heart. It would not be wrong to call The Organization the shadow of the empire since they arose at the same time. The ten Dark Kings were powerhouses capable of leveling entire Sectors, and the one that ruled above all others was so mysterious that no one even knew his name or title, but everybody knew they feared him. An assassin group with ties to The Organization could mean many things, but it was likely that someone in the Purist Path had already contacted them. "What is the stance of the Bloodless Force now?" Bloodless #1 frowned when he heard that question from the Blood Duke, and there was nothing he could do but sight. If the Purist Path and High Blood Elder were in bed with The Organization, only one path was left. "The Bloodless Force will follow your lead when the time comes." After that, Bloodless #1 stored both corpses and left the room. There was a lot he had to take care of. The Blood Duke was left alone, and a cold and vicious smile appeared on his face. The Organization''s presence was something he did not like, but it helped him secure a very powerful weapon. "Old bastard, all your plans will mean nothing once I get my hands on your throat." --- Shura was in the auditorium among the powerhouses of the Integrationist Path. It was her right as the Blood Maiden to be present. When she heard Jeremy''s words, her eyes grew cold, and there was killing intent in them. She had seen Cain''s condition after the fight against the Wave King assassin, and there was no way you could call all your internal organs shutting down as being fine. Although she did not understand why Cain had yet to show up, she was aware of the young man''s bravery and knew that Jeremy and the other Blood Champion did not scare him. "My friends, I ask you. Is there any other reason that person would not appear other than a guilty consciousness?" Shura was about to rise from her seat when she noticed Bloodless #1''s gaze. The man smiled at her, signaling her to remain calm before looking at Jeremy like a clown. The mockery in Bloodless #1 confused Shura a little, especially when she noticed how all the powerhouses around her looked at Jeremy the same way. Her confusion grew even stronger when she saw the anger and frustration of the powerhouses on the other side of the amphitheater. ''What is happening? Should the people of the Purist Path not be happy with Jeremy''s actions.'' Jeremy had not noticed the expressions of the powerhouses in the auditoriums and just kept shouting even louder. "My friends, there are only two explanations for the outsider''s absence. He is a coward or guilty of something and does not dare to show his face in front of us..." "Shut up and focus!" Jeremy''s speech seemed like it would never end, but a sharp voice interrupted him. A flash of rage appeared on the young man''s face, but when he saw the one that shouted at him, he immediately concealed his anger. "Brother Zima, what are you talking about? For what reason do I have to raise my focus?" It was not only Jeremy, but nearly everybody in the amphitheater had the same question. "Hmph! Your opponent has been standing in the arena this entire time, and you ask me what reason you need to raise your focus." Zima sneered before pointing at the edge of the platform. At first, people only saw Jeremy in it, but as they focused on the point that Zima signaled, they noticed a figure. Jeremy''s eyes widened as he saw that the person he had been mocking for not daring to show his face had been here this entire time! Chapter 288 : The price of understimating your oponent (II) Cain''s presence became more and more notable as people began to focus on him, and soon, everybody in the amphitheater could see his figure. There was a calm expression on his face as he stared at Jeremy, not bothered with mockery or disdain. Now that he had evolved to Wave Champion, he was capable of physical feats much greater than before, and he could perform Void State to a much higher degree. Jeremy trembled momentarily before a sensation of rage and embarrassment filled his heart. He had been boasting all this time about Cain being too afraid to show up while the man was right in front of him, but he could not see this one. The Blood Champion''s face twisted, and he seemed ready to jump toward Cain and shred this one to pieces, but the battle had yet to start.No?v(el)B\\jnn There was a small spherical drone above the platform. It was a simple artifact that would act as the referee of the battle. Since it was a machine, there was no danger of bias, and everybody could trust the result. "Jeremy Samsan. Are you ready?" Usually, the machine would have made the question the moment both fighting entered the platform, but Jeremy did not stop talking. "I am!" When the machine heard Jeremy''s answer, its hundred mechanical eyes turned toward Cain. "Cain Laurifer. Are you ready?" Cain did not immediately answer the question but instead turned toward Bloodless #1 in the distance. "What are the rules about murder in the Blood Champion Final Tournament?" It confused Bloodless #1 since it was something Cain should have already known. Still, the powerhouses answered. "The battles will end when one side surrenders or is unconscious. You can continue attacking until one of those criteria is met. If you murder your opponent before that, then it would not break the tournament rules." Bloodless #1 did not shout, but his voice echoed across the amphitheater, ensuring everybody would hear it. Cain nodded and turned toward Jeremy with eyes bursting with red light. Jeremy trembled as he saw that red light and almost jumped back like a scared cat. The shame only kept increasing, and thinking about the way people would start to see him made his fury grow even more potent. "Hahaha, don''t worry, little outsider, I will not kill you, but I will make sure your legs never work again. That should send the message that the Blood Sea is not for people like you!" Cain did not show anything at Jeremy''s words and simply focused on the machine in the air. "I am ready." "Fight!" Thousands of people belonging to the Purist Path did not wait before shouting out loud, expressing their desire to take Cain''s life. Cain noticed that, but he did not care. If people wanted to hate him, that was their choice. He would follow his heart and fulfill his duty regardless of what others thought about him. What did matter a little was the silence of the people of the Integrationist Path. While they were not chanting for his head on a spike, they were not supporting him either. ''It makes sense. After all, I did kill a Blood Champion. It is easy to hate something and shout your rage, but harder to care for someone and fight to protect him.'' Cain was not disappointed in the people of the Integrationist Path since he never expected much from them anyways. He was not concerned about the shouts of the Purist Path since he did not live in a world where crows'' mentality mattered. The reason why Cain acted with such brutality was to pay his debt to Radin and Martin. Although he would have preferred to kill two Blood Champions of the Purist Path, he was satisfied with Jeremy, so it did not matter if the tournament ended now. "Hmph, pack of hyenas, and the rest of you are a bunch of turtles!" That shout came from the podium of the Integrationist Path, but the one that shouted was not a powerhouse but Shura. She rose from her seat and walked forward before looking at the people in the amphitheater. "Where was that thirst for revenge and justice when Radin and Martin, my friends, perished under the hands of assassins sent by those that only dare to act on the shadows like rats." Shura shouted toward the people of the Purist Path, and the disdain and loath on her face was evident. She then turned toward those of the Integrationist Path, and the contempt in her eyes was not any less. "I can understand those rats'' selective memory, but Radin and Martin were our people, yet you remain silent when they try to lynch the one seeking justice for our fallen brother. You are nothing more than a bunch of turtles." Silence permeated the amphitheater after Shura''s shout until an old voice appeared. "Young Lady, you speak harshly but truthfully. What is the point of calling ourselves integrationist if we can not demonstrate our convictions with actions?" An old woman with long white hair walked until she was right beside Shura. Despite her old age, the instant she opened her eyes, a powerful pressure permeated the amphitheater as she focused on Jeremy''s grandfather. "The pain of losing a grandson is horrible. I still remember when they told me my little Radin would not return. It was like someone had ripped my right arm, but I am a powerhouse from the Blood Sea, so I can not simply go wild with grief and follow my rage." The old woman stopped at this point as a dark light emerged in her eyes. "However, if you make the first move, nothing will stop me from killing everybody I think is responsible." When they heard those words, a flash of terror appeared in the eyes of the Wave Kings of the Purist Path since they all knew just how dangerous that old woman was. A few moments after the old woman''s speech, someone else stood up and positioned himself next to Shura. He was a middle-aged man with a large body, and his physical appearance was very similar to Martin''s. No words came out of his mouth, but the killing intent in his eyes made it clear to everybody what he was ready to do. Chapter 289 : Shameful behavior "HMPH!" A sneer echoed across the amphitheater, making the old woman and middle-aged man tremble, but its greatest effect was on Jeremy''s grandfather as it pushed this one two steps back with blood leaking from his mouth. "Since when the rules and codes of the Blood Sea are something people can choose to obey and break according to their wishes!" Bloodless #1''s voice was cold as monstrous physical pressure emerged from inside his body and spread across the amphitheater, making everybody tremble except for the Blood Duke and High Blood Elder. The crow chanting a few moments ago for Cain''s head found it hard to breathe, a minor punishment for their wild and unruly behavior. "Jason Samsan, your grandson understood the danger of the tournament and chose to participate anyway. The only one he could blame for his death was his lack of preparation. I will let it slide this time, but I will take your head if you dare to revolt again." Bloodless #1 paused for a moment, and he focused on the High Blood Elder. "Anyone that dares to break the rules and codes of the Blood Sea is my enemy." A sharp light appeared in the eyes of the High Blood Elder as he waved his hand, bringing Jeremy''s corpse out of the arena before staring at Jason, signaling this one to sit down. The people of the Purist Path look down since their previous behavior was like that of a wild mob, yet they achieve nothing other than embarrass themselves. As for those on the Integrationist Path, a meaningful light appeared in their eyes as the words of Shura and the old woman resounded inside their heads. "Let the second battle start!" "Yes, let''s secure another victory for Radin and Martin!" "Cain, you can do it. Defeat all of them!" Cheers emerged from the crowd as they shouted for Cain''s victory. The shift in the amphitheater''s atmosphere made a small smile appear on Cain''s face, but it did not last long since he focused on the next Blood Champions he would have to face. Killing intent emerged from his heart as red light permeated his eyes. Since he had lost two people due to the schemes of the Purist Path, he would kill the same amount. The Blood Champion that would fight next was a young man over one meter and ninety centimeters tall with a muscular body named Orphin. He was a Late Wave Champion, and his battle style focused on defense, but when he saw Cain''s murderous intent, he began to tremble and did not dare to jump into the platform. Orphin looked at the rest of the Blood Champions, hoping one of them would take his place, but all of them looked away since they faced the same fear that assaulted his heart. Jeremy''s death had been too gory, and they did not want to suffer the same fate. Just doing nothing was not an option since thousands of people were looking at them, and seeing the fear in their eyes embarrassed the people of the Purist Path. Cain would have to fight nine more fights, one after the other, without rest, yet the Blood Champions of the Purist Path did not dare to enter the platform.No?v(el)B\\jnn Orphin''s eyes widened as he could no longer see Cain, and a feeling of immense danger assaulted him. He acted instinctually, stamping the ground behind him and making a large blood-ice wall to cover his back. "CRACK!" The blood-ice wall appeared at just the right moment to stop Cain''s blood claw from reaching the back of Orphin''s skull. Orphin saw how Cain''s blood claw had managed to pierce nearly all of the blood-ice shield but was stuck at the last portion, granting him a chance to counterattack. Yet, the moment the Blood Champion saw the red eyes full of killing intent focus on him, any notion about fighting back faded, and the fear made him jump away. Cain noticed his enemy''s lack of fighting spirit and rearranged his Astral Wave, focusing fully on the offensive. If the enemy was too afraid to fight back, there was no need to pay attention to defense. "BOOM!" "CRACK!" "BOOM!" "CRACK!" A game of cat and mouse began between Cain and Orphin. The Blood Champion kept running away, using the blood-ice shields to stop Cain''s attack. However, now that Cain focused solely on the offensive, that blood-ice shield could not resist his attacks, and a break appeared immediately. More than once, Cain could connect a direct blow on Orphin, but the blood-ice defenses of this one allowed him to resist. Cain''s battle power allowed him to fight head-on against Peak Wave Champion and overwhelm this one, but he had yet to reach the level where he could defeat them in a single strike, so the battle lasted for two minutes. "?BOOM!" Another of Cain''s blows had landed on Orphin''s body, and this time all the blood-ice covering the chest was destroyed, leaving a direct path for his blood claw to the enemy''s heart. Orphin saw the burst of killing intent in Cain''s eyes and how that blood claw aimed for his heart, so he immediately shouted. "I surrender!" "Second battle is over. Cain Laurifer is the winner." Cain''s blood claw was about to lunge into Orphin''s heart when he heard the mechanical referee''s voice. A few more seconds and Orphin would have died, but there was nothing he could do other than lower his hand. People of the Integrationist Path cheered for Cain''s victory, while those of the Purist Path showed ugly expressions on their faces. The battle had been one-sided from the star, with Orphin not daring even to raise his hands against Cain. Cain did not lose focus and stared at his next enemy as this one reached the platform. The next Blood Champion was even taller and bulkier than Orphin, and his skin had a metallic glow, most likely due to his cultivation technique. "Kark James. Are you ready?" Like Orphin, Kark burst his Astral Wave and activated his battle skills before answering. Red iron plates began to form around his body, making him resemble a giant metal humanoid. Kark''s impressive stance gave the audience the thought that they would witness an exciting battle, but the young man clenched his body and raised his guard. It was clear that his battle style would not be offensive. Chapter 290 : Nine victories "I am ready!" Kark shouted after adopting what could only be described as a turtle stance. Blood iron covered every part of his body, and he was curled up, making fighting back impossible. Clearly, the Blood Champion only intended to act as a punching bag. "Cain Laurifer. Are you ready?" Cain could not help but frown as he stared at the Blood Champion, trying to figure out just what kind of strategy the enemy was using, but he could not see a way in which total defense could defeat him. "I am ready!" "Fight!" Instead of wasting time, Cain focused solely on the battle. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" A sonic boom echoed across the amphitheater, and less than a second later, an explosion was heard when Cain''s blood claw landed on Kark''s chest, raising this one into the air. The blood-iron giant should weigh several tons, but Cain''s punch raised this one as if he was a feather, but things did not end there. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Cain followed the blood-iron giant into the air and began to blast this one from one direction to the other. All of his punches had immense power, and he also mixed them with his elbows and knees, which could rip the metallic armor to pieces. Kark did not break his defensive stance this entire time, but his internal organs trembled due to the overwhelming power behind each of those attacks. His eyes widened with terror as he felt an elbow strike shattered the blood-iron on his back. "I surrender!" "Third battle is over. Cain Laurifer is the winner." Cain''s blood claw had nearly pierced into Kark''s spine when he heard the mechanical referee declare the end of the battle. There was nothing he could do other than stop his attack. "Boom." Kark fell to the ground, and since he still had most of his armor, he made a small blast upon impact. After such an embarrassing fight, the man did not dare to remain on the platform for long and immediately left. There were not many cheers from the crowns. Even if the people of the Integrationist Path enjoyed Cain''s victory, the battle had been truly underwhelming since the opponent did not attempt to fight back. Cain returned to his original position as the new Blood Champion entered the platform. The next opponent was a young man with a skinny body. "Zarif Sanber. Are you ready?" Like the other two, Zarif made his Astral Wave explode as a powerful red tornado covered his figure. "I am ready." "Cain Laurifer. Are you ready?" A fraction of a second more, and Cain could have landed a kick in the back of Zarif''s skull with enough strength to cut the spinal cord, but he was forced to stop his attack since the battle was over. Cain let go of Zarif, and both began to fall to the ground. The first one did not have a problem since he could use Air Walk, but Zarif had already lost consciousness. Luckily for the Blood Champion, an invisible force grabbed him and brought his unconscious body to the podium of the powerhouses of the Purist Path. Cain''s eyes narrowed since a fall from this high could have done the trick on Zarif, but since the battle was over, there was nothing wrong with the High Blood Elder taking the Blood Champion away. Cain descended gracefully into the platform, but the cheers for his victory were not that loud once again. He did not blame the people for their reactions since these battles were truly dull, but he could do nothing if the opponents did not dare to fight against him. "Fifth battle. Cain Laurifer vs. Enber Clain. Fight!" During the fifth battle, Cain faced a young man bathed in red blood fire. The Blood Champion generated a river of burning blood around his body, but Cain managed to pierce it after suffering minor burn wounds. Just as Cain''s blood claw was about to cut Enber''s neck, this one surrendered. "Sixth battle. Cain Laurifer vs. Throne Sinher. Fight!" Cain''s next opponent was a young man with a small body that could use shadows. The Blood Champions could fuse with them, moving around the platform like a specter. Unfortunately for Throne, Cain''s Lineage granted him an even greater mastery over the element of shadows. The Blood Champion was able to surrender in time but now without first losing his right leg. "Seventh battle. Cain Laurifer vs. Felix Korn. Fight!" This time the Blood Champion''s battle style was truly shameless. He covered his body with rock armor before fusing with the floor, transforming into a small three-meter-tall blood mountain. Felix let Cain attack him until no more rocks covered him, and he immediately surrendered. "Eight battle. Cain Laurifer vs. Astro Lamber. Fight." For the first time, one of the Blood Champions dared to attack Cain. Astro generated massive waves of blood before sending them against Cain. However, it soon became clear the true intent of the attack. The blood waves lacked offensive power, and their only use was to push the enemy back. It made sense that a long-range spell would have such weak offensive power if the user were an Astral Wave Champion. Cain broke through the waves of blood, and just as he was less than five meters away from Astro, this one gave up. "Ninth battle. Cain Laurifer vs. Vega Stine. Fight." The ninth Blood Champion also used blood-wind as part of his battle style, but unlike Zarif''s explosive moves, his style focused on agility and dexterity. Of the nine battles up to this moment, this was the hardest for Cain since it took a long time for him to catch his opponent. Although he managed to break Vega''s shoulder, this one surrendered before the wounds could evolve into something more serious. All nine battles were crushing defeats for the Integrationist Path, but no one was cheering. Even those on the right side of the amphitheater who supported Cain remained silent since no matter if they loathed the people of the Purist Path, they were still members of the Blood Sea, and their behavior was simply too embarrassing. As for those on the Purist Path, their expressions were even more sour. They like to brag about the power of their Lineage, but eight of their greatest geniuses did not dare to do anything else but run away or hide when they faced an outsider that was younger than them. Chapter 291 : All eyes in the battle "Ninth battle is over. Cain Laurifer is the winner." The mechanical referee shouted those words, and a second later, the last of the Blood Champions of the Purist Path flashed toward the platform. Zima seemed eager to fight immediately, which made perfect sense. While the other Blood Champion did not hurt Cain, the fight did drain a significant portion of his energy pool and stamina. The High Blood Elder and Blood Duke exchanged glances as they saw Cain and Zima on the platform. Although the Integrationist Path won nine battles, they only had one fighter, so the Purist Path only needed a single victory. Of course, everybody would mock them, and the stance of the Purist Path would certainly grow weaker, but they would still be the ones that would carry on with the final and most important part of the Century Ascendance of the Blood Moon. There was nothing the Blood Duke could do about the unfairness of this situation. The rules that allowed Cain to kill Jeremy without repercussions also forced him to win all ten fights. Powerhouses of the Purist Path and Integrationist Path were not the only ones analyzing the battle between Cain and Zima. Blood Sea was an extremely important power in the Collapsing Lightning Sector, so factions across the empire were using different methods to watch the fight. In the Titan Tower of the Imperial Lightning Fort, a room with a large mirror showed Cain and Zima. There were six people; five were Collapsing Lightning Pillars, and the last was Luther. Of course, among the Pillars was Zarak, and there was a flash of disdain in his eyes. "Hmph! They really know no shame. Despite forcing Cain to fight ten consecutive battles, they do not give him any time to rest." Stay tuned to empire "There is no reason for the mighty people of the Blood Sea to give leeway to an outsider." Luther spoke those words before showing a mocking smile. "I am sure those cowards justify their actions with those words. I am surprised that the Blood Duke is not interfering on Cain''s behalf and allowing things to carry on." Zarak''s eyes narrowed as he heard that last part. He was also confused by the actions of the Blood Duke. His suspicion began when he saw that this one had not shown up to rescue Cain and Surin. As a Titan, the Blood Duke should be much faster than he and Bloodless #1, yet this one never appeared. "Many have forgotten, but the reason the Blood Duke was able to rise to his current position was not his brute power but his schemes. I am sure that man is planning something, and he clearly doesn''t care about the safety of Cain." Olivion, the Second Collapsing Lightning Pillar, spoke calmly, but there was a flash of killing intent in his eyes. The Collapsing Lightning Pillars present began to look at each other, and there was a murderous light in their eyes. Cain Laurifer was a divine prodigy that saw the Imperial Lightning Force as his home and the army as his family, so it was only a matter of time before he became one of the Pillars. Although they might have differences and sometimes fight with each other, when it came to external threats and dangers, the Collapsing Lightning Pillars could act as a single unified force. Luther saw the aura in the room and knew he needed to intervene. If the Nine Pillars were to march together, then they could unleash a massacre on the Blood Sea. "Young Lord, by order of the Hellblazer Duke, I bring you the Divine Fire Lotus as a reward for rising to Blood Champion with Void Marrow." The Wave King kneeled before taking a small red chest and presenting it to Magnus. His eyes showed a flash of greed since he knew that the Divine Fire Lotus was an incredible treasure, even for a Wave King. Still, he immediately erased that emotion since he was aware of what had happened with the enemies of the young man. Magnus smiled as he stored the small red chest and waved his hand, signaling the Wave King to leave since he did not want company while looking at Cain''s fight. The Wave King stood up but did not immediately leave since he had another task. "His Highness is asking whether or not you will attend your brother''s funeral?" "?Hahahahaha!" Magnus burst into laughter as he heard that question before shaking his head. "Don''t you think it would be in bad taste if the murderer attended the funeral?" The Wave King trembled when he heard that. It was a surprise since everybody knew what happened but could not believe that Magnus would just say it out loud. There were only two reasons someone would confess such a crime. They were stupid and did not understand the risk or know that nothing would happen to them. Either way, the Wave Kings erased those words from his mind since he could not survive the schemes and tribulations of the fight for power among the young generation of the Hellblazer Family. "I will tell His Highness you can not attend due to your cultivation, Young Lord." Magnus shrugged his shoulder and signaled the man to leave, which he did immediately. --- It was just a battle between Wave Champion, but even Titans were focusing on it, and whatever they expected to see, it would be even more impressive. "Zima Extier. Are you ready?" "Yes, I am." "Cain Laurifer. Are you ready?" "Yes, I am." "Fight!" Chapter 292 : Clash of Ego Waves Cain and Zima looked into each other''s eyes, and there was a coldness in them. The battle had officially started, but neither made a move since the first clash would not be physical. Red and golden fields emerged from the minds of both Blood Champions, like tsunamis and lunged toward the one with insatiable might and power. As soon as the golden and red force fields collided, the superior Ego Wave showed itself immediately. Zima''s willpower belonged to an Early Wave King, which was terrific for a seventeen-year-old man in every sense, but Cain''s was way above that level! Cain had already evolved his willpower to the Middle Wave King level before coming to the Blood Sea, and his tribulation with the Wave King assassin made it explode, touching upon the Late Stage and Second Realm! Solemn expression appeared in all the powerhouses across the empire that saw the might of that red force field. If there was one aspect in which Cain Laurifer stood above all other geniuses of the young generation in the Collapsing Lightning Sector was his willpower. Having an Inborn Ego Eternal Matrix and experiencing over a dozen life-and-death trials had pushed the young man''s Ego Wave to the point that it would soon earn him the right to call himself a powerhouse at merely sixteen years of age! Unlike the rest of the people that stared at Cain''s Ego Wave with a solemn attitude, Shura showed a radiant smile. She knew just how hard Cain had fought to evolve that red force field, and seeing him unleash it made her happy since that was his purest state. Of course, the powerhouses of the Integrationist Path were thrilled to see the might of Cain''s willpower. After all, he was on their side, and this was just more than a fight. It was a clash of thoughts, and what better to define the correct path than a greater resolution and determination? Zima saw how the red force field could push back his golden Ego Wave effortlessly, but just as it was about to be drowned by the willpower of his opponent, a smile appeared on his face. "Crack." It was as if a seal had broken inside his mind. The next instant, the golden force field exploded with power, gaining the ability to stop the advance of Cain''s Ego Wave before pushing it back. Surprise and confusion appeared in the people that saw the increase in power of the golden force field since they did not understand precisely how it happened. Even powerhouses like Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 were shocked by the burst in the Ego Wave from Zima. Their knowledge about the Ego Eternal Path of Power was deep, but they were confused by the sudden turn of events. Still, they saw how now it was Zima''s Ego Wave, the one in the lead. Cain saw how the golden force field was pushing his Ego Wave when he took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he remembered the feeling he had during the fight against the Wave King assassin. When he opened his eyes again, the red light in these exploded, generating a quality improvement in the red force field that seemed to be on the brink of evolution! Zima''s eyes widened when he saw the might that Cain''s Ego Wave could reach, and soon the coldness and killing intent in his heart exploded. The red force field pushed the golden to the middle of the battle arena, and both began to ascend into the sky. They were like nearly five thousand meters long dragons clashing and rising into the air. "RUMBLE!" Storm clouds began to appear in the sky due to the clash of willpower. Although Ego Wave was immaterial, the reason why it could pass through solid objects with ease, once the willpower of life evolved to a high enough level, it could affect the Wave. Its most basic deployment at this point was to use it as fuel for the Astral Wave or Essence Wave, but once your mastery reached a high enough level, you could manipulate the Life Wave in the air, using the world as your energy pool. The willpower of both youths was so immense that their clash could wreak havoc on the Life Wave in the sky and change the weather! --- Back in the Imperial Lightning Fort, the Pillars, and Luther were seeing the clash between the willpowers of Cain and Zima with a frown on their faces. The mirror did not only show images since it also allowed the people that saw it to perceive the energy and forces unleashed by the people in it. Name: Zima Extier Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Early Wave Champion) Lineage: ??? Wave Talent: Low Tier 8 --- Stats: Strength: 17.5 Agility: 23.1 Vitality: 22.9 Wave: 22.3 Blood Energy: 26.5 Find adventures on empire --- Marrow washing: 100% completion Blood Rebirth: Blue Blood Stage] Although Cain and Zima were both Early Wave Champions, the latter was at the peak of that stage, while the first evolved less than a month ago. When it came to a clash between geniuses of the same level, those small differences in cultivation significantly impacted the battle. Cain was accustomed to relying on his Ego Wave and skills to overcome stronger opponents, but Zima had the same level of willpower and skills. He could handle the physical differences, but the disparity between their energy pools would make the fight much harder. It made sense. After all, Zima was older by a year, meaning he had more time to increase his Astral Wave and the number of Blood Runes. Of course, none of that truly mattered to Cain. So what if his opponent was older than him? Was he supposed to use it as an excuse in case of his defeat? What about all the people he manages to kill thanks to the Absolute Life Form System? Should they come back to life since the fight was not "fair?" Only a coward would search for those justifications to feel about their defeat. This was a fight, and the only thing that mattered in the end was who would win. "?BOOM!" A lightning bolt landed right in the middle of the battle arena, marking the beginning of the true fight. Cain and Zima made their Astra Wave burst as they flashed toward the other full of killing intent. Chapter 293 : Devastating onslaught Red lightning covered Zima''s body as his skin adopted a crimson metallic color beneath his white armor, and his hands morphed into blood gem claws. Cain''s skin also turned red due to activating Second Gear as an armor of the same color covered his body. His hands became blood gem claws, and his Wave Cloak began to vibrate due to the power of Sonic Armor, increasing his defenses. "?BOOM!" Their right fists collided in the middle of the battle arena, a sonic boom emerging from Cain''s punch while a lightning blast arose in Zima''s. There was no need for weapons. For warriors that trained Blood Hand, their punches were the most destructive artifacts of all, having the ability to twist Silver Artifacts with their bare hands. Coldness appeared in the duo''s eyes as they saw that neither could overcome the other, and as they retracted their fists, they adopted a similar battle stance, raising their arms and spreading their legs. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Cain and Zima both used Bloodflow Fury, exchanging punches and kicks in the middle of the battle arena, trying to push the other away. Zima''s domain over the Bloodflow Fury was surprisingly high as if he had trained it for decades. That, plus his superb speed, allowed him to have the upper hand in terms of battle skill. However, while Cain''s mastery over Bloodflow Fury was lower, he seemed capable of predicting the Zima''s moves, reacting just in time to dodge or block the blows. And while he could not surpass his opponent''s speed, the strength of his punches and kicks was unmatched due to the torque of his body. Cain had to admit that he fell behind Zima when it came to battle skills. Luckily, he had Virtual Sight, and the [A.I. Chip Module] already deeply comprehended Zima''s body and Bloodflow Fury, so the predictions were very precise. Zima sent a vicious kick toward Cain''s head, but this one was able to block it with his right arm before responding with his left elbow. Cain''s elbow could break a hole into a thick steel plate like glass, but Zima managed to protect his chest using his right arm. Every time one sent an attack, the other would either dodge or block it before sending their own. There was sublime precision and control over their body movements, as expected from warriors that train their bodies to reach the peak. Zima''s eyes narrowed as he saw that Cain was able to keep up with his skills, but soon he began to smile as he activated 4000% Wave Burst! The Astral Wave exploded with power, enhancing the Wave Cloak, which in turn improved every aspect of Zima''s body. His speed, strength, and defenses rose exponentially. Usually, even great geniuses would have a problem performing 1000% Wave Burst, but someone with such powerful willpower as Zima could generate a much greater energy output. Cain immediately felt pressured as Zima''s blows became faster and stronger, and he could only answer in the same way, also raising his Wave Burst to 4000% The strength the duo''s body began to unleash reached the standard of a Late Wave Champion due to their bursting Astral Wave. Of course, there would be repercussions for such outlandish energy output, but having evolved to Wave Champion with Void Marrow and practicing a Saint Technique as Blood Refinement Art, their constitution could handle much more. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" The duo was right. Cain did not care about Zima''s plan because the [Gluttony Module] had been filling his body with energy and vitality from the start of the tournament. Cain had chosen to project the image of exhaustion and energy depletion so Zima would lower his guard and send an attack full of openings, exposing his body. Zima could do nothing to stop Cain from dodging his fist and landing an uppercut on his jaw, sending his body flying into the sky while making his brain tremble inside his skull. Cain would not stop and rose, making the Astral Wave focus on his arms and legs, especially his fists, feet, elbows, and knees. "Flowing First!" A barrage of blows landed point blank on Zima. "Tempest Kick!" Enjoy new stories from empire Several kicks landed one after another on Zima''s chest, pushing him even higher. "Crimson elbows and knees." Elbows that had transformed into blood gems connected on Zima, cracking his white armor and making this one puke blood. Zima had risen over three thousand meters into the air when he finally saw Cain vanish from beneath him. Yet, his instincts screamed terror as he felt two fists gently landing on his back. "SONIC CANNON!" "BOOOOOOOOM!" A massive shock wave spread across the sky, splitting the storm clouds apart as a mighty sonic cannon exploded point blank on Zima''s chest, making this one puke a mouthful of blood while his body crashed into the ground at supersonic speed. "BOOOOMMM!" The battle arena trembled when Zima''s body crashed into it. Blood was everywhere in the young man''s body as he used what little strength was left to turn around and look into the sky. Cain was still in the air and saw that Zima''s eyes were about to lose consciousness. He did not understand why this one had yet to surrender, but killing intent exploded in his heart since it was his chance to make things even. With Zima, there would be two Blood Champions of the Purith Path that perished, avenging Radin and Martin. "?BOOM!" Sonic booms emerged from Cain''s feet as he pushed his body to MACH 10 while his knees glowed with red light. He was ready to blast Zima''s skull to pieces. However, just as he made his way down, Cain''s vision was able to capture something. He saw the faces of the powerhouses of the Purist Path. While most were full of dread and panic, the High Blood Elder was still calm. Chapter 294 Hypersonic Speed Cain felt that something was wrong. He was just half a second away from blasting Zima''s skull, but he jumped to the right without hesitation. The instant that happened, the eyes of Zima, who seemed to verge into unconsciousness, regained their focus, and he opened his mouth. "?BOOM!" An incredibly powerful dark lightning cannon emerged from Zima''s mouth, rising into the sky with a might similar to a Wave King''s spell! Shock and awe appeared in the eyes of everybody seeing the battle. The battle was supposed to have reached its end after Cain''s devastating onslaught, but not only was Zima able to react, but he unleashed an attack that could have threatened the life of a Wave King. Even more shocking, it was a long-range attack, something an Astral Wave Champion like Zima should not be able to perform. Cain''s expression was solemn as he landed on the battle arena, more than one hundred meters away from Zima. He had managed to avoid most of the damage but did not come unscratched since his left arm was scorched. A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he saw Zima standing up. The damage that his last barrage did should have incapacitated this one, but it was clearly not the case. Zima managed to stand up as the wounds on his body stabilized, but that was far from all. His body grew larger and more muscular as scales covered his arms and part of his chest, and his pupils turned reptilian. It did not take long for him to reach two and a half meters tall, and his arms and legs grew twice their original size. People grew confused by Zima''s physical change. The empire had draconic bloodlines that could explain Zima''s transformation, but he was a member of the Blood Sea and had a Blood Sea Lineage. Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he stared at Zima and immediately understood the key behind his transformation and the burst in his physical strength. "So that is your Alter-Ego''s power. Through your Visualization Technique, you see yourself as a dragon." Most people were still confused, but those that had already reached the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power and awakened their Alter-Egos understood what was happening with Zima. The Alter-Ego might be a manifestation of your willpower, but through a Visualization Technique, one could harvest their power. It unleashed its force in the soul, the essence of someone''s existence, so inducing a physical transformation was very normal. Powerhouses from both sides look at Zima with wonder since even for Wave Kings, triggering the power of the Alter-Ego was extremely hard, and most of those at the Early Stage could not do it. Not to mention that even for those that could trigger the power of their Alter-Egos, it only worked as an auxiliary technique due to the disparity between their cultivation and willpower. Clearly, Zima was not the case, and the power that his Alter-Ego granted him was his trump card. "Hahaha, you are right. I was always fond of the tales of dragons of the Old World, beasts of power and destruction that obey no one and rule above all. Since that is a perfect description, why don''t I become a dragon myself?" Zima showed a cold smile as he spoke to Cain, his body bursting with strength and vitality. Just like Genetic Coders can create Wave Viruses that tap into the genetic power of an individual and grant them unique abilities, Rune Masters can engrave Runic Formations that summon the power of the Laws. Rune Crafting was a not well-known profession in the Collapsing Lightning Sector, and the same could be said about the empire as a whole. The inheritance of the Godsaleyr Humankind regarding Genetic Coding was superb but was only subpar regarding runes. Even if Cain''s knowledge about Runic Formations was shallow, he knew that only a Saint Runic Formation could summon the power of the Laws. Of course, Runic Formations also needed energy to activate, but this one seemed to work perfectly with Blood Energy. The Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 stared at the High Blood Elder after they saw that Saint Rune Inscription on Zima, and there was no doubt in their minds now that this one was in cahoots with The Organization. Unfortunately, the duo had no real proof of that, and shouting accusations without them would only make them look weak. Cain was also aware that there was something odd about that Runic Inscription, but something else was bothering him. With all of Zima''s skill, this one could have chosen to have a direct fight from the beginning but instead chose a path that would have allowed him to keep all those secrets. A strong opponent was hard, but a scheming opponent was truly dangerous. Trying to figure out Zima''s intentions and secrets would be a waste of time, so Cain only took a deep breath as he pushed his focus to the limit, ready to face anything thrown at him. Zima noticed Cain''s battle stance and smiled before opening his mouth. "Let''s begin the final round." A thunderous sonic boom emerged from where Zima stood just an instant ago, making the ears of the people in the amphitheater tremble. However, that was nothing compared with the shock Cain felt as he saw that the massive body of Zima was already in front of him, sending a hook right to his head. Time seemed to slow down as Cain''s brain was able to analyze Zima''s condition. He saw how streams of electrically charged plasma covered the figure of this one, and that could only mean one thing. ''Hypersonic Speed.'' When a body reaches a high enough speed, they break the chemical bonds that hold nitrogen and oxygen together, generating streams of electrically charged plasma. That speed goes by the name of Hypersonic Speed. In Aether, the density of the air is much higher than that of the Old World, so to reach Hypersonic Speed, you need to move much faster than just MACH 5 or five times the speed of sound. Hypersonic Speed in Aether requires your body to move at MACH 20! That was nearly seven thousand meters per second! Chapter 295 The Red King acts "?BOOOOMMMM!" A powerful blast echoed across the battle arena as Zima connected his fist to Cain. It had so much power that it seemed like a missile had just landed on its target. Everybody turned toward Cain since that blow was directed at his head, and it had more than enough power to be lethal for a Wave Champion. Luckily, while Cain could not dodge the blow, he managed to use his right arm as a shield. The forearm where Zima''s punch landed immediately swollen due to the severe trauma, but golden flames soon fixed the damage. Cain felt blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. Even after blocking the punch, it had enough strength to do internal damage. His eyes grew sharp as he went through the attack on his mind. Zima''s punch lacked any technique, which made sense since such an absurd speed was more than what a Wave Champion''s nervous system could smoothly handle. However, it mattered very little since the speed was something Cain could barely dodge, and its momentum was so much it nearly broke his arms. "Hahaha, not bad. I thought everything would be over already, but as people say, cockroaches are very tenacious. I wonder how long you will manage to last." "?BOOM!" Another powerful sonic boom emerged as Zima flashed toward Cain, this time performing a downward kick that seemed capable of splitting a building in half. Virtual Sight was useless at this point since the [A.I. Chip Module] predictions were not fast enough, so Cain could only act by instinct. He managed to move back just in time to avoid the kick from landing on his head, but that left him open to Zima''s next attack. Enjoy new stories from empire "?Ahhhhhh!" A silent scream emerged from Cain''s mouth as Zima''s punch landed point-blank on his chest, pushing out all the air in his lungs and making him puke blood. That was just the start. For the next thirty seconds, the battle was completely unilateral. Cain did his best to handle the onslaught, but Zima was simply too fast. Powerhouses on the Integrationist Path clenched their fists as they saw how the battle was going. Cain''s talent could be considered higher than Zima''s, but he was overwhelmed by the Blood Champion''s resources. Zima''s power after activating the Runic Inscription was simply too high. Of course, it would not last long since he would soon run out of energy, but it was evident to everybody that Cain''s body would break first. Bloodless #1 and the Blood Duke stared coldly at the High Blood Elder. There was no other way to see this battle as one that would be won by external interest, something the Purist Path was essentially against. However, no matter how much they hated the High Blood Elder''s hypocrisy, they could do nothing about it. Treasures were considered part of an individual''s power, and since Zima could trigger the Runic Inscription, he had the right to enjoy its augmentations. Shura''s eyes were distressed as she saw how Cain''s body took more and more punishment. His body would have stopped moving long ago if it weren''t for his golden flame. --- "Where am I? What is happening?" Cain did not understand what was happening. He found himself in a place full of shadows inside a red humanoid body without any distinctive features. In front of him was a golden humanoid, just like him, without any distinctive physical characteristics whatsoever. Before he could even try to comprehend what this place was, his body moved on its own, attacking the golden humanoid. Cain could feel everything the body did but could not control it. It was similar to his experience with his memories of his past life. The battle between the red and golden humanoids was pretty simple, only consisting of physical attacks. Cain''s body was exponentially faster and stronger than the golden humanoid, but no matter how hard he fought or what trick he deployed, he never came even close to landing an attack. Somehow the golden humanoid could not only dodge all of Cain''s attacks but also counter them with flawless precision! The battle only lasted a few seconds, and the red humanoid body received no damage despite all the counters. He stopped his attack and clasped his hands, and the golden humanoid responded the same. After that, the red and golden humanoids sat beside each other and began meditating. Cain still lacked any form of control, but he was able to hear words while knowledge was being engraved inside his soul. --- While Cain was in that wonderful state, Apex stared at the Sun Seed. There was a frown on his face when he saw waves of energy emerging from the dark side of the Alter-Ego. Apex''s power was great enough to understand that those were broken memories that could not affect Cain in any way to reveal information he should not know. In the end, those memories would only make Cain stronger and not proportionate any help for the Red King. The golden humanoid turned back and stared at the gargantuan gate covered in chains of white-black lightning and dark purple flames. "What are you trying to do?" The Absolute Life Form System''s origin involved forces greater than those that formed Aether, and as the System Spirit, Apex''s wisdom was something no human in the world could match. Yet, the golden humanoid did not dare to even speculate about the schemes a monster like the Red King could elaborate. "Ah, brat, I can only count on you to keep growing stronger regardless of the temptations in the future." Chapter 296 The Flow Zima was able to stop his body trembling, and a sense of shame and embarrassment replaced the fear in his heart. People were only looking at him with confusion, but those eyes were full of mockery for him. "You damm brat!" "?BOOM!" A powerful sonic boom accompanied Zima''s voice as he flashed at full speed toward Cain, channeling all his strength in his right fist. It was clear that he would not stop this time. "?NOOO!" Shura shouted as she saw Zima''s fist about to land on Cain''s head, killing him. There was a pressure in her heart she could not understand, and she wanted nothing more than to jump into the battle arena, but it was not possible. "BOOOOOMMMMMMM!" A massive shock wave spread across the battle arena, and blood tainted the ground, but it was not Cain''s! Silence reigned in the amphitheater as they saw how Cain sent Zima flying away while puking blood! Wave Warriors and Wave Champion did not understand what happened since it was too fast for them. Only Wave Kings could see the exchange, but that did not diminish the shock in their hearts. The ones that saw it clearer than everybody else were the Blood Duke, Bloodless #1, and the High Blood Elder. None of them could believe it, but it happened. Zima''s punch was about to reach Cain''s head when this one moved and responded with a counter that sent him flying away while puking blood. Up to a second ago, Cain had barely been able to block Zima''s attack, but now he could perform counters. The trio could not understand what kind of monster the young man was. --- The people on the Blood Sea were not the only ones shocked by what they had just seen. Those in the Titan Tower of the Imperial Lightning Fort were also trying to understand how Cain did that. None of them could figure out how Cain''s speed rose to such a ridiculous level from one moment to another. "His Alter-Ego?" Olivion asked Zarak since that was the only possible explanation in his mind. Zarak was about to negate it since Cain''s Alter-Ego was focused on regeneration, but he then remembered the duality of that crimson sphere. "I... don''t know." There was no way Zarak would reveal Cain''s secret, but he was honestly confused and did not understand what was happening. Solemn expressions appeared in the Pillars as they heard that and nodded, focusing on the mirror. Luther stared at Cain for a moment before using his A.I. Chip to communicate with the Collapsing Lightning Duke. --- In the castle of the Aegon Family, Jonathan was looking at the crystal sphere with awe. Even for him, it would have been hard to perform that counter, yet Cain, who was just an Early Wave Champion, could do it. Zima clenched his teeth as he attacked with all he had, but his attacks could not touch Cain. It was as if this one could read his mind and dodge everything he launched. It did not take long for the evasion to turn into counters, with Cain landing blow after blow on Zima''s face, slowly pushing this one back. The people on Blood Sea and all those around the empire were baffled by what they saw. Cain Laurifer was already an extraordinary genius with a destiny that surpassed the average Wave King, but he had evolved into something much greater. Under the eyes of the entire Godslayer Humankind Empire, his destiny was rising to the level of Gods and Titans! Cain pulled Zima to the other edge of the battle arena one punch at a time! His eyes were bleeding, and there was a beeping sound in his ears due to the brain damage, but that only made his smile brighter. Zima''s face was bloody, and he was already reaching his end since the Runic Inscription had already drained over 90% of his energy. The power of his Alter-Ego was also running out, and it was just a matter of time before he was finally defeated! ''This can not happen? All my plans and sacrifices are going to waste for a little child!?'' Zima could not believe what was happening and that he could do nothing to stop it. He had planned for such a long time, and now all of it would fail due to a kid he had never heard of before. "?Impossible!" That shout was the last thing Zima did before his knees could no longer endure the punishment and caved in. Cain''s bloody eyes burst with killing intent as he was ready to send a downward kick at the top of Zima''s head. "I surrender." Unfortunately for Cain, Zima was faster and surrendered before he could perform the attack. Due to the state of his senses, Cain could not hear the mechanical referee''s voice, but he was sure that he had attained victory. A cold light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he stared at Zima''s kneeling body before turning around. Zima''s eyes showed a poisonous hatred as he saw Cain turn around, and his energy burst as he sent a punch to the back of this one''s head. The rules of the tournament stopped mattering a long time ago for Zima, and the only thing he cared about right now was to kill Cain. Despite his rage and killing intent, Zima had managed to hide it all, so there was no way Cain could dodge it. Even Cain would have to admit that it was a good assassination strike, but there was one flaw, and that was that he was still in tune with The Flow. Cain''s eyes might be looking away, but he could still dodge Zima''s strike before turning around and using the entire torque of his body to land a kick on this one''s temple. "?BOOM!" The kick blasted Zima''s head into the ground, but he did not have time to worry about the brain trauma as he saw Cain''s murderous gaze. "I am a Kin..." Zima was not able to finish his sentence before Cain''s finger pierced his eyeball, reaching all the way into his brain! Chapter 297 Titans attack Death! That was the only outcome Cain would give those who attempted to take his life, especially if they did it in such a disgusting way as Zima''s sneak attack. Cain was able to relax, allowing his senses to capture everything happening around, not just the enemy in front of him. He immediately felt a burning sensation on his face, as if the sun had suddenly burst with power, and his instincts were screaming danger like crazy. There was shock on his face as he looked into the sky and saw the High Blood Elder looking at him with wild rage and madness. The Titan had already made his energy explode and was in the process of sending what could only be described as a palm strike capable of splitting atoms. Cain knew that killing Zima would enrage the High Blood Elder but never expected things to escalate to this level. What he failed to see due to the state of his senses was that after countering Zima''s sneak attack, the High Blood Elder rose to the sky, shouting for him to stop. Everybody was shocked by the actions of the High Blood Elder, and before they could react, Cain had already killed Zima, and the old man sent a palm strike whose power matched that of the surface of the Old World''s sun. The Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 were stunned by what was happening. Regardless of their personal feelings for the High Blood Elder, they always considered the old man a meticulous and cold-minded enemy. Never did they expect this one to act as a rabid dog, especially while the eyes of the empire were in the Blood Sea As soon as they saw that palm strike emerging from the High Blood Elder, the duo flashed out of their seat with so much speed and force that they broke them, using all their power to reach Cain. However, every powerhouse watching the scene knew they would not make it in time. Cain stared at the plasma blood palm about to land on the battle arena, destroying everything, including him. This time, no one would save him, and he had finally reached the end of his journey. People reacted in many different ways when death arrived. Some felt fear and regret, while others shouted with fury and rage, but very few were able to rise above those primitive emotions. A small smile appeared on Cain''s face as he saw that his end would come in the hands of a Titan''s attack. He clenched his right fist and punched forward. It would not make a difference, but even in his last moment, he would fight! "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" The moment the plasma palm reached the platform, it destroyed everything, leaving a sea of red plasma that hindered everybody''s vision. No one could see the corpse of Cain, none that it mattered very much since that attack should have pulverized his body, just like the effect of a nuclear bomb on a normal human. Silence reigned after that blast since people in the amphitheater were still trying to process what had just happened. Even those in the Purist Path that hated Cain and wanted him dead could not believe what the High Blood Elder had done. The powerhouses on the podium of the Purist Path were the most concerned of all. They knew several forces across the empire were seeing this battle, and the actions of the High Blood Elder had tainted the name of the Blood Sea and their movement. Even if they promulgated the ideology of being self-sufficient, the members of the Purist Path still understood they needed certain relationships with the rest of the empire. However, who would trust and believe them now that their leader killed a young genius during a tantrum? That was just one of the problems since Cain was a member of the Imperial Lightning Fort and disciple of one of the Nine Pillars. Everybody knew the temper of the Collapsing Lightning Duke and Zarak Valentine, and there was no way those two would simply ignore the death of someone so important to them and the army.No?v(el)B\\jnn --- Just like the powerhouses of the Purist Path expected, Zarak did not react calmly to what he saw. --- Bloodless #1 stared at the plasma sea for a moment with shock before his face twisted with rage before he focused on the High Blood Elder. "You fucking traitor!" The rage in Bloodless #1 heart was so much that he shouted those words without care for the ones listening. The Blood Duke did not say a word, but his eyes glowed with killing intent as he focused on the High Blood Elder. Under the cold gazes of the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1, the High Blood Elder''s eyes regained their focus, and there was a flash of shock. It was like he was just realizing what he had done. The old man stared at the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 for a moment before glancing at the powerhouses of the Purist Path, inciting this one to rise into the sky. Although the powerhouses of the Purist Path were disturbed by the actions of the High Blood Elder, they did not hesitate to answer his call. The actions of the powerhouses of the Purist Path incited a reaction from those of the Integrationist Path, and soon dozens of Wave Kings were in the sky of the Blood Sea. Bloodless #1 saw a thin middle-aged man appear next to the High Blood Elder and could feel the power of this one matched his own. "Second Blood Elder." Despite the enemy''s strength, Bloodless #1''s coldness and killing intent did not diminish, and he was ready to fight. "Do not haste. No one wants a fight that could harm the Blood Sea." The High Blood Elder spoke those words while looking at the people of the amphitheater, widening the eyes of all the powerhouses on both sides. Usually, when powerhouses of their level enter a battle, they would rise to the highest level of the sky, so innocent people would not become collateral damage. That was an unspoken rule among powerhouses that one would respect even when facing enemies from the Dark Races. The Blood Duke clenched his fists as he understood that the High Blood Elder would not simply rise into the sky but would have to be pushed there. Although he had the power, his attacks would send shock waves that might endanger the life of everybody that was not a Wave King. Pure disdain appeared on the faces of the powerhouses of the Integrationist Path as they gazed at the High Blood Elder. That man had spent nearly one hundred years shouting about the importance of keeping the Blood Sea safe but did not hesitate to use the life of their people as a shield. The High Blood Elder showed little concern with how those powerhouses saw him and focused on the Blood Duke. "I understand that my actions will generate some troubles in the Blood Sea, but we must be wise about it. That boy''s death is irrelevant to us, and I sincerely doubt someone would dare to antagonize us just for it." Just as the High Blood Elder prepared to continue his speech, a voice echoed across the amphitheater. "Who are you calling dead, you old bastard!" Chapter 298 Civil War "Who are you calling dead, you old bastard!" Shock appeared in the eyes of everybody who heard those words, and as they turned toward the sea of blood plasma, they saw Cain rising from it. "Im...Impossible!" The High Blood Elder could not believe what he was seeing. Although he was still confused about the temporary madness that took over him when he attacked Cain, he knew that the palm strike contained his true power, capable of pulverizing even a Wave King. No matter how lucky or talented Cain was, he should have died instantly once the palm strike landed in the battle area. Yet, that was clearly not the case. --- In the Titan Tower from the Imperial Lightning Fort, the Pillars, including Zarak, were shocked as they saw Cain alive and well. The only one with a calm smile on his face was Luther. Before Cain left for the Blood Sea, the Collapsing Lightning Duke had engraved a powerful rune in this one. It was a defensive spell that would automatically activate in case of an attack from someone above the Wave King''s level. Luther''s eyes suddenly widened as he heard a message and glanced at the rest of the people in the room. Zarak could not help but smile as he saw that Cain was still alive, but soon his eyes grew sharp again. "We must march immediately into the Blood Sea and take him out. The High Blood Elder might want to finish the job." Luther immediately shook his head as he heard Zarak''s concerns. "The Collapsing Lightning Cocoon will remain over Cain''s body for thirty minutes. Someone is already going to the Blood Sea to take him back, so there is no need to worry about... WHAT!" A wave of shock assaulted Luther as he saw Cain''s actions in the mirror and could not believe it. It was not just Luther since Cain''s next move filled with utter shock to everybody that saw him across the empire. --- Cain''s willpower burst with an incredible might as it began showing true domain over the Wave surrounding him. The near-death experience and his resolve to fight even in the face of hopelessness allowed his Ego Wave to break through, reaching the Late Wave King''s level and evolving into the Second Realm. Cain had been controlling the power of Mind Over Wave for a while now, so as soon as his willpower reached the Late Stage, it was easy for him to evolve from Mind Over Body to the next level instantly. Since he could now use the Wave in the sky and earth as his personal energy pool, Cain''s power grew much higher. Of course, his battle power was not at a level he could influence the fighting between the dozens of powerhouses of the Purist Path and Integrationist Path. The powerhouses of both sides rose dozens of kilometers into the air, reaching a point where they could fight using all their power without endangering the weak ones. "?BOOM!" Before the first clash between the Wave Kings in the sky could happen, they heard a thunderous sonic boom. As they looked down, they saw Cain flashing away from the amphitheater. Although it was true that Cain was severely wounded and no one expected him to meddle in the fight of the Wave Kings, running away before the battle even started did not leave a very good image. Mocking smiles appeared in the eyes of the people of the Purist Path as they saw Cain running away. In some measure, the young man had become the emblem of the Integrationist Path, so seeing him running away was humorous. However, all those smiles froze when they saw Cain heading into Blood Island, specifically to the Blood Pagoda. Right now, no one controlled the power of the Blood Pagoda since the Blood Duke and High Blood Elder neutralized each other''s domain over the artifact. None of the Wave Kings could do something about it, so they just ignored it, but when they saw Cain moving toward the pagoda, they remembered something. All the Wave Kings had already investigated the young man who came out of nowhere and managed to take down a Wave King assassin, and hacking was among his skills. Although it was preposterous even to think that a Wave Champion could hack into a Titan Artifact like the Blood Pagoda, over and over again, Cain had proved to be capable of the impossible. "STOP HIM!" "?PROTECT HIM!" The Wave Kings of the Purist Path and Integrationist Path shouted as they started their fight, using everything they had to kill the other side. Once they heard that command, the people in the amphitheater were the first to react. All of the Purist Path members rose into the air and were ready to flash after Cain. Even if none of them could match his strength, he had drained most of his energy and left with severe wounds, so together, they had a chance. Ametria, the Blood Maiden of the Purist Path, was at the lead of the hundreds of Wave Champions of the Purist Path, ready to go after Cain. However, she had not even taken a step when a group just as large as her blocked their path. Shura was leading the force of the Integrationist Path, and her eyes were full of killing intent as she glanced at Ametria and everybody else. "Take one more step, and we will kill everybody." Ametria was surprised by Shura''s coldness and killing aura, but she was not weakling. Her eyes grew cold as he led her force into battle. It was shocking news for the empire. The Blood Sea, a power that could equal an entire Sector, began a civil war! Chapter 299 Stopping the fight Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he focused on the Blood Pagoda and flashed at full speed toward this one. He could feel the battle behind him involving hundreds of Wave Champions, but he could not afford to distract. Shura had led the people of the Integrationist Path that attended the Final Blood Champion Tournament into a defensive position, so the other side could not interrupt him. However, hundreds of Wave Champions and Wave Warriors were still in Blood Island and Blood City. Both sides had heard the order from the powerhouses, so battles did not take long to emerge across the city and island, with one side wanting to stop Cain''s from reaching the Blood Pagoda and the other protecting him. Cain''s Ego Wave showed him the ongoing battles and how the collateral damage would not take long to start affecting civilians and children. That only made him push himself even harder to reach the Blood Pagoda. Warriors of the Integrationist Path were doing all they could to give Cain an unobstructed path toward the Blood Pagoda, but some people of the Purist Path still managed to rise into the sky. For those weak Wave Champions, it was practically suicide to face Cain head-on, and they knew it. However, in their minds, they were protecting their home and families from the evil outsider, and that was something worth dying for. Cain''s eyes were cold as he saw people flashing toward him. There was fear in their eyes, but they were readying to sacrifice all in order to delay him. "Ahhhh." A small sight came out of Cain''s mouth as he pushed his mind to the limit, activating The Flow. He could read every move and action those warriors did, allowing him to pass through them without harming them. Shock and confusion appeared on the warriors of the Purist Path as they saw Cain simply flashing past them, dodging all their attacks and spells as he made his way into the Blood Pagoda. Everybody saw the battles of the tournament, and it was clear that Cain did not have a problem killing people, but they failed to understand the reason behind his actions. Cain''s nature was that of a hero. It might be a twisted one fueled by revenge and murderous intent, but that is how he saw himself, and just killing people that wanted to protect their homes was not something he would do. The Blood Pagoda was already within his reach, and just as nearly a dozen of the attacks were about to clash with him, he made the Astral Wave on the sole of his feet explode, propelling his body like a rock, dodging everything and allowing him to reach the structure. Powerhouses of both sides saw that, and while smiles appeared on those of the Integrationist Path and anxiety on those of the Purist Path, none of them got overexcited. Even if Cain could hack the Blood Pagoda, it would take him a long time to do that, and it would also mean that hundreds, if not thousands, of people would die fighting around him. "ZNNNNNN!" However, once again, Cain did what everybody else thought was impossible, hacking the Blood Pagoda less than five seconds after touching this one. "It can not be happening!" "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" However, even that mighty display of power between the powerhouses fell short compared to the fight occurring thousands of kilometers above sea level. The Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 were fighting against the High Blood Elder and Second Blood Elder, and by the might of those explosions, it was clear that neither side was holding back. If Titans were to fight in the Old World, they would have the power to burn the atmosphere, killing the entire world! There was no way to describe them other than weapons of planetary destruction. Only a world like Aether could hold fighting between this type of monster without suffering actual damage. Cain''s arms were healing at a shocking speed under the power of the Radiance of Life. The Sun Sed had grown even more powerful after the evolution of the Ego Eternal Path of Power to the Second Realm. Channeling the attack of the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s energy into a cannon did a lot of damage to his arms, but since the one that took the brunt of the recoil was Slaughter, there was no irreversible damage. And he was not just healing his arms. Several mid-quality wave crystals went into his [Devourer Dimension] while at the same time sending some into his stomach. Finally, he was also increasing his mastery of Mind Over Wave. His willpower had risen to the point where he could channel it into his own Astral Wave or take control of the Life Wave in the surroundings. Both paths granted him a much greater endurance and a great burst of battle power. It took Cain less than fifteen minutes to fully heal the arm damage. Although his energy pool had not fully recovered, it was enough to rejoin the fray. His eyes grew sharp, and he took a deep breath. "Wait!" Just as Cain was about to march into the battlefield, he heard a voice and looked down at the people inside the red plasma net. Shura was looking at him with eyes full of fear. She knew Cain and what this one would do after healing his injuries, but she did not want him to once again risk his life. "It is too dangerous. Don''t do it." Cain''s eyes showed a little surprise when he heard that. The woman knew what he was about to do. A small smile appeared on his face as he saw the dread and worry in Shura''s face, but he simply shook his head. "It is in my nature." Those were his last words before he flashed to the sky, ready to join the Wave King''s battlefield. Chapter 300 Fighting a Wave King head-on Jason Samsan, the grandfather of Jeremy, the first Blood Champion that Cain killed, was viciously attacking Aslan Jarmes, Martin''s father. Both men followed the Astral Rebirth Path of Power, but Aslan was at the Middle Wave King level while Jason only reached the Early level. In a one-on-one fight, Aslan would have the upper hand without a problem, but that was not the case. Aslan''s flaming fist clashed with Jason''s stone hand, sending this one flying away, but before he could chase after his enemy, a giant tail bathed in blood came crashing down on him. That attack came from a middle-aged woman. Her Essence Wave displayed the might of the Middle Wave King, and her spells were extremely fast and carried a formidable force. Aslan''s eyes grew sharp as he clasped his hand, making his body glow before a blast of blood fire emerged from his body, shattering the tail. However, he had just taken care of that threat when a stone fist landed on his chest, sending him flying away. Jason showed a vicious smile as he saw the felt bones cracking under the might of his fist and flashed toward Aslan, ready to unleash a devastating onslaught. However, just as Jason was about to reach striking distance, his eyes widened. He felt a presence appear out of nowhere, and while he could not dodge it, he managed to focus his Astral Wave on his back, protecting it from the incoming kick. "Ahhhh!" A scream of pain emerged from Jason, but that was just the beginning since the kick sent him toward Aslan, who would not waste the chance.No?v(el)B\\jnn "?AHHHHH!" Jason shouted even louder as a fire downward kick landed on his left shoulder, fracturing it and sending his body diving down into the Blood Sea. Aslan glanced at the newcomer and saw it was no other than Cain. The duo exchanged glances, but just as the middle-aged man turned toward the Blood Sea, he felt a coldness coming from the young man. Aslan nodded before turning toward the middle-aged woman and flashing toward her. Jason was no longer his prey. Cain''s eyes were cold as he activated the Flow, focusing on the figure rising from the Blood Sea. Everything around him grew dark as his mind focused on a single target. Of course, he had already learned his lesson about the danger of focusing only on the enemy in front of you, but he was not alone. Apex was already on the lookout, using the [Scan Force Field] to analyze the battlefield and ready to guide Cain in case an external threat emerged. His Astral Wave burst with more and more power as his Ego Wave took control of the Life Wave in the air and made it his own power. "Brat, you dare!" Jason roared with rage as he rose into the sky, and his eyes burned with silver light as he stared at Cain. He could not believe that a young man would dare to attack him and, even worse, dare to fight against him alone. There was no way he could cleanse that shame without killing Cain! "Blood Stone Giant!" Jason activated his ultimate card, and his body began to mutate. His skin transformed into bloodstones, and that chance was not just external since even his inner organs were covered in them, pushing the strength and endurance of his body to the next level. Cain could feel the strength of Jason and was sure that this one was even stronger than the Wave King assassin, especially in a direct battle. He had already used the initial clash to scan this one, and the system was displaying that information for him now. [Scanning target. ... ... "?BOOOOMMMM!" A resounding blast echoed across the battlefield when Cain and Jason''s fists clashed. The first was forced to move seven steps back while the second only had four, making it clear how it had greater strength, but that was not important at this moment. The powerhouses of both sides saw when Cain entered the battlefield, and while some were wondering about the pertinence of a sixteen years old young man in this place, that punch erased any doubt. Cain just showed everybody that he had the right to participate in this battlefield and to call himself a powerhouse! Smiles appeared on the warriors of the Integrationist Path as they welcomed the new addition to their forces, while those of the Purist Path could not help but frown. Jason trembled as he saw that Cain managed to push him back, and the shame in his heart exploded. "I will kill you!" The middle-aged man''s energy pool burst as he unleashed all he had, flashing back into the fray. Cain''s eyes were sharp since he could not afford to lose focus. The Flow showed every move that Jason would make, but that did not mean he could dodge and counter everything. It was easier in Zima''s case since the young man used simple attacks, but Jason used Bloodflow Fury at a very high level. As they exchanged blows, Cain''s aura grew more pronounced as the red light in his eyes burst with power, pushing his Ego Wave to the limit. The Radiance of Power coursed through his veins, enhancing his physical attributes to superhuman levels. His muscles bulged with newfound strength, his every movement exuding power. Jason, driven by a mix of fury and determination, managed to take the Bloodflow Fury technique to a new level during the fight. His attacks became a storm of blood and stone, an onslaught that seemed nearly impossible to evade. Yet, Cain''s agility allowed him to dodge and weave through the attack, his movements guided by the Flow. Cain''s pupils narrowed as he saw an opening. With a burst of speed, he closed the distance between himself and Jason. His blood claw ignited with sonic energy as he unleashed the Sonic Blood Fist. "?BOOM!" "CRACK!" The punch struck Jason''s stone form with a deafening boom, cracking the bloodstone exterior and causing the ground to tremble. "?AHHH!" Jason roared in pain and frustration, with blood leaking from his mouth. He retaliated with a powerful Blood Stone Punch, aiming for Cain''s head. Unfortunately for the stone giant, Cain saw the attack''s pattern thanks to The Flow. His reflexes were pushed to the limit, narrowly avoiding the devastating blow before countering with an uppercut. That blow should have shaken Jason''s brain inside his skull, but the Blood Stone Giant strengthened the middle-aged man''s spine. He clenched his teeth and endured the pain before connecting a punch in Cain''s chest. Cain''s eyes widened as he felt his ribs cracking before being sent flying away. He regained control over his body immediately, and the Radiance of Life healed the small cracks on his bones, but that blow told him just how dangerous Jason was. Jason would have wanted to unleash a barrage of attacks on Cain, but while that last attack did not paralyze him, it did weaken him. Cain and Jason glanced at each other, and there was no question in their eyes. Both saw the killing intent of the other before flashing forward. The battle between the duo was impressive, but dozens like it were happening across the sky of the Blood Sea, and the one above them was even more shocking. From time to time, flashes of light would illuminate the sky for hundreds of kilometers as the Titans in the sky were unleashing their full-power attacks. It was like seeing dozens of nuclear weapons explode every minute! Chapter 301 The death of the High Blood Elder An hour had passed, and the battle over the Blood Sea continued to escalate with increasing power. The clash between the powerhouses of the Integrationist Path and the Purist Path was intensifying. A clear victor was already emerging in the battlefield between Wave Kings, thanks to the arrival of a sixteen-year-old man. While Cain''s power wasn''t overwhelming enough to instantly reverse the tide on his own, his assistance played a pivotal role. His help allowed Kael to take down a Middle Wave King Essence Cultivator from the Purist Path, contributing to the shift in the battle dynamics. It was a chain reaction, with Kael free to help more of his comrades, and with every minute, the advantage of the Integrationist Path increased. Presently, more than nine Wave Kings from the Purist Path had fallen, while only two from the Integrationist Path had suffered the same fate. Cain was kept informed of the battlefield''s state through Apex''s guidance, but he couldn''t afford to lose focus. The Flow, though a powerful tool for predicting opponents'' movements, wasn''t foolproof. While he could predict Jason''s actions, it didn''t guarantee he could always evade them. Unlike Zima, whose attacks were somewhat crude and patterned, Jason executed an almost flawless Bloodflow Fury, even in his current state. However, as the battle carried on, Cain''s use of the Flow and his ability to face the Wave King increased, allowing him to get closer and closer to an opening, and when it finally happened, he did not waste it. Cain managed to break through Jason''s guard, landing an elbow strike to the man''s elbow. This spot was the same area where Kael had previously landed a flaming downward kick. "CRACK!" The sound of breaking bones reached Cain''s ears, but he was forced to retreat as a powerful blow targeted his head. Just as Cain moved back, a powerful kick flashed toward his chest. He anticipated the pattern, twisted his body, and raised his guard to fend off the attack. However, he was still sent hurtling through the air. Clenching his teeth, Cain regained control over his body and swiftly returned to the battle. He fought valiantly, using his utmost strength, but things were taking a dire turn for him. His energy pool was running low since even if his body and techniques could equal a Wave King, his Astral Wave and Blood Energy could not. If it weren''t for Cain''s Ego Wave taking control of the Life Wave in the air and the help of the [Gluttony Module] constantly recharging his energy and vitality, he would have run out of stamina a long time ago. "AHHHHHHHHH" Then, a scream of pain pierced the air, and the skies turned red as blood began to rain down. Powerhouses from both sides stopped their fights for a second as they looked up and saw how clouds of blood began to fill the sky before they rained down. It was a majestic and gory phenomenon to see blood raining for hundreds of kilometers, tainting Blood Island and Blood City. The silence that followed was heavy as everyone recognized the source of the shout and the implication of blood raining upon the Blood Sea. Facing the High Blood Elder''s steadfastness, Cain saw an exchange of glances between the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1. The ongoing war exposed their vulnerabilities and weakened their forces significantly. The deaths of several Wave Kings and the Second Blood Elder left them vulnerable to external threats. The Blood Duke was confident in his ability to end the High Blood Elder''s life, yet he understood that doing so would result in severe injuries. This, in turn, would weaken his ability to fend off challengers seeking to exploit the Blood Sea''s vulnerability. Although Cain also desired to end the High Blood Elder''s life, he refrained from issuing opinions to others. Lacking the power to kill the man, he had no right to speak. The Blood Duke motioned, ordering the Integrationist Path''s Wave King to withdraw, creating a separation between the two sides. Just as he was about to give a command, his eyes widened, mirrored by Bloodless #1''s. Both of them were the first to perceive it, and soon, everyone else saw it. "Zima?" Cain involuntarily cried out at the sight of the phantom-like figure resembling Zima, albeit much older. The High Blood Elder felt it, but before he could do something, his eyes trembled as all his defenses collapsed. In the next moment, Zima''s phantom figure merged with him. A scream of agony echoed, but it was brief, replaced by a surge of power even greater than before. The High Blood Elder turned towards the crowd and then directed his focus onto Cain. "YOU LITTLE BASTARD!" A wave of terror washed over Cain as he felt the High Blood Elder''s malevolent gaze. These eyes were more menacing and feral than even the High Blood Elder''s. In the next second, the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 positioned themselves in front of Cain. The Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 shielded Cain from the rage of the entity in control of the High Blood Elder. However, despite their strength, both adopted solemn expressions since the aura of the enemy was one that surpassed theirs. The High Blood Elder''s fury was uncontainable. Whoever was in control did not care about the Blood Duke or Bloodless #1''s protection; his singular focus was on Cain. "All my plans, all my efforts for over a hundred years, and you dared to ruin them. Little bastard, I will kill you!" A dark force field enveloped the High Blood Elder, causing the sky to darken as the world quivered. Even atoms struggled under the pressure of this overwhelming power. Cain''s eyes widened as he observed the event. He had heard of the power of the Third Realm, yet the force he now witnessed exceeded it. It was evident that the man before him had reached the Fourth Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power! On the Purist Path''s side, confusion reigned. They lacked awareness of the person who had taken control of the High Blood Elder''s body. Amid the tense atmosphere, a sound of spatial rupture echoed, and a shadowy figure materialized. The aura emanating from this figure was on par with the being that had seized control of the High Blood Elder. "Hahah, good Shadow King. Assist me in eradicating these pests!" Chapter 302 First Collapsing Lightning Pillar! "Hahah, good Shadow King. Assist me in eradicating these pests!" It was impossible to distinguish almost anything from the person that just appeared since a dense cloak of shadows covered his figure. However, his golden eyes were clear to everybody, and no one beneath the Second Realm could focus on them. Yet, many of the powerhouses of the Blood Sea immediately recognized him. A unique force controlled the underground of the empire called The Organization, and the shot callers went by the name of Dark Kings. Of the ten Dark Kings, there was one whose nature was secrecy, capable of infiltrating even the Emperor''s Royal Palace. No one knew his name or appearance, but everybody called him Shadow King. The Blood Duke immediately took control over the Blood Pagoda, channeling all its energy into him and Bloodless #1 as soon as the Shadow King appeared. Just the entity that took control over the High Blood Elder''s body would have been challenging, but now there were two of them. And even more important, the only one that could give a command to a Dark King would be another Dark King! Two Dark Kings from The Organization. That would be enough to threaten an entire Sector, much less a weakened organization like the Blood Sea. Despite the duo facing the Blood Duke, Bloodless #1, and over one hundred Wave Kings, there was not even a trace of fear or worry in their eyes. They were that confident in their powers! Cain clenched his fists as he pushed his willpower to the limit in order to control his emotion and suppress his fear. It was hard to say about the rest of the powerhouses, but his chances of surviving a battle would be small since one of the Dark Kings was so keen on taking his life. The Shadow King turned his eyes toward Cain and glanced at the young man for a moment before speaking. "Blood King, I did not come here to fight. You hire me to take you out in case of danger to your life, and that is what I am going to do." Although the voice of the Shadow King was male, it constantly changed between different tones, making it impossible to distinguish anything from it. "Hmph, none of these rats could stop me if I wanted to leave. If you wish for the other half of your payment, help me kill that brat!" The Blood King, the one that possessed the High Blood Elder''s body, shouted. His killing seemed to burn with the intensity of a volcano and would not rest until Cain was dead. "Are you sure you can escape without my help?" The Shadow King looked to the sky as he uttered those words. Everybody else followed his sight, and only then did they notice the middle-aged man floating in the sky. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the Dark Kings fall in that category. The bad part was that one of them seemed very interested in taking his life, and he doubted they would just give up after failing once. The Blood Duke sighed as everything went way out of hand. Had it not been for the arrival of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, who knew how many more people would have died before they could force the two Dark Kings away? However, his problems were far from over. The way the Blood King managed to take over the High Blood Elder was very strange, not to mention that the Dark King had hidden inside the Blood Sea for over seventeen years under the disguise of Zima. Now he had to take care of the powerhouses of the Purist Path, and he could not simply exile them since there was no way to say for sure if one or more were under the influence of the Blood King. "All members of the Purist Path, you will be put under arrest until we figure out everything that happened and just how far the influence of the Blood King went." When the powerhouses heard that, many of them frowned since the idea of being thrown into jail was not something they would accept gladly. The Blood Duke noticed the reluctance of the powerhouses, but his eyes grew cold. There was a great danger looming over the Blood Sea right now, and he would do everything in his power to keep it safe. "Anyone that resists will be considered a traitor and punished accordingly." Fear appeared in the Wave Kings of the Purist Path when they saw the killing intent in Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 and were sure that the duo would not hesitate to attack with all their power if they were to resist the arrest or escape. In the end, despite their reluctance, all the powerhouses of the Purist Path shut down their energy defenses, allowing the Blood Duke to use the power of the Blood Pagoda to suppress their cultivation before being escorted out. Once that was taken care of, the Blood Duke commanded certain people to accompany him to the Blood Pagoda, where they would discuss the Dark Kings. As for the rest of the powerhouses of the Integrationists'' Path, they would remain on Blood Island and Blood City. The Blood Sea just went through a civil war, and while Cain''s actions with the Blood Pagoda reduced casualties to a minimum, there was still resentment between both sides, so martial law was needed. Everybody had to remain in their homes, and the Wave Kings would be in charge of keeping order and ensuring there were no more deaths. Wave Champion, Wave Warriors, and normal people returned to their homes once they were free of the red plasma net. There was still killing intent in the eyes of many, but no one dared to fight with the Wave Kings watching from the sky. Blood kept raining over Blood Island and Blood City since the death of the Second Blood Elder unleashed energies that changed the atmosphere. It would be a long time before things returned to normal. People across the empire stopped watching the Blood Sea, but that did not mean they would stop talking about it since the arrival of two Dark Kings was something that shook the Empire. The civil war of the Blood Sea might have been short, but people would talk about it for a very long time. Chapter 303 Post-war mesuares While the situation on Blood City and Blood Island had quieted, peace was far from over. The Blood Duke, Bloodless #1, and nine of the Blood Sea''s strongest and oldest powerhouses were in the Blood Pagoda''s highest level. Those people''s loyalty was unquestionable, and their voices and eyes could reach every corner of the Blood Sea. However, there was one more person among the group that the Blood Duke called into the meeting. Cain might be young, and his time in the Blood Sea was short, but no one in the room felt there was a problem with his presence. Not only had Cain''s attack pushed the High Blood Elder into the sky and away from innocent people, but he also took control of the Blood Pagoda just at the right time, avoiding thousands of unnecessary deaths. Regarding his loyalty, even a complete idiot could see that he was not part of the Blood King''s scheme since there was nothing that man wanted more than to kill Cain. He was also a very important figure for the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the Imperial Lightning Fort since the mighty First Pillar acted as Cain''s bodyguard. It was true that his current battle power was not much compared with the rest of the people in the room, but no one dared to look down on him for that. Cain''s talent was so immense that it would only be a couple of decades before he caught up to them or even surpassed them. "It will be a very long time before we find out the true intentions of the Blood King and exactly when he managed to infiltrate the Blood Sea. If we go by his words, he had planned for one hundred years already, so there is no doubt he is not over with us. Right now, we must decide what our approach will be for the powerhouses of the Purist Path. Does anyone have a good idea they would like to share with the group?" Silence reigned as the Blood Duke spoke those words. Everybody understood the dangers of keeping snakes in their ranks, but the decision was not so easy to make. "We are not in a position where we can allow weakness. The Blood Sea must act as a single unified force if we want to handle the looming threat." Bloodless #1 was the first to speak, and his voice was eerily cold. There was a merciless light in his eyes, and everybody could understand his plan. Since they could not fully trust the powerhouses of the Purist Path, the only chance was to kill them all. "Killing all of them would mean a great loss to our war power and alienate the younger generation." Countering Bloodless #1''s idea was none other than Radin''s grandmother. No one would accuse the woman of having a soft heart since she alone killed two of the Purist Path''s powerhouses during the Blood Sea''s Civil War. However, her way of acting during times of war and peace was very different, worthy of a general who knew how to adapt to the battlefield and diplomacy. "We can mitigate the loss in war power by using them as furnaces to give birth to new powerhouses or transform them into battle puppets. As for alienating the new generation, while it could happen, it would not generate problems for a long time." Bloodless #1 immediately gave solutions to the old woman''s concerns. Clearly, he was not just ruthless but also a brilliant tactician. Many of the people present widened their eyes as they heard Cain''s proposal. While it was true that the Aegon Family was known for its assassination skills, they were also great detectives. However, there were problems. Not anyone could hire them, and they were extremely expensive. "You have a deep connection with the Aegon Family, so you will act as the proxy?" Bloodless #1 knew about Cain''s connection with the Aegon Family. After all, he would have to be blind not to recognize Void State. "Yes. I have a very good relationship with a member of the Aegon Family. He has the authority to negotiate in their name. As for the price, the wealth left behind by the High Blood Elder and Second Blood Elder would be more than enough." Awkward expressions appeared in the powerhouses when they heard that. Many of them were already thinking of taking part of that wealth for them, but it seemed that it would not be the case. The Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 exchanged glances as they heard Cain''s proposal. The Aegon Family did not fear the Dark Kings; with their skills and resources, they would have news quickly. Since Cain could act as their proxy, everything would go smoothly, so there was no reason to refuse. Cain saw the exchange between the Blood Due and Bloodless #1 and smiled. He had promised Jonathan to establish a channel between the Aegon Family and Blood Sea, and if both parties could benefit, all the better. The Blood Duke looked around and, after seeing everybody nodding, turned toward Cain. "We accept your proposal. I hope you can contact the Aegon Family once this meeting is over since the faster, the better." Cain nodded, then went to the next point of his plan. "Once we are sure there are no spies, we need to find a way to fix the division between the people of the Blood Sea, and for that, I have two words. Cultural exchange." Confusion appeared on the faces of the powerhouses when they heard that. They understood the term but were curious about the way in which Cain wanted to apply it. "As Bloodless #1 said, to face the incoming threat, the Blood Sea must act as a singular force, and it is impossible to achieve that goal with people that are xenophobic to the bone." Everybody nodded since they understood that the core of the animosity between both groups was the xenophobic behavior of the Purist Path, one that could only lead to the downfall of the Blood Sea. "There must be an exchange of ideas if we want them to break the prejudice. People of the Blood Sea must establish a sense of brotherhood with outsiders, and there is no better place for that than the military." Chapter 304 You will never have my trust "I propose to start with members of the younger generation. It is easier for them to learn and eliminate the xenophobic ideology implanted in their minds by their father and brothers." Cain could see a mixture of emotions in the faces of the powerhouses, including Blood Duke and Bloodless #1. They could see the gain in sending people of the Purist Path into the army. There was no better place to prove yourself and understand that the essence of a man was his character and not the blood that ran through his veins than the flames of the battlefield. Not to mention, they would be fighting against the Dark Races, something all humans hated, making it easier to bond. However, it could also erode those youths'' sense of belonging to the Blood Sea, generating problems in the long run. "Of course, you would not just send warriors to the Imperial Lightning Fort and expect nothing in return. I am sure the Collapsing Lightning Duke would be happy to send young soldiers here. That would also help to combat xenophobia. You can establish a merit system to increase their standing and ranking in the Blood Sea, making their presence a win for everybody." The frown on the powerhouses grew weaker as they heard that part of Cain''s plan since it indeed would be a win for everybody. They were not totally convinced, but the next part made everybody''s eyes glow. "Besides, having a large number of soldiers in the Blood Sea would make anyone think twice about attacking you." Your next read is at empire A flash of shock crossed the eyes of the Blood Duke, Bloodless #1, and every other powerhouse in the room. It was clear that the Blood King did not fear the Blood Sea, but even The Organization thought twice about attacking the Imperial Army. Taking soldiers from the army into their ranks would help people understand that outsiders were not all monsters and give the Blood Sea a new shield without them losing their individuality. "That tactic will work in most of the youths. Some would retain their xenophobic nature regardless of everything, but their numbers, power, and influence will be so little that they would not be a problem now or in the future." Cain''s words made awe appear in the powerhouses. They wonder how someone so young would have such sharp insight regarding human nature. In all honesty, even Cain did not know it. Most likely, it was part of the experiences of his past life that lingered in his soul. Bloodless #1 was very pleased with Cain''s plans, but one major problem remained. "Helping the majority of those youths see the stupidity of xenophobia is plausible, but what about the Wave Kings? They are older, and it would be harder for them to change their nature. We can allow a few dozen or even hundreds of Wave Warriors or Wave Champions with a xenophobic nature since they can be kept in line, but a single Wave King could provoke a lot of damage." Cain nodded, and cold light appeared in his eyes as he exchanged glances with Bloodless #1. "The battlefield is a very dangerous place. Everybody that goes in must be ready to die. The Blood Duke stared at Cain for a moment, and although he did not negate it, neither did he affirm the young man''s words. "Why would I harm the people of my own path? My stance toward the Purist Path should be clear and that my relation with the Blood King can only be one of pure animosity." Cain''s eyes remained cold as he stared at the Blood Duke. "You wanted a civil war, a way to get rid of the High Blood Elder and all those powerhouses from the Purist Path. While there was discomfort and rage in the Integrationist Path''s Wave Kings, it did not reach the point where they would march into war. Yet, things would have taken a very different turn if the Blood Maiden or some of the Blood Champions had perished under the nefarious tactics of some assassins." Cain noticed how the Blood Duke clenched his fists, but the young man did not stop. "One or two deaths would have been enough. You never expected everybody to be in danger, so the Wave King assassin should have been a flaw in your plan." The Blood Duke''s eyes grew sharp as he was about to counter Cain''s words when he felt Bloodless #1 cold gaze. He sighed and shook his head for a moment before speaking. "The Blood Sea could not endure this division for much longer, so I needed to do something. I knew danger was looming, so I made the hard choice. The life of two people for the safety of millions. It was not easy, nor something I enjoyed, but I did it. Sacrifices are needed in war. Any good general understands that." Cain stared at the Blood Duke for a moment before nodding. He could see the reasoning behind the man''s plan, and shouting in anger was useless since he had no way of harming this one. He just wanted to ascertain the kind of man he was and also verify Bloodless #1''s participation. "I understand you, but from now on, you will never have my trust." The Blood Duke clenched his fists. Before the war, the trust of a Wave Champion would have meant nothing, but Cain was already intertwined with the fate of the Blood Sea. However, he could do nothing about it; his decision pushed things to this place. "Soon, the Ascendance of the Blood Moon will begin, and I will march into the Blood Sea''s core. Before that, I would like a meeting with Jason Samsan, alone and without people watching us." The Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 immediately understood what Cain was after. Cain had already learned the consequences of not taking care of his enemies and would not allow another Uriel to appear. Jason would never stop hating him; if that were the case, he would kill this one here and now. "I can visit Jason for you," Bloodless #1 spoke. It was easy for him to decide between Cain and Jason. Cain immediately shook his head. "I want to visit him myself. Without shackles on his body." Chapter 305 Killing Jason Bloodless #1 saw the killing intent in Cain''s eyes, and a smile appeared. As the enforcer of law and order in the Blood Sea, he saw a lot of himself in the young man. Before the Blood Duke could say something about Cain''s petition, Bloodless #1 nodded. "I can take you to Jason now if you are ready." Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he nodded. He and Bloodless #1 head to the teleportation formation and leave the room. The Blood Duke saw how all of that happened and sighed. Clearly, his tactics had not only alienated Cain but also created a rift between him and Bloodless #1. --- The prison containing the Wave Kings of the Purist Path was located in the lowest level of the Blood Pagoda and went by Blood Prison. Dozens of large blood-metal cages could restrain Wave Kings in that level, and two Peak Wave Champions guarded each. Two middle-aged men stood guard outside one of those cages. Both were hairless and had white skin, making their connection to the Bloodless Force clear. A sharp light appeared in their eyes when they saw two figures appear, but they immediately relaxed when they saw Bloodless #1 appear. "We welcome the Bloodless Leader!" The duo shouted in unison as they adopted a firm stance, looking forward without moving a muscle. Still, their eyes trembled for a moment when they saw the young man accompanying Bloodless #1. Guard of the Blood Prison could not leave their post without the express order of Bloodless #1, no matter the catastrophe happening outside, so the duo spent the entire civil war here. Yet, that did not mean they did not know about the young man who won ten battles in a row in the Blood Champion Final Tournament, sent the High Blood Elder flying away, and joined the battlefield full of Wave Kings. Bloodless #1 gave a short nod toward the duo before waving his hand and opening the cage. It was completely dark inside, but as the light reached in, everybody could see Jason with shackles around his arms. Jason was confused when he saw his door opening. He was full of fury and wanted to get out, but he was sure it would be a long time before they were let go. However, when he saw the figure of Cain and Bloodless #1, his instincts began to scream. "What are you two doing here!?" Neither Cain nor Bloodless #1 bothered to answer Jason''s question, and they just looked at each other before the young man walked in. Bloodless #1 waved his hand again, making the shackles around Jason''s body disappear before closing the gate. "?BOOM!" Less than five seconds after the cage was closed, Bloodless #1 and the two Peak Wave Champions began hearing an explosion from within. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" The young woman noticed Cain''s surprise but did not say anything and just walked toward him before presenting a small black chest. "All the pieces of your Natural Holy Weapon are in here. I ask the best Wave Crafters in the Blood Sea, but none can restore something of such a high level." "Thank you for that." Cain nodded and opened the chest. A sigh emerged when he saw the state of Slaughter. He worked very hard and overcame all sorts of trials to obtain the weapon, but now it was no longer usable in a fight. After a moment, he focused on the pieces, and they went back into his heart. Even in their state, they could still assist his cultivation. Cain then stared at Shura, and the duo exchanged glances in silence for a few minutes before the woman finally opened her mouth. "Did you figure out that all Blood Champions are of the opposite sex than the Blood Maiden?" Cain''s eyes narrowed when he heard that question from Shura. He had thought about it before and had come to a conclusion. "The effect of the baptism of the Astral Blood Beast will impact the souls of the Blood Maiden and the Blood Champion. This effect will enhance their bodies and energy, but something else exists. Heritage and blood are extremely important for the Blood Sea, so its most significant event must be related. If my hypothesis is correct, the Astral Blood Best''s soul force will also affect our descendants. Forcing you into a marriage of convenience would lead to severe problems in the future, but there is a way around it. The purpose of the trial of danger was to establish a connection between you and one of the Blood Champions." Shura displayed a rueful smile upon hearing that. As she expected, Cain had already figured out everything. She softly nodded before gazing at Cain and parting her lips. "Would you not consider remaining in the Blood Sea? With your power and talent, I am sure the Blood Duke would be more than happy to offer you the position of future Blood Heir. You could rise to become the next Blood Duke." Becoming a Titan, and not just any Titan but one leading a substantial force alongside a beautiful wife, was the dream of any man. Yet, Cain''s eyes glowed red as he looked back at Shura. "I am sorry, but I will not stay in the Blood Sea." Shura trembled for a moment upon hearing that, but she didn''t give up and continued to stare at Cain. "Then what if I follow..." Before Shura could finish her sentence, Cain interrupted her. "My path is mine, and I need to follow it alone." Shura immediately lowered her face, making sure Cain could not see the moisture in her eyes, before turning around and leaving the room. Cain saw everything with coldness and apathy, but once he was alone, he sighed, and a sad smile appeared on his face. Chapter 306 Century Ascendance of the Blood Moon "You were cold, brat." Apex''s voice echoed inside Cain''s mind, making this one sigh. "Is it due to the ice girl? Are you going to mourn her forever?" There was curiosity in the voice of the Spirit System, and Cain did not leave him in doubt. "I will never forget Belzee, how she made me feel, or what she did for me, but I am not so selfless as to close my heart forever." "Then what is the problem? That girl is beautiful, brave, and more than once put her life on the line for you." Shura seemed to have left a very good impression on Apex. Cain remained silent for a moment before finally answering. "I will not open my heart to someone if I lack the power to protect her." After the golden humanoid inside Cain''s soul dimension heard those words, a disapproving light appeared in his eyes as he shook his head. "You have grown in a lot of aspects, brat. Yet, you are still weak. It is not your talent, battle power, or cultivation that makes you weak but the fact you allow the fear of the unknown to hinder your path." Apex did not say another word after that. Cain only shook his head as he felt the disapproval of the System Spirit, but there was nothing he could do. The pain of losing someone he loved was still clear in his mind and heart. It was something that reached all the way to his soul. Until he reached a level where there was no doubt that he could protect his loved ones, Cain would close his heart, regardless of how much he wanted them in. Not wanting to waste more time in those depressing thoughts, Cain took a deep breath and used his willpower to clear his mind. Only then did he adopt a meditative position and focus on his cultivation. While the Astral Rebirth Path of Power and Essence Evolution Path of Power were similar in the Wave Warrior Rank, both focusing on the formation of meridians to spread the Wave across their bodies, everything changed once they reached the Wave Champion Rank. Cain did not head to them since his destiny was the group that contained the Blood Maiden and the seven Blood Champions. Despite arriving last, like in their first meeting, no one dared to even look at him in the wrong way. First, he made it in time, and second, Cain would be in charge of protecting the entire group. The rest of the Blood Champion had yet to fully heal from their battle against the Wave King, so it would be better if they did not fight. Shura stared at Cain, her eyes empty, and she simply nodded before looking away. Cain showed a small smile upon seeing that. He didn''t blame the young woman for her behavior, as he was the one who had severed any connection between them. People noticed her reaction, but they refrained from intervening. They understood that meddling in the sentiments of others during such a solemn occasion wouldn''t be appropriate. Once everyone was ready, the Blood Duke stepped forward. "Soon, the Century Ascendance of the Blood Moon will start. It would be at this point that scattered pieces of the soul of the Astral Blood Beast will unleash their power, allowing its remnant spirit to materialize deep in the Blood Sea. At that juncture, all of you must appear before it so you can pay your respects and enjoy the radiation of its soul force. Only the nine of you, who went through the Four Trials of Purity and are below twenty years old, can reach the Astral Blood Beast''s spirit since everybody else would face a strong repulsion. The journey will be dangerous since the repulsion force will not affect the Wave Beasts, and you will have to face them until you reach the spirit. There, you will be safe. There have been occasions in the past when several Wave Champions perished, so you must not get complacent. Although things should not be so dire this time." The Blood Duke and the other powerhouses turned toward Cain. Even though he would have the weight of the entire battle on his shoulders, his power would make handling things seem like a simple task. Shura and the Blood Champions nodded toward the Blood Duke before waiting. As the sun went down and the moon rose, something began to unfold. The level of the Blood Sea rose at a shocking speed, and the energy of the blood surged to an unprecedented degree, illuminating the surroundings. Then, as the moon ascended into the sky, while it remained unchanged for the rest of the Gaia Continent in the Blood Sea, it seemed to take on a crimson hue. "?BOOOM!" A burst of soul force emerged from the Blood Sea, rising all the way to the heavens, and its power was so immense that even the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 were shocked by its power. Cain''s eyes were filled with awe as he felt that soul force. The Astral Blood Beast''s soul should have broken into hundreds of millions of pieces thousands of years ago, yet it was still capable of this might. Chapter 307 Astral Blood Beast The surge of soul force marked the beginning, and all the Blood Champions adopted defensive stances around Shura before turning their gazes toward Cain. He drew a deep breath, and the next moment, his Ego Wave pierced into the blood-water, allowing him to mark every beast before nodding. In unison, they charged into the Blood Sea, diving through the crimson liquid at astonishing speed as they made their way toward the center of the soul force. Surin and the other Blood Champions immediately assumed defensive postures as they sensed the presence of hundreds of Wave Champion Beasts converging upon them. And they were not alone; there were even some King Beasts amidst their ranks. "BOOMMMMM!" However, before the Wave Beasts could draw too near, sonic cannons materialized and collided with them. All the Wave Champion Beasts were obliterated, and the cannons pushed back the King Beasts. Shock appeared in the eyes of Surin and the Blood Champions as they saw the might of these cannons as they shattered the beasts despite their distance of hundreds of meters. They had witnessed Cain''s sonic cannon before, but it had undergone refinement. Though originally an Astral Rebirth technique, its mode of operation had changed. They turned their attention to Cain and observed how he merely pointed his hand to unleash the blast. He had managed to wield a long-range attack with significant potency despite being an Astral Rebirth Cultivator. The reason was simple: the limitations were no longer a hindrance for someone with his mastery over the Four Basic Wave Arts. Of course, long-range attacks were still weaker than what he could unleash in close combat. However, these techniques served well for crowd control, and he could harness the ambient Life Wave to employ them, saving his own Astral Wave. "Do not squander time. It will be dangerous to confront King Beasts." The Blood Champions heeded the advice and adopted solemn expressions. They would do their best not to become a hindrance. Cain continued to unleash the sonic wave cannons, blasting the Wave Champion Beasts away and keeping the King Beasts at bay. It was a demanding but not overly difficult task, allowing the group to advance safely. In the previous Ascendance of the Blood Moon, there had always been beasts that managed to approach within 100 meters of the group, inciting a close-distance battle, but today was different. No creature came anywhere near due to Cain''s power, and in less than six hours, they reached the epicenter of the burst. Waves of sky-blue energy emerged as a phantom figure began to manifest deep within the Blood Sea. Those waves keep everything but the youths away, marking the end of the fight against the Wave Beasts. Shura and the Blood Champions could not discern much about the phantom figure, but Cain had a different perspective. Cain''s Ego Wave was potent enough to detect the might of the phantom, but he could not help but frown. He couldn''t quite explain it, but there was something unsettling, something amiss that he couldn''t quite grasp. "Is everything fine?" Surin inquired of Cain, recognizing the young man''s reaction. Despite being the senior, everyone knew who was in charge. Minutes ticked by, and the pressure increased alongside the energy coursing through the bodies of those inside. A smile unconsciously formed on Cain''s face as he felt his blood resonate. He had recently reached the Blue Blood Stage, and his power was ascending once again. If all went well, he could attain the Golden Blood Stage after reaching the Middle Wave Champion level! Six hours finally passed, and the Blood Moon began to lose its intensity. Seeing this, the Blood Duke, Bloodless One, and others breathed sighs of relief as it seemed everything was unfolding according to plan. However, just when the sense of security began to settle in, events took an entirely unexpected turn. The phantom projection of the Astral Blood Beast, which should have gradually dissipated, abruptly halted. Its soul force, rather than dispersing across the Blood Sea as it should now that the Ascendance of the Blood Moon was over, coalesced instead, causing its power to erupt. Cain, Shura, and the Blood Champions were stunned by this sudden surge in soul force. Before they could react, they were immobilized, and they could only see as the phantom began to change. Initially, the Astral Blood Beast''s eyes opened, revealing orbs that appeared as pools of blood, emitting a mesmerizing allure. Its chest then started to part, revealing its true form. The Astral Blood Beast''s wings weren''t separate appendages; they formed from its very blood, and that wasn''t all. A halo materialized above its head, radiating such immense power that not only did the moon turn even redder, but the entire sky across the Blood Sea transformed as well. The Blood Duke, Bloodless #1, and everyone else in the sky were astonished; they couldn''t comprehend what was happening. This wasn''t the first Century Ascendance of the Blood Moon they had witnessed, yet the current events defied all reason. However, the shock became inconsequential- Now their focus was on the safety of the youths trapped within. Yet, before they could even take action, it happened. "ROOOOOOOOOAAAARRRRRRRRRR!" The roar sent shockwaves rippling through the Blood Sea, throwing everything into chaos and hurling everyone in the sky away. Not even the Blood Duke possessed the strength to withstand it. "ZNNNN!" The sound of space shattering announced the arrival of the First Collapsing Pillar. The man hadn''t departed after all; he clearly recognized the significance of the Ascendance of the Blood Moon. While he had waited for the Blood King''s appearance, a more dire situation unfolded. His eyes blazed with silver light as he peered into the Blood Sea. Even he felt the immense pressure emanating from the phantom creature. "?AHHHHH!" Despite the threat posed by the phantom, it wasn''t enough to deter the First Pillar from his mission. He roared, his Astral Wave erupting and his Ego Wave ascending into the heavens like a pillar capable of sundering the firmament. He went all-out as though confronting the mightiest adversary of his life. Drawing his sword, the First Pillar swung with all his might, tearing through shockwaves and advancing relentlessly toward the trapped youths. Chapter 308 Rebirth The Astral Blood Beast didn''t seem to care about the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar as its eyes focused on the youths. First, the best focused on Shura, causing the young woman to approach before shifting its gaze toward the rest of the group. All the youths felt their bloodlines surge as the presence of the Blood Sea Lineage grew stronger, except for Cain, whose bloodline was different. After a moment, the Blood Astral Beast focused on Surin and seemed ready to make him advance, putting the youth next to Shura. Upon seeing this, a horrible feeling of wrongness assaulted Cain, as if what was about to happen was something he could not tolerate. The red light in his eyes intensified, emanating burning rage from his soul. For a brief moment, the Astral Blood Beast appeared to sense Cain''s will, but it seemed unfazed. However, at that point, the essence of the young man''s soul force was unleashed. Suddenly, the eyes of the Astral Blood Beast sharpened as they locked onto Cain. At that moment, a flash of desire seemed to flicker within its gaze as if Cain''s soul held the key to its deepest goals and ambitions. An unseen force immediately pushed back Surin while Cain was propelled towards the Astral Blood Beast. Just then, the First Pillar managed to cover the distance and reached the beast phantom. His eyes bore an intense focus as his sword cleaved through space, creating a path toward Cain. The First Pillar''s attention was solely on Cain. While he would save the others if possible, he wouldn''t risk his life for them. Unfortunately, this very objective was something the Astral Blood Beast could not allow to be compromised. "ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAARRRRRRRR!" The beast''s roar caused the entire pressure of the Blood Sea to converge on the First Pillar. The Astral Blood Beast had concentrated all its power in this attack. Only Shura and Cain were protected from the ensuing destruction, but the other youths were no longer important to the beast. The First Pillar''s eyes burned with determination as he pushed his body and cultivation far beyond the limits that Titans should be capable of. However, he couldn''t overcome the power of the entire Blood Sea. The Astral Blood Beast was resolute, unwilling to allow anyone to take Cain away. Ultimately, the First Pillar could only grit his teeth. He swiftly sent the Blood Champions into his spatial ring and flashed out of the Blood Sea before the pressure could annihilate him. As the First Pillar disappeared, the Astral Blood Beast turned its attention to the duo, its intent growing even more forceful. Cain regained control over his body, but before he could make a single move, he found himself overwhelmed by a primal desire. He saw that Shura was similarly affected, and an irresistible urge beckoned him to move toward her, to dominate her body. The force was so overwhelming that Cain had to exert every ounce of his willpower to resist it. Stopping himself from ravaging Shura had consumed all his self-control. The temptation was too strong, and within seconds, Cain was about to succumb to it. "YOU FUCKING BEAST! DO YOU THINK YOU CAN FORCE ME, CAIN LAURIFER, TO BECOME A RAPIST?" Cain''s voice was hoarse, his willpower surging as he extended his index and middle fingers, sharpening them and transforming them into a small blade. If he couldn''t control his mind, he was determined to ensure his body couldn''t act upon such an abhorrent impulse. He refused to let anyone, especially not a creature like this, take control of him. If the Blood Duke, Bloodless #1, and the First Pillar could see the Astral Blood Beast''s phantom''s actions, the beast''s intention would have become much clearer to them. After humanity learned the presence of the soul, they understood that conception was much more than a mere physical process. People originated from the fusion of their parents'' essences. A fragment of each parent''s soul would meld, giving rise to a new soul, a unique amalgamation. This new soul would reside within the mother''s womb, with a physical body forming around it for protection. These two components would develop in harmony until a new life entered the world. This process proved increasingly challenging for powerful life forms since the strength of their souls complicated the fusion. Inside Cain''s soul dimension, a new presence began to materialize as a stream of soul force belonging to the Astral Blood Beast reached the soul dimension. The beast intended to intertwine with Cain''s soul force. Under normal circumstances, this fusion would rupture the original person''s soul, but Cain''s situation was exceptional due to his status as a reincarnator. His soul dimension was distinctive, capable of enduring this intrusion for a few minutes. An intervention occurred as the Astral Blood Beast''s soul force was about to meld with Cain''s. A golden figure appeared in the dimension''s sky, his eyes ice-cold as he focused on the Astral Blood Beast''s soul force. Upon sighting the golden figure, the Astral Blood Beast''s terror reached its zenith, a sense of absolute dread gripping its essence. "Third Realm!" It was hard to say whether it was the fear or the condensation of its soul force, but the Astral Blood Beast''s phantom managed to utter those words as it stared at the golden humanoid. "Hmph, insignificant ant. Even at your peak, you''d be nothing more than a speck of dust in my vision. Yet you dare attempt to occupy this body in your current state!" The terror in the beast''s eyes peaked, but before it could react, the chains covering the gargantuan gate responded. Instantly, they ensnared the beast''s soul, trapping it within a perfect cage of black-white lightning and dark purple flames. Apex gazed at the lightning-flame orb with a sneer. "Using Cain''s soul as a bridge, attempting to fuse your essence into the new fetus for rebirth. A clever plan, but you chose the wrong host." Apex sneered before sensing Cain''s soul force tremble. "Nearly two hours. Damm, brat, your first time was supposed to be a sprint, not a marathon." The golden figure laughed as he returned to his position near the gate, scrutinizing the orb and pondering what to do with it. Chapter 309 Leaving the Blood Sea Cain''s body trembled with pleasure as he released his seed inside Shura. As this happened, his eyes slowly regained their light. With Apex having taken care of the Blood Astral Beast, there was no longer a force taking control over them. Stay updated with empire Shura lowered her face as she stared at Cain. There was no regret in her heart, but she didn''t know how he would react. However, the next thing she felt was a warm embrace and a hand patting her head. "Everything will be fine now." Shura''s body trembled as she closed her eyes, a beautiful smile gracing her lips. The duo stood like that for a few seconds before putting on their clothes and ascending into the sky. --- Cain walked with Bloodless #1 through a large corridor. He had remained in the Blood Sea for the last month. During that time, the young man had established a channel between the Aegon Family and Imperial Lightning Fort with the Blood Sea. Actually, he finished that part quite quickly, but he chose to stay longer because he wanted to be with Shura for as long as possible. "You know that girl will follow you if you say the word," Bloodless #1 remarked. When he heard that, Cain looked at Bloodless #1, but he shook his head. "Do you want me to imitate the monster from one hundred years ago?" Cain''s time in the Blood Sea allowed him to learn about the events that happened one hundred years ago. The treasure that an outsider took away wasn''t a weapon but the Blood Maiden. The child they were supposed to have was meant to be gifted in the Blood Lineage, but he was lost. "It''s different. Your relationship with the Blood Sea goes beyond just us; you are a bridge with the outside world and its power. So, no one would say a word." "Haha, I know, but she will stay here. The Blood Sea is the best place for her training, not to mention that I won''t remain in one place. I tend to move around. It wouldn''t be fair for me to ask her to follow me." Bloodless #1 nodded in understanding. "I see. I respect your choice. I will make sure to keep an eye on her and ensure her safety." Cain nodded, glancing at Bloodless #1. "Thanks for that. I was just about to ask you the same thing. I''ll repay this favor in the future. You have my word." "?BOOM!" Cain streaked across the sky like a comet, moving at Mach 15, leaving the Blood Sea behind in a few minutes. When Cain came to the Blood Sea, it took all his strength to arrive in two weeks, but now he could return to the Imperial Lightning Fort in less than twenty hours. As Cain was finally nearing the Imperial Lightning Fort in the distance, he suddenly stopped and looked back. His eyes turned cold as he gazed into the distance. That coldness was not due to the presence of someone but the lack of it. There was no one watching over or chasing the youth. "It seems that they didn''t take the bait." Although he was alone, a figure emerged from his space ring just as he spoke those words. It was none other than the First Collapsing Pillar. As soon as he appeared, the ring burst into pieces. That was the same ring the Wave King assassin used to hide the crew of Wave Champions. Space rings capable of holding life had limitations, and the stronger the life form, the harder it was to maintain the stable dimension inside. It was a miracle that it had endured holding the First Pillar this long, so neither of them was surprised when it broke. Cain did not hide his departure from the Blood Sea and made sure many people saw him since he wanted to incite the Blood King to attack him. Although it was dangerous, Cain did not want to just wait for the Blood King to go after him. If there was a chance to take care of that man, he would take it. "The Blood King is dangerous and wild but also very cunning. No one reaches such a high level in the underground without those skills. Dealing with him will be more challenging than expected." Cain nodded, his eyes growing colder. He remembered the threat of the Blood King and knew he had to be cautious from now on, especially since the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar would no longer be with him. "We will part ways here. The old man is waiting for you." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar nodded to Cain before vanishing, this time for real. A few seconds after his departure, Luther appeared in front of Cain, nodding towards the young man with a smile. "It''s good to see you, Colonel Laurifer." ------ End of Book 4. A war that painted the sky red. Chapter 310 Clash of sun and ocean Book 5. The awakening of the new king. ---- "It''s good to see you, Colonel Laurifer." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard Luther''s voice. Luther''s strength became more discernible to Cain now that he had reached the Second Real, and he was sure that this man was stronger than the usual Wave King. ''He must be at the Apotheosis Stage.'' The Apotheosis Stage was the transition from human to the divine. In this unique level, warriors transcended the limits of the Wave King Rank and ascended as mighty warriors of the Divine Ascendant Rank. As for Titan, that was the title bestowed upon Divine Ascendant Cultivators whose power surpassed others, capable of standing at the peak of Aether. Of course, even among Titans, there were those whose power was in a whole different category, capable of unleashing a destructive might that surpassed the capabilities of the Old World. "?Colonel?" Cain found himself taken aback by his rank''s elevation, surging two levels beyond Major Rank, reaching even the rank of Colonel. "Yes, you''ve broken a deal between the Blood Sea and Imperial Lighting Fort that has significantly aided the army. It''s well-deserved. Moreover, your strength surpasses the norm for your previous rank," Luther explained. Cain''s growth over the past years was astronomical. Seventeen years of age now, and his willpower had reached the Second Realm. His mentality had grown immensely these last few months, so he refrained from making a fuss about his rank and merely nodded. The duo propelled themselves towards the Titan Tower, captivating the attention of many. Soldiers gazed upward, awe painting their expressions as they beheld Cain. The tales of his participation in the Blood Sea events had swiftly disseminated across the entire sector, securing a place for him in everyone''s thoughts. Cain offered a smile in response to the soldier''s gazes. Not too long ago, he had been in their shoes, gazing at figures in the sky with awe.. Cain and Luther entered the Titan Tower, stepping into the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s chamber. The pressure of will was absent since the Sector Duke recognized it would be pointless to assess Cain''s talent and willpower anymore. "You''ve certainly made quite an impression." The Collapsing Lightning Duke smiled as he uttered those words. Clearly, he was delighted with how things went down in the Blood Sea. Cain clasped his hand and executed a bow before the Sector Duke. Watching over the duo from a safe distance were Oliver and Abin. Despite their advanced age relative to Cain, a solemn aura clung to their expressions as they witnessed the imminent clash of ideologies. Both were at the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path, but the clash happening in front of them was something at a much higher level, and they could only watch with awe. Zarak''s eyes emanated a brilliant blue light as his Ego Wave, infused with the same hue, surged to the forefront. "An ancient image from the Old World depicts a man gazing down from a cliff, observing a dog struggling in a vast ocean. Many interpret this as a choice between being the powerless man or the drowning dog. But I perceive a different truth. I am neither. I am the ocean itself!" As his proclamation reverberated, Zarak''s Alter-Ego emerged, a tumultuous river brimming with ferocity and unbridled power. Instantaneously, the surroundings responded; trees trembled, and the once-clear sky churned with turbulent currents. Your next chapter awaits on empire Even though Zarak''s willpower hadn''t evolved to the point where it could reshape matter, its connection with the primal energy of the world, the Wave, allowed him to incite a natural upheaval without difficulty. The representation of an ocean expanded limitlessly. While Olivier and Abin maintained their distance from that mighty ocean, Cain positioned himself directly before the impending deluge. Just as the ocean''s assault loomed over him, Cain''s eyes ignited with red light. In a powerful eruption, a red Ego Wave emerged, colliding head-on with the encroaching watery force, holding back its advance. However, the Ego Wave could not face the full power of Zarak''s Alter Ego, but Cain smiled with calm and confidence before speaking. "Countless stars dotting the sky, vestiges of ancient powers that once governed existence. As our understanding grew, we realized these stars were mere echoes of celestial bodies long extinguished. Yet, among them, one remained supreme ¨C a radiant force that gave birth to entire worlds." "I am the sun." His declaration resonated, giving birth to a scarlet seed above Cain''s head. An embodiment of fervent energy, it exuded an aura of searing intensity. His refined Alter-Ego, the Sun Seed, was enhanced after achieving the Mind Over Wave state. Its dualistic nature was hidden, and everybody could only feel vitality and potency. Crimson flames burst forth from the seed, setting the red force field ablaze, clashing directly with the massive, tempestuous ocean materialized by Zarak''s willpower. The spectacle they staged wasn''t merely a contest but a dynamic collision of philosophies. Their Alter-Egos, fueled by divergent viewpoints, surged and roared, pushing the boundaries of their capabilities. Amid this intense conflict, both Zarak and Cain absorbed insights and refined their Visualization Techniques. The energy enveloping them offered a glimpse into the path ahead, one born from the crucible of opposing beliefs. Zarak''s gaze remained penetrating as he observed the indomitable resilience of the red sun. It was a sight that deeply resonated, bearing witness to an alter-ego coalescing into a constellation of formidable stars. Zarak recognized the blessing of possessing such a unique alter-ego, understanding that it was an extension of one''s inner perceptions, shaped subconsciously by life''s experiences. While the ocean versus sun comparison seemed straightforward, it was far from simplistic. Amidst their philosophical duel, Zarak''s voice pierced through the charged atmosphere. "My willpower resembles a river, adaptive and ever-changing, like the flow that shapes landscapes. Just as a river molds its surroundings, our resolve evolves through the currents of experience." Chapter 311 Concepts Book 5. The awakening of the new king. --- Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he noticed the burst in power from the ocean as Zarak revealed its nature. "I perceive willpower akin to a sun seed, compact but with the potential to radiate boundless strength, inspiring others in the process." The Sun Seed''s red flames grew even mightier, but Zarak''s smile did not fade. "A river doesn''t confine itself to a single form. It embraces transformation, from serene streams to formidable torrents. Our willpower mirrors this evolution, growing through varied circumstances." The ocean burst with even greater power as it changed its forms, flooding everything around. "A sun seed, though small, can burgeon into a radiant sun capable of illuminating the world. It''s about nurturing potential, not just adapting." Zarak''s face grew solemn as he felt the raw power of the red flames. "A sun radiates light, but a river molds landscapes. True strength lies in adaptation and growth, akin to a river sculpting the earth over time, so our minds should evolve and adapt to the changes around us." Cain''s eyes burst with an even mightier red light as he countered Zarak''s words. "A river transforms its surroundings. But a sun seed''s light has the power to metamorphose minds and hearts, igniting change within ourselves and others. Our will should evolve according to our own desires, not the ones forced upon us by the world." Now, it was time for Zarak''s eyes to burst with power. "A river perseveres through challenges, shaping itself to overcome obstacles. That''s the essence of strength, evolving and enduring through time. A sun might be powerful, but it is distant, its figure in the far distance, incapable of truly affecting the world as the ocean does. What is the point of all that power if you remain aloof from everything." The mighty ocean continued to surge, growing stronger and stronger as it pushed back the red flames. It was evident that the path of the ocean had the potential to rise higher and higher. Cain''s eyes were sharp as he nodded. Two months had passed since he returned to the Imperial Lightning Fort, and his strength had also greatly increased over this short period of time. He did not aim to advance too fast in his cultivation since he was still at the Early Wave Champion Stage. Cain did not take shortcuts during his cultivation in the Wave Warrior Rank, nor would he do so in the Wave Champion Rank. He was proceeding with extreme focus on his foundation while examining Blood Rebirth. He had already nearly reached his Blood Energy saturation point, and it wouldn''t be long before his Blood Runes evolved into a Blood Core. As for Blood Hand, Cain clenched his fist, and it transformed into Blood Claws before beginning to thrive. He had already evolved his Blood Hand to the ultimate level, Blood Shockwave. Unlike Sonic Boom, which used shockwaves to enhance the strength of the punch, the shockwave unleashed by that attack happened inside the target, making every punch deal destructive internal damage. Cain found it hard to believe, but his talent in the techniques of the Blood Sea had evolved superbly for some reason as if he had obtained a new Lineage. Zarak saw the power of Cain and nodded. "You have become very powerful, but still, be careful. The politics of the Capital are not easy to navigate, and you could face all sorts of problems. You are a rising star, and everybody knows about your accomplishments, so I am sure the princes and princesses of the Capital and the noble families will be looking to obtain gains from you." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard that and nodded. His only goal was to go through the ceremony and make the Laurifer name echo across the empire for his father. He was not interested in those schemes, but just because he was not interested, that did not mean he would not get mixed into them. "Since you will be there for around six months, you should take advantage to see, explore, and use its functions. There are many places that can be of use, like the Tower of Concepts and Laws and Stars." When he heard the term Concept, Cain''s eyes narrowed. "I have reached the realm of Mind Over Wave, allowing my willpower to interact with the Concepts, but I am still slightly confused about them. They are similar to the Laws, but their nature is very different." Zarak nodded and adopted a solemn expression as he once again unleashed his willpower, but this time, there was something different. His river began to vibrate with a new power. He focused on one of the burned areas, and as his willpower covered it, things changed, and Cain could see the tree healing. "The Laws are the matrix of the universe, the order of things; they are the basis upon which the world works. Thanks to them, heat burns, and water cools down. Concepts are different; they are not born from the universe but our collective thought. Our minds are able to affect the world, as you can see by the effect of our willpower in our surroundings. Concepts are molded by sentient life forms'' ideas and beliefs, and that defines their power. The Concept of Fire makes things burn, just like the Law, but as it evolves, its power changes. For humans, fire is not just destruction. It is also the power of life and the core of civilization. As you can see, my willpower has gained insight into the Concept of Life, granting my Ego Wave the power to have a bursting healing force. You can begin to feel them, but harnessing their force is much more complex. Do not be hasty; keep improving your willpower, and they will come in due time. Your Alter Ego will slowly gain power and interact with them. I would like to help you, but my insights on the Concept of Life are too shallow yet, so I am afraid I cannot be of assistance. You could use your time in the Capital to find a way." Chapter 312 Biometal Herculean Technique Book 5. The awakening of the new king. ------ Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he focused on Zarak''s words, making sure to engrave the essence of the Concepts in his mind. That was a power that rivaled the Laws but that even an Astral Rebirth Cultivator like him could master. "I will be leaving now. Until next time, Master." Cain clasped his hands, bowed toward Zarak, and nodded at Oliver and Abin before rising into the sky and flashing back toward the Imperial Lightning Fort. Oliver and Abin bowed toward Cain''s departing figure before closing on Zarak. "Young Lord has grown tremendously in such a short period of time." "That is right. Less than three years ago, he needed my help to take care of a few Wave Warriors, and now he has risen to the point that he can face Wave Kings alone." Abin and Oliver were full of admiration and awe toward Cain. "That brat is an absolute genius, but he tends to wreak havoc wherever he goes. I wonder what kind of problems he will generate in the Capital." Zarak almost laughed at the idea of Cain causing trouble in the Capital. He simply shook his head and looked into the distance as blue light flooded his eyes. "I will be leaving for a few months at the least and a few years at most. I intend to refine my willpower before ascending to the Third Realm. Make sure to contact me only if it is an urgent matter. You have my authority to handle my wealth and use my name as you see fit." Zarak gave a small badge to Abin and Oliver before rising into the sky and departing, heading to the north of the Gaia Continent. Cain''s presence began to fade as he approached the Imperial Lightning Fort. His mastery over the Void State had reached a high enough level that he could hide his presence from weak Wave Kings as long as they were not looking at him. With the threat of the Blood King, Cain had to be careful wherever he went. Traveling to the Capital would be long since the distance between the Collapsing Lightning Sector and the Prometheus Sector was immense. It would have been easier to travel a thousand times across the Old World to its sun than to cover that distance. Cain was not a coward, but that did not mean he would go around giving chances for the Blood King to kill him. Not to mention that his presence in a Star Cruiser would also put everybody else in it in danger, so it was better if no one knew. Other than the Collapsing Lightning Duke and Luther, no one knew how he would get to the Capital and when he would do it. Silently, Cain got into a Star Cruiser and entered the Captain''s chambers. This Star Cruiser held a tremendous amount of wealth that would be sent to the Capital. While space rings could hold all kinds of weapons and treasures, there was a limit to the energy levels they could endure. Most of the products here lacked refinement and radiated a massive amount of toxic energy, so they could not fit into standard space rings. There was a chance of using a unique space ring to store those toxic materials, but that would destabilize the artifact. This approach was better regarding safety, efficiency, and cost. Other than Cain, there was no one on this Star Cruiser. Average Wave Champions could not endure the radiation, and Wave Kings would not waste their time piloting a ship when the machine could do it on its own. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he perceived the radiation that spread across the ship, and his eyes glowed with red light as he took control over the Life Wave, generating a shield around him that acted as a filter. Scan of Vessel completed --- Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Early Wave Champion) Lineage: Avernus Lineage Wave Talent: Low Tier 8 (Low Tier 8) --- Stats: Strength: 27.6 Agility: 17.2 Vitality: 26.7 Wave: 19.9 Blood Energy: 34.6 --- Blood Rebirth: Blue Blood Stage --- Note: Wave Virus inside Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 22.1%] No one would believe that someone who entered the Early Wave Champion Rank less than four months ago would have stats like that. Other than his agility, Cain''s stats were all in the level of Middle Wave Champion despite being far from reaching the limit of the Early level. As for his Blood Energy, that had already evolved to the point of matching the Late Wave Champion level! Cain clenched his fists, and a fierce smile appeared on his face. He was sure that if he were to face Zima again, he would have achieved victory even without the help of The Flow. What excited him most was that his body could handle the pressure of training in the Biometal Herculean Technique. A body capable of evolving your body to point it can take point-blank strikes of a Wave King without any form of augmentation. Who would not want that? The amount of metals needed to train the Biometal Herculean Technique was outrageous. Luckily for Cain, he was inside a ship full of them. Chapter 313 Bandits Cain found himself submerged within an immense cauldron filled with seething blood, its temperature soaring high enough to melt the massive amount of metal suspended within it. A typical Wave Champion would have their flesh scorched within minutes, yet Cain bore not a single wound. The Biometal Herculean Technique''s training involved altering one''s blood''s chemical composition, replacing iron with another element. The process began at the Bronze Infusion level. Initially, at the Bronze Infusion stage, the practitioner commences the transformation by consciously introducing bronzy elements into their bloodstream. This initiation typically hinges on an advanced mastery over their blood and their Rebirth Blood Stage. Following this is the intricate biological interaction, where bronze elements gradually assimilate into the practitioner''s bloodstream, engaging with their biology at a cellular level. This initial fusion of bronze enriches the practitioner''s physical endurance, fortifying their muscles and rendering them more resilient against physical stresses and impacts. Upon reaching the pinnacle of this initial level, the practitioner starts to develop fundamental Blood Skills. These include temporarily fortifying their muscles, rendering them more resistant to harm, and the ability to transmute their blood to form a thin protective barrier over minor injuries, which expedites the healing process. A person with great talent would typically require a week to complete this level, while superb geniuses might manage it in just a day or two. Astonishingly, Cain progressed from the beginning to the end of the Bronze Infusion level in a mere four hours. His approach was meticulous; he did not rush or undertake the technique half-heartedly. Instead, he dedicated time to mastering it while consuming as many Bronze Level Metals as possible. Bronze Infusion did not enhance Cain''s constitution, given that it was already at a superb level for a Wave Champion. Nevertheless, it was a prerequisite for advancing to the second level, Silver Integration. The metals suspended within the blood were all Silver Level Metal used in the creation of Silver Artifacts, the same grade of armor that he currently wore. Silver Integration was vastly more intricate than Bronze Infusion as the transformations in the practitioner''s blood advanced from the cellular to the molecular stage. The process began by deepening the fusion of the biometal within the blood, emphasizing silver-like properties. This integration of silver attributes into their biology further heightened the practitioner''s endurance, providing them with a body capable of enduring severe conditions and withstanding more formidable blows. Subsequently, the Blood Skills evolved, incorporating the solidification of the blood into a flexible, metallic layer beneath the skin. It reinforced their defenses and laid the foundation for more advanced techniques. It took Cain two months to reach this level, and he was making significant strides toward the limits of the second stage of the Biometal Infusion technique. His progress was staggering, but even with his extraordinary talent, he could not simply transition to the Golden Resilience level. To enter the third level, a cultivator first needed to elevate his Blood Rebirth Stage to the Peak Golden Blood Stage. Attempting to infuse Golden Level Metal into his bloodstream before this point would result in toxicity and severe harm. Cain currently employed Embryonic Breathing to heighten his body and mind''s functionality, thus accelerating his cultivation speed and allowing for multiple trains of thought. He wasn''t exclusively practicing the Biometal Herculean Technique but also advancing his overall cultivation. His objective was to attain the Middle Wave Champion Rank before arriving in the capital in a month. Despite his state and Ego Wave''s sole focus on enhancing his body''s wave control, Cain was not letting his guard down. It wasn''t like someone as vigilant as him to neglect security, especially with the threat in the shadows with the name of Blood King. [Warning!] "CLOMP!" "CLOMP!" Footsteps echoed through the Star Cruiser, and it didn''t take long for the middle-aged man and the other Wave Champions to spot a figure. A young man wearing a red robe moved gracefully through the ship. His eyes emitted a crimson light as he fixed his gaze on the middle-aged man and the bandits. However, encountering such a young man did nothing to alleviate the bandits'' fears. With each step, they could sense the overwhelming pressure of his willpower, and the only word that came to mind was "monster." People fear the unknown, and right now, this young man was an enigma. How could someone so evidently young possess such monstrous willpower? In the face of paralyzing fear, people typically react in one of three ways: freeze, flee, or lash out. The burly man with the ax chose the third option. "?AHHHHHH!" With a roar, his muscles bulged, and his Astral Wave surged. His power rose to the limit of the Wave Champion Rank. "Don''t do it!" The Captain attempted to intervene, but it was too late. The bulging man had already leaped forward, channeling all his strength into his ax as he swung it toward the young man. As the ax hurtled toward his chest, the young man''s eyes narrowed. He didn''t budge an inch, opting to trigger his Wave Cloak without bothering to unleash Wave Burst or employ his armor. "?BOOM!" An explosion reverberated throughout the Star Cruiser, leaving the bandits in a state of shock and disbelief. They all witnessed the heavily muscled Astral Cultivator swing his ax with full force at the young man''s exposed torso, yet the outcome was beyond their comprehension. "It''s... impossible." The burly Astral Cultivator could only utter that word as he observed a tiny stream of blue blood seeping from the young man''s chest. The ax had barely managed to make a two-centimeter cut. The young man glanced at his chest wound before gently placing his hand on the bulging bandit''s chest. He then turned his gaze toward the others before speaking. "Sonic Cannon." "?BOOM!" In the next moment, a massive cavity appeared in the bulging Astral Cultivator''s chest, sealing his fate. Chapter 314 Defeating the bandits The bandits'' leader bore the name Krane, a Middle Wave King who had survived numerous dangers while living in the underworld. But never before had he felt so close to death as when he laid eyes on the young man who had effortlessly killed the burly Astral Wave cultivators with a single touch. ''Black hair, red force field, not older than twenty... It''s...'' Krane''s eyes widened as realization dawned upon him, and he uttered two words. "Cain Laurifer!" The rest of the bandits shared the same shocked expression when they heard Cain''s name. His reputation had spread far and wide across the empire after the events in Blood Sea, but it resonated most deeply in the underworld. He was the young man who had thwarted the plans of a Dark King and survived. Cain''s eyebrows twitched as he noticed how easily the bandits recognized him, but he didn''t let that distract him. None of them would be leaving this place alive. Krane observed how Cain''s killing intent surged, causing him to clench his fists. He had heard rumors about how the young man managed to face Early Wave Kings, but someone at the Middle Stage was much stronger. Unfortunately for the middle-aged man, his condition was special, and his power had severe limitations, so he did not dare to grow confident. Krane assessed the situation and quickly realized that escaping was possible for him, but the same couldn''t be said for the rest of his comrades. Doubt momentarily flickered in Krane''s eyes, but then a memory flashed through his mind. Silver light burst from his eyes at that instant as he unleashed his energy. "RUN NOW!" Those words surprised Wave Champions, and they were not alone since the behavior of the middle-aged bandit also shocked Cain. Krane drew his sword and generated streams of wind and metal elements that combined into a tornado engulfing his body. This tornado spun at a shocking speed and possessed a sharpness that could reduce buildings to rubble. Despite their initial shock at Krane''s selfless behavior, the bandits wasted no time turning around and preparing to flee. Unfortunately for them, they wouldn''t be so fortunate. "FREEZE!" This single word reached their minds, but what truly mattered was the overwhelming willpower behind it. Hypnotizing a Wave Champion at the First Realm wasn''t easy, but their fear upon seeing the gruesome death of the burly Astral Wave Cultivator had already weakened their defenses. As a result, all eight of them froze in place, unable to escape. "A 4-Star Grand Hypnosis Master!" Krane was stunned to see Cain use hypnosis to neutralize eight Wave Champions with a single command. "Dammit!" Krane exclaimed as he channeled his Essence Wave into his sword, forming a cyclone of energy before unleashing it toward Cain. The attack was immensely powerful, enhanced by the power of the Wind and Metal Laws. It was incredibly potent, and while its effect was less pronounced within a living being, it still inflicted significant damage. Krane''s eyes widened as he witnessed his protective barrier shatter. The next moment, he felt a kick slam into his chest, nearly fracturing his ribs before sending him hurtling through the air. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw Krane crash into one of the walls. The red light in his eyes intensified as he prepared to launch forward. However, shock overcame him as he sensed the eruption of Krane''s Essence Wave. "Ironstrom Cyclone Nova!" Krane shouted those words just before his Essence Wave exploded, unleashing a swirling nova of metallic shards and cutting winds, forming an expanding devastation sphere, consuming everything in its path. Cain couldn''t evade the attack in time, so he reinforced his Astral Wave on his arms and the front of his body. He used his arms to shield his head and channeled his Blood Energy at full power to enhance his Biometal Herculean Technique. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Numerous containers were shattered to pieces by the cyclone''s power, and Cain found himself trapped inside, crashing against everything in its path. Krane watched as his attack successfully sent the young man hurtling away. However, before he could become too pleased with himself, a crippling pain assaulted him. He grabbed his lower abdomen and coughed up blood. It took him a moment to regain his breath, but he managed to stand up and look into the distance, seeing Cain''s body buried beneath a pile of broken artifacts. There was no sign of killing intent in his eyes as he turned toward the rest of his team. "Let''s go!" The Middle Wave King did not want to kill Cain, and the only thought on his mind right now was to escape this place. Krane''s team initially brimmed with joy upon hearing those words, but suddenly, their elation turned into dread. The next thing they witnessed was a shadowy figure materializing behind Krane, striking him with immense power. "?BOOM!" The shockwave burst inside Krane''s body, causing him to cough up even more blood before being propelled against a metal pillar, leaving a deep indentation. Cain''s body was covered in deep wounds, some reaching the bone. However, there was already a thin layer of coagulated Blood Energy that accelerated the healing process. His body was more durable than some Silver Grade Artifacts, and he had pushed his Astral Wave and Blood Energy to the limit, yet that single attack left him in that sorry condition. ''Had this man displayed the full power of his cultivation, things would have been much harder.'' Cain thought this before turning toward the Wave Champions, who had lost all signs of battle will. "Lose consciousness." That was all it took for all of them to pass out. Chapter 315 A new assistant Krane opened his eyes the next second and found himself in a chair. Immediately, his mind jolted, but before he could take a step, he realized that he couldn''t control his body and his Essence Wave wasn''t circulating correctly. Fear gripped his heart as he thought that his spine had been shattered. "I''ve blocked the flow of your energy and blood. Your limbs will regain their functionality in a matter of hours." Cain spoke with a calm voice as he stood in front of the man. He had managed to hinder Krane''s movement by using Vessel Strike, the last skill of Bloodflow Fury. He had yet to master it to the point of effectively using it in combat, but against an unconscious enemy, it wasn''t that hard. "What do you want?" Krane''s eyes glowed with silver light as he used his willpower to regain control over his emotions. Cain didn''t seem like the sadistic type, and since the young man had woken him up to talk, there might be a chance to keep his life. Cain nodded as he saw the calmness in the man''s voice before speaking. "Full name and nickname." The man stared at Cain for a moment before speaking. "Krane Savier. Silver Gale." Cain was a little surprised by how easily he got the information. Krane noticed that, and his eyes narrowed for a moment before explaining. "I have no reason to lie. You could have easily gotten that information from my men since you''re able to hypnotize them." Cain nodded before accessing the military interface. He could access much more information with his current rank as Colonel and soon found Krane''s name. "A reward of 2 million military credits, not bad." Krane only sneered as he heard the reward for his head but did not comment about it. "Why did you attack this Star Cruiser?" Once again, the middle-aged man did not hide it and immediately answered the question. "I got information about a Star Cruiser with a large amount of wealth moving through this region, which was supposed to be empty. It was an easy job and one I have done many times before." Cain nodded, and his eyes grew cold this time as he asked the following question. "Who sold you the access codes and the information about the Star Cruiser?" The routes of the Start Cruiser were supposed to be a military secret, and since the group was able to make a hole inside the force field, it was clear they had access codes. This time, Krane didn''t answer immediately and instead asked his own question. "What do you plan to do with me and the rest of my men?" Cain''s eyes narrowed. He was sure that Krane was the only one who knew about the inside man, and the middle-aged man would not talk before knowing what kind of fate awaited him. After a moment, Cain nodded and honestly answered the middle-aged man''s question. "I will interrogate each of you. As long as you are not a group of deranged killers or something like that, I will just hand you over to the authorities. I am not fond of killing people who can no longer fight back." Krane stared at Cain and could see the honesty in the young man''s eyes. Path of Power: Essence Evolution (Middle Wave King) Lineage: ??? Wave Talent: Limit Tier 7 --- Stats: Strength: 21.9 Agility: 36.2 Vitality: 31.2 Wave: 79.1 --- Note: Target''s Evolution Core is damaged. There are cracks in it. Currently stabilized, but using Wave Burst or high energy output reopens the wounds.] Cain''s eyes narrowed before commanding the system to generate a visual representation in his mind. He saw how the Evolution Core of Krane was already crystallized, full of immense energy. He also saw the cracks on it. Some were old, but there were new ones as well. The cauterized ones should have been the old ones that Krane managed to stabilize with the stolen cultivation resources. The newer ones should be the backlash of the technique that nearly defeated Cain. A light appeared in his eyes as he considered a few things before speaking with the system. ''Ways to heal it?'' [Calculating... .... ... ... Vessel is unable to heal a Wave King''s Evolution Core, but Sun Seed''s Radiance of Life current power should be able to stabilize the wounds.] Cain was slightly surprised that the radiance of life could heal a Sacred Organ, but he didn''t waste time before putting his hand on Krane''s abdomen, right above the Evolution Core. "Do not resist." Krane was surprised, and the next thing he saw was a shining golden flame that emerged from Cain''s hand as it reached his abdomen. Before he could realize what was happening, his pain faded as he felt the cracks on his Evolution Core begin to close. Cain smiled as he saw the power of his Sun Seed''s Radiant of Life. Although it was much weaker than Zarak''s Alter Ego''s healing power, it was still a great force. "Why?" Krane was grateful but also confused as to why Cain would help him. "I need an assistant who knows the ways of nobility and the Empire''s Capital, and you seem fine. I will help you stabilize your wounds, and in the future, when my strength grows, I might heal you entirely if you do well." Chapter 316 Reaching the Prometheus Sector Krane was shocked by that proposition, and for a second, he could not believe what he just heard. "I am a criminal." "And I am a Colonel of the Imperial Army. I have the authority to take criminals under my wing as I see fit." Cain was talking about the ability of high-ranking military officers to take convicted criminals out of prison. Specific criteria needed to be met, and any new criminal activity done by the convict would affect the officer''s military record, so not many people would take that risk. Still, Cain was confident in his ability to control Krane. "Even if that is true, the Sundering Sky Roc University will not be happy." "Haha." Continue your journey with empire Cain laughed as he heard that. He had killed Dominic and indirectly caused the death of a Wave King and severe wounds on an Apotheosis Realm Cultivator belonging to the Sundering Sky Roc University. The hate the universe had for him was much greater than the one they had for Krane. "There is no need to worry about that. That university could not possibly hate me more. Are you willing to accept?" Krane remained silent for a moment before turning toward the unconscious Wave Champions. "What about my men?" A small smile appeared on Cain''s face when he heard that. Krane''s loyalty and sense of camaraderie were why he chose the man for this task. "I will interrogate them. Originally, I was going to send all of them to prison. If you take the job, I could release those who had not taken innocent lives." Krane stared at Cain and knew there was no way to negotiate. He either took the job, or all of them went to prison. The category of innocence was different for different people, but by the young man''s reaction to his story, Krane was able to deduce the way Cain''s mind worked. Murdering civilians and those too weak to defend themselves was something he would not tolerate, but he could approach deaths that occurred in fights among powerful people with a pragmatic point of view. "I accept." Cain focused on Krane, and a solemn light appeared in his eyes as his Ego Wave burst with power. Krane knew the next part and took a deep breath as he lowered his defenses. Cain put his hand over the man''s head before sending his Ego Wave in. He was not trying to reach the middle-aged man''s soul since that was too dangerous. Instead, Cain sent a fragment of his Ego Wave and left an Ego Mark on Krane''s Ego Eternal Matrix. That was the same mark Zarak had put on his body the first time they met, allowing the man to know his location, but Cain''s approach was much more restrictive. Only he could remove the mark and could make it explode if he wanted. While the explosion of an Ego Mark had little to no strength, if it were to happen inside your Ego Eternal Matrix, just falling into a coma would be lucky. Once Cain finished with that and was sure he could keep Krane under control, he turned his eyes to the rest of the bandits and began the interrogations. Of the eight, Cain chose to release three and sent four to prison. As for the last one, that woman made Cain''s killing intent explode. ... ... Scan of Vessel completed Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Middle Wave Champion) Lineage: Avernus Lineage Wave Talent: Low Tier 8 (Middle Tier 8) Stats: Strength: 33.1 Agility: 22.1 Vitality: 40.1 Wave: 23.5 Blood Energy: 39.6 Blood Rebirth: Golden Blood Stage Note: Wave Virus inside Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 22.1%] Cain''s stats were simply overwhelming. He had just entered the Middle Stage, and his body was more potent than most Late Wave Champions, not to mention that his vitality was simply off the charts thanks to the Biometal Herculean Technique. One must also not neglect the overwhelming secondary energy pool. Cain''s Blood Energy was shockingly high, and it was clear that his Blood Core was evolving at a staggering speed, one that not even the greatest geniuses of the Blood Sea could match. ''Just in time.'' Cain''s eyes narrowed as he felt the Star Cruiser descending and moving slower, as it seemed it was finally reaching its port. He stood up, and his invisible Ego Wave had already flooded the place. His eyes narrowed since he recognized someone. ''Good, I can take care of that problem now.'' Cain stood up and collected the cauldron in his space ring before walking out. Chapter 317 Change of plan Unlike other Sectors where there was a variety of organizations in control, such as the case of the Collapsing Lightning Sector having the Collapsing Lightning Duke and organizations like the Blood Sea and Sky Sundering Roc University, every inch of the Prometheus Sector was under the control of the Imperial Court. The Imperial Court of the Godslayer Humankind Empire was a massive organization with hundreds of thousands of individuals. Although it might sound like a lot, it was a force whose purpose was to monitor the political and military power of the entire Gaia Continent, whose population surpassed a trillion. Even those at the lower echelon of the Imperial Court had great influence in the empire, especially within the boundaries of the Prometheus Sector, where the imperial power was at the highest level. Near the border of the Prometheus Sector, there was a massive port where hundreds of Star Cruisers from all over the empire arrived and left during the day. The amount of wealth that moved through this location in a single day was more than what the Blood Sea could generate in an entire month, and this was one of hundreds of ports spread across the Sector. A young man stood in the port, and his eyes focused on a Star Cruiser from the Collapsing Lightning Sector. He had blond hair and blue eyes and wore a golden robe with the words "Chamber of Commerce" on the back. "That is the Star Cruiser from the Imperial Lightning Fort sent by the Collapsing Lightning Duke. We have more than enough people to do the inventory ourselves. There is no need for someone of such high status as Treasurer Marcus to waste his time with this." A bald old man with a black beard stood beside the young man. Despite his old age, he was a Wave King, and his aura was immensely powerful. "Guardian Krima, I am in charge of this Imperial Port, and there is no task too small for me." Marcus'' voice was serene as he uttered those words and stared at the Start Cruiser with a smile. Krima''s eyes narrowed as he glanced at the young man, but he did not open his mouth again. It was clear to him that something suspicious was going on, but he was unwilling to antagonize someone as influential as the young man, so the best path was to remain silent. It did not take long for the Star Cruiser to descend, and it automatically opened its cargo doors, allowing access to Marcus and Krima. However, just as the duo was about to move into the Star Cruiser, they saw two red eyes emerge from the shadows. Krima immediately jumped forward, positioning himself between Marcus and those red eyes. The cruiser should have been empty, but that was not the case. Marcus was also surprised by those red eyes, but what really bothered him was not the unknown presence inside the Imperial Lightning Fort''s Star Cruiser but what he saw next. Cain emerged through the cargo door, and he was not alone since Krane and four bandits followed him. His eyes immediately fell on Marcus since he was the inside man in the Imperial Chamber of Commerce who sold his Star Cruiser''s codes. Cain expected Marcus to lose control upon seeing Krane, but other than surprise, the young man showed nothing on his face. ''Interesting, his battle power and talent do not seem surprising, but I can detect a powerful willpower. He is not someone simple.'' There was no love in Cain''s heart for the one who sold the information about the Imperial Lighting Fort''s Star Cruisers, but he did not have tangible proof of Marcus'' criminal activity. "I boarded this Star Cruiser without telling anyone, so there is no need to worry about that. However, you could help me with something." Cain glanced at the four Wave Champions, and these began to move, positioning themselves next to Krima. "They are bandits that attempted to steal the resources stored in the Star Cruiser. I already interrogated them and uploaded their confessions to the military network. Take them to jail for their sentence." Krima was surprised, and while he did not feel threatened by a group of Wave Champions, he did not think it was wise to let them walk freely. However, as he concentrated on their eyes and noticed the lack of focus, a new wave of shock assaulted his heart. "They are hypnotized!" Marcus'' eyes widened as he heard Krima''s shout and turned toward the Wave Champions. He clenched his fists and took a deep breath as he calmed his heart and glanced back at Cain. "I must thank you, Colonel Laurifer. There had been a wave of robbery in Star Cruisers coming from the Imperial Lightning Fort. Luckily, there had never been any death before, and I am sure they will not happen again." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard Marcus'' words and detected the hidden message. "The fact that new crimes will not happen doesn''t mean we can just ignore the old ones." Marcus grew solemn as he heard that since it was clear that Cain would not simply ignore the previous transgressions, even if no people had died before. He considered things for a moment before speaking again. "For such detailed information about the Star Cruisers coming from the Collapsing Lightning Sector to be revealed, there must be more than one person working in the shadows. Some just want to gather wealth, but others might want to harm the Imperial Lightning Fort." Krane understood the silent exchange between the duo but did not really care about it. As for Krima, he was looking away as if he could not hear the discussion between Marcus and Cain. Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he heard that last part. Marcus hinted that he was not the only one targeting the Star Cruisers from the Imperial Lightning Fort, and while he was doing it for wealth, others sought to undermine the Collapsing Lightning Duke. Cain began to reconsider things since it seemed he had stepped on something greater than just a simple heist. "Are you sure the leaked information had harmed no soldier?" "Yes. I am 100% sure that all the information that reached this port led to only stolen wealth and no deaths." Marcus immediately answered Cain''s question. He was able to relax since it seemed there was a way out for him. Cain''s eyes burst with red light as he increased the pressure on Marcus, but this one stood firm. After a moment, his Ego Wave vanished, and he nodded. "Let''s talk in private. I want to know more about these figures in the shadows." Chapter 318 Into the forest It didn''t take long for Cain, Krane, and Marcus to reach an empty room, and as soon as they did, Cain''s eyes began to glow with red light. Marcus took a deep breath as blue light flooded his eyes. His willpower had reached the Pseudo Wave King Rank, allowing him to keep a cool head, but there was no way he could compete with Cain. "The information reached me through encrypted messages. I got a long list of targets, along with their routes and codes. Many of them were not just full of wealth but also soldiers. They asked for nothing in return, making it clear that money was not an issue to them. I was careful and only targeted the empty cruisers and used people who knew how to handle themselves. Or at least, that''s what I thought." Marcus''s eyes were cold as he glanced at Krane, but the middle-aged man just shrugged his shoulders. There was no real relationship between them other than mercenary work, and any notion of loyalty between the two would be ridiculous. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard those words and saw that Marcus was being cautious even now, revealing the information in a way that, out of context, had no meaning and could not be used against him. His interest in Marcus waned since he wanted to find out the people behind the scheme targeting the Imperial Lightning Fort. They were cautious, going through several layers of protection and not risking contacting the bandits and mercenaries directly. "Since when did this message arrive, and do you have any clue who is behind it?" Marcus did not answer immediately, as he didn''t want to antagonize Cain, but neither did he want to get on the wrong side of the secret organization that dared to target the Collapsing Lightning Duke. Cain could discern the thoughts crossing through Marcus'' mind. "They might be dangerous and have much more power than me, but they are not here." Cain''s eyes grew cold as he uttered those words, and his hand transformed into a demonic blood claw. Marcus was shocked to see how fast Cain turned to violence, and he could feel the palpable killing intent emanating from him. They were in the port and under surveillance, so everybody would know if something were to happen to him, but it seemed that Cain didn''t really care about it. ''He wouldn''t dare.'' That thought crossed Marcus''s mind, but he immediately shook his head. The image of the young man attacking a Titan was still clear in his mind. Compared to that, killing him was nothing. "Ahhh. I have all the information filed. I can send it to you." Marcus sighed as he accepted his fate. He could do nothing about it and understood that he bit off more than he could chew. Luther could figure out that Cain kept some of the wealth, but upon seeing that the young man touched nothing of the Gold Level and above, he did not care. That was especially true since the information about the force behind their recent problem with their shipments was now available. "Thanks for the help. I will make sure to record this service. Any more information will be of great help." "I will assist in what I can." After that, the conversation ended, and Cain soon left the port. No one dared to stop the duo, and all the gates opened with Cain''s military authorization. Once they were out, a massive forest appeared in front of them, extending as far as the eye could see. It was full of large trees and powerful presences hidden in it. "This is the Cicada Forest. According to my knowledge, there are powerful King Beasts and all sorts of interesting places in it." Cain''s destination was the Godslayer Humankind Empire''s Capital, Eden. There was a long way to go from the periphery of the Prometheus Sector, but he was fine with it. Although he was now a powerhouse, he had always wanted to visit the Prometheus Sector and gaze at its wonders, so he would take the chance. Besides, the first of the three rites of his Arcane Nobility Ceremony would take place in a month. Cain and Krane rose thousands of meters into the sky before flashing at supersonic speed forward. The middle-aged man had visited the Prometheus Continent before, so this was nothing new for him, but Cain''s eyes were filled with excitement as he gazed at the majestic trees, waterfalls, and mountains. "ROAR!" Suddenly, a mighty roar drew the duo''s attention, and they looked down, only to see a massive crocodile-like King Beast roaring at them, its Life Wave bursting. The King Beast stood inside a frozen river full of killing intent as it detected the duo''s presence and roared to warn them against getting closer. Unfortunately for the Iceberg Crocodile, the roar only made Cain''s killing intent explode. The young man''s Astral Wave burst, as did his Blood Energy, and he fell from the sky. "BOOOOMMMM!" A massive shockwave echoed across the forest as Cain reached Hypersonic Speed before lunging toward the Iceberg Crocodile. Soon, a bloody battle started, but it didn''t take long for a winner to become evident. Krane''s eyes narrowed as he felt Cain''s power, and it was clear that the young man didn''t win their battle due to luck. His eyes were sharp as he paid attention to the surroundings, making sure no enemies attacked from the shadows. Cain didn''t take long to win the battle, consuming every drop of blood from the King Beast before sending its corpse into his [Devourer Dimension]. Cain''s body had some minor wounds that were already healing. The power of his body was overwhelming, and it took a lot of strength to make a superficial wound, much less leave a crippling injury. Chapter 319 Azure Royal Family For the next week, Cain spent his days traveling across the Cicada Forest. He faced several King Beasts, taking their blood in order to improve his Blood Core while at the same time enhancing his techniques and honing his combat skills. It was excellent training, allowing him to refine his combat abilities and adapt to his cultivation and skills. ''Blood Hand is good, and its power should help me all the way to the Peak of the Wave Champion level, but I should seek another technique in the capital. For defense, the Biometal Herculean Body will help me even if I were to become a Titan, so there is no way to improve in that aspect. Sonic Dash is still sufficient regarding my speed, and my Sonic Blade Fusion Technique will serve me well until the Apotheosis Realm, so there is no issue with that.'' As he formulated his plans, Cain and Krane finally reached a city. It was enormous, though smaller than the Imperial Lightning Fort. It lacked a Titan Tower or any similar structure but featured a massive castle beneath a mountain. Cain immediately recognized this place as one of the Eighty-One States. The Imperial Family was vast, not just due to the descendants of the Emperor but also because it included the family of the former Emperors. Unlike the Old World, the title of Emperor of Humankind was not inherited by birthright. It was a rule established by the First Titan and Emperor of the Godslayer Humankind before his voyage into the Astral Sea. Once an Emperor grew too powerful for Aether, a grand battle would commence among the Godslayer Humankind''s mightiest warriors until one emerged as the victor. That individual would then assume the role of Emperor, and his family would become the Imperial Family. Out of respect for former Emperors, the previous imperial family retained their possessions and gained the title of Royal Family. They moved from the capital''s core to one of the Eighty-One States, where they would take control of the land and manage their wealth. Of course, not all Eighty-One States were governed by previous Imperial Families since the current Emperor was only the Eighth Emperor of the Godsalyer Humankind. The others were under the control of various forces, primarily from the Imperial Court, but they also included the sons and daughters of Sector Dukes and other high-ranking nobles. Regardless of one''s perspective, the Prometheus Sector teemed with promising figures, all eager to ascend to greater heights. "This should be the Azure State, under the control of the Royal Family of the Azure Emperor, the Sixth Emperor of the Godslayer Humankind." Cain nodded at Krane''s words. A glint appeared in his eyes as he heard the name Azure Emperor. That man had been a formidable warrior, capable of immense power, but his legacy was tainted by the unruly behavior of his descendants and the persistent chaos they sowed. After the departure of the Azure Emperor, they encountered numerous challenges but remained influential. It was best to steer clear of them. Cain had no interest in the Azure Royal Family, so it posed no problem. His gaze settled on a hotel, and he proceeded with Krane. They encountered no hindrance when passing through the city gates, courtesy of Cain''s rank, and it wasn''t long before they arrived at their temporary lodging. "I''ll allow you some time to reconsider your answer. The Azure Third Prince has shown kindness by inviting a commoner into his home, yet you are refusing it." Cain''s eyes turned cold, and he no longer cared about the duo. He was willing to play along with their game to avoid trouble, but he would never lower his head to someone he didn''t respect. Without saying a word, Cain and Krane moved to the side and continued walking forward, ignoring the group. There was no point in wasting his breath on any of them. "YOU DARE!" The young man''s eyes flared with rage as he witnessed Cain''s behavior and extended his arm to grab the back of Cain''s neck. Despite having seen the recording of the Blood Sea battle and knowing of Cain''s strength, he didn''t care. In his mind, the opponent''s strength didn''t matter because no one would dare to harm a member of the Azure Royal Family. Unfortunately, the young man made a grave mistake since, for the first time in his life, he encountered someone who didn''t care about his background. Before he could even touch Cain, a silver blur appeared, and the next thing he saw was his arm lying on the ground. "?AHHHHH!" A scream of pain reverberated through the city as the young man immediately fell to the ground, blood oozing from his amputated limb. Krane''s eyes were cold as he stared at the young man and calmly sheathed his sword. Cain didn''t even bother to glance at the middle-aged man since this one was just fulfilling his duty. "You, you lowly commoner, dare to attack us!" The young woman with azure hair shouted and immediately stepped back while the guard moved forward. There were five of them, all Wave Kings. However, they were all old at the Early Stage, so their power was far from impressive. Cain glanced at the woman and couldn''t help but shake his head. He was a supreme genius and had the battle strength to call himself a powerhouse, but there were still people who dared to speak to him in such a disrespectful manner. Soon, his eyes turned cold as he looked at the Wave Kings. "I am a Colonel of the Imperial Army. An attack against me is considered an act of treason." Cain''s eyes burst with red light, and the old Wave Kings were immediately paralyzed. None of them dared to take a step forward. While their duty as guards for the Azure Royal Family was important, they could feel a great power emanating from the young man. Additionally, the strength of Krane alone was enough to handle them. Even more important was the fact that even though Cain lacked a noble title, he held the position of Colonel in the Imperial Army. That rank was no less prestigious than a Marquess, a title that even the Third Prince of the Azure Family could only match. Chapter 320 Damian Sky-Flame The young woman saw how the guard did not follow her command, and her rage exploded. Years of being treated as superior and doing whatever she wanted had twisted her personality into one of extreme narcissism. Even if the target was much stronger than her, in her mind, no one should dare to resist them. "I told you all to apprehend him!" The woman had just shouted when Cain appeared in front of her, and the next second, he slapped her with so much force that her teeth were sent flying before her head crashed into the ground. She nearly lost consciousness, and immense pain assaulted her, but it did not erase the hatred in her eyes. Cain''s eyes flashed with killing intent as he felt that gaze, and the muscles in his right leg grew tense as he was ready to stomp her chest, crippling her. He would not have a problem justifying his actions, but just as he was about to act, his eyes narrowed, and he looked into the sky. Krane followed his gaze but detected no one, leaving him wondering what was happening. "Hmph, consider yourself lucky." Cain said nothing else before turning around and leaving with Krane. He was annoyed by the inconvenience and the fact that, no matter how strong he grew, there were still people stupid enough to think their background allowed them to look down on him. As Cain and Krane departed, a figure materialized in the sky. It was an old woman with azure hair, and there was a sharp light in her eyes as she focused on Cain. "What a monster. So young and still able to detect my presence even though I should have been perfectly hidden from his Ego Wave." After that, the woman turned to the bloodied duo on the ground, and nothing appeared in her eyes but disdain and disappointment. She did not care about the trash of the new generation but could not allow people to go around and simply kill them, as it would affect the name of the Azure Royal Family. Luckily for Cain, no one else bothered them, and they could leave the Azure State in a few minutes by flashing across the state. Once they were out, they found themselves within the Cicada Forest again. Cain and Krane had a choice. They could either take the regular route, moving through empty trails to the next Royal States or cross straight through the heart of the Cicada Forest toward Eden. While Cain would have liked to take the second path to avoid the inconveniences, it was not so simple. The Cicada Forest''s periphery was safe for someone of his power, but deep inside, far from the range of influence of the Royal State, there were Great King Beasts whose power matched that of Apotheosis Realm Masters. Cain was not so arrogant as to think he could face those beasts, even with Krane''s help, so he chose the safe path, heading to the next state. This one was also controlled by a Royal Family, the one belonging to the Fifth Emperor, the Sky-Flame Emperor. During their trip, Cain fought some King Beasts until he reached the city. However, this time, a group was waiting for him at the entrance before he could enter. Immediately, Cain frowned, as he did not want another set of problems, but there was not much he could do, and he simply walked forward. However, from the beginning, things were very different from their encounter with the Azure Royals. The group had a young woman and a middle-aged man, and while there was an inherent aura of nobility and arrogance, they kept calm expressions as they saw Cain''s arrival. Finally, the group reached the volcano''s peak and entered the castle. As soon as they did, the heat that permeated the outside faded, but that didn''t mean the energy was gone; on the contrary. Cain and Krane immediately noticed the waves of liquid fire permeating the ceiling. All the heat from the outside had condensed there, and its destructive power was formidable. The duo didn''t stare at the ceiling for long since a man immediately went toward them. The man seemed to be in his twenties, with short black hair and blue eyes. His nearly two-meter-tall body was not overly muscular, but it was clear there was an immense strength inside it. Cain''s eyes immediately narrowed as he saw the number two engraved on his blue robe''s shoulder. For Royal Families, the titles of Prince and Princess were not given by their connection with the former Emperor since their direct descendants were thousands of years old. Those titles were granted by the higher-ups in the family to the younger generation members who had proven enough talent, and those with numbers like First, Second, and Third were among the best of the group. "You came. It is a pleasure to meet the young legend in the flesh." The young man stood before Cain and extended his hand with a cordial smile. "I am the Second Sky-Flame Prince, Damian Sky-Flame." Cain stared at Damian and returned the courtesy. As soon as their hands touched, he perceived the strength of the Second Sky-Flame Prince, and despite being an Essence Wave Cultivation, it was impressive. Damian''s smile remained, but there was inner shock inside his heart. He had seen the battle of the Blood Sea, but Cain''s strength was even greater than he expected. Although deducing all that from a handshake might seem too much, the young man did not reach his position just due to his great power but also his insight. "Thanks for that, Silas. You can leave now." Silas bowed toward Damian before nodding toward Cain and Krane and left quietly. However, the young woman by his side remained. She showed a great smile before walking next to Damian and clasping her hands at Cain. "It might be late, but allow me to introduce myself. I am a Princess of the Sky-Flame Royal Family, Karin Sky-Flame." Chapter 321 Toward Eden "It might be late, but allow me to introduce myself. I am a Princess of the Sky-Flame Royal Family, Karin Sky-Flame." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard that, but he simply nodded. He was not entirely surprised since the young woman''s behavior was clearly not that of an envoy. "Hahaha, sorry about that. I always have problems with my little sister." "Don''t worry. Your man said you had some important matter to discuss with me regarding Eden." Cain was direct, hinting at the reason why he accepted this invitation. He was not interested in small talk since his last interaction with Royals was not really pleasant. Damian did not stop smiling and simply nodded. "Yes, you are right. However, it would be better if we speak while we eat. There is a great feast, and I am sure you will like it." Cain considered things for a moment and nodded. There was a difference between being direct and rude, and there was no reason to reject Damian''s invitation to eat. The four walked toward a table as a group of men began to display all sorts of delicious food in the hall. No other member of the Royal Family sat with them, which hinted that Damian was not interested in the other Princesses or Princes. "I must say, your actions in the Blood Sea were truly mind-blowing. You defeated those ten Blood Champions in a row and even overcame the last one that managed to use Hypersonic Speed." "It was hard. I nearly lost my life during the last battle." Cain did not over inflate his ego and spoke those words as he began to eat the food, along with Krane. Karin saw that, and a small smile appeared on her face as she also began to eat. Damian nodded, and he slowly began to learn a little more about Cain''s nature. Soon, a sharp light appeared in his eyes for a moment as he spoke. "It is a pleasant surprise to learn that you will pass through our domain. I am sure you are going to Eden for your Arcane Noble Ceremony, but you must also be looking to the Three Towers of Adam." Cain stopped eating as he heard that, and his eyes narrowed as he focused on the Royal Prince. There was no real excitement in Cain''s heart regarding the ceremony since becoming a noble had little importance. He was only doing it to make his family name resound across the empire. However, the Three Towers of Adam was something that really drew his attention. Although his breakthrough to the Middle Stage was magnificent, solidifying his foundation and pushing his Blood Rebirth to the Golden Stage, he would need to accumulate several fortuitous encounters to evolve to Late Wave Champion with Mercury Blood in his veins. "You are well informed." A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he stared at Damian. Knowing about the Noble Arcane Ceremony was one thing, but his intent to visit the Three Towers of Adam was entirely different. Find your next read at empire ''Ahhhh.'' Cain silently sighed before focusing on Damian. "What would this invitation be about?" Once again, he was tactful, but the intent in his voice was clear. He wanted to know what he would have in exchange for this favor. Damian liked the way Cain acted. The young man was tactful enough to keep a cordial conversation but going straight to the point and understanding there was nothing like a free meal in this world. "The meeting is an Imperial Fest organized by several Imperial Princes. In these meetings, the fame of the people each Prince can draw will greatly impact their standing, and right now, you are one of the most famous people on the continent. Of course, things could take sudden turns during the feast, but you are not forced to do anything." Cain showed a small smile as he heard that. If that was all they wanted, his presence and relying on his fame, he was more than happy to do it since he never cared for them. "If that is the case, I am happy to attend the meeting with you as a guest of the Fourth Imperial Prince." Damian showed a radiant smile as he heard that, and the group continued eating while making small talk until late at night. Cain and Krane were given adjacent rooms inside the castle, flooded with powerful Life Wave. Sleep relaxed their bodies and helped them recover from the last week in the forest. As the first rays of light shone in the sky, Cain, Damian, Krane, and Karin were at the volcano''s base, watching a massive beast emerge from the magma. It was a King Beast bathed in flames, and its aura was overwhelmingly powerful. "SHIEEEKKK!" The King Beast unleashed a mighty bird cry that echoed across the castle. It resembled a giant bird, nearly twenty meters tall, with wings over three times that size. There was a fierce aura in its eyes, but peace returned to its heart as it focused on Damian. Cain''s eyes widened as he stared at the King Beast. Not only was it extremely powerful, but he was surprised to see a Runic Inscription on its chest. Although it was hard to determine its use without activating it, it was very potent. "This is my Contracted Beast, Great Blaze. With him, we can cross through the Cicada Forest, heading directly to Eden, without needing to go through the other States in our path." Damian spoke with a smile as he jumped onto the back of Great Blaze, along with his sister. Cain and Krane stared at the beast momentarily before jumping onto it. Despite the King Beast''s flaming nature, its energy did not harm them. "SHIREEEKKK!" The King Beast unleashed a second roar as it waved its wings, flashing at Hypersonic Speed into the distance, leaving a trail of flames on the sky as it left the Sky-Flame State. Chapter 322 The Silver City The King Beast unleashed a second roar as it waved its wings, flashing at Hypersonic Speed into the distance, leaving a trail of flames on the sky as it left the Sky-Flame State. That was not a problem for Damian, Cain, and Krane, but the young princess was not as strong as the trio. Luckily for her, the Second Sky-Flame Prince put a hand over her shoulder, using his Essence Wave to stabilize her body on top of the beast. Once the King Beast finally left the Sky-Flame State and entered the Cicada Forest, the Runic Inscription on its chest began to glow, and soon its aura and that of all those on top of it began to fade. Cain was surprised by the effect of the Runic Inscription, and while it would not work in a fight, he doubted that even Great King Beasts could detect its presence, allowing them to course freely through the sky. Even at Hypersonic Speed and in a straight line, it would take a lot for the group to reach Eden, and they could not train since their auras would break the cloaking power of the Inscription, so they carried on with their conversation. "By the way, Cain, what title do you expect to attain upon your Arcane Noble Ceremony?" While the title that Cain would take would be given according to his merits and power, the ones that would calculate were not machines but the Great Scholars of the Empire. Since that was the case, determining his future noble rank was difficult. Cain stared at Damian when he heard that, and he shook his head. "I don''t really know, nor do I care too much. As long as it is beyond that of a Count, I am more than happy. Honestly, nobility matters very little to me." Since the matter regarding the Arcane Noble Ceremony was going to be a topic on this journey, Cain decided to be honest with the group. Damian was slightly surprised but did not find it out of tune with the young man. It was clear that to Cain, titles and the like mattered very little, and he was someone who relied on his brute power to stand in the world. "I understand, but if your title were to be that of a Marquis, you could access the Imperial Armory. I understand you lost your Natural Holy Weapon, but you could get another." Cain''s eyes widened when he heard that. He knew that upon achieving a title, there was a chance to reclaim a portion of land as his own, but he was unaware they would grant him access to an armory. "That is new information for me." "Oh, right. Well, actually, it''s not something everybody knows. First of all, the number of Marquises is not that great, and secondly, to obtain that reward, you would have to do your ceremony under the support of an Imperial Prince."No?v(el)B\\jnn Cain nodded as he heard that part since it made sense. It was not just that he needed to become a Marquis, but he would have to seek the help of an Imperial Prince, which might be even more challenging. Nevertheless, there was a chance now since he was about to meet the Fourth Imperial Prince. It would be a lie if Cain said he did not want a new Holy Weapon. He would gladly use it if it could adjust to his battle style, especially if he found a technique that allowed him to deploy power even greater than the one unleashed by his arms and legs. "I could put in a good word with the Fourth Imperial Prince, but the rest would depend on you." Cain smiled as he and Krane revealed their A.I. Chip codes and identities. The guard was a little taken aback, but he soon verified the information and saw that Krane was categorized as an MC, a military criminal. Although it was very unusual for people like them to enter the capital, no rule said they couldn''t since they were under the control of a military officer. "I see. Everything is in order, so you are free to go." The guard nodded and marked their A.I. Chips with the clearance to cross the gates. Cain nodded to the man before glancing at Damian. Continue reading stories on empire "Is there a problem?" Damian glanced at Krane for a moment before looking at Cain. "Will there be problems with the Imperial Family or Court?" Although Cain''s presence would be a big win for Damian, raising his standing in the eyes of the Fourth Prince, it wouldn''t be worth it if he brought a convicted criminal who had harmed the Imperial Family. Cain smiled before briefly shaking his head. He had already learned about every crime that Krane had committed, even the ones no one knew about. "It could bring problems with certain people from the Collapsing Lightning Sector, but those same people hate me to the bone, so there''s no difference between his presence and mine." Damian smiled once he heard that. He didn''t really care about crimes committed outside of the Prometheus Sector since they couldn''t affect him. "If that''s the case, then let''s go. I am sure the Fourth Imperial Prince will be happy to meet you." Cain nodded. He was also intrigued to meet the Fourth Imperial Prince. The man must not be so old, and he was a direct descendant of the current Emperor, the Golden Emperor. Soon after they entered the city, they saw hundreds of people crossing the street and several dozens of stores. Although they were interesting, Cain didn''t lose himself in them since they had little importance. All the items sold in this place were meant for Wave Warriors and maybe Wave Champions. Stores that could sell valuable items for powerhouses were in the core of the Silver City, and not just anyone could enter them. Still, Cain''s eyes didn''t stop moving as he glanced at everything around him. He could feel several powerful presences in every direction, and it was clear that this place was a den of tigers and dragons. Chapter 323 Fourth Prince The Silver City was massive, and the castle of the Imperial Princes was far from the entrance. So, if they were to simply walk, it would take days for the group to arrive. While the group could move at Hypersonic Speed and reach the castle in less than a minute, it would still generate all sorts of inconveniences for the people, not to mention it would leave them in a bad name for their lack of manners. Although there were vehicles that could help them move, they were still too slow. Luckily, they had a much more efficient way of transport. Damian guided the group toward a small location full of formations engraved in the ground, and it didn''t take long for them to recognize them as teleportation matrixes. There were guards around it since not anyone could use it. Even Cain, with his title as a Colonel, would need help getting access to them since there was a need for authorization from the Imperial Court, but Damian already had that covered. The guards moved aside as soon as Damian appeared, and the four got into the teleportation matrix. The next second, the group found themselves standing at the entrance of a massive castle, and just the ground on the exterior was full of wondrous sculptures and majestic plants. Cain''s eyes adjusted to the change of scenery as he saw a middle-aged man, attired in golden battle gear, appear in front of them. This one glanced at everybody, and his eyes remained for a moment on Krane before taking a short bow toward Damian and Cain. "Prince Damian and Colonel Cain, I am Nastor, assistant to His Highest, Klaus Goldsoul, the Fourth Imperial Prince. Please accompany me; His Highness is waiting for you." Shortly after Nastor uttered those words, a young woman with the same attire appeared beside him.@@@@ "She is Lamir. She can take your companions to their residences." Nastor was tactful, but his words had a clear intent. Krane and Kira should wait in their rooms as Damian and Cain spoke with the Fourth Imperial Prince. Cain did not say a word since Krane was his assistant and would do as told, but Damian had to explain to her sister that she would wait until his return. In the end, the duo nodded and went away with Lamir. "Please." Continue your adventure at empire Nastor said that before guiding Cain and Damian through the castle. It was truly shocking, with the right amount of treasures and art to make it splendid but not to the point it lost its might and elegance. Cain did not really care about things like paintings, and he couldn''t help but wonder why people would pay a fortune in the Old World for stuff like that, but the ones here made his eyes shine. There were paintings of fire and ocean that, upon looking at them, he could feel searing heat and freezing coldness, as if they were alive. It was clear they were not made by simply moving a brush through a piece of paper. Still, he kept his focus until they finally reached the main room. This one was devoid of treasure, but the man in the center shone with an even greater light. The Arcane Ceremony of Nobility consisted of three rites. Normally, several people would participate simultaneously, but for someone at Cain''s level, it would be a solitary endeavor. Following that, he would have to wait two more months for the second rite and another two months for the third rite. The entire process and waiting period were aimed at gaining fame for Cain''s name so that a large crowd would gather at the conclusion of the Arcane Ceremony, and his name would resonate throughout the Empire. "I''m sure you will excel, but it would be even better if you were to gain the patronage of a member of the Imperial Family." Klaus could discern Cain''s straightforward nature and knew he didn''t like beating around the bush, so he openly expressed his intention. It would require no effort on his part to patronize Cain, and while his reputation would suffer if Cain performed poorly, he wasn''t concerned. Cain''s eyes sharpened, and he smiled. Getting straight to the point suited him well. "I would indeed welcome your assistance, especially at the conclusion of the ceremony. I wonder how I could repay your generosity?" Damian was surprised to see the two making rapid progress, but he remained silent. If it worked for them, who was he to meddle in their business? "Actually, there is indeed something you could help me with, but first, I''d like to know the extent of your Genetic Coding abilities." Cain was a bit puzzled by this question. Although he was undoubtedly a skilled Genetic Coder with superb abilities, it had been a while since he had demonstrated those abilities in public, so he was surprised that the Fourth Prince was asking about them. Nonetheless, he chose to be direct. "My current abilities should be at the Pseudo-Saint Grade." Cain was being modest since his skills should actually be classified at the Saint-level, but he was too strict with himself. Klaus and Damian couldn''t help but widen their eyes upon hearing this. Cain was only seventeen years old, and it was clear he focused greatly on his cultivation and foundation. Yet, he possessed a near-divine talent for Genetic Coding. There was no shortage of Pseudo-Saint Genetic Coders in the capital, but all of them were elderly men who had reached the peak of their cultivation and could no longer advance, allowing them to focus their minds solely on their professions. "If those are your skills, then there is something you could help me with. In a month, there will be a small tournament for Genetic Coders. There were three people in my group, but I lost one of them due to a minor issue. Of course, you will be rewarded according to the level of assistance and the grade the team achieves." Cain could not help but show a small smile as he heard that. He sought to achieve many things in Silver City, and one of them was to enhance his Genetic Coder''s abilities. Chapter 324 Dream Journey (I) "Sure, if that is all it takes, I am happy to help. However, I would be of better help if I got the notes of a Saint Genetic Coder. Of course, I am willing to pay; I just need the channels to buy the proper ones." When buying information about a profession, one has to be just as careful as with Cultivation Techniques; after all, the wrong guidance could lead to dead ends. "No problem. I will bring some of the best Saint Genetic Coder Manuals there are by tomorrow." "Thanks, I must thank you." Cain nodded, and the three began to speak, discussing the preparations for the Imperial Fest. While it might seem like a simple meal, it was actually a silent clash between the Imperial Princess and their abilities to enhance their status. The discussion lasted until late at night, and the group discussed many essential points, especially the intricated alliances and animosity between the Imperial Princes and Princesses. Just the fact they were brothers and sisters did not mean they would get along. After all, no matter how wealthy the Imperial Family was, there were never too many resources. "This was very useful, but it is time to rest. I hope to see you two tomorrow in the Imperial Feast." Klaus smiled and clasped his hands to Damina and Cain, to which the duo responded by performing a small bow before heading to their respective rooms. Cain''s room was pretty simple. There were golden walls, and other than a bed, there was nothing else inside. However, he immediately noticed the extremely dense Life Wave in the air. ''Training here is the same as using mid-quality wave crystals. It seems the Imperial Family is really rich.'' Not wanting to waste too much time, Cain adopted a meditative position on the ground and closed his eyes. He was tired, but before going to sleep, he went through the cultivation path of the Middle and Late Wave Champion Rank. Since he had finished increasing the joints in his extremities, it was time to start working on his chest, shoulders, waist, and head bones. Unlike in the Early Wave Champion Rank, where he only needed to follow the guide of his cultivation technique, the next part was much more complex. It was crucial to comprehend the complexities of the human skeletal system. The human skeleton serves as the framework for our bodies, supporting and protecting vital organs while facilitating movement. It consists of 206 bones, including those in the spine, arms, and legs, each with unique roles and characteristics. This clockwork city awakened a powerful intent on Cain as if he could find powerful inheritances related to all sorts of professions. However, before he could lose himself in it, the scenery again changed. As if carried by a gentle breeze, Cain was transported to a realm of floating islands. These islands were adorned with surreal landscapes. He saw jungles of crystal trees, waterfalls that rose to the heavens, and skies painted in shades that had no names. It did not take long for the floating islands to disappear from Cain''s sight. Suddenly, he was within a labyrinthine structure of mirrors. Each reflection revealed a different version of himself, living alternate lives, making choices, and facing different fates. He could sense the echoes of those choices reverberating through his very soul. A flash of light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he perceived that wonder as he felt in it the power to enhance his hypnosis, but before he could perceive anything else, the mirror labyrinth faded. His journey then took him to a sky illuminated by dancing auroras that weaved intricate light patterns. These ethereal ribbons of color streaked across the heavens as if they were celestial dancers in a cosmic ballet. Other than the majestic beauty of the sky, there was no clear intent in this place, so it could not compare with the labyrinth, but this journey was not something Cain could control. In the blink of an eye, Cain found himself amidst the boundless tomes and scrolls of a celestial library. He could see the collective knowledge of the world written in languages of light and thought. The knowledge of this place was something that captivated Cain, but he was unable to access it. He could only watch the world around him before moving to a new majestic sight. High above the peaks of mountains that sang with celestial melodies, Cain watched as streams of music flowed down to the valleys below, where dreamlike creatures swayed in time with the harmonious tunes. Enjoy new adventures at empire After a few seconds of that wondrous music, Cain saw desert painted in shades of twilight, where the sands shimmered with stardust. Here, ancient constellations took form and told stories in the celestial language of the cosmos. As he reached that starlight desert, Cain''s mind slowly regained the ability to think and act on the information he was receiving other than by mere intents. The world was slowly losing its grip on his mind, and it seemed he was about to wake up. Throughout his voyage through the dream world, Cain was but a spectral observer, unable to interact with these fantastical scenes. Each transition brought new wonder and left him in awe of the boundless creativity of this realm. It was a journey through the subconscious, a testament to the limitless possibilities of the dreaming mind. However, just as he was about to regain consciousness, the dark side of Cain''s Sun Seed trembled, and he once again plummeted into a dream state. Yet, it took an unexpected turn into the depths of a nightmare. Here, the dream world became a realm of darkness and dread, and his inability to interact only heightened the sense of powerlessness. Chapter 325 Dream Journey (II) Suddenly, Cain found himself in a decaying, moonlit asylum, where tortured souls whispered chilling secrets from behind rusted iron bars. The air was thick with despair, and eerie cries echoed through the endless corridors. It was so horrific that just by being a few seconds in it, he felt a wave of despair eroding his mind. Luckily, he was soon pulled out from that haunted asylum. However, Cain just jumped from the frying pan into the fire as his ethereal body plunged into a bottomless abyss, where grotesque, bioluminescent monstrosities with eyes like voids swam in pursuit of him. The crushing pressure of the deep weighed on him, and he could hear the mournful songs of long-forgotten shipwrecks. That abyssal ocean made him feel as if he was drowning, and the might of his willpower to fight that horrible experience was severely weakened. Fear and dread overcame his rational mind, and his body was paralyzed. Cain grabbed his truth, trying to breathe, when he was plunged out of the ocean and thrown into an endless maze. Cain''s rational mind kept failing him, and he acted according to his instinct, which pushed him to run. Trapped within a labyrinth of twisting corridors and shifting walls, Cain was pursued by unseen horrors. Malevolent laughter echoed around him, and he felt the ever-present gaze of unseen eyes. It must have been barely a few seconds, but for Cain, it felt like an eternity. Somehow, he managed to leave the maze, only to enter a forest cloaked in perpetual twilight. The trees seemed to writhe with sinister intent, and strange, shadowy creatures slithered through the undergrowth, always just out of sight. The forest of shadows confused Cain, and he did not know where to go. That was not a problem since soon his surroundings shifted to a bleak, desolate landscape dominated by a towering funeral pyre. Flames danced with a sinister glee, casting elongated shadows that seemed to reach out for him. Just as the shadows seemed ready to overwhelm him, he appeared in the heart of a clockwork city. Unlike the beautiful landscape of engineering he had seen before, this one was a nightmarish labyrinth of gears and traps. Malfunctioning machinery threatened to crush him, and menacing automatons pursued him relentlessly. A building had just collapsed, and as the pieces were about to crush him, he appeared in the heart of an ancient, eerie town. Dark water emerged from a well with whispers that promised secrets and forbidden knowledge, drawing him closer to the edge despite his dread. Cain was about to fall into the whispering well when he appeared in the center of a macabre carnival. He watched as faceless, masked figures danced in a grotesque procession. Their eerie, synchronized movements left him with a sense of profound unease. Suddenly, the dancers began eating each other with maniacal smiles, and just as they turned their eyes toward Cain, he appeared within the grand cathedral. Cain witnessed a congregation of tormented souls, their anguished cries echoing through the cavernous space. Twisted figures adorned the stained glass windows, depicting scenes of suffering. People were praying and begging with all their strength, but blood kept emerging from their eyes. Every scenario was worse than the last one, filling Cain''s soul with a sense of dread and hopelessness, and after that tormented cathedral, what came next was unbearable. In the end, Cain only shocked his head since he could do nothing. He rose from the bed and took a short shower before adopting a meditative position on the ground, doing his best to heighten his focus before the Imperial Feast. Experience more on empire Cain meditated for several hours until daylight slowly began to fade away on the horizon. Only then did he open his eyes and wear the golden robe left by the Fourth Prince''s people. He left his room and saw Krane waiting for him. While the middle-aged man would not be part of Klaus'' escort in the Imperial Feast, he could still attend it as Cain''s companion, similar to what would happen with Damin and Karin. ''We will keep a low profile. I already found a way to secure the Fourth Prince''s help, so there is no need to show off during the Imperial Feast.'' Cain used his Ego Wave to speak directly into Krane''s mind, and his eyes grew cold as he said the next part. ''I should not tell someone like you this, but I will do it regardless. We might be the guests of the Fourth Prince, but we are not his friends, and nothing stops him from using us as chess pieces in whatever game he might be playing.'' Krane''s eyes widened for a moment. He had lived for hundreds of years and experienced the cruelty of those so-called "comrades," so he knew that trust was not something one should give easily. Yet, he was surprised that someone so young as Cain would also see the world like that. It was clear to Krane that while Cain was courteous and looked happy to be part of the Fourth Prince''s escort, he did not trust the man. That lack of confidence was not because Klaus did something wrong but because he had done nothing to earn Cain''s trust. The fact he was an Imperial Prince meant nothing to Cain since only fools would think that status and age made some honorable. ''I understand, Master. I will keep a low profile and open my ears for new information.'' Krane''s eyes glowed with a solemn light as he realized that the young man he served was not only a divine genius but also a keen mind that saw things beyond black and white. Cain noticed the change in Krane but did not say a word since it was not like he trusted the middle-aged man either. However, he had control over the Wave King and would get rid of this one at any sign of betrayal. "Let''s go." Cain and Krane left the castle and headed into the teleportation formations. The Imperial Feast would not occur in the Fourth Prince''s home but in a neutral location. Shortly after activating the teleportation formation, Cain and Krane found themselves atop a mist-shrouded mountain. They were greeted by stone statues of mythical beasts and ancient warriors, their eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light. The Imperial Fest would be held in the Heaven Sundering Mountain. From this place, one could see the entire Silver City as gods did in the tales of the Old World. Chapter 326 Magnus ''Gods among men.'' That was the feeling Cain thought the creator of this place wanted to inspire. Even if they were in the same plane, those on the top could look down on those on the bottom. Cain only shook his head but did not offer an opinion about it since even he was not impervious to the feeling of superiority. After all, by any metric, he was superior to billions of other youths across the empire. Luckily for Cain, the enemies he was making on his path were so powerful that he never grew complacent with his strength. He did not waste too much time with those thoughts and began walking to the Heaven Sundering Hall, where the Imperial Feast would occur. Krane immediately regained his focus as he saw Cain walking forward. He was a Middle Wave King and a noble before his crimes, but even then, he never enjoyed the status required to attend this sort of ceremony, so he was a little dumbfounded by the wondrous view. ''It should be the first time he enjoys a sight like this, yet he can keep his emotions under flawless control. The view of a god clearly means very little to this young man.'' The more Krane learned from Cain, the more he felt the young man was full of mystery. Cain noticed Krane''s stare but simply walked forward. Just the path to the hall was majestic. It was a meticulously landscaped Gaia''s exotic flora and fauna. Cherry blossom trees heavy with fragrant blossoms line cobblestone paths, and koi fish glide gracefully through lotus-filled ponds. The scents of rare flowers flooded the air along with the soft murmur of a thousand exotic birds. Cain was surprised by the beauty of the place but did not think much about it until he suddenly felt his mind growing calmer and his Astral Wave revolving more smoothly across his body. Krane had also noticed the change, but he just took it as a change in the energy flooding the place. Yet, Cain''s mind was able to pierce much deeper thanks to his understanding of The Flow. Shock and awe appeared in his eyes as he realized there was a natural formation in this place, not made by inscribing runes but by the arrangement of the trees, earth, and air currents around them. Whoever created this path had divine control and domain over the origin energy that flooded Aether. "Marvelous." Cain could not help but express his admiration as The Flow showed him just how amazing this place truly was. "Hmph, since when is Heaven Sundering Mountain a place mere commoners can enter?" Unfortunately for Cain, he was not able to focus on that wondrous feeling for long since a mocking voice appeared behind him. Cain and Krane turned around and saw a small group of five people walking toward them. All of them had azure hair and wore golden robes. The one at the lead was a man not over thirty years old with sky-blue eyes. He was not more than one meter and ninety centimeters, but his aura was the greatest of the group, and the Essence Wave running across his body felt like an endless sky. The one that shouted was a young man not older than Cain with jet-black hair and fiery red eyes. "Magnus Hellblazer." Even the arrogant Fourth Azure Prince dared not lash out against the young man since this one was the greatest genius of the Hellblazer Family and widely recognized as the future Hellblazer Duke. The Fourth Azure Prince took a deep breath as he stared at Magnus. He calmed his rage, but the coldness in his eyes did not fade. "Why are you defending this commoner? Should I take as the will of the First Imperial Prince?" Magnus stared at the Fourth Imperial Prince before softly shaking his head and sighing. "I do not understand why the Third Imperial Prince would choose someone like you to be his escort in the Imperial Feast. It is like asking a baboon to choose your clothes. You will only bring embarrassment to yourself." Silence reigned across the mountain after Magnus uttered those words. Cain had just ignored the Fourth Azure Prince, but Magnus compared this one to a baboon. Discover exclusive tales on empire Magnus spoke again before the Fourth Azure Prince could even process those words. "The First Imperial Prince and Third Imperial Prince are in an alliance, so I can not let you embarrass both of them. If you attacked the escort of the Fourth Imperial Prince in such sacred terrain, what kind of compensation do you think they would have to pay?" Shock and dread crossed the Fourth Azure Prince''s eyes as he heard that and realized that he nearly made a grave mistake. His title granted him the authority to do as he pleased in most places, but this was the capital, and he was far from special. The Fourth Azure Prince turned toward Cain, and as he saw the flash of disappointment, he understood that everything had been a scheme. Burning rage emerged in his heart, but he did not dare to attack, and after glancing at Magnus, he walked forward with his group. Magnus saw the man walking away without saying thanks but did not care since, from the start, he never cared about forming a relationship with the Azure Royal Family. It is like a great general of the Old World once said: what one should really fear is not a competent enemy but an incompetent ally. Magnus did not have time to reflect since he soon felt tremendous pressure on his mind as two cold red eyes focused on him. The young man stared back at Cain and his eyes began to glow with silver light. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he felt the willpower of an Early Wave King on Magnus! Although the silver Ego Wave was much weaker than his, Cain was a genius with an Inborn Ego Eternal Matrix, while Magnus had to reach that level by pure hard work. No matter how you saw it, the young man from the Hellblazer Family''s talent in the Ego Eternal Path of Power was not weaker than Cain. A flash of killing intent appeared in Cain''s eyes, but it immediately faded as he focused on Magnus'' shadow. Cain clasped his hand and performed a slight bow to the shadow before walking away with Krane. Chapter 327 Imperial Feast (I) A few seconds after Cain left, a figure emerged from Magnus'' shadows. The man was covered in thick darkness, making it impossible to see his true form, but his eyes were sharp and had vertical pupils. "Such sharp instincts. No wonder that the Patriarch praised the young man." Magnus tightened his fists as he heard those words from the man covered in darkness. "Is he stronger than you, Lord Opin?" The man covered in darkness turned toward Magnus before a sharp light appeared in his eyes. "Boy, do not play tricks with me. I will fulfill my mission, but you are on your own if you attempt to fight against Cain Laurifer. Unless that young man attacks first, I will not raise my hands against him." Opin said nothing else before melting, merging again with Magnus'' shadows. Magnus did not say a word and just looked at the fading figure of Cain in the distance before a sharp light appeared in his eyes. He was one of the greatest geniuses of the empire, but he had the misfortune of being part of the generation with an authentic monster. However, while for other geniuses, it would have been rage and frustration, the only thing Cain''s talent awakened in Magnus was a bursting fighting will. Cain continued walking calmly, but his instincts heightened. The group of the Azure Royal Family was not a real problem, but things grew more dangerous from the moment he detected that presence hidden in Magnus'' shadows. Although he did not know who it was, he detected signs of the Void State practiced to the highest level, so it could only be a higher-up of the Aegon Family, to which he paid his respect. ''There are dangers everywhere. I should be extra careful.'' Cain''s eyes were cold and decisive as he walked forward, and it was not long before he saw a massive hall. It was made of silver metal, but golden heavenly bodies and pictures were engraved around it. They depicted all sorts of majestic battles and feats performed by previous emperors, and among the first images, Cain could see a golden figure ripping the heavens apart. Watching it made Cain''s heart beat faster since he knew that scene depicted Adam, the First Titan, clashing against the Gods of the Dark Races. Although it was a childish idea, Cain could not help but wonder how it would feel to fight against the entire world and have the power to carve the name of your race in blood across the heavens. Cain only smiled, as there was no point in such thoughts since his battle power could barely reach the Middle Wave King level, and facing a Titan was nothing but a distant dream. Not to mention that even among Titans, there were those that stood even higher, like the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the Dark Kings. There were no guards at the door to the hall, but Cain knew there was no need since he felt a powerful presence from the moment he entered this place. It was very subtle, but he knew an extremely powerful surveillance system was watching over them. The Imperial Feast was supposed to start after sunset, and since Cain was not interested in socializing too much, he arrived a short period before the start. That was why when he entered the hall, there were already dozens of people inside. Cain stared at Herkul with a bit of surprise. He did not know the man, but he had heard about Grand Marquis Durus and knew this one was a great battlefield hero, spending most of his time in the war against the Dark Races. "I am happy to see another soldier among this bunch of nobles." Herkul did not hide his voice but did not care too much about if he offended someone. He was a soldier at heart and had only come to an event like this due to his relationship with the Fourth Imperial Prince. Cain nodded and showed a small smile as he shook hands with Herkul. Klaus was happy to see the friendly atmosphere that Cain was forming and hoped for things to continue like that as he introduced the rest of the group. "This fair lady here is Aurelia Verita, the second daughter of the Veritas Sector Duke." Aurelia was a young woman with a small face and a petite body, not over one meter seventy tall, her eyes the color of polished gold, and long red hair. She stared at Cain for a moment, and her eyes narrowed as she saw a flash of fascination in the young man''s eyes. Like most powerful women, Aurelia did not like being seen as an object, and while she knew her body was appealing, that did not mean people could just stare at it. However, the coldness in her eyes faded as she noticed that what Cain was looking at was not her face or body but her hair. "You seem to really like the color red." Cain was a little surprised to hear those words from the young woman since he had made sure to hide his fascination, but it seemed that her instincts were top-notch. After a moment, he shrugged his shoulders. "I am attracted to that color." Everybody had tendencies and preferences; for some reason, Cain could not hide his fascination with red. Aurelia showed a beautiful smile as she heard Cain''s direct response and took a step forward. "Only that?" Cain''s smile did not fade, and he moved his face close to the point where their lips nearly touched as he replied to Aurelia. "Yes, only that." There was a flash of coldness and apathy in Cain''s eyes as he stared at the young woman, making it clear the effect she had on him. There was no desire whatsoever in Cain''s eyes or actions, surprising Aurelia and taking her out of her rhythm. Chapter 328 Imperial Feast (II) The rest of the group didn''t know how to react, but luckily, the Fourth Imperial Prince broke the tension. "Caught."@@@@ Klaus drove things forward as Cain took a step back from Aurelia. "The young man at your right is Alex Umbra, son of the Minister of Information." Alex was a young man with a body nearly two meters and twenty centimeters tall, yet despite that massive physique, if you didn''t focus on him, you could barely detect his presence. Cain was someone who trained in assassination arts and could be considered a great master in it, so he was sure that this young man was also someone extremely dangerous and a seasoned spy or killer. It takes one to recognize one, which was why Alex also perceived Cain''s training as a killer. While it might be imperceptible for others, he immediately detected it when he saw Cain''s movements through the hall. "I am glad to meet someone who trained in the Aegon Family''s techniques." Alex stretched his hand, and Cain did the same, and with a single handshake, their eyes narrowed before nodding to each other. It was silent, but there was a clash between the two, and they both knew that if they attacked with pure assassination techniques, neither would come out fine. Klaus saw Cain''s effect on the younger members of the group, but there was not much he could do since it was normal for a young genius to ignite the fighting spirit of others. "Our next friend is the only daughter of the Caelum Sector Duke, Nova Caelum." Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire Cain stared at Nova, and just as expected, she was a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and a well-defined body, but his eyes focused on her single golden left wing. That was not the result of a spell or energy incantation but an actual appendage, most likely due to her bloodline. External physical alterations due to your Lineage were not uncommon among those with powerful bloodlines. Yet, Cain''s eyes did not remain on the wing for long since he turned to the old man behind her, who looked like a stone statue. It was not normal for the escorts of the Imperial Princes to bring people with them, but just like Krane, they should be tactful, not interfere in the discussions of others, and remain at a suitable distance. "Ahhh, ignore him. Uncle Rokus is just fulfilling his role given by my father. I am happy to meet the young legend of the Blood Sea." Cain showed a small smile and nodded to the woman. He felt the great might of the man and was sure this one was not much weaker than Bloodless #1, so he made sure to mark Nova as someone he should not bother. Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he stared at the Crown Prince and felt the immense strength of this one, one so mighty that it was hard for him even to perceive it. The Crown Prince did not say a word and simply walked with his group into the hall with a large smile, and soon, people began to walk toward him. Everybody recognized the one approaching the Crown Prince. He was very similar to Michael in appearance, but their auras could not be more different. That person was none other than the Third Imperial Prince. While the Third Imperial Prince was far from the power or fame of his brother, no one dared to go against this one since he and the Crown Prince had the same mother. Cain noticed the Fourth Azure Prince in the group of the Third Imperial Prince and could not help but frown when he saw the man looking back with a poisonous glance. Silence reigned for a few seconds as Michael appeared, but noise soon returned, and people began to talk among themselves. "THUMP!" That sound marked the beginning of the feast, and everybody went to their seats. There were two seats of tables spread across the hall, leaving the center empty. The one closest to the center belonged to the Imperial Princes, Princesses, and escorts, while the one behind was for their companions. On the right side of the tables were the Fourth Prince, accompanied by two Imperial Princes and one Princess. Right in front of them was a group composed of one Princess at the center, flanked by two Imperial Princes. As for the head, that was a place where the Crown Prince and Third Imperial Prince were sitting. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he analyzed the formation of their seats and knew it was not coincidental. It was clear there were three groups among the Imperial Princes and Princesses. The one with the lesser numbers belonged to the Crown Prince, but while the Third Prince was the weakest, Michael''s power alone was enough to support their coalition. It did not take long for people with refined attire to enter the hall and deposit food that was not only pleasing to the sight but the amount of energy and aura in it was overwhelming. Cain was surprised to see the food since not only was it full of energy, but its scent generated a reaction in his bloodline. It was regular food in this place, but he was sure it would be a treasure anywhere else, capable of drawing great battles. The waiters put the food in place and silently left the room. While everybody wanted to enjoy the feast, no one dared to break etiquette, and they all waited as the Crown Prince raised his cup. "My brothers and sisters, allow me to express how happy I am to see all of you gathered at the same table. It has been a long time since I last saw all your faces. Let''s hope we can repeat this very soon." As the Crown Prince raised his cup, every other Imperial Prince and Princess did the same and took a drink as if they were commemorating the occasion. Of course, that was just the public image they would present since everybody knew they did not get along very well. Chapter 329 Cain vs the Fourth Azure Prince "Your words are indeed true, big brother. As sons and daughters of the Golden Emperor, we should be together, especially with the advances of the Dark Races." The one who answered the words of the Crown Prince was a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and golden pupils, and her aura seemed to merge with the world around her. That was none other than the Second Princess. Although in this world, power mattered more than anything, there were still those who believed that gender should be decisive in the leading roles of a force. But the woman had managed to carve her path with impressive accomplishments and remarkable personal power, allowing her to be second only to the Crown Prince. After that small toast, people finally began to eat. There was a certain level of finesse in everybody''s behavior, suitable for a place like the Heaven Sundering Hall. However, one person did not particularly care for that, and everybody saw how they devoured the food in front of him like madmen. Yet, no one said a word since it was none other than a member of the Deus Bahamut Race. While some frowned upon that behavior, Cain''s response was different. He looked at the young man with a short smile as he liked that behavior, to truly act according to your heart''s desires. Still, Cain kept consuming his food with calm. There was not an excess of etiquette, but neither was he as wild as the members of the Deus Bahamut Race. He just followed the table manners his father taught him. "Fourth Brother, I see you have a young hero in your group. Shouldn''t you present such a rising star to all of us?" It did not take long for the small chatter between the princes and princesses to stop as the Third Prince spoke loudly, drawing attention towards Cain.@@@@ Klaus'' eyes narrowed as he heard those words from the Third Prince. He, of course, knew of the animosity between Cain and the Azure Royal Family, so this exchange could not be a good one. But there was no point in keeping silent. "Of course, most of you should already know him. He is Cain Laurifer, Colonel of the Imperial Army and the Blood Sea Civil War hero. The man who managed to frustrate the plans of a Dark King." People turned toward Cain and began to look at him with extreme focus. All those present were aware of such an important event as the Blood Sea Civil War since it involved two Dark Kings. Cain stopped eating and glanced at the people in the room before nodding to them. He did not offer words and instead stared at the Third Imperial Prince. It was clear that things would not end with that small introduction, but he did not lose his calm. "Colonel Laurifer. It is a great pleasure to meet such a young hero. Irion, I heard that you and the colonel have already met." The person that the Third Imperial Prince referred to as Irion was the Fourth Azure Prince, and a poisonous light appeared in his eyes as he prepared to talk. However, Cain was faster. Only peace and serenity appeared in Cain''s eyes as he took a sip of his drink before speaking. "No matter their strength, there is no one fighting in the war against the Dark Races who is not a hero, and I would understand if some of them feel discomfort about having criminals among their ranks." Irion''s smile grew wider upon hearing that, as it was the response he expected. He was now ready to call Cain a hypocrite. However, before he could do that, Cain proceeded. "However, I am a Colonel, and I should lead millions of soldiers in the future. Any measure I can use to secure the lives of those heroes is more important than their personal feelings. Only a child would think that feelings matter more than security in war." The Fourth Azure Royal Prince''s eyes grew cold as he felt the hidden intent in those words, but he did not care, as it did not affect his plan. While there is justification for military criminals in war, using them inside the Empire, especially in the capital, could easily be controversial. Unfortunately for Irion, Cain had not finished yet. "Since you brought that topic, I would like your insights, Azure Prince." Irion''s eyes narrowed as he felt something was wrong, but he did not lose focus and came up with what he thought to be the perfect answer. "I am not an official member of the military, but of course, I have had several skirmishes with the Dark Race in the darkness. I do not glorify them since it is just my duty as a member of the Empire." Irion knew his lack of military background could be brought up, so he gave that answer. It was not odd for those of Noble Families to fight members of the Dark Races away from the spotlight. The truth was that Irion had never gone to fight the Dark Races, as in his mind, there was no reason to go to such dangerous places, but no one could verify his words. Cain did not attempt to verify the truth of those words and simply continued. "I know that you lack military merits, but I expected the insights of someone close to you. I expect you to have a profound meaning behind discussing the military criminal policy that could save soldiers'' lives. There must be a family member or close friend who shared those experiences with you. After all, you would not bring this topic only to cause controversy since such political maneuvers were unworthy of a descendant of the Azure Emperor." Irion clenched his fists beneath the table as he heard that. He had only intended to bring up the policy to bring out Krane''s presence. Still, Cain redirected the topic to his lack of military experience; even worse, this one called him a politician. For the Godslayer Humankind, the term politician was infamous since it depicted a group of people who only knew how to cause trouble and draw attention without offering solutions. Chapter 330 Facing the Third Imperial Prince Irion felt his heart rising, and a powerful sense of embarrassment assaulted him as he saw people looking at him and mumbling among each other. He couldn''t help but clenched his teeth before shouting. "Are you questioning my company when you brought a criminal to this gathering!" Although Irion''s behavior was unworthy of a member of a Royal Family, the news of a criminal in the feast was shocking, and everybody focused on Krane before turning their eyes toward Cain. Cain remained calm as he took another sip from his cup. Unlike Irion, he was the epitome of composure amid pressure. "I knew you were a fool, but I did not believe you were also deaf." "You little..." Irion was so furious that he nearly jumped out of his seat, but upon seeing the eyes of the Imperial Princes and Princesses, he managed to stay seated. Cain softly shook his head since the man had more restraint than expected but carried on. "I clearly stated that I will be using military criminals in my war efforts, so it makes sense that I will have one by my side. After all, a good leader always gets familiar with his troops, but someone like you who has never set foot on a battlefield would not know that." Irion''s face froze, and silence reigned after Cain uttered those words. Not only did he give a perfect response for having a convicted criminal by his side, but he also made sure to repeatedly embarrass the Fourth Azure Prince for his lack of war experience. The Fourth Azure Prince trembled as he felt how no one cared about the fact that Cain had brought a criminal, and some even silently praised his wartime accomplishments, while the rest only looked at him with mockery, as if they were watching a clown. In his mind, not even the Imperial Family could embarrass him since he belonged to the Azure Royal Family, so the fact that a mere commoner dared to make fun of him was more than he could handle. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire "Crown Prince, I am sure you have some problem with criminals at the table, right?" The Third Imperial Prince''s smile did not falter during the entire exchange since he did not care about Irion''s reputation, but his eyes began twitching as he heard those words. He had been happy to present the subject of military criminals to assist the Fourth Azure Royal Prince to embarrass Cain. Still, he never expected this one to be so foolish as to bring the Crown Prince into the spotlight. A burning rage appeared in the Third Imperial Prince''s eyes as he turned toward Irion. ''Fucking trash. Had I known you would cause so much trouble, I would have rejected your treasures and sent you away.'' The Third Imperial Prince wanted nothing more than to kick out the Irion, but it was already too late. "It was the First Collapsing Pillar who made the duo leave. I am far from enough to handle entities like the Dark Kings alone." People in the room softly nodded as they heard that since they would never believe that a seventeen-year-old man could face two Dark Kings. Yet, the tales of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar were already legendary, and that man was more than powerful enough to face entities like the Shadow King or Blood King. "I see. Still, the fact that the First Collapsing Pillar came to your rescue proves how highly the Collapsing Lightning Duke thinks of you. Who knows what position you will take in the Imperial Lightning Fort in the future, having one Collapsing Lightning Pillar as your teacher and another as your guard." The eyes on Cain changed as they heard those words. Although there were seventy-two Sectors, those at the level of the Collapsing Lightning Sector could be counted on the fingers in one hand. Cain was clearly in high esteem by the Collapsing Lightning Duke, and it would not be odd for someone of his talent to be groomed to become the next Sector Duke. If that was the case, they had to establish their connection with him now, or it would be too late by the time he rose to a higher position in the empire. The Fourth Imperial Prince''s face showed nothing, but a sharp glint appeared in his eyes as he stared at the Second Imperial Princess. Those words did not harm Cain at all but would make everybody else go after him, and it was not like there was a proper relationship between the two that could withstand that pressure. Cain was also smart enough to detect the intention of the Second Imperial Princess, but he did not care. He did not bother with the schemes and machinations of the Imperial Children. After that toast, normal conversation returned, but people''s eyes kept turning to Cain. He had already become the center of attention. "Young Hero Laurifer, people keep praising your skills, so why don''t you give us a little demonstration? I am sure we would all like to see your feats." The Fourth Imperial Prince and the rest of his group could not help but frown as they heard that, and he was not alone. The Third Imperial Prince was asking for Cain to entertain them while they ate, which was extremely rude. "Kamel, you should consider your words." "Hahaha, brother, there is no need to react so fiercely to such a small proposition." Kamel, the Third Imperial Prince, smiled as he uttered those words. He did not like all the fame Cain was getting, so he wanted to humiliate this one a little. Cain''s eyes were cold as he stared at the Third Imperial Prince, and he spoke with a cold voice. "I am not a clown, nor do I play tricks. I think the Third Imperial Prince is mistaking me for his friends." Kamel''s eyes widened, and a flash of rage appeared in them when he heard that. He knew that Cain might refuse him, but he did not expect him to be so bold as to utter those words. The rest of the Imperial Princes and Princesses were also surprised, and while they did not care about the reaction of the Third Imperial Prince, all of them turned to the Crown Prince, wondering how he would react. "?HAHAHAHAHA!" Chapter 331 Godslayer Human vs Deus Behemoth(I) A thunderous laughter echoed across the hall, but it did not come from the Crown Prince but from the man on his right, a member of the Deus Behemoth Race. After his laughter finished, he jumped out of his seat and into the middle of the room before pointing his finger at Cain. "You are a true man. My name is Desmond Zanginis. Let''s fight to see who is stronger!" Cain frowned again since the man''s words were not any less rude than those of the Third Imperial Prince. However, before he could jump to conclusions, he heard the voice of the Fourth Imperial Prince in his mind. "Brother Cain, it is normal for members of the young generation of the Deus Behemoth Race to challenge others at any time. Actually, they only challenge worthy warriors and can be considered a sign of respect." Cain glanced at Klaus, and the coldness in his eyes vanished as he heard that. While the young man from the Deus Behemoth Race was a little rude, he showed respect according to what his elders had taught him since childhood. A complicated expression appeared on Cain''s face as he did not know how to act. He was not interested in showing off his abilities, but that smile full of fighting spirit in the Deus Behemoth Race was not easy to ignore.@@@@ After a moment, he stood up and clasped his hands before bowing slightly. "I am flattered by that proposition, but it would not be wise for us to fight in this place. After all, this is a sacred place, and we would not want to damage it." Desmond''s brows rose as he looked around. In his home, all places, regardless of their use, were adapted to endure a battle, but that was clearly not the case here. He could not help but frown before turning toward the Crown Prince. "Old man, could you do something about it? You are very powerful and could easily reinforce this place." People were a little surprised by how Desmond referred to the Crown Prince, but this one seemed not to care and only showed a small smile before putting his hand over the ground, and the next second, his Astral Wave reinforced the tables, floor, and every other part of the hall. Cain''s eyes widened as he saw the mastery of the Crown Prince over Wave Cloak since it was like nothing he had ever seen before. However, he had other troubles since Desmond''s smile grew even wider as this one focused on him with pure fighting will. "Colonel Laurifer, it would be a great honor to see the skills of a soldier of the Imperial Lightning Fort." The Second Imperial Princess rose from her seat, clasped her hands, and spoke to Cain. Unlike the Third Prince, her request was done with solemnity and respect while at the same time hinting it was in the name of the Imperial Lightning Fort''s fame. It was clear that the young man''s battle instincts were top-notch. However, that was more than just racial gifts. These skills were not born out of innate talent but had clearly been honed after years of hard work. Desmond seized the opening created by Cain''s missed kick. Instantly, he countered with a lightning-quick punch aimed at Cain''s midsection. The strike landed with unerring accuracy, driving the breath from Cain''s lungs as he staggered backward. The people in the hall gasped at the incredible speed and precision of Desmond''s counterattack. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he was pushed back, and he clenched his teeth as the red light in his eyes grew stronger, forcing his diaphragm to relax and his lungs to work again. It was just a small clash, but it was enough for him to understand the might of Desmond''s martial skills. Cain was genuinely surprised. Although it had been less than two years, his mastery over the Bloodflow Fury had advanced immensely, yet Desmond''s martial arts were even mightier. Of course, that did not mean Cain would just give up. You could face an enemy with greater martial skills in several ways. He quickly regained his composure and launched himself back into the fray. His fists and feet became a blur of motion as he unleashed a flurry of strikes at Desmond. Each punch and kick was aimed with pinpoint accuracy, seeking out vulnerabilities in Desmond''s defenses. Desmond remained calm and composed as he pushed his skill to the peak, blocking those blows, but it was not easy since the combinations were endless, and more than once, he had to step back or else suffer a fierce blow. His movements were deliberate and controlled, a testament to his years of training. He deftly parried Cain''s strikes with well-timed blocks and evasive maneuvers. It was a display of martial finesse that showcased his incredible skill. As the battle raged on, Cain''s heartbeat quickened, and his skin took on a fiery, crimson hue. It was as though an inner fire had been ignited within him, infusing his movements with even greater speed and power. He had activated Asura Form, pushing his physical might to the next level as he triggered Second Gear. His strikes came faster and harder as he continued to press the attack, but that was not all since he also sent several feints to confuse his opponent. Desmond''s heartbeat, in contrast, slowed, and his face took on a pale, serene expression. It was a stark contrast to the intensity of Cain''s raging heart. Everybody present had a high enough cultivation to understand the reason for that lower heartbeat. While it diminished the speed at which the blood ran through his veins, the strength at which it did it was much higher, not to mention it helped the young man remain composed. Desmond''s blows gained immense brute power while Cain''s speed rose to a whole new level. The Imperial Princes, Princesses, and their escorts watched in utter fascination as the battle between these two martial masters reached its zenith. Cain''s movements were a blur of crimson, his attacks relentless and unyielding. Desmond, with his slowed heartbeat and unwavering composure, countered with stoic resolve that seemed unbreakable. The clash of their opposing forces was a mesmerizing dance of martial prowess. Cain''s strikes came like a storm, with each blow a testament to his newfound speed and power. Desmond''s defenses held firm, and his counterattacks were executed with flawless precision and immense brute force. Suddenly, a loud bang echoed as Desmond found an opening in Cain''s attack and performed a double strike directly on his chest, sending him flying to the other side of the room. Chapter 332 Godslayer Human vs Deus Behemoth(II) "Young man from the Deus Behemoth Race!" The Fourth Imperial Prince''s voice echoed across the hall, carrying a booming power as he shouted at Desmond, rage flashing in his eyes. Although the attack did not have an excess of Wave, and Desmond did not break the rules, there was a silent battle skill within that attack, and both fists landed squarely above Cain''s heart. Such an attack was inappropriate for a friendly fight, so Klaus acted with rage toward Damian, a sentiment shared by most of the Imperial Princes and Princesses. Regardless of their closeness to Cain, they would always side with their race. However, not everyone thought the same. "Haha, Brother Klaus, there is no need to lose composure. Young Desmond didn''t do it on purpose. It was a mistake in the heat of the battle, so there is no need for fuss." "Shut up!" The Third Prince had just finished speaking when someone shouted at him, and it was none other than the person he was trying to defend. Desmond glanced coldly at the Third Imperial Prince. "I don''t need the help of two-faced people like you!" Rage was evident in Desmond''s voice as he uttered those words. While a part of it was meant for the Third Imperial Prince, who attempted to speak in his stead, most of it was meant for himself. He understood he made a mistake, but the thrill of the battle had been so immense that, for a moment, he forgot it was a friendly fight, which incited that strike to the heart. Desmond soon shook his head and waved his hand, producing a red flower from his space ring, ready to walk toward Cain when a bursting red force field emerged from the clashing zone.@@@@ Cain''s Ego Wave flooded the hall for a moment, allowing everyone to feel the might of his willpower. It shocked everyone. There was immense coldness and brutality in that willpower, something no seventeen-year-old boy should possess. The Imperial Princesses and Princes turned to the clash and saw Cain calmly standing up. There was a hole in his robe, but other than a small bruise, there was no wound in his chest at all. Once again, the group was shocked; they felt the power of Desmond''s blow, and for it to leave such a minor wound, it meant that Cain''s body must be more durable than Silver Wave Artifacts! Cain''s eyes were cold as he stared at Desmond, but then they narrowed as he saw the red plant in his hand and felt its potent healing power. He immediately figured out Desmond''s intention and couldn''t help but sigh. "Ahhh, you need to control your emotions and thrill for battle, or else you would only be a liability on the battlefield." Desmond snapped out of his surprise and shook his head before adopting a solemn attitude, clasping his hands and performing a deep bow. It was a battle style that none of them had seen before and operated upon principles that even the mighty Imperial Children could not comprehend. Yet, there was one of them whose eyes glowed with a meaningful light as he spoke to the entire hall. "He is predicting your movements. The tension of your muscles, the contraction of your tendons, and the flow of your energy; somehow, Colonel Laurifer can perceive them and react to them, theoretically foreseeing every attack you make before you even perform it." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he looked back and locked gazes with the Crown Prince. The man had merely observed his moves once and managed to decipher the principle behind the power of The Flow. ''Terrifying'' This thought crossed Cain''s mind as he stared at the Crown Prince, but he didn''t realize that the others thought the same thing when they watched him fight. Being able to perceive all that information was shocking, but reacting at such high speed that it seemed almost automatic was incredible. Desmond nodded toward the Crown Prince, and while he now understood how Cain did it, it didn''t change the fact that he had no way to conceal his movements from him. However, he wasn''t hopeless, and his eyes soon hardened as he found the answer. The young Behemoth clenched his fist and teeth as he calmly walked toward Cain. Cain noticed the change in the young man and knew he could not lower his guard. He saw a punch coming toward his face, but not only was it slow, the power behind it was weak, so much so that he could counter it even without The Flow. ''What is he attempting?'' Cain frowned but could do little more than dodge and counter it, landing a blow on Desmond''s chest. Yet, at that point, he felt a sharp pain in his ribs and saw Desmond''s fist on his chest. While Cain''s fists landed on Desmond''s sternum, this one attacked the ribs. Since the young Behemoth knew he couldn''t overcome Cain, he chose to attack when Cain could not counter. While this tactic meant receiving a lot of damage, and his attack lacked momentum since he would have wanted Cain''s attack to land first, Desmond was fine with that exchange. The surprise in Cain''s eyes soon turned into a fierce smile as he saw the battle intent in the eyes of the Behemoth and didn''t hesitate to unleash an onslaught of strikes. Desmond didn''t attempt to dodge them, instead absorbing them and using every blow to send one of his own. Any semblance of martial skill vanished from the battle as the duo simply exchanged blow after blow. Desmond''s attacks lacked power, but due to his racial advantage, his body was highly resilient. Of course, Cain''s constitution did not fall behind and could endure Desmond''s blows without moving a single step back. The fight lasted a few minutes before Cain jumped several meters away from the Behemoth. There were bruises all over his body, and while they were minor, considering the hardness of his body, it was still shocking to see them. Desmond was not much better, but the young man''s fighting spirit didn''t fade, and his smile was still present. Chapter 333 Third Gear Cain stared at Desmond for a moment before relaxing his body. ''I didn''t want to show it so soon, but I guess it''s fine.'' Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he stared at Desmond before taking a deep breath, and the power of his Ego Wave burst, flooding his veins and heart with golden flames full of life force. "Tell me, just how hard is your skull and upper neck?" Desmond was slightly confused by that question but answered instinctively, "Very hard." He was already at the Late Wave Champion level and was a member of the Deus Behemoth Race, so his skeletal structure was inherently more robust than humans. "I see, then you''ll be fine." Cain only uttered those words before his skin grew redder than ever before. His heartbeat grew monstrously powerful, so much so that it began to affect the heartbeats of others in the room. Some were too weak to endure it, and blood began to leak from the corner of their mouths. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire Desmond''s eyes widened as his instincts screamed, and he immediately raised his guard. He knew that something extremely dangerous was coming. "Asura Form: Third Gear!" "?BOOOOM!" Those words had barely echoed across the room when a massive sonic boom resounded throughout the hall. Desmond saw Cain appear before him in an instant. The young Behemoth could do nothing to avoid a kick landing on the right side of his jaw. Before he could process the strike, another kick landed on his left temple. Desmond instinctively attempted to move back, but that only made things worse. Along with the initial kicks, a third landed on the back of his skull. There were afterimages of Cain around Desmond, three of them to be exact, and it was like each of them was striking at the same time. "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" By the time people heard those three blasts, Cain was already ten meters past Desmond, and everyone watched as the Behemoth trembled momentarily before falling to the ground, eyes wide open. Desmond was still conscious since Cain had purposefully contained the strength of those kicks. Still, they shook his brain with such force that he couldn''t move and lay defeated on the ground. There was nothing short of awe and amazement in his eyes, as the strike was truly marvelous. Cain showed a faint smile, but then his body trembled, and he could not help but cough a mouthful of blood. His knees could not resist, forcing him to kneel on the ground. Although his words were clearly ill-willed, they had a certain truth since any Saint Technique, no matter how weak, was a treasure. Just sharing them, even among the members of your own race, was done carefully, much less with allies of other races. Nevertheless, the Imperial Princes and Princesses turned angrily toward the Third Imperial Prince. Even if they understood his thoughts, speaking them aloud in front of the Behemoth and Machinum Races geniuses was a great mistake. Cain only stared at the Third Imperial Prince and was already done with the man. Since there was no way they would have a good relationship and the animosity between them was clear, he did not need to be polite. "I don''t need to explain my actions to you." The Third Imperial Prince''s eyes widened as he heard that, and just as he was about to lash out, the Crown Prince looked at him. At first, he was confused, but then he saw how Desmond and the Machinarium race genius were looking at him. Regardless of his mistakes, people always turn a blind eye to any fault in his words, but it seemed he would not be so lucky this time. Cain did not care and simply walked to his seat. Desmond should have done the same but stared at the Crown Prince before clasping his hands and performing a slight bow. "Crown Prince, I am thankful for your invitation, but I would prefer to sit where there is no clear animosity toward my people." The Third Prince could only lower his head since he did not want anyone to see the poisonous loath in his eyes as he heard Desmond''s words. The Crown Prince only nodded and did not say a word. On the other hand, Desmond turned toward the Fourth Prince, who immediately rose from his seat. "Young friend, if you are willing, we would love to have you by our side." Desmond smiled before sitting next to Cain. While a tense atmosphere appeared in the hall, talk soon regained in the room. As the meeting was reaching its end, a voice echoed across the hall, and it came from the side of the Second Princess. It was a young woman with a cultivation at the Peak of the Wave Champion stage. "Colonel Cain. I might not see you again, so I wonder if you would like a little sparring with me. My name is Yordana Manixet, second daughter of the Imperial Prime Minister." Although in a noble hierarchy, the title of Prime Minister might not sound like much, it could not be farther from the truth when it came to the Godslayer Humankind Empire. The Emperor was chosen according to the rule of the jungle by the strongest one taking that position. While that would grant security to the Empire, it did not mean it would do well in terms of economics or infrastructure. That was where the Prime Minister came in. He was chosen not by his strength but by his mind and wisdom. And while he might not be as powerful as a Titan, there were seven Divine Ascendants Cultivators at his command at any moment, ready to follow his instructions without hesitation. The Prime Minister''s responsibility surpassed the Emperor''s in certain aspects, so his power and influence were also astronomical. Chapter 334 Overcoming the illusion (I) As the daughter of such a man, Yordana''s status and reputation were actually not any less than that of the Imperial Children. Cain stared at the woman and recognized her status, but still, he softly shook his head. He was already tired and was no longer in the mood for fighting. "I am sorry, but I''m all tapped out already." The young woman seemed to expect that, but she did not give up so easily. "I am trying to prove the might of my illusion skills, and there is no better sparring partner than someone like you. Of course, I do not expect it to be free, and I heard you have a knack for bets." Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he heard that, and a flash of his Ego Wave manifested. There were very few temptations that could affect his mind. Even the pleasures of the flesh were something he could control without a problem. However, as his power rose, gambling became his weak point. The notion of gaining massive wealth by proving his superiority was something he felt attracted to. Of course, he did not simply accept and first had to know the stakes. "What would you be betting?" Yordana showed a radiant smile as she heard those words. She might have had a refined aura but was still young and wanted to test herself, raising her name for all to hear, and what better way than to fight what some consider among the greatest monsters of the new generation, Cain Laurifer. "I heard your Natural Holy Weapon shattered when you performed that magnificent strike against the High Blood Elder. I have contacts and could get one of the greatest Wave Crafters of the Silver City to take a look at it to see if it could be fixed." Cain''s eyes immediately glowed with excitement as he heard that. Although he could get a great treasure at the end of his Arcane Noble Ceremony, he did not want to give up on Slaughter. "So, if I win, you will give me the contact?" Yordana immediately shook her head before showing a radiant smile. "I will get you in contact regardless of the winner. However, if you win, I will cover the price, while if you lose, it would be up to you to pay for it." The Second Imperial Princess couldn''t help but smile as she heard that. She was very careful with every step she took, and that included the people around her. Unlike the fools around the Third Imperial Prince, she only picked people worthy of her trust and friendship, and no one was better than Yordana. While it was a fight with a bet, Yordana made sure to keep a good relationship with Cain regardless of the outcome. The Fourth Imperial Prince kept smiling but silently, there was a sharp light in his eyes. He couldn''t help but envy the people around his sister since they were all magnificent in their own way. Cain''s thoughts were much more straightforward. He smiled before jumping into the hall''s center and glancing at Yordana. Cain''s eyes trembled, and the next second, they seemed to lose their light as his consciousness fell into the Illusion Realm. A smile appeared on the Second Imperial Princess when she saw that. While Yordana relied on her Holy Weapon, she still came up victorious, or at least that was what she thought until Cain''s hand moved. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire Under the shocked sight of everybody, Cain''s right hand moved forward, grabbing Yordana''s neck and beginning to squeeze with so much strength that the young woman''s face immediately turned pale. The Crown Prince, Second Imperial Princess, and Fourth Imperial Prince had the highest cultivation, so they could see that while most of the light in Cain''s eyes had vanished, there was still a tiny red dot in them. That fraction of willpower was enough to command the young man''s right arm, making him strangle Yordana. People in the hall were at a loss since they did not know how to process. While Yordana had managed to trap Cain''s consciousness, which would generally mean the end of the battle, he was currently strangling her, and she would pass out in minutes. The Second Imperial Princess and the Fourth Imperial Prince silently nodded, allowing the battle to continue. It would be up to the fight in the Illusion Realm to determine the winner. If Yordana managed to crush Cain''s spirit before suffocating, the young man''s body would collapse. Klaus and the Second Imperial Princess would only interfere if a severe problem arose. While inside the hall, Cain was strangulating Yordana; things were much different in the Illusion Realm. After Yordana pulled Cain''s consciousness out of his mind, the duo found themselves in a small world with nothing but raging water and dark skies. And the first thing that happened was Cain succumbing to the waves and plunging into the darkness. Yordana stood in the sky like always, but unlike every other time she found herself in her Illusion Realm, she was now pale and having difficulty breathing. ''How did he move his body after I took his consciousness into this place? What kind of willpower is that to move even when there is no mind controlling your flesh and blood?'' Her heart could not stop racing as she felt her own mind going foggy due to the lack of oxygen and blood reaching her brain, but she did not give up. ''I need to break his spirit. Once that happens, he will lose consciousness, and I will have defeated the legendary hero of the Blood Sea Civil War!'' Even if the person knew it was an illusion, that did not mean they could endure it. The one inside those dark waters would feel an overwhelming sense of helplessness and terror. The innate human fear of suffocation and drowning would lead to extreme panic and struggle for air, inducing a crippling fear. Every emotion would be magnified by a factor of ten, while at the same time, your rational mind would grow numb, pushing you faster and faster to a total mental breakdown. Yordana''s face was cold as she focused on the dark, chaotic water, waiting to see Cain fighting for air as the waves submitted him to greater and greater pressure, but the only things she received were two red eyes full of calmness and coldness. ''Im... Impossible.'' Chapter 335 Overcoming the illusion (II) Yordana could not believe what she was seeing. She was not a flower in a garden like the Fourth Azure Prince and had faced great tribulations throughout her young life, more than once fighting people who sought her life. However, none of them were able to respond with that type of eyes when drowning inside her Illusion Realm. In all fairness to Yordana and her Cultivation Technique, the power of her Illusion Realm was nothing short of amazing, and it had the ability to affect even seasoned killers with the willpower of Wave Kings. Unfortunately for her, Cain''s mind had undergone an evolution in terms of endurance not too long ago as he faced nightmarish states that were hundreds of times more horrible and crippling than these dark waters. Cain did not simply keep composure as the red light in his eyes grew more and more powerful, and the next second, his body began to tremble as red flames emerged from him. Yordana''s eyes widened as she saw that, and panic appeared on her face. By looking at their expression, one would never guess that the master of this realm was the young woman and not the drowning man. Once your consciousness was trapped inside an Illusion Realm, it did not really mean instant defeat. If you managed to regain control over your physical manifestation inside the realm, as Cain did, you could use your willpower to affect the surroundings. Of course, it was easier said than done since not only would it require you to have greater willpower than your enemy but also a super domain over your Ego Wave and Alter-Ego. Luckily for Cain, he fulfilled both categories, and it did not take long for the red flames to completely cover his body, transforming him into a small red sun. The waters began to boil as the sky turned red due to the fire that flooded the ocean. Yordana''s eyes were full of awe and terror as she saw her Illusion Realm crumbling around her, and it did not take long for her own flesh to feel like it was burning. Without warning, the world trembled for a second before both of them found themselves in the middle of the hall. Cain''s eyes adjusted to the light as he shook his head, trying to regain his focus, and saw the Fourth Imperial Prince beside him, with a hand behind his back. That was not really important since, in front of him, the Second Imperial Prince was helping Yordana, kneeling on the ground, clean the blood from her eyes. Surprise appeared in Cain''s eyes, but he soon understood what was happening. While a medium could be used to form the Illusion Realm, such as Yordana''s bracelet, her mind still kept the illusion in place. That put a lot of stress on her mind, but the fact that Cain was suffocating her in the real world while at the same time burning her physical projection inside the Illusion Realm was a heavy blow. The Second Princess and the Fourth Imperial Prince must have intervened to quietly break the Illusion Realm, or Yordana would have suffered severe damage if it just shattered. Cain stared at the middle-aged man, and his eyes narrowed. Unlike the Fourth Imperial Prince, it seemed that Marlon had a pretty good measurement of his Genetic Coding abilities. "I am impressed that you know my name and abilities since I have never contacted the Genetic Coder Association before." Although Cain did not have a problem with people seeing his skills, that did not mean he was fine with those investigating him. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Marlon did not lose his composure and took a sip of his drink before speaking. "The association not only serves to train geniuses but also keeps an eye on those with the talent to become a danger in the future. A seventeen-year-old man capable of crafting Saint Wave Viruses falls into that category." The Imperial Children and all the escorts stared at Cain like a monster, but things only escalated as Marlon continued. "Especially if it is someone focusing mostly on his cultivation and training in another profession such as Hypnosis Master to the Pseudo Saint level." If before they were surprised, now there was utter shock assaulting the people''s hearts in the hall. The eyes focused on Cain had grown from surprise to utter and unfathomable shock. There was no way to describe Cain other than a monster since his feats were simply too extraordinary. Even the Fourth Imperial Prince who had investigated Cain was surprised to learn that this one was also a Pseudo Saint Hypnosis Master. While there was evident happiness in Klaus'' face to have a person like that by his side, his eyes immediately narrowed as he saw the light in the Second Imperial Princess and Crown Prince. Clearly, both of them would like to have such a promising youth by their side, and Klaus knew he needed to pull Cain into his inner circle fast, or else this one would be gone. Cain didn''t care about the effect of his feats on the hearts of others or the thoughts of the Imperial Children, but his eyes narrowed as he gazed at Marlon, and there was a flash of coldness in them. Marlon noticed them, and while he remained calm, there was a silent smile as he was pleased with his effect on Cain. The Third Imperial Prince clenched his teeth as he saw how the conversation once again turned towards Cain, and this time, it did not change until the end of the Imperial Feast. Chapter 336 Blood Wings The Imperial Feast was finally over, and people had come back to their residences. Everybody had left with whom they arrived except for Desmond, who had returned to the Fourth Imperial Prince''s castle with Cain. The duo had business to attend to. Luckily for Cain and Desmond, Klaus was happy to let them use his castle''s conference room to discuss business. As for Yordana, that was something Cain would take care of tomorrow since they would go together to the Wave Crafter. There was no such thing as the best type of weapon; it was only the one that suited you most, which was why Cain would have to speak with the crafter before the work started. Not bothering with the transactions of tomorrow, Cain focused on Desmond. Although the two had a good relationship, business and friendship were very different things. "Asura Form is a skill that does not require using Astral Wave as a trigger but uses your Ego Wave''s control over your physical functions. It enhances the heartbeat considerably, enhancing your speed and also improving the secretions of hormones that improve your physical condition. First Gear can be used without much problem as long as you have a solid foundation, and even those on the Essence Evolution Path of Power could use it if they trained a good enough auxiliary technique. However, to safely use Second Gear, you must at least have evolved with Void Marrow. Even then, there is a backlash, so I do not recommend its use for extended periods unless you have a healing skill. Third Gear pushes your heartbeat to the absolute limit of your heart and blood vessels. I trained a skill that enhances my flesh and blood to be as durable as Silver Wave Artifacts, yet I could barely use it for a second before nearly collapsing. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire Regardless of your cultivation, there is no limit or weakness in its power. Even a Titan could use First Gear and obtain an upgrade to his speed and torque. However, the same can be said about the backlash since it does not depend on your cultivation base but the power of your physique and foundation." Desmond kept a calm expression, but internally, he was beyond shocked. He had seen the technique''s power and knew it was stunning, but to learn there was no cultivation base default to it was incredible. Just that raised Asura Form''s value to something he found hard to contemplate. "I see, indeed, an awe-inspiring skill. I have a lot of assets, but I would like to know what you need first." Instead of just revealing his wealth, Desmond first wanted to know Cain''s needs. That way, he could negotiate from a better standpoint. Cain did not have a problem revealing his needs since he already knew what Desmond wanted. "I need resources that can help improve my Blood Rebirth. I am currently at the Golden Blood Stage. Of course, I would like those with powerful blood vitality like the flower you took during our sparring." "I agree to exchange my Asura Form with its Three Gears for the Blood Apple and your Blood Wings." Desmond was pleased with the transaction. Although Blood Wings was a powerful technique, it was not one of the secret techniques of the Titan Level of his family, so he could exchange them if he thought it to be correct. He waved his hand, signaling for Cain to take them, but this one did not. "We will need to wait a few hours since I cannot hand over a starry gem with Asura Form to you right now." Desmond was a little surprised, but an idea soon came to his mind. Cain might have to speak with his master to secure a starry gem. Engraving a Saint Technique in a starry gem required more than just learning enough of it to use in battle. You must have reached complete mastery over it and understand its core principles. Desmond was smart enough not to put Cian in a complicated position with his master and simply nodded before standing up and storing the apple and starry gem. "No problem. Then I will speak to you in the morning to finish the deal." With those words, Desmond left the room and went to the residence granted to him by the Fourth Imperial Prince. He would remain there until the deal was done before returning with the Crown Prince. Although he had remained with the Fourth Imperial Prince for the latter part of the Imperial Feast, he would not be so rude as to ignore the Crown Prince. He had just stayed away since he could not tolerate the presence of the Third Imperial Prince. Cain saw the young man leave, and only once he was utterly alone did he take out an empty starry gem from his space ring. He did not have to ask anyone''s permission to pass down the Asura Form with its Three Gears since he made it, and no one knew it better than him. However, if people wanted to speculate, he was more than happy to add mysticism to his background. As for the time asked to finish the deal, Cain needed a few hours to engrave the technique. After all, the information inscribed in the starry gem would be more than just words. He took a deep breath and put the gem on his forehead before sending his Ego Wave into it, slowly engraving the knowledge to practice Asura Form all the way to the Third Gear. It took him several hours, but Cain was finally done by the time the sun was rising in the sky. Desmond was very punctual and came to meet him. Not wanting to waste time, Cain handed the starry gem to Desmond, and he did the same with the apple and Blood Wings. Both of them smiled as they stretched their hands before the Bahamut left. Cain wanted to test the power of the fruit and the skill, but he had other business. Chapter 337 Fixing Slaughter (I) Cain left the castle of the Fourth Imperial Prince, and he was not alone since Krane accompanied him. The middle-aged man might not have more information than Klaus about Silver City, but Cain could always rely on him to answer common questions about the places they would be visiting. As soon as Cain stepped out of the teleportation formation, he saw a young woman with short golden hair and green eyes waiting for him. The young woman was none other than Yordana, and she was not alone; behind her was an old woman in a black suit. Although the old woman had wrinkles all over her face, her spine was still straight as an arrow, and vibrant power coursed through her veins. ''As expected from the daughter of the Prime Minister. She has an Apotheosis Realm Master by her side, and I am sure a Divine Ascension Cultivator must be ready to act in case of any danger.'' Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he stared at the old woman before turning toward Yordana and softly nodding. "A pleasure to meet you again." "Hahaha, there is no need to be so stiff. I hope there is no ill will about the small fight." Yordana showed a radiant smile as she approached Cain with a friendly aura. Cain showed a small smile as he heard her words and softly shook his head. "There is no ill will. I am grateful for your assistance. I am just not very experienced with the opposite sex, that is all." "Oh, is that right?" Yordana couldn''t help but be surprised by those words, and she began to look at Cain with wonder. Cain had undergone flawless marrow washing, and his looks had improved tremendously over the last few years. Even if that were not the case, his demeanor and fame would be enough to captivate the hearts of countless women. However, just because people would be attracted to him did not mean he would do something about it. He wanted to keep his distance and thought inexperience would be a good deterrent and explain his distant approach better than saying he was not interested. Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire The old woman behind Yordana focused on Cain, but just as she did that, the eyes of Cain went cold as he stared at her, a bursting red light appearing in them. Yordana was surprised by the sudden burst of willpower and began to look between Cain and the old woman. "Did something happen?" Cain didn''t care about people ignoring him and simply walked with Yordana until they finally reached the entrance. It was at that moment that two figures emerged from the ground. One of them resembled a massive metal snake, and the other a humanoid figure made of silver plasma. Cain''s eyes immediately narrowed as he felt the energy of the two puppets; they were stronger than Wave Kings. That realization made a strange smile appear on his face. ''Wave Kings are supposed to be powerhouses, but wherever I go, I find people with power above it; even the guards protecting this pyramid are stronger.'' Cain just shook his head as a flash of red light emerged from his eyes. Although he knew he was far from the peak, he had grown a little complacent with his strength since it was indeed formidable, above 99% of the population. However, now he understood that Wave Kings were nothing special for true great powers. The two Apotheosis Realm Puppets glanced at the four before their eyes focused on Yordana. "Yordana Manixet, Grandmaster Horteus is waiting for you. You and Colonel Laurifer are allowed to enter the Endless Pyramid, but your companions must remain outside so as not to interfere with the other Grandmasters." Yordana nodded, and she glanced at the old woman behind her. "Granny Samantha, I will be going." The old woman nodded with a smile. She was not worried that something could happen to Yordana since she would be completely safe once inside the pyramid. Cain only glanced at Krane, and the latter nodded before stepping back. After that, Cain and Yordana crossed the gate into the tower and were immediately assaulted with a shocking sight. Yordana could control her reaction since it was not the first time she had visited the Endless Pyramid, but Cain''s eyes widened as he saw that the space inside the pyramid was genuinely massive. Looking at it from the outside, the Endless Pyramid seemed to have a base of less than one thousand meters, but the space inside was no smaller than a mountain range, with thousands of kilometers long and high. Such massive space was needed, considering the creations that Cain saw in mid-process. Some weapons resembled giant war tanks, and others were giant puppets that were not any less impressive than the ones built to guard the entrance to this place. In the center of the floor was a massive pillar of red and blue energy, one full of incredibly potent yang force and the other overflowing with yin energy. Large streams emerged from them, all going to the Wave Crafters, providing all the power they could need for their creations. ''The entire pyramid is a space treasure, completely isolated from the outside, and I am sure it had many more functions other than just supplying an endless stream of energy to the Wave Crafters.'' Yordana glanced at Cain, and this one nodded as they walked to the stairs. None of them made a sound as they rose higher, glancing at the magnificent creations around them until they finally reached their destination. Chapter 338 Fixing Slaughter (II) Cain and Yordana moved through the start for nearly twenty minutes before finally reaching an open room where a five-meter-tall man was hammering a massive piece of metal. Despite his size, the proportion of his body made one think of a dwarf due to his bulky frame. Yordana walked to the room''s threshold, quietly sat outside, not uttering a word, and remained silent. Cain saw that and did the same, not willing to disrupt the man''s work. Although he did not dare to use his Ego Wave to inspect Grandmaster Horan, nor did he use his [Scan Force Field] since the pyramid might pick it up, his eyes grew calm, and he triggered on The Flow. While The Flow allowed keen perception over the target, it depended on Cain alone and did not directly interfere with the body or energy movement of the target. Cain did not show it, but there was wonder in his mind as he saw the movements of the man''s hammer. While it might seem simple and crude, he was actually engraving extremely complex magic matrices into the piece of metal, harnessing its power to the absolute limit. Hours carried on as Grandmaster Horteus kept striking the anvil, but Cain did not mind the wait as he was fascinated by the man''s technique. Although his talent in Wave Crafting was not great, nor did he intend to learn, he was still engrossed in the essence of those hammer strikes since they had the power to temper things, erasing the impurities inside them. After finishing that craft, Horteus did not raise his head from the anvil. Strange pieces of metal began to emerge from his space ring, and he began to arrange them, forming what seemed to be an extremely complicated Rubik''s cube. "Tell me, do you prefer the swift precision of the wind or the relentless crush of the mountain?" Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard Grandmaster Horteus ask that question. The man did not raise his eyes and kept working on the Rubik''s cube, but Cain did not take the question lightly. "I''d prefer the swift precision of the wind. Quick and untouchable." Cain always strived to have a body that could endure immense damage, which was why he was so glad to have a technique like Biofusion Herculean Technique. Still, in all his fights, he always strived to strike with speed and precision that overpowered the enemy''s defenses. Grandmaster Horteus kept working as he carried on with his questions. "Mmm, agility and precision. A swift strike that decides the outcome before the adversary realizes it. What about your approach to adversity? Do you face it head-on or maneuver around, looking for the optimal moment to strike?" Cain did not answer immediately since that was a tricky question for him. During military matters, he always took the lead, striking head-on the enemy in order to inspire his troops, but when facing enemies alone, he took the approach of an assassin. "It depends on my position and the type of battle I am facing. Yet, in my purest form, I will say I assess the situation, find the weak point, and when I strike, it is to end the enemy''s life." Grandmaster Horteus kept working on the Rubik''s cube, but a small smile appeared on his lips as he heard Cain''s answer. "A strategist... Interesting. Would you say you value subtlety and cunning over brute strength?" "I strive for brute strength, one that can inspire fear in my enemies, but I tend to face individuals who are always stronger than me in every sense of the word, yet I win by being smarter and willing to go even further than them." "?BOOM!" Cain''s body carried such momentum that it generated a blast upon crashing against the Battle Puppet, not different from the one of a missile striking a building. Since his body was as hard as a Silver Wave Artifact, the strike would have crushed the bones of a standard Wave Champion. However, the Battle Puppet was pushed back less than ten meters before regaining control over its body and flashing back into the fray. Cain and the Battle Puppet were in the thick of it, a blur of moves and countermoves, each trying to get the upper hand. It wasn''t fancy or mythic. It was raw and pure, a clear-cut fight where strategy and reflexes were key. Cain dodged swiftly, his body moving with precise calculation as he avoided the sharp edges of the mantis'' scythes. He observed every movement, every swing of the puppet, searching for an opening, a weak spot where he could land a decisive blow. It was like a game of chess, each participant anticipating the other''s moves, looking for a way to outsmart and overpower the other. The puppet, with its silver armor gleaming, was no less adept. It adjusted its stance, its metal limbs moving with mechanical precision, adapting to Cain''s every move, matching his speed and agility. It was a dance of strategy and skill, a relentless exchange of blows and evasions. Cain was vigilant, his senses heightened, his body ready to react at the slightest sign of an attack. His moves were sharp and deliberate, a series of kicks, punches, and dodges, each aimed to disrupt the puppet''s balance and find an opportunity to strike. The puppet countered, its movements a seamless blend of attack and defense, its scythes slicing the air with razor-sharp precision. It was relentless, never giving Cain a moment''s respite, keeping him on his toes, forcing him to push his limits. Cain''s focus was unbroken, his eyes locked on his opponent, analyzing every move, every shift in weight, every flicker of metal. He was like a hawk, poised and ready, waiting for the perfect moment to swoop down and seize his prey. Finally, after over one hundred blows, Cain found his opening as a kick on the Battle Puppet''s leg, making this one lose its balance. Cain''s body began to move from one side to the other as powerful gales coursed around his chest. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Yordana saw with shock and awe how Cain unleashed a barrage of punches over the Battle Puppet, each carrying such a powerful momentum that it seemed like dozens of booms were blowing up every second. "BOOOMMMM!" One final punch echoed across the pyramid as Cain blasted the Battle Puppet''s head into the ground, breaking it to pieces. The next second, it morphed back into a cube and flashed on its own toward Grandmaster Horteus'' hands. "Good. Your mind and body are keen and follow your instincts and will. Please, show me the weapon you want me to fix." Chapter 339 To the Genetic Coder Association Cain nodded to Grandmaster Horteus, and the next second, the pieces of Slaughter inside his heart emerged. Horteus did not waste his time, waving his hand to bring the pieces to himself and glancing at them. His Essence Wave concentrated in his retinas, but it was more than just enhancing his vision since it seemed as if his gaze could pierce into the core of the artifact. "The damage is significant, but it makes sense since it was used as the conduit for the power of a Titan like the Collapsing Lightning Duke. Several of its magic matrices broke to pieces, rendering the overall formation useless." Cain and Yordana silently listened to the man analyze the pieces and did not dare to interfere. If they gave their opinion about the state of Slaughter, they would only be making clowns of themselves as they could not compare in expertise with a Grandmaster. "I can fix it, making it even stronger than before, but the price would equal a Peak Platinum Tier Wave Artifact." Cain was happy with the first part, but upon hearing the cost, he could not help but feel shocked. Slaughter was a Holy Weapon, and since it was born of a Natural Inheritance, its power was equal to a Platinum Tier Artifact. Still, it was an astronomical price. Cain''s wealth was not small, but the cost of a single Platinum Tier Artifact would equal half of his net worth. Luckily for Cain, he would not be the one paying for Slaughter''s repair. "It is fine. Please do your best, Grandmaster Horteus. Even if the price rises, it is not a problem. As usual, the military credits will be transferred to you as soon as the job is over." Clearly, what was expensive for Cain was not the same for Yordana. The title of Prime Minister had tremendous responsibility and a significant burden, but it was rewarded with immense power and wealth. "I do not have any other work right now, so I can start immediately. Come back in two months. Until then, use this to train." Grandmaster Horteus threw a starry gem from his space ring to Cain. "It uses the principles of vibration and sound to train your body. While it is limited to the Wave Champion Rank, its effectiveness is not less than the cultivation technique engraved in this weapon." Cain showed a large smile as he heard that. Without Slaughter, he would be unable to train his Sonic Blade Fusion Technique, but that would not be a problem with this new technique. It was fine if it was limited to the Wave Champion Rank since he would get back his Natural Holy Weapon before even preparing to enter the Late Stage. "I appreciate this."@@@@ Although Cain would have no problem getting another cultivation technique, this saved him a lot of trouble. Grandmaster Horteus only nodded before waving his hand, signaling the duo to leave. While he was impressed by the structures in the Wave Crafter Association, Cain did not take that path, so that was the end of it. But he was a Genetic Coder and was very interested in pushing that path all the way to the peak. As he saw the level of genetic engineering in the trees, he felt his blood burning with excitement and curiosity. If no one were looking, Cain would have difficulty resisting the temptation to dissect those trees and study their genetic structure. Despite the magnificence of those trees, they were nothing compared to the structure at the core of the Genetic Coding Association''s domain. A large smile appeared on his face as he looked ahead, gazing at the headquarters of the Genetic Coder Association. Unlike the pyramid he saw in the Wave Crafter Association, this one was a massive metallic square floating a substantial distance above the ground. It did not have the majesty of the Endless Pyramid, but Cain could not help but smile since the form of the cube was the perfect embodiment of the mentality of Genetic Coders. There was no need to worry about aesthetics since efficiency was all that mattered in the end. Yordana led the way, and the group headed to the formation beneath the massive square. They immediately drew the attention of young people in dark robes and armbands that stayed inside the forest. They were young, but there were thousands of Elementary Genetic Coders, and the number of Grand Genetic Coders could be counted in the hundreds. Grand Genetic Coders could inspire the same respect that a Wave Kings in most Sectors, but they were nothing special in a place like this. Entering the headquarters was prohibited for anyone beneath the Pseudo Saint Genetic Coder level. Just as Cain and the others reached the teleportation formation that led into the cube, two figures emerged from the ground. One was a massive humanoid tree, while the other was a three-headed wolf. Cain could not help but clench his fist as he saw those two beasts. They were Living Battle Puppets, genetically engineered beasts whose minds had been replaced with living computers similar to an A.I. Chip. "Yordana Manixet, you have no prior appointments and are not authorized to enter the Genetic Evolution Cube." The Living Battle Puppets spoke with a robotic voice. Clearly, this one would not allow her to pass just due to her status. Yordana did not lose her composure and simply took a card from her space ring. The Trent focused on it, and the next second it nodded. "Visit Card recognized. You and your group can pass." Cain stared at the card and was surprised at how simple it was. However, he understood that getting one would not be easy, and most likely, its use was limited. The four did not waste time and went into the teleportation formation, leaving the forest and teleporting into the cube. Chapter 340 Genetic Trial (I) As soon as he appeared inside the Genetic Evolution Cube, Cain''s eyes widened as he saw all sorts of devices, techniques, and innovations that filled him with awe and wonder. Like the Endless Pyramid, the Genetic Evolution Cube was full of open rooms on the periphery. At the same time, the center housed a giant pillar of energy that served as the power source for all the experiments going on in this place. There were several levels, with the first one resembling a massive shop featuring all sorts of Wave Viruses, formulas, and devices for Genetic Coding. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire "I am not a Genetic Coder, so I do not dare to assume your requirements, but if you tell me what you need first, I can guide you." Yordana did not attempt to guide Cain''s movements since, while she had the means to enter this place, that did not mean she could figure out the type of material this one would require. "Then I thank you in advance. First, I need a new Genetic Chamber." A Genetic Chamber is where a Genetic Coder would deposit the raw material to form Vectors and Genetic Chains. Cain needed a new one since the one he currently had could only properly maneuver Grand Genetic Coder''s components. "I see, then follow me." Yordana knew where they had to go, and soon they reached a place with all sorts of devices. It was full of genetic chambers; some were more than good enough for Saint Genetic Coders. Cain''s insights were good enough to discern the type of Genetic Chamber that could cover his necessities, but his eyes could not help but focus on the giant tubes on the back. They resembled Recovery Capsules, but while they had glass, the rest of their components were purely biological. "What are those?" Cain''s knowledge about Genetic Coding was equal to a Saint Genetic Coder and included a lot of obscure and illegal knowledge obtained from Morgana, the Pseudo Saint Genetic Coder from The Association. Yet, this was the first time he had seen this type of Genetic Chambers. Yordana''s knowledge about Genetic Coding was lesser than Cain''s, so she did not have an answer, nor did Krane or Samantha. Luckily, the old man in charge of the Genetic Chambers was able to answer their doubts. "These are Bio Genetic Chambers. They are not originally from the Godslayer Humankind but pieces of technology stolen from the Legio Eldritch Race. They allow you to bypass Vectors and Genetic Chains, directly acting over the individual''s genome." Although those words did not have an effect on Yordana, Krane, or Samantha, they widened Cain''s eyes. A Genetic Chamber that allowed you to modify an individual''s genome directly was nothing short of extraordinary. It would permit the level of modifications that one could perform to be much higher. For example, Cain currently could build 1-Star Saint Wave Viruses. Still, if he could directly act over an individual''s genome, the genetic modification he could do would not be less than that of a 4-Star Genetic Coder. Salaman was a big shot in the Genetic Coder Association, and there was no way someone would antagonize him to gain an unknown person''s favor. Instead of just making a fool of himself, Cain was ready to turn around and leave this place. He still wanted the Bio Genetic Chamber but would have to use the contacts of the Fourth Imperial Prince to get it. Salaman showed a nasty smile as he saw Cain about to leave, but then another voice echoed across the Genetic Evolution Cube. "While one of the jobs of the Genetic Coder Association is to prevent the misuse of genetic knowledge, since when did we deter people from pursuing new paths?" The one speaking was a middle-aged man with short black hair and silver pupils. It was someone Cain already knew. "Marlon White, what do you think you are doing going against my word?" Salaman was full of rage as he saw how Marlon dared to mess with his fun. However, while Salaman was a big shot, Marlon''s status in the Genetic Coder Association was even more impressive. "Since when do I have to ask for the permission of a corpse to speak?" Marlon did not hide his disdain for Salaman and did not bother to hear the rebuke of this one as he turned toward Cain. "Colonel Laurifer, if you want to buy a Bio Genetic Chamber, you are free to do it since your military ranks allow you to possess that type of technology. However, you are not a member of the Genetic Coder Association, so the price for even the most basic Bio Genetic Chamber is ten million military credits." Cain''s face showed nothing, but his eyes burst with red light as he did all he could to contain his shock upon hearing that number. Ten million military credits was an immense amount of wealth. It was even more expensive than what Grandmaster Horteus was charging for fixing Slaughter. Marlon was surprised to see the composure in Cain''s face, but he was sure that the amount was a lot for the young man. He was not lying or playing tricks since the price for Bio Genetic Chamber or any other type of unique technology sold by the Genetic Coder Association to non-members was ten times the normal price. What the Genetic Coder Association charged in those cases was not the price of the artifact but the investigation behind it. Anyone could get it, but they better have deep pockets if they were not part of the association. "With your abilities, it would not be hard to become a member of the association. I am willing to be your sponsor." Morlon spoke for the third time, drawing the attention of everybody in the cube. The rest of the Grandmasters did not bother with it at first since they took it as a simple clash between Marlon and Salaman, but now all eyes turned to Cain, wondering the young man''s identity. Chapter 341 Genetic Trial (II) Cain felt the eyes of the Saint Genetic Coders on him, but he showed no reaction, maintaining a composed expression as he glanced back at Marlon. While joining the Genetic Coder Association would bring all sorts of benefits, and he was sure his talent would be more than enough to excel, he had significant reservations about it. Firstly, joining any organization would prompt it to investigate his past, and all sorts of problems could arise from that, beginning with how he reached such a high level in Genetic Coding without any master''s guidance. If he were to reveal the events in Saharo City, that would open another Pandora''s box with The Organization, and he was not willing to do that. Not to mention, they would surely want him to focus more on his Genetic Coding than his cultivation. While it was important for Cain, and he did not take it lightly at all, Genetic Coding was just a means to an end, and in his mind, what truly mattered was brute power, one that only cultivation could grant. Silence reigned in the cube as people watched Cain, waiting for his answer. "Is there a third choice?" Marlon showed a small smile as he heard that answer, knowing that Cain would not want to join the association. "Yes, there is. We have something called the Genetic Trial. You can pay one million military credits to participate. If you succeed, you will get a Tier 1 Bio Genetic Chamber, the type that is even useful for the genome of Apotheosis Realm Masters." Cain was just testing his luck, but it seemed there was a way to get a top-tier Bio Genetic Chamber, which would cost him just one million military credits. However, by how the other Grandmasters looked at him, it was clear they did not expect him to succeed, so whatever that Genetic Trial was, it must be extremely difficult.@@@@ "What does the Genetic Trial involve?" Marlon nodded as he heard that question, seeing that Cain did not lose focus due to the reward. "If you and your friends could come to this level, I could explain better." There was no reason for Cain, Yordana, Krane, and Samantha to refuse, so they rose to the higher level where Marlon was. Cain noticed the poisonous gaze given by Salaman, but he just stared back at the middle-aged man with pure killing intent. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Since the other party was willing to antagonize him, Cain would not contain himself and would respond with even more ferocity. Make yourself so dangerous that the mere idea of being your enemy would inspire dread in people''s hearts. That was Cain''s philosophy, one that would deter anyone from offending him. While he had not realized it yet, that was the mentality of a ruler, not a hero. Everything was so gradual that he had not realized it, but his ego was slowly growing like a sun above everything. The rest of the Grandmasters focused on Cain, nodding as they observed the young man''s behavior. A Genetic Coder alters the fundamental blocks of life, and for that, one must have a clear head and always look at the bigger picture, analyzing all factors, even the hidden ones. Marlon was pleased as he saw the calmness in Cain''s eyes, but he kept a stern face. "You have three attempts. After that, the lobotomized Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber will adapt to your Ego Wave and lock you out." Cain stared at the artifact for a long time before approaching the Tier Zero Genetic Chamber and taking a deep breath. He stood like that for nearly twenty minutes, but no one dared to interrupt him. Even Salaman did not dare to disrupt Cain since the Tier Zero Genetic Chamber was a sacred artifact for the Genetic Coding Association, and anyone who interfered in the Genetic Trial in any way would face dire consequences. ''Hmph, stupid brat. There is no way a mere commoner could unlock a recipe from that thing.'' Cain''s mind peaked, and he opened his eyes, bursting with his Ego Wave as he communicated with Apex. ''Apex, make sure the full power of the [A.I. Chip Module] is on the task, as are the [Genetic Coder Module]''s scanning abilities. I will not use [Genetic Suppression] to fix flaws, but I want to know the type of effect it would have, so I need the information.'' ''Consider it done. I will pause all side tasks and focus the full power of the Absolute Life Form System on it.'' Apex could feel the solemn aura in Cain''s soul and did not take the task lightly. Although for him, this was nothing more than child''s play, it was a fundamental step in Cain''s path to the peak of Genetic Coding. Once everything was done, Cain paid the one million military credits to the Genetic Coding Association through the military interface. He was ready to use the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber. Cain sent his Ego Wave into the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber, and immediately, a plethora of information appeared in his mind. He saw a vast space with hundreds, if not thousands, of light dots; as he focused on them, he could see small descriptions of unique Genetic Formulas. Some were so complicated that just listing the components surpassed Cain''s abilities, and even the easiest ones were hard. Cain was not so full of himself as to try the Genetic Recipes that were meant to alter the genome of a Divine Ascendance Realm Master and focused on those that were at his current level. Many of them caught his attention, but suddenly, a flash of shock appeared on his face since he saw a Genetic Recipe he already knew because he made it and even gave it its name. ''The Avernus Lineage Wave Virus!?'' Chapter 342 Genetic Trial (III) Cain was shocked that his Avernus Lineage Wave Virus was among the formulas inside the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber. Of course, the one engraved in this place was of a much higher level than the one Cain created, but that was not the critical part. The Avernus Lineage Wave Virus was something he obtained from analyzing the illegal human experiments that The Organization conducted to discover an ancient Lineage. Still, he had never expected the bloodline to be traced back to the Dark Races. Cain already understood that The Organization''s influence covered every corner of the empire, including the Silver City. Yet, he was shocked to realize it might also reach into the Dark Races'' domains. Although the information was shocking, to say the least, Cain''s eyes soon regained their focus. This trial was by no means easy, and if he wanted to succeed, he needed to keep his mind sharp. ''There is time later to figure out the secrets behind it. Now, I need to put my mind solely on this task.'' Cain marked the Avernus Lineage Wave Virus and focused on other formulas until he finally found one that sparked meaningful light in his eyes. After some consideration, he decided and marked it, pushing his mind into the formula and obtaining full knowledge. "Manticore Blood, Elder Tree Roots, One Thousand Year Ginseng...." Cain began to mention names, and all sorts of liquids with microorganisms filled the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber. Those were the materials needed to process the enzymes and alter the DNA. All of them were expensive, but that cost was covered with the million military credits that Cain already paid.@@@@ While those materials had little meaning for Yordana, Krane, and Samantha, the Grandmaster Genetic Coders realized just how complicated the Saint Genetic Formula that Cain wanted to recreate was. Marlon remained silent, but his eyes narrowed as he saw Cain''s choice. ''Even I would have some difficulty completing that evolution, and I am nearing the 4-Star Saint Genetic Coder. I doubt this young man could do it, but it is fine. Upon realizing the difficulty, he would pick a new one. Drawbacks are good.'' Although Marlon did not believe Cain would be able to succeed, he did not say a word, nor did he influence this one''s choice in any way. The path to success was full of failure, and there was nothing wrong with it. He wanted to know if it could help him predict the genetic changes that an alteration in the genome sequence could do. Although The Flow had an incredibly effective way of predicting an opponent''s actions by reading the movements of their tendons, muscles, and the impulses of their nerves, Cain did not think it would be of much use when it came to genes. However, he was immediately shocked by the change in his perception. The Flow did not just show him the vibrations and alterations of the genome but even guided his hands, pushing his instincts to the next level. All Grandmasters were sure that the trial would end soon, but shock appeared in their eyes as they saw how Cain''s speed improved, and the percentage of flaws was reduced by over 75%! Other than shock, there was confusion in Marlon and every other Grandmaster since they noticed nothing different in Cain, yet suddenly, his skills improved exponentially. Those abilities neared the 3-Star Saint Genetic Coder level! People could barely believe what they were seeing since a seventeen-year-old boy could not have that skill. It was more than just a matter of talent; his insights were simply too amazing! Yet, despite the fantastic performance Cain displayed upon using The Flow, there were too many flaws in the King Beast''s genome, and thirty minutes later, its heart stopped, and the creature perished. A robotic claw took the beast out while emptying the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber, but other than that, there was no sound in the cube. Everybody looked at Cain with shock and awe. Even Salaman, who was full of disdain for Cain due to his commoner background, did not dare to berate this one for that failure since he would not have done much better. Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire Cain did not show anything as everybody looked at him with awe, not due to his sobriety or arrogance, but because his mind focused solely on the previous experience. The fusion of his mind with the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber pushed his skill to the next level. Every moment he spent manipulating the King Beast''s genome, trying to replicate the formula, was extremely useful, allowing his abilities to advance by leaps and bounds. Not bothered with anything else, he closed his eyes and focused, integrating everything he learned and the knowledge gathered by the Absolute Life Form System. He stood like that for three hours, allowing his mind to wander in those insights. Cain had no way to confirm it, but he was sure that if he were to categorize his current Genetic Coding skills, he would at least be able to earn the classification of a 2-Star Saint Genetic Coder. A smile of satisfaction appeared on his face as he finally integrated all the new knowledge gained in the trial before allowing his mind to rest. Chapter 343 Unlocking a Lineage Yordana might not have known about Genetic Coding, but she knew about people, and the fact that all those Grandmasters calmly waited for Cain to rest so they could see his next attempt told her just how impressive the young man was. A meaningful light appeared in her eyes as she focused on Cain, and her interest just kept growing. However, unlike what one might expect from a young woman in the prime of her life, there was no romantic love in her eyes. Yordana had already investigated Cain and knew of his relationship with the Blood Maiden of the Blood Sea. The fact that he used the excuse that he did not know much about the opposite sex to keep his distance revealed a lot, but she did not have a problem with that. What Yordana was after was not Cain''s love but his influence and power. He was young, but it was already clear he would become not only a powerhouse but a very influential figure in all sorts of aspects, and she wanted to establish a relationship with him soon. ''No matter what, I need to pull him into the group of the Second Imperial Princess!'' As countless plans crossed Yordana''s mind, Cain finally opened his eyes and spoke. "The same material from before." Marlon and the rest of the Grandmasters were surprised to hear that since Cain would try the same Saint Genetic Formula from before. While he showed surprising improvement in the last half an hour, it would still not be enough to complete it. Marlon knew that and was about to offer a word when he saw the resolution in the young man''s eyes. In the end, he could only sigh since he understood that his words would be useless and would not change the young man''s mind.@@@@ Just as the chamber was filled with the materials and the King Beast was about to be deposited, Cain acted. "Stop!" Cain forced the robotic claw to stop before his eyes turned toward Krane. "What are you willing to risk to once again strive forward in your path of power?" Utter shock appeared in the eyes of the people in the cube when they heard that since even the dumbest could understand the meaning behind Cain''s actions. The young man asked Krane if he was willing to enter the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber and become the test subject for the Saint Genetic Formula. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire If successful, Krane would gain an impressive Lineage, but there was no way that the risk was worth it, especially since it did not seem that Cain could succeed. However, people didn''t understand that the effect of the bloodline on Krane would be much more than just an enhanced talent. Marlon and the others were entirely focused on the information reaching their A.I. Chips and could barely believe what they were seeing. The number of genetic flaws that appeared in Krane was simply too minor. Some even wondered if they were getting the wrong information, but they saw how the middle-aged man just kept growing stronger, and there were no visible defective mutations on him. The process was excruciating, but Krane did not utter a single scream. He did not want to distract Cain, and the feeling of his body growing more and more powerful and an immense source of vitality fixing his Evolution Core was more than enough to help him ignore all of it. Krane could see how bark grew in some areas of his body, but not only were they minimal, they had an aesthetic component and only made him look even more handsome. Of course, if he were to trigger his bloodline, an incredibly thick bark would cover every centimeter of his body, better than most Gold Wave Artifacts. After five hours, Cain''s eyes were bloodshot, and he felt a sharp pain due to the high fever resulting from overexerting his mind, but that did not erase his smile as he had finished. "?BOOOM!" A blast echoed across the cube as Krane emerged from the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber. He looked no older than thirty, and his body was full of life, but that was not even the most important thing. What filled the man with thrill was that his Evolution Core was fully fixed, and due to the new power of his bloodline, his Essence Wave was bursting with energy as he evolved to the Late Wave King Rank! Krane could not contain his smile, but soon, focus appeared on his eyes as he appeared in front of Cain and kneeled on the ground before performing a deep bow with his head reaching the ground. Cain stared at the man before nodding, signaling for him to rise. The duo exchanged glances, and while no words were spoken, a tactful agreement was made between them. Before, the relationship between Cain and Krane had been a simple transaction, but now things have evolved. Cain had given Krane the thing he wanted most in the world, and the middle-aged man was ready to return the favor, even if it meant putting his life on the line to do it. After that, Krane moved away from Cain before using the top-tier energy inside the cube to improve his body and energy, solidifying his cultivation. Silence reigned for a long time before people finally reacted and saw the change in the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber. Cain had unlocked a new Saint Genetic Formula, and it was one that could help to grant a mighty Lineage! Although a powerful Lineage was far from enough to secure the birth of a new powerhouse, it was enough to grant someone willing to push themselves beyond their limit a chance to reach the peak, obtaining the power to crush mountains with their bare hands. Marlon stared at Cain, who was recovering, with pure awe and amazement, and he was not alone since the rest of the Grandmasters felt the same. The young man''s talent in Genetic Coding was simply too exceptional, and no one in the young generation of the Genetic Coder Association could compare with him. Just as Marlon was about to declare Cain''s success and give him his reward, he spoke. "There is still an attempt, and I would like to use it." Chapter 344 True Avernus Lineage (I) Marlon was a little surprised by the question, but while he felt there was something more about Cain''s inquiry than what he was revealing, there was indeed no problem with him using the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber a third time. "You can use it, but I advise you to wait. You should come back when your Genetic Coding Abilities have reached the Grandmaster level; that way, the type of formula you will unlock might be of Divine Rank." All the Grandmasters that heard that slowly nodded since Marlon''s words made perfect sense. Cain was a supreme talent by every measure, and in just a few years, he might become a Grandmaster and unlock one of the top-tier formulas stored inside the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber. Since he already obtained the reward and significantly improved his ally''s battle power, there was nothing wrong with waiting. After all, there was no new reward for unlocking a second Genetic Formula. Cain glanced at Marlon and softly shook his head. "I appreciate your advice, but I will use it now." Marlon could only sigh and nod as he heard Cain''s words. Many of the Grandmasters shook their heads, thinking Cain was being too rash and wasting away his last chance. Of course, there were also some, such as Salaman, who only displayed nasty smiles and silently looked down on Cain. ''Hmph, stupid brat. What''s the point of being so talented if you can''t control your drive? That mentality will never allow you to reach the peak.'' Salaman thought to himself as he focused on Cain with coldness. There was already significant enmity between his family and the young man, and since the latter was so talented, Salaman was more than happy to see this one making foolish mistakes. Cain could feel the intent behind the eyes of everyone in the cube but didn''t care. The Genetic Formula he was about to recreate was several times harder than the one that gave Krane his Lineage, so his mind had to be in peak condition, and he could not lose focus. He consolidated the new knowledge and insights, pushing his Genetic Coding abilities to the next level before resting for a few hours. Finally, he shouted out the name of the material.@@@@ "Darkness Mountain Heart, Silent Web, Shadow Moon Core..." Marlon and the rest of the Grandmasters were shocked as they heard the materials that Cain was asking for since they were of an extremely high level. A Genetic Formula of that tier could morph the genome of a Peak Apotheosis Realm Master. Even though the Genetic Formula that Cain would recreate didn''t seem to reach the Divine Rank, it wasn''t far from it either. However, their shock turned to complete stupefaction when they saw Cain remove his robe and jump into the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber! "What are you doing!?" Marlon shouted as he saw Cain jumping into the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber. The young man was actually planning to alter his own genome! Cain met the man''s blue eyes and nodded, blocking out everything else to focus solely on the task ahead. ''System, how much Destiny Force do I have?'' Before proceeding with his genetic evolution, Cain reviewed the calculations since they would play a crucial role in this evolution. Despite the help of The Flow, many genetic flaws were bound to occur, and he would need the help of the [Genetic Coder Module] to address them. The Absolute Life Form System immediately answered Cain''s query. [Destiny Force: 245,870] Before his journey into the Blood Sea, Cain had fewer than twenty thousand points, but over the past year, he had battled Titans and influenced a civil war that could have changed the destiny of an entire sector. Hence, his surge in Destiny Force wasn''t surprising. However, he didn''t grow complacent. While it was true his current Destiny Force measured in the hundreds of thousands, the amount the Absolute Life Form System consumed when involved in tasks related to energy levels above the Wave King Rank was astronomical. ''System, how much did I spend fixing the flaws during Krane''s genetic evolution?'' [91,289 points of Destiny Force were spent] Find more to read on My Virtual Library Empire Cain had to burn over ninety thousand points to avert critical genetic flaws in Krane''s genome, and the True Avernus Genetic Formula was more advanced. If Cain had been the target, the cost would''ve been around thirty thousand since using the [Genetic Coder Module] on someone other than the Vessel costs three times more. ''According to the [A.I. Chip Module] calculations, how much will it cost to prevent serious genetic flaws during this evolution?'' [According to data analyzed by the A.I. Chip Module, the Destiny Force needed will be between 140,000 to 200,000 points.] Cain silently sighed when he saw that substantial figure. Two hundred thousand points of Destiny Force was an insane amount, and it was not like a civil war would happen every day. However, his eyes showed no hesitation as he set to work. His Ego Wave merged with the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber, and he began his task, analyzing his genes and initiating the alteration. The Genetic Evolution Cube was enveloped in silence as everyone intently watched Cain use the Genetic Formula to modify his genome and awaken a bloodline. Destiny Force was burned by the second, but Cain did not even bother to track the amount as there was nothing else in his mind but the changes to his genome. Cain''s mind was in a state of absolute focus as he altered his genome one gene at a time, steadily pushing it to align with the True Avernus Genetic Formula. Genetic flaws arose occasionally, some incredibly dangerous, but the [Genetic Coder Module] suppressed them every time they appeared. No one knew these flaws thanks to the [A.I. Chip Module]. The only thing the Grandmasters and everyone else observed was Cain flawlessly recreating a Genetic Formula that was too complex for even a 4-Star Saint Genetic Coder! A seventeen-year-old boy capable of performing the same type of genetic modification as a 4-Star Saint Genetic Coder. That was something so incredible that it was worthy of being a legend! Chapter 345 True Avernus Lineage (II) Sylan''s eyes couldn''t leave the Tier Zero Genetic Chamber as he analyzed the changes in Cain''s genome, which were genuinely shocking. The young man displayed a talent that surpassed everything he had seen in his life. To be fair, Cain''s inherent talent wasn''t anywhere near the level he was currently exhibiting. However, with the aid of the [Genetic Coder Module], he was at a level unparalleled in the empire among the young generation. Some might label it as cheating, but such a viewpoint would be overly simplistic. First and foremost, Cain expended a tremendous amount of Destiny Force for the module to operate, a force he had earned through hard work. Furthermore, the system was an intrinsic part of his soul. It was no different from a young man from the Old World acing a test due to a combination of intelligence and the enhanced focus from caffeine and other not-so-legal substances. As Cain modified his genome, intense pain assailed him. Nevertheless, his willpower was sufficiently robust to suppress it, ensuring it didn''t impede him. His movements and genetic modifications only became faster and smoother. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire Suddenly, after four excruciating hours of work, Cain''s eyes opened, and they began to glow, the red light in them bursting forth. This sudden occurrence surprised and baffled many. However, there were individuals like Sylan who perfectly grasped the situation. "The young man''s mind has entered a state of enlightenment. He''s attained a profound understanding of the human genome, allowing his brain to operate several times faster by consuming his Ego Wave in the process. This state is temporary, but upon awakening, his talent in Genetic Coding will be even more formidable." Marlon and the other Grandmasters gazed at Cain in sheer awe and amazement. Cain''s talent was already divine, but it escalated before their eyes. The young man was simply astonishing! For over thirty minutes, Cain''s proficiency amplified exponentially. However, his bursting Ego Wave began to wane. Sylan saw the red light weakening but was not surprised. After all, Cain''s willpower was on par with a Late Wave Champion. The fact that he maintained his state of enlightenment for this duration was already impressive. ''Soon, his mind will revert to its usual state. It''s endured long enough for him to complete the Genetic Formula. However, it''s unfortunate he couldn''t sustain it longer. There might have been a possibility that, in this enlightened state, he could''ve achieved an evolution even more potent than the formula described.'' As these thoughts crossed Sylan''s mind, a golden humanoid deep within Cain''s soul noted the Sun Seed''s diminishing force. Apex''s eyes narrowed as he examined the orb before him, cloaked in dark purple flames and black-white lightning. It contained the condensed soul force of the Astral Blood Beast that had once tried to exploit Cain''s soul for its rebirth. A stream of sky-blue energy emerged from the orb, gently merging with Cain''s soul. The primary reason for Cain''s expertise with blood-related abilities was Apex nourishing his soul with that of the Astral Blood Beast! While using someone else''s soul for nourishment was highly efficient, consuming the soul of another being was perilous. If even the tiniest fragment of ego remained, it could cause extensive psychological damage. The challenge lay in the intricate relationship between the soul, ego, and will. Purging the latter would invariably damage the former. Yet, Apex utilized the unique powers of the dark purple flames and black-white lightning to circumvent this issue. However, Cain remained unfazed. Although facing a Late Wave King was treacherous, Salaman''s combat capabilities were average, and Cain didn''t fear confronting him. Of course, Cain wouldn''t attack. He wasn''t so arrogant as to believe he could simply kill someone inside the headquarters of the Genetic Coding Association without facing severe repercussions. Although Cain''s mentality had changed after the events of the Blade Mountain, and he would normally take care of their enemies, not giving them a chance to strike in the future, Salaman was just a symptom. The real problem was the Azure Royal Family, and they were too strong for him at the moment. Cain only glanced at Salaman before his body again melted into a mass of shadows. However, this time, he didn''t vanish. Instead, he moved in that form at an astonishing speed, returning to the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber. Now distanced from Cain, Salaman''s fear diminished, replaced by pure rage. "You dare to sneak up on me?" The old man shouted, filled with anger, ready to call the security forces of the Genetic Evolution Cube. "What are you talking about? I just awakened a new power and wasn''t adept at controlling it. Besides, I didn''t harm you in any way." Salaman''s rage intensified upon hearing that. He realized he had no valid basis for his accusations. Ordinarily, this wouldn''t have deterred him, but considering a potential conflict with Cain, he recognized who the higher-ups would likely support. "Enough, Salaman. Don''t create a scene over a misunderstanding," Sylan interjected, then turned to Cain with a stern expression. "I''ll give you some leeway since you''ve unlocked a new Lineage for us, but don''t overstep your bounds." Cain met Sylan''s gaze and nodded. He knew how to adapt to the situation and would not lose his composure. Observing the de-escalated situation, Sylan gave a nod before addressing Cain. "You''ve rendered a great service to the Godslayer Humankind Empire, young man. Unlocking those two Lineage Formulas will pave the way for many future geniuses. Since you unveiled them, you have the privilege to name them." Marlon and the other Grandmasters looked on in surprise. Naming a Lineage Formula was a significant honor for a Genetic Coder. From this point forward, individuals adopting the Lineage would bear its name, ensuring the widespread recognition of the Genetic Coder throughout the empire. Cain wasn''t overly concerned about naming rights, but gauging the importance others placed on it, he realized it would be disrespectful to appear disinterested. A complicated expression appeared on his face as he sought the name for the Genetic Formula that granted Krane''s bloodline. It took a long time before finally a smile appeared on his face. "Due to their powers and nature, they will be known from now on as the ''Life Trent Lineage'' and ''True Avernus Lineage." Cain''s expression was one of pride as he genuinely marveled at the wonder of the names he had just come up with. He was sure that everybody would feel the same way about them. Chapter 346 Change in the relationship Complicated expressions appeared on the faces of the people in the Genetic Evolution Cube since those names truly sucked. Krane, thrilled to the marrow by his new Lineage, couldn''t help but show a broken smile upon realizing the name of his bloodline. Sylan''s eyes twitched before bursting with silver light. He used all his willpower not to berate Cain for uttering such lame names but managed to hold back and nodded. "Okay, from now on, they are the Life Trend Lineage Formula and True Avernus Lineage Formula, as decreed by the Honorary Genetic Grandmaster Laurifer." Cain''s eyes narrowed upon hearing the title Sylan gave him, but he merely nodded and didn''t say much. It didn''t truly make him part of the Genetic Coding Association, so he wasn''t particularly concerned. "I am truly grateful for the honor. I don''t wish to be rude, but I must depart now. I must prepare for my Arcane Ceremony of Nobility in less than ten days." Cain wanted his reward, but to leave immediately after receiving it would be seen as impolite. However, his explanation made the Grandmasters nod. The Arcane Ceremony of Nobility was an important rite, and one should use every minute to prepare. There was no need to waste time on pleasantries. Sylan thought the same and nodded. A Tier One Bio Genetic Chamber appeared, which he sent towards Cain, who promptly stored it in his space ring. "Usually, you wouldn''t receive another reward for succeeding a second time in the Genetic Trial since just the formula would be sufficient pay. However, the True Avernus Lineage is of a high level, so I''ll return the three million military credits you spent and offer this." Sylan took a wave crystal from his space ring. It was unlike any Cain had seen before. The energy was so pure it instantly flooded the room. "A high-quality wave crystal!" Cain was surprised. Just one high-quality wave crystal was worth five million military credits, and its energy was so pure that even Titans used it to reestablish their Wave. Using it as a Wave Champion would not only accelerate his cultivation immensely but also enhance his foundation. Since it was presented as a reward for the True Avernus Lineage, Cain had no reservations and took it. "You have my gratitude." Cain clasped his hands as he stored the high-quality wave crystal. He then showed his respect to Marlon and the other Grandmasters. Once they returned the courtesy, he calmly descended to the first level. Krane silently followed him, as did Yordana and the old Apotheosis Realm Master protecting the young woman. Cain didn''t immediately depart as he purchased a significant amount of material. These would be needed in the future, and in the end, he spent nearly two million military credits again. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire Everyone''s eyes remained on Cain, and discussions began once he left the cube. It was evident that the events here wouldn''t stay secret for long. Sylan didn''t say much. He simply nodded to Marlon and returned to his laboratory. What he would do there remained a mystery. ... Cain, Yordana, Krane, and Samantha reappeared in the central plaza of the Silver City. "It has been a great pleasure accompanying you on this journey, Colonel Laurifer. I hope we can stay in touch in the near future." Yordana spoke solemnly, clasping her hands and bowing to Cain. "How much?" From the beginning, Cain had clarified his intent to purchase the knowledge, relying on Klaus mainly for his connections. That way, their relationship would not grow too deep or fall into one of dependence. Cain had chosen that path since he knew nothing about the Fourth Imperial Prince, and there was no reason why he would trust he had never met before. "Hahaha! The price is so negligible that I''d feel guilty asking such a modest amount from you." Klaus chuckled as he hinted for Cain to take the starry gem "I would not feel comfortable accepting this from the Imperial Prince without compensation. If it''s without cost, I can''t accept it." Cain was displeased with Klaus''s attempt to shift the terms and made his stance clear: if Klaus insisted on gifting the gem, he''d refuse it. Klaus maintained his smile, saying, "If that''s Colonel Laurifer''s preference, then it''s two million military credits." Despite the loss of those two two million military credits draining most of his liquid assets, Cain did not hesitate and transferred the amount to Klaus. "Done. I thank the Imperial Prince for his assistance." After obtaining the starry gem, Cain and Krane offered their respects and departed. Klaus did not attempt to stop the duo from leaving, and while his smile remained, there was a sharp light in his eyes as he focused on Cain. As the duo walked to their residence, Cain''s eyes grew cold and his demeanor sharp. ''Lord?'' Krane communicated silently with Cain via their Ego Waves. Although there hadn''t been a confrontation, he had lived long enough to notice the tension between Cain and Klaus. ''Everything is fine for now. We''ll stay here until completing the Arcane Route.'' Cain''s eyes grew colder, reflecting his thoughts. Klaus'' attitude regarding the Genetic Coder knowledge revealed much about the Imperial Prince''s nature. Initially, the Fourth Imperial Prince was content treating their relationship as a simple transaction, given he had the upper hand. However, this dynamic shifted with the emergence of Cain''s dual talents, not just in martial prowess but also in Genetic Coding. While there were many powerhouses in the empire, Genetic Coders were rare and valuable. Sensing a shift in their power dynamics, Klaus attempted to regain control by gifting the starry gem. This minor gesture spoke volumes about his intent. As they prepared to separate, Cain instructed Krane. ''Use your underworld contacts and wealth to obtain a potent weapon and cultivation technique.'' Krane''s eyes narrowed as he heard that command. He would need a new cultivation technique and weapon to draw the full power of his Lineage, and the ones he could obtain through his contacts in the underworld would be superb. However, there were dangers in using those contacts since they could be used as an excuse to go after him and harm Cain. Cain knew about the dangers, but he glanced at Krane, signaling this one to do it, before going to his room. Chapter 347 Arcane Route (I) Once Cain finally reached his room, he went straight into his bed. The journey to the Genetic Coder Association had been tiring, and he yearned for genuine rest before continuing his training. Upon waking up, Cain felt much clearer mentally. Without delay, he communicated with the Absolute Life Form System. "System, scan me." Wanting a precise assessment of his current strength, he awaited the Absolute Life Form System''s response. [Scanning Vessel... ... ... Scan of Vessel completed. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Middle Wave Champion) Lineage: True Avernus Lineage Wave Talent: High Tier 8 (High Tier 8) Stats: Strength: 33.1-->39.2 Agility: 22.1 --> 24.2 Vitality: 40.1 --> 41.5 Wave: 23.5 --> 25.2 Blood Energy: 39.6 --> 41.4 Blood Rebirth: Golden Blood Stage Note: Wave Virus inside Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 22.1%.] The boost in his stats came directly from his new bloodline, as it had been less than three weeks since his last body analysis. What truly captured his attention was the increase in talent, which now reached High Tier 8. And that was just the beginning. Suddenly, a teleportation formation at the volcano''s base illuminated, heralding Cain and Krane''s arrival and drawing everybody''s attention. Dressed in an impressive red robe embroidered with the name ''Laurifer'' on the back, Cain exuded regality. His black eyes and chrome hair drew many admiring glances. From the moment he arrived, his eyes were bursting with red light as he unleashed the full power of his Alter-Ego''s aura, making it hard for those with weak willpower to maintain eye contact. Cain''s transformation took aback the Second Princess and Crown Prince. Yet, both Michael and Emerald Goldsoul discerned beyond mere appearances, sensing the pulsating bloodline power coursing within Cain, and could feel the strength of the True Avernus Lineage. Michael whispered to Emerald, "Indeed, that young man is truly astounding." Emerald replied, ensuring only the Crown Prince could hear, "I presume I won''t have to contest you over this, Big Brother?" The Crown Prince responded, "While I appreciate promising talents, allying with him could strain relations with Kamel." Emerald softly nodded as she remembered the animosity between the Third Imperial Prince and Cain during the Imperial Feast. Since the Crown Prince could not sever his relationship with his little brother, bringing Cain to his side was impossible. "Still, he is part of the Fourth Brother''s group, and I doubt he would just let him go so easily." "Hmph, Klaus'' charm is significant, but he has a fatal flaw. He needs to be always in control and cannot accept a relationship where the other party could grow too strong. I am sure their bond isn''t robust." The Crow Prince glanced at Emerald and gave a subtle nod. The Fourth Imperial Prince controlled one of the three significant forces of the Imperial Royal Family. While he possessed many virtues, he was undeniably a control maniac. Cain observed the dozens of attendees and expressed slight surprise. He hadn''t anticipated so many showing up for his Arcane Route. However, he just walked forward until he reached the beginning of the reversed river of lava. Pausing, he scanned the crowd, acknowledging those he had previously met, such as Yordana and Desmond. His attention then shifted to the Scholars of the Imperial Court. The Grand Scholar of the Imperial Court was a stout man with short black hair and a beard. Dominguez typically exuded a solemn and majestic aura, aware of the influence he held over the emerging nobles. However, this time was different. No Grand Scholar was incompetent, and Dominguez was no exception. He had thoroughly researched Cain''s background and military achievements. Initially, he was merely impressed by the young man''s accomplishments, but after hearing about all the adventures the young man had in Eden, his perspective shifted. Now, surrounded by influential individuals, a single misstep could cost him his title. "Colonel Laurifer, I am the Grand Scholar of the Imperial Court, Dominguez Flamin. As you know, the Arcane Route is the first of your three trials in the Arcane Ceremony of Nobility." Dominguez spoke with a grave demeanor, unveiling a long golden scroll. "You have defended human cities against massive hordes, led armies to annihilate millions of Wave Beasts, taken the life of Wave Champion Atrox as a cadet, thwarted the schemes of Dark Kings, and amplified the might of the already formidable Imperial Lightning Fort. Now, you must embark on the Arcane Route and confront the relentless onslaught of foes, just as our ancestors did when they faced the Gods of the Dark Races. The higher you ascend, the more honor you bestow upon your family name. When you can no longer progress, shout your family name and motto, signaling the end of the first trial." His concluding words resonated throughout the volcano, their meaning evident. If Cain wished to secure a high classification, he needed to progress as far as possible. Cain nodded in acknowledgment. Dominguez then addressed the spectators. "Who among you is willing to stake their name and reputation in support of Colonel Laurifer?" Chapter 348 Arcane Route (II) "Who among you is willing to stake their name and reputation in support of Colonel Laurifer?" There were solemn expressions on people''s faces as they heard the Grand Scholar utter those words. While the support of people should not change Cain''s grading, it would tell the world that there were influential figures in Eden who recognized his potential and character. As expected, Klaus immediately stepped forward upon hearing the question of the Grand Scholar. A smile adorned his face, but there was an unsettling undertone behind it. However, he managed to hide his true feelings very well, and the only ones who noticed it were the Second Princess and Crown Prince. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire "I, Klaus Goldsoul, pledge my name and honor in support of Colonel Laurifer." Dominguez nodded and jotted something on the scroll. As he prepared to signal Cain, the Second Princess stepped forward. "I, Emerald Goldsoul, pledge my name and honor in support of Colonel Laurifer." An eerie silence pervaded the surroundings as the Second Princess voiced her commitment. Cain was part of Klaus'' escorts during the Imperial Feast, so Klaus'' endorsement was expected. But the Second Princess''s unexpected declaration shifted dynamics. Pledging your name in support of someone in the Arcane Route was not a small thing, and there was no reason for the Second Princess to do it unless she expected to form a relationship with Cain in the future. Cain cast a fleeting glance at the Second Princess, his gaze sharpening, but remained silent. After the Genetic Tournament, He resolved to sever ties with the Fourth Imperial Prince and was uninterested in the Royal Family''s politics. Although there were evident benefits he could attain by being associated with the Imperial Family, he was not willing to change his freedom and peace of mind for it. Klaus'' smile persisted, yet his eyes hardened when he looked at Emerald. However, his attention was soon diverted by another voice. "I, Yordana Manixet, pledge the Manixet name and honor in support of Colonel Laurifer." Standing beside Emerald, Yordana made her declaration. She invoked the name of the Prime Minister, causing many present to regard her with surprise. Prime Minister Manixet''s cautious and conservative nature was well-known, and he typically avoided the darker intrigues of the empire, nor did he associate with people who worked in the underworld, like assassins. Yet, his name was now used as a pillar for Cain''s Arcane Route, a young man mixed between the schemes of the Fourth Imperial Prince and Second Imperial Princess and also connected with the Aegon Family. Klaus'' scrutiny intensified as he fixed Yordana with his gaze. He recognized the challenge in keeping Cain close but had at least hoped to deter others from courting him. Clearly, this was not to be, as another voice soon rang out. "I, Marlon White, pledge the White name and honor in support of Colonel Laurifer." The Crown Prince, Second Princess, and Fourth Prince had high cultivation and even greater battle power, but even they had to focus not to lose Cain from their sight. Those of the Wave Champion rank, like Yordana and Desmond, had to channel their Wave into their eyes to enhance their vision. Dominguez and the other Senior Scholars adopted solemn expressions as they observed Cain. Although his speed was impressive, the Arcane Route was designed to test a future Marquis, a cultivator with the power of Wave Kings. Thus, they were more than capable of tracking Cain''s movements. There were thousands of meters of lava road before reaching the foot of the mountain, yet Cain covered this distance in less than a second and immediately began to ascend. As soon as he set foot on the volcano, adversaries appeared. Dozens of puppets resembling members of the Dark Races emerged from the magma, lunging towards Cain with lethal intent. Given that this trial was designed for Marquises, the initial wave of puppets was already at the Wave Champion Rank. A Wave King would effortlessly handle these Wave Champion Battle Puppets, and Cain was no exception. Everyone expected him to either dismantle them or perhaps maneuver around them. However, Cain did neither. Instead, he continued moving forward at hypersonic speed. "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" As the battle puppets approached Cain, their claws and weapons clashing against his formidable body did not inflict even the slightest wound. Instead, Cain collided with them, breaking them into pieces and continuing on his path. Awe was evident in the eyes of the onlookers. Cain had previously demonstrated his physical prowess during the Imperial Feast, but it seemed to have improved further. His body was now so resilient that he could withstand direct attacks from Wave Champions without sustaining any injuries! Cain''s expression remained cold as he demolished every puppet in his path. However, when he reached the volcano''s midpoint, his gaze intensified. Two Battle Puppets resembling members of the Inferno Demon Race emerged from the magma, their power equivalent to Early Wave Kings. Yet, before they could react, a red flash passed beyond them, leaving headless bodies behind. Cain''s hands had transformed into Blood Claws, each clutching a head. He crushed them effortlessly and continued his ascent. The Crown Prince, Second Princess, and Fourth Prince observed as Cain crossed the midpoint and approached the final third of the Ember Ascension Peak. Although Cain consistently shattered every puppet in his path, his pace began to slow. "He has already accrued enough merits to surpass the Lesser Marquis title and become a Marquis, but it seems unlikely that he''ll reach the peak," Michael commented objectively, without malice. "It''s understandable," the Second Princess added softly, "The trial is set at the Marquis level. To reach the peak, Cain would need the battle power of a Late Wave King, and even that might fall short. His progress so far is impressive." Klaus, who had pledged his support before anyone else, remained silent, his gaze fixed on the volcano. Cain continued his onslaught, but his breathing grew labored, and his Astral Wave began to waver. He wouldn''t be able to sustain such intense energy output much longer. Despite these challenges, his determination never wavered, and he approached the peak with unwavering resolve. Suddenly, the entire mountain trembled. From the magma emerged a one-hundred-meter-tall Atrox Battle Puppet. Chapter 349 Arcane Route (III) "?AHHHHHHHH!" The Atrox Battle Puppet roared, unleashing a burst of energy that dispersed the dark clouds in the sky. It swung both hands toward Cain, and the sheer motion generated a crushing gale. Although the brute power behind that attack did not fall beneath that of an Old World''s small nuclear weapon, Cain did not lose his calm and kicked the broken puppet up. "BOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" Moments later, the Atrox Battle Puppet''s fists slammed into the ground where Cain had stood, causing a tremor throughout the mountain and producing a shockwave that extended to those watching below. While most onlookers wondered about Cain''s fate, the Crown Prince, Second Princess, and Fourth Prince immediately turned their gaze skyward. They saw Cain emerging from the shadow cast by the broken puppet he''d propelled just before the impact. The Atrox Battle Puppet, sensing Cain''s presence, displayed pure rage and killing intent as it lunged into the sky with its colossal frame. Cain, his eyes cold, was surrounded by a dark aura, especially around his wings. As the massive hands of the Atrox Battle Puppet neared him, aiming to crush his body, he uttered two words: "Third Gear!" "BOOOOOOMMMMM!" Following Cain''s declaration, a dark flash pierced the chest of the Atrox Battle Puppet. A mix of awe and shock was evident in the eyes of the onlookers. Cain had brilliantly exploited the puppet''s lack of agility, propelling it skyward. He then reinforced his blood wings with dark energy, transforming them into a drill that, at a breathtaking speed, pierced the Atrox Battle Puppet! "?Boom!" Another explosion resonated at the volcano''s peak as Cain crashed into the ground. The speed he''d achieved was more than he could control, preventing him from halting his descent in time. Despite this, his majestic aura did not fade as he slowly rose to his feet. Bloodied and with a pallid complexion due to the intense strain of using Third Gear, Cain''s triumph was undiminished, reflected in his proud smile. He''d reached the peak, vanquishing every single battle puppet! Drawing a deep breath, he activated the power of his Alter Ego. A radiant red light soon enveloped him, illuminating the sky. "Laurifer Noble Family. May my wrath burn the sky!" His declaration echoed across the expanse, and dark red light enveloped the peak of the Ember Ascension Peak, resembling a majestic sun rising from the magma. All eyes were fixed on Cain, and even the mightiest among them couldn''t help but be awestruck by the magnificent red light. Cain''s eyes were burning with pride and resolution. Laurifer, the name his father granted him, an orphan of war, would be engraved in the Godslayer Humankind Empire! For him, the fame and prestige of a noble title meant little. Cain had already understood that the only way to guarantee his safety and happiness was through raw power. But he couldn''t suppress the thrill at the thought of the honor his father would have felt if this one could see just how high that name had risen.@@@@ Cain responded with a small smile, nodding and shaking Klaus''s hand, acknowledging their mutual understanding. "It was my pleasure. I''ll see you again at the Genetic Tournament in two weeks." Klaus smiled, recognizing Cain''s commitment to participating under his banner. Without another word, he nodded and departed. A palpable tension lingered for a few moments after their exchange, broken only by the approach of the Second Princess. "Colonel Laurifer, allow me to congratulate you on that exceptional performance." Emerald extended her hand toward Cain, and the onlookers held their breath, curious about his next move. Cain met her gaze and, without hesitation, adopted a military stance, bowing. "Colonel Laurifer greets Her Highness, Emerald Goldsoul." A flash of shock appeared in the eyes of many as they observed Cain''s response to the Second Imperial Princess'' greeting. There was nothing wrong with it, but it was the standard response of a military officer to a member of the Imperial Family. Cain hadn''t severed his relationship with Klaus simply to find a new patron; anyone who thought that was seriously mistaken. The Second Imperial Princess'' eyes glowed with a silver light. She maintained a composed expression, yet it required significant willpower on her part to contain her emotions. Her gaze became sharp, but she remained silent and simply nodded. "Arise, Colonel." Afterward, Emerald turned and departed. Yordana and Marlon wore complex expressions as they nodded to Cain before following the Second Imperial Princess. Though the duo wanted to establish a relationship with Cain, their primary allegiance was to the Second Imperial Princess'' faction. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire They weren''t the only ones. Almost everyone else who had come to witness the Arcane Route departed, believing that trying to ally with Cain was a lost cause. After all, what could they offer the man that the Second Princess couldn''t? Cain watched them go without comment. He was aware that his demeanor might create challenges, and alienating others wasn''t the most strategic approach. However, he preferred solitude over being entangled in someone else''s schemes. While it''s true that the Second Imperial Princess might not seek to create a dependent relationship like Klaus, she''d likely still want to keep him close, restricting his freedom in some manner. That was something Cain could never accept. "RUMBLE!" For a moment, Cain''s eyes widened as he felt a tremor in his mind, but he managed to mask it so no one else detected it. The source of the sudden disturbance in Cain''s mind was his Alter-Ego. His actions significantly impacted the Sun Seed Visualization Technique. He aligned with his innate nature by pursuing a path characterized by freedom and autonomy without allowing anyone to dominate him. This fortification of his core values enabled the Sun Seed to grow stronger, paving the way for its next evolution! Chapter 350 Three Towers of Adam Cain''s Sun Seed was already immensely powerful, being a Duality Alter-Ego. Still, it was growing even more potent, enhancing its potential and allowing his Ego Wave to grow without any restriction until he reached the Peak of the Second Realm. "Haha, Cain, that was amazing! Your mastery over the Blood Wings left me amazed!" Desmond''s voice, the Deus Bahamut, drew Cain''s attention back to the present. There was a fresh smile on the young man''s face as he walked toward Cain. Cain''s eyes refocused as he saw the Bahamut approaching him, and a smile graced his face. Desmond was refreshingly straightforward, unlike the Fourth Imperial Prince and Second Imperial Princess, who always had ulterior motives. Although it was easy for Cain to handle people with hidden interests, that did not mean he liked to spend his time that always was plotting something. If he had to choose, Cain would always prefer to be with those like the young Deus Bahamut who shoot straight. "I have to thank you. The technique is magnificent, and its powers perfectly synergize with my Asura Form." Cain''s words were sincere since the Blood Wings played a significant role in his recent triumph. By merging its effects with Third Gear, he achieved speeds so swiftly that even a Late Wave King Battle Puppet couldn''t react in time. Of course, there were drawbacks, the most important being the lack of control and maneuverability. However, Cain was sure that if he could push his mind and reflexes to the next level, he would have no problem handling the combined speed of Asura Form and Blood Wings. "No need to thank me; after all, it was a transaction. Your Asura Form is truly remarkable, but it''s also very complex. I''m amazed you achieved third gear years before your cognitive abilities reached the Wave King Rank." Desmond appeared serious about discussing the Asura Form. Clearly, while he showed a relaxed attitude, he was very stern regarding his cultivation. While he quickly attained the First Gear due to his genius, understanding the Second Gear was challenging, and mastering it might take months if not years. Regarding the Third Gear, Desmond doubted he''d grasp its principles before becoming a Wave King.@@@@ Cain displayed a contemplative look. The Asura Form was effortless for him because knowledge and insight about it had been etched into his mind from his past life experiences. He didn''t progress faster to the next gears because his body couldn''t handle the pressure of such an overwhelming heart rate. Since that was Cain''s situation, there was little he could do to help Desmond with his problems, and he only offered a piece of simple yet useful advice. "There''s no need to rush. Even if you dominate the Third Gear upon becoming a Wave King, the technique will still grant you significant power." Desmond nodded, appreciating Cain''s guidance. The Asura Form''s power wouldn''t diminish with his rank, so taking time to master it wouldn''t pose an issue. Now that was out of the way, another thing came to Desmond''s mind, and he immediately shared it with Cain. "By the way, we''re heading to the Three Towers of Adam. You could join us." While their core structures were similar, each tower boasted a distinct phenomenon at its zenith. One showcased a dark star emitting such potent gravitational force it seemed capable of warping space. Calling it a black hole would be a mistake since, despite its massive power, its core intent was something else beyond destruction. Another tower had a multicolored fiery sphere that simultaneously emitted myriad meanings, resembling a force of both overwhelming destruction and infinite regeneration. Each intent was immensely powerful on its own, but combined, they grew to a level that was nearly impossible to describe. However, the one that captured Cain''s utmost attention was the central tower, where a colossal beating heart pulsed at its peak. "That is the Emperor''s Heart. It''s believed to have been left by the First Titan," the Crown Prince mentioned, drawing Cain''s attention momentarily. Cain was sure that the Ego Wave used to generate that phenomenon had a power beyond the limits of Aether! "The Three Towers of Adam are among the great treasures left behind by the greatest Emperor of the Godslayer Humankind. They are named the Tower of Laws, Tower of Concepts, and Tower of Stars," Michael elaborated, glancing at Desmond and the young man from the Anima Mechanicus Race. Though Cain had some understanding of the Three Towers of Adam, he paid keen attention to Michael''s explanation. "The Tower of Stars is designed for Astral Cultivation. It helps cultivators familiarize themselves with the principles governing the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. While it might not seem essential now, it becomes pivotal as you traverse the Apotheosis Realm and the set of rules that will guide your cultivation beyond the Divine Ascension Realm." Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire Both Desmond and Cain listened intently. Both understood that the potential of an Astral Rebirth Cultivator laid on the foundation they developed with each step they took. However, after surpassing the Wave King Rank into a new realm, things evolved. Michael did not wait long before his eyes turned to the next tower. "The Tower of Laws offers insights into the Five Daoist Elemental Laws. Additionally, it provides access to the Laws of Space and Time. Although more elusive, their formidable power can refine your Essence Wave. At the very least, every Essence Cultivator should gain some insights into them to achieve the Divine Ascension Realm," Michel continued. Although Cain did not take the Essence Evolution Path of Power, that did not mean he would just ignore it, and his eyes grew sharp as he focused on the tower. After letting his words sink in, Michael directed their attention to the final tower. "The Tower of Concepts is distinct. There''s no true guidance or insights offered within. The Ego Eternal Path of Power follows the principles behind Visualization Techniques, each unique in its own right. Inside this tower, you''ll confront the Ego Waves of ancient Gods vanquished by the First Titan." Chapter 351 Realm of Stellar Synthesis Cain''s eyes widened with awe and shock as he focused on the Tower of Concepts. He expected to find a cultivation heaven from which he could draw inspiration toward the power born of the collective mind of Aether''s sentient life forms. Yet, it was actually a training ground that would put him against the Ego Waves of Gods! A bursting red light emerged from Cain''s eyes as the desire to fight burned inside his soul, and he felt his Sun Seed beating with energy, ready to engage in fights against the Ego Wave left behind by Divine Ascension Gods! However, Cain did not lose focus nor act rashly. After all, he was a guest of the Crown Prince and could not just access the tower at will. Luckily for Cain and everybody else, the Crown Prince did not leave them waiting. "Two people can access each tower at the same time. I and Black will head into the Tower of Concepts. You six should figure out who would first enter the Tower of Stars and Tower of Laws." Michael did not say anything else before he and the three-meter-tall military criminal, who went by the moniker of Black, touched the dark tower and vanished inside. As soon as Michael vanished, two groups formed. One group with Cain, Desmond, and Magnus, who sought to enter the Tower of Stars, and the other with Iris, Krane, and the Anima Mechanicus Race''s genius, which aimed at the Tower of Laws. Cain, Desmond, and Magnus look at each other with fighting will. Since the tower could only hold two people at the same time, one of them would have to wait.@@@@ There was no need for words as the trio put their right hands behind their backs, and three seconds later, they released them. "Papper." "Rock." "Papper." Following a tradition of the Old World, the trio played an ancient game to decide who would have to wait, and Desmond could do nothing but show a downcast expression as he saw his clenched fists and the open palms of Cain and Magnus. Krane, Iris, and the young Anima Mechanicus Race''s genius played the same game, and the young woman was the one who lost. Cain saw that Krane won, and a small smile appeared on his face as he nodded to this one before calmly walking toward the Tower of Stars along with Magnus. The duo glanced at each other, but none said a word. While there were many things to discuss, this was not the time, and both of them cleansed their minds of everything other than the tower. Cain touched the Tower of Stars, immediately teleporting into this one, appearing in a void empty of any color or source of light. Just as Cain was wondering what happened, a will with a power like nothing he had ever felt flooded his body and mind. "!WE ARE MADE OF STARDUST. THE UNIVERSE IS IN YOUR VEINS!" The infusion of soul force allowed Cain''s soul to stabilize, allowing his journey inside the Tower of Stars to continue. The materials mixed with Cain''s particles spread across the galaxy by the supernova, generating new heavenly bodies! --- As Cain lost himself in that wonderful journey, he had completely forgotten about the outside world, but the same could not be said about the people outside the Tower of Stars. Michael and Black emerged from the Tower of Concepts, their eyes glowing with a bursting Ego Wave. The duo was tired, but their minds immediately grew sharp as they saw everybody gathered outside the Tower of Stars. "What is happening?" The Crown Prince knew there was a problem when he saw the worry and concern in Krane and Desmond''s faces. "It is Cain. He is still inside the Tower of Stars." Desmond immediately answered, making shock appear in the eyes of the Crown Prince and Black. Due to his power and background, the Crown Prince knew what would happen once you were inside the Tower of Stars. Once you touch the Tower of Stars, you do not enter the tower but something much more profound. Your mind and body would become one with it, granting you a truly transcendental experience. Your body would become one with the heavenly bodies, allowing your soul to grasp the Realm of Stellar Synthesis, the first of the Three Great Realms that Astral Cultivators must master in their path beyond their mortal shell. In the Realm of Stellar Synthesis, a cultivator understands the birth and death of stars, the primary architects of existence. These stars, much like gigantic nuclear reactors, experience nuclear fusion in their cores. This fusion of lighter elements, mainly hydrogen and helium, results in the creation of heavier elements. Grasping this concept of stellar nucleosynthesis allows a cultivator to understand the foundational process of how elements are created. Understanding that principle would allow an Astral Rebirth Cultivator to harness the power of the stars inside their bodies, granting them the might that surpassed nuclear weapons. However, the process must be gradual and steady since the full knowledge of the Realm of Stellar Synthesis is too much for the soul of someone beneath the Apotheosis Realm. Normally, a Wave Champion would only remain within the Tower of Stars for two to three days before the tower expelled them to ensure no harm was done to their souls. Even the exceptional talents like Desmond and Magnus only lasted four and a half days. However, Cain had already been inside the Tower of Stars for over ten days! Chapter 352 The Golden Emperor Michael frowned as he understood the implications of a Wave Champion staying inside the Tower of Stars for ten days. The pressure on Cain''s soul should have already reached an unbearable level and on the brink of collapse. It might have shattered already, leaving Cain like nothing more than an empty husk. Just as Michael wondered what was happening with the Tower of Stars, he saw Krane walking toward him. Krane ignored everyone as he stood right in front of the Crown Prince before kneeling on the ground and lowering his head. "I beg you, mighty Crown Prince, to save my Lord!" No one looked down on Krane for kneeling before the Crown Prince. Actually, the fact he was willing to go to that extreme for the safety of Cain made the entire group''s opinion about this one improve. Before the Crown Prince could even give Krane an answer, a member of his own group approached his side. "Crown Prince, I must also ask for your assistance, as we cannot let anything bad happen to Colonel Laurifer." The one who spoke was Iris, confusing many people since she had not once interacted with Cain. Michael stared at the young woman, and his eyes narrowed as she softly nodded. He immediately raised his hand, stopping Desmond, who was about to ask the same thing as the other two. "I will handle it." The Crown Prince took a deep breath, and the next second, a mighty silver force field emerged from his brain. Everything around him began to tremble as the power of his Ego Wave went beyond just manipulating the Wave. Awe appeared in the heart of everybody watching that mighty silver force field, as they felt in it enough power to crush their bodies and annihilate their minds! Black was the only one who did not feel completely overwhelmed by the Crown Prince''s Ego Wave. Still, a solemn light appeared in the giant''s eyes. The Crown Prince did not lose focus as he sent his Ego Wave into the Tower of Stars. He wanted to merge his silver force field into the superstructure in order to locate Cain. Michael wanted to understand the state of Cain''s body and soul before trying to take this one out. Unfortunately for Michael, just as his Ego Wave made contact with the Tower of Stars, this one unleashed a monstrous gravitational might, shattering the silver force field to pieces. "Ahh!" Michael could not help but release a small scream of pain as he grabbed his head due to the unbearable pain. He retracted his Ego Wave immediately, as he could not endure any more damage. Downcast expressions appeared on the faces of Krane, Iris, and Desmond as they saw the state of the Crown Prince. If not even the mighty Michael Goldsoul, whose Ego Wave reached the Third Realm, could help Cain, then who could? Michael took a moment to regulate his breathing and suppress the pain assaulting his brain before starting at the trio. He used all his power, but the Tower of Stars was too much for him. The rest of the group nodded. Desmond, Magnus, Krane, Iris, and the young genius of the Anima Machinarium Race had already gone through the Tower of Stars and Tower of Laws. While they wanted to try the Tower of Concepts, it was not the right time. Michael guided the group to the teleportation formation, leaving the Three Towers of Adam. Krane followed them, but not before glancing at the Tower of Stars one last time. While he would have wanted to stay, he did not have the authorization. Still, he was confident that no one could harm Cain inside the Tower of Stars, so the only thing he could do was wait for this one to emerge. --- A few hours after the events in the Three Towers of Adam, Michael and Iris were in a dark room. "Are you sure about it?" There was a solemn expression on the Crown Prince''s face as he spoke to the woman. "Yes, Master. Their demeanor, personality, way of speaking, along with his impressive Genetic Coder abilities and battle power, there is no doubt in my mind." Iris made a pause before looking directly into the Crown Prince''s eyes. "Cain Laurifer must be King''s personal disciple." The Crown Prince''s eyes narrowed as he stared at Iris. He had given the young woman the task of tracking down the man that went by the moniker of King and who saved her during the events of Saharo City. Iris had done her best, using every means available to track down King, but she had found nothing. That was until she met Cain. The way Cain behaved, his battle skills, and his mastery over Genetic Coding made Iris grow suspicious, but the key behind her conjecture was when she felt his Ego Wave. It was not uncommon for a student to mimic the behavior and personality of their master, and Cain''s Ego Wave felt nearly identical to the one that saved her life. Michael stared at Iris for a moment before nodding. "Well done. Now leave, and do not reveal this to anyone." Iris clasped her hands and bowed to the Crown Prince before leaving the room. --- Thousands of kilometers away from the shore of the Gaia Continent, there was a small island. There was nothing special about it other than the fact it had ten mountains that rose above the clouds. Usually, an island in the middle of the ocean would be overwhelmed by Wave Beasts, but not even Grand King Beast dared to get near it.@@@@ Chapter 353 The Void King The reason no beast dared to approach this place was simple: it was the life forms atop the mountain peaks. Four were in their true bodies, while the others appeared only as incarnations of Ego Wave. Those in the form of incarnations were utterly dark and showed no features. Still, this did not diminish the might of their auras. The mere presence of any one of them was enough to deter even the mightiest of Wave Beasts. Had Cain been present, he would have recognized two of the individuals present or at least their auras. One was enshrouded in shadows, while the other was a flayed body draped in a thick cloak of Blood Energy. They were none other than the Shadow King and Blood King, the duo that almost obliterated the Blood Sea if not for the appearance of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. Given this and the layout of the mountains, it was easy to deduce that the other six individuals were none other than the mighty Dark Kings, rulers of the underworld spanning the Godslayer Humankind Empire. "Why are we here? I was in the midst of my recovery when I was summoned in my physical form." The one who shouted was the Blood King, clear rage and anger evident in his eyes. The Ego Wave he unleashed was in a constant state of disarray. Although the rest of the Dark Kings displayed annoyance at the Blood King, they remained silent, knowing it was unwise to antagonize him while his Ego Eternal Matrix was disrupted. The Blood King had been forced to transfer his soul into another body after Cain destroyed his previous one. And while the High Blood Elder''s Alter-Ego and soul were quickly destroyed, the adaptation process would still take several years. Until then, the Blood King would be unable to display his full power and suffer from emotional outbursts. Seeing that no one answered his question just made the Blood King even more furious. But before he could shout again, a new incarnation of Ego Wave manifested atop the highest peak. As soon as he appeared, a solemn expression settled on all the Dark Kings, even silencing the volatile Blood King. "I am pleased to see all of you here."@@@@ The man at the highest peak spoke in a deep voice, his words resonating through the air, causing the ocean thousands of meters below to churn. His Ego Wave was so monstrous that he could unleash immense power even at this vast distance from his true body. Being in the form of an Ego Wave Incarnation, his physical features were concealed, but his eyes were visible. They were black, speckled with points of starlight, resembling a starry sky. "I humbly greet you, Void King." One of the Dark Kings, present in his true body, clasped his hands and bowed. The man had white hair, crystal blue eyes, and pointy ears. While those features were elegant, the ones that distinguished him were the horns on his head, draconic blue scales on his limbs, and long blue tails emerging from his back. The other Dark Kings sneered at this deference, considering it unworthy of a King. Yet, they held their tongues, recognizing his immense power and critical role in their organization. A cold light appeared in the Shadow King''s eyes, but it vanished swiftly under the intense focus of the Void King. He took a deep breath, calmed his heart, and then nodded. "Soul King and Undying King, you two will meet the Patriarch of the Aegon Family. Make him understand that it''s best if he stays away from our business. If he refuses, confront him. Seize the opportunity to eliminate him if it arises, but retreat if his power has reached the High Titan level. We will handle him later." The Soul King immediately nodded, as he always followed the Void King''s commands without hesitation. However, the expression of the man to his left was less compliant. The Undying King resembled a four-meter-tall giant with a bulging muscular body and skin that looked like leather stretched across his muscles. His eyes, sunk deep into his skull, were blank, resembling those of a blind man. Those physical features were startling, but what truly drew awe in the hearts of those who focused on the Undying King was his lack of life force. Not only was there not even the slightest stream of vitality emerging from his body, but a dark aura surrounded him, polluting the air with the power of death. "Why not take care of the Blood Sea directly? They commissioned the Aegon Family to investigate us. It would be far simpler to eliminate them than to confront the Patriarch." The other Dark Kings nodded in agreement with the Undying King''s logic. While the Blood Sea was recognized as a formidable power, it had lost a significant number of its elites. A single Dark King would suffice to bring them down. When your battle power reached a high enough level, numbers were meaningless. The only members of the Blood Sea that could face the Dark Kings were the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1, and once they were dead, everybody else would follow. "The Blood Sea has heavily fortified their surveillance and defenses. They''ve set up a teleportation formation connecting directly to the Imperial Lightning Fort. If we assault them, the Collapsing Lightning Duke or the First Pillar might intervene." A wave of dread washed over the Dark Kings upon hearing those names. While the Blood Duke was merely a Titan, the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Pillar were apex beings. The outcome of a direct confrontation was uncertain, but battling the Sector Duke or First Pillar while Divine Ascension Cultivators supported them would be fatal. Since that was the current state of the Blood Sea, going after them would be much more dangerous than facing the Aegon Family. The Undying King sighed upon receiving this information. Clearly displeased with his task, he nonetheless didn''t dare challenge the Void King and simply nodded in acquiescence. The Void King fixed his gaze upon the duo before shifting it to the Blood King and Shadow King. "I have an assignment for you two as well." Neither the Blood King nor the Shadow King was taken aback. Those chosen for crucial missions were always summoned in their physical forms, so they anticipated this. "You two will kill Cain Laurifer." Chapter 354 Emerging from the Tower of Stars "You two will kill Cain Laurifer." A wide smile appeared on the bloodied face of the Blood King as he listened to the Void King''s words. There was no way he would have forgotten the young man who thwarted his plan to seize the Blood Astral Beast''s soul and blood. However, the other Dark Kings frowned. They were at the peak of the Aether, with power that could surpass the Old World''s H-Bomb, yet they were tasked with dealing with a mere seventeen-year-old. The Void King noticed their dismay and offered an explanation for targeting such an insignificant character. "Cain Laurifer has interfered with The Organization on multiple occasions. He not only disrupted the Blood King''s plans, but I''m 99% certain he was behind the upheaval in Saharo City." The Dark Kings looked at the Void King in surprise upon hearing this. While the genetic experiments in Saharo City weren''t of significant concern, they were part of a larger strategy, and its disruption set back their agenda by several months. "That boy''s destiny continues to soar, and he has already become a shining star among the Empire''s youth. That alone wasn''t reason enough for us to act. However, he''s spent nearly fourteen days inside the Tower of Stars." Surprise, awe, and killing intent flashed in the Dark Kings'' eyes upon learning this. Fourteen days in the Tower of Stars implied that Cain''s comprehension of the Realm of Stellar Synthesis approached the threshold for Divine Ascension. Understanding something and harnessing its power are two different matters. Yet, if Cain went unchecked and his cultivation base reached the Wave King Rank, and then his battle power would become formidable. While they could still easily eliminate him, complications often arise with prodigious talents. The Blood King''s cold smile vanished, replaced by sheer coldness and killing intent. He was sure that just as he wanted Cain dead, the boy harbored the same intent. If Cain''s power grew unchecked for another century, they might become equals, a scenario the Blood King wouldn''t tolerate. "I am more than willing to end the boy''s life, but even entering the Prometheus Sector undetected poses a challenge, let alone infiltrating Eden." The Void King nodded, turning to the Shadow King, the likely candidate for such covert tasks. "I can get the Blood King into the Prometheus Sector, but Silver City''s defenses are too formidable, even for me." The Void King nodded, pausing to formulate a strategy. "Shadow King, you will escort the Blood King into the Prometheus Sector and extract him once he''s completed his mission." The Shadow King nodded. While he was keen to showcase his combat prowess against the Aegon Family for other objectives, he primarily acted as a conduit. "Blood King, the assassination is your responsibility. Do you have a plan to lure the boy out of Eden?" The Blood King paused, then responded, "I could exploit the Azure Royal Family. From what I know of him, the boy is typically cautious but acts decisively against atrocities committed against the weak and innocent. However, this might expose our ties to the Azure Royal Patriarch." Outside the Three Towers of Adam, over a dozen people waited. When Cain arrived, it had been empty, courtesy of the Crown Prince''s influence, but typically, individuals of high standing queued for entry. While the Towers of Concepts and Tower of Laws functioned normally, the Tower of Stars faced an issue: its capacity had been reduced to one user. Clearly, someone occupied it, and as days went by, onlookers grew curious about who could endure such an extended stay. A middle-aged man exited the Tower of Stars with profound insight gleaming in his eyes and a satisfied smile on his lips, having advanced his understanding of the Realm of Stellar Synthesis. Almost immediately, another individual approached the Tower. However, before he could touch it, the Tower of Stars shone once again, signaling another departure. All eyes turned to the newcomer, eager to identify the individual who''d managed such a long tenure in the Tower of Stars. Most expected an ancient powerhouse, considering the fortitude required. Yet, to their astonishment, they saw a young man with chrome hair and dark eyes. Cain''s eyes were bursting with red light as waves of information and insights flooded his mind. Everything around him went blank as he could only focus on the transcendental experience he had just undergone. Although his mind went blank very soon during the process, the feelings of being part of a celestial body, experiencing a supernova, and his particles generating new astral structures were vivid inside his soul. Yet, Cain''s eyes soon grew sharp as he felt powerful people looking at him, some not bothering to disguise their probing gazes. Cain was confused as he did not understand where the Crown Prince and the others had gone, but as he looked at the date with his [A.I. Chip Module], a wave of shock assaulted him. ''Fifteen days!'' He was aware that the more time he spent inside the Tower of Stars, the greater the benefits, but that also meant more tremendous pressure on his soul. Cain did not think he would last more than five days but made a mistake. ''How?'' There was no damage to his soul, confusing Cain on how he could have stayed inside the Tower of Stars for so long without any backlash. The obvious answer was the Absolute Life Form System, but he still felt there was something more about it. Many questions assaulted Cain''s mind, but the first thing he needed to do was to leave this place. "Young man, could you come here for a moment?" Unfortunately for Cain, it was not so simple since he had yet to take a step when an old man summoned him. The old man had long gray hair, and a gargantuan energy pool was inside his body. While he expressed his words as a question, the intent in his eyes made it clear that he would not allow Cain to simply leave. Cain''s eyes grew cold, but before things escalated to something else, the teleportation formation in the area glowed, showing the presence of Krane. The middle-aged man drew people''s attention, not only due to his timely arrival but his powerful aura. Chapter 355 Genetic Tournament (I) Krane immediately noticed the tense atmosphere between Cain and the old man. Moving quickly, he positioned himself in front of Cain and bowed. "Lord, I am thrilled to see you have emerged. The Crown Prince has been inquiring about you; we should inform him of your condition." As soon as the Crown Prince''s name was mentioned, everyone adopted a cautious demeanor towards Cain. Michael Goldsoul was among the Empire''s most influential and powerful figures. Opposing him was a move only a fool would consider. Even though they were all interested in Cain and how he remained inside the Tower of Stars for so long, no one was willing to offend the Crown Prince to satisfy their curiosity. Cain perceived the shift in attitudes and simply nodded to Krane, signaling him to rise. He then proceeded to the teleportation formation. This time, no one dared to obstruct him. Casting a final glance at the old man who had presumed to command him, Cain stepped into the teleportation formation, departing the area with Krane. Whispers erupted among the bystanders, speculating about the young man''s identity while also sending mocking glances toward the old man. An unseemly expression appeared on the elder''s face. He had tried to assert his dominance but only succeeded in making a fool of himself and might have drawn the animosity of a young genius. Cain wasn''t one to dwell on such trivialities and just stared at the old man before leaving to make sure he remembered the face of this one in case they crossed paths in the future. Upon reaching the main plaza, Cain turned to Krane, who immediately briefed him on everything that had happened since he set foot inside the Tower of Stars. While initially everything seemed unremarkable, Cain was taken aback to learn that the Golden Emperor had intervened, delaying the Genetic Tournament for an entire month. Cain did not attempt to understand the motivations of someone atop the Godslayer Humankind Empire, so he just silently thanked the Golden Emperor. "I need a place to rest." Although Cain''s body and soul were in good condition, his mind required relaxation. He could walk and talk without a problem, but there was immense pressure on his brain due to the ocean of knowledge he had been exposed to. "The Crown Prince has lent us a villa for our stay until the Genetic Coder Tournament." Krane had been proactive, securing a comfortable location for Cain. After a moment of contemplation, Cain nodded in agreement. The Crown Prince had assisted him before, and lending a modest villa was minor compared to the privilege of entering the Three Towers of Adam. The pair utilized another teleportation formation and soon found themselves within a great castle staffed with individuals ready to cater to their needs. However, Cain''s only desire was rest. He promptly retreated to his quarters for a night of deep sleep. ''A cultivator first comprehends the birth and demise of stars, the primal architects of existence. Like colossal nuclear reactors, stars undergo nuclear fusion at their cores. This fusion of lighter elements, mainly hydrogen and helium, begets heavier elements. Understanding stellar nucleosynthesis aids a cultivator in grasping the elemental creation process.'' Following hours of meditation, this was the epiphany Cain achieved. He only had to close his eyes to recall the sensation of merging with a meteor, becoming a supernova, and initiating the birth of new stars. While this knowledge would be instrumental in his future cultivation, it wouldn''t enhance Cain''s current battle power. The Realm of Stellar Synthesis comprised the Understanding Stage and the Harnessing Stage. Cain had just scratched the surface of Understanding, and even if he could consolidate that knowledge, his current physique was not prepared to wield that power. It was akin to owning a computer equipped with state-of-the-art software but restrained by hardware that couldn''t fully showcase its capabilities. ''After achieving the Wave King Rank, my body''s cellular composition will be capable of harnessing the Realm of Stellar Synthesis''s power. Until then, my focus during the Wave Champion Rank is to reinforce my foundation as robustly as possible. If everything goes well, I might reach the Harnessing Stage in the Early Wave King Rank.'' Pondering his next move, Cain dispatched a message to Krane. "Secure ten tons of Golden Level Metals." Cain''s Blood Rebirth was reaching the peak of the Golden Stage. Once that happened, he could evolve his Biometal Herculean Technique to the golden level, attaining a body as resilient as a Golden Wave Artifact. "Immediately, Lord." Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire Krane responded instantly, allowing Cain to resume his tasks. He procured a high-quality wave crystal, the blood apple, and the starry gem containing knowledge on Genetic Coding. The Genetic Coder Tournament would commence in fewer than twenty days, and he was ready to display the full might of his abilities. Cain divided his focus into three areas: honing his cultivation foundation, fortifying his body, and deepening his insights into Genetic Coding. Twenty days might appear extensive, but for Cain, they passed in a flash. Before he knew it, the Genetic Coder Tournament was upon them. Adorning his noble attire, he exited the villa with Krane. The pair arrived at the main plaza and used the teleportation formation to access the Genetic Coding Association''s grounds, where the tournament would be held. Unlike his initial appearance, Cain''s presence now captivated many young Genetic Coders. His reputation had burgeoned, especially within the Genetic Coder Association. He was the first Honorary Grandmaster of the association in ages, all the more remarkable since he was not even seventeen. Cain didn''t pay much attention and simply walked toward the teleportation formation that transported him and Krane into the Genetic Evolution Cube. As soon as the duo appeared, they noticed that the cube''s center now boasted a grand platform with improved Genetic Chambers. Chapter 356 Genetic Tournament (II) Cain arrived just in time and observed that dozens of people were already present. He immediately recognized the Crown Prince, Third Imperial Prince, Second Imperial Princess, and the Fourth Imperial Prince, along with many other figures exuding formidable auras. All the Imperial Children had their eyes on Cain, as did everybody else in the cube. There was nothing odd with it. After all, he was the reason the tournament was delayed by an entire month, and the news of him remaining inside the Tower of Stars for nearly fifteen days was common knowledge. It seemed like there was no day that a shocking piece of news about the young man would spread across the Silver City. Without further ado, Cain calmly approached the Fourth Imperial Prince. He would be participating in this tournament under his banner. ''I assume those two are my partners.'' Cain observed two individuals standing behind the Fourth Imperial Prince. One was a younger man, and the other resembled a middle-aged man at the Wave King Rank. Both had short silver hair, pale skin, and matching physical features, suggesting they were likely related. For the tournament, the groups were supposed to consist of one Elder Genetic Coder, someone under five hundred years of age, and two Novice Genetic Coders, individuals under thirty. While the Novice Genetic Coders would take the initial tests of the Genetic Tournament, the main events would have all three Genetic Coders working together. At that point, it was expected to have the Elder Genetic Coder take the lead and the two Novice Genetic Coders assisting him. Numerous eyes turned toward the group of the Fourth Imperial Prince, eager to witness the interaction between the Elder Genetic Coder and Cain. While the middle-aged man would normally assume the lead, many considered Cain to be at least a 4-Star Saint Genetic Coder. Cain was aware of the attention but paid it little mind. He bowed to Klaus before focusing on the two companions. "Cain, I''m relieved to see you''re well. These are Grandmaster Dimento Yoria, a 3-Star Saint Genetic Coder, and his apprentice, Severin Yoria, a 4-Star Grand Genetic Coder." Klaus spoke with a friendly smile as he introduced the pair, but a hint of tension lingered on his visage. While Cain might be participating in his team, the Imperial Prince was acutely aware of how tenuous his influence over the young man truly was. Cain gave Severin a brief nod and then set his piercing gaze on Dimento. The older man met his stare without flinching, exuding an unwavering resolve. A burst of red light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he stared at Dimento, who promptly responded with a blue glow. The room went silent as the two exchanged Ego Waves, and it was evident to all that despite the significant gap in their ages and cultivation bases, both stood on the same level. Cain''s eyes settled, and a smile graced his face. He clasped his hands together, bowing to the middle-aged man. "Cain Laurifer offers his respects to the Elder Grandmaster. I consider my abilities to be on par with a 1-Star Saint Genetic Coder, so I am at your service." Many were surprised by Cain''s behavior; after all, one could make the argument for him to take the leading role in the main event since his skills were considered superior to those of Dimento. "The individual trials are for the Novice Genetic Coders. The younger generation must prove themselves. Teams, choose your champions." Although each team had two Novice Genetic Coders, only one would partake in the individual trials. Nearly all the teams had already discussed who would participate in the solo trials, except for Klaus'' team. Luckily, no problem arose this time either, as Severin clasped his hand and performed a small bow toward Cain, indicating this one should take the stage. Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire "I will do my best." With those words, Cain moved forward. Once all ten participants stood before the Genetic Chambers, Sylan nodded and continued, "While Genetic Coding is an art of finesse, time is invaluable. Whether in war, cultivation, or daily life, speed is crucial. The first trial is to assemble Pseudo Saint Vectors as swiftly as possible." The participants grinned upon hearing the challenge. Despite their internal confidence, none believed their skills surpassed Cain Laurfier''s. But in assembling a Vector, speed was paramount. Their cultivation base suggested reflexes and cognitive speeds superior to Cain''s since they were all either Late or Peak Wave Champions. Cain noticed the competitors'' smirks. A mischievous smile and a glint of ambition emerged on his face. Sylan waved his hand, filling the Genetic Chamber with materials for the Vectors. "Enough materials are provided to form one hundred Vectors. The participant who finishes fastest with the fewest errors will take first place and earn 10 points for their team. The second earns 5 points, and the third only 2." As Sylan prepared to signal the start, Cain raised his hand. "Yes, Colonel Laurfier?" "I wonder if making bets with my fellow participants is permissible?" Some frowned upon hearing this, but many smirked. Greed was the characteristic emotion of the Godslayer Humankind, and while looking it down, many considered it a virtue. After all, it was humans'' greed that led them to Aether. Usually, Sylan would discourage interruptions, but given Cain''s title, he permitted it. "If they''re within reason." Cain thanked Sylan and unveiled his Tier 1 Bio Genetic Chamber. All participants'' eyes gleamed with envy, recognizing the value of the chamber and desiring it for themselves. "I''m willing to wager my Tier 1 Bio Genetic Chamber and the formula for the Life Trent Lineage. You only need to offer something valued at 25% of the chamber and formula. If any of you secures the 1st position, that individual will claim the prize and other bets will be returned. However, if I win, I take everything." The youths couldn''t help but clench their fists at Cain''s proposition. If Cain triumphed, his gain would substantially outweigh his initial stake. Yet, the allure of the Tier 1 Bio Genetic Chamber was too compelling to ignore. Chapter 357 Genetic Tournament (III) The Novice Genetic Coders exchanged glances and nodded, deciding to take the bet. A silent agreement formed among them: one of them had to win. An awkward expression appeared on the faces of the people watching the tournament as they saw the youth trying to amass the massive amount of wealth needed to participate in the bet. The Tier 1 Bio Genetic Chamber was more expensive than a full set of Platinum Tier Artifacts, so many of them were forced to ask their elders and family for assistance. Everybody who came to this place had a wealthy and powerful background behind them, so even if the amount they had to gather was immense, they all did it quickly. Finally, all nine youths managed to amass enough wealth and placed their bets. After that, everybody adopted a meditative position before the Genetic Chambers as they unleashed their Ego Wave, ready to act as fast as possible. If before they were motivated, now there was fire emerging from their eyes as they pushed themselves to the peak. No matter what, they could not allow Cain to take the first place. Cain smiled as he saw that and calmly fused his Ego Wave into the Genetic Chamber. "Begin!" Sylan''s voice echoed across the cube, and a set of virtual numbers appeared above each Genetic Chamber, indicating the amount of Vectors the Novice Genetic Coder had managed to assemble. The Novice Genetic Coders began to manipulate the vectors, constructing one at a time as fast as possible. All of them were pushing their minds to the limit and burning their Ego Waves to enhance their cognitive abilities. However, there was one who was not assembling the Vectors. Cain continued to spread his Ego Wave into the chamber and had yet to start. People grew confused as no matter how good he was, the others were advancing at a shocking speed. There were even some that sneered, thinking that Cain was being too conceited. They did not understand that Cain was spreading his Ego Wave to touch every one of those vectors. Unlike the other Novice Genetic Coders who were assembling one Vector at a time, Cain would take a different path. He would take control of every component inside the Genetic Chamber and act on all of them simultaneously. Usually, assembling one hundred vectors at the same time would be impossible due to the effort required, but Cain was different. Not only did the pieces automatically arrange themselves in his mind, but with The Flow, he could perceive the connection between them, making everything much more straightforward. Of course, this also required an Ego Wave that reached the Second Realm, and only Cain had reached that level among the Novice Genetic Coders. Once Cain''s Ego Wave touched every single Vector, the red light in his eyes burst, and he pushed his mind to the limit. In less than five seconds, the score above Cain that read zero changed to one hundred! When the other young geniuses saw that, they all froze and stopped working on their Vectors. The second fastest had not even completed fifteen Vectors, so calling it a competition would be a little too much. Sylan''s voice echoed across the cube as he declared the winner of the first contest. Cain smiled as he heard the verdict and used his Ego Wave to condense the Life Wave around the treasure and wealth gained, making it levitate before depositing it in his space ring. That was just part of it since he also gained millions of military credits. ''Hahaha, I am filthy rich.'' Cain could not help but show a smile unlike any he had shown before as he saw the immense amount of wealth he had amassed. He was now rich even by the standards of Eden, and it came just in time since he had spent nearly all the military credits he had left amassing the tons of Golden Level Metals. Sylan allowed the youth to rest for thirty minutes, going through the experience before waving his hand and filling the Genetic Chamber again. "A flaw might not seem much, but when it comes to our genes, they are paramount to catastrophe. The next trial focused on figuring out the flaws in the Genetic Chains inside the Genetic Chamber." Once again, a sharp light appeared in the youths'' eyes. When it came to detecting flaws, more than talent, experience came into play. Cain was young and divided his talent into his cultivation and Hypnosis Master, so they all believed they should be better than him since they spent nearly every hour of their life amidst Genetic Coding. Just as the rest of the Novice Genetic Coders gained a sense of confidence, Cain''s voice echoed once again. "I can see the pride in your faces, meaning you have absolute trust in your abilities. If that is the case, who is willing to bet one more time? This time, I will only ask you to put something equal to 15% of the worth of my Tier 1 Bio Genetic Chamber and Life Trent Lineage Formula." Cain''s face was calm, and there was nothing odd about it, but those who focused on his eyes could clearly see the greed in them. By now, there was no one who failed to recognize Cain''s tendency towards gambling. Even if one considered it a disgusting habit, there was little you could say about it if he always won. "Ahem!" Just as some of the Novice Genetic Coders were mustering the courage to take the bet, their elders either coughed or signaled that they should refrain from it. None of them would be willing to lend any more money, so they should not even ask for it. Cain saw that no one was willing to bet this time and could only sigh before shrugging his shoulders. He had already won a lot and was just trying his luck. Sylan could only shake his head as he witnessed this, but there wasn''t much he could say about it. Cain was just seventeen years old, so it was normal for him to have eccentricities. Not to mention, there was no cultivator without their own peculiar behaviors. After all, what is the point of strength and fame if you do not enjoy it, acting according to your heart''s desires? "You have one hour. Find as many flaws as possible. Once you find and mark them, the counter above your Genetic Chambers will change." After those words, Sylan gave the youths a moment to focus before waving his hand, indicating the start of the trial. Chapter 358 Genetic Tournament (IV) This time, Cain began as swiftly as the others and his eyes immediately burst with a red light as he began to decipher the flaws in the Genetic Chains. Not even a minute had passed, and the counter above his Genetic Chamber had already reached the one-hundred mark! Shock and awe appeared on the faces of the other Novice Genetic Coders as they witnessed this, especially since the second place had only reached 15! It was clear to all that Cain Laurifer''s Genetic Coder abilities were in a completely different league. Asking him to compete with other Novice Genetic Coders was like asking an Apotheosis Realm Master to discuss cultivation with a Wave Champion. Still, no matter how much it frustrated the other teams, Cain had the right to participate in the two trials since he was under thirty. In fact, of the ten Novice Genetic Coders, he was the youngest by far. Cain focused solely on the Genetic Chamber, analyzing every Genetic Chain. The Flow played a crucial role as it allowed him to perceive the frequency of each chain, and anything that was out of tune was clearly a mistake. The more he learned about The Flow, the more Cain realized that it was not an ability made for only the battle. It could reach every aspect of a cultivator''s life. Cain was sure he was just touching the surface of The Flow, but his cultivation was still too low to delve deeper into it. Although The Flow was an extremely important subject, Cain kept his mind focused. Cain''s eyes and hands moved faster and faster, and the number above his Genetic Chamber kept increasing. By the time the one-hour limit was reached, the second-best Novice Genetic Coder had detected 1203 flaws, while Cain''s score surpassed 15,000! The difference was just too significant. To the point that even if the other Novice Genetic Coders added their marks, they would still lose. Sylan wore a complicated expression as he observed the reactions of the other Novice Genetic Coders. They were truly in a completely different league, making them question their skills. However, the man did not offer words of compassion. Genetic Coding was full of struggles, and if they couldn''t surpass this challenge, they were never meant to become Grandmasters to begin with. "First place. Cain Laurifer. Fourth Imperial Prince''s team. Second Place. Jordan Simion. Second Imperial Princess'' team. Third Place. Niron Azure. Third Prince''s team." The first and second places remained unchanged, but this time, the Novice Genetic Coder of the Third Imperial Prince Team claimed the third place. It seemed that the young man from the Azure Royal Family only needed time to relax in order to showcase his true skills.@@@@ Cain glanced at the young man from the Azure Royal Family and was surprised. He had never expected that man to take third place since many others displayed greater Genetic Coder abilities. ''How odd.'' Dimento nodded, accepting the response. "I have several formulas at my disposal. Some I''m confident in, while others are too challenging for me alone. I have a Peak 4-Star Genetic Formula for a Wave Talent Enhancer Wave Virus, but success will heavily depend on Grandmaster Laurifer''s assistance since it surpasses my current abilities." Cain''s face grew solemn. "I will do my best." Dimento smiled, appreciating Cain''s humility. The Elder Genetic Coder did not want an overly confident youth who did not understand the difficulty of a 4-Star Wave Virus and whose arrogance could lead to mistakes. "That will be enough." Dimento then turned to Severin. "Severin, you''ll assist me and Grandmaster Laurifer. Stay focused. We might only require your assistance a couple of times during the entire project, but that could make the difference between success and failure." The young man''s face was as serious as it could be as he nodded, and his eyes burst with golden light. "I will not fail you, Father." Upon hearing that, Dimento showed a brief smile, but it quickly faded, replaced by a stern expression as he nodded to the young man. Next, he shared the Genetic Formulas with Cain. Cain couldn''t help but frown as he analyzed the Genetic Formula. It was truly complex, and there was no way he could succeed alone. Luckily, he would only play a supporting role, so he nodded in understanding. Sylan opened his eyes, signaling the time to start. "Start!" Each team began communicating with their Genetic Chamber, silently demanding the materials required for their Wave Viruses. Cain observed the Genetic Chamber filling with liquid as Dimento requested materials, and his eyes narrowed as he looked to the other teams. A meaningful light appeared in his eyes as he communicated with Apex. ''Apex, can the [A.I. Chip Module] scan the process of the others without altering the cube or alerting anyone?'' The current capabilities of the Modules of the Absolute Life Form System matched a complexity equal to the Apotheosis Realm. However, the [A.I. Chip Module] was special as it grew stronger alongside his soul force and didn''t require a direct upgrade. ''It can, but that would mean there won''t be a chance to use the [Genetic Coder Module] to fix the flaws of the next Wave Virus you and the others are going to make. It would require the full power of the system.'' Cain smiled upon hearing that answer. He never planned to use his Destiny Force in the tournament, so there was no issue with the module being inactive. ''Do it.'' As soon as Cain uttered those words, the Absolute Life Form System focused its entire power on the [A.I. Chip Module], deploying an invisible force field that engulfed the other Genetic Chambers. Chapter 359 Genetic Tournament (V) If everything went well, Cain could use the data to replicate the Genetic Formulas the other teams would use. It took only a minute for the Genetic Chamber to fill with the materials needed. The next second, the Ego Waves of Cain, Dimento, and Severin fused, allowing the trio to establish a telepathic link as they began their work. The first step was the creation of the Vector, the vehicle for the future Genetic Chain. The better it was constructed, the easier it would be for the Wave Virus to alter the correct genomic sequence. Dimento handled the brunt of the work, while Cain ensured that the pieces were handed over in a perfect sequence, significantly reducing the task''s burden. Severin stood vigilant, ready to intervene if needed. No sound could be perceived inside the Genetic Evolution Cube, as everyone was intently focused on their Genetic Coders. Virtual images appeared in the sky, showcasing the macroscopic work all were undertaking, and even those with the power to emulate nuclear weapons could not help but feel awe and wonder at such a marvel. All those powerhouses could level entire cities with a wave of their hands, but to control the building blocks of creating was an ability that required years of hard work and absolute dedication. How could someone not feel respect for the display of such devotion to a craft? There was no time limit in this round, so every team was working at a steady pace, ensuring no flaws arose. Of course, it still required a certain speed since once the creation of the Vector or Genetic Chain began, there could not be prolonged delays as it could lead to instability and flaws. While Cain used the system to gather information about other teams, his primary attention was on his own Genetic Chamber. His eyes emitted a brilliant red light as he accurately handed the Vector components to Dimento. An hour passed and smiles crept onto the faces of both Dimento and Cain when they finally saw their completed Vector. Though they couldn''t be sure, it seemed to be a Golden Saint Vector, possibly flawless! Had they crafted a weaker Vector, no matter how good the theoretical efficiency of the Wave Virus was, it could only offer a subpar effect in reality.@@@@ Their excitement notwithstanding, the team remained focused, knowing that crafting the Vector was the easiest part. Now, they had to create the Genetic Chain, the Wave Virus''s core, which was far more challenging. The Vector would reach the cells that needed to be altered, but it was the Genetic Chain that would perform the genetic modification. Knowing that, it was easy to understand how even the slightest flaws in the Genetic Chain could lead to disaster, not only failing to improve the Wave Talent of the individual, but diminishing it. Dimento resumed the lead role, while Cain worked diligently to preempt any potential errors. Both pushed their minds and abilities to the utmost limit. Occasionally, minor instabilities would appear in the Genetic Chain. While they were not serious, they could lead to severe problems, such as unwanted mutations, if left unchecked. Luckily, Severin would swiftly stabilize the genetic code until Cain or Dimento could rectify it. The trio was working in perfect harmony, each taking care of their role with absolute focus while at the same time making sure the other two did not miss something. Of course, Cain''s team was not alone since everybody was pushing their limits, their Ego Waves burning rapidly to enhance cognitive abilities. As hours went by, the Genetic Chains grew more and more refined, nearing the completion point where they would be inserted in the Vector, completing the Wave Virus. After thirty-one hours, the first team to finish was that of the Third Imperial Prince. The group, composed solely of members from the Azure Royal Family, had completed their Wave Virus. It was difficult to gauge its power at a mere glance, but all Grandmasters nodded in approval, discerning it was at least a Peak 3-Star Saint Wave Virus. Although the effect of a 4-Star Wave Virus should not necessarily be better than that of a 3-Star Wave Virus, that was the case 99% of the time. Sylan was also surprised by the effect of the Azura Royal Family''s Wave Virus, but he fulfilled his role as a referee and updated the scoreboard. [Fourth Imperial Prince: 22 points. Second Imperial Princess: 15 points. Third Imperial Prince: 12 points. Crown Prince: 2 points.] While the Fourth Imperial Prince''s team maintained the lead, the Third Imperial Prince saw a significant leap in his standings. And if the Second Imperial Princess''s team secured first place in the next round, they could potentially overtake the lead. Everybody expected the Fourth Imperial Prince team to have an easy road ahead since there were two Saint Genetic Coders in it, but that doesn''t seem to be the case. The winner of the Genetic Tournament was now in contention, and it was impossible to know who would take the trophy, but something was clear. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire The Third Imperial Prince''s team was in the race! "All teams have five hours to rest before the next test." Sylan''s announcement was met with immediate action. Everyone on the platform assumed meditative postures, channeling their Wave energy, rejuvenating their physical and mental states, and dispelling fatigue. Cain followed suit, but part of his mind remained active. He pondered the intricacies of the last Wave Virus, internalizing newfound knowledge and insights. Any refinement, no matter how minor, could be pivotal. "It''s time for the Life Span Enhancement Wave Virus!" Four hours passed in what felt like a mere moment, and all Genetic Coders refocused, pushing their concentration to its zenith. Although the Genetic Chain differed this time, the overall process remained consistent. Each team began constructing the Vector. Cain and Dimento collaborated seamlessly, with Severin assisting whenever needed. The Elder Genetic Master''s eyes gleamed with a blue luminescence as he stretched his capabilities to their utmost. Though he remained steadfastly committed, he couldn''t mask his astonishment at the noticeable improvement in Cain''s movements. Evidently, Cain''s skills had surged in the brief interval, a development that brought a smile to the middle-aged man''s face. Their chances of success just got better! Chapter 360 Genetic Tournament (VI) Just like before, Dimento and Cain assembled the Vector with remarkable efficiency. Their combined work was near perfect, reaching a standard that even a Peak 4-Star Saint Genetic Coder might not achieve. However, neither grew complacent. They had merely replicated the Vector from the initial test, and if that was the pinnacle of their achievement, they would be relegated to third place.@@@@ Dimento glanced at Cain, the weight of their task evident in his gaze. Cain returned the look with a nod, signaling his readiness. Together, they began weaving the Genetic Chain, molecule by molecule. This intricate process was reminiscent of assembling a puzzle, but one with trillions of pieces and no reference image. Each segment of the chain needed to be compatible with the next. A single error, even at a microscopic level, could lead to undesirable mutations or, worse, the complete failure of the Wave Virus. The chamber''s atmosphere grew tense as all eyes turned to the teams representing the Third Imperial Prince, Second Imperial Princess, and Fourth Imperial Prince. It was a contest between these three for the coveted first place, and each team displayed an astounding level of skill and concentration. Hours seemed to blur into minutes and minutes into seconds. The teams were so engrossed that the external world seemed to vanish. Occasionally, Severin would interject, warning of instabilities that Cain or Dimento would promptly address. The collaboration between Cain and Dimento was palpable. They functioned seamlessly, enhancing each other''s strengths and mitigating their weaknesses. The Genetic Chain evolved as time passed, increasing in intricacy and purpose. Cain had been harnessing The Flow throughout, and his proficiency in Genetic Coding continued to rise. Suddenly, he detected a minor fluctuation in a segment crafted by Dimento. It was a deviation so slight that even a 4-Star Saint Genetic Coder might overlook it. Yet, with The Flow''s enhancement, it was evident to him. Swiftly, he corrected the sequence, returning the chain to its intended structure. Dimento shot Cain a brief look as he adjusted his work. There was no resentment, only a quiet nod of appreciation. Then, with sharpened focus, he resumed coding. The pair continued in harmony, finalizing the Genetic Chain, integrating it into the Vector, and ultimately completing the Wave Virus. As they finished, Cain''s awareness expanded, noting that the Third Imperial Prince''s team, led by Salaman, had already achieved their goal. They were the quickest, with Cain''s team trailing in second. The team representing the Second Imperial Princess, under Marlon White''s guidance, was still in progress. Exhausted, Cain refrained from observing further, simply closing his eyes for some much-needed rest. Hours passed, and gradually, all teams concluded their tasks. With the completion, Sylan gestured, prompting the Genetic Evolution Cube to assess each Wave Virus, determining the longevity it would offer Aphoteosis Realm Masters. Anticipation and anxiety dominated as everyone inside the cube turned their attention to the floating virtual screen. Once more, the Third Imperial Prince''s team surged ahead, securing first place and earning ten points. With Cain''s team in second and the ongoing competition, the outcome remained unpredictable, with the Second Imperial Princess'' team potentially seizing the lead in the final test. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire "All teams have five hours to rest. After that, we will begin the final test, in which you will make the Battle Survival Enhancer Wace Virus." Sylan''s voice was booming, and there was a solemn tone in it, making it clear that the end of the tournament was coming. The mention of the final test sent a renewed surge of energy through the chamber. The Battle Survival Enhancer Wave Viruses were among the most precious creations a Genetic Coder could make. A successful creation would drastically boost the combat prowess and survival instincts of any Aphoteosis Realm Master, making them virtually indestructible in battle. It took hundreds of years and countless resources for a normal human to become an Aphoteosis Realm Master, but only a second for them to fall on the battlefield. Knowing that, it was easy to understand just how crucial a Wave Virus capable of improving their survival would be in war. Cain and Dimento were beyond exhausted after the creation of the last Wave Virus and sat in silence for a few minutes as they allowed their minds to rest. Dimento''s eyes were sharp as he turned to Cain and spoke solemnly. "The effect of the Azure Royal''s Wave Viruses is superb, but they are not invincible. We are close to surpassing them, and if we break out limits in the next test, there is a chance for victory." Cain nodded, "Yes, but it will not be easy. Our minds must be sharper than ever." Cain and Dimento nodded to each other as they closed their eyes. Both of them were not happy with the second place or a tie, and their goal was to attain absolute victory. As the hours ticked by, Cain meditated, tapping into the profound knowledge of genetic coding. Slowly, he felt a shift in his consciousness. It was as if layers of understanding peeled back, revealing deeper truths about the genetic makeup and its infinite possibilities. This newfound insight was akin to enlightenment, allowing him to perceive even the minutest details of genetic sequences. Chapter 361 Genetic Tournament (END) When the rest period ended, the teams reconvened, a mixture of determination and energy evident on their faces. Sylan stood at the center of the chamber, a profound aura enveloping him. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire "The final test begins now. Remember, the Battle Survival Enhancer Wave Virus is not about longevity. It is about enhancing the very essence of a warrior. If there is one piece of work that you can not fail, it is this one since it involves the life and death of our brothers on the battlefield. Begin!" With Sylan''s words, the atmosphere became charged with intense concentration. Cain and Dimento, with their newfound understanding, began working on the Genetic Chain. Every twist, every turn, and every sequence was crafted with precision and purpose. The creation of the Vector was not the same as in the previous two tests, since this time, the duo managed to make a truly flawless vehicle for the Wave Virus, one that would allow the Genetic Chain to display its full power. Hours passed, and the chamber was filled with the subtle sounds of coding, each team deeply engrossed in their task. Cain''s recent enlightenment proved invaluable. That, plus the power of The Flow, allowed him to predict potential instabilities even before they appeared, allowing for corrections in real-time. The Third Imperial Prince''s team, which had been leading so far, seemed to falter slightly. The complexity of the Battle Survival Enhancer Wave Virus was evident, challenging even the most skilled coders. As the final moments approached, Cain and Dimento inserted the last sequence into their Wave Virus. They exchanged a confident look, believing that their creation was unparalleled. A few hours passed after Cain''s team finished their Wave Virus for all time to end their work.@@@@ Sylan signaled the end of the test, and once again, the Genetic Evolution Cube assessed each Wave Virus. The results would determine not only the winner of the test but the entire tournament. A hushed silence enveloped the chamber as the scores began to appear on the floating virtual screen: [Fourth Imperial Prince: 93% Battle Survival Enhancement Third Imperial Prince: 92% Battle Survival Enhancement With a wave of his hand, Sylan raised three large pillars in the middle of the platform where the tournament had unfolded, signaling the teams to take their rightful positions. Marlon''s team gracefully moved to the smallest pillar, claiming their third-place position. Even in defeat, they held their heads high, embodying resilience. Defeat wasn''t the end but merely a step on the path to greatness. This sentiment was shared by the team of the Second Imperial Princess, who remained stoic despite their ranking. In stark contrast, the Third Imperial Prince''s team struggled to mask their frustration, flying to the second-highest pillar. Salaman seemed the most upset, but his eyes also betrayed a hint of fear. Clearly, the worries of the Elder Genetic Coder of the Azure Royal Family extended beyond the tournament''s outcome. Cain felt minimal concern toward the hostility of others as he, Dimento, and Severin ascended to the highest pillar. Their faces beamed with pride, celebrating their remarkable achievement. Humans might not excel at Alchemy, Rune Crafting, Enhancement, or Wave Crafting, but when it came to Genetic Coding, they were unparalleled in Aether, rivaled only by the Legio Eldritch Race. Dimento, Severin, and Cain, representing the new generation, could rightfully proclaim themselves as peak achievers. Under the watchful eyes of everyone in the cube, Sylan presented medals to the top three teams. Those bestowed upon Cain''s team gleamed with a shining #1. --- A few hours after the Genetic Tournament, Cain and the Fourth Imperial Prince, Klaus, sat in a quiet room. Their expressions were calm, a stark difference from the tension of their previous private meeting. Klaus no longer regarded Cain as a member of his faction. With the need for establishing hierarchy gone, their conversation flowed more amicably. "You''ve been instrumental in our success," Klaus began. "It''s only fair to say our victory largely hinged on your involvement. A reward is in order." Cain nodded, acknowledging his pivotal role. From the start, his main request from Klaus was this one''s support during the Arcane Ceremony of Nobility. But if Klaus intended to reward him further, it would set a favorable precedent for future collaborations. Klaus, having anticipated this, was already prepared. "I''ve transferred 20 million military credits to your account, mirroring Dimento''s reward. But for your exceptional contribution, I have this." Chapter 362 Third level of the Biometal Herculean Technique Klaus waved his hand, and from his space ring, a small crystal glowing with a sky-blue energy appeared. Cain''s eyes immediately narrowed as he saw that crystal. Within it, he felt an extremely pure energy and sensed how his Astral Wave instinctively reacted to it. "Its name is Goldsoul Crystal, a family treasure. Its power radiates from its ability to set your Astral Wave ablaze, burning the impurities within it, while simultaneously reinforcing it and improving its quantity and quality." Klaus gave Cain a moment to analyze the crystal before continuing. "You can only use one during each Cultivation Rank. This one is more than enough for a Wave Champion like you. Normally, people wait until they have reached the peak of the rank to use them, but I gather that you intend to use it right away and hope to acquire something even better by the time you approach Wave King status." Cain''s eyes narrowed when he heard the words of the Fourth Imperial Prince, and he just shrugged his shoulders, as that was precisely his plan. He intended to use the treasure immediately and then strive with even more vigor to obtain a better one in the future. Klaus didn''t know whether to laugh or cry. The Goldsoul Crystal was a treasure that some would store for decades, waiting for the perfect moment, yet Cain was prepared to use it instantly. "Well, I suppose that''s why you''ve achieved so much at such a young age. It''s yours, so use it as you see fit." Cain nodded as he stored the crystal in his space ring. While he was prepared to use it immediately, he would first seek a state of focus and meditation. Although their business was concluded, Cain sensed that the Fourth Imperial Prince had another topic to broach. Klaus wore a solemn expression as he locked eyes with Cain. "Tell me, Colonel Laurifer, how adept are you at detective work?" Sensing the gravity of the subject, Cain took a moment before replying, "I specialize in assassination and espionage. Currently, I can infiltrate and gather information on entities up to the level of Wave King with ease." Klaus nodded, trusting Cain''s assessment. "What I''m about to disclose is classified. If you reveal it without my explicit permission, you''ll be branded a traitor."@@@@ The tone Klaus used to address those last words made it evident that he was not pleased with the Crown Prince''s interference. Michael simply smiled, nodded, and departed. --- Cain was in his room, a solemn expression on his face. He managed the surging Blood Energy inside his body, heightened by the blood apple, while simultaneously enhancing his Astral Wave using the Goldsoul Crystal. His vitality and energy pool increased at a shocking rate as both his body and Astral Wave kept improving. His Blood Core became increasingly potent as the blood within him advanced, and his Astral Wave refined to an overwhelming level. After meditating for over a week, his eyes suddenly opened, revealing a newfound strength. Though he had not evolved to the next stage and remained a Middle Wave Champion, his Rebirth Blood had attained the pinnacle of the Golden Blood Stage! A satisfied grin crossed his face as he felt the power coursing within him. He eyed the crystal. More than 70% of its energy had been utilized, but a considerable amount remained. ''My Astral Wave has been fully purified. I should conserve the remaining energy for my progression to the Late Stage.'' Storing the crystal and the blood apple, Cain waved his hand, revealing a massive cauldron. He filled it with tons of Golden Level Metal and activated its matrix, increasing its interior temperature. ''It will take several hours for the metal to completely melt.'' Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire Ensuring everything was in place, Cain rested, preparing himself for the subsequent task. When he awoke and the metal had melted entirely, he stripped down. Since his Rebirth Blood had achieved the pinnacle of the Golden Stage, Cain''s physique was robust enough to undergo the fusion of Golden Level Metal into his bloodstream, attaining the third level of the Biometal Herculean Technique! Chapter 363 Blade and daggers Not wasting time, Cain submerged into the pool of molten metal. Immediately, he felt immense pain due to the heat, and he dared not open his eyes for fear of blinding himself. Yet he did not lose focus, drawing on his willpower to maintain control throughout the ordeal. The first three levels of the Biometal Herculean Technique were named Bronze Infusion, Silver Integration, and Golden Resilience. Transitioning from Peak Silver Integration to Golden Resilience could take weeks, if not months, even for a prodigy. However, less than five hours after immersing himself in the cauldron, Cain felt his body tremble as his blood evolved, acquiring the properties of Gold Level Metals. The reason behind that talent was no longer a mystery for Cain as he knew it was due to the soul force of the Astral Blood Beast nurturing his soul sea.@@@@ Just the fusion of the metal into his bloodstream significantly improved his constitution, but that was just the beginning. It did not take long for a profound transformation to begin inside Cain''s body. Cain''s Blood Energy began to extend and solidify, creating an intricate network of biometal fibers beneath his skin. This bolstered his defense, shielding him against various attacks. The procedure was excruciating, yet Cain couldn''t help but smile as power surged through his veins. After another week of intense training, he finally rested, having integrated all ten tons of the Golden Level Metal into his bloodstream. ''System, scan me.'' Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire Impatiently, Cain instructed the system to analyze his progress. [Scanning Vessel... ... Scan of Vessel completed. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Middle Wave Champion) Lineage: True Avernus Lineage This means even a Wave Warrior can harness a Holy Weapon''s power destined to attain Peak Apotheosis Level. In contrast, a Platinum Grade Artifact requires a user with the energy to tap into its full potential. Recognizing the rarity of a Holy Weapon, Cain concluded Krane must have secured it through underworld connections. After a nod of approval, the duo teleported to the headquarters of the Wave Crafter Association. Two months had already gone by, and Cain sought the return of his weapon. Walking purposefully, Cain and Krane approached the Endless Pyramid. They entered unhindered, having scheduled an appointment with Grandmaster Horteus, and swiftly made their way to the master craftsman''s chamber. Like their prior visit, Grandmaster Horteus was engrossed in his work but paused upon noticing Cain. He acknowledged the young warrior with a nod. "In just two months, your name has echoed throughout the realm. It appears you''re the talk of the town." Cain merely shrugged, fixing his gaze on Horteus. He could not hide his desire for his weapon. Without further ado, the Grandmaster waved his hand, revealing a red saber and a collection of 33 daggers. Intrigued, Cain studied the weapons, noting the marked difference from his previous weapon, Slaughter. The new weapons did not adjust to his battle style, but instead of leaping to conclusions, he awaited Horteus'' explanation. Horteus nodded as he saw Cain''s control and began to talk. "Given the damage it sustained, reconstructing Slaughter as a single entity was unfeasible. However, this design suits you perfectly. I''ve named the saber ''Slaughter'' as a nod to its predecessor. While it no longer morphs to your whim, its durability is unparalleled." Horteus channeled his Essence Wave into the blade, which began to hum. Cain felt an instinctual wariness since he was sure the blade''s power could threaten his reinforced body. "It harnesses both Astral and Essence Waves," Horteus continued. "By channeling energy, I awakened its latent Lightning and Sonic Laws. The oscillation weakens molecular bonds of whatever it slices, amplifying its cutting power proportionally to your energy pool." Cain and Krane listened in awe. Not only was the weapon incredibly powerful, but Horteus had managed to draw forth the power left behind by the Lightning Law of the Collapsing Lightning Duke. Clearly, the man had reached an extremely high level in his craft. After hearing that explanation, Cain was more than satisfied with the blade but did not lose focus and turned his eyes to the daggers. Horteus noticed Cain''s eyes shift to the daggers, and he infused them with his Ego Wave. With a gesture, they began to move around the room with incredible proficiency. Things escalated when Horteus used the matrix in the daggers to draw the Life Wave from the air. Cain and Krane looked at the dagger with awe as they were nothing short of extraordinary. Chapter 364 Facing a Late King Beast The daggers'' speed increased fivefold, nearing hypersonic speeds, and it amplified even more once Horteus enhanced the Life Wave with his Ego Wave. A cultivator at the Second Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power could improve their Astral or Essence Wave with their Ego Wave. Typically, Essence Cultivators control the Life Wave to enhance their spells, while Astral Cultivators infuse their Ego Wave into their Astral Wave, pushing their bodily enhancements to the next level. Cain normally didn''t use either of those skills since he preferred to use his Ego Wave as fuel for the skills of his Alter-Ego. After all, Radiance of Life and Radiance of Strength offered a much more effective boost in battle power but consumed a tremendous amount of energy. However, seeing those daggers, Cain immediately envisioned a new battle style. His mind was potent enough to split into several trains of thought, and if he employed those daggers, his abilities and range would significantly enhance. "I call them Blood Nails. Not only can they achieve extreme speed, but they can also reach an enhanced vibrational frequency. While their cutting power isn''t as high as Slaughter, they are still mighty." Cain nodded in agreement with Horteus'' words, sensing the power and efficiency of such weapons. After Horteus finished the demonstration, the Grandmaster sent both Slaughter and the Blood Nails to Cain, who used his Ego Wave to engrave them before they merged into his heart. Afterward, Cain returned the starry gem to Horteus, which he had used to cultivate for the past two months since he could now train using the Sonic Blade Fusion Technique once again. "I am very thankful for your exceptional work. I will ensure I use the weapons proficiently." Cain stood up and performed a slight bow as he uttered those words. He was ecstatic with his new weapon, confident he could deploy even greater battle power henceforth. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire "It is a fine weapon. I was glad to work on it. If you ever want assistance again, I''m here to help." Usually, these creatures slumbered deeply. Yet, when aroused, they unleashed widespread destruction, possessing a power that could raze small cities within moments. Naturally, they stayed in the forest''s heart, avoiding human settlements to evade the wrath of cultivators, which would spell their doom. "ROOOOOAAARRR!" Along with that roar, the Living Volcano''s body ignited, setting its surroundings ablaze. One of its stony legs lunged at a diminutive being in the sky. Despite its mammoth size, the King Beast moved with overwhelming speed. Cain stood firm against the Living Volcano, confidence shining in his eyes. The thought of facing a Late Wave Champion Beast alone would have been inconceivable when he first arrived in Eden, but now he was unfazed, even as a colossal rock leg hurtled toward him. Slaughter vibrated as Cain struck with all his might. In the next instant, a blast of lightning and flames erupted, setting ablaze everything within a radius of several thousand meters. Cain''s strength and vitality were exceptional for a Wave Champion, further enhanced by the Radiance of Life and Radiance of Strength, which increased both by a factor of four! Yet, the momentum and weight behind the Living Volcano''s leg were comparable to a small nuclear weapon, leading to a stalemate in their clash. "?BOOM!" The impact sent Cain flying hundreds of meters, leaving a metallic taste in his mouth. However, he couldn''t afford to dwell on it as the Late King Beast was unscathed by the blast due to its massive frame and lunged toward him again. Cain''s eyes widened at the sight of another rock leg hurtling at him at hypersonic speed with the weight of several hundred tons. Despite being taken aback by the King Beast''s might, he was undaunted. His body was more than powerful enough to withstand the strike. "BOOOOOM!" Another explosion reverberated across the Cicada Forest, accompanied by the sound of metal clashing against rock. Cain''s body could endure the strike, but that didn''t mean he would simply accept it when he had the means to counter it. That was precisely what the Blood Nails were for.@@@@ Enhance your reading experience by removing ads: Remove Ads Now Chapter 365 Sundering Concept The thirty-three daggers had arranged themselves, forming a defensive formation between Cain and the Living Volcano''s leg. Just because they were weapons didn''t mean they couldn''t serve as a shield. Cain regained control shortly after, and with a wave of his hand, the daggers dispersed and rose into the sky. His eyes glowed red as the Ego Wave enhanced the daggers. The Living Volcano sensed something amiss with the daggers, but having already encountered them, it deemed them non-lethal and lunged at the audacious human confronting it. A cultivator would have recognized the danger of the daggers and monitored them closely. However, Cain wasn''t facing a cultivator but a beast. No matter how powerful or wise Wave Beasts became as a result of their cultivation base, most remained slaves to their instincts and fierce nature, which is why they couldn''t surpass any of the main six races of Aether. Cain watched as the Living Volcano lunged towards him. But just as it was about to reach him, he waved his hand down, sending all thirty-three daggers plummeting in a drill formation. The drill struck the Living Volcano''s back, driving it into the ground, attempting to pierce its rocky hide. The daggers'' power and range were impressive, as was their maneuverability, rivaling an Essence Cultivator''s spell. They couldn''t evoke unique phenomena or the might of Laws ¨C that was the domain of the Essence Evolution Path of Power ¨C but as secondary weapons, they were ideal. "?AHHHHHH!" A scream of pain and rage erupted from the Living Volcano as its Life Wave burst forth, pushing back the daggers that attempted to pierce its skin while slowly rising from the ground. While its offensive capabilities and agility were average, its defenses were nothing short of extraordinary. Cain''s eyes narrowed. They had been clashing for nearly an hour, and while he had taken minimal damage, so had the Living Volcano. He didn''t mind a prolonged battle; in fact, he had chosen this adversary for that very reason. Beyond testing his raw power, Cain sought to evaluate Slaughter and the Blood Nails, aiming to develop a battle style. With a saber, he could no longer use the skills of Bloodflow Fury. But he wasn''t seeking a style focused on technique or finesse. Cain had observed many Cultivators, from both the Astral Rebirth and Essence Evolution Paths of Power, wield swords. Yet, one stood out: The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. "?SHHHHH!" There was no blast or explosion, only the sound of wind splitting apart as Cain''s saber sundered the stone leg in half! No scream of pain came from the Living Volcano, not because the wound wasn''t painful, but because it was in shock. It had fought with the human for nearly an hour and couldn''t comprehend where he summoned such strength from. Unfortunately for the Living Volcano, distraction in the presence of a master assassin was a deadly mistake. Before it could regain its focus, Cain was already in front of its face, piercing Slaughter into its head. "?BOOOOOM!" Cain''s eyes showed nothing but coldness as the energy on his blade burst, destroying the brain and soul sea of the Living Volcano and killing the creature. A satisfied smile appeared on Cain''s face as he saw the light fading from the Living Volcano''s eyes. The thirty-three daggers returned to him, positioning themselves on his back, ready to block any attack. However, his smile didn''t last long as Cain grabbed his head, assaulted by a sharp pain. A complicated expression appeared on his face as he felt his Ego Wave deplete. ''I can summon the power of the Sundering Concept, but for that, I need to set my Ego Wave ablaze. Clearly, my mastery over it is too shallow.'' Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire Cain had always been harsh with himself, but if anyone else were to see his feat, they would not know how to start praising him. Not only did he manage to summon the power of Concepts less than a year after reaching the Second Realm, but he also managed to kill a Late King Beast before turning eighteen! Not wanting to waste time, Cain used his Ego Wave to cover the Living Volcano. Normally, he would drain the blood of any beast he killed, but the Living Volcano''s blood was not fit for consumption, nor was its rocky flesh.@@@@ Enhance your reading experience by removing ads: Remove Ads Now Chapter 366 Walk to Heaven (I) Anyone else would have had no use but to sell the corpse, but Cain was not like others. As soon as his Ego Wave covered the creature''s body, he sent it into the [Devouring Dimension]. The [Gluttony Module] could consume an actual mountain, so it had no problem devouring the energy and vitality of the beast in the form of one. Having taken care of the Late King Beast, Cain turned around and flew at full speed toward Eden. Although he showed no emotion, he had detected that more than one person was observing him, either from a great distance or using other supernatural methods. ''I detected no ill will, but that doesn''t mean someone isn''t aiming to harm me among those observers; they might just be skilled at concealing their intentions.'' Cain''s eyes were sharp as he determined this and made his way to Eden. Having already entered once, it wasn''t hard to do so again. He wasted no time, heading straight to the teleportation plaza and then to his residence to rest. The next day, Cain woke up early, cultivated to bring his body to peak condition, and then left his residence. He appeared in the plaza and took a teleportation formation, only to emerge in a vast barren land. Cain wasn''t alone; he immediately noticed the presence of the Fourth Imperial Prince and his group, along with the Crown Prince''s group. The Imperial Scholars, including Dominguez, were present as well.@@@@ The only notable absence was the Second Imperial Princess, though Yordana and Marlon were there. Whether the duo acted as representatives of the Imperial Princess was unclear. He nodded to all of them, but his attention soon shifted to the only structure in the area: a massive metallic staircase, seemingly meant for giants, crudely embedded into the side of a mountain. "Colonel Laurifer, I, the Grand Scholar of the Imperial Court, Dominguez Flamin, welcome you to the second phase of your trial in the Arcane Ceremony of Nobility: the Walk to Heaven!" Dominguez and the other two Imperial Scholars approached Cain. Although the Grand Scholar maintained a neutral stance, the others offered minor bows, acknowledging that the young man before them was destined to become an important figure in the empire. Already expecting such a crowd, Dominguez remained focused and took out a golden scroll. Cain nodded, taking a deep breath before stepping onto the first step. Immediately, he felt a pressure surrounding him, not pressing him down but assailing him from every direction. Beyond the physical realm, it attacked the Wave within him, attempting to stifle it. Naturally, the first step pressure barely affected Cain, allowing him to advance to the second. His eyes narrowed as he felt the pressure double, and he couldn''t help but glance at the fiftieth step. ''If the increase is exponential, then that level might be unbearable.'' Without overthinking, Cain jumped to the third step. As anticipated, the pressure on the third step was double that of the second. After a few moments of adjusting to it, he ascended to the fourth step. There was still no problem with the pressure, and he could handle it without issue. The same was true for the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th steps. However, when he set foot on the ninth step, it felt like he had dived into an ocean, with countless waves crushing him. Observers at the base watched Cain with a mix of surprise and admiration. Cain wasn''t fully aware ¨C as this information wasn''t widely known to the public or even many nobles ¨C but reaching the ninth step indicated that his talent was sufficient to become a Peak Wave King. While a Peak Wave King might seem inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, it represented an aspiration for billions of humans. Cain could achieve this pinnacle even if, from now on, he did nothing but sleep, eat, and occasionally cultivate. Cain remained on the ninth step, allowing his body and Astral Wave to adapt to the pressure. He stayed in this state for nearly an hour until his energy flowed freely through his body once more. Then, he advanced to the 10th step. The crowd had reacted to the 9th step with awe, but when Cain reached the 10th, their expressions intensified, and many sent messages via their A.I. Chips. Reaching the 10th step signified that Cain''s current talent and foundation were sufficient to evolve into the Apotheosis Realm. Although an Apotheosis Realm Master was only one rank above a Wave King, the difference between the two was immense. The former represented a cultivator on the path to divinity, while the latter was merely a king among mortals. And this was just his current talent level. No one doubted it would improve over the years, especially as the young man encountered more fortuitous opportunities. Enhance your reading experience by removing ads: Remove Ads Now Chapter 367 Walk to Heaven (II) Cain didn''t notice the expressions on people''s faces as he used every ounce of strength and focus on his body and energy, preventing it from spiraling out of control. He endured the pressure that assaulted him from every direction. His Astral Wave, which usually flowed with the vigor of a racehorse, now moved sluggishly. It took all his strength to push it forward. He chose not to sit, fearing that if he did, he wouldn''t be able to rise again and keep moving the Astral Wave through his meridians, compelling his Rebirth Heart to beat with increasing intensity. While he adjusted to the ninth step in an hour, the tenth step took him nearly six. However, the color eventually returned to Cain''s face, and his Astral Wave flowed powerfully through his meridians. With determination in his eyes, he looked at the eleventh step. Taking a deep breath, he jumped onto it. Immediately, his knees buckled, and his entire body began to shake. A metallic taste filled his mouth. The pressure was overwhelming, threatening to freeze his Astral Wave, which would have caused significant damage. Yet, Cain''s eyes burst with red light, utilizing his Ego Wave to its maximum, forcing his Astral Wave forward and aiding his Rebirth Heart in enduring the pressure. Observers at the base could see the ordeal Cain was experiencing. Still, they remained silent. Their admiration grew when, after a full day, Cain stood tall, his Astral Wave coursing powerfully through him. Their amazement intensified when Cain leaped to the twelfth step. Despite the pressure, the young man persevered. Imperial Princesses and Scholars watched in awe, recognizing this meant Cain''s talent could reach the pinnacle of the Apotheosis Realm. Hours passed, and while Cain adapted more to the pressure of the Stair to Heaven, he hadn''t fully acclimated. Although he regained control of his body, his Astral Wave remained sluggish. Cain''s eyes radiated red as he adjusted his breathing and set his sights on the 13th step. Witnessing this, the spectators were awestruck. Reaching the 13th step signified a talent suitable for becoming a Divine Ascension Cultivator, the highest rank in Aether. Cain calmly approached the end of the step, the red light in his eyes intensifying. Yet, instead of advancing to the 13th step, he retreated, immediately feeling the pressure from the Stair to Heaven dissipate as he descended to the ground. Seeing this, many felt a pang of disappointment that Cain didn''t challenge the 13th step. Although the Fourth Imperial Prince didn''t say it directly, the party was to celebrate Cain''s achievements. Cain smiled but gently declined, "Thanks, but I have important matters to attend to at the moment. Maybe next time." Klaus''s eyes narrowed, sharing a meaningful glance with Cain. Clearly, the matter concerned the investigation. The brief exchange ended, and both men resumed their pleasant demeanor. "I understand. I hope to see you soon, Colonel." With that, Klaus turned around and departed while others approached Cain. Just like with Klaus, Cain engaged in small talk but declined any further invitations. Soon after, he left the venue, heading to his residence. Once home, Cain''s exhaustion took over, and he went straight to sleep. Upon awakening, he activated his [A.I. Chip Module]. "How did it go?" He sent the message, and within seconds, a reply came in Krane''s voice. "As commanded, I''ve inspected the Azure State. Just as stated by the Fourth Imperial Prince, thousands have vanished. They''re primarily from remote villages, orphanages, or areas where their absence would create minimal disturbance. That''s why, despite the high number of disappearances, there''s no real uproar or concern; the changes have gone largely unnoticed." Krane had accompanied Cain to the Cicada Forest, but his departure wasn''t for training. Instead, he stealthily left Eden to investigate the Azure State and the mysterious disappearances. As Cain went through the list of those missing, his expression grew increasingly somber. The common thread behind each disappearance was the presence of children. "And the Azure Royal Family''s involvement?" "I''ve searched their facilities and did some recon. I found no direct connections, but I made a startling discovery. There''s a high chance of an intercontinental teleportation formation in their main castle." Enhance your reading experience by removing ads: Remove Ads Now Chapter 368 Metal Flame Roc Cain''s eyes widened upon hearing the revelation, as it was a truly shocking piece of information. Intercontinental teleportation formations were incredibly expensive, to the extent that even powers with Titans backing them might not possess one. Moreover, they were strictly regulated, with only the Imperial Court having access to them. Each and every one of these formations was situated in Eden and monitored around the clock. Although they were vital for maintaining the Godslayer Human Race''s alliance with the Deus Bahamut Race and Anima Machinarium Race, they also posed a grave threat, as they could serve as a gateway for the Dark Races to invade Gaia. Given his rank as a Colonel in the Imperial Army, Cain was acutely aware of the magnitude of the crime associated with secretly creating an intercontinental teleportation formation. The repercussions would be dire, leading to the branding of an entire family as traitors, their minds tampered with, and turned into war puppets until their demise. "How certain are you about this?" Cain struggled to grasp why the Azure Royal Family, descendants of the Azure Emperor, would commit such an act, prompting him to seek further confirmation. "Although I didn''t directly witness the intercontinental teleportation formation, through my underworld contacts, I discovered that the Azure Royal Family has been procuring the necessary materials along with the help of Rune Masters and Wave Crafters." Krane was no simpleton and grasped the ramifications of concealing an intercontinental teleportation formation from the Imperial Court. Hence, he immediately relayed this critical information to Cain. Upon hearing about the Rune Masters and Wave Crafters, Cain''s brows furrowed. If it were just the materials, there could have been a possibility that the Azure Royal Family acted as intermediaries. However, the involvement of Grandmasters in inscription and crafting suggested that they likely intended to control the teleportation formation. "Krane, how feasible would it be to gather these materials without ties to the Dark Kings?" For the first time, Krane hesitated, indicating the complexity of the inquiry. "Although most of the materials can be procured with enough wealth, the core components of the intercontinental teleportation formation are items traded exclusively by the Dark Kings. Unless they obtained them independently through some lucky chance, it''s improbable for the Azure Royal Family to have constructed the formation without engaging with one of them." "BOOOMMMMMM!" A deafening explosion resonated throughout the expanse as Cain''s blade met the Metal Flame Roc''s beak head-on. Even with Cain''s robust physique, comparable to a Golden Wave Artifact and fortified by his Radiance of Strength, the impact was overwhelming. The taste of metal filled his mouth as he recoiled from the clash, being hurled backward. Although the Metal Flame Roc yearned to pursue the audacious human who had dared challenge it, the confrontation had not spared it either. It took several moments to regain its composure and control. However, once it did, a fierce killing intent radiated from its eyes. The flames enveloping it intensified, reaching temperatures so high that the surrounding oxygen ignited, setting the sky aflame for tens of thousands of meters. "Kyeeer!" The Metal Flame Roc unleashed a formidable cry as it dashed toward Cain, resembling a flaming meteor, carrying the destructive force akin to a nuclear weapon. Just as Cain regained control over himself, he discerned the beast''s ear-piercing cry. His gaze turned steely upon witnessing the fiery onslaught, powerful enough to have obliterated a large city in the Old World. Taking a deep breath, the obsidian aura surrounding Slaughter intensified, and his heartbeat amplified. "THUMP!" The moment Cain''s heart shifted to Third Gear, he surged forward at an even greater velocity. His Ego Wave ignited, summoning the might of the Sundering Concepts. "SHHHHH!" No explosion, nor a burst of energy marked the moment Cain and the Metal Flame Roc confronted each other in the sky. Neither halted their momentum, continuing their trajectories for hundreds of meters before eventually coming to a standstill. Enhance your reading experience by removing ads: Remove Ads Now Chapter 369 Back to the Azure State A grimace of pain distorted Cain''s features, and he struggled to maintain his position in the sky. A gaping wound emerged on the right side of his chest, so profound that his ribs were exposed. The flesh surrounding the injury was charred, complicating the healing process. Meanwhile, the Metal Flame Roc remained eerily silent, its wings flapping weakly. The once-luminous glow in its eyes had dimmed, and moments later, it started to plummet, seemingly devoid of strength. At first glance, the beast appeared unharmed, but upon closer inspection, a slender incision could be discerned on the upper part of its skull. Cain''s blade had successfully penetrated the skull of the King Beast, cleaving its brain in two, obliterating its soul dimension with a surge of dark force. That was a strike utilizing every ounce of Cain''s power. Not only did he push his body to the limit by triggering Third Gear, but he also unleashed his Astral Wave and Blood Energy to enhance his physical might. Furthermore, he set his Ego Wave ablaze to gain the power necessary to pierce the beast''s skull. Cain clenched his teeth to endure the pain, swiftly returning to the Metal Flame Roc and placing his hand over it, sending it to his [Devourer Dimension]. To any onlooker, it would appear that Cain simply stored the corpse in his space ring. Although taking time to devour the entire body would have been more beneficial, Cain was pressed for time and opted to use the [Gluttony Module] that would constantly flood his body with energy and vitality without the need for active participation. After handling this, Cain''s body morphed into a mass of shadows, splashing onto the ground and vanishing from sight. Those observing the battle from a distance or through supernatural methods were stunned as they lost sight of the young man. Some speculated whether they had been detected, but most concluded that Cain simply concealed himself due to the severity of his wounds. A few powerhouses attempted to locate him, but finding him from their hidden positions proved impossible, and thus Cain vanished from everyone''s sight. Half an hour later, Cain emerged from the shadow of a tree nearly five hundred kilometers from where he fought the Metal Flame Roc. While his face was pale due to energy depletion, the wound on his chest was nearly healed already. Although the wound was serious, it had not affected any vital organs, and the Radiance of Life was more than capable of healing it once Cain focused solely on it. As he sensed the state of his body, a small smile appeared on Cain''s face. "An intercontinental teleportation formation is not easy to hide due to the energy waves it unleashes and the strong presence of the Space Law. I doubt there is another place in the entire Azure State where they could hide it, as I am sure they do not want anyone to know about it." Cain nodded, agreeing with Krane. He stood silent for a few minutes before the final parts of his plan came to mind. "You have surveilled the comings and goings of the Azure Royal Family from the State as I instructed, right?" "Yes, my Lord. Every time they exited, it''s registered. I have even used the Wood Law to keep track of their presence inside the Cicada Forest." Cain couldn''t help but look at Krane with surprise when he mentioned that. The Wood Law might not sound as impressive as the Fire Law or Lightning Law, but that was clearly the mentality of a novice when it came to the Essence Evolution Path of Power. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire There was no such thing as a weak Law, only cultivators who lacked imagination and the dexterity to use it well. "Great. Tell me, is there an Early Wave King present in the Cicada Forest?" Krane didn''t know Cain''s plan, but he didn''t need to, and immediately provided an answer. "Yes. Right now, there is an old man named Ocius Azure guiding a young girl into battle not very far from our location." Cain nodded, and the duo immediately set off in the direction of the members of the Azure Royal Family. Enhance your reading experience by removing ads: Remove Ads Now Chapter 370 : Saint Hypnosis Master "Excellent, Samira, keep going like that." Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire Ocius was watching a young girl fighting a great lion-like Wave Beast. "?Yes, Master!" The young girl fought using all her strength against the Wave Beast as if her life depended on it. Of course, while she and the beast were equally matched in strength, she was never in real danger since Ocius could intervene at any moment. The old man looked at the battle with a kind smile, yet there was another sentiment in his eyes as they followed the figure of the young girl¡ªa flash of lust that he managed to conceal very well. ''Soon, very soon. I just need to make this little beauty more reliant on me.'' As these thoughts crossed Ocius'' mind, his eyes widened as a figure with a red helmet emerged from the shadow of the trees, dashing toward him at a speed he could not respond to. Before he could make a move, the attacker landed a ferocious blow on the lower side of his abdomen, right above his Evolution Core. "?AHHH!" Samira couldn''t help but look back as she heard that cry of pain. Her lack of battle awareness was evident, as the Wave Beast immediately seized the opportunity to attack her. Fortunately for the young girl, before the Wave Beast''s teeth could pierce her neck, branches emerged from the ground, encasing her body, protecting her from the attack, and sending her into slumber. The Wave Beast clashed with the branches but could not damage them, and upon seeing a middle-aged man with a black helmet appear by their side, its fear exploded, and it immediately fled. The one in the black helmet was none other than Krane. He saw the Wave Beast running but paid it no mind and did not attempt to pursue it since it made no difference. Once he ensured the young woman was unconscious, he turned his attention to Cain and Ocius. "There''s nothing you can say or do to stop me. First, I will take out your eyes. Then, I will flay your body and strip every piece of skin from you. But don''t worry; you will not die. Let''s start!" Cain waved his hand, and the Blood Nails materialized, slowly advancing toward Ocius''s eyes, amplifying the fear and pressure in his mind by the second. "NO! SOMEONE SAVE ME! HELP!" Ocius screamed like a madman before the daggers even touched him, revealing the extent of his terror. Of course, Cain had already used his Ego Wave to block any sound from escaping the area so no one could hear them. Just as the daggers were about to gouge Ocius'' eyes, Cain''s Ego Wave burst forth, flooding the old man''s mind. Ocius'' eyes trembled for a few seconds as a blue light emerged within them, but his willpower was too weak, and he fell into a state of compulsion right away. Cain nodded as he invaded Ocius'' brain with his Ego Wave and began the hypnosis. Trying to infiltrate the Azure Castle directly would be foolish since Apotheosis Realm Masters guarded it, but using a spy would make everything much easier. Krane looked on from the side, and the awe in his heart only kept growing. Being able to hypnotize a Wave King was the domain of a Saint Hypnosis Master! Cain did not notice the look in Krane''s eyes since he focused solely on the task at hand. Regular hypnosis would not work since who knew how much time it would take to gather evidence of the Azure Royal Family''s crimes. That was why Cain was pushing his Ego Wave into the core of the old man''s psyche, in order to ensure the compulsion would be so intense that this one would act normally while at the same time following every one of his commands. Ocius might be a coward and lack strong willpower, but he was still a Wave King and his mental defenses were not weak. Nevertheless, Cain managed to imprint his Ego Wave into the deepest part of Ocius'' subconscious, essentially brainwashing the old man to follow his every command without noticing it. Had Cain commanded it, he could have released Ocius right now. The old man would do everything in his power to uncover any evidence related to the missing people or the intercontinental teleportation formation. Enhance your reading experience by removing ads: Remove Ads Now Chapter 371 : Infiltrating the Azure State Cain''s face was pale from the mental exhaustion, but he had no time to rest, as there was still much to do. However, before continuing with Ocius, he turned to the side.@@@@ "How is the woman?" Cain asked as he focused on the wooden cocoon holding the young member of the Azure Royal Family. "She is unconscious. My branches are releasing a powerful drug that will erase her short-term memory, ensuring our presence and this event are forgotten." Krane had protected the woman not out of kindness but because it would have been difficult to explain how Samira perished fighting Wave Beasts while under the surveillance of a Wave King. "Good, bring her to me." Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire Cain walked over as the cocoon opened, revealing the unconscious Samira. His Ego Wave acted again, invading the young woman''s mind and putting her into a state of compulsion as he altered her memories. Having become a Saint Hypnosis Master, Cain did not need to use verbal commands to affect someone, and it was not difficult to manipulate memories in people whose willpower had yet to reach the Wave Champion level. "She will not cause us problems. Now, let''s finish with the old man." Cain was tired but did not let that stop him as he took one of the Blood Nails and made a deep cut in Ocius'' head. Krane looked on, his eyes widening as he witnessed Cain''s actions, and he could not help but regard the young man as a true monster. He had lived in the underworld for a very long time, but Cain''s behavior truly shocked him at times. Although Cain had a strong sense of justice, when it came to evil people, he showed no moral or ethical restraint whatsoever. --- A few hours later, as the sun was setting, Ocius and Samira calmly made their way back to the Azure Estate. "It''s not fair. I was having such a good time, yet we already need to return home." A voice came from the other side, and Ocius entered the small room where a man stood among a set of thick books. The presence of books was an anomaly in the Godslayer Humankind Empire since every child had an A.I. Chip implanted from birth, capable of storing a near-endless amount of information. However, books could not be hacked, an important quality if the information they contained was sensitive. "What brings you here, Ocius?" Alderman Timothy looked much older than Ocius but was actually hundreds of years younger. The reason for his appearance was that he was just a Peak Wave Champion and had failed to reach the Wave King Rank. There was a bored expression on the alderman as he looked at Ocius. There was a lot of work to be done, but while his job granted him a certain status, it was not wise to ignore a Wave King, so he paid the man attention. Ocius could see the disinterest in Timothy, but while he might have made a fuss any other time, now he adopted a solemn expression. "I need your assistance in a matter that requires a certain finesse." Timothy''s eyes narrowed as he heard those words, and he waved his hand, activating a formation in the room that sealed sound and ensured that no Ego Waves could eavesdrop. He was accustomed to this type of conversation, so after making sure they were alone, he nodded to Ocius, signaling he could continue. "It has come to my possession certain items that I cannot use right now, but it would be unwise to keep them on me since they could be tracked. I need a place where I can stash them for now." Ocius'' face was calm, but there was no hiding the sense of trepidation in his eyes. Timothy focused on the Wave King for a moment, analyzing his words. If it were a simple treasure gained by luck, there was no problem keeping it in your space ring, but if it was stolen, the rightful owner could be searching for it through all sorts of supernatural means. "Even if you took it from other noble families, you could hide it in the main vault. It doesn''t matter if they track it to this place since they would not dare to fight with us for it." Although Timothy''s answer was arrogant, it was also correct, as the number of noble families that could offend the Azure Royal Family was very few. Ocius looked at Timothy briefly before clenching his teeth and waving his hand, revealing a small crystal glowing with sky-blue energy. "A Goldsoul Crystal!" Enhance your reading experience by removing ads: Remove Ads Now Chapter 372 Trap (I) When Timothy saw the Goldsoul Crystal, not only was there shock in his eyes but also a sense of profound greed. These treasures could purify your Wave, solidifying your foundations, exactly what someone needed to move from the peak of a rank to the next stage. As he grew older, Timothy had sought many treasures that could help him improve his cultivation, but none of them had been able to forcefully push him to the Wave King Rank. He was aware of the miracles that were the personal treasures of the Goldsoul Imperial Family, but while he wanted to get them, they were beyond his reach. "Where did you get it!?" Timothy demanded. Ocius'' eyes grew cold at the question, and he waved his hand, making the Goldsoul Crystal return to his space ring. Timothy nearly jumped out of his seat when he saw the sky-blue crystal vanish, but he managed to get a hold of himself and took a deep breath before calming his heart. "I am sorry for that question. I know better than to ask someone to divulge their secrets; it''s just that you showed me something very appealing." "No problem," Ocius softly nodded as he stared at the old Wave Champion for a long time before speaking again. "I need your help to store them since if the Imperial Court were to discover I have them, I would get into serious trouble. Of course, I will pay you for it. I currently have 300 Warrior Goldsoul Crystals, 25 Champion Goldsoul Crystals, and 4 King Goldsoul Crystals." Timothy''s eyes widened as he heard the words from Ocius since that amount of wealth was shocking beyond belief, at least for him. Although the greed in his heart was burning, the alderman did not lose focus and could keep a cool head. That was one of the reasons he had secured a position on the Azure Royal Council despite his weak cultivation. "I am flattered that you sought my assistance, Ocius, but I must ask, why me? There are many others with a higher profile and means that could help you." Ocius stared at Timothy for a moment before showing a small smile and nodding. "Simple, you are weak." "25 million military credits and two Champion Goldsoul Crystals." "Eight Champion Goldsoul Crystals, and I will give you 20 million military credits." The duo carried on with their negotiation for nearly half an hour before they finally came to a compromise, with Timothy getting four Champion Goldsoul Crystals and paying Ocius a total of 40 million military credits. "Good, now that we''re done, we should move. We must store the Goldsoul Crystals before anyone notices they are missing and starts searching for them." Timothy spoke with a voice full of excitement, as one could expect since four Champion Godsoul Crystals would be more than enough to refine his Essence Wave to the point he could forcefully push his cultivation into the Wave King Rank. Ocius showed just as much impatience as the alderman, so both left the room the next second. The old Wave King calmly followed the alderman as they walked through the castle that was as large as a small town. "First, we must reach the lower levels of the Azure Castle, and from there, we will descend even further." Timothy guided Ocius to a part of the Azure Castle devoid of people. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire Ocius calmly nodded as he followed the Wave Champion, seemingly not worried about this one trying something due to the difference in their strength. "By the way, Timothy, I found it very odd not to see any Elders present. Is there a problem I am not aware of?" Timothy glanced at Ocius and didn''t find anything odd in the question since, usually, one would see at least a couple of Apotheosis Realm Masters inside the Azure Castle from time to time, but right now, there was none in sight. "I don''t really know about it, but I heard rumors that there are no Apotheosis Realm Masters currently inside the Azure Castle. It seems they all left for some important mission under the order of the Azure King." "All of them? What about the safety of the castle?" Enhance your reading experience by removing ads: Remove Ads Now Chapter 373 Trap (II) "All of them? What about the safety of the castle?" Ocius asked with a concerned expression, but Timothy looked at him as if he was spouting rubbish. "What are you worried about? No one is crazy enough to infiltrate the Azure Castle." Timothy looked away as a flash of disdain appeared in his eyes. The alderman could not believe how someone like Ocius could become a Wave King while he was stuck at the Wave Champion Rank. Ocius did not seem to notice the disdain in Timothy and continued walking behind him until they reached an empty room with a statue holding a sword in one hand and a halo behind her back. Just as Ocius was about to ask why Timothy brought them here, the Wave Champion walked forward, seemingly merging into the statue. "What are you waiting for?" Ocius heard the voice coming from inside the statue, and then he walked forward, also merging into it. A flash of light hindered his vision for a second, and the next thing he saw was a long spiral staircase that led to what seemed to be a dark dungeon. "A dungeon inside the Azure Castle. How is this possible?" Ocius could not help but ask Timothy, who was by his side. There was nothing wrong with a prison inside the Azure State as it was a place with a population of millions, and there had to be a place to incarcerate people. However, the Azure State''s prison was on the periphery of the state, and it was a heavily fortified place with Wave Kings watching over it 24/7. Since there was already a perfectly functional jail, there was no reason for a second one.@@@@ "The smell and aura of this place are sickening, which is why I never come. Sometimes I wonder what is the point of taking these people captive and why not just kill them?" Timothy spoke with an annoyed expression as he went through the path to the other side of the underground prison. He did not really care about the people in this place either. The duo reached the other side of the prison, and at all times, Ocius felt the presence of the force field. Clearly, the inspection was not just during their entrance but the entire way through the prison. As they reached the other end, Timothy once again used his A.I. Chip to activate the formation, and the gate opened, revealing a massive empty room with a large hole in the middle that seemed to go down for an immense distance. "We need to go down. It is approximately ten thousand meters until the Secret Vault." Timothy spoke in a usual manner, and Ocius showed no suspicion at all as he nodded to the man. Both then jumped into the huge hole and began to calmly descend. There was not even an iota of light in the hole, but that would typically not be a problem for a Wave King. However, for some reason, Ocius''s eyes could see nothing beyond twenty meters around him, making it clear that the darkness was not natural. Still, the old Wave King did not worry as he could see Timothy next to him. Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire Everything was in order until, all of a sudden, a massive metal gate appeared above them, sealing the path back to the prison. It was at that point that Timothy made his energy explode, flashing downward. Ocius was confused, and before he could process what was happening, the sound of metal gates opening emerged from the darkness. As one might expect, the Old Wave King immediately unleashed his Ego Wave, and his eyes widened as he saw that there was another metal gate one hundred meters beneath him. Timothy had already reached it, and he was not alone since there were three other people present. All of them were Wave Kings, and one had reached the Middle Wave King Rank! Enhance your reading experience by removing ads: Remove Ads Now Chapter 374 Trap (III) Ocius used his energy to remain in the air as he looked at the people above the metal gate, wrath evident as he focused on Timothy. "What is the meaning of this!?" Timothy showed a mocking smile as he heard Ocius''s question and did not bother answering. Instead, the Middle Wave King responded. "Are you really so naive as to not understand your position, Ocius? Did you believe that reaching the Silent Vault with the help of a simple alderman was possible? Timothy never had access to this place, and I opened the gate to the tunnel you just went through." Ocius focused on the Middle Wave King, fear in his eyes, yet he clenched his teeth and shouted. "Alderman Farius, do you think you can take my belongings without anyone noticing? The Elders will punish you for this!" "Hmph, there are no elders present in the castle, and even if they were, I would simply share a portion of the wealth with them. That is how things work. Timothy knows this, which is why he contacted me while you were negotiating. You, on the other hand, let greed cloud your judgment and want to keep the treasure for yourself." Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire@@@@ Farius'' face was expressionless as he and the other two Wave Kings ascended, approaching Ocius with coldness in their eyes as their Wave cloaked their bodies. Ocius rose further and further until he reached the metal gate above him. The old Wave King could feel the endurance of the metal gate and knew he could not break through it, so there was no way to escape from the trio. Timothy watched everything with a smile on his face as he pushed his Essence Wave to the limit, activating his armor and enveloping himself in a strong current of revolving water. He would not participate in the fight, but that did not mean the collateral damage would not affect him, so he had to be careful. "Wait, I will hand the treasure over to you and forget about this. There is no need to escalate things. Please, we are all members of the Azure Royal Family and have the blood of the Azure Emperor running through our veins." Despite the shock, Farius was a seasoned warrior and made the Astral Wave on his arm burst as his gauntlets glowed with azure energy, reinforcing them as he struck at the red saber. The other two Wave Kings attacked the man in the red helmet from the sides. The trio did not know what was happening and could sense that the aura of the man in the black helmet was much greater than theirs. Luckily, he seemed focused on preventing anyone from escaping, allowing them to concentrate on the man in the red helmet. Unlike the man in the black helmet, the one in red seemed to have an energy pool that did not surpass the Early Wave King Realm, so they immediately decided to eliminate this one quickly before working together against the other person. Cain figured out the trio''s battle plan immediately, and his only response was to make his Ego Wave burst as the edge of his blade grew monstrously powerful, summoning the power of the Sundering Concept. Farius'' fist clashed with the blade, and the strength behind it was immense, protected by a Golden Wave Artifact, so he did not fear being harmed. It was not the first time he had faced a cold weapon, and he was sure he could push it away. However, all confidence shattered as the blade pierced his gauntlets before carrying on through Farius'' hand, severing his entire right arm! Shock overwhelmed Farius, and the same happened with the other two Wave Kings. When the duo saw the wound on their leader, their first thought was not to help but to do everything in their power to escape. Unfortunately, before they could even move, daggers moving at a shocking speed pierced their lungs! The last time Cain confronted a Middle Wave King was less than a year ago. He had to exert his full power just to be on par with the opponent despite the latter''s Evolution Core being wounded. Now, Cain could cripple a Middle Wave King in an instant and deal with two Early Wave Kings using his secondary weapon at the same time! Cain''s eyes were focused, and there was no sign of excitement for his immense burst of strength as he clenched his left fist. Concentrating his Astral Wave within, he delivered a punch straight to Farius'' heart with all his might, crippling his opponent''s energy pool. Enhance your reading experience by removing ads: Remove Ads Now Chapter 375 Reaching the secret vault (I) Timothy''s eyes widened with awe and shock as he saw how two individuals burst their way out of Ocius'' head, with the one donning a red helmet managing to cripple three Wave Kings in less than a second.@@@@ For the old Wave Champion, such might was comparable only to that of an Elder of the Azure Royal Family. The fear in his heart grew so strong that he did not hesitate to use his A.I. Chip to communicate with the outside world. As for how he would explain all this, he did not care; at the moment, his only thought was to survive. Unfortunately for Timothy, there was another jamming signal in place besides the one he had used to hinder Ocius'' A.I. Chip, blocking his messages. And if that wasn''t enough, branches emerged from the wooden cage and entrapped his body, immobilizing him. "If you try anything, my branches will pierce your body. You will not die, but it will be painful." Timothy trembled upon hearing those words, seeing the man in the black helmet looking at him with coldness and disdain. Krane loathed those who betrayed their comrades, but while he wanted to kill Timothy and the others, they had to remain alive. Otherwise, Cain would not have aimed at non-vital points and killed the three Wave Kings immediately. After Cain took care of the Wave Kings, branches emerged from the wooden cage and entangled them just as they had with Timothy. Farius'' face was pale, and his body could not stop trembling due to the severe damage he had just sustained. While he knew he was severely wounded and could not escape by force, he understood there was a reason they were kept alive. "What... do you... want?" Farius struggled to regulate his breathing and found it difficult to speak, but he managed to gather the strength needed to ask that question. Cain''s gaze was as cold as ever as he looked at the three Wave Kings, but his eyes turned toward Timothy, making the latter tremble with terror. "I know nothing. Farius and the others forced me to trap Ocius!" Cain hadn''t even spoken, but the old Wave Champion was already spouting excuses, making him shake his head. It was clear that Timothy would say anything to survive, which meant he could not trust anything this one said. Cain took a deep breath before making his Ego Wave burst with power, invading Timothy''s mind and hypnotizing him. Zalan was terrified and severely wounded, with holes all over his body, but he was still an Astral Wave King. Like a frenzied beast, he began to strike at Cain with all the strength he could muster, but it was futile. Cain''s body was as hard as a Golden Wave Artifact, and without the enhancement of Astral Wave, Zalan''s punches could not even leave a bruise. Cain''s eyes remained emotionless as the Ego Wave within them burst, manipulating all thirty-three Blood Nails simultaneously. "?Ahhhhh!" A scream of unbearable pain came from Zalan as the Blood Nails gouged out his eyes, but that was just the beginning as the agony grew even as the daggers began to flay his skin. In less than thirty seconds, there was not a single piece of Zalan''s body left with skin, and he had become a bloody horror. Farius and the other Wave King witnessed it all, and the terror in their hearts nearly made them wet themselves. The worst part was not the pain but the fact that Zalan was still alive. The man could not scream since his tongue was also removed, but he did not stop trembling in pain, presenting the duo with a vivid image of the agony he was enduring. "Timothy, is it correct to say that Farius is the one with the highest clearance and knowledge among the people present?" The world rewards strength, so it would make sense that Farius would be the one with the most extensive background and knowledge. Of course, other factors could be at play, so Cain asked for confirmation. "Yes." The old Wave Champion immediately confirmed Cain''s hypothesis. Cain turned to Farius for a moment but did not linger on this one for long as his eyes turned to the other Wave King. "Black." Just like with Zalan, as soon as Cain gave the command, the branches released the Early Wave King. There was nothing but absolute terror in the Wave King as he saw the branches releasing him, to the point that he was not even able to make a move as Cain grabbed him by the neck. Enhance your reading experience by removing ads: Remove Ads Now Chapter 376 Reaching the secret vault (II) Cain''s Ego Wave invaded the Wave King, and the fear within this one was so immense that he could put the man into hypnosis without a problem. It was only then that he turned toward Farius, using his Ego Wave to monitor the man''s heart rate and brainwaves. While the most effective path would have been to hypnotize Farius as well, Cain was not confident in his ability to forcefully compel a Middle Wave King, and he could not afford to suffer a backlash. Instead of hypnotizing Farius, Cain planned to monitor this one''s vitals to detect any lies and would use Timothy and the Early Wave King to fill in the blanks. "Answer my question honestly and thoroughly, or else you will end up like him." Farius knew he needed to maintain a strong front if he wanted to survive, but the fear was too much. The idea of lying faded from his mind when he saw the other two being hypnotized since they might uncover his farce. "Is this the real Secret Vault of the Azure Royal Family?" "Ye... Yes. This is the vault the Elders and even the King use to collect their shady belongings!" Cain was able to relax, knowing they were in the right place. After all, Timothy might have lied from the beginning, and this place was solely a secret prison and nothing more. Most likely, the reason why Timothy brought Ocius here, despite intending to kill this one from the beginning, was because they could take care of him without drawing attention from the outside. "Are there any more people beyond the metal gate? Will they be alerted of our arrival?" Farius immediately shook his head, but Cain''s eyes began to lose their light, becoming emotionless to the point that it terrified the Middle Wave King. "These are the special space treasures where each Azure Elder stored their questionable belongings, right?" Farius immediately nodded. "Which one is used by the Azure King?" Farius froze as he heard that question. If the belongings of an Elder were to be stolen, he would be in serious trouble, but if those belonging to the King vanished, then there was no way he would survive. However, as soon as Cain turned to him, the fear in the Middle Wave King overcame his rational mind, and he immediately pointed to one black pillar on the far left. It did not seem any different than the others, which made sense after all ¨C why would the Azure King want his pillar drawing more attention than needed? "I cannot open them; only the owners can. I swear I am telling the truth!" Farius shouted as he was terrified that Cain would demand he open access to the storage dimension inside the pillar. Luckily for Farius, Cain never expected this one to open the storage dimension; after all, it would not make sense for a guard to have access to all of them. Cain walked to the storage dimension of the Azure King and placed his hand over it. He did not attempt to use his Ego Wave to invade the artifact since he was sure that he would not be able to do so. Cain''s Ego Wave was formidable, especially for someone so young, but the defenses of this place surely must be able to hold off the Ego Wave of someone at the Second Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power. Fortunately, Cain had access to another type of force field. It could not cover as much distance as his Ego Wave or have control of the environment and his body, but when it came to scanning, it was an entire level ahead. Enhance your reading experience by removing ads: Remove Ads Now Chapter 377 Connecting the dots ''Apex, can you silently access this pillar using the [A.I. Chip Module]?'' Cain immediately heard the voice of the System Spirit in his mind. "I can try by enhancing the [Hacking] and [Scan Force Field] tools and fusing them, but I will have to consume your Destiny Force to do it." "Go ahead." While Cain understood the importance of his Destiny Force, he had amassed an immense amount, more than enough to evolve the modules when needed, so he did not hesitate to use them now. Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire Apex immediately went ahead, enhancing the [A.I. Chip Module] with Destiny Force before attempting to hack the storage dimension. Krane glanced at Cain as he put his hand on the pillar. He knew accessing the storage dimension should be impossible since the security of this place should be too much for even Apotheosis Realm Masters. Still, Cain had a way of making the impossible possible. In any case, Krane remained silent, watching over Farius. He just had to follow Cain''s commands, and everything would be fine. Cain calmly waited for over five minutes until he heard Apex''s voice in his mind. "There is good news and bad news. I can use the [A.I. Chip Module] to force your way into the storage dimension, but that would take time and alert the person in control." Cain frowned upon hearing that. If the Azure King were to realize his presence, that man would march into this vault and kill him, so while he wanted access to the storage dimension, it seemed he could not do it now. "By the way, during the scan, I detected strong spatial fluctuations inside the storage dimension, matching those of a teleportation formation." Cain''s fists clenched as he heard that. He had already hypothesized that the targets were children. "What did you do with them?" "Wait! I can explain!" Farius, who had remained silent, shouted as he heard Cain make that question, the fear evident in his eyes. The Wave King remembered the fate of Zalan upon Cain finding out about the man''s perversions and knew that the answer to that question would be dire. Unfortunately for Farius, before he could say anything further, the branches paralyzing his body also closed his mouth, and then the hypnotized Wave King answered. "The children were handed over to one of the Elders. The adults were only taken so no one would inquire about the children, so we disposed of all of them." Cain and Krane were shocked upon hearing that. Not only were the children taken, but the people of the Azure Royal Family had also killed millions of men and women. Once again, Cain''s eyes grew devoid of emotion, the default state when his heart was so full of killing intent and rage that he could hardly control them. He took a deep breath as he asked another question. "What can you tell me about the Elder?" "His name is Gorius Azure, head of the Azure Department of Research and Investigation. He is a 4-Star Saint Genetic Coder." Cain''s eyes widened as he heard those words. He remembered the unique formulas that Salaman Azure used during the Genetic Tournament and the events in Saharo City. ''Azure Royal Family. The Organization. Kidnapping hundreds of thousands of children. Genetic experiments.'' His mind began to connect the dots, and he could not help but tremble as he realized what must have happened to all those children. Enhance your reading experience by removing ads: Remove Ads Now Chapter 378 Alarm All the pieces were arranged in Cain''s mind as he realized the true purpose of the intercontinental teleportation formation. Secretly holding intercontinental teleportation formation was a grave crime, and it did not make much sense for the Azure Royal Family to risk it. While moving through continents was hard, a Divine Ascension cultivator could do it with enough effort and safety, not to mention that due to their status, the Azure Royal Family could ask to use the ones in control by the Imperial Court. Therefore, it did not make sense for the Azure Royal Family to possess an intercontinental teleportation formation just to reach another continent. Still, things changed if the goal of the formation was not just to go to another continent but to escape from the wrath of the Imperial Court. If you have enough power, there were many crimes the Imperial Court would be willing to turn a blind eye to, but working for The Organization was something they could never forget. Cain took a deep breath as he processed all that information and realized how deep the connection between the Azure Royal Family and The Organization was. Even for him, it was hard to calm down when he understood that The Organization was the puppeteer of the bloodline of a former Emperor of the Godslayer Humankind. The red light in his eyes burned with incredible might as he regained control of his emotions. Exposing the Azure Royal Family was important, but there was something even more crucial. Cain''s eyes glowed with determination as he glanced at Farius.@@@@ "If you can tell me the exact location where Elder Gorius took the children, I will let you live." Farius'' eyes glimmered with hope as he heard those words, and he immediately began to nod. If it weren''t for the branch covering his mouth, he would have already started shouting. Cain only stared at the Middle Wave King briefly before his eyes grew emotionless while the red light in them burst with killing intent. Cain and Krane entered the space ring, which silently pierced into Timothy''s brain before a burst of golden flame closed the wound. The gates to the exterior were open, so the alderman had no problem leaving the secret vault. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire Cain''s Ego Wave allowed him to see what Timothy did, and as they passed through the clandestine prison, an annoyed expression appeared on his face. He wanted to save those people but lacked the authority to open the gates, and there was no way he could force his way through. In the end, Cain could only sigh and had to admit that his strength was simply not enough. He would report everything to the Fourth Imperial Prince and attempt to breach this place as fast as possible, but there was a good chance that these prisoners would be either mobilized or killed once the Azure Royal Family learned there was a break-in. Timothy was able to exit the prison, and the azure force field detected nothing. It was powerful but not enough to perceive the presence of people inside a space ring in the brain of someone. Once the alderman exited the prison, he flew up the stairs and reached the dungeon''s exit quickly. Timothy had initially walked to give Farius and the others time to lay the trap for Ocius. The alderman reached the dungeon''s exit and activated the matrix, emerging from the statue in the empty room back in the Azure Castle. Cain could not help but sigh as he saw they finally left that place. ''There is still danger since I am sure the Azure Castle is monitored, but even if something goes wrong now, we should be able to escape without much problem.'' Cain was not a fan of fairy tales since he found them so predictable, which was why he did not detect the irony in the fact that as soon as that thought crossed his mind, an alarm went off in the Azure Castle! "RMMMMMMM!!!" Enhance your reading experience by removing ads: Remove Ads Now Chapter 379 Existential threat to the Azure State The alarm went off, and it echoed across the entire Azure Castle. Timothy showed nothing since Cain controlled his every action, but the young man and Krane inside the space ring looked at each other with shock and dread. Cain and Krane did not understand what was happening. They had been very careful, making sure to cover their presence. However, even if they were discovered, why wait until they left the dungeon? It would have made much more sense to attack them while they were inside the dungeon since it would have been easier to get rid of the evidence. "RUMBLE!!!" Before the duo could understand what was happening, they felt the ground beneath their feet trembling, and through Timothy''s A.I. Chip, they heard a message. [All people at the Wave Champion and Wave Warrior ranks must evacuate into the Azure Castle. Cultivators at the Wave King level must form a defensive formation around the perimeters. This is a command from the Azure Royal Council!!!] Cain frowned as he heard that command, and it became clear that the alarm was not related to him, Krane, or the events in the dungeons and Secret Vault. It was related to the tremor that kept growing stronger. Timothy was a Wave Champion, so he should have waited inside the Azure Castle, but Cain needed to know what was happening. No matter how he felt about the Azure Royal Family, they were powerful, so something that would force them to evacuate must be extremely dangerous. "?BOOM!" As soon as Timothy emerged from the Azure Caste, he heard a powerful explosion in the distance. The alderman turned to the origin, and what he saw left Cain and Krane shocked. The alderman saw what could only be described as a sphere of dark golden energy the size of a mountain! Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire It was located on the periphery of the Azure State, near the northwest. The Wave Kings guarding the periphery of the castle shouted as they saw the old Wave Champion marching toward the sphere of energy. None was willing to risk their lives by going near the sphere of energy, so they just watched as this one vanished in the distance. If the old man wanted to kill himself, they would not join him. Timothy, of course, did not care about those Wave Kings as he was under the control of Cain. As soon as he moved far enough away from the sight of the people of the Azure Royal Family, he entered a small alley, where his head exploded into pieces, allowing Cain and Krane to emerge. The duo donned their helmets to cover their identities as they nodded to each other and silently made their way to the city''s walls, getting near the roiling sphere of dark golden energy. "?AHHHH!" "HELP!" ?SAVE ME!" Screams of pain, fear, and desperation surrounded the duo as the energy blasts emerging from the phenomenon were about to break through the walls, killing the people in the zone. "BOOMMMMM!" The sphere of energy compressed again before unleashing another blast, growing stronger and finally breaking apart a piece of the wall on the periphery of the Azure State! Terror, absolute and overwhelming, appeared in the eyes of the people watching, for without the wall, the next energy blast would reach them directly, and none would survive. A young woman looked at the sphere of dark golden energy as she held her daughter in her arms. When she saw the sphere compressing again, she knew that the next blast would be the end for them, and tears fell from her eyes as she hugged her child. "BOOOOOOMMMMMM!" Another energy blast emerged, but just as this one was about to reach the population, giant trees emerged from the ground, sealing the hole in the wall and saving the people from the blast! Shock and awe appeared in the eyes of those who were ready to face death just a moment ago as a man with a black helmet created a wall made of giant trees that saved all of them. And their awe only grew mightier as another man with a red helmet, bathed in golden fire and wielding a red saber in his hand, dashed toward the sphere. Enhance your reading experience by removing ads: Remove Ads Now Chapter 380 Impossible choice (I) [There is a dense amount of energy in a chaotic state. However, the core of the sphere seems to be hollow, and it is where the energy source of the phenomenon is located.] Cain''s eyes were full of resolution as he focused on the core of the phenomenon after the Absolute Life Form System''s report. As long as he destroyed it, the phenomenon would disperse, and everybody would live. It was extremely dangerous, but if Cain did nothing, millions would die, so he did not have a choice. Cain''s Blood Wing flapped at a shocking speed as he pushed himself to the limit, triggering Third Gear. His velocity was beyond impressive, but there was a significant problem: the sphere of energy was generating a strong gravitational field and emitting powerful radiation. Resisting the gravitational field took every ounce of Cain''s strength, and he could feel the radiation burning his skin and muscles. If not for the Radiance of Life overcoming the damage, just getting near would have been deadly. "?BOOM!" Cain had not even reached the edge of the sphere of dark golden energy when it shrunk and unleashed a new energy blast, sending him flying away and crashing against the tree wall formed by Krane. "Cough!" Cain couldn''t help but cough up blood as enduring the power of the energy blast was too much, even for someone like him with a body as resilient as a Golden Wave Artifact. The rate of the energy blasts increased, and Cain had not even regained control over his body when a new one emerged. "?BOOM!" Cain''s eyes widened as he saw the energy blast was about to reach him. Luckily, a wooden cocoon formed above his body, protecting him. Krane had acted just in time to save Cain from the energy blast, but he couldn''t help but clench his teeth as the next one nearly shattered his tree wall, and he was forced to use all his energy to enhance the defense. Cain adopted a sprint position inside the tree wall and took a deep breath as his heartbeat grew stronger, entering Third Gear and pushing it with even greater strength as his Astral Wave and Blood energy focused on his legs. "Krane, when I give the signal, open the cocoon!" Krane didn''t know what Cain''s plan was, but he trusted the young man and nodded as he once again made his Essence Wave explode with power, reinforcing the tree wall and ready to open the wooden cocoon as soon as Cain gave the command. The sphere of revolving dark golden energy once again shrank before unleashing an even more potent blast in all directions. "?BOOM!" "NOW!" The blast had just reached the tree wall when Krane heard the command, and he immediately opened the wooden cocoon. "?BOOM!" Another burst echoed, making the tree wall tremble, but this was not due to the sphere of dark golden energy, but the young man that blasted forward with so much speed that he was invisible even to a Wave King! Cain''s eyes were full of determination as he pierced through the energy shell of the revolving sphere and, just as the Absolute Life Form System told him, the core of the phenomenon was safe. It was like the eye of a hurricane; everything around was being obliterated, but this place was safe. Cain did not have time to relax as the sphere would not take long to destroy the Azure State, so he had to act fast and immediately took out Slaughter. Cain''s eyes glowed with a powerful red light full of determination as he looked for his target. However, his entire body trembled with shock and horror once he saw the phenomenon''s origin. "Sob, sob." A child''s cry echoed inside the core of the revolving sphere of energy less than five meters away from Cain. The little boy was in a fetal position, crying, and it was not hard to see the genetic damage, as over half of his body was badly mutated, with tumors all over him.@@@@ Chapter 381 Impossibe choice (II) Cain''s body couldn''t stop trembling as his mind processed what was happening. "Apex, where is the core of the phenomenon!?" Cain''s subconscious already knew the answer but could not accept it, so he asked the System Spirit to scan the place, hoping he was wrong. "Ahhh, you are seeing it. The core of the phenomenon that is about to destroy the Azure State and kill millions of people is no other than that small child." The golden humanoid inside the soul dimension could feel how Cain''s soul was in a state of complete upheaval as this one came to the realization of what he needed to do. "No. There must be another way!" Cain''s mind was in such disarray that he uttered those words aloud, drawing the attention of the little boy who looked in his direction. There were metal pipes embedded in his head, making it clear that the level of experimentation done on him was beyond just genetic. Cain stared into the little boy''s eyes and could see the pain and fear in this one, as he could not stop crying. "It hurts. I escaped. I don''t know what is happening." The little body cried as he spoke with Cain but did not move a muscle, clearly terrified and traumatized by whatever had happened to him. Cain clenched his fists as he heard those words, and his eyes burned with determination as he stored Slaughter. He approached the little boy, kneeling to look at this one directly into his eyes. "It is okay. You don''t need to worry about that anymore, but you need to stop this, or a lot of people will be harmed." "I can''t, I can''t. I don''t know what is happening." Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire The little boy cried even harder as the fear in his heart and the pain he endured only kept growing. "It is okay, it is okay. I will fix it." Cain attempted to calm down the little boy as he spoke with Apex. "There must be a way to help him. What about the [Genetic Coder Module]? We could suppress his genetic mutation and take care of the rest later." The boy heard Cain''s voice and showed a determination and resolution that Cain would never forget as he uttered the following words. "It is okay. Do it." Cain''s eyes burned with red light stronger than ever before in his life as he channeled the Sundering Concept into his index finger and touched the little boy''s forehead. --- "BOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!" A blast had just erupted from the sphere of revolving energy, nearly obliterating the tree wall to pieces, and Krane burned the last iota of his energy to keep it in place. Krane couldn''t regulate his breathing as he felt he would pass out at any second, but the Late Wave King clenched his teeth as he focused on the revolving sphere, waiting for the next blast. Just as Krane prepared for the explosion that would shatter his wall to pieces and send him flying away, potentially killing millions of others, the sphere of revolving energy froze, only to disperse the next second as someone slowly descended to the ground. "My Lord!" Krane couldn''t help but shout as he saw the sphere vanishing and Cain descending to the ground. "We are safe!" "It''s over!" "We are alive!" People shouted in happiness as they realized the phenomenon was gone and they would survive. They couldn''t help but hug their family with tears in their eyes. Krane was just as excited as the others, but his smile froze as his perception showed that Cain had a small body in his arms. "BOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" However, Krane didn''t even have time to process what he saw as a giant pillar of Azure Lightning falling from the sky with more power than a nuclear bomb, landing straight on Cain! Chapter 382 Mind Over Matter "BOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" The lightning pillar was nothing short of formidable, with a power surpassing almost every weapon from the Old World. All its destructive might was compressed in a less than ten-meter radius, showing the attacker flawless control over the spell. Krane and everyone else in the Azure State was shocked and speechless as they saw a pillar of azure lightning fall from the sky with a power even greater than the sphere of revolving energy. Many of them could not help but think that if the lightning pillar had appeared before, they would not have needed to rely on the help of the masked duo. People then turned to the sky only to see a young man in a sky-blue robe and a white crown on his head calmly descending. He had short black hair and appeared no more than twenty years old, with azure eyes and a small sword in his right hand. Not only was his appearance formidable, but the young man unleashed an aura that seemed to cover the sky and expand without an end. "The Azure King!" Krane''s eyes widened as he realized the identity of the man. The newcomer was none other than the leader of the Azure Royal Family, a Divine Ascension Master, a true powerhouse of the world! Although not all Divine Ascension Masters had the right to call themselves Titans, each and every one of them had the power to unleash the might of a nuclear weapon with a single strike. Despite the immense difference between their powers, Krane could not help but clench his fists and stare at this one with rage. That lightning strike was more than powerful enough to vaporize an Apotheosis Realm Master, so despite the lingering lightning clouding his sight, there was no way Cain was still alive.@@@@ The young man in the sky glanced at the lightning flooding the earth before turning toward Krane, locking eyes with him. Apex watched with horror as a massive crack formed in the gate. The enormous gate covered by chains of dark purple flames and black-white lightning inside Cain''s soul sea already had a small crack on the right side from when Beelze perished, allowing the emergence of a personality other than Cain''s. Yet, this time, the crack formed on the left side, and what emerged was pure energy and chaotic emotions, lacking any form of order or ego. "?CHAOS!" Apex couldn''t help but tremble as he uttered that word and saw the burst of red energy flooding into Cain''s soul sea, fusing into the Sun Seed and evolving his Ego Wave to an outrageously powerful level. Back in the outer world, the Azure King''s shock escalated as his eyes managed to discern the invisible shield around Cain. It was made using Ego Wave to solidify air particles into a force field, even more durable than Platinum Wave Artifacts. However, for someone''s willpower to achieve this, it must have reached a stage far beyond Mind Over Wave. "This seventeen-year-old boy has reached Mind Over Matter!" The Azure King could not believe what his eyes were showing him, as it was simply impossible. Manipulating matter with willpower was the third realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, and no matter how much of a prodigy one was, reaching it before turning eighteen was utterly impossible by any standard. Although the Azure King did not understand what was happening or how Cain had achieved such incredible power, one thing was clear in his mind: he could not allow the boy to live! Burning with killing intent, the Azure King''s eyes glowed with golden light. He was ready to slay Cain, but first, he would end the life of the young man''s assistant. Unfortunately for the Azure King, just as he turned his attention back to Krane, he saw the middle-aged man merge into a small tree before his presence vanished. Chapter 383 From energy to matter "Wood Law Teleportation! Dammit!" The shock of Cain''s power distracted the Azure King long enough for Krane to use his trump card, merging into one of the trees and teleporting using the vegetal life of the area. Krane was no coward, but he understood that the only outcome of staying behind would be his death. So, he chose to flee and seek help, a wise decision that Cain would have completely supported. Although the Azure King was annoyed, there was no fear in his eyes regarding the fact that the middle-aged man could reveal what had happened here, as if he knew that no information could escape his domain. ''It will take time to find him. First, I will kill the boy, and then I will take care of the witnesses.'' The Azure King managed to calm his mind as he charged his sword with Azure Lightning. Cain''s willpower was surprising, but even an Ego Wave at the Third Realm was insufficient to bridge the gap between their powers. Cain''s Ego Wave was dozens of times stronger than before, but using it to enhance his Astral Wave would cause his body to explode from the excessive energy. Moreover, attacking by manipulating matter might be enough against an Apotheosis Realm Master but would not suffice against a Divine Ascension Cultivator. "Azure Lightning Tempest!" The Azure King summoned a storm of ethereal blue lightning bolts that struck from above, all aimed directly at Cain''s barrier. Cain''s eyes remained empty as he seemed not to notice the barrage of azure lightning bolts. He continued to stare at the corpse in his hands as the red force field emanating from him grew stronger and stronger. A frown formed on the Azure King''s face as he saw how the red Ego Wave became increasingly powerful, constantly reinforcing the shield. His golden Ego Wave burst with power, enhancing the strength of his spells and the speed at which the bolts were fired. Once the last layer of Astral Wave muscles had covered Cain''s body, he unleashed a red sonic scream that spread for hundreds of kilometers. Ordinary people immediately fainted and fell to the ground, as did Wave Warriors and Wave Champions. That sonic cry did not carry sound waves; instead, it was Cain''s Ego Wave mutated into a sonic attack. Those with weak willpower simply fainted as their minds attempted to protect them. However, the Wave Kings in the Azure Castle were not so fortunate, and all screamed in pain as they clutched their heads, feeling as if their skulls were being cracked open. Their willpower was strong enough to keep them conscious, but the clash left them severely wounded. The Azure King felt his mind trembling and blood leaking from his ears. Thanks to his cultivation, it only took a moment to regain control, but when his focus returned, utter dread filled him as the dark purple monster was right in front of him! Despite his appearance, the Azure King was an old monster that had lived for over a thousand years and had survived countless life-and-death scenarios. Yet, the golden light in his eyes quivered as he faced the red light in the monster''s eyes. There was no rational thought in those eyes, only a sea of rage and murderous intent that kept growing stronger and determined the Azure King as its target! The golden light in the Azure King''s eyes finally stabilized as he clenched his teeth and tightened his grip on his sword. He flashed back at a shocking speed, creating distance between him and Cain before swinging his sword. "Azure Rupture Shield!" The Azure King condensed his energy into the sword, causing a rupture in the very fabric of space. These cuts formed a net in front of him that should hold against any attack, damaging anything that came into contact with it. Using a defensive move against a seventeen-year-old felt humiliating, but the Azure King focused on his next move. ''The shield will buy me some time to strike back with strength.'' That thought was short-lived as the Azure King watched Cain''s dark purple arm pierce through the net. There were deep cuts in the Astral Wave muscles, but they managed to resist before landing squarely into the chest of the Divine Ascension Cultivator! Chapter 384 The power of the Laws "?AHHHHH!" The Azure King couldn''t suppress a cry of agony as Cain''s punch landed squarely on his chest with force surpassing a nuclear blast. Despite his incredible resilience from his cultivation stage and auxiliary techniques, the Azure King was still fundamentally an Essence Cultivator, and his body was not designed to endure a melee battle of this level. "CRACK!" Though the Azure Cosmic Net managed to diminish the kinetic force behind Cain''s fist, it still caused his ribs to crack, forcing the Azure King to spew blood as he hurtled uncontrollably across the sky. "?BOOMMM!"@@@@ Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire Before the Azure King could regain control of his body, an explosive sonic boom resounded, and in the next instant, the dark purple monster with red eyes appeared above him. ''What!?'' The Azure King couldn''t believe the speed of this monster. He barely had time to think before Cain clasped his hands together, forming a hammer-like shape, and struck his chest again. "?BOOOOMMMM!" The impact of Cain''s strike sent the Azure King crashing into the ground at such velocity that it generated a blast, destroying everything within several kilometers. Fortunately for the citizens of the Azure State, the battle had been pushed into the Cicada Forest, sparing thousands from becoming collateral damage. "?BOOOOMMMM!" Cain showed no concern for the Azure King''s stance and simply kicked the ground beneath his feet, shattering it as he shot into the sky at a shocking speed. Cain''s lunging speed was so immense that the Azure King could barely keep up with his eyes, but the man had not reached his level without facing physically stronger opponents in the past. "Infinity Blade Ballet!" The Azure King uttered those words as his body seemed to phase between flesh and lightning, allowing his reflexes to reach a shocking level. They were high enough to move to the side at the last second, dodging Cain''s lunge before sending a sword strike to the left side of the monster and sending this one flying away. Cain regained control of his body immediately and showed no concern for the scorched dark purple muscle left by that strike as he marched again toward the Azure King, this time with even greater speed. The Azure King saw the minor damage his attack caused and how new Astral Wave muscles replaced the wounded ones almost instantly, but he did not lose focus. He once again dodged the charge of the dark purple monster and struck with his sword. Cain hurtled through the air due to the lightning strike, but he simply ignored it, generating a new platform of solidified air particles, and flashed toward the Azure King again. There was a constant clash in the sky between a dark purple flash and a small azure figure. The Azure King constantly dodged the blows of Cain, and while he was doing minor damage to the mass of dark purple muscles, he knew that no matter how much energy Cain had, it could not be endless. In less than one second, Cain had marched toward the Azure King over ten thousand times but failed to land a single blow. Clearly, the combination of the Azure Thunder Domain and Infinity Blade Ballet allowed the Azure King''s power to evolve to a whole new level, capable of facing the dark purple monster. The power-up of the Azure King was a perfect example of the might that the Laws could allow you to achieve, granting the power to face opponents that were faster and stronger than you. As the battle carried on, the Azure King closed his eyes. That was not a display of arrogance or disdain toward his opponent, but the fact he was now focusing all his power on the next strike. Once again, Cain flashed toward the Azure King, and this one managed to dodge the blow, but this time, he did not respond with a simple strike from his sword. The Azure Lightning in the weapon exploded before being immediately compressed into the sword''s edge. "Azure Heart Detonation!" Chapter 385 The Flows evolution "Azure Heart Detonation!" The Azure King unleashed nearly a quarter of the energy in his Evolution Core in the next attack before using his Law to contain it and direct it into a single blast, focusing the destructive force solely on the intended target. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" From the Azure King''s sword, a cannon of azure lightning emerged with power that even the most potent nuclear weapons of the Old World would have had difficulty matching. Cain took the blast head-on, and his body was propelled into the ground at a shocking speed. Even after crashing, the attack did not lose its strength, pushing him deeper and deeper into the ground as it attempted to destroy his body and soul. It took around five seconds for the energy cannon to lose its momentum before finally dispersing, showing a hole in the ground that extended for nearly several kilometers, and everything around it was crystallized due to its immense power. The Azure King''s face was pale, and he had a hard time regulating his breathing as that last attack put his Sacred Organ under immense stress, but he still smiled as he saw the monster''s body in the hole. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire Cain''s armor of Astral Wave muscles had suffered immense damage, as the left side had been vaporized, and the damage was so much that it managed to reach his real body, destroying his left arm as well. However, despite the damage and pain of losing an extremity, Cain''s eyes showed nothing more than pure and chaotic wrath as his Ego Wave fused with the Astral Wave, regenerating the armor. The Azure King saw how the dark purple monster seemed to go back to his complete form but was not disheartened. He had managed to harm Cain''s body, which was not as easy to fix, so as long as he could carry on, he would be the winner. Of course, the Azure King stayed focused as the battle was far from over and prepared to receive the monster''s onslaught, but something odd happened. The sword strike unleashed a massive blast dozens of kilometers away from Cain, and that was just the beginning as he did the same with every single one of the heavenly body illusions falling from the sky. "BOOOOOMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOOMMMM!" "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!" The Azure King was stupefied as he saw his sword strikes landing everywhere but where they were supposed to, and he could not understand how a monster whose eyes were full of chaotic rage could perform such a display of supernatural technique. Cain showed nothing in reaction to the Azure King as he kept using the power of The Flow to deviate every single spell coming at him. In his current form, he could shift and counter more than just physical strikes; he could do the same with energy! That feat was enough to put The Flow in a classification above every single technique in Gaia, and who could say that was its final form? "BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!" Cain deviated the last sword strike away, and only then did his eyes focus again on the Azure King, making him tremble. The Azure King thought he had seen all Cain could unleash, but he just realized he was fighting a creature that grew more powerful as they fought! Cain bent his knees as he enhanced the strength in his legs, preparing to march forward, to which the Azure King responded by immediately reforming his sword in his hand and adopting the stance of Infinity Blade Ballet. The Azure King''s eyes widened as he saw the even higher speed that the dark purple monster could unleash, but he was able to dodge the punch aimed at his head and prepared to release a counter-strike with his sword bathed in lightning. However, just as the Azure King was about to wave his sword, his heart froze as he saw the dark purple monster focusing on him. The shocking part was that the monster had been looking at that point in space before he even reached it, essentially predicting where he would be before he even moved! Chapter 386 An old enemy Before the Azure King could even fire his strike, Cain pivoted his entire body. The dark purple monster used his revolving force to land a ferocious kick in the Azure King''s chest, sending him flying away while puking blood. The Azure King''s eyes widened as he felt not only his ribs shatter but also that the kick managed to collapse one of his lungs! It took all his strength to regain control of his body before Cain could unleash an onslaught that would end him. "Cosmic Lightning Mirage!" Just as Cain was about to reach the Azure King, the latter activated a new spell, merging into the azure lightning domain before hundreds of copies of him appeared in all directions.@@@@ Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw those copies, and not even his mighty Third Realm Ego Wave could perceive the real one. The hundreds of Azure Kings did not remain steady as they waved their swords, unleashing hundreds of sword strikes. Since the sword strikes came from every direction simultaneously, not even with the power of The Flow could Cain deviate their course, so he simply began to dodge them as his eyes went through the copies. Among those hundreds of copies was the real Azure King, and while the power of the dark purple monster terrified him, he was also confident in the power of his Cosmic Lightning Mirage since he had managed even to trick Gods with this spell. "?BOOM!" Cain flashed toward one of the incarnations, dodging the lightning sword strikes and blasting it to pieces before immediately flashing to another. Since it seemed he could not find the real one, he would shatter all of them! In theory, that was a good focus since it should take a lot of energy to reforge every single one of those incarnations, but there was one factor that the dark purple monster did not seem to take into consideration. The Azure King''s heart grew calm as he saw that behavior since he could always reform the incarnations as their energy would not fade from his lightning domain. Blast after blast landed on the Azure King, breaking his bones and perforating his organs. The damage was growing deadly, but the mighty Divine Ascension Cultivator could do nothing as the dark purple monster totally overpowered him. The difference between their power was not great in a battle in the sky, but in a melee battle in the sky, the Azure King was defenseless against the dark purple monster. It took less than ten seconds for the Azure King to become nothing more than a bloody pulp, and his life force was waning due to the severe damage to his vital organs. Cain''s rage and killing intent burst as he saw the enemy in that state, and he clasped his hands as he gathered all his strength in the next blow. The Azure King''s eyes still worked, and a sense of utter fear and dread filled his heart as he knew that the next attack would end his life! "?BOOOOMMMM!" A resounding blast echoed across the Cicada Forest, but it was not Cain''s fists landing on the Azure King''s head. Actually, it was the dark purple monster that was sent flying away, breaking the ground on his path for several kilometers before regaining control over his body. Cain''s eyes immediately focused on the one that saved the Azure King, and the killing intent in his eyes burst as he saw a flayed man with powerful Blood Energy coursing through his body. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire "Oh, it seems that even in that form, you are able to recognize me." The one who managed to send Cain flying away and save the Azure King was the Dark King, who nearly caused the fall of the Blood Sea. The Blood King! Chapter 387 Countering The Flow The Blood King''s eyes were calm as he stared at Cain. The fact that this young man, only seventeen years old, managed to achieve such incredible power from one moment to the next might be shocking for everybody, but not for him. When the Void King ordered him to end Cain''s life, he did not take the mission lightly. Although the Blood King might seem wild, there was no way someone could reach the peak of the underworld and take one of the ten thrones of The Organization without an incredibly powerful mind, intellect, and wisdom.@@@@ Using all the resources of The Organization at his disposal, the Blood King conducted deep research on Cain''s life. The first weeks of his life were a mystery due to the fact he was an orphan baby taken from a battlefield by his father. After that, Cain''s life was very average, even mediocre. While he was hardworking, he lacked any talent, so he was bullied in school. However, everything changed after a special day in the forest near the slums of his original home. Cain had taken the life of a schoolmate who had attempted to kill him, and from that day on, he underwent a massive change in his destiny. Not only did he awaken a Lineage, but his entire aura and nature experienced an impressive boost as if he was someone new, or at least older. The more the Blood King investigated, the more he came to the conclusion that Cain Laurifer was just like him. "I haven''t met a fellow Rebirther in a very long time. I wonder if you would like to tell me your name since I would like to know the person I am going to kill." The Azure King could not hide his shock when he heard the term Rebirther. They were individuals who had honed unique and incredibly powerful abilities that allowed them to restart their lives from a young age while retaining their insight about their cultivation path. Of course, such a technique was not flawless and had several shortcomings, but that was something people of such low power and status as the Azure King would not know. As for Cain, those words meant nothing to him, and the only thought in his mind was to kill that man covered in blood energy. "ROOOOOOAAAAARRRRRR!" Cain immediately stood up, but his chest had a deep indentation. A single blow from the Blood King did nearly as much damage as the most potent strike from the Azure King, making clear just how massive the difference between their powers was. Since that was the case, Cain should solely focus on the Blood King, or else he might lose his life, but that rational thinking did not enter his mind, and the only train of thought right now was to kill the Azure King before this one could reach the Azure State. The dark purple monster flashed again toward the Azure King, but the Blood King intercepted his path just like before. Yet, things were different this time. Cain''s eyes glowed with a meaningful light as he used The Flow to predict the attack of the Blood King and dodge it before sending a blow of his own. The Blood King''s eyes narrowed as he saw how Cain dodged his right hook before countering it with a kick to his face. However, unlike the Azure King, who was powerless before those types of counters, the Blood King reinforced his right hand with Blood Energy, allowing him to catch the leg before sending a new blow to the dark purple monster''s chest. Cain''s figure once again plummeted into the ground, and that blow to the chest not only managed to damage his Astral Wave muscles but generated a shock wave that reached his real body! "Hmph, do you really think that technique that could predict movements by perceiving the movement of muscles, tendons, and energy pools was unstoppable?" Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire There was a cold light in the Blood King''s eyes as he uttered those words. He still remembered how that technique was the one that helped Cain win the Blood Champion Tournament, which was the first step in the collapse of his plans for the Blood Sea. "You cannot counter a strike when you are sending one, and I can simply use my greater power and technique to stop your limbs and send my own blow." Although the Blood King made it sound easy, the truth was that the level of skill and constitution needed to perform that feat was something even Titans and Gods would find hard to master. Cain did not care about the words of the Blood King, but all of a sudden, his eyes widened as he saw a flash of light in the distance. Chapter 388 Set your will ablaze (I) "?BOOM!" Cain''s eyes widened as he saw the blast of light, followed by a massive explosion. His Ego Wave was strong enough to monitor the Azure State, and his entire body began to tremble as he realized that every life he had saved by making an impossible choice was now gone, erased from the face of the world. However, things were far from ending as the Azure King immediately flashed to the northwest of the Cicada Forest after taking care of the witnesses in the Azure State. Cain immediately focused his Ego Wave on that place and perceived an artificial mountain and, deep beneath it, a laboratory. That was where the people of the Azure Royal Family took children like Azlan to undergo all sorts of experiments. "?AHHHHHHHH!" Another roar of rage and willpower emerged from the dark purple monster as his killing intent toward the Azure King exploded, and he flashed toward him with all his power. "Hmph, are you forgetting about me!?" Unfortunately for Cain, before he could reach the Azure King, the Blood King appeared before him and sent a ferocious kick that pulled him back. Cain''s eyes, overwhelmed with killing intent, focused on the Blood King, and a meaningful light appeared in them. "As I assumed. Your mind and soul might be full of chaotic rage, severing rational thought, but that doesn''t affect your battle awareness. That is why you can use unique techniques and even perform battle schemes." Unlike the Azure King, who could not figure out the key behind Cain''s battle style during their entire fight, it only took a few short exchanges for the Blood King to decipher everything. Clearly, it was not just their raw power that put the Blood King and Azure King in different leagues. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire Clearly, the Blood King had spent a long time preparing to counter the technique that frustrated his plans in the Blood Sea. "?BOOM!" A massive shock wave echoed across the sky, unleashing gales stronger than those of a nuclear weapon, as the dark purple monster landed a hook on the Blood King''s jaw. However, the Blood King was able to twist his neck to reduce the damage his body took before sending a knee strike right into Cain''s abdomen. Cain''s body contorted due to the damage it took, but he stood firm as he connected an elbow strike on the Blood King''s chin. The fight carried on like that, with both firing punches, kicks, elbows, and knee strikes, landing blows with the power of nuclear weapons. Anyone seeing their battle from a distance would realize that both used a very similar martial style, and that was because they were using the Bloodflow Fury, a battle style honed by the Patriarch of the Blood Sea, capable of incredible might. Cain''s eyes burned with more and more red light as a sense of urgency appeared in them. He needed to push away the Blood King if he wanted any chance of stopping the Azure King. The Blood King seemed to notice the urgency in the dark purple humanoid''s eyes, which only made his smile grow even more sinister. He suddenly dodged one of Cain''s blows and managed to rotate around him, appearing on his back before grabbing him. Cain''s eyes widened as he felt the strong hug from the Blood King and used all his strength to try to break out, but it was not so simple. "Hahaha, you will miss the show if you keep struggling." Cain''s eyes widened as he heard the voice of the Blood King, and his eyes turned to the distance as a new flash of light appeared along with an explosion, as the artificial mountain and everything beneath it vaporized from the world. The explosion was deafening, but to Cain, all he could hear was silence as he realized what that explosion meant. All the children were gone. The Azure King got rid of them to erase any evidence of his involvement with The Organization. Apex could see all that happened, and while many thoughts were crossing his mind right now, all that took a second place as he turned to the gate and saw the crack growing larger, reaching a full centimeter! Chapter 389 Set your will ablaze (II) A centimeter might not seem much, but a small crack in the right place could tear a dam down, unleashing an unstoppable wave of destruction. "?AHHHHHHHHHH!" Cain unleashed a new willpower scream, and this time, the Blood King could not help but frown since even he felt pain in his head. However, that was not the most critical part, as he saw how the muscles were beginning to tremble, and he immediately flashed away. "BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire The Blood King moved just in time to avoid the red force field that emerged from Cain''s body, one that was even stronger than the one unleashed at the beginning of the battle against the Azure King. In the distance, the Azure King had fallen to the ground as the sonic scream made him black out for an instant. Had he been closer, the damage he would have taken could have been much worse. Suddenly, the Azure King''s eyes widened as he turned to the Azure Castle, and shock appeared in his eyes as all the Wave Kings had fallen to the ground with their eyes open, but there was no longer light in them. The Azure Royal Family''s Wave Kings had managed to endure the initial sonic attacks of the dark purple monster, but this one was too strong and proved deadly for them. While their hearts still worked, their Ego Waves had shattered into pieces, destroying their minds. ''Killing Wave Kings thousands of kilometers away with a sonic attack. That is the realm of Titans and Gods!'' As that thought crossed the Azure King''s mind, he could not help but tremble as two red eyes focused on him. "Azure King. Burn." ''Even now that he is speaking, I can sense his intelligence and ego growing weaker. Whatever power he uses, it is too much for his ego and willpower to endure for much longer.'' If Apex could hear the thought of the Blood King, he would have to complement the battle awareness of the man since this one was right. Cain''s Alter Ego kept taking the power emerging from the left crack in the gate, but it could not endure for long. The golden humanoid knew he had to do something to stop it, but it was not so simple. The first time he managed to push back the power of the Red King was because Cain instinctively rejected it, and the crack was much smaller, but things were different now. Cain was lost in the sea of rage and killing intent, and he was willing to burn his very soul and will in order to kill the enemy. Losing himself in that wrath was the only way his young mind could cope with what he was forced to do to stop the revolving sphere of energy from killing millions. The dark purple monster stared at the Blood King for a moment as his killing intent burst, igniting the red light from his eyes ablaze! "Human. Burn." For the first time since the battle started, actual dread appeared in the Blood King''s face as he saw Cain''s willpower set ablaze. However, he did not have time to think since the monster immediately appeared before him, sending a ferocious punch toward his face. That strike was nearly three times stronger than the attack Cain had unleashed before, but that was just the beginning since his new Ego Wave allowed him to concentrate all that power to a granular level, transforming a single punch into a kinetic cannon whose full strength was compressed into a radius of less than fifteen centimeters! "BOOOMMMMMMMM!" An explosion appeared in the sky, but this one was different from the others since cracks emerged around it. There was no physical structure around the strike, so it did not make sense for cracks to appear. If a Titan or Gods were to see that, even they would have adopted a solemn expression and could not hide the fear in their hearts since that strike had the power to break space! Put in simple terms, that blow had so much power that the physical plane of Aether could not fully endure it! Chapter 390 Embracing Order (I) The Blood King was sent flying away while blood leaked from his mouth. He was lucky that was all the damage he took since, had he not made his Blood Energy explode and put his arms up for defense, the injuries would have been much worse. ''What the hell? His power rose again, and this time, reached the level of a True Titan!'' The Blood King could not hide his shock as he realized that Cain''s physical might manage to reach the true peak of Aether, but he did not have time to wonder about it as he saw how space above him broke to pieces and a figure emerged from it. ''Force Teleportation!'' The shock in the Blood King only kept growing as the dark purple monster managed to teleport above him and then sent a ferocious downward kick. He managed to use his arm again to block the kick but felt his bones cracking under the strike as his inner organs trembled, and he plummeted to the ground. "?BOOOOMMMM!" Cain''s flaming eyes focused on the crater that made everything tremble and the earth split apart before flashing down. This time, he did not teleport as he intended to enhance his momentum to crash into the ground with more power than an H-Bomb could trigger! "Do not look down on a King!" However, before Cain could reach the ground, he heard that shout full of rage as a pillar of golden force emerged, along with a draconic figure bathed in blood lightning.@@@@ The dark purple monster and the humanoid blood dragon clashed in the sky, generating cracks in space for thousands of meters, splitting apart everything in their range. "BOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" The kinetic blast made the earth and sky tremble as both figures flashed in opposite directions before regaining control over their bodies nearly at the same time. The voice of the Blood King echoed as the energy cannon sent the dark purple humanoid into the sky at a shocking speed. While the dark purple muscles managed to endure, the power still reached Cain''s true body and burned his skin and muscles. Normally, that would have put the young man in agonizing pain, but right now, Cain''s mind could only process rage, so as he regained control over his body, he focused on the Blood King and flashed to him as the muscles of Astra Wave re-forged. The Blood King''s breathing was rough as the headache only kept worsening since his Ego Eternal Matrix was having difficulty enduring the pressure and could not stabilize. Still, he clenched his teeth and flashed toward the dark purple monster. The clash between the dark purple monster and the humanoid blood dragon carried on in the sky, shattering space and unleashing so much energy that a cataclysmic storm formed above them, filling the surroundings with lightning bolts of immense power. It was a truly fantastic fight, one whose sight could inspire legends for thousands of years, and while the Blood King was formidable, the dark purple monster just kept growing stronger as if the Ego Wave he unleashed had no limit at all. Such a sight would make one think that Cain would be the victor, but if you could see inside his soul sea, you would notice how the Alter Ego was about to shatter due to the torrent of energy emerging from the gate and coursing through it. Apex clenched his fists as he saw all that, and he knew it was just a matter of time before Cain''s willpower and ego would collapse. As he saw the end coming near, a decisive light appeared in the golden humanoid. "Cain, hear my voice." Apex''s voice reached every corner of the soul sea, but there was no response. However, he did not worry since he knew the boy would hear it. "There is a path you can take, a path where the pain you feel right now will never again harm you, a path where there is only determination and focus, a path where everything will follow your might." Apex''s voice froze for a moment as he spoke, but the determination in his eyes only grew as he carried on. "I am talking about the Path of Order!" Chapter 391 Embracing Order (II) "I am talking about the Path of Order!" Those words had a fundamental effect on Cain''s soul sea. The burst of energy coming from the left side of the gate trembled as it could no longer forcefully flood into Cain''s soul sea. In the other world, Cain''s eyes trembled for a moment, and the wild rage and wrath burning in his eyes began to wane. Luckily, that change did not affect his battle awareness, and he kept fighting against the blood humanoid dragon with all his power. The Blood King''s battle awareness was not any less impressive than Cain''s, and he would have normally detected that change. However, right now, he felt like his mind would split apart due to the immense burden on his Ego Eternal Matrix, so he could only focus on the fight against the dark purple monster. Apex saw his voice''s effect on Cain, and a complicated expression appeared as he saw how ready the young boy was to accept the Path of Order. But he could not give himself the luxury of thinking about the future when Cain''s mind was about to collapse, so he carried on. "The Path of Order is a way to see not only yourself but the world around you. You are now the center of all things, the core of causality, the master of destiny, and the overlord of every emotion your heart and soul can ignite." Once again, the tremor of Cain''s soul sea became even more powerful, and the resilience against the energy coming from the massive gate grew more potent. The golden humanoid showed a smile and immediately began to interact with the gate, trying to use its power to stop the flow of energy coming from it. Now that Cain was finally putting up resistance, Apex could push back against the torrent of energy full of chaotic emotions. "Others might need decades, centuries, or even millennia to embrace Order, but you are different. Order has been in your soul from the moment you were born, and the only thing you need to harness its power is to remember your past life. Cain''s entire body trembled for a second as the madness and rage in his eyes faded, replaced by clarity and consciousness. A flash of confusion appeared in those eyes, but it immediately faded as he focused on the blood-humanoid dragon before flashing toward it with all his power. The Blood King was shocked to see the marked change in Cain''s eyes and how all notions of wrath and rage faded, only to be replaced by what he could only describe as a sense of absolute certainty. However, he did not have time to think about it as Cain flashed toward him with all his power, reigniting their cataclysmic battle. Although Cain unleashed a wild barrage against the Blood King, not unlike his previous maddened and chaotic state, the truth was that he was in complete control of his mind and was communicating with Apex as the battle carried on. "Apex, what is happening? Why has no one from the capital come despite the might of this battle?" There were hundreds, if not thousands, of questions in Cain''s mind, but the main concern was to survive this ordeal. He felt how his mind and body had reached what could only be described as a godly level, but there was one fatal problem. Before, everything had been like a dream, and he only knew that a new power had flooded his soul, granting him the might to nearly kill the Azure King and face the Blood King. But once he regained consciousness, the source of energy that kept his mind and body at that level began to fade. He felt how his Astral Wave muscles began to lose their endurance and his speed of thought and cognitive abilities waning with every second. While he could now face the blood dragon humanoid, he would return to being a simple Wave Champion in less than five minutes. Not to mention that, while it may not look that way on the outside, his actual body had suffered what could only be described as near-fatal damage. If Cain wanted to survive, he had to act fast, or everything would be lost. Chapter 392 Embracing Order (III) If Cain wanted to survive, he had to be fast, or everything would be lost. The danger he faced right now was even greater than when the High Blood Elder aimed to take his life. Apex couldn''t help but narrow his eyes as he realized the focus and calm that Cain projected, even as his life was on the line. Even for someone like the System Spirit, the effect of the Path of Order on a life form was transcendental. However, the golden humanoid understood the severity of the situation and immediately offered a reply to Cain. He had also noticed the oddness of the situation since, despite the distance to the Silver City, hundreds of explosions with the power of H-Bombs should not go unnoticed. "I have surveyed the surroundings and transmissions using the [Scan Force Field], and I can only assume we are inside some concealment force field. It must be capable of covering the Azure State and the Cicada Forest around it, projecting an illusion to the outside world that everything is fine. If my conjecture is right, its name should be Black Box, which the Blood King commanded the Azure King to reinforce." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard those words, but he did not lose focus on the battle. He dodged one of the blows from the Blood King before striking with his left elbow''s bone spike, piercing it into the enemy''s shoulder, just to send a headbutt the next second. The Blood King''s eyes trembled as the head strike made the pain in his mind even greater, sending him crashing into the ground. Cain immediately flashed toward the Blood King, increasing the momentum of his body as his right knee aimed forward, intending to impale the blood humanoid dragon with the bone spike in it. At the same time, he carried on with his conversation with Apex. "That concealment force field. It must be the reason there were no Apotheosis Realm Masters in the Azure Castle." Cain''s train of thought paused for an instant as a flash of coldness appeared in his eyes. "I was the target of the Black Box." There was no way that over a dozen Apotheosis Realm Masters would have been ready to perform that formation spell at all times, so they should have arranged it not too long before Cain''s arrival. They knew he would come and had the spell in place to silently kill him, making sure no one on the outside would find out or could come to save him. As he flashed forward, Cain''s eyes glowed with resolution, meeting the Blood King''s punch with his own. It was not the first time that the Blood King''s fist had clashed with one of Cain''s, but a sense of shock assaulted him as, instead of an overwhelming force, he saw how most of Cain''s Astral Wave muscles spread toward him. Before the Blood King could react, the Astral Wave muscles had already encompassed his entire body, trapping him inside a dark purple sphere. Cain had lost nearly all his Astral Wave''s muscles, but his eyes only glowed with resolution as he sent the sphere into the sky before spreading his Ego Wave into the surroundings. "?AHHHHHHH!" Along with that roar, Cain''s willpower raised hundreds of mountains from the ground before sending them toward the dark purple sphere in the sky. It only took him five seconds to form what could only be described as an artificial moon! "RUMBLE!!!" Despite the majesty of the structure, it took less than one second for it to start trembling as cracks formed all over it and bursts of blood energy emerged. Clearly, the Blood King would not just let Cain trap him. Cain had used most of the power he had left, forming that cage, and in his current condition, he would have a hard time facing the Azure King, much less a Dark King of The Organization. He knew the artificial moon would not hold the Blood King long, but he only needed a little time. Immediately after sealing the Blood King, Cain turned toward the Azure State and flashed to this one at full speed. He could no longer break space and forcefully teleport, but it did not matter as the distance to the Azure State was short. It took but a second for Cain to reach the Azure State and even less for him to appear above the Azure Castle. He immediately located the secret dimension that held the clandestine prison of the Azure Royal Family, and the resolution of his eyes grew stronger. Chapter 393 The Scarlet King Although Cain had lost most of his power by this point, he was still strong enough to forcefully break into the secret dimension, so he just flashed forward, shattering the ground to pieces, and appeared in front of the massive metallic gate. "?BOOM!" Cain could use the system to try and hack the gate''s formation, but he did not have time for that, so he just clenched his fists and punched forward, battering the gate open and flashing to the other extreme of the clandestine prison. The first time Cain appeared in this place, his mind immediately went to the people in those cages. He now had the power to break them open, but that would endanger his life, so the calculation did not even compute in his mind. "?BOOM!" With another punch, Cain shattered the metal gate at the other end of the clandestine prison, giving him access to the hole that led to the Sacred Vault of the Azure Royal Family. The alarm had triggered the metal gates that sealed the way, but Cain just carried on with his path of destruction, breaking everything apart. It took but a moment for Cain to reach the Sacred Vault of the Azure Royal Family, and his eyes immediately went to the storage dimension of the Azure King. There was no one in this place but the Early Wave Champion that Cain had hypnotized. Cain had commanded the man to kill himself after thirty minutes, but this one was still alive. It was not that the man had managed to resist the compulsion but the fact that everything that happened since Cain left this place had transpired in less than thirty minutes! Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire For Cain, the man''s life had no importance, and he just focused on the storage dimension. His Ego Wave had yet to lose the power to manipulate matter. Still, if he were to use it to open the storage dimension with a teleportation formation inside, there was a good chance that the dimension would collapse. "Apex!" "?Yes!" Since just forcing his way into the storage dimension was not wise, Cain had to hack the formation matrix to gain access to it, and for that, he needed the power of the [A.I. Chip Module]. Apex was ready and immediately used the full power of the Absolute Life Form System to hack into the storage dimension. The Blood King shouted as he flashed toward Cain at full speed, shortening the distance in a fraction of a second. Cain saw the blood humanoid dragon appear behind him and immediately turned around, using his power to defend against the attack. He had lost most of his power, so the palm strike from the Blood King managed to reach his real body beyond the small layer of Astral Wave muscles. Cain''s eyes widened as he felt a force reach his heart and was about to shatter it, but even in that situation, he did not lose focus. He gathered the last of his Ego Wave in his right hand and generated a cannon of kinetic energy that sent the Blood King into the sky and pushed his body strength into the intercontinental teleportation formation. The Blood King immediately regained control over his body. Still, just as he intended to flash toward Cain and finish the job, this one vanished in the light of the intercontinental teleportation formation. However, while Cain''s body vanished, a small sphere of re Ego Wave remained behind, only to explode the next second, unleashing a sonic wave that pierced out of the dimension and spread across the entire Azure State and its surroundings. "I WILL RETURN, AND WHEN I DO, YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU HOLD DEAR WILL BURN. I SWEAR IT ON MY NAME AS THE SCARLET KING!" Cain''s previous sonic attack had knocked out or killed most of the people, leaving only a very few conscious to hear his message, but it did not matter since they were the ones for whom it was intended. The Azure King and the Apotheosis Realm Masters that put the Black Box in place heard those words clearly, and a sense of utter dread filled their souls as the name Scarlet King was branded in their minds. The Blood King also heard it, but unlike the others, the only sentiment in his heart was rage, pure and unrestrained. He wanted to unleash a rampage that would burn everything, but before he could do that, his eyes narrowed as he looked to the sky and felt the disturbance in space. The Black Box was impressive, but it was not flawless. The battle between Cain and the Blood King pushed it to the limit, and the triggering of an intercontinental teleportation formation was the straw that broke the camel''s back. "DAMMIT!" The Blood King shouted before using a space ring on his hand that covered his figure and shadows, vanishing from the place. --- End of Book 5 - The Awakening of a new king. Chapter 394 9X9 Ego Destruction Tribulation Book 6 - In the skin of the enemy. --- In the sky, a man with short black hair and blue eyes gazed into the distance at an extensive mountain range, and he was not alone. By his side stood a bald man in a golden robe. Both of them were powerful, with the first being at the peak of the food chain in the entire world. They watched the storm of multicolored flames forming in the sky in solemn silence. "Amazing. It has reached 81 kilometers. A true 9X9 Ego Destruction Tribulation."@@@@ Luther''s face could not hide his awe and admiration as he observed the multicolored flames in the sky. There was also a sense of dread since he knew that if he were to get close to those flames, his mind would shatter in a matter of seconds. "That boy has always been rash, but this is over the top. He should have prepared for a little more time." The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes were sharp as he gazed at the multicolored flame in the sky. While he could resist it, that was because his willpower had already surpassed the peak of the Third Realm, while the man at the mountain peak was still in the Second Realm. "The danger of a 9X9 Ego Destruction Tribulation is something even the First Lightning Collapsing Pillar took two years to prepare for." Luther heard the words of the Collapsing Lightning Duke and could not help but sigh. "There is nothing we could have done. After finding out about the military criminal''s report, he already decided his path, and not even Your Highness could convince him otherwise." The Collapsing Lightning Duke glanced at Luther before staring at the mountain on which the man had decided to take his tribulation. It was none other than Blade Mountain. "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" Before the duo could say another word, a torrent of multicolored flames fell from the firestorm in the sky with the momentum and power of lightning, drowning the man''s figure and Blade Mountain''s peak. Despite the flames having a power capable of drawing caution from even Titans and Gods, there was no damage whatsoever to the ground or earth. The reason for that was that the flames did not target the body but the mind and ego, with a power capable of shattering the very essence of oneself. The blue force field was so potent that it could alter matter, meaning that the person at the mountain''s peak had reached the Third Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, Mind Over Matter! The man stood up and clenched his fists before staring at the Collapsing Lightning Duke. "?SHHHHHH!" At an overwhelming speed, the man flashed toward the Collapsing Lightning Duke, appearing in front of him before coalescing all the power of his body and mind into his right fist. "BOOOOOMMMMMM!" A deafening shock wave appeared in the sky as the man fired his fist, which landed straight in the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s palm. The Collapsing Lightning Duke smiled as he felt the fist''s power and how it carried a rotational force that seemed to want to destroy the bones and muscles inside his right arm. As he saw the eyes of the man that attacked and noticed how there was a tiny blue ember at their center, his smile only widened. The one that attacked was none other than Zarak, and after the clash, he pulled his arm back and stared straight into the eyes of the Collapsing Lightning Duke with pure and unrestrained killing intent. The Collapsing Lightning Duke focused on Zarak''s eyes, and after a moment, a serious expression appeared on his face as he nodded. "Complete your first tribulation of the Apotheosis Realm with a flawless mark, and I will give you your chance to kill the Azure King." Zarak stared at the Collapsing Lightning Duke for a moment before nodding, turning around, and vanishing in the distance. Luther saw Zarak vanish in the distance before turning toward the Collapsing Lightning Duke. "My Lord, killing the Azure King would incite the wrath of the Imperial Court." "Hmph, so what if they grow furious? If they think that we will not do anything after they attack one of our brothers, then they are sorely mistaken." The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes brimmed with killing intent as a fierce expression appeared on his face as he looked toward the Prometheus Sector. Chapter 395 Righteous wrath "AZURE FAMILY!" A young woman stood in the center of a storm atop a massive sea of blood. Her face was extraordinarily beautiful, but right now, it twisted due to the immense wrath in her heart. Shura''s eyes burned with killing intent as torrents of Blood Energy coursed through her body, pushing her flesh, blood, and energy to the next level. She was currently in the midst of her evolution to the Wave King Realm, and the storm of blood around her was a phenomenon due to the response of the Law of Blood to her evolution. In the distance, the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 stared at the woman with a complicated expression. They couldn''t help but worry as she didn''t hide her desire to kill one of the families that carried the bloodline of a former emperor. Unfortunately for the duo, they could do nothing about it since Shura had experienced a transcendental change over the last couple of months. At first, it started slowly, but it didn''t take long for everybody to notice the metamorphosis in the young woman. Shura''s entire body, Sacred Organs, and energy pool had experienced an incredible transformation, with her talent skyrocketing along with her battle power. Not only did her Essence Wave experience a qualitative change, but her Lineage also evolved to the point that it was even more pure than the Blood Duke''s. That was not all; she also experienced what could only be described as a godly enhancement in one of the most critical aspects of the Essence Evolution Path of Power: the perception of the Laws. The Law of Blood had enhanced her body to the point of runes appearing on her bones, a feat that even Apotheosis Realm Masters would have difficulty achieving. No matter how much effort the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 put into finding the cause, it was futile. How could they have known that the vessel that the Blood Astral Beast created inside Shura''s body to help its reincarnation was reabsorbed by the woman''s body due to the lack of a soul? In the end, the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 could only take it as a divine stroke of luck and put their total effort and resources of the Blood Sea at Shura''s disposal to help her grow stronger.@@@@ Due to her current talent and power, the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 could no longer control Shura, but the duo did not think that was a problem until now since it was clear that the woman would not rest until drowning the entire Azure State in blood. "What should we do?" The Blood Duke spoke as he observed Shura''s state and sensed the killing intent in her heart. The Patriarch focused on Jonathan and saw how committed the man remained, clearly not intending to stop his actions. After a few seconds, a smile appeared on the Patriarch''s face. "Jonathan spread out the new executive command. Members of the Aegon Family will no longer touch any member of the Azure Family in the Prometheus Sector." Jonathan was surprised when he heard that, and just as a flash of irritation appeared in his eyes, the Patriarch spoke again. "However, they must also kill all members of the Azure Family outside the Prometheus Sector. Of course, the weak and the children are exempt from the killing list." Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire The Patriarch of the Aegon Family''s smile turned cold and murderous as he uttered those words. He did not have the time to worry about the Imperial Court with The Organization on his back, but that did not mean he would just let the Azure Family go untouched. "My Lord?" Jonathan was shocked by that order, but he saw how the Patriarch only shrugged his shoulders. "They will not do anything if I act outside the Prometheus Sector. They might get angry, but the Golden Emperor will not bother with us." Jonathan showed a smile full of killing intent as he intended to lead the killings, but he was not so lucky. "You will not go killing. I need you for something else. The boy''s fate is unknown, but no matter what, I want my daughter''s corpse back. You will form a team and search for it. I don''t care how much it costs or how hard you must work; bring her back!" The Patriarch''s eyes were resolute, and Jonathan immediately nodded as he would put his soul and heart into it. Chapter 396 Kain A young man was running across a forest. There was blood all over his body, and he was missing his right arm. His face was pale, and he was doing all in his power to hide his aura. He looked into the distance and could only see trees, making a sense of rage and frustration fill his heart as he continued walking forward until he reached a large mountain. The young man silently entered one of the caverns. "?BOOOM!" Unfortunately for the young boy, before he could even catch his breath, the cavern he attempted to hide was blown to pieces, with him landing in the distance. It took all his strength to stand up, but he was barely able to rise before puking a mouthful of blood. "I must admit, you surely are resilient to have endured for so long, but this is the end of the road, boy." Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire The young man raised his eyes from the ground and saw three figures in the sky. They were all members of the Inferno Daemon Race, with the one at the lead holding a Hell Clan and the other two the Abyssal Clan.@@@@ This was not a fight between races since the young man on the ground was also a member of the Inferno Daemon Race, in fact, part of the Hell Clan. "Zarius, you traitor!" The young man shouted at one of the members of the Abyssal Clan in the back, but this one only showed a mocking smile. "Please, Lord Kain, don''t get mad at me. I am just taking the smart path." "Hmph, who would have thought that a member of the Abyssal Clan would have so little honor." The member of the Hell Clan shouted as he unleashed his Ego Wave in all directions, but he found nothing other than the bloody corpse. He could not understand why someone would send a corpse through what he could only describe as the most extraordinary teleportation formation he had seen in his life. "Orphin, should we check the corpse? It might have something of value." Orphin, the member of the Hell Clan, heard his friend utter those words and thought for a moment before staring at Zarius. "Zarius, pick up the corpse and inspect it." Zarius frowned as he heard that command, but there was nothing he could do but obey the duo, and he walked toward the bloody corpse. The blood did not matter to him as greed appeared in his heart. "Oh, members of the Inferno Daemon Race. Am I in Atlas?" Just as Zarius was about to put his hand over the bloody corpse, he and the other two in the sky heard a voice in their minds. Not only were they shocked by realizing that someone managed to reach into their minds, but terror appeared the next second as they lost control over their bodies! "What is happening?" Orphin shouted with terror. He could still speak, but someone had taken control of their minds, bodies, and energy. Although the man knew of Hypnosis Masters, he had never faced something like this. The Wave King from the Hell Clan looked around, trying to find the culprit, as did the other two, but the only thing they could see was Kain and the bloody corpse. ''Wait?'' Orphin''s eyes widened as he focused on the bloody corpse, and the next second, the voice returned. "Hahaha, not bad. That was fast. Yes, I am the one in control right now. You can refer to me as the Scarlet King." Chapter 397 Gluttonys Eye "Hahaha, not bad. That was fast. Yes, I am the one in control right now. You can refer to me as the Scarlet King."@@@@ There was terror in the trio''s eyes. They could think but could not act or do anything other than what the Scarlet King allowed. Zarius saw with dread how his body moved without his control and took the bloody body in his hand, raising it from the ground. There was no skin on the body, as it seemed all was burned, and a red mask hindered their view of the man''s face, but they could clearly see his eyes glowing with red light. "Who among you is the one with the highest status?" When the trio heard that question, a single thought crossed their minds. The Scarlet King might want to make a deal with the one with the highest background, so it was in their best interest to name themselves. Unfortunately, the power invading their minds forced them to act based on instinct, erasing any form of deception, and the trio immediately pointed their fingers at the dying young man in the distance. "Oh, interesting." Zarius''s body once again moved on its own, bringing the Scarlet King to the bloody young man. He was not alone since Orphin and the other Wave King also began to move, with the duo attacking the mountain with all their power, wrecking it to pieces. While it was the way back, it was also a gate for the Blood King or Azure Family to come through. Right now, the Scarlet King was in no condition to fight powerful enemies, so it was best to destroy this end of the intercontinental teleportation formation. Kain was still conscious and heard the duo approaching. His body was already shutting down, but he wanted to endure so he could see how that ominous entity killed the trio. He used all his strength to raise his eyes, looking straight into the eyes of the Scarlet King. "Every organ in your body is shutting down, and you are about to die." Kain attempted to speak, but only blood came out. "Your trachea and esophagus are gone. Don''t worry; we can speak through our thoughts." As soon as they finished their pact, the red helmet covering the Scarlet King''s head split in the middle, revealing a third eye with sharp teeth instead of eyelids. "Gluttony''s Eye." The Scarlet King''s voice seemed to resonate in Kain''s eyes as tendrils emerged from the third eye, piercing into his brain. A sense of immense agony assaulted Kain, but he clenched his teeth and did not fight back, allowing the tendrils to do their mission. The red light in the Scarlet King''s eyes glowed with more and more power as he pushed himself to the limit. Gluttony''s Eye was a unique skill that the Scarlet King had learned during his travel through the teleportation formation. How he learned it was similar to how he mastered The Flow; it emerged from his past life''s memories. It took all the Scarlet King''s effort and concentration, but in the end, he extracted the sky-blue electromagnetic force field from Kain''s brain, his soul. The red tendrils brought Kain''s soul into the third eye, where this one began to consume it ravenously, and immediately, a stream of information flooded the Scarlet King''s mind as he learned everything from the young man. ''His name was Kain. Hahaha, what a small world.'' The Scarlet King silently laughed at the similarity between his and the young Inferno Daemon''s name but did not overthink it as he assimilated all. Luckily for him, Kain was young, so there was not too much information, and he could incorporate all those memories in less than an hour. After that was over, the Scarlet King turned to the mountain and, seeing the level of destruction in it and being sure that it could not work anymore, he silently nodded before sending another command to Orphin and the Wave King of the Abyssal Clan. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire "Collect as many King Beasts as possible in an hour and bring them to me. Prefer those with a high level of blood vitality." After that command, the duo did not say a word and followed the command, vanishing into the forest. After that, Zarius stomped on the ground, forming a large basin and putting the bloody body of the Scarlet King in it. Chapter 398 Kronos Continent Zarius did not wait a second before waving his hand, filling the basin with all the resources in his space ring. The Scarlet King sent those he could not directly consume into the [Devourer Dimension] before manipulating the others like wave crystals with his Ego Wave. After emptying every resource and treasure he had spent his life collecting, Zarius''s eyes twitched as he cut his forearms, making streams of his blood fill the basin. His body only had a few liters of blood, but as it fell into the basin, he consumed his energy and life force to make more, generating a constant stream that filled the basin in less than thirty minutes. Zarius fell to the ground beside the basin, and his heartbeat and vital signs were weak. His vitality as a Wave King kept him alive, but his life force had suffered dramatically due to the depletion of his blood. Shortly after that, Orphin and the Abyssal Clan''s Wave King returned with the corpses of several King Beasts. The duo made holes in the beasts before draining their blood into the basin, only for the desiccated corpses to be embraced by a red force field and vanish the next second. The blood had not even filled the basin before it began to diminish at an alarming rate, and the duo went back to their mission, collecting more corpses of King Beasts and draining their blood into the basin. Zarius remained on the edge, vigilant to any newcomer that could stomp around. Days passed, and the basin continued draining and being refilled as its life force grew more and more powerful. Finally, after a month, Orphin and the other two Wave Kings froze and adopted a silent stance. The blood drained faster and faster until nothing remained, leaving only a young man with an extremely well-defined body and a red metallic mask covering his face. The Scarlet King''s eyes radiated with red light as he clenched his fist and assessed the state of his body and inner organs. Using the blood essence of over one thousand King Beasts, the Radiance of Life, and the energy and vitality granted by the [Gluttony Module], the Scarlet King was able to heal nearly all of his wounds. Still, one organ could not recover, at least not entirely. Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire According to calculations done through the A.I. Chip Module, after Vessel''s Ego Wave evolves to the Third Realm, it would take the Radiance of Life thirty years to heal the Sacred Organ completely.] For anyone else, the notion that only thirty years would be needed to heal the crippling injury of a Sacred Organ would be thrilling. But for the Scarlet King, it was unacceptable. He could not wait that long, and a flash of determination appeared in his eyes as he turned to Kain''s corpse. "Since the Astral Rebirth Path of Power is no longer useful to me, I might as well give it up and embrace my new identity to the fullest." There was no hesitation in the Scarlet King''s mind as he decided to give up on the Astral Rebirth Path of Power and embark on the Essence Evolution Path of Power. By the time his Astral Rebirth Heart fully healed, he would be fifty and could not just waste his potential waiting. So, he would instead embark on the Essence Evolution Path of Power. It might sound rushed since there was always the chance of some miracle drug that could assist him. Yet, he could not count on that since if such a thing existed, they were in the hands of great Titans, people that he could no longer interact with. In the beginning, when the Scarlet King saw the members of the Inferno Daemon Race, he thought he was in Atlas, the continent located north of Gaia. That was the best possible option since it meant he could just make his way back home, as the Atlas Continent and Gaia Continent were connected. Unfortunately, after gaining the sum of Kain''s life knowledge, the Scarlet King realized that he was not in the Atlas Continent but the Kronos Continent. The Kronos Continent was the home of the Atrox Immortus Race and was located on the other side of the Endless Ocean. The only way that the Scarlet King could return to the Gaia Continent now was by either becoming a Divine Ascension Cultivator or through another intercontinental teleportation formation. Neither of those choices seemed possible in the near future. Chapter 399 Essence Evolution Path of Power (I) Without hesitation, the Scarlet King opened his hand, extracting a Tier 1 Bio Genetic Chamber from his space ring. He then stripped Kain''s body naked and sent the corpse into the chamber. With nothing but absolute peace in his eyes, the Scarlet King used the Tier 1 Bio Genetic Chamber to obtain a perfect copy of Kain''s genome and extract from the corpse the material needed to engrave it into someone else. Orphin and the other two Wave Kings from the Abyssal Clan could still think and see, so their eyes widened as they saw Kain''s body dissolve inside the Bio Genetic Chamber, only for the man in the mask to enter it the next second. The body with well-defined muscles began to change, becoming more slender and with skin of red color as horn emerged from his head. After an hour, the Scarlet King emerged from the Tier 1 Bio Genetic Chamber. He softly nodded as he realized that his appearance and genetic sequence were nearly identical to Kain''s. Someone would have to dissect him and go through his genome to find any significant difference between them.@@@@ Of course, the body and genes were one aspect since anyone with powerful perception could detect the difference between Kain''s willpower, which had not even reached the First Realm, and the Scarlet King''s, which had already evolved into the Apotheosis Realm. Luckily, the red metallic mask he created was not just for looks; its primary purpose was concealment. The Scarlet King''s eyes glowed for a moment as the mask fused with his flesh, vanishing from sight. The Scarlet King stored the Tier 1 Bio Genetic Chamber and wore Kain''s clothes before walking to the trio with a smile. "So, what do you think? Don''t I look great?" No words came from Orphin and the other two, but the shock and dread in their eyes made it clear just how terrified they were of the man in front of them. His behavior made it clear that all life in his eyes was meaningless. The Scarlet King did not show any concern for the trio''s fear and plight, for one simple fact: the same fact that allowed him to devour Kain''s soul without any sense of guilt or shame¡ªthey were not part of his Life Matrix. Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire "Heat or cold?" "Neither and both. There is no consensus." Zarius continued to ask questions related to Kain''s life, and the Scarlet King could answer them with flawless precision. The interrogatory continued for a while, and the Scarlet King was satisfied as he could relay all the knowledge related to Kain. Knowledge was just one part of someone''s identity since their demeanor and behavior could say much more about them. Still, the Scarlet King already had a way to explain any change in Kain''s nature and personality, so he did not worry about it. Right now, not even Kain''s mother could differentiate between the two. But there was one final aspect to handle: Kain''s cultivation. The Inferno Daemon youth was a Level 9 Wave Warrior of the Essence Evolution Path of Power. However, the Scarlet King was ready to handle that immediately. He took a deep breath and adopted a meditative stance before taking out a high-quality Wave Crystal and sending dozens of treasures into his [Devourer Dimension]. Finally, he focused on the only Wave King of the Essence Evolution Path of Power among the trio, Orphin. Orphin''s eyes shook with fear, but he could do nothing but walk in front of the Scarlet King. His hand moved on its own, generating a deep cut on his lower abdomen, one so deep that it was visible a small organ glowing with sky-blue light. Immediately, Oprhin''s body trembled since he had his Evolution Core exposed, but things were about to get worse. He took one of the high-quality wave crystals and began to revolve their energy inside his body, transforming the Life Wave into Essence Wave at a shocking speed. As the Evolution Core of the Wave King generated Essence Wave, the Scarlet King used his Ego Wave to take control of the energy and bring it to him. The Scarlet King was using the Essence Wave of a Wave King as food for his own Wave Warrior''s Essence Wave. Even though he needed to purify it, losing over 95% of its quantity, the 5% that remained was much faster than him directly transforming the Life Wave into Essence Wave. That, along with the energy coming from the [Gluttony Module], was more than enough to saturate the energy needs of the Scarlet King. Zarius and the other Wave King of the Abyssal Clan remained motionless as they watched their surroundings. There was nothing but terror in their hearts as they saw how the monster was devouring the life energy from Orphin, and there was no doubt in their hearts that their fates would not be better. Chapter 400 Essence Evolution Path of Power (II) The Wave Warrior Rank was nearly identical in both the Astral Rebirth Path of Power and the Essence Evolution Path of Power, with both focusing on the development of meridians that emerged from the Sacred Organ and made a complete circuit, going through the organs, bones, muscles, and skin until reaching the exterior, then branching into a new set of meridians that connected the energy from the outside into the Sacred Organ. Of course, to train the Essence Evolution Path of Power, the Scarlet King needed a cultivation technique. While he could take the one from Orphin, he had an even better one inside his heart as the Sonic Blade Fusion Technique bordered both Paths of Power. It took Cain over three months to reach Level 3 of the Astral Rebirth Path of Power, but now, in just one week, he had already reached that level in the Essence Evolution Path of Power!@@@@ Of course, that overwhelming speed had to do with the fact that right now, he had a much more powerful lineage and that the resources were overwhelmingly better. The Scarlet King smiled as he felt how the new meridians designed for Essence Wave had already emerged from his Evolution Core and spread into his organs, but it was at this point that a new element came into play. As the amount of Essence Wave inside his body grew larger and purer, the Scarlet King''s mind and soul were able to start harmonizing with the cosmic forces of the world, the Laws! Powerful resources and great Lineage can only take you so far. Just like the Astral Rebirth Path of Power had Marrow Washing, the Essence Evolution Path of Power also had a component that played a crucial role in how far you could go. As a Wave King of the Essence Evolution Path of Power, he had a much better grasp of the Laws and could say with certainty that the Scarlet King''s mastery over the Law of Blood surpassed the Low Basic Understanding. As a reference, that was the same as an Astral Rebirth Cultivator with a marrow washing percentage of over 50%! Although for the trio, the only explanation was that they were in front of an ancient monster, the truth was that the Law of Blood had already soaked the Scarlet King''s soul sea after consuming the Astral Blood Beast Soul Core. While the Scarlet King would have needed to focus and meditate for an extended period of time over the Law of Sound from the Sonic Blade Fusion Technique, he only needed to focus on the flow of his blood and the insight of the Law of Blood left behind by the Astral Blood Beast''s soul force would do the rest. Weeks went by as the Scarlet King continued developing his meridians, going through the Essence Evolution Path of Power levels and improving his mastery over the Law of Blood. There was constant feedback between the quality of his Essence Wave and Law Mastery. The more powerful and purer his Essence Wave was, the greater his perception of the phenomena and Laws, and when those improved, they would refine his energy pool and help it grow stronger and purer. Finally, three months after starting his training, the Scarlet King''s body trembled, and a red light flooded the surroundings. This was not his Ego Wave but a phenomenon produced by his Law of Blood reaching the Extreme Basic Understanding! Orphin and the other two Wave Kings saw the sudden reaction of the Law of Blood, and by the fact that they even felt their blood reacting and a metallic taste in the air, they understood just how high the monster''s evolution was. Hopelessness flooded their souls as they understood that leaving this place alive was nothing but a dream. Chapter 401 Essence Evolution Path of Power (III) The Extreme Basic Understanding Rank was the same as Void Marrow, and while Cain had to go through countless ordeals and nearly lost his life to achieve it, the Scarlet King only had to remain in cultivation for less than three months. The Scarlet King felt how the meridians had already spread over every corner of his body, even reaching his brain, and knew it was time to advance further. While the Wave Warrior Rank was nearly identical to the Essence Evolution Path of Power and the Astral Rebirth Path of Power, there was a complete change in paradigm from the Wave Champion Rank and beyond. While a Wave Champion of the Astral Rebirth Path of Power would reforge their bones, someone of the Essence Evolution Path of Power would focus on their Evolution Core, generating a qualitative change in their energy pool. The Essence Wave inside the Evolution Core in a Wave Warrior was in chaos, forcing a cultivator to bring it into order before taking it out of the body, forging spells, and interacting with the Laws, but Wave Champions are different. Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire The Essence Wave of a Wave Champion revolved inside the Evolution Core in a state of order, making its use much more manageable. From that point on, a cultivator must increase the Essence Wave inside the Sacred Organs, improving the speed at which it revolves and its density. The Scarlet King relaxed his mind and body for over an hour, and only then did he make his Essence Wave burst. The Law of Blood had already refined his energy pool to the point that nothing could stop him from taking the next evolutionary step. The Essence Wave inside the Evolution Core grew stronger and stronger until it finally burst with overwhelming power, making the entire body of the Scarlet King tremble, raising his Essence Evolution Path of Power to the next step, reaching the Wave Champion Rank! Along with an enhanced energy pool, the Scarlet King felt his perception of the Laws grew even more potent, allowing his Law of Blood to near the Law Fragmentation Stage.@@@@ The Scarlet King broke his meditative position for the first time since he started his training, and a red saber appeared as he extended his hand. That was none other than Slaughter. Luckily for the Scarlet King, the Holy Weapon could work with Essence Wave and Astral Wave, so there was no need to look for a new weapon. He focused on it and sent his Essence Wave into it before using one of the Essence Evolution Path of Power''s battle skills from the Sonic Blade Fusion Technique. The Scarlet King analyzed his power and focused on Zirun before rising into the sky, taking a deep breath as his energy pool burst with power, unleashing a sky-blue cloak around his figure. Zirun thought another attack would come, but to his shock, he regained control over his body. He could not hide his confusion as he stared at the Scarlet King, wondering about the monster''s plans. "It is simple. I want you to attack me with true killing intent. If you try to escape, I will just make you commit suicide, but if you fight me, there might be a chance you could catch me by surprise and take my life." The Scarlet King''s eyes were calm as he uttered those words as if facing an Early Wave King as an Early Wave Champion without the support of his primary Law was nothing to be worried about. Zirun knew the chances of winning were slim to none, but if he did not fight, there was a 100% chance he would die. "?AHHHHH!" The Wave King from the Abyssal Clan made his energy explode as currents of roiling silver wind coursed through his body. It seemed that the man could enhance his body with wind and silver elements, gaining speed and sharpness. "?BOOM!" Zirun generated a small blast as he flashed into the sky, carrying nothing but killing intent toward the Scarlet King. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Chapter 402 Facing Abyssal Wave Kings Several shockwaves echoed through the air as the Scarlet King generated sonic blasts from the soil at his feet, allowing him to move at a shocking speed, fast enough to keep the distance between him and Zirun. He moved in strange patterns, zigzagging across the battlefield, seemingly trying to lose the Wave King, but Zirun kept close behind. At the same time, his Essence Wave gathered around Slaughter, making the weapon vibrate before unleashing arcs of sonic energy. These were not only fast but also had small arcs of dark lightning fused within them, enhancing their destructive power. Zirun knew he could not dodge them since that would reduce his momentum, so he clenched his fists and sent strikes against the arcs of sonic energy, shattering them as he pushed forward. The man used every ounce of strength as he grew closer to the Scarlet King. 100 meters. 50 meters. 25 meters. Just as Zirun was about to get within ten meters of the Scarlet King, his eyes widened as he felt he crashed against an invisible object. "?BOOOOMMMM!" A sonic blast sent Zirun flying away with blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. He regained control over his body immediately, but a flash of fear appeared in his eyes as he did not understand what happened. Despite his sadistic nature, Zirun was still a seasoned warrior, so he spread his Ego Wave in all directions. Dread appeared in his heart as he detected dozens of invisible spheres charged with sonic energy covering the battlefield. Despite his lack of mastery over the Law of Sound, the Scarlet King could still deploy some impressive skills. Had he mastered the Law of Sound to the Law Fragmentation Stage, his spells would not have only been more potent but would have required much less energy to trigger, and Zirun would have died at the start of the fight. Of course, the battle was not exactly fair since Zirun had lost some of his battle power due to the loss of blood vitality and the previous wound, not to mention that the Scarlet King had a Holy Weapon while the Abyssal was not allowed to use any Wave Artifact. The Scarlet King saw how Zirun managed to rise from the ground, and the man had difficulty regulating his breathing and could not stop puking blood. He did not receive any injury, but the sonic attacks had already drained much of his energy pool. In a battle to the death, the Scarlet King could kill Zirun, but he would be so drained of energy that if he were to face a new Wave King, the only path would be to escape. Once their energy pool was drained, an Essence Wave Cultivator lost over 80% of their battle power; that was why they focused so much on improving its quantity and quality. However, the Scarlet King was not a common Essence Wave Cultivator. His eyes turned to the other Abyssal and allowed this one to regain control over his body. "Your name is Samos, right? You and Zirun will attack me together now. Remember, the only way in which you have the slightest chance of survival is if you can take me by surprise and kill me." Samos clenched his fists as he looked at the wounded Zirun, and the duo nodded to each other before flashing into the sky together. The first unleashed golden energy that enhanced his speed, while the second made the silver tornado cover his entire figure. The Scarlet King faced the two Early Wave Kings using all his power and skill, generating mines of sonic energy while unleashing barrages of sonic blades and, at the same time, using sonic waves to move at a shocking speed. Zirun and Samos were riddled with injuries less than three minutes after the fight started, and neither had managed to put a hand on the Scarlet King, but the duo did not lose hope. An Astral Wave Cultivator''s body had immense durability and could endure tremendous damage. Usually, it would only take a full-power strike to take down an Essence Cultivator, especially if this was an entire rank beneath them. "AHHHH!" Zirun shouted as he made his energy explode, literally transforming into a massive tornado that covered the sky and dived toward the Scarlet King. Chapter 403 Killing Abyssal Wave Kings "?AHHHH!" Zirun shouted as he made his energy explode, literally transforming into a massive tornado that covered the sky and dived toward the Scarlet King. A sharp light appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he saw the tornado. He took a deep breath as his Essence Wave burst with all its power, and he waved his hand, moving Slaughter in a strange pattern that unleashed hundreds of small arcs of sonic energy. The individual power of the sonic arcs was limited, but every time they burst to pieces, they would unleash an energy wave that resonated with the other attacks. After over one thousand sonic arcs burst, their combined power broke the silver tornado apart, sending Zirus, who was at the core, flashing away. Zirus nearly fell unconscious due to the damage and loss of blood, but there was a smile on his face. The reason for that was that while the Scarlet King managed to blast the silver tornado to pieces, this one completed its true purpose. The Scarlet King''s eyes narrowed as he turned around, only to see Samos less than five meters away, firing a punch charged with all his power at his face. He had been forced to focus on the silver tornado, allowing the other Wave King, who focused on speed, to sneak up on him. Samos noticed how the Scarlet King looked directly into his eyes but still had control over his body, and a cold smile appeared on his face as he imagined the head of the monster blowing to pieces. "Light Fist. Die!" "?BOOOOMMMM!" A massive blast echoed across the sky, but it was not due to Samos'' fist landing on the Scarlet King''s head since this one had stopped the fist with his naked palm! Samos could not believe what he just saw. He had gathered all his strength in that fist, yet the monster managed to block it with his naked palm, and other than making the arm tremble, he caused no damage at all. "Monster!" "?SHHHHH!" That was the last word Samos uttered as the Scarlet King''s Ego Wave burst, and he triggered the Sundering Concept as the sonic energy in Slaughter exploded, splitting the Abyssal in half. Agility: 27.2 Vitality: 51.2 Astral Wave: 33.6 Essence Wave: 19.2 Blood Energy (Astral): 45.9 Blood Rebirth: Golden Blood Stage Main Law Master: Law of Blood (Extreme Basic Understanding) Note (1): Wave Virus inside Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 28.1%. Note (2): Blood Energy can no longer be manipulated as its core is in the Rebirth Heart. To use the secondary energy pool, use the technique that generated Blood Energy with its core in the Evolution Core.] The Scarlet King was very pleased with his Essence Wave since his energy poll was nearly as strong as a Middle Stage Wave Champion despite having just reached the Early Stage. He also noticed that going from Level 1 Wave Warrior to Early Wave Champion in the Essence Evolution Path of Power did not grant an upgrade in his constitution, but that made perfect sense. The Scarlet King''s body was already at a level beyond what the constitution of even the Apotheosis Realm Essence Cultivators could achieve, so there was no adjustment or upgrade in terms of physique. That was actually one of the many reasons his energy pool was able to grow so fast. As the Scarlet King focused on the data shown by the system, Zurin could not contain the fear in his heart and turned around, ready to use all his power to run away from the monster. Sadly for the man, just as that thought crossed his mind, his eyes lost their light as he gathered all his Astral Wave in his right hand and struck his own head, blowing it to pieces. Orphin''s eyes twitched as he saw how Zarius blew his head off, and the Scarlet King did not even glance at the man. A sense of utter dread filled his heart as he realized that subconscious commands had been implanted in their minds. The moment Zarius thought of running away, the command of suicide was triggered, and the man ended his own life. Orphin did not know what kind of Hypnosis Master could do that, and the answer was complex. That level of Hypnosis Mastery could be achieved after centuries or even millennia of training, through some unique skill or bloodline, or by gaining complete control over your emotions and mind, the type that only Order could grant. Chapter 404 Stranger "Boom." Orphin had yet to recover from seeing the death of Zarius when he heard a small blast and turned around only to see the Scarlet King had descended next to him. "I assume you know what your fate will be. It will be fast and painless, but first, I must ask you some questions." Orphin only sighed as a sad smile appeared on his face and prepared to answer the question since it was not like he could resist. The Scarlet King already had all the knowledge of Kain, but he needed to know more about the people who went after the boy. After all, he would take the young man''s identity during his stay in Kronos. Of course, using the Gluttony Eye on Orphin would have been the best way to collect the information. Yet, it was more complex, as the technique required nearly all of the Scarlet King''s power to work on a Wave Warrior, and the mental defenses of a Wave King were much more powerful. It took around five hours for the Scarlet King to know everything about the force behind Orphin and the man. "SHHHH:" Not a second after the Scarlet King obtained his information, he waved his hand, severing the man''s head, ending his life before this one even realized it. After that, he extracted Orphin''s Evolution Core and sent the rest of the corpse into his [Devourer Dimension], and the same happened to Zirus and Amos''s corpses. The Scarlet King waved his hand, generating pulses of sonic energy mixed with darkness that flooded the surroundings. Only once there was not a single piece of evidence left of what happened here did he look to the northwest, where the capital of the Kronos Continent was located. "Oh, there is no need for violence, young man. I am only passing by and wanted to catch a glance of you." The old man spoke as he sipped his tea, unleashing an aura that seemed to influence the surroundings, erasing any notion of violence. A sharp light appeared in the Scarlet King as he felt the man''s aura. It would be a lie if the Scarlet King said he was not influenced, but the main reason why he did not attack was that he was not confident. "This is a dangerous place; you should leave." The Scarlet King only spoke those words before turning around, ready to leave. However, just as he was about to step forward, he heard the man''s voice. "Tell me, young man, why do people not dual cultivate? After all, it is just as important to understand the world around you as it is to know the mysteries of your body." As he heard those words, a flash of shock appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes. He had made sure to hide every iota of his Astral Wave, and his red mask should be cloaking that part of his cultivation. Not to mention, he never felt or detected any scanning force on his body, so the man should not know about his unique condition. Although there were many questions on the Scarlet King''s mind, he did none as they would reveal information about him. Instead, he just answered the question of the old man. "Because our souls are needed as a core for the evolution of a Path of Power beyond the Apotheosis Realm, and we only have one soul." The old man nodded and drank another sip of his tea before putting the cup down as a meaningful light appeared in his eyes. "It is true that we only have one soul, but who says it cannot embark on both paths of power, just like a mind can hold more than one personality." Chapter 405 To the Atrox Immortus Races capital (I) A sharp light appeared in the eyes of the Scarlet King as he heard those words. The way the old man spoke could be considered rubbish since it was already an iron rule that dual cultivation was a dead end, but he felt the certainty in the man''s words. "Well, that is all I had to say." The old man stood up and turned around, walking into the forest, but he threw an object before leaving the Scarlet King''s sight. The Scarlet King caught it and saw it was a starry gem, the object cultivators use to store Saint Techniques. "It will only open once you''ve washed it with your Essence and Astral Wave after both paths reach the Apotheosis Realm." As those words reached the Scarlet King, the old man suddenly vanished with the current of winds. "Apex?" Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire Although the Scarlet King had absolute confidence in his skill and path, the sudden appearance of the old man and the starry gem were shocking enough for him to ask for advice from his ancient partner. "I could not detect anything from the man even with the [A.I. Chip Module]. Whoever he is, his power and supernatural abilities are no less than a True Titan." The Scarlet King softly nodded, and he was not surprised since not even the mightiest Apotheosis Realm Master could hide from his Ego Wave. After a moment, he looked at the starry gem, but just as expected, it was locked, and he could not access its information. The way the old man spoke hinted that the key to dual cultivation beyond the Apotheosis Realm was inside this starry gem, but it was hard for the Scarlet King to follow a path that would drain his time and resources when there was a chance it could all be a lie. A giant blue beast with the form of an eagle stood on the edge of a rift, gazing into the distance as it looked with its excellent eyesight for its next prey when suddenly its entire body trembled as it felt someone had just landed on its back. The Sky-Light Eagle was a proud King Beast, and even if its battle power was average, its speed allowed it to attack enemies before they even realized it, so the fact that someone snuck up on it was a source of not only shock but also overwhelming rage. However, as the beast turned its head to see the culprit, all the rage in its heart faded, replaced by fear. The only thing the King Beast saw were two red eyes that terrified its soul. The humanoid did not say a word and just pointed to the west. Immediately, the Sky-Light Eagle rose to the sky and flashed in the direction at full speed. It would have been easy for the Scarlet King to hypnotize the Early King Beast, but that could reveal his identity as a Hypnosis Master, so he chose to suppress the beast instead. ''It was easier than I thought.'' The Scarlet King could not help but remember the time he manipulated a Wave Beast resembling a bear into attacking the bandits'' lair and used the same tactic. That time, he was forced to beat the beast, unlike now that he only had to look at it. "Beasts respond better to a resolute heart and mind. Right now, yours is empty of doubt and hesitation." Apex''s voice echoed inside the mind of the Scarlet King, and a meaningful light appeared in his eyes. "I am curious. How did you know I could harmonize with Order at such an intuitive level?" Chapter 406 To the Atrox Immortus Races capital (II) The golden humanoid inside the Scarlet King''s mind did not answer. Just the fact that he revealed the Path of Order was already something he should have never done. "Does it have to do with the power that took control over my mind and body and allowed me to fight a True Titan? I assume it was the same force that took over my soul when I faced the Atrox Wave Champion?" As he heard those words, a sharp light appeared in the golden humanoid''s eyes, along with a complicated smile. "You would not believe me if I said it was some hidden power of the system, right?" "Before, I might have, but not now." The Scarlet King''s answer was peaceful as if the fact that Apex had tricked him in the past did not matter. While some might think that was just a strong front, the golden humanoid could see the serenity of the soul sea and knew that the Scarlet King was truly emotionless regarding the topic. All sorts of thoughts crossed Apex''s mind as he considered what to say, but he had to be careful. While the Scarlet King and Cain were technically the same person, the former wouldn''t hesitate to sever any emotional connection with the System Spirit if it tried to trick him again. "Ahhh, I cannot give you the answers you want." The Scarlet King showed a small smile as he nodded. Not obtaining an answer was much better for him than a lie. "It is fine. I will obtain them in due time." When the Sky-Light Eagle saw Evernight City, a sense of terror assailed its heart since it knew that this was a place where incredibly powerful humanoids gathered and that going near it was practically suicide. Unfortunately, it did not have a choice since it was sure that if it were to stop, the person on its back would end its life. As expected, the guards outside the city''s gate immediately reacted to seeing a King Beast marching into the city. All of them wore armor made of hundreds of blades, covering their entire bodies, leaving only their eyes visible. The Atroxs guarding the gate were confused to see a King Beast, especially one alone and so weak, marching into the city, as that was the same as killing itself, but they only raised to the sky and flashed toward it. All the people waiting to enter the city were also drawn to the sight of the King Beast, and many of them could not help but grow thrilled at the thought of seeing a powerful Wave King fighting. Even those at the Wave Warrior Rank who could be in danger did not move away and only watched with excitement. Unfortunately for all those expecting a battle, before the Atrox Wave Kings could get near the King Beast, a voice echoed across the sky, so powerful that everybody could hear it for several kilometers. "How dare you attack me, Kain Lauzer, the ninth son of Archduke Lauzer and a special guest of the Atrox Immortus Empire!" Shortly after that, the Scarlet King walked onto the head of the Sky-Light Eagle, showing his figure to everybody, along with a radiant smile full of arrogance. The leader of the guards could not help but widen his eyes as he saw the figure of Kain appearing on the head of the King Beast. This was the first time he had seen the young man from the Inferno Daemon Race, but a flash of killing intent appeared in his eyes, only to vanish the next second. The man did his best to hide the killing intent, but for the Scarlet King, it was as if he was shouting out loud that he wanted to kill him. ''So my guess was right. They are not over with me.'' Chapter 407 To the Atrox Immortus Races capital (III) "So my guess was right. They are not over with me."@@@@ The Scarlet King did all this to draw as much attention to himself, making sure that quietly silencing him was not an option. After Orphin and Amos failed to report back, the Scarlet King was confident that the one behind the plan to kill Kain put backups in place, and it seemed that the guard was one of them. All kinds of thoughts went through the mind of the Atrox guard. He had already put several plans in motion in case Kain would arrive, but all of them went to waste now that thousands of people saw the man appear on the head of a King Beast. There was no way he could keep things quiet now, so he could only resign to the fact that ending the young man''s life was not a choice, at least not without anyone knowing it. Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire "Young Lord Lauzer, I am Janiro, the head guard of the West Gate. We have been expecting your arrival for several months. I am sorry, but we will have to ask you some questions in private before allowing you to enter the capital." Interrogating someone who appeared months after their designated timeline made perfect sense, especially if it was a member of another race that no one had personally seen before. "Hmph, why would I allow a simple guard to question me!" However, the Scarlet King unleashed an overwhelming might as he stepped forward, walking across the air as he released an Essence Wave of the Wave Champion rank. Standing in the sky, he glanced at the Sky-Light Eagle before softly nodding. While no words were uttered, the Sky-Light Eagle felt as if an invisible chain had vanished, allowing it to regain its freedom, and immediately flashed away, back into the Silent Forest. When Janiro saw the King Beast flying away, a sharp light appeared in his eyes as he glanced at a man to his left. The creature might have some information about Kain, something he could use to calm down the people he was working for. The Atrox next to Janiro nodded as he focused on the King Beast and flashed toward it. The fact that it brought here a Young Lord of the Hell Clan mattered little to him, as he only needed to follow orders. Besides, he did not think Kain would dare to do anything against an Early Wave King like him. Before Janiro could decide, a golden force field inundated the area, covering all the Atrox guards and Kain. The Scarlet King could feel how the person was probing his cultivation and racial characteristics. It would have been easy to fight back and repel it, but that would mean revealing his true Ego Wave. Besides, the red mask ensured that the owner of the golden force field could only see what he wanted to show. The golden force field did not remain for long as a person descended from the sky the next second, donning a golden armor different from the one that normal Atrox used but still covering every part of his body except for his blue eyes. When Janiro and the other guards saw the man, they immediately bowed. "Marshal Damos." ''An Apotheosis Realm Master. I detect vigilance in his eyes but no hostility. I can work with that.'' The Scarlet King adopted a respectful stance as he nodded to the Marshal. All his show worked as it brought someone the enemy could not have bought. Janiro grew nervous as the man''s presence restricted his movements, but before he could say a word, Damos looked in his direction with coldness. That sight was enough for Janiro to know that at least his position as a guard of the Evernight City was over. Marshal Damos did not waste too much time with the man before focusing on Kain. "Young Lord Lauzer, come with me. We will go through the routine security check before I guide you to your residence along with the other guests from the Inferno Daemon Empire." Chapter 408 Mysterious Master The Scarlet King moved with the Marshal as they reached the gate and entered Evernight City. His eyes wandered around with curiosity, something that did not draw attention since it was a normal response for someone who had never visited the capital of the Immortus Atrox Empire. As the Scarlet King observed the ordinary people of the Atrox Immortus Race, he couldn''t help but silently smile as he remembered the description given by the teacher at the military academy back in the Imperial Lightning Fort. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire ''Should this be a ferocious race full of bloodthirsty warriors that flay their opponent and wash in their blood? The only things I see are normal people going about their lives.'' No matter how you saw them, the way the members of the Atrox Immortus Race behaved was no different than the way people of the Godslayer Humankind did, with adults caring about adult stuff and children going on with their simple lives. As for the Scarlet King''s first interaction with an Atrox, where he saw the Level 3 Wave Warrior torture beast and people, he now knew that person was probably brainwashed. All the customs and behaviors that the Godslayer Humankind Empire taught about the Atrox Immortus Race to their juniors, such as their rite of passage in which children were put through a cruel trial from a very young age, were widely exaggerated and distorted. The children of the Atrox Immortus Race did go through a trial, but it was at fifteen, and the survival rate was actually over 95%. From a certain point of view, it was no different than the military service that Cain and other children of the Godslayer Humankind went through. As for the tendency of the Atrox Immortus Race to torture their enemies, it was also an exaggeration. They did have a tendency for sadism, but it was the same tendency as the human race toward greed, not something that controlled their behavior. As the Scarlet King saw all these people who were supposed to be members of an enemy race and were supposed to hate to the bone, he could not help but feel odd. Not because there was anger or disgust in his heart but because he felt nothing at all. There were many reasons why the other races did not use A.I. Chip despite having access to the technology. The main reason was that they were an invention of the human race, and a copy could have unknown flaws that the Godslayer Humankind Empire could take advantage of. "According to the original schedule, you and the other envoys of the Inferno Daemon Empire were supposed to arrive four months ago at the latest. Yet, not only did you fail to arrive at the correct time, but nine other envoys are yet to appear." The Scarlet King''s eyes widened as he heard that information, but that was just a facade, as he was already aware of it. A total of sixty-six envoys came from the Inferno Daemon Empire, but that did not mean they were allies since their mission was to enhance the relationship between the noble families of both races. Some wanted to avoid the competition, so they decided to take them out, and Kain was on the list of people who were never supposed to reach the Evernight City. "I need to know what happened to you, not only for your sake but since it could shed some light on the fate of the others." Damos knew of the scheming nature of the Hell Clan, and deep down, he already had an answer to the fate of the others since it was not very hard to guess. What better chance to take care of the problems than in the forest of a foreign content? Still, as a Marshal of the Atrox Immortus Race, it was Damos'' job to investigate. "My group was ambushed. They were members of the Inferno Daemon Race. Their goal was to kill me, but my guards gave their lives to allow me to escape. Unfortunately, I did not make it that far, and they caught me. Both were Wave Kings, one of the Essence Path and the other of the Astral Path." Damos'' eyes widened as he expected Kain to blame Wave Beast or bandits, not for this one to name members of his own race as the attacker. Chapter 409 Inferno Daemons envoys "Do you understand that everything you say will go on the record? Are you sure you don''t want to correct your statement?" Damos would only pass this information to his superior, but people would find out eventually, and members of the Inferno Daemon Race would not be happy with Kain''s statement. The Scarlet King only smiled as he heard the question from the Atrox. He knew his words could cause some trouble but did not care since he needed this tale to spread. "As I was saying, they chased me, but we stumbled upon a person just as everything seemed lost. The assassins went after him as they did not want to leave a witness, but that was their last mistake. That person was a true powerhouse and, with a single glance, forced the duo to take their own lives." Damos'' eyes widened as he heard that. He could also kill a Wave King without a problem, but only using a glance to force someone into suicide was an entirely different realm. "Who is that person?" The Scarlet King smiled as he heard the question and gave a short answer. "My Master." Immediately, a flash of cautiousness appeared in Damos'' eyes, but there was also a shred of enlightenment. He had a report that contained everything regarding the person known as Kain Lauzer. He was supposed to be a young man, the son of an Archduke, but with minimal talent and even less influence. Definitely not the genius before him who could stop the chase of a Wave King and whose aura seemed to defy the heavens. Many explanations could account for such a change, and a lucky chance in the form of an ancient master was not an unusual one. The Scarlet King nodded and followed Damos out of the building into a teleportation formation in the central plaza. Just like with Eden, there were formations that made travel easier inside Evernight as the place was truly massive. It did not take long for the duo to arrive in front of a massive castle in the center of a volcanic range that was full of lava and ash around them. While this environment could seem hostile, it was actually very comfortable for the Inferno Daemon Race, which was why it was selected to hold the envoys. The Scarlet King walked calmly to the Magma Castle and crossed into it without a problem. The computer ring in his hand already had all the permits. Maids and butlers were moving around the castle, but they only bowed when they saw him and carried on with their duties. The Scarlet King gave a short nod to those people before his eyes went around the place, and he failed to see any other member of the Inferno Daemon Race. ''Right, it should be around that time of the day.'' A small smile appeared on the Scarlet King''s face as he went to the castle''s west wing, and as he stood in front of a massive gate, he put his hand over it. A shock wave burst from his hand, opening it with so much force that it nearly sent the gate flying away. On the other side of the gate was a massive dining hall with sixty-six chairs around a rectangular table, and fifty-seven of them were occupied by members of the Inferno Daemon Race. Most of them were members of the Hell Clan, but around a dozen belonged to the Abyssal Clan. Astonishment appeared in the eyes of the people as they turned to the gate and saw Kain appear on the other side with a smile on his face. Many of them only showed shock, but there were a few whose eyes revealed something else. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire While the youngest did their best to hide those emotions, the Scarlet King was able to see it all, confirming much of the information he gained from Orphin and shedding new light on certain individuals. Chapter 410 Wave Kings soul force After overcoming the initial shock, one of the people sitting at the head of the table stood up with an expression full of righteous fury. "Kain Lauzer, what is the meaning of this? You have been absent for months and now make such a ruckus. Who do you think you are to behave like that in front of us?" A young member of the Hell Clan shouted with rage. He had a cultivation at the peak of the Wave Champion Rank, and his battle power was much higher. "Simur, who do you think you are to speak to my little brother like that?" Before the Scarlet King could answer, another of the youngest at the head stood up, and this one was a member of the Abyssal Clan. The Scarlet King recognized the man as the elder brother of Kain and the seventh son of Archduke Lauzer, whose name was Jamil. After shouting at Simur, Jamil turned to his brother and smiled radiantly before going to this one and hugging him. "Kain, I was so worried about you. What happened?" The Scarlet King showed a kind smile as he stared at who was supposed to be his elder brother, but he could not help but sneer as he saw the concern in those eyes since it was Jamil who sent the assassin. Of course, since he would gain nothing but revealing what he knew, the Scarlet King only smiled at his bloodthirsty brother before turning to the people at the table. "I had some problems, but everything turned out great." Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire But for the Scarlet King, it had another meaning since the fact that his soul force rose to the Wave King Rank meant that the Absolute Life Form System would allow the opening of another module and also the evolution of the [A.I. Chip Module], and access to upgrade the [Gluttony Module] and [Genetic Coder Module]. Although the Scarlet King had barely slept an hour, the excitement had already shaken off all drowsiness, and there was a radiant smile on his face as he interacted with the system. "System, unlock the next module." Without wasting a second, the Scarlet King communicated with the system and unlocked the new module. Like last time, he felt a sharp pain in his head along with a sense of great weight on his brain. Luckily, it did not last long, and with pure excitement, the Scarlet King heard the voice of the Absolute Life Form System. [Enhancement Module Activated] The Scarlet King''s eyes immediately glowed with enlightenment as he heard the new module''s name. Like during the first module he unlocked, the [Genetic Coder Module], the new one seemed to involve a Profession. Enhancement was a profession that was not very well-known in Gaia and even across the Aether. It was not only challenging to master, but it also had minimal impact on your cultivation or battle power. In essence, Enhancement was the ability to improve the quality of objects through a unique method. The Scarlet King knew very little about it, but before drawing any conclusions, he commanded the system to explain the module. "System." Chapter 411 Enhancement Module "System." As soon as the Scarlet King commanded it, the Absolute Life Form System gave him a detailed description. [Enhancement Module: Module that will grant the Vessel the power to harness the might of Tribulation in order to enhance all things in the universe.] The Scarlet King''s eyes widened as just the description was enough to fill his heart with awe toward the fourth module of the Absolute Life Form System. The word "Tribulation" had several connotations. Still, in the cultivation world, it was related to the Heaven and Earth Tribulation, meaning the power that the world would unleash upon you once you decided to break beyond the limit of life. Tribulation in the Ego Eternal Path of Power goes by the name of Ego Destruction Tribulation. It presents itself as a torment of multicolored flames that seek to shatter your ego and mind. The Astral Rebirth and Essence Evolution Path of Power also had their Tribulations; those were the essence of the Apotheosis Rank. While many cultivators died during the process, others succeeded, rising beyond the mortal realm. There was a complicated relationship between cultivators and Tribulation. On the one hand, they hated it since it was essentially the power of the world trying to break them, but on the other side, they also loved it since survival meant progress to a whole new level. According to what the Scarlet King knew about the Enhancement Profession, it was just improving the power of certain objects, nothing as extraordinary as harnessing the power of Tribulation. A new focus appeared in his eyes as he paid attention to the rest of the description. [Tools: -Refinement Flame Generator: Uses Destiny Force (DP) to generate Refinement Flames. The more revolutions, the more expensive. -1 Revolution Flame: 100 DP -2 Revolution Flame: 200 DP -3 Revolution Flame: 300 DP -4 Revolution Flame: 1000 DP -5 Revolution Flame: 2000 DP -6 Revolution Flame: 3000 DP -7 Revolution Flame: 4000 DP -8 Revolution Flame: 5000 DP -9 Revolution Flame: 10000 DP -10 Revolution Flame: 50000 DP -16-19 Revolution Refinement: 1M Destiny Force -20 Revolution Refinement: 2M Destiny Force -21 Revolution Refinement: 3M Destiny Force] When the Scarlet King saw the amount of Destiny Force that the higher levels required, he nearly fell to the ground as it was simply overwhelming. "System, how high is my current Destiny Force?" [Destiny Force: 3.96 M] The amount of the Scarlet King''s Destiny Force was genuinely tremendous. Yet, one had to consider that his effect on Eden had repercussions across the entire Godslayer Humankind Empire, and he faced not only the Azure King but also one of the ten Dark Kings of The Organization and survived. Even if he used all his Destiny Force, the Scarlet King could not create a 21 Revolution Flame and perform a 100% success 21 Revolution Refinement utilizing the [Enhancement Module], not to mention he still had to upgrade both the [Gluttony Module] and [Genetic Coder Module]. He also had no idea what type of upgrade a 21 Revolution Refinement would have on an artifact, much less on a physical body. The information the system gave him was incompatible with his knowledge of the Enhancement Profession. Before doing anything, the Scarlet King used his computer ring to access the network of the Atrox Immortus Empire, using some of the credits the empire had granted to all the envoys like Kain to obtain a standard Enhancement Profession technique. The Scarlet King''s understanding of the Enhancement Profession was too shallow, so he wanted to know a little bit more. It did not take long for the information to reach the computer ring, and the Scarlet King immediately focused on the virtual screen that appeared in front of him. [Ninefold Enhancement Technique: Enhancement focused on the ability to generate Refinement Flames. They can be Bronze, Silver, and Gold Tier. One can use their power to enhance the amount of energy inside an object. There are restrictions since an object can only resist three refinements and must be of the same tier. Meaning that a Bronze Refinement Flame can only work on a Bronze Artifact and so on. To create a Refinement Flame, you must set ablaze Life Wave. The purer it is, the easier it becomes.] The Scarlet King could not help but frown as he saw all that information. There were similarities between the module and the Profession. Nevertheless, unlike the [Genetic Coder Module] that could assist in Genetic Coding, the [Enhancement Module] and Enhancement Profession worked on very different principles, with the first using Black, Silver, and Golden Flames and the later Revolution Flames. "How odd." Although the Scarlet King had many questions and was sure that the module was powerful, instead of just trying to harness its unknown power, he focused on the modules that had been instrumental in his progress so far. "System, what is the current state of the [A.I. Chip Module]?" The [A.I. Chip Module] was connected to the Scarlet King''s soul force, so it did not need a manual upgrade and immediately jumped to the next level. Chapter 412 Improving the bloodline [A.I. Chip Module has evolved after the breakthrough of Vessel''s soul force to the Wave King Rank. .... A.I. Chip Module: -Pseudo Atomic Analysis -Sub Quantum Data Gathering and Analysis -Sub Quantum Virtual Simulation -Pseudo Multidimensional Scan Force Field -Sub Quantum Hacking] Those names were enough to tell the Scarlet King how strong the [A.I. Chip Module] had become, with several of the tools going beyond the atomic realm.@@@@ Not wanting to waste a second, the Scarlet King immediately communicated with the system to upgrade the [Gluttony Module] and [Genetic Coder Module]. [Upgrade of the Gluttony Module and Genetic Coder Module will cost 300,000 Destiny Force each.] The Scarlet King''s eyes twitched as he saw the amount of Destiny Force needed to evolve the modules, but he did not hesitate and gave the command. "?Yes!" [Evolving the Genetic Coder Module] The Scarlet King felt a sharp pain in his mind that was soon replaced by a feeling of heaviness as if something huge had just landed on his soul sea. Luckily, it did not last long, and soon, he heard the system''s voice. [Genetic Coder Module has evolved. ... It took a few moments for the Scarlet King to get used to all the changes and the sudden weight on his soul, but as he adjusted, a smile appeared on his face as the modules had truly evolved into weapons that began to honor the name of the Absolute Life Form System. There was no need to waste time as the Scarlet King already had a use for the modules, especially the [Genetic Coder Module]. "System, is there any bloodline I can awaken stronger than my True Avernus Bloodline?" Nine generations was a long time, so there was no way to say what kind of bloodline the Scarlet King''s ancestor could have. [No bloodline in Vessels'' genomic heritage is stronger than the True Avernus Bloodline.] A small smile appeared on the Scarlet King''s face as he heard that, and he just shrugged his shoulders since it was not surprising. He then went to the next topic. "System, can you enhance the purity of my True Avernus Bloodline?" The Scarlet King had obtained the Avernus Bloodline and True Avernus Bloodline through a Wave Virus, and while he had done his best to improve their quality, it was still far from ideal. However, the system could use Destiny Force to fix that. [True Avernus Bloodline''s purity can be enhanced to its zenith, becoming a true Divine Ascension Tier Bloodline. Cost: 200,000] Once again, the Scarlet King''s eyes twitched, as just improving the purity of the bloodline cost nearly as much as evolving the module. Still, there was no hesitation as he gave the signal. "Do it." [Purifying True Avernus Bloodline] Immediately after hearing those words, the Scarlet King felt his entire body itching as all his pores had opened, unleashing a foul stench, and his heart rate rose exponentially. A complete qualitative and quantitative change to the True Avernus Bloodline was happening inside his body. Although it was hidden due to the disguise of Kain, the Blood Rune on the Scarlet King''s shoulder began to extend, encompassing his entire chest. All of this was done by the [Genetic Coder Module] using Destiny Force as the raw material. It took less than five minutes for the evolution to finish, but the change in the Scarlet King''s talent and physical might was immense. The Scarlet King looked no different on the outside. Still, he felt his affinity to the Law of Darkness and the Law of Shadows had improved significantly, and his Essence Wave revolved nearly three times faster across his meridians. Chapter 413 Back to the Dream World "Although the proficiency in those laws has yet to reach the level of the Law of Blood, I would be a fool not to take advantage of them. Besides, I am sure there are powerful techniques that combine them." With that out of the way, the Scarlet King went to the next tool of the [Genetic Coder Module]. "System, display the [Flawless Genetic Enhancement]." Since the Scarlet King had not thought of changing his bloodline during his current rank, there was no reason to wait, and he immediately triggered the Flawless Genetic Enhancement corresponding to the Wave Champion Rank. [Displaying available Flawless Genetic Enhancements:@@@@ ... Enhanced Law of Darkness Attunement: Enhances genes that improve the perception of the Law of Darkness by 5%. Enhanced Law of Shadow Attunement: Enhances genes that improve the perception of the Law of Shadow by 5%. Enhanced Genetic Strength: Enhance genes focused on physical strength. Projected outcome: Increase strength by 12%. Enhanced Genetic Speed: Enhance genes focused on physical speed. Projected outcome: Increase speed by 8%. Enhanced Genetic Vitality: Enhance genes focused on vitality. Projected outcome: Increase vitality by 14%. Cost: 150.000 DF] The Scarlet King was surprised to see that he could improve his attunement to the Laws of Darkness and Shadows, but while it was tempting, he did not choose that path. The Law of Shadows and the Law of Darkness were powerful and very useful, but there was no way to say whether he would keep using them in the future or change to something else. Strength was also an option, but it was not optimal for an Essence Cultivator, and while he was intrigued by the idea of dual cultivation, he chose against it. In the end, the Scarlet King went with vitality. No matter how strong he became in the future or what path he took, vitality would always be a crucial factor. "Activate the vitality enhancement." [Enhancing Vessel''s base vitality by 14%] Note (1): Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 28.1%. Note (2): Blood Energy can no longer be manipulated as its core is in the Rebirth Heart. To use the secondary energy pool, use the technique that generated Blood Energy with its core in the Evolution Core.] The Scarlet King was delighted with the improvement of his body and energy pool after the evolution of the True Avernus Bloodline and the enhancement of his vitality. Regarding the Astral Wave and Blood Energy, both of them improved as a result of the bloodline, not a real advancement in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power since this one continued to be crippled. ''I still have over two million Destiny Force, but it would be unwise to use them as it will take work to replenish it in the future. It is ok if I draw some attention, but I should be wary of the Dark Races Gods.'' "Apex, since the [A.I. Chip Module] has evolved, could you use it to hack into the Atrox Immortus Empire''s network? I need to find Saint Techniques that harness the power of the Law of Blood, Darkness, and Shadows. Using the standard methods would take too long, but the underworld doesn''t have that limitation." The System Spirit did not keep the Scarlet King waiting and immediately began calculating with the [Sub Quantum Hacking] tool. "It will be no problem. By the way, do you want someone reliable or the other kind?" When the Scarlet King heard that, a cold smile appeared on his face, along with a flash of greed in his eyes. "What do you think?" "Ok, I will get to it." After taking care of that and such massive improvement, the Scarlet King allowed his mind and heart a well-deserved rest as he went to bed and closed his eyes. Slowly, the Scarlet King''s mind fell asleep, and while it was a state that he became increasingly unfamiliar with, it was not something too spectacular. However, shock and surprise suddenly appeared in the Scarlet King''s soul as he found himself again in a dream world. The last time this happened, he found himself losing control and going with the flow, unable to direct his thoughts, but he was not the same person. He was the Scarlet King! Despite not having a physical body in this place, the Scarlet King made his Ego Wave explode. He did not care what was happening or why he appeared there. All that could be answered later, as the main focus was gaining back control. Overcoming the drowsiness and lack of focus was easy, but he still had a big problem since he did not have a body. More and more willpower emerged as he forced his mind into a higher state until he finally took the form of a humanoid body of red energy. The Scarlet King saw how he was about to be thrown into dream worlds, and while they were undoubtedly beautiful, he refused to just go with the flow, even if it was in a dream, so he gathered all his power before shouting. "?AHHHHHHHH!" That shout generated a red shockwave from the Scarlet King''s energy body that froze the dream environment before shattering them to pieces. The next second, he felt his body plummeting without control into a black hole. Chapter 414 Gala (I) Luckily for the Scarlet King, the feeling vanished, and he appeared in the sky above a forest. Different from the other locations, he felt this place was real, not a simple fantasy or beautiful tapestry. There were trees as far as the eye could see, but the sky in which he floated was multicolored as if a rainbow had spread all over its surface. "What is happening?" There was no drowsiness, and the Scarlet King''s mind worked fine as he looked around. He still had a red energy body and felt no physical power, but he could move freely. The first thing he did was to go down and attempt to touch one of the trees, but to his surprise, his hand went through it. "Strange." The Scarlet King could not help but frown, and the next second, he moved forward, and as expected, he went through the tree. He attempted the same on the ground, and his body simply went down, but there was no light or anything of the sort, so he could not see, forcing him to return to the surface. "Apex?" Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire The Scarlet King called the System Spirit, but to his shock, the entity that was supposed to be bound to his soul sea did not answer, meaning that it was not his soul the one that reached this realm. "My ego?" That was the only explanation the Scarlet King could come up with. One thought appeared in the Scarlet King''s mind as he looked around: the way out. First, the Scarlet King went to bed with a clear purpose in mind, remaining in the central plane of existence. Luckily, it worked, as he managed to sleep without his mind and willpower piercing into that strange realm. The Scarlet King woke up in the morning but did not leave his room. The envoys were supposed to be eating breakfast together, just like he had no appetite for their words at dinner, much less at breakfast. Instead of that, he remained in his room cultivating. The first thing he did was to test the new limitations of the [Gluttony Module]. He took out the tableware left by the strange old man. Last time, he could not use the module as the energy level was too high, but this time, he managed to send it into the [Demonic Devourer Dimension]. Immediately, a burst of energy flooded the Scarlet King''s body, one so pure that he felt it purifying his body and his energy pool. Whatever the tableware was made of, it was clearly very high level. The Scarlet King did not use the [Gluttony Module] with the pot with the tea since he could drink it and get more than just fifty percent of its energy. He continued cultivation until night fell, and only then did he stand up and wave his hand, sending a current of dark energy that expelled all the pollution and sweat from his body. After that, the Scarlet King wore a precious golden robe before leaving his room, and his eyes narrowed before a smile appeared on his face as he saw that his murderous brother, Jamil, was waiting for him. "Little Brother, you did not come out to eat and spent all day in your room. For a moment, I thought you would not attend the monthly gala." "Of course, I will not miss it. After all, it is the main reason we came to this continent." The Scarlet King only smiled as he and Jamil walked outside the castle. "By the way, brother, you never told me what happened?" Jamil''s eyes glowed with a meaningful light as he made that question. "Oh, right, I was focusing on other things, and it slipped my mind. Well, as you might assume, I was attacked, but luckily, during my escape, I found an ancient expert who took care of my attacker and decided to take me as his disciple and help me improve my bloodline and talent." "Really!? That is amazing. I am so happy for you." Chapter 415 Gala (II) "Really!? That is amazing. I am so happy for you." As the Scarlet King heard that, he couldn''t help but silently praise Jamil. This one''s scheming tactics and acting were better than even the members of the Hell Clan, who were supposed to excel in it. "Haha, it is good for us since my new talent will mean the Lauzer Family''s position will improve." "Right, right." Jamil smiled as he nodded, doing his best to hide the murderous zeal in his eyes. The duo reached the central plaza and went to a new teleportation formation that brought them to a massive pavilion, one that was already full of light, music, and people. Jamil and Kain drew attention since the first had always been talented, and the second came back from the dead and seemed to have encountered a massive lucky chance. However, the rest of the envoys did not lose focus and continued their conversations with members of the Atrox Immortus Race. If one looked closely, they were all speaking with people of the opposite sex. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire The envoys'' mission was to establish a connection between the noble families of the Inferno Daemon Race and the Atrox Immortus Race, and what better way to do that than by forming a romantic relationship with the prospect of children in the future?@@@@ Of course, the Atrox Immortus Empire''s higher-ups knew the envoys'' intent, but they did not have a problem; on the contrary, it was within their plans. The Atrox Immortus Race did not believe in such a thing as racial purity and considered that a healthy integration of foreign genes from other races would do good for the race as a whole. This practice was already millennia-old to the point that all members of the Atrox Immortus Race had at least a drop of foreign blood in their veins. ''An ancient recording method, older than starry gems? Or maybe just something different?'' Those thoughts crossed the Scarlet King''s mind as he focused once again on the Atrox woman, and just like the book, she was different as he felt no iota of Essence Wave or Astral Wave coming from her. It was not that the Atrox was so powerful that the Scarlet King''s Ego Wave could not detect her power. There was no energy whatsoever in her Sacred Organs, and she was a simple mortal by all intents and purposes, yet to become even a Wave Warrior. ''Interesting.'' A sharp light appeared in the eyes of the Scarlet King as he walked across the hall, going to the young woman. Having taken Kain''s appearance, he was truly handsome, and his overwhelming and majestic aura naturally appealed to the opposite sex. That was why the Scarlet King was confident that everything would go well as he smiled at the young woman. "Please go away. I am not interested." However, before the Scarlet King could even present himself, the woman immediately turned him down without taking her eyes off the book, making his handsome smile freeze. Instead of getting angry, the Scarlet King found the woman amusing, and his smile became more natural. "Haha, ice-cold. I like it." The young woman was a little surprised to see the amused reaction of the handsome man from the Hell Clan. She expected this one to ramp out and mock her condition before going away, but he only smiled. Still, while she found it odd, it did not raise any response. Chapter 416 Slap "I am sure there are plenty of people that would be happy to speak with you. Please go bother them."@@@@ The Scarlet King''s smile did not vanish, and just as he was about to speak again, two people got near him. They were a couple formed by an envoy of the Hell Clan envoy and a young Atrox woman. "Kain, you seem to have found someone that tolerates you. Allow me to introduce my good friend, Marin." The one who spoke was Simur, the member of the Hell Clan who rebuked the Scarlet King when this one forcefully opened the doors to the dining table. A mocking smile could be seen on his face as he moved his eyes between the Scarlet King and the young Atrox woman while presenting his partner. "So this is the rude person you were talking about. Well, I guess someone like that is fitting for a crippled." Marin''s voice was loud, and everybody heard her. The way she looked at the woman with the book made it clear this was not their first interaction. The Atrox with the book was not surprised that something like this could happen. She was not a pushover despite her condition, but before she could say a word, something else happened. "SLAP!" A slapping sound echoed across the hall as the Scarlet King slapped Marin, but it was not a simple slap since it had so much strength that he sent the Atrox woman flying to the other side of the room, crashing against a wall. Silence reigned as the Atroxs and envoys from the Inferno Daemon Empire did not know how to react. Everybody heard Marin''s remark toward the other Atrox woman, but for Kain to suddenly slap her with so much strength that it seemed like he would rip her head off was simply too much. No matter what kind of relationship was between Kain and the young Atrox woman, his behavior was too overbearing. Simur''s coldness grew more intense as his body began to glow with golden light. That was not a reaction from his Essence Wave but merely a response from the Law of Light as he harnessed its power. In complete contrast, darkness began to spread across the Scarlet King''s body as he harnessed the power of the Law of Darkness. People in the room were surprised that Kain managed to draw the power of the Law of Darkness despite being only an Early Wave Champion. If they were to see the reaction of the Law of Blood, the shock would be so much that they would not even know how to react. Simur was also surprised, but his eyes narrowed as he flashed forward with overwhelming speed, piercing his sword straight into Kain''s chest with incredible skill and momentum. He was confident in his skill, but all that shattered as Kain dodged the sword strike easily. The Scarlet King''s mind and soul had yet to become strong enough to use the Second Level of The Flow, but his mastery over the First Level of the skill, which allowed him to predict the enemy''s movement, had grown to the point that it became nearly instinctive. "?Boom!" A small blast echoed across the hall as the Scarlet King hit the handle of the golden sword in Simur''s hand, forcing him to drop it before placing Slasher beneath the neck of Simur. A sense of utter shock spread across the hall as Kain''s martial skill was above everybody else. Of course, that did not mean they would lose an actual battle since they have greater cultivation bases, and Essence Cultivators tend to focus on long-range battles, not melee. Simur understood all that, but the shock that assaulted his heart was too great as he saw the red eyes focused on him and the blade on his neck that seemed ready to sever his head. The Scarlet King stared at Simur for a moment before his smile widened, and his eyes burst with red light for a fraction of a second, too fast for any of the present to discern it. "SHHHH!" Chapter 417 Tribulation Enhancer "SHHHH!" The next second, Simur heard the sound of a blade cutting flesh, and he felt his head drop to the ground, only for his body to follow along. "?AHHHHHHHHH!" Simur screamed in pain as he crawled away from the Scarlet King while desperately touching his neck. He could calm down after a few seconds and understood he had not suffered any actual injury. It was all some sort of illusion. The Scarlet King only smiled as he waved his hand, making the saber vanish as two Atrox with special armor entered the hall. One was Damos, the Marshal he met when he reached Evernight, while the other was a Peak Wave King who immediately headed toward Marian. "My Lady, who did this to you?" The Peak Wave King seemed to be related to Marian and must have come to this place after the young woman triggered some type of silent rescue signal. Marian''s mind was still foggy as the slap had caused a severe concussion, but she clenched her teeth as she pointed her finger toward Cain. "It was that mutt. Break that beast''s arms!" The Peak Wave King turned toward the Scarlet King, and his eyes burned with rage as he intended to do exactly what the young woman asked. The Scarlet King saw the killing intent in the Peak Wave King, but his smile did not fade. Even if he had yet to reach his previous peak, a Wave King could not threaten him. Besides, he was sure that a fight would not happen. "Enough!" Before things could escalate further, Damos shouted, using his immense power to freeze everybody''s movement as his Ego Wave inundated the hall. "Today''s gala has ended. Everybody leave now and return to your homes." "What, how can he leave without punishment after attacking me? Uncle, do something." "I assume you must be wondering what sort of interest I have in you." Astrid did not say a word, and she only stared at the Scarlet King with equal parts suspicion and expectation. "I don''t know anything about your background, nor do I understand your condition quite well. What drew me to you was that golden book." The Scarlet King did not hide his intention from the woman, and as expected, Astrid immediately took a step away and held the book tightly against her chest. Once he saw the woman''s reaction, the Scarlet King only smiled before raising his hand. The next second, a small sphere with a flame the size of a fist glowing with nine different colors appeared. All the suspicion in Astrid''s eyes faded as she saw that flame, and she immediately approached it, standing so close to the Scarlet King that they nearly collided. Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire "That is a 9 Revolution Flame!" Astrid could barely believe her eyes as she turned toward the Scarlet King with utter excitement and thrill. "You are an Enhancer, a Tribulation Enhancer!" The Scarlet King saw the excitement in the young woman''s eyes, but he shook his head. "I am sorry to disappoint you, but I am not. My Master handed this over. He said I have some innate talent for Enhancement and gave me this with a mission. Find its true nature, learn to make one on my own, and then perform a refinement of a biological body. Only then would he teach me his secrets." Astrid''s eyes lost some excitement when she heard that Kain was not a Tribulation Enhancer. Still, it came back when she heard about this so-called Master and how he could generate Refinement Flames beyond the 9 Revolutions. The Scarlet King noticed the young woman could not take her eyes off the sphere and continued. "There are around two hours until we reach your home. How about if I allow you to inspect the 9 Revolution Flame, and you lend me the golden book?" Chapter 418 Creating a Revolution Flame A struggle appeared in Astrid''s eyes since the golden book was not only precious but also very important to her. But seeing that her home was near and there was no way Kain could just run away with it, she accepted. "Ok, until we reach home." The Scarlet King nodded and handed Astrid the sphere with the 9 Revolution Flame before taking the golden book. Without wasting time, the Scarlet King opened it to the first page. Now that he held it in his hand, he felt a wave of information, similar to the state of analyzing a starry gem. [Enchantment is not a mere profession but an art that defies the natural order of things! What people have accepted as Enhancement is a disgrace to the true nature of this beautiful craft. They have given up, just improving the amount of energy in objects, when a true Enhancer should harness the power of Tribulation itself, stealing the power of the world to generate a qualitative and quantitative change to the base essence of an artifact, a body, and even a soul!] Even the Scarlet King could not help but feel admiration for the intent in those words, as he could sense the determination and resolution of the person who wrote them. Not wanting to waste time, he went back to the golden book. [Tribulation Enhancement is divided between the Refinement Flame and the Enhancement itself. The Revolution Flame is a catalyst to draw cosmic energy with the purpose of enhancement. The proficiency of an Enhancer is determined by their ability to create Refinement Flames of varying revolutions, with bottlenecks at 3, 9, and 21 Revolutions. Just generating a Revolution Flame is complicated, and the difficulty improvement exponentiates the more revolutions it has, but so does its power. After that comes the Enhancement that goes by the name Revolution Refinement. One must understand that the outcomes of Revolution Refinement are binary and extreme. Success leads to an exponentially increased power of the target, making it significantly more potent. On the other hand, failure renders the energy in the target utterly useless. However, that was just the beginning as the Scarlet King kept increasing the amount of Life Wave he sent into the flame, and soon, a second color emerged, becoming a 2 Revolution Refinement Flame. Although that level of talent was shocking for the young woman and anyone else, the truth was more complex. After all, not only were the cognitive abilities of the Scarlet King matching that of an Apotheosis Realm Master, but the module brought a passive effect, enhancing the talent of the Vessel in the art. A sharp light appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he focused on the Refinement Flame and continued sending Life Wave into it, trying to make it evolve again. Still, it suddenly grew unstable, only to disperse the next second. The Scarlet King saw how the flames dispersed but was not bothered by it. To form 1 to 3 Revolution Flames, he could draw the Life Wave from the environment, and there was no need to use any external support, so he did not waste anything. "Did you really just learn how to make a Refinement Flame?" As the Scarlet King heard the voice of Astrid and saw the inquiring gaze on the young woman, he only smiled before handing over the golden book back. "We are close enough to your home. I will be leaving now." The Scarlet King turned around and began to walk away. "Wait, the sphere." "Keep it. I will make one of my own soon. Think of it as a token of my gratitude. I hope we can speak again soon." Astrid attempted to return the 9 Revolution Flame, but the Scarlet King only shook his head as he walked away. A meaningful light appeared in the young woman''s eyes as she saw the young member of the Hell Clan go away before entering her home. Chapter 419 Forming a faction (I) There was a cave in a small mountain in the Silent Forest, and while it looked normal from the outside, its interior was concealed by all sorts of cloaking force fields and shields. It worked as the secret base and warehouse of a group of criminals. There were five people inside the mountain. A party of three led by what seemed to be an old man and a duo in the prime of their lives. "Old River, we risk our lives by drawing the guards out of that Star Cruiser, yet you failed to take the cargo of wave crystals. How are you going to compensate for your failure?" One of the Atrox''s duo spoke with a cold voice. There was a strange blue mark on the right shoulder pad of his armor that resembled a crow. "I already told you, Blue Crow. Apotheosis Realm Master was guarding the ship''s vault. There was no way the three of us could have defeated him, and escape was the only choice." The man known as Old River spoke calmly, and while he made sure to explain things, he did not back down nor showed any sign of weakness. "That seems to be your problem, not ours. You failed, so you have to pay!" The man with a red mark on his left shoulder shouted as he stepped forward, his eyes beginning to glow with red light as he clenched his fists. As soon as the two Atrox behind Old River saw that, they stepped forward, positioning themselves between the duo and the old man. "Red Hawk, be careful with your actions. Remember, I belong to the upper echelon of the Dark Hand while you are only upstarts." Old River frowned as he saw his words did not seem to deter the duo, and things kept escalating, but there was no fear in his eyes since he had lived long enough in the underworld and faced much greater trials than this. If a battle were to happen, he was confident in his chances to win or at least survive. However, before Old River could utter more than two words, the Scarlet King turned to the man with the red bird on his shoulder. Red Hawk, or more accurately, Tarison Janur, could not hide his shock as he heard this person he had never met before utter his actual name, something he had not revealed to a single soul. Not even Blue Crow, his most trusted ally in the Dark Hand, knew it. What might seem shocking for Tarison was not impressive considering the current [A.I. Chip Module]''s capabilities. After obtaining the data of these people through hacking, Apex simply used the [Sub Quantum Data Gathering and Analysis] and came up with all their real identities. Despite the shock, Tarison was a seasoned warrior and had seen a lot of blood and death, so he was able to regain his composure before focusing on the person. "Who are you?" "I came here because you assaulted the Star Cruiser #341 nine days ago. According to my information, there was a coffer with starry gems. Hand it over." The Scarlet King ignored Red Hawk''s question and immediately demanded this one to hand over the chest that had the type of skill he had been looking for since he embarked on the Essence Evolution Path of Power. When Old River heard that, a small smile appeared on his face. This person was after Red Hawk, and since that was the case, he could leave. "I will not bother you and let you get to business." Red Hawk frowned when he heard the words of Old River, but there was nothing he could do about it since that was the type of relationship people in the underworld had. If there was no profit, why would they share the danger? Even his comrade, Blue Crow, was looking to the exits, seemingly ready to leave. "No one can leave. I came for the starry gems, but I have business with all of you." Chapter 420 Forming a faction (II) "No one can leave. I came for the starry gems, but I have business with all of you." Old River, Blue Crow, and the two guards frowned when they heard those words, while Red Hawk smiled, thinking he would not be left alone with this person. The Scarlet King could have easily contacted Red Hawk and met him alone, but he chose this particular meeting since he had big plans for his stay in the Kronos Continent, and to achieve them, he would need a certain type of people. "Since you have business with us, shouldn''t you tell us your name?" Old River went back to his plan to learn more about the person, but the man did not even look in his direction. His eyes remained on Red Hawk until a flash of coldness emerged. "The chest, now." Red Hawk trembled as he saw the coldness in the man''s eyes, but he clenched his teeth before shouting. "Who do you think you are to order a member of the Dark Hand like that?" Although Old River hated Red Hawk''s wild attitude, he was happy about it this time since it would force the man to act. This person was indeed terrifying, and his Ego Wave put him at the level of an Apotheosis Realm Master, but there was a chance that his battle power was not that high, and they could defeat him by working together. The Scarlet King extended his index finger and aimed it at Red Hawk''s right arm before speaking.@@@@ "If you don''t hand me the chest, why do you need your arm?" Immediately, Red Hawk stood up, ignoring the pain and sense of fatigue that assaulted him. His mind had pure and absolute terror, and he could not stop trembling. Old River and the other Atrox were the same, with none daring to open their mouths or say a single word for fear of drawing the attention of the merciless and bloodthirsty monster in front of them. The Scarlet King did not pay attention to the group as he had already taken over their minds and bodies; they just did not realize it. He was a Saint Hypnosis Master, and while taking control of five Middle Wave Kings was not easy, overcoming their mental defenses became effortless after flooding their souls with terror. It did not take long for the Scarlet King to find the chest he was looking for, and a smile appeared on his face. It was still closed, and it seemed that Red Hawk had been unable to open it. He was not surprised since there were all sorts of formations on the chest, and opening it by force would trigger its self-destruction. The formations would have been a hurdle for the Scarlet King before, but it was a piece of cake with [Quantum Hacking] and [Sub Multidimensional Scan Force Field]. The five Atrox saw how the man with the red mask stared at the chest for less than a minute, and then it opened on its own, revealing ten starry gems. Once again, they were shocked, and the mysterious aura of the man only kept growing, as well as their fear of him. The Scarlet King sent his Ego Wave into the starry gems, and just as Apex''s information suggested, these were Saint Techniques that focused on the Law of Blood, Darkness, and Shadows. He focused on the first one, and the technique''s name immediately came to his mind. Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire "Blood Flame." As with all Saint Techniques, the Scarlet King''s mind was transferred into an illusion. There, he saw an Atrox standing in a meditative position above a pool of blood. The Atrox sent the blood into his Evolution Core, which gave birth to a small flame that radiated Blood Energy! Chapter 421 Forming a faction (III) "Excellent!" The Scarlet King was pleased since this technique would allow him to gain access to Blood Energy again. Blood Flame focused only on the generation of Blood Energy and did not temper his flesh and blood, which was perfect for the Scarlet King. After all, the auxiliary body refinement techniques of the Essence Evolution Path would not affect him, as his body had already experienced more enhancement than any of those skills could provide. At least those beneath the Divine Ascension Rank. After putting aside the Blood Flame Saint Technique, he went from one to the other as he analyzed them, and while they were all powerful and would allow him to express the power of his Laws, they were not mind-blowing. That was, at least, until his Ego Wave reached the last of the starry gems, and immediately, a sense of shock appeared in his eyes. "Dark Blood God Phantom." That was the name of the Saint Technique, and as the Scarlet King''s mind entered the realm of the starry gem, he saw a small man not even one and a half meters tall in front of a massive mountain range. The man was an Atrox, and his body was covered in impressive armor. He waved his hand, making nineteen red spheres appear, and the next second, he infused his Essence Wave into them while harnessing the power of the Law of Darkness. The energy in the spheres burst, generating the phantom of a dark demonic claw, but while it was majestic and carried a terrific aura, it lacked true power. However, everything changed after the Atrox sent a torrent of Blood Energy into the phantom claw and galvanized it through the use of the Law of Bloow. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire The demonic claw grew larger and more monstrous as it became a true physical entity, no longer a mere illusion or amalgamation of energy. "You can work for me. Give your blind and absolute obedience, and I will do my best to improve your battle power and talent. Or, you can die. Since I am in a good mood, if you choose the second path, I will make it painless." The ruthlessness and brutality of the Scarlet King left Old River and the others, bonafide killers, shocked. It was as if he honestly thought that killing them without pain was something they should be grateful for. Ultimately, all five Atroxs had embraced the underworld and were no saints, so they immediately knelt and bowed. "We will serve!" Even Red Hawk, who had lost his right arm, shouted those words. No matter what he felt about this person, he did not want to die. The Scarlet King was not surprised, and he nodded as he took the severed arm, approaching Red Hawk. "Stand up." Red Hawk did as he was told, and the next second, he saw the man put his severed arm back in place before golden flames covered his body. Surprise and awe appeared in the Atrox Wave King as he felt the severed arm begin to reconnect. After five minutes, the man returned to his throne, and the arm was back in place. While there were still injuries, and Red Hawl would need a few weeks to fully recover, he was truly happy. The stronger a cultivator becomes, the more powerful and precious their bodies are, and the harder it is to recover a missing limb. It is not odd for a missing limb to have a crushing effect on someone''s cultivation, stopping them from advancing further. Chapter 422 Forming a faction (IV) After healing Red Hawk, the Scarlet King returned to his throne and took a deep breath before his Ego Wave burst with power again. Old River, Red Hawk, Blue Crown, and the other two Atrox felt a powerful Ego Wave trying to carve a path into the deepest part of their brains. "If you resist, I will take it as breaking your word." The Scarlet King''s voice was cold as he uttered those words. He knew this group would undoubtedly betray him if he showed any form of weakness, so he was resolute to completely take over them. The five Atrox knew they could resist, but that would mean death. In the end, they all shut down their mental defenses, and it did not take long for a red Ego Mark to appear in the deepest part of their brains, allowing not only the Scarlet King to know their location at all times but if it were to explode, it would cause a deadly injury. Once the Ego Mark was in place, the Scarlet King stared at Old River. "You seem to have the highest knowledge about Dark Hand. What is the power of its leader, Dark Mask?"@@@@ The Scarlet King had already learned a lot about the underworld of the Kronos Continent. Unlike in the Gaia Continent, where everything was under The Organization''s control, several factions dominated the Atrox Immortal Empire''s underworld and were divided into Tiers. There were three Tier 0 Dark Factions led by Gods, named Silent World, Blood Path, and Gods'' Doom. Beneath them were hundreds of warriors, along with smaller factions that swore loyalty. Dark Hand was a Tier 1 Dark Faction that swore loyalty to Silent World and was supposed to be ruled by an Apotheosis Realm Master. However, there was a significant difference between someone at the different stages of the realm, as their strength increased with each tribulation. For members of the Apotheosis Realm of the Essence Evolution Path of Power, there were a total of Four Elemental Tribulations. These were the Wind Tribulation, Water Tribulation, Earth Tribulation, and finally, Fire Tribulation. As for someone on the Astral Rebirth Path of Power, they went through Two Calamities, being in order the Flesh Calamity and Bone Calamity. After all the tribulations were completed, the cultivator would enhance their foundation and soul force as much as possible before finally fusing their soul with their Sacred Organ, triggering an evolution of these and their ascension to the Divine Ascension Realm. In less than four hours, the job was complete, and Old River''s eyes had changed, becoming completely black. He emerged from the chamber and gazed at his body as he felt his burning vitality along with his Essence Wave bursting with power. Even more shocking, his cultivation base, which had stagnated for decades, showed signs of improving. "Amazing." Old River could not hide his shock as the power of the Avernus Bloodline was astonishing, even if its lack of purity limited its power for the Apotheosis Realm. When the man told them he would improve their talent, he did not believe him, but it was clearly true. The Scarlet King showed little concern for the old man''s thrill and turned his eyes to the two bodyguards. "Your names." "Specter." "Ghoul." The duo immediately responded, and while they were nervous, there was also a sense of thrill in their eyes since the idea of obtaining a powerful lineage was terrific. "Specter, go in." The Atrox did as told, and the Scarlet King began to work. This time, he did not choose the Avernus Bloodline but the Life Trent Bloodline. Ultimately, all five Atrox gained an Apotheosis Realm Lineage, with Old River, Red Hawk, and Blue Crow obtaining the Avernus Bloodline and Specter and Ghoul the Life Trent Bloodline. As the five were analyzing their power, they immediately adopted solemn expressions as they felt the eyes of their leader on them. "We will meet here in one and a half months. You have until then to adjust your battle style and improve your power." After that, the Scarlet King took some resources from the warehouse and left. Even now, the five Atrox did not know the man''s name, but one thing was sure: he was in absolute control, and the only path forward was to follow him. Chapter 423 Law Fragmentation (I) "BOOOOOM!" Explosions echoed across the Silent Forest as a humanoid figure with a red mask faced a gargantuan bear with bone spikes emerging from its body and six wings on its back. "ROAR!" The Skull Sky Bear roared as it flashed toward the humanoid. Despite its massive size, its speed was formidable, and a dark, ominous aura cloaked its right claw as it struck forward. Despite being a Peak King Beast, the Skull Sky Bear''s offensive power had the potential to threaten even Apotheosis Realm Masters. Yet, that massive strike was met with an even more impressive demonic claw covered in darkness. "BOOOOMMMM!" The Scarlet King''s eyes were cold as he used the Dark Claw to stop the attack from the Skull Sky Bear before his eyes burst with red light, only for a second Dark Claw to descend from the sky, landing straight into the King Beast''s back, and plummeting it into the ground. "BOOOOOOOMMM!" A massive explosion echoed across the forest, decimating everything in a radius of several thousand meters, but despite that, the Sky Skull Bear managed to rise immediately. The last attack clearly wounded it, but there was only rage in its eyes as it flashed toward the humanoid. There was no wound in the Scarlet King''s body, but that did not mean the fight was easy. He had reached the Second Level of the Dark Blood God Phantom, and while his mastery over the Law of Darkness and Law of Blood diminished the energy consumption of the technique, it was still a technique meant for Wave Kings. If not for the Ego Wave of the Scarlet King being able to supplement his energy pool, it would have drained mid-battle. Still, not much was left, and he needed to end the fight now. The Scarlet King pointed his right hand forward, making two massive Dark Claws flash toward the Sky Skull Bear. Just as they were about to clash, the King Beast made its energy explode, increasing the dark aura that flooded its body, improving its striking force, allowing it to burst past the Dark Claws. A flash of surprise appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he saw the Peak King Beast shatter his spell and come into striking distance. However, before the fight became a melee, he waved the blade in his hand, generating a torrent of shadow that covered the Sky Skull Bear''s view. The Sky Skull Beast pierced through the tsunami of shadows without a problem, but to its shock, there was no one on the other side. Shock appeared in the Sky Skull Bear''s eyes as the enemy suddenly vanished, but before it could recover, it felt a row of sharp teeth piercing its belly, shattering its internal organs. By the time the beast saw the Blood Fangs, it was too late, and it had already destroyed most of its internal organs. Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Middle Wave Champion) / Essence Evolution (Early Wave Champion) Lineage: True Avernus Lineage (Maximum Purity) Wave Talent: Initial Tier 9 (Initial Tier 9) Stats: Strength: 53.8 Agility: 31.1 Vitality: 61.4 Astral Wave: 35.2 Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire Essence Wave: 22.7-->27.9 Blood Energy (Astral): 45.9-->47.6 Blood Energy (Essence): 39.6 Blood Rebirth: Golden Blood Stage Main Law Mastery: Law of Blood (Extreme Basic Understanding) Secondary Law Mastery: Law of Darkness (Extreme Basic Understanding) Note (1): Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 28.1%.] Chapter 424 Law Fragmentation (II) The Scarlet King saw how only his Essence Wave and Blood Energy (Essence) had improved. Still, it made sense as he knew that the Essence Evolution Path of Power would lack the capabilities to temper his body for a long time, even if he practiced auxiliary techniques. "27 points. I have suppressed and tempered my energy pool as much as possible, but it has already reached its limit." The Scarlet King had been using top-tier resources and energy to improve the Essence Wave of his Evolution Core, and it was a stark contrast to the wild energy present when he recently entered the Early Stage. Training the Dark Blood God Phantom Technique also had wondrous effects on his energy and perception, improving his mastery of the Law of Blood and Law of Darkness. However, he had already reached a blockade, and if he wanted to keep improving, it was time to allow his Evolution Core''s energy to rise to the next level. After sending the corpse of the Skull Sky Bear into the [Demon Devourer Dimension], the Scarlet King found a quiet place to recover to his peak, far from any threat. The heaven presented itself as a small mountain. He carved a path into its core before closing it and using his [Pseudo Multidimensional Scan Force Field] to block any force field or Ego Wave. The Scarlet King rested for six hours, and once his mind was in perfect condition, he took a sip from the tea left behind by the strange old man. He had no idea what type of tea it was or its component, but it was extremely pure, managing to refine his Essence Wave at a level not that much inferior to Goldsoul Crystals. He stood unmoving for several hours until suddenly, the Essence Wave inside his Evolution Core burst with power, crashing against the wall of the Sacred Organ, improving in quantity and quality. Luckily for the Scarlet King, his foundation was as sturdy as it could be, so he resisted the improvement without a problem. His energy pool began to stabilize after a few hours, and as he focused on it, he saw that it was not only revolving faster, but its density grew to the point that crystal fragments began to appear inside the Evolution Core. As he saw those crystal fragments, a smile full of thrill appeared on the Scarlet King''s face. A Wave King''s Evolution Core contained an energy pool so dense that it had crystallized entirely, and the fact that he was already seeing signs of that transformation in the Middle Wave Champion proved just how robust his foundation was. However, that was not the only reason why the Scarlet King smiled, since after the improvement of his cultivation, he felt how the barrier that limited his perception and understanding of the Law of Blood had shattered, allowing him to finally pierce beyond the Basic Understanding Realm! "Law Fragmentation!" The Scarlet King knew just how impressive that stage was since it meant he could now delve deeper into the Law of Blood, breaking it down into smaller components for a more nuanced understanding. He could now gain a much deeper understanding of the Law of Blood, allowing a more smooth galvanizing of Blood Energy or even control over the blood flow of the enemy. In this stage, the Scarlet King would also have a better chance of mastering the third level of the Dark Blood God Phantom Technique. Essence Wave: 27.9-->31.2 Blood Energy (Astral): 47.6 Blood Energy (Essence): 39.6 Blood Rebirth: Golden Blood Stage Main Law Mastery: Law of Blood (Low Law Fragmentation) Secondary Law Mastery: Law of Darkness (Extreme Basic Understanding) Note (1): Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 28.1%.] The Scarlet King was thrilled with the improvement of his energy pool and the evolution of his mastery over the Law of Blood to the next level. The Law of Darkness remained in Basic Understanding, but he was sure it would not stay there long. Besides, Law Fragmentation was a stage that even Wave Kings found hard to reach, so the fact he advanced so fast was impressive. Now that that was all over, the Scarlet King''s eyes turned to the capital of the Atrox Immortus Empire. It was already time for the next gala, and he needed to be there. He had learned a lot from the golden book, but a few hours was too little to go through all the information in it. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire "Before going back to theory, I should do field tests." The Scarlet King opened his palm and began gathering the Life Wave of the surroundings with his Ego Wave before setting it ablaze, generating a 1 Revolution Flame. He carried on until he transformed it into a 3 Revolution Flame. That had been his limit until a week ago, but now he could push forward. Using the Life Wave of the surroundings and the one coming from his [Gluttony Module], the flame in his hand gained a new color, becoming a 4 Revolution Flame! The Scarlet King took out a sphere from his space ring and deposited the flame before generating a new one. He went on and made nine 4 Revolution Essence Flames. After that, his Ego Wave spread across the forest until he found 9 Peak Wave Champion Beasts, taking control of their bodies and bringing them to him. The Scarlet King did not care about the type of Wave Beast they were, as he only needed them to be different and have fleshy bodies. He then waved his hand, taking a massive cauldron from his space ring. Chapter 425 Back to Evernight It was a Refinement Cauldron, a tool used by Enhancers he took from Old River''s warehouse that could assist in refinement. It was supposed to endure the power of Golden Flames, so it should have no problem resisting the might of a 4 Revolution Flame. Not wasting time, the Scarlet King commanded one of the Wave Champion Beasts to enter the Refinement Cauldron before sending in a 4 Revolution Flame and triggering the refinement. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire Closing the cauldron, the Scarlet King released the flames, allowing them to flood the interior and then concentrating all its power into the Wave Champion Beast''s body. Using the teachings of the golden book, the Scarlet King began to guide the enhancement. The process of Revolution Refinement focused on the Enhancer revolving the energy coming from the world inside the target, ensuring it flowed without problems until the last drop was assimilated. It didn''t take long for waves of energy to flood the cauldron, reaching into the beast''s body and making this one tremble. More and more energy flooded into the body of the Wave Champion Beast as the Scarlet King guided the enhancement, but all of a sudden, the energy flow inside the beast grew unstable. Before he could do anything, the amount of energy inside the beast grew out of control, and the body of this one exploded like a balloon full of blood! Since the Wave Champion Beast was hypnotized, it felt no pain at all, but that did not diminish the goriness of its death. It was such a gory scene that even the Scarlet King could not keep his composed expression as he pictured what would have happened if he was the one inside the cauldron. He regained focus quickly as he went to the next Wave Champion Beast after using a wave of darkness to clean the blood and pieces of flesh inside the cauldron. Learning from the previous experiment, the Scarlet King guided the energy flow into the Wave Champion Beast with even better precision, but while he was able to advance further this time, it was still a failure. The same happened with the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Wave Champion Beasts. At this point, the Scarlet King paused as he went through everything he had learned, internalizing the knowledge and recognizing the mistakes until finally opening his eyes again. A new Wave Champion Beast made its way into the Refinement Cauldron. Its name was Winged Lion, and its appearance was what you would expect. The Wave Champion Beast''s body was set ablaze by the Revolution Flame, and the world''s energy began to flow into it with more and more power.@@@@ The Scarlet King''s eyes glowed with more and more energy as he pushed his focus to the limit until suddenly, the beast stopped trembling, and the energy flooding into its flesh and blood stabilized. A smile of satisfaction appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he immediately commanded the Absolute Life Form System to analyze the beast. "System, scan the beast and show me the alterations done by the 4 Revolution Refinement." Of course, not only was creating such a Revolution Flame incredibly complex, but that level of enhancement should be exponentially more challenging than this one, and failure would mean not only the loss of the flame but also the loss of the target. The Scarlet King took the Wave Champion Beast out of the cauldron before putting the next one along with another. In the end, he was able to succeed three more times but failed in the ninth attempt, giving him an 80% chance of success. After finishing the Wave Champion Beast, the Scarlet King did not kill them. He allowed them to regain control over their mind and bodies and flee. Since they survived his experiments, they have the right to harness the fruits of their new power. --- A new monthly gala had started, and the envoys of the Inferno Daemon Clan and the young Atroxs were becoming closer and closer to each other, to the point that some of them had already established romantic relationships. Even those that had yet to reach that level were socializing and forming at least some type of friendship since it would be good for the standing of their families in the future. Astrid was the only one who still did not show any interest in socializing with the people present. The only reason she came to this type of gathering was because it was expected from the young daughter of a noble clan, and she did not want to affect the image of her father. Astrid''s eyes wandered across the room, but she could not find who she was looking for. ''Ahhh, it seems that he will not appear today.'' "Are you thinking about me?" Just as Astrid was about to stand up and leave, she heard a voice behind her and saw a handsome young man showing a radiant smile toward her. The Scarlet King smiled before extending his right hand, signaling to help her stand. "What do you say if we leave? I personally find this place boring." The Scarlet King did not hide his voice so everyone could hear him, but he did not care or even bother to look at the others as he kept his eyes only on the young Atrox woman before him. Chapter 426 Massive improvement Astrid knew that if she were to take Kain''s hand after his remark, people would also become angry with her, but she had long stopped caring about what others say, and with a smile, she followed the young man. After the events with Marin, everybody knew better than to mess with Kain, so no one intervened as they saw the duo leave the hall. The Scarlet King and Astrid returned to the main plaza, and they looked at each other before silently nodding and calmly walking to the young woman''s home instead of using the teleportation formation. As soon as they moved away from the people, the Scarlet King waved his hand, showing a sphere with a 4 Revolution Flame. "It took me nearly a month, but I was already able to advance beyond a 3 Revolution Flame. I have an 80% success rate with Body Enhancement." Astrid''s eyes immediately glowed with excitement as she opened her golden book to review the information regarding 4 Revolution Refinements. Her eyes showed an evident wonder as she stared at the Scarlet King. "You became a Grand Tribulation Enhancement Rank in less than a month. According to the author''s notes, it normally took a great genius not less than a year to reach that level. You are too fast." The Scarlet King only smiled at the young woman and did not offer any comment. After all, the assistance of the modules to his talent had always been above the level of divine and granted him an innate talent that was simply unique. Actually, the Scarlet King was sure that his talent would rise even higher once he mastered the Second Level of The Flow since it would allow him to perceive and predict the trends and vibrations of energy patterns. A flash of surprise and excitement appeared in the Scarlet King as he saw the Refinement Flame growing stronger and pushing to the next level. He had attempted to form a 5 Revolution Flame on his way back to Evernight from the Silent Forest but had encountered many problems. Yet now, with Astrid''s input, he advanced much faster. Just as the 4 Revolution Flame was about to finish its evolution, it began to grow unstable before finally dispersing. Although it was a failure, the Scarlet King did not stop smiling since he had significantly improved his mastery over the Refinement Flame. Astrid was just as excited and used her glasses to analyze everything. "This time, try to perform the saturation in stages, not reaching the extreme, but making it burst once it is about to destabilize." The Scarlet King could not help but look at the young woman with wonder. What she was stating was a unique approach, one she must have figured out on her own using her intelligence and imagination. Not wasting time, the Scarlet King did as Astrid told him, and not only did it work perfectly, but it allowed the flame in his hand to gain a new color, becoming a 5 Revolution Flame. Once he reached this point, the Scarlet King did not simply stop and continued infusing Life Wave into it. "Make sure to condense the flame from its interior. Make it revolve in a 190¡ã axis in case of flux, which should compensate for the instability." Astrid began to analyze the flame as it was being created and guided the Scarlet King on how to carry it out. Although following the guidance of a mortal might seem unwise, the Scarlet King did exactly as the young woman told him, making sure to internalize her insights as he carried on with his work. To his delight, by following Astrid''s guidance, the Scarlet King could transform his newly created 5 Revolution Flame into a 6 Revolution Flame. The Scarlet King and the young Atrox woman did not realize it, but they were moving incredibly slowly, maximizing the time it would take until they reached her home as they continued their work. Chapter 427 8 Revolution Flame Like before, the Scarlet King attempted to immediately transform that 6 Revolution Flame into a 7 Revolution Flame, but while he managed to improve its power, it grew unstable and faded. The Scarlet King and Astrid looked at each other with a solemn light in their eyes. They began to discuss all sorts of mathematical formulas and chemical equations to fix the problems and improve the conversion efficiency while keeping the flame stable. After nearly an hour and reaching a consensus, the Scarlet King formed a Refinement Flame again, getting a 7 Revolution flame without a problem and channeling energy into it. Everything went well, but once again, it trembled before dispersing. Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire It was the second time the Scarlet King failed to evolve the 7 Revolution Flame to the next level in a row, but he was not disheartened since he was closer this time, and after discussing with Astrid how to improve, he strived once again. Luckily for the Scarlet King, he did not have to waste wave crystals since the [Gluttony Module] gave him all the energy he could need. The duo saw how the 7 Revolution Flame came to be once again and how this one grew stronger and stronger. Astrid guided during crucial points, and after much effort, the Scarlet King evolved it into an 8 Revolution Flame!@@@@ Pure excitement could be seen in the eyes of the duo, but all good things had to come to an end. While they walked extremely slowly, they had been advancing for nearly ten hours and finally reached Astrid''s home. The young Atrox''s eyes released a flash of disappointment as she saw her house, and she stared at the Scarlet King for a moment before extending the golden book toward him. The Scarlet King''s eyes narrowed as he stared at the man in the sky. He had detected the man long ago as this one followed him from Astrid''s home, but it would have been suspicious if he reacted too fast. After all, he was only an Early Wave Champion, and the Atrox seemed to be someone with a foot in the Divine Ascension Realm! "What can this envoy from the Inferno Daemon Race do for a senior of the Atrox Immortus Empire?" The Atrox man''s eyes narrowed as he heard the words of the Scarlet King, as they had several implications. If he were to attack or do something that could involve harm to Kain, it could very well provoke a significant intercontinental incident. "Mmm, it seems that what they say about the Hell Clan is true. You are truly good with your words. Don''t worry; I don''t intend to do anything foolish. Of course, that is on the assumption you don''t do anything to harm my daughter." The Scarlet King stared into the man''s eyes and could feel a certain resemblance with those of Astrid, and by the look of it, this one was her father. "My intentions are clear. I am just fascinated by the art of Tribulation Enhancement, and Astrid seems happy to help me. Nothing else is happening between us." People can be irrational regarding their families, especially fathers with their daughters. Hence, the Scarlet King was careful with his words, making it clear to the powerhouse that nothing ominous or sinister was happening. The Atrox stared at the Scarlet King for a long time before his eyes began to glow with a silver light that carried a small ember of fire. "Young man, I have faced great enemies and led millions into war and death, gaining the respect of my peers and honor from my race. Yet, I have failed as a father as I cannot help my daughter. She will only live a normal lifespan of a few hundred years at most, and I will do everything in my power to ensure those years are full of happiness and safety." The silver light in the Atrox''s eyes burst with power as he uttered those words, making clear their level of conviction. Chapter 428 A 9 Revolution Refinement (I) The Atrox uttered no more words as he turned around, flashing back to his home. After the Scarlet King saw the man''s Ego Wave, he immediately adjusted the level of threat of this one to that of Gods. Even though he had yet to fuse his soul into his Sacred Organ, his willpower was already evolving deep into the Divine Ascension Realm. ''Interesting.''@@@@ While the man was a threat, the Scarlet King also saw an opportunity. While that person would kill him if he harmed Astrid, he couldn''t help but wonder what this one would do if he helped her. The Scarlet King''s smile returned to his face as he returned to the central plaza, and instead of returning to the Magma Castle, he made his way out of Evernight. No one questioned him since this was not the first time he had left the city, and he was not a prisoner or anything like that, so he could do whatever he wanted within the confines of the Sector. Once the Scarlet King was out of the city''s walls, he rose to the sky and flashed into the Silent Forest, vanishing among the trees. Not even a minute had passed before three individuals followed him, hiding their auras and making sure not to draw attention. The trio that left after the Scarlet King were all Wave Kings, and the one leading the group was none other than Janiro, the guard who had been waiting for him at the city wall to finish the job that Orphin and the others had started. Due to his devious behavior, Marshal Damos fired Janiro, severing his income and putting him in a tough spot with all the people he was doing business with. The employer who gave him Kain''s contract made it clear that he would have to take care of the young man or that losing his job would be the least of his problems. Janiro had already directed all his rage and blame for his current situation toward Kain, so he was more than happy to take care of the young man, especially if that would help smooth things over with the people of the underworld. Despite Janiro''s questionable work ethic, he was not a fool and knew that Kain was a genius by the way he could stop a Wave King''s momentum, so he brought help. The Scarlet King saw the three Wave Kings immobilized on the ground and smiled as he saw the might of his palm strike once he harnessed the power of the Law of Blood. He could have easily knocked out the trio using his Ego Wave, but he wanted to see what the Law of Blood could do after its evolution to the Law Fragmentation Stage. Even without a Saint Technique''s guidance, the Law''s power did not disappoint. "I needed test subjects for my experiment, and I am happy to have some volunteers." That was the last thing Janiro and the other Wave Kings heard before a powerful Ego Wave invaded their minds and left them unconscious. --- Janiro and the other Wave Kings opened their eyes and found themselves on the peak of a massive mountain. Before them stood the man with a red mask, and in his hand were three spheres with revolving flames, each with nine colors. The trio did not know the meaning of the flames, but if someone who understood Tribulation Enhancement were to see them, they would be shocked. And that shock would turn into true and absolute awe if they were to know that the man had begun his path less than two months ago. The Scarlet King smiled as he saw the three 9 Revolution Flames. He had followed Astrid''s advice, and after less than two days, he evolved his 8 Revolution Flames to the next level, achieving the peak of the Grand Tribulation Enhancer Rank! Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Janiro and the others had not woken up on their own; the Scarlet King allowed them to regain consciousness since the chances of success would be better if they were awake and used their minds to help assimilate the energy into their bodies. Of course, the fact that they were awake did not mean they had control over their actions, as the Scarlet King focused on one of the Atrox Wave Kings, and the body of this one moved on its own, jumping into the Refinement Cauldron. Chapter 429 A 9 Revolution Refinement (II) The Atrox was terrified and did not know what was happening until he heard the voice of the man in the red mask. "Use all your will to assimilate the energy that will begin to revolve around your body. If you succeed, I will let you leave, but failure would mean your body will explode like a balloon full of blood." Janiro and the other Wave King also heard the man''s words, and they saw how he deposited one of the spheres with a 9-colored flame into the cauldron before closing it. The Scarlet King''s eyes burst with focus as he pushed his mind to its peak and released the 9 Revolution Flame, triggering the Enhancement. Immediately, the flame covered the Atrox''s body, but he felt no pain. Just as he wondered about the effect of it, shock appeared in his eyes as an immense amount of energy flooded into his flesh and blood, so powerful that he felt it would make him burst. "Focus!" The Atrox heard the voice in his mind and did as told, using his will to help assimilate the energy into his flesh and blood, ensuring the process could continue. Minutes began to pass, and the man''s eyes began to glow with excitement as he felt every part of his body experiencing quality improvements. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire Unfortunately, that thrill did not last for long, as less than thirty minutes after the refinement began, the Atrox started to lose control, and the waves of energy flooding into his body were too much for him to contain. "?BOOM!" Janiro and the other Atrox Wave King saw how the Refinement Cauldron trembled after an explosion echoed, and they could imagine what had just happened. "My skills have improved, and I am fairly certain that success will be achieved if you do your part." Janiro heard those words, and while they could be a lie, he chose to believe them since he had no other option other than to push forward, doing all in his power to assimilate the flow of energy. The 9 Revolution Flame flooded the interior of the cauldron. It covered Janiro''s body before triggering a reaction from the world''s energy, making it circulate across his body with overwhelming power. Janiro''s eyes were fierce as he pushed himself harder and harder, using every ounce of his willpower to drive the energy through his flesh and blood. The Scarlet King''s eyes narrowed as he felt the way the energy flowed through the Atrox''s body. When facing certain death, some people break apart, while others cling to the slightest thread of hope, and it seemed that this Atrox was of the second kind. Personally, the Scarlet King did not care what thoughts crossed the man''s mind, but he was happy to see that the resolution in Janiro''s heart and mind helped the process. He also pushed his mind beyond its limit as he guided the energy flow. After an hour, a sense of fatigue appeared in his eyes, but he just clenched his teeth and carried on. "?BOOM!" A new burst echoed inside the cauldron, but this one was much less powerful, and it was not due to Janiro''s body blowing to pieces. A burst of energy emerged from the Atrox''s flesh and blood after enduring a 9 Revolution Refinement! The lid of the cauldron opened, and Janiro emerged from it. There was a sense of wonder in the man''s eyes as he felt how his body had changed. It felt stronger, more durable, and faster, but it was much more than that. The only way the Atrox could explain it would be the difference between the state of a body before and after three years of intense hard work. Every system in his body and how it reacted was significantly better than before. It worked as a flawless machine, erasing much of the damage it had endured over the years and drastically improving its foundation. Just as Janiro was analyzing his body, so was the Scarlet King, but his analysis was much more powerful as he used the [Pseudo Atomic Analysis] tool. Chapter 430 A 9 Revolution Refinement (III) [Scanning Target... ... Scan of Target completed. Name: Janiro Race: Atrox Immortus Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Early Wave King) Wave Talent: Initial Tier 8-->Middle Tier 8 Stats: Strength: 65.4-->67.7 Agility: 60.2-->62.1 Vitality: 70.2-->72.9 Astral Wave: 67.4-->70.2 Blood Rebirth: Golden Blood Stage-->Pseudo Mercury Blood The way in which the Scarlet King spoke showed just how little he cared about what Janiro or anyone else thought about him. For a master of Order, lies and deception were meaningless and could not affect your mind or heart. "However, killing you would be a waste, especially with what I am going to do next." Just as Janiro thought his life was over, a new ray of light appeared, and he stared at the man with the red mask in silence. Then, an intense red force field began to invade his mind. Janiro was smart enough to understand that resisting would mean death, so he shut down his mental defenses and allowed a red Ego Mark to materialize inside his brain. "Go and capture 30 Peak Wave Champion Beasts and 3 King Beasts." Janiro was confused by the task, but he did not hesitate for even a second before flashing into the forest, pushing his mind and body to the limit as he was ready to perform the task. The only thought on his mind was to do all in his power to please the demonic figure and remain alive. As Janiro left, the Scarlet King took a meditative position as he released his Ego Wave, tracking control of the Life Wave in the air and channeling the one emerging from the [Sky Flame] into his hand, generating new 9 Revolution Flames. It did not take long for Janiro to return with a King Beast and seven Peak Wave Champion Beasts before flashing back into the Silent Forest in search of more. The Scarlet King took control over the Wave Beasts and began to perform Revolution Refinement on them. As he completed the enhancements on these beasts, he could not help but frown. The problem was not that the Enhancement was difficult; on the contrary. While the Scarlet King still failed sometimes, the process was much more straightforward than with the life form that had Sacred Organs, and while it worked to refine his techniques, it would not help him improve his skills to the next level. In the end, after five days, the Scarlet King was able to perform Tribulation Enhancement on all the beasts. Of the 30 Wave Champion Beasts, 26 survived, and all three Wave King Beasts succeeded. The creatures did not know what was happening or why this humanoid was helping them grow stronger, as that defied the notion of everything they understood since humanoids were supposed to be the enemy. Just as the Scarlet King had surpassed the boundary of racial prejudice against the Dark Races, he also evolved beyond the view of Wave Beasts as enemies. That was why those who survived were released back into the Silent Forest. Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire When Janiro saw all those beasts marching back into the Silent Forest, he did not doubt that a struggle for power would emerge. Since they were now more powerful, those beasts would definitely aim for a higher stage in the food chain. Chapter 431 A 9 Revolution Refinement (IV) The Scarlet King looked at the last of the 9 Revolution Flames in his hand before a decisive light emerged in his eyes. He jumped into the Refinement Cauldron with it before closing the lid. Janiro saw that, and a sharp look appeared as he silently hoped the monster would blow up. "By the way, I have left a subconscious command in your brain. If I die, you will blow yourself up, so pray for my success and keep an eye on the surroundings." Shock and horror appeared in Janiro''s mind when he heard that voice in his mind, and he immediately began to look around, ready to protect the cauldron. The Scarlet King almost burst into laughter as he saw the man''s behavior. The truth was that he was in no real danger as he could always use the [Enhancement Module] to improve his chances of success to 100%. No longer bothering with the outside world, the Scarlet King stored his clothes and released the 9 Revolution Flame from the sphere, making it flood the interior of the cauldron as it coalesced on his body. In a few seconds, the Scarlet King felt the world''s energy flooding his body, reaching every cell of it, improving not only his flesh and blood but also his meridians, neural pathways, immune system, and even his Sacred Organs! The energy revolved with more and more strength as the Scarlet King pushed it across his body, improving the flow and assimilation. It was hard and forced his mind to the limit, but after an hour, a smile appeared on his face as he felt his body grow stable again, and a feeling of complete synergy between his biological systems flooded his mind and soul. The cauldron lid opened, and the Scarlet King emerged from it with a smile of satisfaction as the [A.I. Chip Module] analyzed his body. [Scanning Vessel... ... Scan of Vessel completed. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind@@@@ Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Middle Wave Champion) / Essence Evolution (Middle Wave Champion) However, the most shocking and exciting part for the Scarlet King was the fact that his Rebirth Heart showed signs of improvement thanks to the Tribulation Enhancement. ''Does this mean I can use the Tribulation Enhancement to fix my Rebirth Heart!?'' The Scarlet King''s eyes glowed, and he immediately commanded the system to do the calculations. [According to the data analyzed, the Vessel''s Rebirth Heart would obtain a complete recovery after undergoing a 21 Revolution Refinement.] A complicated expression appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he saw that. He was still very far from creating a 21 Revolution Flame and much less from perfecting a 21 Revolution Refinement. Although he could use the system, the cost would be 3 M Destiny Force, which was more than he currently had, and even if that were not the case, using all his DF, leaving him completely drained, would be extremely dangerous. Had it not been for his plentiful amount of Destiny Force during the events of the Azure State, he would not have been able to access the intercontinental teleportation formation, and the Blood King would have killed him. In the end, the Scarlet King chose to focus on his Essence Evolution Path of Power as there was still a lot of time to fix his Rebirth Heart in the future without any real drawback to his cultivation. After finishing with the Enhancement and deciding the path forward, the Scarlet King stared at Janiro for a moment before waving his hand and taking out the Tier 1 Bio Genetic Chamber. "Get in." Janiro recognized the Genetic Chambers of the Legio Eldritch Race, and while he was a little confused, he followed the command of the masked man. The Scarlet King did not waste time and began to work on the genome of the Wave King, using the Life Trent Bloodline Wave Virus to grant him an Apotheosis Realm Lineage. A sharp light appeared in his eyes as he saw how easily he could manipulate Janiro''s genome. "My skills as a Genetic Coder have already surpassed the 4-Star Saint Genetic Coder, reaching maybe 5 or 6 Stars, the realm in which a Genetic Coder can flawlessly manipulate the genome of an Apotheosis Realm Master. 7 Stars is the limit of the Saint Rank, and I will progress to the Divine Rank after that." The fact that the Scarlet King could analyze all that while performing genome evolution was a testament to how much he had advanced this last year. If the people of the Genetic Coder Association were to see him now, they would not be able to express with words just how monstrous his talent was. After all, the Scarlet King was only 18 years old and had already reached a level that would take hundreds of years for other geniuses to achieve. Janiro emerged from the Tier 1 Bio Chamber less than an hour after getting in, and his eyes were full of wonder as he felt his body growing more robust and his cultivation base seemingly improving, pushing towards the next stage. He immediately turned to the masked man, and his eyes held a mix of fear and reverence. Chapter 432 Killing a Grand King Beast The Scarlet King noticed the look in the man''s eyes, but he showed little concern. Janiro, Old River, Blue Crow, and all the others had something in common; they were all chess pieces in his mind, and their feelings and goals mattered very little as long as they followed his instructions. "Before I go..." A meaningful light appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he generated a new 9 Revolution Flame and took Slaughter and Blood Nails from his heart. Tribulation Enhancement could also be done on artifacts to improve their power. Actually, that was the primary purpose of Enhancement since there were very few people crazy enough to do it on the body of a person, much less themselves. The Scarlet King put the Natural Holy Weapon into the Refinement Cauldron with the Revolution Flame and triggered the Enhancement. As soon as the flames covered the weapon, the world''s energy began to flood into them. As expected, regulating energy flow into an artifact was much easier than in a body, so the Scarlet King succeeded without a problem. When he opened the lid and took the weapons out, he felt they not only had an extremely sharp aura, but the improvement they proportioned to the Essence Wave he sent into them increased drastically. That would make his attacks more powerful and diminish their drain on his energy pool. "Let''s go." The Scarlet King rose into the sky and flew toward the deepest part of the Silent Forest. He had given Old River and the others two more weeks until their meeting, and he planned to use this time to enhance his strength as much as possible and master the Third Level of the Demon Blood God Phantom. .... "?BOMMMMMM!" The Scarlet King''s eyes narrowed as he looked at the scene from the shadows. He felt the damage on the Demonic Phantom, forcing him to drain even more of his energy pool to fix it before sending it back to battle. The Demonic Phantom and the Endless Poison Raven continued clashing in the sky, and while the Grand King Beast suffered significant wounds, it still had the upper hand. It seemed that the Scarlet King''s energy pool would drain before the creature''s stamina, forcing this one to run. A sharp light appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he saw the state of the fight. He took a deep breath as the power of the Sun Seed burst, flooding his body with two streams of golden force, one bright and full of life and the other dark and full of power. Radiance of Life and Radiance of Power were the two skills born out of the Sun Seed, and their goal was to enhance the Scarlet King''s body''s physical power and regeneration abilities. Never were they supposed to improve external spells since that was not the battle style of an Astra Cultivator, but now things were different. Using the Empyrean Sun Visualization Technique, the Scarlet King found a way to use those torrents of powerful golden force to adapt to his Essence Evolution Path of Power. First, the streams of golden force flooded the Evolution Core, where they mixed with the Essence Wave. From there, the Scarlet King used the power of the Secret Organ and sent the dark and bright golden flames into the Demonic Phantom. The Demonic Phantom was in the midst of its clash with the Endless Poison Raven when its entire body began to tremble, and bursts of bright golden and dark golden flames overflowed its figure. "ROAR!" Along with that monstrous roar, the Demonic Phantom grew nearly double in size and flashed with overwhelming power toward the Grand King Beast. The Endless Poison Raven was shocked by the sudden burst in the power of its enemy, but before it could do something, the Demonic Phantom grabbed hold of its body, and this time it could not shake it off. "KRIIIIII!" Chapter 433 Enhancing his forces "KRIIIIII!" A scream of pain emerged from the Endless Poison Raven as the Demonic Phantom''s fangs buried into its body, flooding its bloodstream with darkness that destroyed its inner organs. Although there was immense pain in the Endless Poison Raven''s eyes, it was still a Grand King Beast, and its vitality was immense. It gathered all its Life Wave to fight back, but before it could do that, a mass of shadow coalesced above its head, taking the form of a humanoid. The Scarlet King made sure the Demonic Phantom kept the Grand King Beast paralyzed as he burned what little remained from his Ego Wave and summoned the power of the Sundering Concept, firing a sharp arc of shadows toward the Grand King Beast. The Endless Poison Raven could not block the arc of shadows that pierced its eye and reached into its brain, making it tremble as the life of its body faded. When the Scarlet King saw that the Endless Poison Raven was dead, he waved his hand, dispersing the Demonic Phantom. Although the Grand King Beast had an immense amount of blood inside its body full of vitality he could use, there was an even greater purpose for its corpse. The Scarlet King took control of the Grand King Beast and left it on the ground before putting a hand on its chest, sending waves of Blood Energy into it. "THUMP!" After consuming nearly all of the Blood Energy left in the Scarlet King, the heart of the Endless Poison Raven began to beat again. The creature was still dead, as its brain suffered lethal damage and its soul dimension collapsed, but through the Law of Blood, the Scarlet King could keep its blood flowing, drastically diminishing the beast''s decomposition. A cold smile appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he felt how powerful the poison of the Grand King Beast remained even after its death and was sure it would work perfectly for his plans.@@@@ The group knew they had no other choice but to oblige, not to mention that while they were terrified of the man with the red mask, they were also in awe of his power and abilities. Thanks to his help, all of them were able to improve their power, with their cultivation base nearing the next stage and their battle power already at the Late Wave King Stage. "Tap, tap!" The sound of steps drew the group''s attention, and they saw the man with the red mask walking into the room. Behind him, there was another Middle Wave King. Specter and Ghoul''s eyes narrowed as they felt the same bloodline running through their veins in the man. The Scarlet King did not say a word and simply waved his hand, taking the Refinement Cauldron from his space ring before starting at Old River. "Take out your armor and get into the cauldron. Waves of energy will flow through your body; make sure to use all your mind and will to push it forward. If it goes out of control, your body will explode, just like it happened to the friends of our new comrade." Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire Old River and the other Atroxs'' eyes widened as they heard that, and they turned to Janiro, who nodded to the group, making it clear what failure would entail. Old River could not help but feel fear as he heard the words of the Scarlet King, but there was nothing he could do other than follow the man''s guidance, expecting to survive and become even stronger than before. He took off his Atrox Bio Armor and jumped into the cauldron before clenching his teeth and pushing his mind to the limit. The Scarlet King silently nodded as he saw the resolution in the Old Atrox. He chose Old River first because he was the oldest and had the strongest will, which would make the assimilation of the world''s energy much smoother, improving the chances of success. After pushing his mind and focus to its peak, the Scarlet King sent a 9 Revolution Flame into the cauldron and closed the lid before setting the flame loose, triggering the 9 Revolution Refinement. Chapter 434 Poisonous scheme (I) Seconds become minutes as waves of the world''s energy flooded into the Refinement Cauldron, coalescing into Old River''s body and revolving around it, improving every cell. Red Hawk, Blue Crow, Specter, and Ghoul watched solemnly at the cauldron since they knew they would be next. Even if Old River were to perish, that would not deter the man with the red mask from experimenting with them. "?Boom!" A small blast echoed from inside the Refinement Cauldron after nearly an hour. Just as the four Atroxs imagined Old River''s body had blasted to pieces like a balloon full of blood, the lid opened, and a figure emerged from it.@@@@ Shock and surprise appeared on the faces of the Atroxs when they saw that Old River was not only fine but also seemed much younger now, no different than a middle-aged man. Old River was just as surprised as the others as he felt how every biological system in his body had improved drastically, helping him regain some of his youthful vigor. But even more impressive was the state of his Evolution Core. Old River''s Evolution Core had crystallized entirely a long time ago. While the new bloodline improved the speed at which he could absorb Life Wave and his mastery over the Laws, it did not directly improve his cultivation base''s potency. However, after the refinement, a lot of the impurities of his Evolution Core were expelled, allowing this one to revolve with greater momentum. "?Incredible!" Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire That was the only word Old River could come up with as he saw the effect of the colorful flame on his body and cultivation. When Red Hawk, Blue Crow, Specter, and Ghoul saw the effect of the flame on Old River, the fear they felt vanished, replaced by a burning sense of desire. Who would not want greater power and the chance to become a God? The Scarlet King was happy to see that the other four Atrox were in peak condition now, having shaken away the fear. Everything should go fine in their current mental state. "Red Hawk." A small smile appeared on the Scarlet King''s face as he heard those words since he could use that information. "The place where that trial would take place, will it have defensive mechanisms?" "Yes. A scan force field will inspect every space ring for signs of life and a jamming signal that can interfere with the correct work of any explosive device." The Scarlet King was not surprised by those security measures, but they would not be a problem for the plan he had in mind. "How long until the trial is in place after the accusation?" "It would not be less than seven days. At most two weeks." The Scarlet King nodded and told Old River to give him the coordinates of where the trial should occur before leaving the six Atroxs, only to return five hours later. "Old River, make an accusation of betrayal against a member of the upper echelon of Dark Hand. I don''t care who, I just need to get Dark Mask in that place." There was no surprise for any of the Atrox as they heard that command since they had already expected it. "Can I freely choose the target of the charge?" The Scarlet King''s eyes narrowed as he heard that question. Anyone present during their attack against Dark Mask would be a witness they would have to silence, and it seemed that Old River wanted to take care of a particular individual. "I don''t care." Old River nodded with a smile and used his computer ring to present a charge of treason against another member of the upper echelon of Dark Hand who went by Silent Shadow. Not even half a minute after Old River put the charge in place, his computer ring began to glow as several people attempted to contact him, but he ignored all except for one message that arrived ten minutes later. He extended his right hand, showing a virtual screen to everybody. Chapter 435 Poisonous scheme (II) [Dark Hand Communicate: Old River has accused Silent Shadow of betraying the faction. The trial will take place ten days from now in the Dark Hall at 9:00. Judge: Dark Mask. Juries: Golden Fist, Blood Claw, Poison Gem, Great Ocean, Dark Flame, and Final Echo.] "Ten days, that is more than enough. You six enhance your battle power as much as possible. If I succeed, you will get great rewards, allowing your cultivation base to reach the Apotheosis Realm. If I fail to kill Dark Mask, I will escape, and all of you will die." A sharp light appeared in the eyes of Janiro, Old River, Red Hawk, Blue Crow, Specter, and Ghoul. They were not surprised by those words since they fit their leader''s personality. They are weapons; if they fulfill their purpose, their master will upgrade them. If they fail, they will be discarded without a second thought. The Scarlet King did not have more words for the group, and he went to a remote corner of the warehouse, where he took out the body of the Endless Poison Raven. The Grand King Beast''s heart still worked thanks to his Blood Energy. The Tier 1 Bio Genetic Chamber appeared shortly after and began to expand, growing large enough to hold the entire body of the Grand King Beast. His eyes had a sense of purpose that he had not felt in a very long time as he was about to fulfill one of the greatest desires of his heart. There were only five minutes until the deadline, so Old River was the last to arrive, and he could see a group of Atroxs with impressive armor at the edge of the hall, all of them speaking. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire Old River saw a young Atrox female with a slender complexion among the group. Unlike him, she was not using Bio Armor; instead, black artifacts covered her body entirely, but she did not hide her charming face with pointy ears and pale skin. As soon as Old River saw the woman, a flash of rage and killing intent emerged from his eyes. It had been long since this hatred had festered inside his heart, and now he could finally set it free. Silent Shadow''s eyes narrowed as she looked to the ceiling, and her eyes gazed upon Old River. There was a flash of coldness in the woman''s eyes as she stared at Old River, but it soon turned into a mocking smile, and she did not bother with him too long and continued to talk with the rest of the upper echelon of Dark Hand. Normally, seeing Silent Shadow talk so comfortably with the jury would enrage Old River, but he knew this was nothing but an elaborate play. ''Hmph, keep talking, you bitch. Soon, I will get my revenge. I want to see your smile when your entire body is rotting!'' Old River''s killing intent burst, but it suddenly froze as he detected a figure descending from the floating magma. He was a man with a bursting vitality, donned in dark golden armor with a black mask covering his face, showing only his eyes that glowed with blue light. Immediately, Old River descended to the ground and bowed, and he was not alone since Silent Shadow and the rest of the Atroxes did the same. The reason was simple; that man was none other than Dark Mask, the Leader of Dark Hand, an Apotheosis Realm Master! Chapter 436 Poisonous scheme (III) Dark Mask''s eyes were cold as he gazed at the members of the upper echelon of his faction. Without saying a word, he flew to the end of the hall and sat on a white throne, waving his hand to make the magma ceiling burn with heat even a Peak Wave King could not endure. "We are to address the accusation of Old River against Silent Shadow for the charge of betrayal to the faction. Everybody take your positions." Silent Shadow and Old River stood ten meters apart, each in front of a small podium, while the other Atroxs that were part of the jury stood on the left and right of Dark Mask''s throne. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire "Leader, allow me to express just how absurd this accusation is. I will never betray the faction which has done so much for me. Old River is a vengeful and spiteful old man who cannot get over the fact that I took a small treasure from him." There was a charming smile on Silent Shadow''s face as she glanced at Dark Mask with both lust and affection. "Bitch. Due to your tricks and deception, I lost my entire family! You dare to say you only took a small treasure from me!" Old River lost control for a moment as the rage in his heart was too immense, but before he could say another word, a powerful blue force field drowned him, making his body tremble. "I will not allow disruption during the trial!" Dark Mask''s eyes were cold as he stared at Old River as if the man was a pest he could not wait to get rid of, hinting at how this trial would go. After almost pushing Old River to the ground, he dispersed his Ego Wave. "Old River, present the evidence you have against Silent Shadow. If insufficient, you will be charged with wrongfully accusing an upper echelon member and dealt a proper punishment." Dark Mask frowned as he saw how calm the old man was and could not help but feel that something was wrong. However, just as he was about to rise from his throne to question the man, his eyes turned to the Endless Poison Raven''s corpse. As an Apotheosis Realm Master, Dark Mask''s perception was strong enough to notice how the cells of the Endless Poison Raven''s corpse began to react in the presence of oxygen, growing volatile. "Look out!" "BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!" Dark Mask tried to warn the other Atroxs, but it was too late as the corpse of the Grand King Beast exploded the next second. Being closer to Dark Mask and the six Late Wave King Atrox jurors, they took the worst of the blast. The energy inside the body of a Grand King Beast was immense, and if all was used as an explosive, it could unleash a blast that could harm Peak Wave Kings, especially if the explosion was contained inside a closed space like the Dark Hall. Dark Mask''s face contorted due to the rage as icy wings covered his figure. He had activated his Holy Weapon just in time to protect himself from the blast and conjured an ice wall to defend the jurors. Dark Mask was able to calm down when he saw that despite the power of the blast, his subordinates did not suffer any crippling injuries. Then his eyes burst with killing intent as he turned to Old River. The fire did not last long, but a dark miasma covered the entire hall, making sight extremely complicated. However, that was not an impediment to the eyes of an Apotheosis Realm Master. Since the explosive Grand King Beast''s corpse failed to kill him and the others, Dark Mask expected to see Old River terrified, but the old man looked straight into his eyes with nothing but disdain and serenity. Just as Dark Mask wondered about the reason for the old Atrox''s confidence, his entire body trembled, and his knees gave in, forcing him to kneel. A feeling of nausea and weakness assaulted him, and his eyes widened as he stared at the dark miasma left after the explosion. ''Poison!'' Chapter 437 Killing Dark Mask (I) The Scarlet King had altered the Endless Poison Raven''s molecular composition to explode upon contact with oxygen, but that was just to spread its main genetic modification more effectively. The Grand King Beast''s poison was transformed into a potent genetic virulent toxin that could infect someone just by touching their flesh. Immediately, Dark Mask used his Essence Wave to push back the poison and the Law of Ice to freeze the parts of his body that had been affected, stopping the spread while also freezing the air around him. As expected from an Apotheosis Realm Master, he could handle the toxin incredibly fast, but the same could not be said for the rest of the Atroxs in the hall. The six jurors and Silent Shadows were all vomiting on the ground and could barely move as the poison had already invaded their bodies, overcoming their immune systems. "Old River!" Dark Mask shouted with rage as he focused once again on the old man and saw him flashing toward the ceiling of lava. The fact that the old man was not affected by the poison did not surprise Dark Mask since it was obvious this one would have taken an antitoxin before. Still, he was not afraid the Atrox could escape. "Hmph! Your pathetic power is not enough to pierce the magma." Just as Dark Mask shouted those words, a massive drill made from three different types of giant branches pierced through the ceiling of magma, caught Old River, and then pulled back. For a moment, Dark Mask was left speechless, unable to believe what he saw. The old man had come and taken out the body of a Grand King Beast that exploded, poisoning everybody in the hall. Then, a drill of giant branches pierced the magma and helped him escape. Even if he told someone about this, who would believe him? Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire Dark Mask''s first instinct was to pierce through the ceiling of magma and go after Old River, killing the man and everyone else. However, before his emotions could get the better of him, blue light flooded his eyes, and he was able to calm down. ''I have no idea how many people are on the other side or what kind of trap they had waiting for me.'' "BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!" The blast of energy fell from the sky, unleashing an explosion that decimated the entire swamp and flooded everything for several kilometers with dark red flames. The Scarlet King watched the destruction from the sky with a cold gaze. He had been charging this attack for nearly ten minutes while waiting for Dark Mask to appear. When the Scarlet King scanned the Dark Hall, he discovered the hidden teleportation formation. Using the [Pseudo Multidimensional Scan Force Field], he tracked down the other end of the teleportation formation. Based on what the Scarlet King had learned about the man, he knew Dark Mask was paranoid and wouldn''t engage in a fight without knowing the enemy''s power. Of course, there was a chance that Dark Mask would have chosen to blindly follow Old River, which would have meant death for him along with Janiro, Specter, and Ghoul, but the Scarlet King was willing to take that bet. A sharp red light appeared in the eyes of the Scarlet King as he saw a winged figure covered in ice flashing in the opposite direction from his location. ''Get ready. Everything is going according to plan.'' After sending that message, the Scarlet King tightened his grip on Slaughter and flashed into the waves of destruction and flames left by his attack. Dark Mask''s golden armor and ice had fused, covering his entire body with mighty wings and a sharp and thick tail. While he could move extremely fast, the attack galvanized the left side of his body. These wounds only made it harder to suppress the toxins running through his body, and he knew he needed to flee. ''Dammit! Who is that person?'' Dark Mask cursed as he focused on the figure with the red mask chasing after him. This focus left him vulnerable, allowing two figures covered in shadow to rise from the ground, each delivering a fierce punch infused with a massive amount of Astral Wave and darkness. Chapter 438 Killing Dark Mask (II) Red Hawk and Blue Crow unleashed all their power in their punch, and killing intent burned in their eyes as they felt the ice breaking into pieces, allowing the darkness force and Astral Wave to reach Dark Mask''s chest with overwhelming momentum. Dark Mask''s eyes widened as he felt the double punch landing straight on his chest with a dark force and strength that wreaked havoc on his internal organs and sent him flying into the sky. Despite the damage, he clenched his teeth and focused on his ice tail, which slashed down with immense power on the duo. Red Hawk and Blue Crow could not dodge the tail and were sent flying away, bleeding from their mouths and with gaping wounds on their chests. Clearly, Dark Mask''s power was on a whole different level. Although they survived, another strike like that could kill them. Dark Mask had barely regained control over his body when the Demonic Phantom descended upon him, its maws open and ready to swallow him. "Dammit!" Dark Mask could do nothing but forget about the duo as he raised his hand, generating an ice dragon head to clash against the Demonic Phantom. "?BOOOOMMMM!" A powerful shock wave spread across the sky as the Demonic Phantom and the ice dragon''s head clashed, but the former soon ripped the latter to pieces in less than a second. However, before the demonic avatar could reach its true target, an ice tail struck it on the upper side of its head, sending it crashing into the ground. Dark Mask showed no happiness in sending the Demonic Phantom away as the two Wave Kings who had struck him in the chest faded into shadows, and he immediately raised his left wing, focusing power on it to defend against a dark arc of energy.@@@@ "?BOOM!" Another shockwave spread across the sky as the arc of shadow energy clashed with the ice wing. While it made a laceration, it could not pierce through, and the damage soon healed as a new layer of ice formed in the wing. The Scarlet King''s eyes were cold as he saw how Dark Mask defended against his arc of energy and sent the Demonic Phantom crashing down with a single movement of the ice tail. "Those ice wings and tail. They are powerful Holy Weapons and will make a good addition to my armory." Dark Mask''s eyes were cold as he heard the voice of the Scarlet King, but he did not lose control. Instead, he raised his right hand into the sky, flooding it with his Essence Wave and generating hundreds of ice spears that fell with immense power and momentum. Wave Talent: High Tier 8 Stats: Strength: 62.6 Agility: 59.2 Vitality: 79.9 Essence Wave: 374.2 Main Law Mastery: Law of Ice (Medium Law Fragmentation)] The Scarlet King''s eyes narrowed as he observed the stats of Dark Mask. Physically, the Atrox was not much weaker than an Astral Middle Wave King, but his energy pool was immensely vast. Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire ''No wonder he is so strong. It''s not just the Holy Weapon, but his Law of Ice has already reached the Medium Law Fragmentation, giving him overwhelming striking force and defensive power.'' Destructive darkness energy began to cover Slaughter as the Scarlet King focused on Dark Mask and flashed forward. Although fighting from such a close distance would endanger his life, the Scarlet King knew that if he wanted to make his shadow arcs powerful enough to threaten a Water Tribulation Apotheosis Master, he needed to fire from a closer range. Dark Mask felt the Scarlet King flashing toward him, and he immediately used his tail to contain the Demonic Phantom before using his right hand to conjure hundreds of small spears against the man. The Scarlet King''s eyes narrowed as he saw those powerful projectiles. If he had mastered the Second Level of The Flow, he could have read the energy patterns of the spells and easily deflected them. Still, since that was not the case, he was forced to use his shadow constitution to dodge most of the attacks before shattering the rest. "Shadow Slash!" Chapter 439 Killing Dark Mask (III) "Shadow Slash!" Once he reduced the distance enough, the Scarlet King made his Essence Wave explode and sent a powerful arc of shadow energy enhanced by darkness force against Dark Mask. "Dammit!" Dark Mask cursed as he was forced to use his right wing as a shield, and while he could resist the Shadow Slash, the attack was so powerful that it immobilized him for a second. That was long enough for the Demonic Phantom to push the ice tail away. Without the tail, nothing could stop the demonic avatar''s massive claw that came crashing down on the Apotheosis Realm Master. Dark Mask covered himself with his left wings, but the claw strike was so powerful that it sent him plummeting into the ground with immense force. "?BOOM!"@@@@ The Scarlet King and the Demonic Phantom immediately dived down, going after the wounded enemy. However, just as they were about to reach striking distance, the eyes of the Scarlet King narrowed as he moved to the left while commanding the Demon Phantom to turn to the right. The duo did it just in time to avoid the hundreds of ice spikes that rose from the ground, which would have impaled their bodies. A cold light appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he landed on the ground and focused on Dark Mask in the center of that massive amalgamation of ice spikes. Had his instincts been a little slower, the attack would have shattered the Demonic Phantom to pieces and caused severe wounds to his body. Even though he had spent thousands of points on improving the speed at which the [Sky Flame] consumed the resources inside the [Demonic Devourer Dimension] to drive energy into his body continuously, it was still not enough, and he could not allow the expenditure of reforging the Demonic Phantom. Dark Mask heard the ice wings cracking under the pressure of the fangs, but they only needed to resist a second more and the ice tail would push the Demon Phantom away. Just as the tail was about to make its way back and give Dark Mask the upper hand, his eyes widened as he saw a figure rise from the shadow of the Demonic Phantom. The Scarlet King''s eyes burned with red light as he used Shadow Teleportation to emerge from the avatar''s shadow, with Slaughter raised and charged with immense power. Dark Mask was shocked, but his eyes burst with blue light as he had not given up. He immediately reinforced the ice covering his body and mobilized the ice tail with all its energy. Stopping the sword strike was impossible, but he had already seen the power of the shadow arc and was confident he could survive. Unfortunately for Dark Mask, all that confidence faded as the arc of shadows that the Sundering Concept had reinforced pierced the ice easily, penetrating his armor before severing his chest and inner organs. The Scarlet King felt a sharp pain in his mind due to overextending his Ego Wave, but the outcome was worth it. However, he did not lose focus even then, as he commanded the Demonic Phantom to protect him with its claw. The ice tail did not stop just because of the deadly wound on Dark Mask, but it did lose a lot of its power, so while it burst to pieces the dark claw, it was not able to harm the Scarlet King after this one blocked with the blade and only sent him flying away a few hundred meters. The Scarlet King lost control over his body but could still command the Demonic Phantom, and he sent a final signal. Dark Mask''s body could not stop trembling as nearly every vital organ in his chest was ruptured. "?BOOM!" Before the Water Tribulation Apotheosis Master could do anything to reverse the situation, the Demonic Phantom''s claws pummeled his body into the ground, breaking most of its bones, and finally, the light in his eyes faded away. Chapter 440 Reviving Dark Mask (I) The Scarlet King rose from the ground after a few seconds, and the Demonic Phantom vanished as the Blood Nails adopted a defensive formation around him. Shortly after, Red Hawk and Blue Crow appeared close to him. The duo was severely injured since that tail strike nearly overcame their defenses, but there was no damage to any vital organs, and their current vitality would allow them to heal after a few days. "Leader." Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire "Leader." The duo bowed as they spoke to the Scarlet King using the only moniker they could since, even now, they did not know the man''s name. "Good job." The Scarlet King gave a profound nod to the duo, being the first time he actually recognized them. Had it not been for their combined attack damaging Dark Mask''s chest armor, his shadow slash might not have been able to pierce through it. The attack would have severely wounded the Apotheosis Realm Master, but this one could have retained enough strength to escape. No longer bothering with words, the Scarlet King closed his eyes briefly as he focused on the vitality and energy coming from the [Demonic Devourer Dimension] and took several drugs from his space ring to supplement his vitality. ''They will suffice until my Ego Wave recovers to the point I can use Radiance of Life.'' Once his condition was stable, the Scarlet King went to the corpse of Dark Mask, and a profound light appeared in his eyes as he took the man''s computer ring before flashing away with the corpse, followed by Red Hawk and Blue Crow. After they were far from the battle zone and in a hidden cave, he stripped Dark Mask of all its artifacts, leaving the Atrox naked. The Atrox was free to follow a path beyond revenge, and if there was one person he was ready to follow, it was the man in the red mask. Their relationship was simple: if he did good, the man in the red mask would make him more and more powerful, but failure meant death. For someone like Old River, who had embraced the underworld, he could not ask for a better deal than that. The Scarlet King noticed the look of peace and resolution on Old River, and a small smile appeared on his face. This Atrox was the type of warrior needed for his long-time plans in Kronos. He did not need someone who loved or worshiped him but a man who would follow his lead without hesitation and was ready to bathe himself in blood. Having already healed long enough and recovered his Ego Wave, the Scarlet King carried on with the genetic alteration on Old River. The other Atroxs watched everything with attention and saw how Old River''s figure began to change. He had grown more youthful after the 9 Revolution Refinement, but now his face was beautiful and young. A sense of shock appeared in the Atrox as they saw how Old River had become a perfect replica of Dark Mask, not just in appearance since even his aura and bloodline were the same. The Scarlet King had analyzed Dark Mask''s body thoroughly. After mapping his genome, he dissolved this corpse to gain the components to alter Old River, transforming the man into a near-perfect copy of the Apotheosis Realm Master. Old River emerged from the Tier 1 Bio Genetic Chamber five hours later, and he could barely believe what he saw as he became a perfect copy of Dark Mask down to the most minute detail. The only difference was in his Essence Wave since he was still a Middle Wave Champion, but the new Ice Lineage was already improving that. "Take." Old River only heard those words as the Scarlet King sent a dark mask, a strange draconic token, and golden armor toward him. Without hesitation, he put on the mask and the armor, imprinting them with his Ego Wave. However, pure awe and shock assaulted his heart when he focused on the draconic token. "Ice Draco Emperor." Chapter 441 Reviving Dark Mask (II) "Ice Draco Emperor." Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire That name resonated in Old River''s mind as he realized the small draconic figure in his hand was a Holy Weapon with a Saint Cultivation Technique engraved in it. After donning all the armor and putting on the mask, the other Atroxs in the room couldn''t help but feel a sense of awe as it seemed as if Dark Mask had come back to life. Old River was wise enough to understand the type of scheme the man with the red mask had in mind, but he couldn''t help but frown. Appearance was just one factor in a person''s identity, and even if he could copy the Water Tribulation Apotheosis Realm cultivation base, Old River couldn''t hide the fact that he knew nothing about Dark Mask''s personal life. As if reading Old River''s mind, the Scarlet King began to speak. "I hacked into Dark Mask''s computer ring during the fight, preventing it from self-destructing after the death of its master. I went through the logs and previous conversations of the man for the last hundred years and learned a lot about him, enough to trick most people. Of course, this would not be enough to deceive those who knew Dark Mask personally or had an intimate relationship with him, but that was also one of the reasons I chose him as my target. The man was paranoid and did an outstanding job keeping his identity a secret to the point he had no real relationship with anyone in the underworld." Old River heard those words echo inside his mind as if it were the decree of a divine king and felt his entire soul trembling for a moment. A sense of purpose appeared in his eyes, one that was not even less than the desire for revenge against Silent Shadow, as he stared straight into the eyes of the Scarlet King and solemnly nodded. The Scarlet King nodded as he saw the profound light in the man''s eyes and was sure he would be pleased with his choice. He then threw Dark Mask''s computer ring to Old River. "I have put a back door in it, allowing me to see all the messages that arrive and answer them. I will be responding to them for the time being so they sound like Dark Mask, but I expect you to be able to fulfill that role soon." Old River silently nodded as he put the computer ring in his hand. Right now, he was the perfect physical copy of the man who had pierced the ceiling of lava and was crushed by a demonic claw. "Regarding Silent World. Although they will have questions, they will not bother us too much as long as we pay the tribute. Several upper echelon members perished, but the infrastructure is still there, so keeping things orderly will be no problem." Old River solemnly nodded. Silent World was a Tier 0 Dark Faction with over a dozen Tier 1 Dark Factions under it, so as long as they get their cut, they will not be a real problem. "Leader, if they ask about the person that attacked me. How should I respond?" The Scarlet King couldn''t help but show a small smile as Old River used the prefix "me" to refer to Dark Mask, making it clear just how seriously the man was taking the task he had given him. "If they ask, answer with the truth. It was a man with a red mask, bandages over his entire body, and a scarlet robe covering his figure." Chapter 442 Horus (I) The Scarlet King returned to Evernight after leaving everything in order with Dark Hand. Now that he controlled a Tier 1 Dark Faction, finding information about intercontinental teleportation formations to return to Gaia would be much easier. Returning directly to his home was the primary path the Scarlet King wanted to take, but another option involved crossing the Narrow Sea to reach the Hyperion Continent, home of the Deus Bahamut Race. If the Scarlet King reached the Deus Bahamut Race, he would not have to hide his identity and could request help from the Bahamut Titans. From there, getting to Gaia would be easier. Unfortunately, movement across the Kronos Continent wasn''t simple. While he could leave Evernight whenever he wanted, the same couldn''t be said about the Saturn Sector, as the borders of this one were highly regulated. As an envoy from a different race, there were certain limits to Kain''s freedom. Although he could take on a new identity, anyone with the rank to move freely around Kronos was not easily supplanted. After all, the Eye of Gluttony could only work on people with willpower much weaker than the Scarlet King''s. Just getting near the Narrow Sea was a significant task, not to mention that the area was in a constant state of war. If any Atrox without sufficient clearance got near the battlefield, they would be attacked without question, let alone an envoy from another continent. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire Trying to cross the Narrow Sea by earth or sky without the proper clearance would be suicidal unless the Scarlet King could fight off Divine Ascension Masters. There was also the option of waiting for the envoys to return to Atlas and, from there, make his way to Gaia. However, many things could go wrong if he reached a place where Kain''s real family was present. After all, Kain''s father was an Archduke who had reached the Divine Ascension Realm and had all sorts of abilities at his disposal. That''s why the Scarlet King concluded that the best path forward would be to use the resources of the underworld to find a way back home. ''Dark Hand was poisoned and severely wounded before our fight even started, and yet he pushed me to the absolute limit, draining my energy pool and leaving me with severe injuries. My current battle power seems only at the bottom of the Apotheosis Realm.'' Unfortunately for the Scarlet King, while he wanted to interact the least possible with the Imperial Family, things didn''t go according to his wishes. His eyes widened as he heard those words, and he turned to a corner of the room, where he saw a strange young man sitting in a chair and reading a dark book. While he had a towering body similar to a member of the Abyssal Clan, his skin was red, and there were horns on his head, characteristic of the Hell Clan. Not only had the Scarlet King not detected the man until he spoke, but his racial characteristics seemed to be a hybrid of the Hell Clan and Inferno Clan, something he had never heard or seen before. The only thing clear in his mind was that this person was extremely dangerous. The Scarlet King''s Ego Wave immediately burst with power, allowing him to maintain focus and not break his facade as he stared at the young man with wonder and surprise. "Kain Lauzer humbly greets His Highness. I''m afraid I don''t know your name." The Scarlet King had obtained the entirety of Kain Lauzer''s memories. Still, he was positive there was no information about a member of the Inferno Daemon Imperial Family with the characteristics of this man. A small smile appeared on the young man''s face as he closed the book in his hand and stared at the Scarlet King. "It''s not weird you don''t know about me. After all, this is my first public appearance ever. I am the seventh son of the Dark Emperor, Horus Ekleipsis." Horus stood up from his seat and walked toward Kain until he stood right before him. "I have heard a lot about you, Kain. It seems that you''ve got an interesting Master recently." Chapter 443 Horus (II) The Scarlet King immediately frowned and took a step back, displaying an expression of discomfort and mistrust. This reaction wasn''t reflective of his current state of mind but was appropriate for a young man like Kain when facing a member of the Imperial Family. Horus analyzed Kain''s every move with a piercing gaze, and his interest dimmed as he saw the young man''s response. He kept staring at Kain before closing his eyes briefly. His aura became more amicable and peaceful when he opened them again, and a tranquil smile graced his face. "There''s no need to be nervous. I was just curious about the person who saved one of our envoys and took him as a disciple. He goes by the name Scarlet King, am I right?" The Scarlet King stared at Horus for a moment before softly nodding, still portraying the temperament of a young man unable to keep calm under the aura of a member of the Imperial Family. "Mmm, I am always happy to meet interesting people. I wonder how easy it is for you to communicate with your Master?" Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire Horus''s smile remained, but his eyes intensified, indicating that nothing but an honest answer would be allowed. After a few seconds of silence, and making it seem like he was having difficulty deciding what to do, the Scarlet King spoke. "I haven''t seen my Master since he took me as his disciple. He improved my bloodline, gave me a cultivation technique, and said we will meet again once I become a Wave King."@@@@ Horus''s eyes grew sharp as he listened, and in the end, he nodded. The behavior that Kain described was expected from eccentric Masters. "I see. Then I guess I won''t meet the Scarlet King during my trip. How unfortunate." A flash of disappointment crossed Horus''s eyes, but it did not last long as he turned to the trio that was chatting comfortably with the rest of the envoys. Immediately, the three members of the Imperial Family stopped speaking and walked toward their little brother. Horus didn''t wait for them to catch up. He had already turned around and walked away, but just before exiting the main hall, he glanced at Kain. It didn''t take long for him to form a 9 Revolution Flame, but he aimed to take the next step and create a 10 Revolution Flame, gaining the title of Saint Tribulation Enhancer. Forming a 10 Revolution Flame was incredibly difficult, requiring not just Life Wave but vitality. There were many ways to obtain vitality, the most straightforward being burning one''s own, but the Scarlet King would not choose such a harmful path when there was already a stream of vitality being sent into his body. The [Sky Flame] could devour matter and energy, and if corpses were sent into it, it would fill the Scarlet King''s body with vitality and energy, just what he needed to train in Tribulation Enhancement. The Scarlet King spent the entire day training, but after over twenty attempts, he failed to evolve the 9 Revolution Flame into the next level. "No wonder forming a 10 Revolution Flame is said to be a bottleneck." As he remembered the golden book, another image popped into the Scarlet King''s mind, eliciting a small smile from him. ''I wonder if she could help me again. I guess I''ll find out soon.'' It was already time for the new monthly gala, so the Scarlet King dressed and left the Magma Castle. Just as he appeared in the central plaza and prepared to take a new teleportation formation to the gala, he noticed Astrid waiting for him there. "Hello. Since neither of us is interested in the gala, what do you say if we simply skip it?" The Scarlet King appreciated the calm and firm demeanor of the young woman, which genuinely drew him towards her. "I think it''s a great idea." Neither of them said another word as they walked out of the plaza, and once they were away from the people, the young woman spoke again. "So, how is your Master?" Chapter 444 Saint Tribulation Enhancer (I) "So, how is your Master?" As he heard that question, a flash of coldness and killing intent appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes. It was the second time in the last few days that someone had attempted to get information about his "Master." Regardless of the relationship forming between the young Atrox woman, as a master of Order, he would show no hesitation if he detected any form of deception. "Why do you ask?" Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire The Scarlet King''s voice was peaceful and revealed nothing of the ruthlessness and killing might inside his heart. "Oh, weren''t you supposed to meet him after forming a 9 Revolution Flame?" Astrid stared at the Scarlet King with a confused expression as she remembered what this one told her when he showed the sphere with the Revolution Flame. The Scarlet King''s eyes twitched as all the killing intent in his heart was replaced by embarrassment that nearly made him burst into laughter. "Unfortunately not. I spoke with Master through my computer ring, but he seemed to be in the middle of an important cultivation journey and could not meet me. He said I should keep working hard and wait for his call." Astrid showed some disappointment in her eyes as she heard that. "I see, how unfortunate. I was hoping you could get his help on some inquiries as I have hit a bottleneck in my theoretical understanding of the Revolution Flames."@@@@ "Oh, are you having trouble deciphering the chemical formulas for the 10 Revolution Flame?" Astrid and the Scarlet King smiled as they saw the shining flame and grew excited and full of thrill. Both looked at each other and saw the desire to push forward. Following Astrid''s advice and adjustments, the Scarlet King created an 11 Revolution Flame in a couple of hours and then carried on toward the next level. Although they made significant improvements, they reached Astrid''s home before they could complete a 12 Revolution Flame. Usually, it was at this point they would each take their respective path, but the young woman stared at the Scarlet King for a moment before speaking. "Will you leave Evernight again and only return for the gala?" The Scarlet King stared at the woman for a moment. It seemed that she had been inquiring about him and knew about his patterns. After a moment, he softly shook his head. "I have already experienced enough battles for the time being. I will remain in Evernight for the next month to consolidate my cultivation and insights." The Scarlet King was not lying. While fighting and constantly pushing oneself forward was important, it was also essential to rest from time to time and consolidate one''s cultivation base and battle insights. "In that case, why don''t you stay in my home? There is a guest room in the castle you could use. That way, we could keep improving your skills." Astrid''s eyes were calm as she uttered that invitation, but she could not hide the flash of nervousness in her eyes. The Scarlet King stared at the woman for a moment as he heard the proposition. While he showed nothing, an internal struggle began to arise inside his mind. He had always kept his distance from the women, but if he were to accept, things would change, and she could very well make her way into his Life Matrix, something he had initially wanted to keep sealed during his time in Kronos. Astrid could not help but grow nervous with the silence, and just as she was about to speak again, trying to calm things, the Scarlet King made a slight bow toward her. "It will be my pleasure to accompany you." Chapter 445 Saint Tribulation Enhancer (II) The Scarlet King raised his head the next second, and a meaningful light appeared in his eyes as he glanced at the woman, this time showing true feelings. He had not grown in love or anything like that but allowed his mind and heart to create sentiments for her. It might be just friendship or something else; only time could tell. For the next month, the Scarlet King remained in Astrid''s home. In the mornings, the duo would improve their abilities and create powerful Revolution Refinement Flames. The Scarlet King would focus on his cultivation the rest of the day and night. --- The Scarlet King and Astrid were in a quiet room, their eyes showing complete focus as they stared at the flame with 14 colors growing more and more powerful. The duo only took a week to create a 14 Revolution Flame, but the path to creating a 15 Revolution Flame was extremely complicated. After an entire month of trial and error, going through the formula over and over again, making adjustments, and tuning the final details, a wide smile appeared on the duo''s faces as they saw a new color emerge in the flame. Through hard work and immediate effort, the Scarlet King and Astrid had managed to create a 15 Revolution Refinement Flame! "We did it!" Astrid shouted with thrill as she saw the flame in the Scarlet King''s hand. Not only were they able to figure out the correct attunements for the flame''s formula, but they managed to go from theory to practice and create it. The Scarlet King kept his composure much better than the young woman, but he was equally thrilled. A 15 Revolution Flame would do wonders for his foundation and talent, making him one step closer to his goal of forming a 21 Revolution Flame and repairing his Rebirth Heart. A sense of fatigue assaulted the Scarlet King a second after seeing the flame with fifteen colors. Now that he had finally achieved that goal, all the exhaustion came crashing down on his mind and body, forcing him to stop. Once the Scarlet King reached his room, he took a deep breath and calmed his mind before going to bed, entering a deep sleep to rest his brain and body properly. Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire The next day, the Scarlet King said goodbye to Astrid, but not before leaving with the young woman a Revolution Flame of every type they had managed to create so she could inspect them and draw more analyses for the following levels. He had to return to the Magma Castle as there was a small gathering to say goodbye to the members of the Imperial Family. Just like the last time, he just wanted to make an act of presence and not interact with anyone. Luckily, Horus was not keen on interacting with him this time. The young man stood in his chair reading that dark book, and whenever someone would get near him, he would only glance at them, and they would back away. It went on like that for several hours. Finally, Horus stood up and left with his sisters and brother. The Scarlet King watched the members of the Imperial Family leave with a frown on his face. While he was relieved that an enigma like Horus would no longer be present, he couldn''t shake the feeling that something was off. "The Imperial Family is truly striking, isn''t it, brother? By the way, I have seen how you spent a lot of time in the Endless Forest, and I wonder if it would not be good for both of us to use this chance to test our combined strength against Wave Beasts." Jamil spoke with a smile on his face. It seemed he was frustrated with the failure of the assassination and wanted to take things into his own hands. Normally, the Scarlet King would have found the man''s behavior amusing and played along to distract himself for a while. Sadly for Jamil, he picked the worst possible time to try and play his childish games. The Scarlet King was incredibly bothered by being kept in the dark, so when he heard Jamil''s words, he turned to him before speaking. "I wanted to talk to you. My Master gave me something that could be useful for your cultivation, but there are too many eyes here. Let''s go to my room." Chapter 446 Saint Revolution Refinement (I) Jamil burst with excitement when he heard the mysterious master left something useful and followed the Scarlet King without hesitation. The duo left the hall and didn''t take long to enter the Scarlet King''s room. Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire "So, brother, what did your Master leave..." Jamir hadn''t even finished his sentence when the Scarlet King flashed toward him, grabbing his neck and raising him into the air, slowly strangling him. Of course, Jamil attempted to fight back, but the grip of the Scarlet King was too strong, and an invisible force had invaded his body, stopping him from using any form of energy. The Scarlet King stared at Jamil as the young man struggled futilely to escape his grasp. Soon, the fight ended as the Ego Wave of the Scarlet King invaded the brain of the young genius from the Abyssal Clan. The Scarlet King hadn''t forgotten his oath to Kain when he took the young man''s soul. He had promised to take care of the mastermind behind the assassination attempt and do his best to protect the young man''s family, and he intended to keep it. Jamil''s body began to tremble as the Ego Wave of the Scarlet King was rewriting his neural path and implanting all sorts of subconscious commands. Instead of just killing Jamil, the Scarlet King planned to brainwash him to the point where the Inferno Daemon would spend the rest of his life protecting Kain''s mother and sister. Due to the intensity of the commands, Jamil would rather die than allow anything to happen to Kain''s family, which works for the Scarlet King. It took him around four hours, but once he was done, Jamil looked completely normal, yet he was in a subconscious state. "Go to your room and rest. After you wake up, you will not remember anything." Jamil nodded and left the Scarlet King''s room before heading to his own room with the sole intent of resting. Dark Mask and the Dark Fingers showed no reaction to seeing the Wave Champions falling unconscious. Instead, they all rose, clasping their hands and performing a deep bow. "We welcome you, Leader." Dark Hand had already moved away from the throne, allowing the Scarlet King to sit as he watched the Wave Champions. "As you commanded, Leader. We have gathered all the members of Dark Hand that have committed heinous crimes of the level of rape. I also commanded every one of them to bring as many Wave Champion Beast''s corpses as possible, hinting that it was a secret test to boost their spirits." The Scarlet King stared at Dark Mask and softly nodded, pleased with the proficiency and diligence of the man with the task. One of his many missions was to gather the worst of Dark Hand and make it so they brought a lot of corpses with high vitality. The corpses were obviously meant to generate the Saint Refinement Flames. As for the Wave Champions, the Scarlet King would use them as guinea pigs to improve his abilities on Saint Revolution Refinement. While the Scarlet King followed the path of Order, that didn''t mean he lacked a sense of justice. He would be more than happy to see all these depraved Wave Champions meet their end. With a wave of his hand, all the space rings appeared in front of the Scarlet King, and he gradually sent the Wave Champion Beast''s carcasses into his [Demonic Devourer Dimension], using the energy generated by the [Sky Flame] to create more and more 15 Revolution Flames. Dark Mask and the five Dark Fingers looked at the flames solemnly, imagining the kind of power such a refinement would grant them. Just a 9 Revolution Refinement had significantly upgraded their potential and cultivation base. However, there was also a thread of fear since the more potent the flames, the harder it would be to assimilate the world energy this one would drive into their bodies and blood, and everyone was wary of what would happen if it failed. Chapter 447 Saint Revolution Refinement (II) The Scarlet King made 15 Revolution Flames for nearly four days until he had enough for all the Wave Champions. He rested for six hours before taking out his Refinement Cauldron once his mind was in peak condition again. With a single look, one of the Wave Champions jumped into the cauldron, and the Scarlet King deposited a 15 Revolution Flame before closing the lid and starting the refinement. "?Boom!" A small burst echoed across the Dark Hall as the amount of world energy flooding into the Refinement Cauldron was overwhelmingly high. It soon began to merge into the body of the Wave Champion. A sharp look appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he drove that energy across the man''s body, aiding the assimilation. However, he had been at it for less than 20 minutes before the Atrox exploded.@@@@ The Scarlet King used a wave of dark force to clean the cauldron before making another Wave Champion jump in and start again. This time, he advanced a few minutes more, but once again, the Wave Champion burst like a balloon full of blood. This pattern continued for nearly ten hours as half of the Wave Champions burst to pieces. While the Scarlet King would be happy to see them die, that didn''t mean he was fine with failure and was doing all in his power to succeed, learning from the previous experiments. Unfortunately, the difficulty of Revolution Refinement doubled with each level, so a 15 Revolution Refinement was 32 times harder than a 9 Revolution Refinement. It was no wonder that the Scarlet King would fail so many times despite his extraordinary talent. Still, the Scarlet King was not disheartened since every attempt brought him closer to success. Finally, on the 17th attempt, the Refinement Cauldron trembled just a little, and a shining light emerged from it as the Atrox Wave Champion emerged with a body that seemed immaculate. However, what was most significant was the light full of wisdom in their eyes. Wave Beasts grow more intelligent as they advance in ranks but remain acting according to their basic instincts; yet, these were different. The Scarlet King also noticed the change and couldn''t help but smile. He had returned to see if there was a meaningful change and gather more information, and the findings were extraordinary. The effect of the Tribulation Refinement on Wave Beasts was surprising. Unlike humanoids with Sacred Organs, it seemed to enhance the wisdom of these creatures. "I can use the power from last time on you again. There is roughly a 20 to 30% chance you will die, but if you survive, there will be an evolutive change in your nature." All the King Beasts stared at the Scarlet King, understanding the dangers but willing to take the risk. Their wisdom had grown enough to comprehend the perils, but as Wave Beasts, they could die any day, and the only way to protect themselves was by becoming stronger and wiser. The Scarlet King didn''t waste more words and enlarged the Refinement Cauldron to hold the massive bodies of the King Beast, starting with one resembling a winged wolf. The King Beast showed no hesitation as it jumped into the cauldron, watching as a sphere with colorful flames was placed with it before the lid was closed. Then, the colorful flames were released, coalescing around its body as waves of world energy flooded its flesh and blood. It wasn''t the first time the King Beast faced this power, and now it was awake, so it could use its willpower to drive the energy, aiding in the assimilation. The Scarlet King''s eyes were fiercely focused as he assisted the Sky Wolf''s body with the assimilation process. Although the process was more straightforward with Wave Beasts than with Atroxs, the overwhelming amount of world energy from the 15 Revolution Refinement required everything from him. Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire After nearly two hours, the Refinement Cauldron shook slightly, and a figure emerged. The transformation of the Sky Wolf was shocking; its aura was overpowering and pure, but most striking was the powerful wisdom and intelligence in its eyes. Chapter 448 Late Wave Champion (I) Dark Mask and the other Atroxs stared at the creature, sensing it was something different. It was still a Wave Beast, but it seemed to be growing beyond that boundary, a truly shocking development. The Sky Wolf returned to its original position, bowing to the Scarlet King before remaining steady and unmoving. The Scarlet King nodded at the creature before turning to the next one, a King Beast resembling a golden eagle. Like the Sky Wolf, the Gold Father Eagle entered the cauldron without hesitation. --- As night fell, a King Beast resembling a semi-bipedal elephant emerged from the cauldron. There was a powerful sense of wisdom in its eyes after completing its Saint Refinement Revolution, and like the rest of its comrades, it returned to its original position. Of the nine King Beasts that arrived, eight were still alive. One of them, a Shadow Spider, failed to assimilate world energy flow and exploded. While unfortunate, this outcome did not deter the other King Beasts, who understood the risks of the process. The Scarlet King was satisfied. Although the procedure would be more complex with races possessing Sacred Organs, he was confident that his success rate had risen above 85%. After observing the King Beasts, he turned to Dark Mask and the Dark Fingers. "Form teams. Help these King Beasts secure new territories rich in energy and resources. In exchange, you will keep all the spoils from the battles and bring them to me so I can form Saint Refinement Flames for you six."@@@@ Dark Mask and the Dark Fingers were surprised by this command and frowned. They wouldn''t dare go against the Scarlet King''s command, but working alongside Wave Beasts wasn''t exactly practical. During the heat of the battle, the beasts might mistake them for enemies. However, they had no choice but to comply and nod, and the wisdom in the Saint Revolution King Beasts gave them hope things could work well. After a slight bow toward the Scarlet King, the Atroxs flew away with the Saint Revolution King Beasts to regions where powerful King Beasts resided. It was uncommon for someone to generate a reaction from the Laws during a breakthrough, but to generate such a phenomenon while cultivating indicated an extremely high attunement to cosmic forces. "Form a defensive formation around the Leader. No matter what, if anyone comes close to him, kill them without hesitation." Dark Mask issued the command as he flew above the Scarlet King, activating his Holy Weapon, which manifested as ice wings and a powerful tail. While Dark Mask seemed to have developed a sense of devotion and faith toward the Scarlet King, the others still regarded him as a monster and followed him due to fear and greed. Still, regardless of their personal feelings, they immediately carried on with Dark Mask''s command. Janiro, Red Hawk, Blue Crow, Specter, and Ghoul formed a pentagram defensive formation around the Scarlet King. They unleashed their Ego Wave into the surroundings and heightened their perception, ready to attack at any moment with full power. The Scarlet King was not unconscious and would awaken if he sensed danger, but that would disrupt his enlightenment. Thus, it was preferable for him to remain undisturbed. He continued meditating, his eyes closed, deciphering the mysteries of the Laws of Darkness and Blood. Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire As the dark, bloody fog around him intensified, his Evolution Core began to tremble on the seventh day of his meditation. The Essence Wave within it grew more robust and revolved with greater synergy and order. The Scarlet King opened his eyes, his Essence Wave erupting with power, increasing the size and purity of his energy pool. He harnessed the insights gained from the Laws, enlarging his energy pool and refining it further, noticing more crystal fragments forming due to the extreme density and purity of his Essence Wave. An hour later, his Sacred Organ stabilized, and his Essence Wave ceased its intense activity, allowing the Scarlet King to rest. Chapter 449 Late Wave Champion (II) "System, scan!" As soon as the Scarlet King sent the message, the Absolute Life Form System began its work, displaying an accurate measurement of his power. [Scanning Vessel... ...@@@@ Scan of Vessel completed. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Middle Wave Champion) / Essence Evolution (Late Wave Champion) Lineage: True Avernus Lineage (Maximum Purity) Wave Talent: Initial Tier 9 (Initial Tier 9) Stats: Strength: 55.1 Agility: 32.0 Vitality: 63.0 Astral Wave: 36.1 The Atrox took out his Bio Armor and jumped into the cauldron along with the 15 Revolution Flame. After that, the lid was closed, and the flame was unleashed, running around Janiro''s body, igniting the response of the world energy. It was not the first time the Atrox had experienced this, and he knew that losing focus for even a second could mean death. So, his eyes burned as he used every ounce of his willpower to guide the energy flow, minimizing the amount of work the Scarlet King had to go through. The Scarlet King''s eyes glowed with red light as he pushed his mind to the limit and continued with the Revolution Refinement. Surprisingly, his abilities seemed to have improved even more after his advance as a Late Wave Champion, allowing him to finish in less than three hours without ever coming close to losing control. Janiro emerged from the cauldron with a smile on his face. Everything went even more smoothly than he thought, and he could feel the burning power coursing through his veins. The blockade that had stopped him from reaching the Late Stage was gone, and it was only a matter of time before he achieved it, along with a high percentage of Astral Blood! The Scarlet King stared at Janiro, and with the help of the [A.I. Chip Module], he saw how Janiro''s Blood Rebirth Stage had managed to evolve into the Mercury Stage. He wasn''t fatigued, but he didn''t continue with the next refinement right away as he was still wondering about the improved talent in Revolution Refinement. "It must be my enhanced cultivation stage. The Essence Evolution Path of Power focuses on comprehending and controlling the world''s forces, so it makes sense that I would better control the world energy with a higher cultivation base." After handling that uncertainty, the Scarlet King turned toward Red Hawk, and the man immediately jumped into the Refinement Cauldron. The Scarlet King had expected the Revolution Refinement of the Atroxs to be a trial and was prepared to see some of them perish. However, with his improved talent, he could complete the Enhancement in all of them without any problems. Dark Mask and the other Atroxs were filled with wonder as they felt the potency of their cultivation base and enhanced foundation. They were certain that nothing would stop them until they reached the Apotheosis Realm. The only thing that could limit them now was resources, but they were in control of a Tier 1 Dark Faction, so that would not be a problem. The Scarlet King waved his hand, causing the Atroxs to adopt a pentagram formation around him again as he focused on the last 15 Revolution Flames. Now that he had perfected the technique, he would perform the Saint Revolution Refinement on himself. After resting for half an hour and recovering to his peak, the Scarlet King jumped into the Refinement Cauldron and closed the lid before unleashing the 15 Revolution Flame. Immediately, the flames coalesced around his body, covering both inside and out, and it didn''t take long for an immense amount of world energy to flood into his flesh and blood. The Scarlet King''s eyes burned with red light as he controlled the revolving energy of the world around his body, ensuring it reached every corner before making it revolve again and again, assimilating more and more of it. An immense amount of world energy flooded into the Scarlet King''s flesh and blood, generating an evolution of this one. Still, the true goal of that tremendous power was in his Rebirth Heart and Evolution Core. Hours went by, and the amount of world energy flooding into the Scarlet King''s body kept rising. "?BOOOOOOM!" Chapter 450 Pseudo Mercury Stage "?BOOOOOOOM!" A powerful explosion drew the attention of the Atroxs, and many of them were shocked since they couldn''t believe that the red-masked monster could have perished like that. However, what burst wasn''t the Scarlet King but the Refinement Cauldron. It was a Golden Artifact capable of enduring Golden Flame Refinement without a problem. Still, cracks began to form due to the constant Saint Revolution Refinements, and finally, it could not hold on anymore. Luckily, that was not a problem since the flames were already fading, leaving only the flawless body of the Scarlet King in place. Of course, the Scarlet King had rearranged the bandages on his body before anyone could see his actual appearance. He opened his eyes, and a smile appeared as he stood up and analyzed his body. "System." [Scanning Vessel... ... Scan of Vessel completed. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Middle Wave Champion) / Essence Evolution (Late Wave Champion) Lineage: True Avernus Lineage (Maximum Purity) Wave Talent: Initial Tier 9 (Medium Tier 9) Stats: Strength: 55.1 ¡ú 57.0 Agility: 32.0 ¡ú 33.7 ''I guess there is only one way to truly know my battle power.'' "Dark Mask." As soon as the Scarlet King uttered those words, Dark Mask appeared before him and knelt. "Is there any problem with the other Dark Factions?" Although the reclusion of Dark Mask made sense for Silent World, it significantly diminished the power of Dark Hand, and other Dark Factions would want to take advantage of that. Actually, struggles between Tier 1 Dark Factions were normal, and Tier 0 did not really care, as once a faction vanished, another would soon take its place. The underworld was no different than the world of Wave Beasts; the strong survived, and the weak became food. Right now, Dark Hand looks very appetizing for the other Dark Factions. "We have been facing problems from Dead Ocean. It is another Tier 1 Dark Faction under Silent World. They have infiltrated our domains several times. They have mostly been tentative strikes to test our strength, but once they realize we have no Apotheosis Realm Masters in our ranks, we will have serious problems." The Scarlet King nodded as he understood the current predicament of Dark Hand. After all, the new Dark Mask was only a Wave King, and it would be a long time before he became an Apotheosis Realm Master. "Dead Ocean. From the data I obtained from the previous Dark Mask, their leader is a Wind Tribulation Master." A flash of coldness appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he decided his next step, but before dispersing everybody, he had one more matter to attend to. "How did the special mission go?" Dark Mask adopted a solemn expression as he heard those words, knowing that the task was extremely important. "I have done as requested, Leader, and tirelessly used the power of Dark Hand to search for information about an intercontinental teleportation formation. I have heard some rumors and am currently following leads, but there is nothing concrete yet." Dark Mask didn''t just speak words; he delivered a report with all the information he had managed to collect so far. The Scarlet King went through the data and nodded as he saw that the man had put a lot of effort into the task at hand. "Keep working. I will take care of Dead Ocean. Be ready to recover all the lost territories and gather as many of their resources as possible." Dark Mask nodded, and after performing a final deep bow, he flew into the sky along with the Dark Fingers. Once alone, the Scarlet King went through the network using the [A.I. Chip Module] and began gathering information about Dead Ocean. It didn''t take long for him to find a lead, and a cold smile appeared as he rose into the sky and flashed into the distance. Chapter 451 Back to an underground city On the edge of the Uranus Sector, there was a small city by the name of Saraun City. It was a pretty average location with a population of less than one hundred thousand, and the strongest warrior was the Wave Champion, who worked as the City Protector. In the middle of the city was a massive hotel, mostly empty since Saraun City was not a tourist place. However, an entire fortification lay beneath it, over one thousand meters underground. It was not very large, less than 1/100th of the city, but it was not a problem since it was not a residence but one of the main secret forts of Dead Ocean. Over a hundred Wave Champions and nearly ten Wave Kings were in the fort. They were all drinking and eating, as it seemed like a party, but aside from the festive aura, they all exuded a potent killing aura. The reason for such an aura was that the group had just returned from an important mission, having assaulted a convoy, taking a massive amount of wealth, and killing hundreds of people. "Hahaha, I expected the mission to be hard, but it was a piece of cake." "What could you expect? So many of us were called, so it made sense that we overwhelmed them." "Hmph, I expected more of a fight, but they barely resisted."@@@@ The Wave Kings heard the chatter of the Wave Champions but only smiled, as the battle had truly been an easy one. "By the way, when will the Vice-Leader return? We have been waiting for several hours already." Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire One of the Wave Kings asked the others. They had agreed to return to this location after the mission was over to distribute the loot, but the Vice-Leader who took command of this heist had not arrived yet. "She was wounded facing the Convoy Leader, and you know her paranoid personality. There is no way she would appear without first stabilizing her condition." "Thin!" "?AHHH!" "?Save me!" "?Nooo!" Cries of pain echoed until suddenly, there was no more sound, and the terror in the man''s heart exploded. Fortunately, he did not endure such fear for long since a blade cut his head off the next second. After the death of the golden-spiked Atrox, the domain of darkness faded, revealing the figure of the Scarlet King in the middle of the underground city. His eyes wandered across the place and saw the bloodshed that could only be described as a massacre. With his current hypnotic abilities, it would have been easy for the Scarlet King to take control of the people in the room and kill them without the need for such bloodshed. There were two reasons for such a violent approach. First, the Scarlet King wanted to test his assassination skills, which was why, after unleashing the domain of darkness, he did not use a single iota of Essence Wave to enhance his power and killed everybody relying solely on his physical attributes. The second and even more important reason was that he wanted to deliver a message to the person going down the elevator. "Thin!" The sound of the elevator reaching its destination echoed, and the next second, the gates opened to reveal an Atrox woman. She had no Bio Armor on her body and instead wore golden artifacts, but her beautiful face was visible. The woman had a charming smile, but it immediately froze as the gates opened, and all she saw were corpses, blood, and a man wielding a saber in the middle of it. Immediately, the intent to run appeared in her mind, and she was ready to blast through the elevator ceiling to escape. But a powerful red Ego Wave invaded her mind, generating immense pain. The next instant, the man appeared before her and grabbed her neck before beginning to squeeze it. The Scarlet King''s Ego Wave burst with more and more strength into the woman''s brain, trying to compel her. Doing hypnosis on a Late Wave King was incredibly complicated. It surpassed the current capabilities of the Scarlet King, which was why he presented the woman with such a gory scene, generating a breach in her mental defenses. Chapter 452 Death Tide (I) The Atrox female was by no means weak, and she had seen a lot of death in her life, but such a gory scene and the wave of shock and surprise was too much. In the end, her mental defenses collapsed, and the Scarlet King managed to put her under hypnosis. It was feeble and would break at any second, but it would suffice. The Scarlet King''s Ego Wave grew extremely fatigued due to the mental effort. Still, he achieved his goal and began interrogating the woman, asking all sorts of questions about Death Ocean. "CRACK!" It took nearly half an hour to obtain all the information he wanted. After that, he broke the woman''s neck, killing her before taking her space ring and sending her corpse into the [Demonic Devourer Dimension]. His Ego Wave spread across the underground city, inspecting everybody''s space rings and then sending all the corpses and broken armor into the [Demonic Devourer Dimension]. As if nothing had happened, the Scarlet King entered the elevator and pushed the button to return to the surface. Just as the gates were closing, he gave one last look at the underground fort, and memories emerged in his mind.@@@@ The last time the Scarlet King was in an underground city, it took all his wits and effort to escape with his life, and there was only a Wave Champion in it. Now, he had the power to enter one full of Wave Champion and Wave King, leaving without a single wound on his body. ''How things have changed'' No one saw him arrive or leave, and those who gazed their eyes on him were dead. --- A grand and luxurious ship was coursing through the Silent Forest on its way to Evernight. Although impressive in terms of speed, the vessel''s main goal was its opulence, telling everybody just how wealthy its owner was. "RUMBLE!" However, just as she was about to begin, a powerful red force field fell onto the ship, encompassing every corner of it and its people. All the Atroxs could not help but show fear and dread as they felt the overwhelming willpower in that red force field. They raised their eyes to the sky with terror and saw a man with a red mask accompanied by a demonic draconic being. Unit''s face showed terror greater than any of the other Atroxs, and it seemed he would soil himself at any second as he could not stop his body from trembling. "What do you think you are doing... I am Unit Karon, son of the City Lord of Karon City, an Apotheosis Realm Master!" As one would expect from a nobleman without any prospect or future, Unit immediately used the threat of his father''s power to face the person in the sky, but this one just kept looking at him before softly shaking his head. "Do we really have to go through this charade, Dead Ocean''s Leader, Death Tide?" Rallin and the rest of the people on the ship did not understand what was happening or why that monster with the red mask called their useless Lord by the name of Death Tide. However, the cowardly Unit stopped trembling the next second, and his eyes went from terror to calm. That was not the end of things as Unit''s figure also began to change, as the fat covering his figure faded, leaving only a perfectly balanced body and handsome face. But the most shocking part came next as a burst of Essence Wave emerged from the man, rising beyond the level of a Wave King! Unit''s aura grew to the point that it was even mightier than the City Lord''s, and a dark and ominous force covered his body, which seemed to extinguish the life of anything it got in touch with. The Scarlet King stared at the man but was not surprised by the transformation. Unit Karon was considered a spoiled son who got lucky enough to gain his father''s favor and was given control of Karon City after the City Lord fell ill due to old wounds. What no one knew was that Unit was actually Death Tide, a powerful Apotheosis Realm Master, and it was he who weakened his father to obtain control of the city and expand his influence. Chapter 453 Death Tide (II) Unlike the Leader of Dark Hand, Death Tide hid in the open by playing a fictitious persona of himself, a buffoon that no one respected. Since Unit was such an embarrassment and a weak coward, no one felt threatened by him. It was easy to handle the threats around you if people constantly underestimated you. "I must commend you for the performance. Had I not known about it, you could have tricked me." Unit stared at the man in the sky for a moment before speaking. "Did Yeta betray me?" Death Tide had always been careful with his secret identity, and only one person knew his identity: the Vice-Leader of Dead Ocean. He had already played enough tricks and mental games on the woman to make her want to kill herself before betraying him, which was why he was confident in his cover. Yet, the presence of the man with the red mask in the sky proved that the woman had revealed the information. "I extracted the information from her mind by force." The Scarlet King could not help but grow interested in the man. Death Tide was a thousand years old and by no means a talented person, but he achieved great things by taking advantage of his scheming mind. Urin nodded, and his eyes showed nothing, as he did not really care about the woman''s life.@@@@ "I felt a great power in you, but I am no weakling either. Is there a way we can handle this without a fight?" Experience new stories with My Virtual Library Empire As he uttered those words, a dark force field emerged from Death Tide, slowly pushing back the Scarlet King''s Ego Wave. Surprisingly, they were at about the same level, meaning that, at least in terms of Ego Wave, Death Tide surpassed the old Dark Mask! The Scarlet King was not surprised by the man''s willpower. Being over one thousand years old and playing a show every day of your life was not something one could do with weak resolve. A slight frown appeared on the Scarlet King''s face as he had already inspected the ship, and there was no teleportation formation or the like in the lower levels. Still, he did not hesitate before sending the Demonic Phantom forward. The avatar of darkness and blood lunged toward the ship, ready to break it to pieces and reach Death Tide. However, just as its claw reached the surface, it began to glow with all sorts of strange runes. The Scarlet King''s eyes widened as he saw those runes, but they fulfilled their purpose before he could do anything. "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" The Scarlet King had only used his Ego Wave to inspect the ship and not his [Pseudo Multidimensional Scan Force Field] since the purpose of this fight was to take on someone he knew nothing about. That was why the runes were able to hide until the last minute. The explosion was so intense that it blasted the Demonic Phantom to pieces, sending the Blood Nails flying in different directions. The Holy Weapon would have broken into pieces had it not been for the Saint Revolution Refinement. The Scarlet King extended his right hand, retrieving the Blood Nails and reforging the Demonic Phantom. Although he could conjure the avatar again, it forced him to drain a considerable amount of his Essence Wave and Blood Energy. His eyes narrowed as the Ego Wave inspected the cloud of flames left by the explosion, and a flash of surprise appeared on them as he failed to detect Death Tide. Immediately, the Scarlet King unleashed the full power of his Ego Wave, covering everything in a radius of over 300 kilometers, and he saw it. In the distance, a cocoon of life energy flashed away at an immense speed, and inside was none other than Death Tide. "So that is where the life of all those people went. He must have hidden in the ship''s most reinforced place and used the people''s life force as a ward before escaping into the distance." The Scarlet King''s grip over Slaughter tightened as he saw the figure running away, and a smile appeared on his face. This was the first time he met someone who truly used wits as a weapon, and there was a slight sense of danger assaulting him, making it clear that if he went after Dark Tide, his life could be in danger. "?BOOM!" Chapter 454 Death Tide (III) "?BOOM!" A massive shockwave spread across the sky as the Scarlet King and the Demonic Phantom flashed after Death Tide with surging power and killing intent. There was clear danger in chasing Death Tide, but if that was just all it took to make him give up, then what would the Scarlet King do when he faced the true power of Aether? Unit''s eyes were sharp as he felt the presence of the Scarlet King and the Demonic Phantom coming closer and closer. He had a higher cultivation stage, but the Scarlet King''s shadow constitution made his speed overwhelmingly high. However, just as the Scarlet King was about to reach striking distance from Death Tide, the latter fused into a massive mountain range, making the Scarlet King''s eyes widen. Any Apotheosis Realm Master could pierce through a mountain range, but Death Tide''s body literally fused into the earth as if his flesh and blood were a drop of water. Immediately, the Scarlet King''s eyes burst with red light, and he perceived the hidden passage inside the mountain range. The entrance was cloaked by some sort of mirage, which was why it looked as if Death Tide had simply vanished. The Scarlet King''s eyes narrowed as he perceived Death Tide inside the tunnel, advancing faster and faster back to Karon City. ''This hidden passage must be one of his trump cards to flee from powerful enemies, and there is no way to say what I would find inside.'' Normally, the Scarlet King would have chased after Death Tide into the tunnel. Yet, the events with the ship made him consider the fact that the entire tunnel could be full of explosives and the whole thing was a trap. The Scarlet King did not diminish his momentum even as he considered his next move. He did not stop the chase due to the dangers, nor did he enter the tunnels. Instead, he moved above the mountain range, keeping a lock on Death Tide as he advanced. Death Tide felt as if the energy in the weapon was ready to burst, destroying his internal organs, but he was a seasoned warrior who had experienced countless life and death trials. So the moment the blade had pierced his lung, his energy had already gathered to fire a spell. "Deathly Repulse." A burst of necrotic energy emerged from Death Tide''s entire body, repelling Slaughter and the Scarlet King for hundreds of meters. The Scarlet King immediately regained control over his body and saw how Death Tide had risen into the sky, using a hand to put pressure on the bleeding wound. Apotheosis Realm Masters, even those who followed the Essence Evolution Path of Power, had overwhelming vitality and could generate hemostasis in most wounds in a second. However, the Scarlet King''s energy had destructive properties thanks to the deadly force of the Law of Darkness and the eroding power of the Law of Blood. "You... How!?" Death Tide could not help but ask that question as he saw no wound in the Scarlet King''s body. Even if the man could resist the power of the Sky Flame Formation, it did not make sense that he was intact unless this one was a God. "The formation was truly something. However, I could react before its energy flooded the air and sealed space. Through Shadow Teleportation, I was able to escape alive and without injuries, but it was close. A fraction of a second slower, and I would have endured deadly wounds." The Scarlet King was genuinely impressed by the wits and determination of Death Tide, as it took a lot of courage to trigger the runic formation while you were inside the mountain range. So he decided to satiate the man''s curiosity. However, stating that he came unharmed was a mistake, as the Demonic Phantom had shattered again, and he could not reforge as there was not enough energy. That was why he took an assassin approach and aimed to sever Death Tide''s heart. "My energy pool is nearing its limit, so you might escape if you can endure a little longer. Let''s find out." Shadows covered Slaughter as the Scarlet King infused the weapon with dark force, improving its destructive power and making his Ego Wave explode. Chapter 455 Silent Worlds incursion The Scarlet King was resting in the middle of the Silent Forest. It had been three weeks since his fight with Death Tide, and a small starry gem was in his hand. Inside it was the Saint Cultivation Technique that went by the name of Deathweaver. He extended his hand, and an ominous dark force appeared as he placed it against a tree. This tree began to wither, and its life force flooded into the Scarlet King''s body.@@@@ "System?" The Absolute Life Form System immediately responded to the question in the Scarlet King''s mind. [Law of Death''s Mastery: Low Basic Understanding] As he saw that message, a complicated expression appeared on the Scarlet King''s face. Deathweaver was a powerful cultivation technique focused on mastering the Law of Death, which intrigued the Scarlet King. However, there was a problem. The technique''s peak was the entrance to the Apotheosis Realm and did not offer insight into the Law of Death beyond the Basic Understanding Realm. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire Actually, Death Tide had already reached the peak of the technique, and there was nothing more he could gain from it, forcing him to look for another cultivation technique. In that sense, the Sonic Blade Fusion Cultivation Technique was much better since it guided the Scarlet King''s cultivation all the way to the peak of the Apotheosis Realm. "Although reaching Basic Understanding in three weeks is not bad, clearly my talent in the Law of Death cannot compare with that of the Law of Blood and Law of Darkness." Ultimately, the Scarlet King decided not to focus on the Deathweaver Cultivation Technique. Once he mastered the most basic spell of Death Touch, which could help him restore his vitality in case of danger, he stored the starry gem in his space ring. After handling that, the Scarlet King waved his hand, taking six massive giant carcasses from his space rings. All of them still had beating hearts, as he had used the Law of Blood to prevent the blood vitality from fading. "It is time." The Scarlet King had not just been training in the Deathweaver Cultivation Technique over the last three weeks. He constantly battled powerful Grand King Beasts, using their blood to improve the power of his Blood Flame. Now, it was finally time to take the next step. His body began to tremble as tendrils of Essence Wave pierced into the bodies of the Grand King Beast''s corpses, ferociously devouring the blood from their bodies, sending all of it into the Blood Flame. The Blood Flame inside the Scarlet King had reached the peak of the Wave Champion Level two weeks ago. Usually, it would have remained at that level until the cultivation base of the Scarlet King attained at least the Peak Wave Champion Rank. However, thanks to his higher mastery over the Law of Blood, it was able to surpass that blockade and push forward. Blood Energy (Astral): 49.6 Blood Energy (Essence): 51.6 ¡ú 65.5 Blood Rebirth: Golden Blood Stage ¡ú Pseudo Mercury Stage Main Law Mastery: Law of Blood (Medium Law Fragmentation) Secondary Law Mastery: Law of Darkness (Low Law Fragmentation) Note (1): Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 28.1%.] A wide smile appeared on the Scarlet King''s face as he managed to attain an energy pool of the Wave King level while still being a Wave Champion. The Wave King''s Blood Flame would significantly increase his stamina and durability during a battle. The Scarlet King was highly pleased with his improvement as he had advanced dramatically during the last year. While there was still a long way to go until the Wave King Ranks, he had grown rapidly thanks to his abundant resources and talent. However, besides his cultivation base, the Scarlet King also focused on his Tribulation Enhancement Profession and had made great strides in creating a 16 Revolution Flame. He was sure that if he consulted with Astrid, he would overcome the details that kept him from advancing to the next level. The Scarlet King was ready to return to Evernight to consult with the woman when suddenly his computer ring began to glow. [Leader. I have great news regarding the special mission. Should we meet?"] The Scarlet King''s eyes widened as he heard the message from Dark Mask, and he immediately commanded this one to gather in the warehouse they used as a secret meeting location. Although the information could be shared through the computer ring, the Scarlet King did not trust the network of this device enough to speak about those matters. In a couple of hours, the Scarlet King and Dark Mask were inside the hollow mountain, and the latter performed a deep bow before sharing the information. "Leader, the higher-ups from Silent World have contacted me. There is an incursion on the way as they plan to attack one of the main strongholds of the Blood Path." The Scarlet King nodded but showed little interest, as he did not care about power distribution in the underworld. Dark Mask knew that, so there must be another reason why the man summoned him. "The incursion is to steal resources, but I heard they are also after a teleportation formation that connects to the Hyperion Continent, home of the Deus Bahamut Race." Chapter 456 Harnessing the power of the Concepts (I) Although Dark Mask had no idea why the Scarlet King was interested in the teleportation formation, it was not his place to question his leader, so he just made sure to relay the information. Thrill appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he heard that news. Although it would have been better to teleport to Gaia, with his identity, it would be easy to secure a teleportation back to his home once he reached the Hyperion Continent. "Tell me more about this incursion." At this point, a flash of disappointment appeared on Dark Mask''s face as he lowered his head. "I am sorry, Leader, but that is all the information I could get. Once the envoy of Silent World knew my cultivation base was below the Apotheosis Realm, he refused to share more details. According to his words, if I want to be part of the incursion, I should recover my cultivation to at least the Wind Tribulation Apotheosis Realm in less than a month." The Scarlet King could not help but frown as he heard those words. Everybody thought that Dark Mask''s cultivation base had fallen to the Late Wave King Rank due to the injuries from the last battle, but he knew the truth. The original Dark Mask was dead, and there was no way the new one could reach the Apotheosis Realm in one month. Due to the Lineage and Saint Revolution Refinement, his talent had obtained a massive qualitative upgrade. However, it was still impossible to advance so much in such a short period of time. However, as the Scarlet King analyzed all the information, a flash of enlightenment appeared in his eyes. "The fact that they were willing to make a concession, granting you the chance to enter the war effort if you recover, could mean they are lower in number." Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire Dark Mask softly shook his head as he heard that. While he had reached the Second Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power after obtaining his revenge against Silent Shadow, the Concepts were still a foreign power for him. The Scarlet King was not surprised since even geniuses of the Ego Eternal Path of Power took a while to delve into the power of Concepts after reaching Mind Over Wave. Even he would not have advanced so fast in his understanding of the Concept of Sundering if not for his immensely powerful Alter-Ego, the teachings of Zarak, and the enlightenment granted by the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s sword strike. After signaling Dark Mask to adopt a meditative stance, the Scarlet King did the same and stared at this one after both calmed their minds and hearts. "Concepts are abstract cosmic forces, born from the shared consciousness and cultural understandings of sentient life forms, unlike the Laws which govern the universe''s fundamental physical and energetic properties. Unlike Laws, which are inherent to the universe''s structure, Concepts derive their power from belief, perception, and interpretation. This makes them potentially more malleable and dynamic. There are no barriers blocking understanding of the myriad of Concepts, but following those we have no attunement to will be a waste of potential. That is why we must follow those that reflect our nature." After providing that brief description, the Scarlet King took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The next second, his Ego Wave flooded the room. It didn''t take long for the red force to take the form of a majestic Sun Seed with a yin-yang pattern, featuring bright red flames on the right side and dark ones on the left. Dark Mask''s eyes widened as he beheld the Sun Seed. An Alter-Ego form could not be dictated, as it was a metaphysical representation of how you saw yourself at your core. As he witnessed the majesty of the Sun Seed, he was once again convinced that the man before him was a monster who transcended the limits of understanding. The Scarlet King no longer cared about people witnessing his duality Alter Ego. After releasing it, he raised his index finger. "I am a sun, an embodiment of power capable of sundering all the darkness!" Chapter 457 Harnessign the power of the Concepts (II) "I am a sun, an embodiment of power capable of sundering all the darkness!" As he uttered those words, the Scarlet King lowered his index finger, and the next second, an invisible arc of energy clashed against the wall, leaving a deep cut. "I sunder all the obstacles in my path; that is my way, which is why I can summon the power of the Sundering Concept. But what are you?" After that demonstration, the Scarlet King focused on Dark Mask, and this one softly nodded before taking a deep breath, unleashing a blue force field. Initially, his Ego Wave had been white, but over the last couple of months, it had undergone a change as he embraced the identity of Dark Mask more and more. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire While seeing that change in color made the Scarlet King nod softly, there was no actual modification in the power or might of the Ego Wave, as the color was just a basic preference of the individual. The blue force field didn''t take long to coalesce and give birth to a mountain. There was no life in it, and its surface was extremely flat, as if it had endured a long torment under the power of the elements, but it stood firm. "Solid Mountain." The Scarlet King focused on the mountain, and he could see that Dark Mask''s past had been very harsh, having suffered great pain but managed to endure without breaking. It was a formidable quality that could open the gates to great power. Suddenly, the power of the Sun Seed burst, as fierce scarlet flames flooded the Solid Mountain, making a painful expression appear in Dark Mask''s eyes. "My willpower burns everything in my path. Nothing can stop me from rising into the sky and sundering the firmament. What do you do as you face my flames!?" Dark Mask heard those words inside his mind as the scarlet flames kept striking his mountain. A flash of confusion appeared in his eyes as that question carried a deep meaning, but he could not find the answer. "What do you do as you face my flames!?" Some of the Apotheosis Realm Masters who had gone through the Water Tribulation or already experienced the Flesh Calamity were able to survive this person''s attacks but were severely wounded. According to reports, the killer''s power was at the early stages of the Apotheosis Realm. Still, he was a very proficient assassin, and many of their targets ended with severe and nearly lethal wounds before the actual battle even started. In just two weeks, three Apotheosis Masters perished, and half a dozen more were severely wounded, generating so much havoc that the Tier 1 Dark Factions began to demand the involvement of Silent World. While Silent World was an extremely powerful Tier 0 Dark Faction and could kill an Apotheosis Realm master without a problem, the problem lay in the fact that the person was too good at covering his tracks and left no evidence of his whereabouts. The Tier 0 Dark Faction concluded it was the same person who had previously attacked Dark Hand and might have been involved in the disappearance of Death Tide. Still, that did not help them very much. --- The Scarlet King silently walked through the alleys of a small city, heading towards the house of the City Lord, Sarul Olan. The city''s ruler was known to be a very amicable and responsible person, but no one knew that he was also the leader of a Tier 1 Dark Faction that went by the name of Parasite. It took a lot of effort to figure out the identity of Parasite''s leader, and right now, the Scarlet King is on his way to ending Sarul''s life. The man was a Wind Tribulation Apotheosis Realm Master, so it would not be a problem. However, his eyes narrowed just as the Scarlet King was about to reach the City Lord''s home. [Bone Calamity Apotheosis Master present inside the home. The woman is hiding her true cultivation and disguises herself as Sarul''s secretary.] The Scarlet King raised his guard but was not really surprised, as his actions surely drew the attention of Silent World, and they could not allow someone to harm their Tier 1 Dark Factions without repercussions. ''Well, I guess that is it. With all the people I killed and injured, they will need to refill their ranks with weaker warriors.'' Although the Scarlet King could go after other Tier 1 Dark Faction Leaders, those not hiding must surely be guarded by hidden agents from Silent World waiting to ambush him. Not wasting time, the Scarlet King turned around and calmly exited the city. No one saw him enter, and no one saw him leave either. Chapter 458 Atrox Duke Before the meeting with Dark Mask, the Scarlet King was ready to return to Evernight. Now, after nearly a dozen fights to the death against Apotheosis Realm Masters, he was prepared to consolidate those insights and improve his skills in Tribulation Enhancement. Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire Just as the Scarlet King changed his appearance, honing the disguise of Kain, a message reached his computer ring. [36 days.] They were only one word and a number, but it was enough for the Scarlet King to understand that Dark Mask had secured a spot in Silent World''s incursion against Blood Path, which would take place in 36 days. A sharp light appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he understood it would be just a little over a month before he could reach the Hyperion Continent. From there, with his identity as Cain Laurifer, one of the most exceptional geniuses of the Godslayer Humankind, and his connection with one of the strongest Sector Dukes of the empire, the Collapsing Lightning Duke, it would be a mere transaction to go back to Gaia. Of course, the Scarlet King did not delude himself into thinking that hijacking Silent World''s incursion would be easy. Not only would there be several powerful Apotheosis Realm Masters from both sides flooding the battlefield who would see him as an enemy, but a fight between Tier 0 Dark Factions was bound to have the presence of Divine Ascension Masters. ''I can handle the Apotheosis Masters. However, avoiding the Divine Ascension Masters with my current cultivation might be impossible.'' As the Scarlet King formulated his plan, a sharp light appeared in his eyes. There was one person who could help him handle the Divine Ascension Masters, and he had a way to ensure that person could not refuse. After reaching Evernight, the Scarlet King did not waste time and immediately headed to Astrid''s home. He had contacted the young woman through his computer ring, and she was waiting for him at the entrance.@@@@ "You have been absent more than usual this time. Everything is alright?" Astrid''s eyes showed a flash of concern as it was not like Kain to miss a gala, even if it was just for show. "If you want to talk, come to the main hall." Although Astrid was a little surprised to hear her father''s voice so suddenly, the Scarlet King was not, as he had always felt the eyes of the man present whenever he spoke with the young woman. "Don''t worry, everything will become clear soon. Let''s go." The Scarlet King spoke to the young woman, and while she was still a little confused, she nodded, and they walked to the castle''s main hall. At the end of the hall was a small throne, and in it sat an imposing Atrox covered in blue armor made of oceanic minerals. His eyes glowed with a silver light that seemed capable of setting the air ablaze with a single thought. "I humbly greet Duke William Severus." The Scarlet King had already learned more about Astrid''s family, and the man on the throne was a Duke of the Atrox Immortus Empire who began his path less than a thousand years ago as a commoner without any background at all. William stared at the Scarlet King for a long time, and the light in his eyes grew colder as he saw the way in which his daughter acted around the young man. "I have watched over you, and you have seemed all right up to this point. But the fact that you requested a meeting could easily be interpreted as you getting close to my daughter to get to me." Astrid''s eyes widened as she heard those words, and an uncomfortable feeling assaulted her as she turned to Kain. More than one person had tried to get close to her due to her background, but she was smart enough to keep them away, and she was sure that Kain was different since he was only interested in Tribulation Enhancement. But the sudden meeting with her father might suggest she was wrong. The Scarlet King noticed the look on Astrid''s face, and he showed a kind smile to the woman before turning to William. "I did not come here to ask for your help. I came to offer you a path to cure Astrid." Chapter 459 Dealing with an Atrox Duke (I) William and Astrid''s eyes widened as they heard those words, and they could not believe what they just heard. However, just as hope was about to emerge in their hearts, the looks on their faces hardened. The young Atrox remained silent, but the Duke''s eyes grew emotionless. The Scarlet King felt his instincts screaming danger but did not lose his calm. The duo''s reaction was not surprising, as he would have acted the same way if someone had told him that they could bring back to life the person who was currently lying in a special coffin in his space ring. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire Giving hope to someone was extremely dangerous. If they thought you were playing with them, it could lead to them unleashing their fury on you. Of course, since the Scarlet King knew all of this, he was ready to face the wrath and coldness in their hearts. "I understand that you might doubt me. After all, with your power and background, I am sure that every specialist and healer in the continent has seen Astrid, and they all came to the same conclusion. She could not be healed." Astrid''s fists tightened as she heard those words since she had not forgotten the sense of hope that every new master generated, but in the end, they all failed. It came to the point that having hope was just too painful. "I understand the impact of my words, but I assure you I would not say them if I was not certain." Astrid''s fists softened as she heard those words since it meant that Kain was not just carelessly talking and might really have a way to help her. As for her father, his eyes grew cold, a significant improvement from the emotionless slaughter intent he was hiding before. "Continue." William only uttered that word, and his eyes burned with silver light. There was no price he would not be willing to pay to help his daughter so she could live a very long life. Still, he did not lose himself in hope and kept a cold mind. The Scarlet King''s face was full of confidence as he heard that question. He had already scanned Astrid with the [A.I. Chip Module] and calculated using the [Atomic Genetic Rewrite]''s tool on her. While he was unaware of what type of effect it would have on the young woman in the long run, the system had assured him that Astrid''s congenital disability that prevented her from training would cease to exist. The only downside was that it would cost him 1 M Destiny Force to use the tool on the young woman, but it was worth it if he could obtain the help of her father in this mission, not to mention that his personal feelings toward her also pushed him to help her. Astrid felt her heart beating faster and faster as she waited for Kain''s answer. She had already given up on her fate. Still, upon seeing the flash of hope in her father''s eyes and the confidence in Kain''s face, she could not help but grow excited at the prospect of being able to use her Sacred Organs and finally embarking on the path of power. "There is a 100% certainty. You can be present as Master performs the procedure, and he can be done before the mission, as long as you give your word that you will help him when the time comes." The Scarlet King stared into the eyes of the Atrox Duke and saw how they could not stop glowing. ''I got him.'' William had indeed fallen into the grip of hope, and the fact that Kain''s Master was willing to perform the procedure before carrying on with the mission told him the level of certainty of the deal. However, there was one critical point they needed to handle, and that was the payment. Kain was the son of an Archduke of the Inferno Daemon Empire, and the fact that he came to someone from a different race to ask for assistance hinted at the type of shady favor the deal would entail. William was a man of honor who had stood on the frontlines of the battlefield his entire life, but as he stared at his young daughter, a sense of resolution appeared in his eyes. There was nothing he would not be willing to do to heal her. Chapter 460 Dealing with an Atrox Duke (II) "Astrid, it might be good if you leave and let us speak alone." Astrid stared at her father and understood that he did not want her to hear the price he would have to pay as it might be something that went against his ethical code. While the young Atrox wanted the opportunity to cultivate more than anything in her life, she did not know if her father''s honor would be a price she could accept. However, before Astrid could say a word, the Scarlet King spoke. "She can stay if she can keep a secret. After all, while the mission is extremely dangerous and requires the utmost secrecy, it should not be something that goes against your sense of justice and honor or even the rules and codes of the Atrox Immortus Empire." The Scarlet King saw how the duo looked at him incredulously, and he simply smiled before continuing. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire "Master only needs you to interfere during a fight between two Tier 0 Dark Factions. You need to keep the Divine Ascension Masters at bay as he carries on with his mission. It will be a few minutes at most, and then you can escape or call reinforcements from the empire." Willian and Astrid''s eyes widened as they heard the mission. It was indeed dangerous but not something that would bring shame or embarrassment. As a Duke of the Atrox Immortus Empire, fighting underworld warriors under any context was a display of honor and courage. Actually, if William were to lead the forces of the empire into a fight between two Tier 0 Dark Factions, he would gain a great deal of honor and praise. "Is it really just that?" Astrid asked with a look of wonder as she stared at Kain. The eccentric Master would provide a service that no one else in the entire world could, yet he only asked for assistance against members of the underworld. William''s eyes narrowed as he heard that information. Despite his status, he knew nothing about an incursion. Clearly, Kain''s Master had a great understanding of the underworld. "Do you know the strength of warriors that will take place in this incursion?" "Silent World was only recruiting Apotheosis Realm Masters at the beginning, but after recent problems, they began to gather Late and Peak Wave Warriors for their troops." William nodded, and he was able to relax a little. If the ones on the battlefield are Wave Kings, then the strongest warriors on both sides will be at the level of Divine Ascension Masters, and no Gods will be present. The logic behind this deduction was simple since there was no point in having Wave Kings on the battlefield if a God were to enter it. Wave Kings can do nothing against Gods unless they have a ridiculous numerical advantage and perform suicidal tactics, so having both simultaneously on a battlefield made no sense. "Mmm, I can indeed generate a great impact on such a type of battlefield, and distracting two Divine Ascension Masters while they are fighting each other will not be complicated. When will it happen?" As he asked that question, the resolve and fighting spirit in William''s eyes burst. He was ready to fight and only needed to know when. "The incursion will take place in 36 days. I need to return with Masters a little before that, and he will then meet with you two outside Evernight to heal Astrid." William''s eyes narrowed when he heard how Kain''s Master would not enter Evernight, but he simply nodded. That person wanted to keep his identity a secret, but the reason did not matter. The man just needed to heal his daughter, and he would keep his word and fight. "I will be in my cultivation abode for the next month. Just inform me before you leave, and let me know when and where we will meet your Master." Chapter 461 18 Revolution Flame The Atrox Duke stood up and glanced at Kain and Astrid for a moment before exiting the hall, leaving the duo alone. "Will I really be able to cultivate?" After her father left, Astrid spoke those words with a trembling voice. Yesterday was an impossible dream, but now it seemed it would only be a matter of time. Everything was so shocking that the young woman did not know how to respond. The Scarlet King gave the young Atrox woman a kind smile as he patted her head. "You will gain the power to fly through the sky, shatter mountains with your hands, and live for thousands of years." After saying those words, the Scarlet King turned around and left for the guest room he had previously occupied. It was better to let Astrid acclimate to the news alone. --- The following month, the Scarlet King remained in Severus Castle and spent his days with Astrid as the duo continued their training in Tribulation Enhancement. There was a new sense of thrill and purpose in the young Atrox woman''s eyes as she knew that soon she would no longer be limited to theoretical knowledge and could genuinely practice the creation of Revolution Flames and perform Revolution Refinement. Unlike their last practice sessions in which the Scarlet King paid more attention to his cultivation and only left the mornings for Tribulation Enhancement, he focused solely on the profession now. He did not know when he would see Astrid again after using the teleportation formation to travel to the Hyperion Continent. After all, the animosity between the Dark Races and the Godslayer Humankind ran deep. Since the Scarlet King focused only on Tribulation Refinement, he improved at a breathtaking speed, and in four days, he was able to generate a 16 Revolution Flame. However, from this point forward, every single step was like scaling a mountain whose peak was covered by clouds. No matter how much the Scarlet King progressed, it felt like he would never reach the next level. Luckily, Astrid''s help and guidance helped him overcome several bottlenecks. --- A few hours after the Scarlet King left Evernight, he appeared in the secret warehouse and saw Dark Mask waiting for him. The Scarlet King stared at Dark Mask as this one bowed, and his eyes narrowed as he felt an extremely solid and durable aura coming from him. He nodded in approval, as he was sure that Dark Mask had already managed to harness the power of Concepts, an awe-inspiring feat and something that would improve his chances of survival during the incursion. Dark Mask did not waste time and waved his hand, making a small black pyramid appear and handing it over to the Scarlet King. "As you requested, Leader, this is a space storage artifact capable of holding life. It can endure an energy level of the Apotheosis Realm, and inside are all the resources you asked for." Just as Dark Mask finished speaking, his eyes detected a person entering the secret warehouse. ''Was I followed?'' Dark Mask''s eyes widened as he realized he might have led someone here. He understood he needed to make things clear, or his life could be in danger. However, before Dark Mask could say a single word, the Scarlet King raised his hand. "There is no need to worry. He is with us." Dark Mask was surprised by those words, and the surprise soon turned into shock as he realized that the newcomer was none other than Death Tide! Unit glanced at Dark Mask for a moment but did not focus on him and instead turned to the Scarlet King before performing a deep bow. "Leader." Chapter 462 17 Revolution Refinement Dark Mask could not hide his shock as he stared at Death Tide. He believed that the leader of Death Ocean had perished at the hands of the masked monster, but that was not the case. The Scarlet King stared at Death Tide and softly nodded as he felt the power of the man. Unlike what everybody else thought, their battle had actually ended in a draw. Still, instead of escaping after the Scarlet King''s energy pool was depleted, Death Tide remained steady and requested to become part of his group. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire Although the Scarlet King was surprised, he could see the value of someone so cunning and wise as Death Tide among his troops. Of course, there were also dangers, but he was confident in his ability to handle the man. After leaving an Ego Mark inside Death Tide''s brain, the Scarlet King improved the man''s bloodline before performing a 15 Revolution Refinement on his flesh and blood. The upgrade in talent was the reason there were already signs of Death Tide nearing the Water Tribulation. "As requested, Leader, I have gathered all the wealth from Death Ocean, the City of Karon, and the Karon Family. I use all of it to obtain resources full of vitality and energy." Death Tide handed a space ring to the Scarlet King, and he smiled. With the treasure in it, he would not have to spend days hunting Grand King Beasts and other animals to obtain energy and vitality for his Saint Revolution Flames. After looking at the duo, the Scarlet King''s eyes grew solemn. "I will be leaving soon and don''t know when I will return. You two will remain in control of Dark Hand and improve its power. I expect that by the time I see you again, it has become the strongest Tier 1 Dark Faction in the entire Uranus Sector." Complicated expressions appeared in the duo''s eyes when they heard those words. Both were aware of the Scarlet King''s search for intercontinental teleportation formation. They suspected this one would leave Kronos, but his departure came sooner than expected. A burst echoed across the warehouse as a shocking amount of world energy began to flood the Refinement Cauldron and merge into Unit''s body. The Wind Tribulation Apotheosis Master''s eyes widened as he felt the power of the world energy filling his body, and he immediately used every ounce of his willpower to make it course through his flesh and blood. Bursting red light appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he pushed his mind to the absolute peak, using every ounce of strength and skill at his disposal to ensure the Enhancement was completed and prevent Unit''s body from exploding like a balloon full of blood. As the Scarlet King continued with the Enhancement, he could not help but be happy that he did not choose to go with the 18 Revolution Flame. Creating one was not difficult, but the amount of energy such a flame could bring would reduce his chance of success to less than thirty percent. It took immense effort and hard work, but the Scarlet King managed to perform the Saint Tribulation Refinement on Unit. The lid of the Refinement Cauldron soon opened, and Death Tide emerged the next second. There was a look of shock and awe in his eyes as he stared at his body and felt the upgrade granted by the 17 Revolution Refinement. Unit''s focus shifted to the state of his Evolution Core, and he saw how its energy had grown extremely pure, but that was not all. The metamorphosis brought by the Wind Tribulation had been drastically improved. ''With my current state, surpassing the Water Tribulation will be no problem at all!'' Death Tide found it hard to calm down after realizing the immense improvement in his cultivation. He clasped his hands and performed a deep bow toward the Scarlet King. The Scarlet King nodded toward Death Tide and turned to Dark Mask, who was looking at him with eyes full of resolution. He rested for a few hours, allowing his mind to recover to its peak before carrying on with the Tribulation Enhancement.@@@@ Chapter 463 Atomic Genetic Rewrite (I) Having learned from his past experience, and thanks to Dark Mask''s bursting willpower and resolution, the Scarlet King was once again able to perform a 17 Revolution Enhancement. Dark Mask emerged from the cauldron once the refinement was completed, and the same look of awe and shock as Death Tide could be seen on his face as he saw the extremely pure and dense state of his Essence Wave. After finishing the Saint Revolution Refinement on the duo, the Scarlet King rested his mind again, which seemed like it would split apart due to the immense mental effort. Once he opened his eyes, he stared at the duo for a moment before waving his hand and taking the Tier 1 Bio Genetic Chamber from his space ring. Dark Mask and Death Tide looked at each other as the Scarlet King began to fill the Tier 1 Bio Genetic Chamber with all kinds of resources, but they remained silent and simply waited to see what would happen. The Scarlet King finished processing the materials after an hour and then turned toward Dark Mask. There was no need for words as Dark Mask removed his armor and jumped into the Tier 1 Bio Genetic Chamber. Soon, he felt changes occurring in his bloodline as the genes that granted his Ice Lineage were being improved. The Scarlet King had tasked the [A.I. Chip Module] to generate a genetic formula that could improve the power and purity of the Ice Lineage in Dark Mask''s body, and he was now going ahead with it. After a few hours, Dark Mask''s body began to tremble as a rune began to form over his back, generating a mighty freezing aura. The Scarlet King smiled as he finished the improvement and saw the appearance of a Blood Rune on Dark Mask''s body, signifying that the Lineage had reached the Peak Apotheosis Level. Dark Mask emerged from the chamber, and the look in his eyes was pure thrill as he clenched his fists and felt the immense power running through his veins. Dark Mask and Death Tide nodded as they engraved those words in their minds. They would not grow cocky due to their enhanced power and talent, as it would be easy for other Dark Factions to become jealous of them and target them. After seeing that the duo took his words with the seriousness that they required, the Scarlet King nodded. "Dark Mask, answer the summon and gather with the rest of the troops of Silent World. As for you, Death Tide, you will remain in the distance during the entire incursion and help Dark Mask escape when the time comes." Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire After hearing those words, both Atroxs bow to the Scarlet King and leave the warehouse. Their destination was the same as that of the Scarlet King, but there was someone else he needed to be before that. --- William and Astrid were on the peak of a massive mountain, waiting. There was a sharp light in the Atrox Duke''s eyes while a sense of anxiousness appeared in the young woman. Astrid was doing her best to keep her composure. Still, it was only a matter of hours before she could get rid of her congenital disability once and for all, allowing her to finally cultivate and break free of the shackles of weakness and mortality. William saw the hope and anxiousness in his daughter''s eyes, and if that man could truly heal her, he would not only fulfill this mission but would remember this kindness for the rest of his life. Suddenly, William''s eyes narrowed as he looked into the distance. Soon, he saw a red figure flashing toward them, appearing in the sky above them in less than a minute. The Scarlet King stood in the sky above the duo, and his eyes showed no emotion. It was as if he was looking at two complete strangers whose lives held no meaning for him. It was impossible to match those eyes with the ones that had shown kindness and affection toward the young Atrox woman. Chapter 464 Atomic Genetic Rewrite (II) The power of Order overflowed through the Scarlet King''s eyes, suppressing any sentiment he might have had toward the young woman, allowing his disguise to fool the duo. William immediately took a step forward and positioned himself between the Scarlet King and Astrid. He didn''t feel a threat coming from the man and was confident he could defeat this one. Still, those red eyes glowed with willpower that conveyed a sense of certainty and resolution he believed could only exist in an emotionless monster. After a moment, and making sure the duo could sense the absence of any form of emotion in his eyes, the Scarlet King descended to the mountain''s peak. His eyes grew sharp as he focused on William before turning to Astrid.@@@@ "So, you are the young woman my disciple is so infatuated with." The Scarlet King paused at this point before speaking with a tone full of aloofness. "Ah, youthful love. What a waste of time. Someone who follows my teaching can not distract himself with such useless emotions." Astrid clenched her fists upon hearing those words. She had initially wondered why Kain had spoken as if they might never see each other again before leaving the castle. However, now that she heard the words of the man with the red mask, it was clear that he did not approve of any kind of romantic relationship. "Enough. We are not here to speak about the relationships of young people." William noticed his daughter''s state and immediately redirected the conversation, causing a sharp silver light to appear in his eyes. The Scarlet King turned to the Atrox Duke and nodded before waving his hand, making a Tier 1 Bio Genetic Chamber appear. "The negotiations are done, so let''s not waste time. Get into the genetic chamber so I can start the process." Astrid stared at the Scarlet King for a moment but did not move right away, as the man did not inspire trust. Due to her armor, one couldn''t see Astrid''s figure directly, but the Scarlet King''s Ego Wave showed him how her skin began to peel off. Shock appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he witnessed such a gory scene, and the same happened with William, but the two managed to remain calm as they saw that her vital signs were all stable. The changes to Astrid''s body grew more and more intense as her entire circulatory system broadened, and a mass of muscles and bones began to cover the area around the Evolution Core. The process aimed to do a total rewrite of Astrid''s genome, returning her genes to the most basic state of her race. The changes in Astrid''s body meant that there was a time when the Atrox Immortus race had these physical characteristics in every newborn. The Scarlet King couldn''t help but be impressed by these physical characteristics. While at his level, they meant very little, they could prove immensely helpful to people who were just embarking on the Path of Power, ensuring the safety of their Sacred Organs while their bodies were still weak. Half an hour passed, and Astrid''s body finally stopped convulsing. She slowly opened her eyes and exited the Tier 1 Bio Genetic Chamber before removing the Bio Atrox Armor that had covered her body. The Scarlet King''s eyes widened as he saw Astrid''s physical appearance after her genome returned to the most basic state of the Atrox Immortus Race. Of course, he could hide those emotions thanks to the power of Order. On the other hand, Willian could not hide his emotions, and the shock in his eyes was clear to everybody. Astrid noticed the look on her father was also staring at her with shock. A sense of dread overwhelmed her as she immediately took a mirror from her space ring. When she finally saw her appearance, she was left stunned. She was stunningly beautiful. The young Atrox''s woman''s face was small and delicate, with skin as white as snow and pointy ears. Astrid looks no different than an elf from the Old World''s fairy tales. Chapter 465 Atomic Genetic Rewrite (III) The Scarlet King was not only surprised by the young woman''s immense beauty but also shocked to find out that the Atrox Immortus Race looked like that at their most basic and primitive state. While many Atroxs were aesthetically appealing, nearly all of them lacked those delicate characteristics, replaced by stern and warrior-like features. While the beauty made Astrid happy, that was not the reason she went through this process. She took a deep breath and retrieved a wave crystal from her space ring, focusing on it. Hope and fear appeared in her eyes as she sent the Life Wave from the wave crystal into her Sacred Organs. William stared at his daughter, allowing a sense of hope to invade him. If this did not work, nothing could cure Astrid''s congenital disability. Seconds went by, and a sense of dread and pressure assaulted everybody, but then Astrid''s body trembled, and a tiny thread of sky-blue energy emerged from her body! That was Essence Wave! It was small and faded immediately, but the fact that she managed to generate it meant her Evolution Core worked, and she could embark on the Essence Evolution Path of Power. Astrid could not help but shed tears as she felt the Evolution Core inside her body develop Essence Waves and use the power to generate meridians across her body, the first step in what would be a long and arduous cultivation journey. William could not contain the waves of emotions that assailed his heart either, as he would not have to see his daughter age and fade after a mere hundred years. He then turned to the Scarlet King and performed a deep bow. "I will never forget this."@@@@ Regardless of the coldness and aloof attitude of the man, he had healed his daughter, and William could not be happier. "I will remember this grace for my entire life." Although going down that path was extremely dangerous, William was aware of the miraculous effect of Revolution Refinement after reading the golden book. It did not take long for determination to appear in his eyes, and he nodded. A smile full of greed appeared on the Scarlet King''s face as he heard those words, and he opened the lid of the Refinement Cauldron, allowing William to get in before placing a 15 Revolution Flame. Although he had performed a 16 Revolution Refinement on Dark Mask and Death Tide, his proficiency had not reached 100%, and unlike with the duo, he could not afford to lose the Atrox Duke before the incursion. Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire "Make sure to revolve the energy around your body as fast as possible to allow the assimilation to proceed without a problem." William heard those words in his mind, and the next second, the cauldron lid closed, and the 15 Revolution Flame emerged from the sphere, flooding his body both inside and out. A second later, the Atrox Duke''s eyes widened as he felt waves of world energy flooding his body with overwhelming power. Without hesitation, William made his Ego Wave burst, using all the power of his silver force field to mobilize the energy across his body. The Scarlet King relaxed as he felt how easy it was to mobilize the energy around William after this one helped the process using his own Ego Wave, which had already reached the Third Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power. In just two hours, the world''s energy stopped flooding into the cauldron, and William emerged from it the next second. His eyes could not hide his shock and awe as the state of his bones and flesh had improved. William was an extremely talented Astral Cultivator and built his foundation step by step with extreme focus and hard work. That allowed the power behind the Flesh Calamity and Bone Calamity to reach an overwhelming level. The memories of those tribulations and the effect they had on his flesh and bones were still clear in the Atrox''s mind. For the last couple of years, William had just been improving his soul force, as he was under the pretense that his flesh and bones had already been tempered to the utmost limit of the Apotheosis Rank. However, the effect of the Saint Revolution Refinement pushed his bones and flesh to an even higher stage! Chapter 466 Start of the incursion Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire "With my foundation and the might of my Ego Wave, if I were to rise into the Divine Ascension Rank, my power would allow me to face those at the Middle Stage, maybe even exchange blows with people at the Late Stage, those with the right to call themselves Gods!" William was so excited that he spoke aloud, almost forgetting he was not alone. The Scarlet King stared at the Atrox Duke but said nothing about this one''s shock. After all, Wiliam''s response made sense. Tribulation Enhancement improves what is already there, and while a 15 Revolution Refinement might only provide a 5% upgrade to William''s foundation, even a 1% improvement was shocking when you reached the peak and would translate into immense power in the future. Despite the thrill, William''s willpower allowed him to regain his focus immediately, and he stared at the Scarlet King before performing a solemn nod. There was no need for words, as the man would prove his determination and gratitude with actions. After everything was in order, the Scarlet King and William flashed into the distance, and while they moved at an extremely fast speed, their auras grew more and more feeble until they vanished.@@@@ --- Dark Mask''s eyes were focused as he silently advanced with a group composed of thirty warriors. All of them were using a special amulet granted by Silent World to hide their aura as they moved closer and closer to their target. He was at the group''s rear with another 21 Late and Peak Wave Kings, following nine Apotheosis Realm Masters. Among the Apotheosis Realm Masters, there were five who had solemn expressions on their faces as they understood the immense danger of this mission. Yet, the other four were calm and serene, as if this was just a walk in the park. The difference between the two groups of Apotheosis Realm Masters was not exactly the power of their cultivation base but that the four with serenity in their eyes were actual members of Silent World. "BOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" Shockwaves of phantom energy spread in every direction as the phantom hand attempted to push through the force field, but this one stood firm. A cold light appeared in the woman leading the incursion, and she glanced at the other three before they all bit their tongues, allowing streams of blood overflowing with vitality to enter the formation. "CRACK!" Immediately, the energy from the God Phantom''s Hand grew stronger, causing cracks in the force field before shattering this one, no longer obstructing the spell''s path. "RUMBLEEE!!!" The earth trembled as the God Phantom''s Hand shattered the surface of the water, revealing the hidden laboratory full of immensely advanced artifacts and with hundreds of people inside. Confusion and dread appeared in the people inside the laboratory as they saw the massive phantom arm shattering the laboratory''s ceiling. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!" A cold smile appeared on the woman with the dark armor as she clasped her hands, causing the God Phantom''s Hand to burst, generating a blast that set the air ablaze, sending trees flying away, and instantly killing everybody inside the laboratory whose cultivation had yet to reach the Wave King Rank, while injuring everybody else. Dark Mask had summoned his Holy Weapon, and ice wings covered his figure from the blast. Although he and the rest of the incursion force were not the target, the explosion occurred less than one thousand meters away, so the flames reached their location. Chapter 467 Endurance Concept All the other Apotheosis Masters and Wave Kings from the incursion force used their treasures and Wave Cloaks to protect themselves from the destructive power of the blast. Once the flames began to disperse, the Wave Kings, who were part of the incursion, couldn''t help but frown as the explosion had wounded them. Although the injuries wouldn''t reduce their battle power, it wouldn''t improve their chances of survival either. The Apotheosis Realm Masters from Silent World were aware of the effect that detonating their spell would carry, but clearly, they only saw those Wave Kings as disposable tools. The woman covered in gray armor didn''t bother to even look at them before her aura burst again, unleashing a torrent of Essence Wave into the sky. "Attack!" Regardless of their feelings, the Apotheosis Realm Masters and Wave Kings from the Tier 1 Dark Factions immediately made their energy explode as they flashed to the opening in the waterfall. The mission was simple: kill everybody and take everything. The first to reach the sea of flames that was the laboratory was a massive Atrox, nearly two and a half meters tall, radiating vitality and exuding overwhelming strength from his entire body. No one was surprised to see the man flash into the laboratory ahead of everybody, even the members of Silent World. He was a Flesh Calamity Apotheosis Master who went by the name of Diamond Body, the leader of the Diamond Killers. Just by its name, one would get a hint of the man''s narcissistic nature. Today, Diamond Body acted no different, trying to draw attention. But that was a grave mistake. "?BOOOOMMMM!" Less than a second after flashing into the burning laboratory, Diamond World was sent flying away with an indentation in his chest and puking blood. "Defend!" A figure rose from the burning laboratory as he rallied the troops. His entire body glowed with energy as blood runes rotated around his hands and fists. A red armor covered his figure, but his helmet allowed his face to be seen, showing metallic golden skin and sharp blue eyes. Dark Mask saw how the enemy lunged toward him and sent a powerful punch that could severely harm him. His left ice wing moves incredibly fast, positioning itself between the Peak Wave King Atrox''s fist and his face. "Hmph!" The Peak Wave King from Blood Path sneered as he saw that defense and he was ready to blast it to pieces with his punch. "?BOOM!" A wave of Blood Energy blasted everywhere as the Peak Wave King''s fist landed on the ice wing, but shock appeared in his eyes as he realized his attack hadn''t moved Dark Mask a single step. The Atrox couldn''t believe the defensive power of the ice wings, and before he could perform another attack, an ice tail slashed at his head, making his brain tremble inside his skull and sending him flying away. The rest of the Atroxs on the Wave King battlefield were shocked to see the defensive power of Dark Mask, many wondering if it was the power of the Ice Law. No one saw how Dark Mask''s eyes were burning with blue light as he had set his Ego Wave ablaze to summon the Endurance Concept''s power. That was the Concept that Dark Mask was able to draw power from, thanks to his Alter-Ego affinity to this one. While it lacked offensive might, it improved his wings'' endurance to an overwhelming level. Although Dark Mask''s defense was impressive, many just took it as a special skill. After all, he was once a Water Tribulation Apotheosis Master, so they soon put their focus back on their fight. Dark Mask could relax once he saw people''s attention moving away from him and continued fighting his opponent, focusing not on victory but on gaining time and conserving his power. The battle between both forces was even at the beginning, but it didn''t take long for the people from Silent World to take the lead. Not only did they have the numerical advantage, but the Wave Kings from Blood Path had endured great injuries during the blast of God Phantom''s Hand. Unfortunately for the warriors that formed the incursion force of Silent World, just as it seemed that victory was inevitable and they were ready to massacre the wounded enemies, an overwhelming dark force field flooded the earth and sky. Chapter 468 Divine Ascension Masters fight A smile appeared on the faces of the warriors of Blood Path, while dread filled the hearts of those from Silent World due to the killing intent they felt in the Ego Wave. Things just went from bad to worse as the next second, the surroundings began to change, and everybody saw how the ground turned into a massive pool of blood as red clouds filled the sky. "Hmph, you dirty apes from Silent World, do you really think that you can attack the domains of Blood Path and survive?" Along with those words came a young woman who calmly descended from the sky. A white armor covered her body, but she did not hide her beautiful face and long dark hair. Her eyes were full of bloodlust, and a thin blade of blood was in her right hand. Everybody, including the four members of Silent World, adopted solemn expressions as they stared at the woman since she was a true powerhouse, a Divine Ascension Master, and they were all in her domain. The Divine Ascension Master''s eyes immediately went to the strongest warrior from Silent World, Ina. She did not say a word before waving her hand. Ina was an Earth Tribulation Apotheosis Master, and her talent and power allowed her to fight against those at the Peak of the Apotheosis Rank. But a somber expression appeared on her face as she saw the massive arc of blood falling towards her. Even if she survived, she would end up with severe injuries.@@@@ Just as the arc of blood was about to fall on Ina, a figure pierced right through the blood domain, leaving a hole in it before standing in front of the woman and sending a powerful strike upwards. The newcomer''s entire body glowed with golden light, and his palm strike managed to shatter the arc of blood to pieces. His whole body was covered in Atrox''s Bio Armor, but it did not hide his black eyes nor the dark golden light emanating from it. "Hahaha, Sabina, don''t you think it is beneath you to attack Apotheosis Realm Masters." The woman in white armor recognized the golden Atrox and her eyes glowed with killing intent, but there was also a hint of caution. Just like her, the man was a Divine Ascension Master, and this would not be their first clash. Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire "Zaman, do you understand the weight of your actions? Do you think that the Blood God will allow Silent World to trample over us?" Sabina''s voice was cold as she stared at the man and all the other members of Silent World as if they were already dead. All the golden light emerging from Zaman''s body morphed into a dome that deflected energy and physical attacks, protecting him and the rest of the Apotheosis Masters. "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" The arcs of blood energy clashed against the dome of golden light, generating hundreds of explosions around it, but it endured. Once the last arc of blood energy faded, Zaman clasped his hands, gathering all the light between his palms before opening them and generating ten golden spears. Zaman did not wait a second before grasping one of the spears, infusing it with his Astral Wave to make it incredibly dense and heavy, before thrusting it with all his power toward the enemy. "SHHHHH!" Sabina''s eyes widened as she saw the speed and power of that spear, and she knew she would not be able to dodge it. So she pointed her blade forward, unleashing a vortex of blood that soon became a protective shield. "Blood Barrier!" "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!" A massive shockwave spread across the sky as the spear of light clashed against the blood shield, and the power was not much weaker than the one unleashed by the explosion of God Phantom''s Hand. Apotheosis Masters and Wave Kings watched the clash between the two Divine Ascension Masters and could not hide the awe, admiration, and desire in their eyes. That power was the goal of all great warriors from Aether, reaching the divine and shedding away mortality. Sabina''s eyes burst with darkness as she redirected the spear of light away before rising hundreds of thousands of meters into the sky and waving her thin saber down, this time generating a tsunami of blood that threatened to drown the entire battlefield. "Blood Tsunami!" Chapter 469 Sneak attack on a Divine Ascencion Master "Blood Tsunami!" Although the attack had as its primary target the Divine Ascension Masters from Silent World, it was so massive that it would reach every Apotheosis Master and Wave King on both sides. Sabina did not have problems killing her own men if it granted her victory. Zaman did not lose focus, and his hands moved at such a shocking speed that he managed to throw all nine spears of light simultaneously, making them clash with the tsunami of blood. "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion of blood and golden light covered the sky and earth, blocking the view of all the Apotheosis Realm Masters and Wave Kings. By the time they regained their sight, all of them looked to the sky, and unparalleled shock appeared in their eyes as they saw Zaman''s arm piercing Sabina''s chest. The Divine Ascension Master from Silent World had managed to pierce through the explosion using the strength of his body, reaching the woman and unleashing a ferocious attack that seemed to give him victory. Sabina''s eyes were also full of shock as she gazed at the arm piercing her chest, but soon, a cold smile appeared on her face. Zaman''s eyes widened as his instincts began to scream danger, but before he could do anything, the woman transformed into a mass of blood that entangled him, restricting his movements! Less than a second later, a figure appeared among the red cloud, and there was no one else but Sabina. While Zaman had pierced through the explosion to reach his target and land a lethal blow, Samina had left a clone made of her own blood to distract the Divine Ascension Master from Silent World so she could fire her paralyze the moment of this one. Before Zaman could get rid of the blood restrictions, Samina raised her thin blood saber and gathered all her energy in it. "Eclipse Edge." Although such a close distance was dangerous for Sabina, it would also enhance the destructive power of her attack. She clenched her teeth and did not move back, remaining steady as she waved her blood blade down. "Eclipse Edge!" Zaman saw the crescent-shaped wave of blood energy coming at him with immense power, and he gathered all his Astral Wave and golden light in his right arm, releasing a concentrated burst of burning energy. "Solar Flare Strike." Arcs of lightning and chaotic energy spread everywhere as the fist burning with golden energy clashed against the arc of blood energy, making the sky tremble. The power the duo was unleashing was genuinely overwhelming, each using all they had to kill the other. "BOOOOMMMM!" Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire In the end, Sabina''s Eclipse Edge and Zaman''s Solar Flare Strike ended in a draw, leading to a massive explosion that sent both Divine Ascension Masters hurtling in opposite directions with blood leaking from their mouths. Sabina used all her power to calm the raging flow of her blood and stabilize her wounds as she attempted to regain control over her body. Suddenly, her eyes widened as an individual materialized behind her. The newcomer was a towering Atrox covered in oceanic-like armor. His eyes glowed with silver light and were full of killing intent as he struck the woman''s back. There was no way to regain control over her body fast enough or counterattack, so Sabina could only make the blood energy inside her body burst, enduring a severe backlash in order to summon a revolving cocoon of blood that protected her body. The Divine Ascension Master was sure that the revolving blood would protect her, as its defensive power was phenomenal, which was why there was such shock in her eyes as she felt the punch pierce through it. Chapter 470 Carving a bloody path (I) Everything grew worse for Sabina as the moment the punch landed on her back, she felt powerful vibrations coursing through her body, wreaking havoc in her already wounded internal organs. Just as Sabina thought the punch would send her flying away, the man used his left arm to embrace her before striking once again, this time with an open palm on her shoulder. Unlike the previous strike that spread vibrations inside her body, this palm concentrated all the vibrational power on her shoulder, shattering her shoulder''s path and destabilizing the energy defenses in that area. Sabina felt her instincts screaming with danger stronger than ever, and she tightened her grip on her blood blade. She was in no position to perform a slash with the weapon, but as an Essence Cultivator, she could redirect the energy from the blade, making small arcs of bloody energy emerge from her body. All those arcs landed on the Atrox covered in oceanic armor since this one was embracing the woman, but he clenched his teeth and endured the damage as he grabbed Sabina''s right wrist and extended the arm as if he wanted to rip it out. Sabina saw how the Atrox in oceanic armor extended her arm that was holding the thin blood blade, but while her body was not formidably strong, it was not so weak that someone could rip her an extremity so easily. The woman kept firing arcs of blood energy toward the Atrox, and she was sure this one would not be able to hold on for long. But all of a sudden, a figure descended from the sky at a shocking speed with a red saber in his hand, charged with darkness. "SHHHH!" The sound of wind splitting apart echoed across the battlefield as the red saber hacked toward Sabina''s right shoulder, severing the arm! The Scarlet King could not sever the connection of Sabina with her arm or the artifact she engraved with her Ego Wave, but he did not lose his calm, and a smile appeared on his face as the entire arm faded the next second. Shock appeared in Sabina''s eyes as she felt the connection to her arm and artifacts vanish. Even if the man put them inside dimensional storage, she should still be able to control them. The confusion in the Divine Ascension Master was understandable since there was no way she could know that the Scarlet King had the [Demonic Devourer Dimension]. The Scarlet King did not care about the woman''s shock, and after making sure the [Sky Flame] did not consume the arm, space ring, and weapon, he flashed with all his power toward the burning laboratory. Sabina''s eyes burned with killing intent as she gazed at the figure flashing away, while Zaman''s eyes were full of confusion and doubt as he stared at the newcomer. The Scarlet King could feel the piercing gaze of the Divine Ascension Masters on him, but he did not falter for a second since that could mean death. He pushed with all his strength toward the laboratory. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire Unfortunately for him, the laboratory of Blood Path was right in the middle of the Apotheosis Realm Battlefield, and he would have to push through it if he wanted to reach it. His eyes burned as the Ego Wave burst with all his power, unleashing all the power of the Concept of Sundering. The Apotheosis Masters from Silent World did not know how to respond to the man in the golden armor, as they knew nothing about him other than he and the man in oceanic armor were not part of Blood Path. However, for the Apotheosis Masters of Blood Path, there was only one path: kill the man and retrieve Sabina''s arm and treasures, or else they would have to face the woman''s wrath for letting this one escape. The Scarlet King saw how some Apotheosis Masters managed to push away their enemies and flashed toward him, full of killing intent and power. If they were at their peak, the Scarlet King would have never been able to push through them, but thanks to their wounds, he had a chance. Chapter 471 Carving a bloody path (II) Flashes of golden light began to appear in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he pushed The Flow to its peak, focusing on the three Apotheosis Masters marching toward him. Two were Flesh Calamities Astral Cultivators, while the last was a Water Tribulation Essence Cultivator. The two Flesh Calamity Astral Cultivators made their Waves burst as they lunged toward the Scarlet King, one firing a fiery blow toward his face while the other swung a massive axe toward his waist.@@@@ Normally, an Essence Cultivator would maintain distance from the enemies, but the Scarlet King kept pushing forward until he was right before them. Just as the fist and weapon were about to reach him, shadows covered his figure, allowing him to twist his body and pass between the spaces formed by the two attacks. Shock appeared in the Flesh Calamity Apotheosis Masters as they saw the flawless movements of the Scarlet King and could not understand how someone could reach that level of martial skill. Before they could turn around and continue their attack, two blasts of shadows landed on them, pushing them into the sky. The Scarlet King had just sent the duo away with a blast of shadow from Slaughter when his eyes focused on the Water Tribulation Apotheosis Master. The woman seemed to be a master of the Metal Law as her Essence Wave turned into dozens of sharp metallic claws that flashed toward him. As he saw those claws, the Scarlet King unleashed the Blood Nails, and the next second, the Demonic Phantom came into play. Immediately, he infused the Radiance of Life and Radiance of Power into the avatar of darkness and blood, allowing it to clash head-on with the woman''s spell. Sabina and Zaman gazed at the man covered in golden artifacts marching into the laboratory, but neither made a move. The reason was simple: the man in the oceanic armor stood in their path, and they could feel the immense power in this one. Sabina was severely injured, having lost her right arm and weapon, and she lacked the power to overcome the man in oceanic armor. As for Zaman, he had no reason to interfere, as that would incite the man in oceanic armor to fight him and could give an opening for Sabina to attack him. As for the duo assaulting the man in oceanic armor together, that was impossible. Neither trusted the other since less than a minute ago, they had attempted to kill each other. Their hesitation allowed the Scarlet King to store the woman''s body and push forward, nearing the entrance to the laboratory. However, just as he was about to reach it, a figure appeared in his path. Sarun stood in the broken ceiling that led to the laboratory, and the blood runes burned with power around his fists. He was the strongest of the Apotheosis Masters of the Blood Path and, as such, could not afford to let the man escape after wounding the Divine Ascension Master. The Scarlet King''s eyes narrowed as he saw Sarun in his path. Not only was the man a Bone Calamity Apotheosis Master, but he was also extremely talented and used skills that allowed him to unleash an overwhelming battle power. Luckily for the Scarlet King, Sarun consumed much of his power during the previous fights and was severely wounded to the point that he could no longer use Wave Burst. All that granted a chance to the Scarlet King to face the Bone Calamity Cultivator. Still, if he wanted to win, he would have to make sacrifices. ''I hope it can resist at least a second.'' The Scarlet King''s eyes glowed with resolution as he again charged a Shadow Arc in Slaughter, leaving the spell in the weapon to enhance its destructive power. He flashed with all his speed and power toward the Bone Calamity Apotheosis Master, ready to unleash all he had in the next attack. Sarun''s eyes narrowed, and he did not underestimate the enemy. He had seen the speed and power of this one and was ready. All the blood runes gathered around his right fist, and he made them revolve with even greater speed before flashing forward. It happened just as they were less than one hundred meters away from each other. "THUMP!" Chapter 472 Carving a bloody path (III) "THUMP!" A powerful heartbeat echoed across the battlefield like a bomb full of energy and power. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire@@@@ Sarun''s eyes widened as he saw the Scarlet King flash toward him at a speed nearly three times faster. It was not just impulse; the man''s body, arms, and weapon moved exponentially faster to the point he could barely keep up. A sense of dread assaulted the Bone Calamity Apotheosis Master as he was taken by surprise by the sudden burst in speed. His first thought was to put some distance between the two, so he sent his fist forward, trying to push the Scarlet King away. Unfortunately for Sarun, the Scarlet King could predict all his movements with The Flow, dodging the fist and hacking toward the Atrox''s neck with Slaughter. The Scarlet King''s eyes widened as Slaughter managed to sever half of Sarun''s neck but was stopped in the middle, as he could not sever the spine. Clearly, the level of refinement the man''s bones had obtained was formidable, and not even a Holy Weapon could sever it without immense strength. Having half of your neck severed was an extremely serious wound, but Sarun knew he could survive if he managed to push the Scarlet King away. But before he could move his fists, the Scarlet King fired the Shadow Arc that he had contained inside the weapon. "ZNNNNNN!" Sarun''s eyes were still full of disbelief as his head was separated from his body, and even in his last moments, he could not believe he had perished like that. The Scarlet King could not stop the blood from flowing through his lips, and his entire body trembled due to the immense pain that assaulted him as the Third Gear put so much pressure on his heart that it reopened the wounds. Had it not been for the healing from the 15th Revolution Refinement, the Scarlet King''s body would have collapsed immediately. Darkness and shadows overflowed through Slaughter as he prepared to attack the woman with every last ounce of energy, triggering Asura Form one final time. Ina knew she had the upper hand, but she knew the man was full of surprise and did not want to follow Sarun''s path. So, before they could get into striking distance, she locked eyes with the Scarlet King and formed a square with her hands. "Phantom Invasion!" Ina''s power exploded as all her Essence Wave fused into her mind before an invisible force field was fired from her hands. Although most of the Wave Kings did not understand Ina''s spell, the Apotheosis Master and the trio in the high sky knew it was a soul invasion spell. These spells were incredibly hard to master, and it was easy to make a mistake and suffer a severe backlash, but their power was immense, and in terms of speed, they were nearly instantaneous. When Sabina, Zaman, and William saw the invisible soul invasion spell reach the Scarlet King, everybody thought things were over. The battle was indeed over once Ina''s soul invasion spell reached the Scarlet King. However, unlike what everybody expected, the defeated one was not the Scarlet King. The man barely frowned when the soul invasion spell landed on him, but Ina''s head exploded like a balloon full of blood! Of all the attacks that could be used against the Scarlet King, the worst type were soul invasion spells. If you were to target his mind and will, it would be a fair clash, but if the target were his soul dimension, everything would be over instantly. When Ina''s soul force reached into the Scarlet King''s soul dimension, intending to destabilize it and harm him, the golden humanoid in the deepest part of the dimension simply snapped his finger, and Ina''s soul burst to pieces. Chapter 473 Carving a bloody path (IV) Apex could instantly overpower the soul of an alien entity like the Astral Blood Beast, so there was no way a mere Apotheosis Realm Master could pose even the slightest resistance against him. Sabina, Zaman, and William could not believe what they had just seen, nor could the Apotheosis Realm Masters and Wave Kings from both sides, who were frozen by the shocking sight. The Scarlet King was surprised by Ina performing a soul-invasion spell. Yet, the moment she did it, he immediately lowered his spirit defenses, allowing her to reach his soul dimension easily. He remembered what happened to the Astral Blood Beast''s soul, and while Apex told him it would only be once, he was not the same naive boy from before. Of course, the Scarlet King knew it was a dangerous bet, but he trusted his instinct and again succeeded. To be honest, the Scarlet King was surprised that her head would burst like a balloon full of blood. However, he did not hesitate before storing her body and belongings and flashing into the laboratory. "Don''t let him escape!" Zaman shouted, and he flashed down with all his power. The sudden outburst of the Divine Ascension Master surprised everybody. ''If I let the assassin of his granddaughter escape, that old man would flay me alive!'' Sabina did not know the reason for Zaman''s killing intent since she could not read this one''s mind, but she would take advantage of it and flash down as well. William saw the duo flashing toward the burning laboratory and clenched his fists. Fighting two Divine Ascension Masters would be extremely dangerous, but the Atrox Duke was ready to bet his life to keep his word. Luckily for William, a message reached his mind the next second, and he smiled before focusing solely on Sabina and allowing Zaman to carry on. Zaman was surprised to see that the Atrox in oceanic armor did not bother to obstruct his path. Still, he did not waste his time with useless thoughts and made his way to the laboratory. Unfortunately for Zaman, just as he was about to reach the laboratory, he felt a powerful fluctuation in space, and the next second, the presence of the Scarlet King vanished. The Apotheosis Masters and Wave Kings of Blood Path felt that something was wrong and they should leave as well, but Sabina was locked in battle with the man in oceanic armor, and if they were to escape, who knew what would happen to them in the future? "All of you, attack this man." Sabina shouted, and her voice was cold, making it clear what would happen to those who disobeyed her. "A God of Evernight will arrive in a few seconds. If you escape now, you might survive; if not, then all of you will die." William was a great general and knew how to manipulate the enemies'' hearts. Sabina might escape if they were to attack him, so he offered them the chance to live. The Apotheosis Masters and Wave Kings immediately dispersed in all directions after hearing those words. None of them would die to help escape someone who would sacrifice all of them without a second thought. Sabina saw with overwhelming rage how all the warriors escaped, but she had more pressing matters right now. William was too strong, and she could not shake him off. Fear appeared in her heart as the powerful presence felt closer and closer. The woman used all her power and skills, but her wounds were too severe, and in the end, a figure appeared in the sky with an aura so immense that it seemed she could cover the sun. William finally relaxed as he saw the woman with dark Bio Armor and golden wings in the sky. "Duke William Severus humbly greets Her Highness, Goddess Inopolis." The Atrox Goddess glanced at William and softly nodded before turning to the wounded Sabina with coldness as a golden flame appeared in her eyes. "Resist, and I will kill you." Sabina clenched her teeth with rage and frustration, but ultimately, she only lowered her head and gave up. Chapter 474 Meeting again Millions of kilometers away from the Saturn Sector, in an entirely different continent not dominated by the Atrox Immortus Race, was a swamp. There was nothing remarkable about this place as the density of the Life Wave was mediocre, and the Wave Beasts were very weak. However, today, in this insignificant swamp, a strong perturbation in space shook the sky, and blue light illuminated the earth, just so the next second, a figure would appear. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire The Scarlet King puked a mouthful of blood as he appeared in the swamp. Despite the immense pain that assaulted him, he clenched his teeth before striking the ground, making it burst with darkness and shatter this nexus of Blood Path''s intercontinental teleportation formation. Immediately after that, the Scarlet King took out all the treasures from the [Demonic Devouring Dimension] before allowing the [Sky Flame] to consume the corpses of Metal Law Apotheosis Master, Sarun, Ina, and Sabina''s arm. He finally stabilized his wounds thanks to the streams of energy and vitality flooding his body. "?Hahahaha!" The Scarlet King burst into laughter. He reached the Kronos Continent, all bloody and mangled in the last stretch of his life. Still, he managed not only to survive but thrive, rising all the way to the Late Wave Champion in the Essence Evolution Path of Power, killing powerful Apotheosis Masters and severing the arm of a Divine Ascension Cultivator! "Clap, Clap, Clap" Just as the Scarlet King was using the immense vitality he obtained from the corpses, he heard the sound of clapping and turned to the side, just for shock to appear in his eyes. "YOU!" The Scarlet King''s shock and confusion were understandable since the person who had just shown up before him was a human elder with gray hair and a big belly, boasting a calm smile on his face. He was none other than the bizarre old man who had opened the Scarlet King''s mind to the possibility of dual cultivation!@@@@ It was shocking enough to see this one shortly after he arrived in Kronos, but to see the person again right after appearing in the Hyperion Continent, home of the Deus Bahamut Race, was simply incredible. "How?" The Scarlet King could not help but utter that question as he did not understand how the old man appeared here out of the blue as if he was waiting for him. It was impossible for this to be due to some random chance. The old man continued smiling before sitting in the swamp, yet his clothes did not get wet. He was not using any type of force, and it was as if the soil and water refused to dirty his robes. The Scarlet King''s eyes narrowed at the odd request of the man and would have normally refused, but in the end, he nodded. "You have opened my horizons and granted me a small lucky chance in the form of tea, so if that is your desire, go ahead." The old man nodded and began to work as the Scarlet King simply remained sitting in the swamp, using the vitality and energy from the [Sky Flame] to heal the wounds on his body and heart. An hour passed, and while the Scarlet King continued healing his wounds, the old man stopped working on the portrait. The old man turned it around, allowing the Scarlet King to see it. In it was the picture of a man with a red mask and a scarlet robe. He was in the sky of a destroyed city with billions worshiping him as if he were a divine entity. The only response those billions of souls worship him were emotionless eyes. As he saw that picture, a sharp light appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes. The way he was depicted in the portrait was that of a supreme overlord, an entity that people could only worship and never get close to. It was as if he stood above everything and everyone, completely alone. For some reason, the Scarlet King could not help but think about his past life, as that was the perfect representation of the state of existence he witnessed in that long dream. He did not know how to feel about it. While he was not an emotionless monster, and there were people he really cared about, such as Zarak, Shura, Astrid, Levi, and many more, it was true that everyone outside of his Life Matrix could not ignite a lasting emotional response. The old man waved his hand, and the portrait floated to the Scarlet King until it was right before him. "Keep it. There will be a time when you can find the key to a new path in it. Whether you want to take it or not, it will be your choice." The Scarlet King took his eyes away from the portrait, but when he looked up, the old man had already vanished. His gaze returned to the picture, and he stared at it for a long time before finally sending it to his space ring. Although the old man was a disturbing entity, he was also full of mystery, and the Scarlet King wanted to know more about him. There was no reason to throw away the portrait, which could contain clues about his true identity. After that, he remained in the swamp in silence, using the blood vitality and energy to improve his condition, making sure to regain his peak before marching out. The Scarlet King''s knowledge about the Hyperion Continent was shallow, and he had no idea where he was, so he would regain his strength before making a move. Chapter 475 The Great Cataclysm (I) Right now, in the sky of the Collapsing Lightning Sector stood the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. The aura of each was so immense that it could eclipse the sun. Usually, the duo would contain their auras as the power of these ones would make ordinary people faint, but this time, they unleashed it all. Eight immensely powerful figures stood a few dozen meters beneath the duo. These were the eight Collapsing Lightning Pillars of the Collapsing Lightning Sector, and light glowed in each of their eyes, full of killing intent and murderous wrath. Hundreds of Wave Kings and dozens of thousands of Wave Champions gazed at those figures in the sky. They all stood in formation, and their energies seemed to reach a certain level of harmonization. That was not all since the level of organization among them got to the point where they even breathed in unison. Every person in this force was a seasoned warrior who had experienced the bloodshed of war with their own eyes and hands, risking their lives over and over again. Among the Wave Champions were faces that Cain would find familiar as there were Levi, Lurin, Orin, and many others who had served with him, each of them unleashing unrestrained killing intent from the bottom of their souls. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire@@@@ One would think this massive force led by two True Titans would march toward Atlas to face warriors of the Inferno Daemon Empire, but their destination was entirely different. The Collapsing Lightning Duke saw the resolution in his warriors, and a solemn light appeared in his eyes. "When you enter the army, you do not do it for personal glory or wealth. You do it for honor and brotherhood! When you become part of my forces, you find a home and people you can call brothers! Cain Laurifer knew all that and committed his heart and soul to our forces. He fought on the frontline in every single battle and never hesitated to use his own flesh and blood as a shield to protect his brothers." At this point, the Collapsing Lightning Duke made a small pause and felt how the killing intent of all the warriors began to rise higher and higher to the point that a dense and cold force field began to flood the surroundings. "We all know the fate he encountered when he marched into the Prometheus Sector to bring honor to his family name. There is no doubt of the machinations played against him and how, to this day, there has not been any sign of justice! I ask you, my warriors, is that fair? Will we accept it?" That arc of force was not weaker than the one the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar used to sunder the Blood Sea in half, yet it was not able to clear the sky, and the clouds soon regrouped. The Collapsing Lightning Duke immediately activated the defenses of the Imperial Lightning Fort as he gazed at the storms and saw the earth continue to tremble with overwhelming power. His eyes were full of confusion as he did not understand what was happening or the extent of this phenomenon. He was about to use his A.I. Chip to communicate with other Sector Dukes, but messages arrived before he could, all coming from coastal Sectors. [The Endless Ocean has gone chaotic] [Giant waves are destroying all the coastal cities] [Hordes of Wave Beasts are emerging from the ocean] The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes widened as he saw those messages and understood that the phenomenon expanded across many Sectors, probably encompassing the entire Continent. ''Maybe the entire world?'' Just as that thought appeared in the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s mind, a new wave of messages arrived, carrying even more shocking news. [Forces from the Inferno Daemon Race are crossing the demilitarized zone. We need reinforcements!] [Fortresses 2, 7, 14, and 25 have fallen] [There are humans among their warriors] The Collapsing Lightning Duke could not help but clench his fists as he felt darkness looming over the Godslayer Humankind Empire. Chapter 476 The Great Cataclysm (II) Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire The Collapsing Lightning Duke was not the only one in a state of shock, as the Golden Emperor and the Imperial Court were also overwhelmed by messages from all sectors due to the sudden earthquakes, electromagnetic storms, and upheaval of the Endless Ocean that led to giant waves leveling all coastal cities. However, some people were not worried about the seemingly apocalyptic phenomenon that spread across every single Sector, shattering the ground and covering the sky. On the contrary, these people saw the havoc overwhelming the entire Gaia Continent with wide smiles and hearts full of thrill and excitement, as it was exactly what they were waiting for. Right now, two of those people stand in the sky of the closest coastal city to Eden, the capital of the Godslayer Humankind Empire. One resembled a four-meter-tall giant with a bulging muscular body and skin that looked like leather stretched across his muscles. Not a single ember of life force emanated from his body, and even the lightning that fell from the sky seemed to disintegrate into dust as it came close to him. It was as if the power of death and decay had permeated every single seal of his body, reaching all the way to his soul dimension.@@@@ The other was the complete opposite, as his body could not carry a more vibrant life force. Yet, his vitality had a certain sense of chaos, as if it was out of control. This one had a humanoid frame but did not seem human at all, as he had three heads resembling a wolf, lion, and tiger, with eagle and draconic wings on his back and three long tails. The duo gazed into the raging waves, and their eyes grew sharp as they saw the mutant and gargantuan beasts emerging from the shore. All of them seemed to be a mixture of different types of beasts, with wolf heads and eagle bodies being just one example. "So, these are your Blood Chimera Locusts. Chimera King, you can consider me impressed. In less than one hundred years, you created billions of these beasts, and the weakest are Wave Champions. They will keep the capital busy for a long time." A smile appeared on the three faces of the Chimera King as he heard the praise of the Undying King, but a flash of disappointment appeared in his eyes as he sighed the next second. The sound of thunder came a second later as the halves of lightning spread in the distance, wreaking even more havoc. "What is happening?" Although the power of that lightning was nothing for the Scarlet King, it could have killed a weak Wave King. He rose to the sky the next second and saw how the upheaval spread in all directions, making him frown. The Scarlet King took a deep breath and focused all his Essence Wave and Blood Energy in his eyes, improving his eyesight to an overwhelming level. While he could not discern details and everything in the distance was blurry, it would be enough to tell him if the events were localized or widespread. Obviously, the Scarlet King saw that the upheaval was everywhere, and then his eyes widened as he saw a wave emerging from the ocean in the far distance. While it looked very small, to be able to discern the wave from such a massive distance, it must be thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of meters tall! ''I can also see some buildings. There is a coastal city in that direction, but by the power and potency behind those waves, I doubt there is much of it left after a few minutes.'' A sharp light appeared in the eyes of the Scarlet King as he took a deep breath. A vial appeared in his hand, and he injected it into his neck. The next second, his body trembled as it began to experience a sharp genetic alteration. Soon, the red mask fused into his flesh, revealing the face of a young human man with short dark hair and completely black eyes. He was no longer in Kronos, so it was time for his authentic appearance to return. Cain made sure there were no physical or genetic characteristics left by his Wave Virus before flashing at full speed toward the coastal city. --- End of Book 6 - In the skin of the enemy. Chapter 477 Sandwell Book 7 - A hero in a foreign land --- "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" A massive blast echoed as another wave crashed down, shattering everything in their path with overwhelming power. They were so massive that it was hard to describe, but their power was devastating and spread everywhere. Several coastal cities were close to the Endless Ocean, but now every single one was gone under the might of those hundreds of thousands of meters tall waves.@@@@ Luckily, people had already begun to evacuate as they saw the ocean pulling back, and they all assembled in the largest city with the greatest defenses near their location, known as Ocean Gem City. There was a man on top of the Ocean Gem City''s walls. He was very similar to a human except for the golden lizard-like scales covering his arms and part of his chest. Of course, the man was a member of the Deus Behemoth Race named Sandwell. Sandwell could not believe the level of destruction that he just witnessed. Many people had escaped the tsunami, and his city was now overflowing with survivors, but the man could not help but clench his fists as he thought of all those who perished. "BOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Another wave crashed on the broken cities, and right now, no single vertical structure is still standing around the coast. The level of destruction was simply overwhelming. Luckily, it seemed that was the last one, and Sandwell noticed how the storm began to calm down. While the dark clouds still covered the sky, there were no longer lightning arcs with the power of small nuclear weapons falling from the heavens. However, just as Sandwell thought things would finally return to peace, he heard it. "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" Hundreds of explosions covered the Wave Beast horde, killing dozens of thousands of them, but their numbers were so massive that it seemed to barely make a dent. The Wave Beasts at the back trampled over the corpses of their kind and continued toward the city. ?Again!" Sandwell shouted, making another barrage of spells and explosive spears land on the horde, killing the ones closest to the city, but they kept advancing. And that was not the only problem since the energy pool of those Essence Cultivators was diminishing at a startling rate. In less than five minutes, Sandwell''s soldiers had already killed nearly a million Wave Beasts, but they kept marching and nearing the city wall. Sandwell knew he could use the city walls and force field to help him face the horde, but that would put the civilians in danger, which he could not allow. "Wave Warriors, remain inside the force field and make sure the beasts do not cross into the city. Everybody with battle power at the Wave Champion level and above, follow me. We will march forward and enter a melee battle!" Although there was immense danger in marching toward the horde, it was the only way to diminish its numbers and handle the more serious threats so the force field could endure and people would be safe. The soldiers with Wave Champion battle power and above readied their artifacts, their faces set in grim determination. Sandwell leaped from the city wall into the horde like a meteor, landing among a pack full of Wave Champion beasts and busting them to pieces before waving his trident. The strength behind his weapon was so immense that it cut through everything, unleashing arcs of lightning that burned thousands of beasts. The Wave Champion soldiers also crashed into the horde in small squads, executing flawless teamwork as they shattered Wave Beasts to pieces, targeting the strongest ones. The combined slaughter performed by Sandwell and the Wave Champions reduced the might of the horde to the point that those nearing the city walls were quickly taken care of by the Wave Warriors, allowing the protection of the civilians. Sandwell fought at the forefront, his trident a blur of motion as every move killed dozens of Wave Champion Beasts, and arcs of lightning spread everywhere, scorching hundreds of Wave Beasts. His body and armor were so strong that none of the beasts could surpass his Astral Wave Cloak and harm him, but no matter how many he killed, more kept coming. "ROAR!" Chapter 478 Evacuation Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire "ROAR!" As the battle raged, Sandwell caught sight of a particularly massive beast resembling a long crocodile with wings on its back, and the power of this one was at a completely different level than the rest of the beasts. "A King Beast!" Sandwell did not hesitate for even a second before charging toward the King Beast since if he let this one reach the walls, it would easily kill all the Wave Warriors and trample over the city. Lightning covered the Deus Behemoth''s entire figure as he charged toward the Winged Crocodile, aiming at the beast''s heart. The King Beast met Sandwell''s charge with a ferocious swipe of its claws, but he deftly dodged and plunged his trident into its chest before making his energy explode, blasting the beast from the inside out! As they saw the might of their leader, a glimmer of hope appeared in the soldiers, but the moment was fleeting. "ROAR!!!" Massive roars echoed in the distance, and everybody saw how three Wave Beasts with auras that were not any weaker than the Winged Crocodile marched toward the city full of ferocious killing intent. Sandwell''s vision was better than the others, and he saw not just three but dozens of King Beasts emerging from the ocean, too many for him to defeat. A flash of fear appeared in the man''s eyes as he saw the beasts approaching and understood just how dangerous his situation was. He was a Wave King and could easily flee, but that would mean leaving all the soldiers and the millions of people in the city to perish under the claws and fangs of the horde. When Sandwell saw the regal and calm aura of the man, he couldn''t help but feel a little embarrassed. The way he and his soldiers fought was full of might and glory in their minds, but to the man in the sky, it must be like a group of children making a great fuss over a little thing. Just as Sandwell was about to question the identity of the human man and why he was here, the man unleashed his Ego Wave, flooding everything in a radius of over 300 kilometers. "Evacuate the city to the northwest, and do not stop until you are 1000 kilometers from the coast." Sandwell was confused by that command. If the one shouting it was a superior officer, he would not hesitate to comply, but the person was a human who came out of nowhere. Of course, the fact that this one saved them had a great pull, but just leaving the city and heading into the forest with millions of people was dangerous. Besides, the humans took care of the Wave Beast horde emerging from the ocean, so why should they leave the city''s protection and enter the dangerous forest? However, just as Sandwell was about to voice his reservations about the command, he noticed the man''s gaze growing sharp as this one focused on the ocean, and his eyes widened. ''The horde is not over!'' "Everybody, evacuate the city. Head to the northwest. Soldiers form a defensive formation around the civilians and make sure to keep order." Sandwell did not waste any more time as he shouted that command, ordering the soldiers to evacuate the city before flashing into the sky as he would act as the lookout, ensuring there were no dangers around them. Evacuating a city with millions of civilians was not an easy task, but the soldiers were very well-trained, and it did not take long for civilians to start exiting through the west gate. Sandwell''s eyes focused on the human in the sky but saw how this one''s eyes remained on the coast, and he chose not to bother with questions and instead carried on with the evacuation. Thanks to the excellent discipline and teamwork of the soldiers, in less than an hour, all the millions of people were already far from the city. Chapter 479 Gaining goodwill The soldiers and civilians slowed down upon entering the forest. However, with the soldiers'' defensive formation and Sandwell''s keen eyesight and Ego Wave, they were able to safely move forward. "BOOOOOMMMMMM!" "ROAAARRRRR!" "BOOOMMMM!" "AWWWW!" "BOOMMMM!" The large trees obstructed their sight, but the soldiers and civilians could still perceive the mighty bestial roars and massive explosions in the distance. The roars were so potent that they could feel the vibrations in their chests, and the explosions were so loud that their ears rang. The shockwaves were so powerful that they could feel the ground trembling beneath their feet, even at their location. Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire "Everybody, calm down. There is nothing to worry about. The Godslayer Human is fighting in the distance and still has the upper hand. Keep moving forward in order. Anyone that incites chaos or panic will be executed!" Sandwell''s voice was loud and cold as he encompassed the people with his Ego Wave. The Deus Behemoth was not merciless, but if people were to lose control due to fear, thousands could die, so he had to maintain control. After that warning and understanding that the Godslayer Human could keep the beasts at bay, people regained control and kept advancing.@@@@ After restoring order, Sandwell was finally able to relax and take a look at the city. He was shocked to see that it was completely destroyed and noticed a human fighting three Grand King Beasts with his saber while using small blades to kill the weaker Wave Beasts so they could not follow them. --- "Everybody, we will rest for tonight." A smile appeared on soldiers and civilians since they were exhausted due to the physical pressure and psychological burden and could finally rest. After seeing everything in order, Sandwell flew to the sky until he stood before the Godslayer Human and performed a deep bow. "I am Sandwell Sonk. I thank you in the name of Ocean Gem City since, without your help, millions would have perished. If there is anything I can do to help you, please do not hesitate to ask me." Cain softly nodded as he saw the man''s attitude. Despite the curiosity in his eyes, the Deus Behemoth made no effort to discover his true identity. Clearly, the gratitude in his heart was enough to shut down all those questions, at least for the time being. However, Cain had nothing to hide, and actually, revealing his identity would make things easier for him. "I can see the doubts in your eyes, so allow me to answer the question in your mind before proceeding to more pressing matters. I am Cain Laurifer, Colonel of the Imperial Army of the Godslayer Humankind Empire. I landed on your continent a few days ago due to a fortuitous encounter, and you are the first Deus Behemoth I have made contact with." After uttering those words, Cain took a special crystal card with all his military information. Sandwell could not help but smile after hearing Cain''s name and seeing that the man was part of an ally''s military. Although there were still questions like how Cain ended up so far from Gaia, he was smart enough not to ask those sorts of things since they could reveal personal secrets, and the man had already told enough. "Colonel Laurifer, if this is the first time in the Hyperion Continent and we are the first people you have met, then it is fair to assume you don''t have a military topographic map of the Deus Behemoth Empire." Chapter 480 Colossus Imperial Fort Cain''s smile widened as he heard the man''s words. He had been looking for a map, and it seemed he had finally found one. Although he had a general idea about the Sectors of the Deus Behemoth Continent, a military topographic map would provide him with more detailed information. After seeing Cain''s nod, Sandwell immediately used his computer ring to send the information to Cain''s A.I. Chip. Military topographic maps were not really a great secret, and in times of chaos like this, no one would care if he lent it to a stranger, especially if this one was a fellow soldier. Cain went through the map, and while it had an immense amount of information, it was easy for someone with his cognitive abilities to internalize it all in a few seconds. After that, he remained silent for a moment before deciding what to do next.@@@@ "It is logical to think this phenomenon affects the entire continent. Our first move should be to move the civilians to one of the military forests closest to our location and, from there, gather more information." Sandwell immediately nodded as he agreed with Cain''s plan. Trying to rescue other people or facing the horde would only put the millions of refugees from Ocean Gem City in danger and would be irresponsible. --- Colossus Imperial Fort was the name of a fort affiliated with the military, located at the center of the Colossus Sector and with a radius of several hundred kilometers. There was a man right now in the sky of the fort, and his two and a half meters height and rock-like skin gave him an imposing figure that could incite calm in the people watching him. Rokan could feel the eyes of the millions of people inside the fort, and he showed nothing but calm and resolution. Although he was just as confused by the sudden natural catastrophe that had struck the entire continent, he knew that those at higher levels must remain stoic in these times. The Grand Marquess did not simply stand in the sky; he used his Ego Wave to monitor the surroundings and guide the soldiers as people marched to the Colossus Fort from all directions. With all coastal cities destroyed and the rise of the oceanic Wave Beasts, people naturally came to the place that offered the greatest sense of safety. Rokan immediately regained his focus as he sent a series of commands. Soon, hundreds of soldiers marched out of the city to meet the refugees from Ocean Gem City. Although the man was happy to see so many people alive, millions of refugees marching at once into the fort would carry a tremendous logistical burden, so he needed to make preparations immediately. Sandwell noticed the troops coming from the Colossus Imperial Fort and immediately directed his soldiers to meet with them so they could organize the refugees. Then, he gave Cain a slight bow before marching toward Rokan. It took a few seconds for the Deus Behemoth Wave King to stand before Rokan, and he performed a deep bow. "Sandwell Sonk, City Lord of Ocean Gem City, greets Grand Marquis Rokan." Rokan was a Grand Marquis of the Colossus Sector, so he knew all City Lords and immediately recognized Sandwell. "It seems that you were able to evacuate not only everybody from your city but also people from other small coastal towns and bring them here to safety." Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire "I cannot take the credit, my Lord. It was thanks to Colonel Laurifer that we were able to survive. The Wave Beast horde marched like crazy, and we were about to be overwhelmed when he interfered. He battled for several days, allowing us to stay ahead of the horde, before protecting us on the journey, using his Ego Wave to scare away all enemies and his spells to carry the weak and old." Rokan''s eyes narrowed as he heard those words. He could see Sandwell''s honesty behind those words, and it was clearly not forced. Besides, it made sense that this massive group managed to escape thanks to Cain''s interference since the power of the oceanic horde was not something a Wave King could handle. Chapter 481 Searching space rings The fact that Cain was a Colonel in the Godslayer Human Imperial Army also improved Rokan''s vision of the man. After all, it was always easier to interact with fellow soldiers. After considering his options, Rokan signaled Cain to approach the fort instead of meeting above the forest. Cain smiled. The fact they would be speaking inside the fort meant there was already a certain level of trust. He lowered the people in the claws to the ground before dispersing the spell and flying to the city. "Colonel Cain Laurifer," Cain clasped his hand and performed a slight nod, not lowering his head and standing straight. Rokan did not take this as an offense since Cain was a Colonel. Even if he belonged to a different race, he had the right to stand straight in front of him. "Colonel Rokan Green, Grand Marquis of the Deus Behemoth Race!"@@@@ Rokan performed the same stance as he clasped his hands and nodded. Sandwell left the duo after giving the introduction, gathering with the rest of the soldiers, leaving Rokan and Cain alone. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire Rokan showed a blank expression for a few moments as he focused on his computer ring before finally turning toward Cain. "I have informed Duke Gigant about your presence. He told me that you should remain in the fort and assist me in maintaining its safety until his arrival." Cain nodded and did not offer any comment. While saving all those people bought him a great deal of trust, it had yet to reach the point where they would allow him to mobilize freely across the Colossus Sector. He found many resources, including dozens of high-quality wave crystals and other cultivation resources. There were also some starry gems with Saint Techniques, but he lost interest after seeing that none reached the peak of the Apotheosis Realm and just focused on the Law of Metal. After that, he went to the space ring from Sarun, the Bone Calamity Apotheosis Master from Blood Path. The man''s willpower was slightly stronger than Cain''s, but it was not hard to erase. A smile appeared on Cain''s face when he saw the contents of the space ring. Not only were there nearly fifty high-quality wave crystals, but he also found an immense amount of resources that focused on improving the body''s vitality and mending wounds. His smile grew even wider as he saw a starry gem inside, and after glancing at it, he obtained some information, such as the fact it had the name Blood Seal Tornado Art. It was a Saint Cultivation Technique from the Astral Rebirth Path of Power that could be trained all the way to the peak of the Apotheosis Stage! Although the Blood Seal Tornado Art was at the same level as the Sonic Blade Fusion Technique, the first one was focused on the element of blood, so someone like Cain, who had a great talent in that element, would improve much faster and with half the effort. Cain had already decided to renew his cultivation in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power after fixing his Rebirth Heart, and this technique was exactly what he needed to cultivate. The Atrox''s space ring had some armor inside, but they weren''t Holy Armors, just artifacts. Without an Apotheosis level energy pool, they were useless. After sorting through Sarun''s belongings, Cain went to Ina''s space ring. The woman was also wealthy and owned many valuable starry gems. However, none of those skills suited Cain''s battle style. It appeared that Ina was skilled in the Law of Ghost, a powerful Law but one that Cain had little talent. However, as he went through the cultivation resources, surprise appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he saw a crystal glowing with a strange nebula-like energy. ''A supreme wave crystal!'' Chapter 482 Blood Gem Heart ''A supreme wave crystal!'' The crystal with nebula energy was a unique wave crystal type that was incredibly hard to obtain and worth more than an Adamantine Artifact. Its energy was not only exponentially purer than that obtained from high-quality wave crystals, but it also refined your energy pool. Supreme wave crystals were the cores of some mines that generated wave crystals, and their origin was said to be out of this world, some speculating that they fell from the Astral Sea into Aether. Cain was amazed to see someone like Ina having one since they were treasures even some Divine Ascension Masters did not have. ''She must have had a powerful background.'' Ina''s death would enrage very powerful people, but Cain could not care less about it, and after finishing with Ina''s space ring, he focused on the last one that belonged to Sabina.@@@@ The Ego Wave of the Divine Ascension Master was stronger than Cian''s, but the amount in the space ring was very little, so by using all his strength, he erased it and got access to what was inside. As soon as his Ego Wave filled the dimension inside the space ring, a sense of utter shock assaulted him. If the supreme wave crystal was surprising, what he saw inside Sabina''s space ring stunned him! Cain was shocked because he saw a beating crystal heart inside Sabina''s space ring. Thanks to his constant search for information through all types of networks and from the memories of devoured souls, Cain''s knowledge regarding cultivation treasures was massive. He recognized the beating as a Blood Gem Heart, a divine treasure from the Law of Blood. There were runes engraved in it that contained the mysteries of the Law of Blood and could be used as a guide into the Law. And for those that followed the Astral Rebirth Path of Power, it could work as a treasure capable of fusing into your Rebirth Heart, generating a secondary chamber that could act as an energy pool for Blood Energy. Most likely, Sabina was using it to improve her understanding of the Law of Blood, but now such a majestic treasure was in the hands of Cain. Although there was still the path of performing a 21 Revolution Refinement, it would be long before he could create the flame, much less execute a safe revolution refinement. Of course, Cain could use the system, but after helping Astrid and hacking the intercontinental formation of the Blood Path, he had less than 2M Destiny Force. Just the refinement would cost 3 M DF. However, just as Cain was going to advance to the next topic, more information came from the Absolute Life Form System. [If Vessel''s Rebirth Heart experiences an 18 Revolution Refinement, there is an 87% chance that the Blood Gem Heart would be enough to fix his condition completely.] Cain''s eyes widened as he grew ecstatic at this new information. He was already able to create 18 Revolution Flames. While his success rate left much to desire, that could always improve with enough practice. Actually, if Cain was really desperate, he could take one of the 18 Revolution Flames in his space ring and use the system to perform a flawless Revolution Refinement by spending 1M Destiny Force! Of course, Cain would not waste such a massive amount of Destiny Force if there was another way. He had time and could improve his abilities with the Saint Revolution Refinement before performing it on his own body. ''A place like this must have some sort of dungeon or prison.'' Cain''s mind immediately went to performing experiments on prisoners, but that was not something he could do without some high-level authorization. Not to mention, he had to be careful about showing that side of his nature since some people might have a problem with it. Besides, revealing the power of Tribulation Refinement could be dangerous as it could draw the great of powerful people. In the Atrox Immortus Continent, he had the identity of an envoy from the Inferno Daemon Race and the son of an Archduke, which was enough to deter anyone from forcing him to do something he did not want to. ''I will wait for Duke Gigant to arrive before deciding my next step.'' After that happy news, Cain went through the rest of the materials in the space ring. There was an incredible amount of resources and treasures that could help improve the amount of Blood Energy inside his body. He was sure that he could grow Blood Flame to the peak with the resources in this space ring. Chapter 483 Duke Gigant What drew Cain''s attention was the thin blood saber he took from Sabina. A sharp light appeared in his eyes as he felt the power of this one and realized it was an Adamantine Artifact. Adamantine Artifacts are very powerful weapons, and they were at an even higher level than Slaughter and Blood Nails. Of course, the latter was a Holy Weapon and could grow alongside Cain''s energy pool, but its limit was at the Peak Apotheosis Realm, while the thin blood blade could enhance the attacks from Divine Ascension Masters. Although Cain wanted to know more about the weapon, the Ego Mark of Sabina in it was much more powerful than in the space ring, and trying to break through it by force would be dangerous, so he just left it be for the time being. There were also starry gems, but while they were powerful, they did not offer more powerful spells than the ones he currently had. After finishing with the space rings, the Scarlet King took a high-quality wave crystal from his space ring. He could not do much until the Duke''s return, so he chose to train. Other than that, he was also using the [A.I. Chip Module] to go through the networks of the Deus Behemoth Empire as he wanted to look for the silent and hidden channels. For Cain, it was already a habit to look for the underworld wherever he arrived in a new place. Rokan saw how Cain took high-quality crystals to train but did not think much of it. After all, the Deus Behemoth was under the misconception that Cain was an Apotheosis Realm Master, and it was normal for those at that level to use such resources. If he were to know that Cain was a Wave Champion, he would be shocked.@@@@ On the fifth day after he arrived at the fort, Cain opened his eyes and looked into the distance as he felt several powerful presences approaching. His eyes grew sharp as he soon saw a three-and-a-half-meter-tall man with a single eye on his face and a bulging physique. "That must be Duke Gigant." The Deus Behemoths nodded, taking all sorts of cultivation treasures from their space rings to heal their wounds and replenish their energy pools. Gigant nodded as he saw the seriousness in his soldiers before glancing at Cain, and the duo immediately went to the Titan Tower in the center of the fort, soon vanishing inside this one. --- Gigant and Cain were in a large room covered in dark rocks that seemed to generate a strange gravitational pressure, and at the end was a massive throne. The Deus Behemoth did not sit and instead stared at the Godslayer Human with a piercing gaze. "I have investigated Cain Laurifer. The young man is supposed to be a divine genius from the Godslayer Humankind. He was born with incredible gifts in the Ego Eternal Path of Power and Astral Rebirth Path of Power, capable of exhibiting a battle power more than a Rank above his cultivation base. While you seem identical, and your willpower matches the young man''s, I can sense Essence Wave and the power of the Laws radiating from your body. Besides, you were supposed to have suddenly vanished more than a year ago from the Prometheus Sector under suspicious circumstances. Yet, you appear now in the Hyperion Continent, seemingly having crossed our continental border illegally." Cain''s eyes narrowed when he heard the words from the Deus Behemoth, and he could see the suspicion in his eyes but did not find it odd. After all, his time in Kronos proved that supplanting someone''s identity was not that hard, and his appearing out of nowhere during such a cataclysmic event was odd. "I understand your suspicion, and I am willing to offer an explanation. However, the information I will reveal will carry a certain level of military secrecy, so I will refrain from sharing certain details." Gigant stared at Cain briefly before softly nodding and waving his hand, isolating the floor. Cain took a moment, his eyes flashing with coldness as he went through the events that led him out of Gaia. Chapter 484 Built trust "I faced the schemes of The Organization during my time in the Prometheus Sector and was ambushed by one of the Dark Kings, the Blood King. I was able to escape using the Azure Royal Family''s intercontinental teleportation formation, but not before the man crippled my Rebirth Heart." Gigant''s face grew solemn since the data regarding the suspicion about the Azure Royal Family and The Organization was a military secret he managed to attain only due to his status as a Duke. The fact that the young man before him also knew it gave his tale about being Cain Laurifer some validity. Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire@@@@ "The teleportation formation brought me not to your Hyperion Continent but to Kronos. There, I hid among the underworld organizations, taking control of some Tier 1 Dark Factions and using their network to find an intercontinental teleportation formation that brought me here." Cain glossed over his stay in the Atrox Immortus Empire as he did not want to reveal much. After all, he did not want people to know he controlled Dark Hand, not to mention many in the Deus Behemoth Empire and even the Godslayer Humankind Empire would not see with good eyes his relations with the Atroxs or that he improved the power of members of this race with Genetic Coding and Tribulation Refinement. Gigant noticed how Cain was not keen on sharing knowledge about his time in Kronos, but a much more pressing matter drew his attention, and his face grew sharp as he stared at the human. "There is an intercontinental teleportation formation that connects Kronos and Hyperion!?" An intercontinental teleportation formation was a great tool but also immensely dangerous, as it could allow hordes of enemies to cross their border and enter the continent. "Yes, but there is no need to worry. I have destroyed the nexus connecting to Hyperion, 1300 km west of Ocean Gem City. It was controlled by a Tier 0 Dark Faction named Blood Path, connecting the Saturn Sector in the Atrox Immortus Empire and the Colossus Sector." Gigant calmed down after hearing that the nexus connected to Hyperion was gone. Of course, he would send people to verify, but there was no reason for Cain to lie since he would know the truth in a few days. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Colonel Laurifer. I welcome you to the Hyperion Continent in the name of the Deus Behemoth Empire." Cain showed a radiant smile as he clasped his hand as well. "The pleasure is mine." After all that was out of the way, and a sense of trust emerged between the two, Gigant was able to address more important matters. "I assume that your mission is to return to Gaia." "That is right. I wanted access to one of your intercontinental teleportation formations. I am willing to pay whatever is needed since I understand that the amount of energy they require is immense." "It is not about money, Colonel. I would help you if I could, but the intercontinental teleportation formations are all in the capital. I am afraid I cannot leave the fortress for the time being due to the state of emergency, nor can I give you a Star Cruiser." Cain could not help but sigh as he heard that. He was on the periphery of the Hyperion Continent, and the capital of the Deus Behemoth Empire was at its center. He could achieve great speed but could not bend space, so if he were to travel on his own, it would take him weeks, if not months, to arrive in the Bahamut Sector. Not to mention that in such a state of emergency, the borders of all Sectors would be under heavy scrutiny and vigilance, adding another layer of problems. "The situation across the continent is chaos. Still, I am sure the Imperial Court will soon summon all Dukes to establish a new plan to regain control of the coast and restore order. If you want, I could take you there with me. In the meantime, I could use someone with your power and experience to stabilize the situation." Chapter 485 Espionage and assassination Gigant was clearly not a muscle-brain and showed great wisdom. He offered Cain a path to the capital and requested some help. While immensely powerful, he was one man and could not be in two places simultaneously, so he needed powerful and talented people to help him. Cain did not have a problem helping, especially if, in doing so, he could carry on a personal mission. "I am not familiar with your troops or terrain, so I would not be a good fit for rescue efforts or trying to dismantle territories, but there is something I excel at, and I assume you will soon be in need." "What would that be?" "Espionage and assassination."@@@@ Gigant''s eyes narrowed as he heard Cain''s specializations. Spies and assassins were essential to an empire''s military power. Still, now their enemies were the environment and Wave Beasts, not targets that required the skills of a spy. Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire As if reading the Duke''s mind, Cain smiled before continuing with his words. "In times of danger, there are people like you that try to bring order, peace, and safety to the empire, but there are also those that want havoc and death to thrive as they prosper in them." Gigant''s eyes widened as he finally understood what Cain was talking about. "The underworld." No matter the place or race, as long as there was a civilization with rules and a structure, there would be a force that went against it, hiding in the shadows and performing their devious deeds away from the sight of the people. Gigant nodded and used his computer ring to allow Cain''s A.I. Chip access to the military network. He sent intelligence reports regarding the Deus Bahamut Empire''s underworld, emphasizing the Dark Factions around the Colossus Sector. Just like in Kronos, the Dark Factions that controlled Hyperion''s underworld split into tiers, with those at Tier 0 being in control of Titans and affiliated with several Tier 1 Dark Factions. It seemed that a single force like The Organization being in absolute control of the underworld of an entire continent was an anomaly. Cain saw the flood of information, and while it would take him a while to sort it out and get actual clues, the [A.I. Chip Module] could analyze everything much faster. He was sure that by the end of the day, he would have several meetings with low-level Tier 1 Dark Factions members. "Although I don''t need to know about your methods and what you take, I need reports about the people you kill and any information that details movements regarding the higher-ups from the Tier 0 Dark Factions." Gigant did not care about wealth or the people that Cain might kill, but reports about Dark Factions were always in need as they could help the empire reduce the influence and power of the underworld. Cain nodded, as the man''s request was more than reasonable. Besides, he did not plan to dwell in the underworld this time nor take control of Dark Factions. He would just interrogate them before killing everybody. "I am ready to begin my mission at this moment, but first, I would like your help to buy some cultivation resources." "I can help, but I am sorry to say that your Godslayer Human Empire''s military credits will not work here." Even if they were allies, every empire had its own type of currency, and their values were not the same. Of course, that could be easily circumvented by simply changing your military credits into wave crystals, the energy coin everybody in Aether would use. Cain just smiled, as he never intended to pay with military credits to begin with. "It is okay. This is all I need." Gigant saw a list reach his computer ring, and when he saw the materials described in it, his eyes widened. There were tons of Golden Level Metal and even Platinum Level Metal, along with all sorts of Genetic Coding materials, some used for refinement, and there were also treasures for purifying Astral Wave and Essence Wave. Chapter 486 Red Death (I) The Deus Behemoth Duke stared at Cain, and a complicated expression appeared on his face. "We have all this in the warehouse of the fort, but even if I were to make a discount considering your military ranking, it would cost you no less than 100 high-quality wave crystals." One hundred high-quality wave crystals was an obscene amount of wealth, so massive that it was more than enough to get a complete set of armor and weapons for a Peak Apotheosis Master. One could even buy weak Adamantine Artifacts with that amount of wealth.@@@@ Gigant knew that Cain was immensely talented and powerful, but that amount of wealth was not something anyone could amass easily; it would normally take decades to accumulate so much. That''s why the Deus Behemoth was so shocked when Cain waved his hand and made all the high-quality wave crystals appear. Cain just smiled as he saw Gigant''s expression. One hundred high-quality wave crystals was indeed an immense amount of wealth, but he had more than enough after his time in Kronos, especially during the last fight. Just the supreme quality wave crystal was worth nearly 80 high-quality wave crystals, and the Blood Gem Heart was worth even more. "I will be counting on you." Gigant could only nod as he took the high-quality wave crystals and began to set instructions to gather the resources Cain was after. --- "?BOOM!" A small explosion echoed inside an underground cave, its origin being the blast of a person. The man had exploded like a balloon full of blood due to his body''s inability to contain the overwhelming amount of world energy triggered by an 18 Revolution Refinement. Without showing any emotion, the Scarlet King covered the man''s desiccated corpse with his Ego Wave and sent it into the [Devouring Dimension] so it could work as fuel. "Monster." The Scarlet King heard those words and turned to the ceiling of the underground cave. There was a woman with her arms and legs impaled by small blades. She could not move nor use her energy and could only see as more and more of her people entered the cauldron and exploded like balloons full of blood or survived, only to be killed and consumed by the man the next second. "How can you do these sorts of egregious acts without showing any remorse!" The woman was terrified, and the loss of blood had slowly drained her energy, so despite her cultivation at the Peak Wave King, she could barely keep conscious, but she clenched on just to shout those words full of rage. The Scarlet King''s eyes were just as cold in the beginning as if the woman was a nuisance, but after hearing those words, they began to lose their light and soon became emotionless, generating a sense of utter dread in the Peak Wave King. "Each and every person here is a thief, a killer, or worse. All of you profited from the pain and weakness of others, never showing any mercy, yet you want justice and morality to protect you. I don''t like criminals, but I can work with them. Besides, good and evil are concepts that vary depending on which side of the table you are on. However, I loathe hypocrisy from the bottom of my soul." The Scarlet King took his eyes away from the woman as he continued with his experiments but left some final words. "Keep shouting if you want; it will not change anything. You will answer some questions once I end my experiments with your subordinates. If you resist, I will cut your ears, gouge your eyes, take out your tongue, and flay your skin before burning you alive." Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire Chapter 487 Red Death (II) There was a mountain range near a coastal city in the Colossus Sector of the Hyperion Continent. The previous tremors had affected it, shattering several mountains and leaving a massive basin at its core. As one would expect, oceanic Wave Beasts overran this area, yet at this moment, seven people were gathered in a basin in the center of the shattered mountains. Each of these individuals was extremely powerful, with auras capable of leveling entire cities, yet they could easily hide their presence from the horde due to their impressive cultivation base. The seven individuals were all Apotheosis Realm Masters, but that was just part of their identity since they were also the leaders of the Tier 1 Dark Factions that managed the Colossus Sector''s underworld. All seven were affiliated with the Tier 0 Dark Faction named Ocean Wrath. Since the primary domain of Ocean Wrath was located close to the Bahamut Sector, these seven were the shot callers of the Colossus Sector''s underworld. Despite being under the protection and management of Ocean Wrath, they were not friends, and more than once, these seven Tier 1 Dark Factions clashed with each other, leading to bad blood. However, today, these people who could not stand each other set aside their differences as they faced greater problems. "How can the only piece of information we have about that man be a red flash in a picture!?" shouted a man with a dwarf-like appearance and stone skin. The power in his flesh and muscles was overwhelming, as was his vitality, making it clear he was a Flesh Calamity Apotheosis Master. "There is no use in fighting among each other. Red Death, whoever might be, has done a lot of damage to all our factions, and due to his intrusion, none of us have been able to implement our plans to take advantage of the sudden upheaval that has assaulted the Colossus Sector. None of us has been able to stop him on our own, and if we just keep fighting with each other and do not cooperate, by the time we manage to track down Red Death, stability will have returned to the empire, and we will have lost our opportunity." A sharp light appeared in the eyes of the Tier 1 Dark Faction''s Leaders. All of them wanted to take advantage of the sudden loss of order and stability in the empire but had been unable to do so due to the attacks on their forces and infrastructure. "As always, Damasko, you can keep a cool head and guide us when we face problems. No wonder you were able to rise so high. I am sure you will one day step into the Divine Realm, and we will have to call you Titan," a melodic voice echoed across, and all the Tier 1 Dark Faction''s leaders turned to a young woman who stood at the right of Damasko. She had a beautiful face, with petals covering her arms and part of her face, giving her an elf-like appearance. Despite her delicate figure, no one dared to look down on the woman as she was an Earth Tribulation Apotheosis Master, mastering two powerful Laws. Her cultivation style managed to combine both, granting her a battle power second only to Damasko. The woman''s name was Lamina, and none were surprised by her seemingly worshipful attitude towards Damasko, as that was the nature the duo had enjoyed for a long time. "Enough flattery. Damasko, I came here only because you said you had a way to figure out that man''s identity," a middle-aged man with gray metallic fur covering his chest and arms shouted. Although all other Apotheosis Masters showed some deference to Damasko, this man was different. Chapter 488 Red Death (III) The Deus Behemoth radiated a strange aura of decay and a putrid smell that could not be hidden. His appearance as a middle-aged man was just a disguise since he was nearly three thousand years old. While an Apotheosis Realm Master had a long life span, three thousand years was a lot. Age had already begun to decrease the Deus Behemoth''s power, which was why, despite being a Fire Tribulation Apotheosis Master, he was the third strongest. Damasko chose not to clash with the man, as people close to the grave often had strange behaviors and were often erratic and dangerous. The rest of the Tier 1 Dark Faction''s Leaders thought the same and chose not to bother with the man.@@@@ A satisfied smile appeared on the man with metallic fur as he saw everyone remain silent, and he continued shouting to Damasko. "I don''t need any of you to fight Red Death. I just need you to make him appear, then leave the rest to me. I will crush his skull beneath my foot." "ZNNNNN!" The old Deus Behemoth had just finished speaking when the sound of a sword sundering the air echoed, and then shock appeared in the eyes of the Tier 1 Dark Faction''s Leaders. All six Apotheosis Masters had their eyes on the old Deus Behemoth. They saw how, out of nowhere, a red blade struck the old man on his right shoulder before descending in a vertical position all the way to the ground, bisecting him. "What..." That was the last word the old Deus Behemoth uttered before his body split apart, revealing a figure covered in bandages with a scarlet robe and a red mask. A sense of complete and overwhelming shock assaulted the Apotheosis Masters, and no one could blame them since they only detected the man''s presence after he killed the old Deus Behemoth. Fear emerged in their hearts as they thought of what could have happened if they had been the target and not the old man. After several weeks of continuous training using the people of the Dark Factions as guinea pigs, the Scarlet King had improved his 18 Revolution Refinement success rate to the point where he was confident in performing it on himself. Once he performed the 18 Revolution Refinement, it was just a matter of fusing the Blood Crystal Heart into his Astral Rebirth heart. The treasure not only completely healed his wounds but also jumped his cultivation to the Late Wave Champion stage. Cain was a dual cultivator with a Late Wave Champion Cultivation in the Essence Evolution Path of Power and the Astral Rebirth Path of Power! The reason he came to this gathering, after intercepting the messages among the Tier 1 Dark Faction Leaders, was to test just how strong he was. It seemed that he was truly powerful! "Let''s see just how high my current limit is!" "THUMP!" The Scarlet King''s heartbeat burst with power as blood wings emerged on his back as he focused on the Apotheosis Realm Master with a single eye, making this one tremble in fear. "You are next." In the minds of the five Apotheosis Masters, they outnumbered their opponents five to two, yet none felt the slightest confidence in their chances of victory. Not only did they not find the Essence Cultivator behind the avatar of darkness and blood, but they had zero teamwork experience. Urun immediately made his Astral Wave explode, as a golden exoskeleton covered his figure, soon encased in white armor. Things did not end there, as two shields with sharp ends appeared on his forearms. These were not part of his armor but Platinum Artifacts that could function defensively and offensively. Sensing the power of Red Death and seeing how two people had already perished, Urun was ready to use all his power from the start. Unfortunately, before he could even prepare an offensive technique, the Scarlet King was already in front of him, hacking with Slaughter as a massive amount of darkness overflowed from the sword. Chapter 489 Facing the Dark Fanctions Leaders Urun managed to use his shields to protect himself from the red blade falling on him, but while they resisted, the power in the strike was so immense that he felt his bones trembling before his figure was sent crashing into the ground. "?BOOOOMMMM!" The ground was swarming with Wave Beasts, so the blast that Urun''s clash generated killed thousands of them. Not that it really mattered since, for a battle of this level, those Wave Champion Beasts were nothing but collateral damage, and they could not even get closer to any of the fighters due to the shock waves.@@@@ Not even a second after the Scarlet King sent Urun crashing into the ground, a voice echoed across the sky. "Fight! If we retreat, he will hunt us down one by one!" Damasko shouted, prompting the rest of the Apotheosis Masters to regain focus. He knew the first thought of all those Tier 1 Dark Faction Leaders was to ensure their own safety, which was why he acted quickly before they all scattered. The Scarlet King''s eyes narrowed as he glanced at the Bone Calamity Apotheosis Master, recognizing him as the most dangerous, not just due to his strength but also his calm mind. If the Scarlet King faced that man alongside the other four Apotheosis Masters, his only choice would have been to run away, and even it would have been dangerous. Fortunately, just as he sent Urun crashing down, the Demonic Phantom lunged towards Damasko. "ROAR!" Damasko''s eyes widened as he saw the avatar of darkness and blood lunging towards him. The Scarlet King withdrew his red blade from Urun''s skull as he turned his eyes to the man with the lightning hammer and the woman in the sky who could generate magma weapons. The duo''s fear exploded after seeing how the man could teleport despite flooding space with their energies and seemingly capable of summoning the Laws'' power. Any trace of fighting spirit in their hearts vanished as they attempted to flee with all their power. Lightning overflowed the body of the dwarf, but before he could even gain momentum, the Scarlet King already caught up with him. The man hastily rotated his entire body and struck with his hammer, but the move was predictable, even if the Scarlet King was not using The Flow. It was no surprise that Scarlet King dodged the hammer attack and sliced the dwarf''s head with his red saber with a single move. The man had robust physical defenses, but by combining Cain''s physical strength, Slaughter''s cutting power, and the Law of Darkness''s destructive power, the weapon was able to cut through the spine of a Flesh Calamity Apotheosis Master without requiring the help of the Sundering Concept. Immediately after killing the stone dwarf, the Scarlet King''s eyes turned toward the Wind Tribulation Apotheosis Master, who was running away. The woman''s spells were powerful, but her speed was mediocre, so he could catch up with her in a few seconds. However, just as the Scarlet King prepared to flash after the woman, his eyes widened, and his Astral Wave burst as he rotated his entire body, generating immense torque before hacking with Slaughter. "BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!" Shockwaves spread for several thousand meters as the Scarlet King''s blade clashed with Damasko''s gauntlet! The Scarlet King clenched his teeth as he felt the immense physical power behind Damasko''s punch, which only increased the next second as the illusion of an ocean wave emerged behind him. Chapter 490 Facing a Bone Calamity Master The power behind the punch sent the Scarlet King flying away. Still, before the Deus Bahamut could chase after him, he rotated his body to get rid of the kinetic power and rose to the sky, his eyes never leaving Damasko. Although his eyes did not leave the Deus Behemoth with blue scales, the Demonic Phantom''s condition was clear in his mind. The avatar that was supposed to keep the man at bay for at least a few minutes was now entangled between giant branches bathed in a dark fog that emerged from the back of the woman. Lamina felt the gaze of the Scarlet King on her but did not lose focus and kept using her giant branches to hold the avatar of darkness and blood in place. While the Demonic Phantom continuously shattered the branches, she did not lose focus and regenerated them over and over. Of course, fixing the branches required energy, but the dark fog covering them not only improved the constrictive power of these but also allowed them to devour the target''s energy. ''Her mastery over the Law of Darkness must have reached a very high level if she can perform that type of skill.''@@@@ The Scarlet King had to admit he underestimated the woman but didn''t dwell on it too much. She and the Demonic Phantom neutralized each other, leaving Damasko and him to fight one-on-one. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire Although the Scarlet King had already killed a Bone Calamity Apotheosis Realm Master before and was now much more powerful, Sarun was severely injured during their clash, and he managed to take Atrox by surprise. If he grew overconfident against the Deus Behemoth, he might regret it. Immediately, the Scaler King''s Astral Wave burst with all its power, enhancing his body, while Essence Wave covered the weapon, flooding it with darkness and shadows. Damasko''s eyes widened as he saw the two types of energies emerging from the man in the red mask and came to the realization that this one was in control of an avatar of darkness and blood as well. Damasko saw how the Scarlet King was hurtling away without control, but he could not chase after the man. Although the kick to the jaw did not provoke a crippling concussion, it still incapacitated him for a moment. It took all his power to send that leg strike but pursuing was too much to ask from his body. The Scarlet King and Damasko regained complete control over their bodies almost at the same time, and their eyes burst with killing intent as they flashed back into the fray, ready to use everything they had to kill the other. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Explosions flooded the sky as the Scarlet King''s blade and Damasko''s fists continued clashing over and over again. At the beginning of the fight, the Deus Behemoth used those powerful attacks, but after seeing how easily his opponent could read his movements, he changed his fighting style, making it more fluid and faster. The Scarlet King was still able to read the movements of Damasko, but the man was too fast and launched too many strikes at the same time for him to generate a proper counter. Engaging in a battle of strength would mean his loss, so he was trying to focus on skill. However, not only was the Deus Behemoth''s offensive powerful, but he could also use quick, fluid movements to create a mist-like effect, allowing him to dodge the blade and block Cain''s vision. Not even five minutes had passed since the Scarlet King began his direct fight with the Deus Behemoth, but he was already starting to accumulate injuries, and his energy pool began to slow down. Of course, one had to consider that the Demonic Phantom was entangled with the Earth Tribulation Master, but the Scarlet King was sure that even if the creature were to help him, he would still be at a disadvantage. Chapter 491 Killing Damasko ''It seems that my battle power is still shy of the later stages of the Apotheosis Realm.'' The Scarlet King was not surprised or too disappointed at this realization. After all, it made sense that someone already preparing their soul for the Divine Ascension Rank would be much more powerful than other Apotheosis Realm Masters. Of course, the fact that the Scarlet King could not defeat Damasko did not mean his life was in danger, as he had yet to suffer any severe injuries and could simply choose to escape. With his mastery over the Law of Shadows and Void State, hiding his presence would not be a problem. Not to mention that, unlike the Tier 1 Dark Factions'' Leaders, there was no problem if the powerful people in the military detected his presence. After all, he was a scout from the Colossus Imperial Fort. The Scarlet King just dodged a blow to the head, but instead of responding with another slash from his saber, he unleashed a blast of shadows that hindered Damasko''s sight and perception. The Deus Behemoth''s vision was affected, but he immediately reacted, making his entire body rotate, creating a vortex of energy that worked both as a defense and to shred the shadows around him. After the shadows vanished, Damasko saw how the Scarlet King had adopted a battle stance in the distance, and now the avatar of death and blood was by his side. Lamina moved to his left, and there was an expression of exhaustion on the woman, as facing the Demonic Phantom was not easy. "Sorry, I was not able to stop it from retreating. The creature''s power and vitality are too high." "It is fine. You did very well keeping the avatar from bothering me all this time. I appreciate it." Damasko did not blame the woman for failing to detain the Demonic Phantom since he had already clashed with it several times and knew just how powerful it was. "?BOOOOMMMM!" An explosion made the ground tremble as the Demonic Phantom burst apart, unleashing all its energy before the Blood Nails returned to the Scarlet King. He then descended to the ground and stared at the mangled body of Damasko. Despite all the wounds and horrible damage he had undergone, there was still some light in the eyes of the Deus Behemoth, full of rage and frustration. "I honestly believed that of everybody, you would be the one to survive. That woman had been waiting for this chance for a long time. The Scarlet King did not say anything else before tapping the man''s head, ending his life, and just as he did that, Damasko''s body began to morph. A flash of surprise appeared in Cain''s eyes as Damasko''s face changed, but that was just the start since the next second, the blue draconic scales on Damasko''s body turned into a bronze exoskeleton as the tail vanished. The Scarlet King was not really surprised to see Damasko''s face changing since it made sense he would not reveal his true identity, but the other physical characteristics did not make much sense. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire There was nothing to gain from them, not to mention it would feel uncomfortable at the moment of fighting. "How odd." Although it was strange, the Scarlet King did not bother with it and recovered the corpses before leaving. Chapter 492 Back to the fort Cain hid among the trees of a large forest, his aura so weak that even Divine Ascension Masters would not perceive him. He was currently in the midst of healing his wounds from the last fight and replenishing his energy pool. There was a smile on his face as he felt just how fast his body could heal now that his Astral Wave coursed through his flesh and blood, improving his vitality. He accelerated the process by using Radiance of Life and Death Touch. "System, scan me." Cain already had an idea of how much power he had gained but wanted an objective analysis, and soon, the Absolute Life Form System provided it. [Scanning Vessel... ... Scan of Vessel completed. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Late Wave Champion) / Essence Evolution (Late Wave Champion) Lineage: True Avernus Lineage (Maximum Purity) Wave Talent: Initial Tier 9 (Medium Tier 9) Stats: Strength: 57.0 --> 65.2 Agility: 33.7 --> 38.2 Even a great genius like William Severus was only able to match an Early Divine Ascension Master as a Peak Apotheosis Master. That feat was so impressive that he earned the title of Duke from the Atrox Immortus Empire, something normally only Middle Divine Ascension Masters could gain. After a few hours, the Scarlet King regained his peak, and just as he intended to search for clues for the last two Tier 1 Dark Faction''s Leaders, a message arrived on his [A.I. Chip Module]. [Colonel Laurifer, the Imperial Court has commanded me to travel to Bahamut as soon as possible. It is time; how fast can you reach the fort?] Cain smiled as he heard the news. Although his journey through the underworld of Colossus was helpful, his main goal was to return to Gaia, and it seemed it was getting nearer. [I will reach the Colossus Imperial Fort in less than half an hour.] After sending that message, Cain rose to the sky and took a deep breath as he began to suppress his Astral Wave. He wanted to hide his dual cultivation in order to use it as a trump card, as he did not know what type of people he might find. The fact that he was in an ally continent meant very little to Cain; after all, the largest number of his enemies were actually humans. Race, age, and background mattered very little to him, and he only judged people by what he saw in their eyes and actions. Although hiding your cultivation was not easy, the red mask that had fused into Cain''s flesh had great cloaking powers. ''I guess you two can count yourselves lucky.'' Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire Cain shrugged his shoulders as he realized that the two Tier 1 Dark Leaders would manage to escape from him. He didn''t really care to begin with, and his actions would surely paralyze the underworld of the Colossus Sector for a long time. Even without the use of Blood Wings, the Scarlet King achieved impressive speed, and just as he told Duke Gigant, he reached the fort in less than half an hour. When he saw the fort, a massive ship rose from the ground, ascending hundreds of thousands of meters into the sky. Although its design was different from those of the human race, the Scarlet King was able to identify the massive ship as a Star Cruiser. Cain did not waste time and immediately headed into the ship. As he approached it, a small hole appeared in the force field around it, allowing him to enter, and he saw that the Colossus Duke was at the helm. ''Something is happening.'' Although the Duke did not say a word, his face had a stern expression. When the man noticed Cain, he made a small sign so this one would approach him. Chapter 493 Natuo "How did your mission go?" Duke Gigant went straight to the topic, and it was clear he was not in the mood for pleasantries. Cain didn''t really care about the man''s attitude since he knew that members of the Deus Behemoth Race were much more direct than humans. He also preferred to head straight to the point when speaking. The deal between the two was that Cain would use his position as a scout to target members of the underworld. While Duke Gigant would turn a blind eye to the recovered goods and methods, he would receive a report of the deaths and anything related to the Tier 0 Dark Factions. Seeing the tension in the man''s face, the Scarlet King chose not to hide anything and delivered a straight report of all the deaths and clues regarding the Tier 0 Dark Factions known as Ocean Wrath. "Oh, you managed to find out a lot of information about Ocean Wrath, including the identity of several upper-echelon members. Amazing!" The first part of the report included information regarding Ocean Wrath. Although Cain did not come into direct contact with any of them, interrogating the people and hacking the computer rings from the Tier 1 Dark Faction''s leaders gave the [A.I. Chip Module] a lot to work with. Duke Gigant would not blindly believe the information that Cain handed over and would definitely use the empire''s network to verify it. Still, much of the information confirmed suspicions the military already had, which was a good start. "You are truly impressive, young man. With this, we can greatly diminish Ocean Wrath''s influence over the Colossus Sector." The apprehensive aura of Duke Gigant diminished significantly. He was ecstatic about the information as it would help him maintain safety and order in his Sector. After giving an affirming nod to Cain, he turned to the section of the report that contained the people the Godslayer Human had killed, and his eyes widened as he couldn''t believe what he was reading. "Is this true!?" "I fought the man, but I managed to kill him due to the sneak attack of one of his comrades. A woman by the name of Lamadia, who was supposed to be the leader of Ghost Garden, pierced the man''s back while we were fighting. I was honestly surprised by her actions and am still baffled why she would do something like that." After tracking her down, Cain had meant to ask the woman for her actions, but now it seemed he would not get an answer. Luckily for him, Gigant was able to shed some light. "I think I can help you solve your doubts. Natou once used his power and influence to direct the power of the military to the headquarters of Ghost Garden, killing the previous Leader. This new Leader of Ghost Garden must have figured out that Damasko was actually Natou and took the chance to kill him." A flash of enlightenment appeared in Cain''s eyes as he heard those words. The attack that Gigant referred to happened hundreds of years ago, so it made sense he knew nothing about it. "So that''s it." Cain nodded but showed no real interest as he didn''t care about the machinations and schemes of the underworld of the Colossus Sector. The woman had used him, but he had gained from it, so they owed nothing to each other, and the next time he saw her, he would kill her. "Is there a problem?" Cain was about to store the heads in his space ring when he saw a complicated expression on Gigant''s face. The Duke stared at Cain for a moment before speaking. "Your achievements are too great to just let them fade into the shadows. I can report your work to the Imperial Court and make sure you earn the recognition and honor worthy of your efforts, but there is a problem." Cain could figure out what bothered Gigant immediately, and a cold light appeared in his eyes. "Their families will not be too happy. Even if they can''t use the laws and codes of the Deus Behemoth''s empire to attack me, that doesn''t mean they won''t use other means to get their revenge." Duke Gigant nodded and was happy to see that Cain understood the severity of the situation. "Although your actions will enrage many, I am more than strong enough to suppress them, not to mention that those families and powers don''t have the strength to threaten you. However, there is one force that I cannot protect you from, and we will be heading to their home." Chapter 494 Leaving the Colossus Sector Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard those words, realizing it meant that one of the people he killed had a powerful background in the Bahamut Sector. "Natuo?" Of all the people he killed, Natuo was the only one whose background was still obscure to the Scarlet King. Duke Gigant immediately nodded, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes as he uttered the following words. "Natuo was the bastard son of a member of the Ten Great Bloodlines, the Kraken Clan. The man was talented but was also very proud, which was why he left the Bahamut Sector since he could not tolerate the way other members of the Kraken Clan treated him just because of his birth. He bought a new identity and reached this place. I knew all this due to my status, and there are actually no physical or digital records of the man being part of the Kraken Lineage." A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he heard that, and now he understood why Natuo hid his bloodline''s physical characteristics. Duke Gigant gave Cain a moment to analyze the information before speaking again. "You have two paths now. I can inform the Imperial Court so you earn your rightful honor and merit, or I can hide all evidence and let it fade in the darkness. I am sure that Natuo''s absence will raise questions, but if you were careful, it will be years before anyone finds out the truth." The energy pool of a Divine Ascension Master was hundreds of times greater than that of a nuclear power plant, so it could improve the power of a gargantuan Star Cruiser. After ensuring everything was in order, the Scarlet King nodded to Duke Gigant and headed into one of the rooms inside the Star Cruiser to cultivate. He did not want anyone to see him improving his Astral Essence, and it was normal to want to train alone without distractions, so Duke Gigant did not think much of it and remained at the ship''s helm. Cain took the Blood Seal Art from his space ring, and a small smile appeared on his face as he remembered the technique''s power in the hand of the Atrox. He had not had time to go through the art since the meeting of the Tier 1 Dark Faction Leaders happened less than a week after he fixed his Rebirth Heart. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire Now, Cain could allow his consciousness to enter the starry gem without reservation, and the art information soon became clear in his mind. The art described how to use your Blood Energy and Astral Wave to create Blood Seals, each capable of enhancing the piercing and slashing power. The Blood Seal Art was not very complex and was divided into the creation of Lesser Blood Seals, Great Blood Seals, and Bloodthirsty Seals. The first type was ordinary and could be used by Wave Warriors and Wave Champions, while the Great Blood Seals were much more powerful and suitable for Wave Kings and Apotheosis Masters. As for the Bloodthirsty Seals, they were the apex of the art, granted piercing and slashing power that could sunder Platinum Grade Artifacts, but were much harder to master and even harder to make. The Bloodthirsty Seals required more than just Blood Energy and Astral Wave; they also needed a massive amount of blood vitality and could not come from anyone with a cultivation base beneath the Apotheosis Realm. Clearly, the Blood Seal Art was a technique that focused on the Slaughter Path and required the need to fight, but that was not really a problem for the Scarlet King. After choosing an Astral skill, Cain focused on the Essence aspect of his cultivation. Chapter 495 Warlock System Cain frowned as he saw the scarcity of his Essence Cultivation Technique. All those he obtained in Kronos could only unleash power at the bottom of the Apotheosis Realm. The only reason the Demonic Phantom could stand against a Bone Tribulation Master was due to the Radiance of Life and Radiance of Strength improving it. It was time to improve it, but Cain did not have better techniques. The ones he obtained from Sabina''s space ring were focused only on the Law of Blood, and none surpassed the Apotheosis Realm. The woman was a Divine Ascension Master, and Cain expected her to have some techniques of that level, but he was out of luck. Most likely, she did not own her cultivation technique and trained in a special ground of the Tier 0 Dark Faction Blood Path, or else there would be a star gem of the art among the stolen belongings. ''Maybe I could get a technique in the Bahamut Sector. In any case, I am sure there are plenty in the Collapsing Lightning Sector, and the Duke would grant me access to me once I return to Gaia.'' Ultimately, Cain took two high-quality wave crystals from his space ring and began to train the Blood Seal Art, improving his Astral Wave while using the other half of his mind to send energy into the Evolution Core. Having to divide your mind and energy resources into two paths was one of the many reasons people did not dual cultivate. Still, Cain did not have a problem since his Wave Talent was enough to saturate his body to the point that the two Sacred Organs obtained as much energy as they could need. Of course, there were also his secondary energy pools, but Cain also had a way for that, as he spent some DF, making the [Gluttony Module] feed the Blood Gem Chamber and the Blood Flame on its own, improving his cultivation. Days began to pass like that, and the Scarlet King''s cultivation base kept moving forward. Cain spent three weeks in his room with his eyes closed until he suddenly opened them, sensing that the Star Cruiser was beginning to slow down. He stood up, clenching his fist, and dozens of sharp red runes began to appear across his arms and legs. "Oh, so you are already familiarized with the Divine Systems?" asked Gigant, a little surprised to hear those words from Cain. "Only a little." Cain wasn''t lying, as the information about Divine Systems was something he obtained from the memories of the young Hell Clan envoy. Divine Systems and Paths of Power were interconnected. For example, the Warlock System that Cain was referring to was the approach to cultivation employed by the Deus Behemoth Race''s Astral Cultivator once they rose above the Apotheosis Realm and into the Divine Realm. While the Deus Behemoth, like all other races, fused their souls with their Sacred Organs to achieve the Divine Ascension Realm, they also fused their bloodline into the new organ to create a Soul Bloodline. That is the cornerstone of the Warlock System, and from this point on, they focus on their Soul Bloodline, as any improvement to this would advance their cultivation base. Although Godslayer Humans could choose to train techniques of the Warlock System, those were designated to focus on the Deus Behemoth Race, and humans would gain much lower benefits. Besides, humanity has its own Divine Systems. Each race has several Divine Systems they can follow, some more mainstream than others, and some races can actually follow the same system, such as the Godslayer Humankind, Inferno Flameon Race, and Atrox Immortus Race. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire Cain''s eyes narrowed as he felt his bloodline trembling, and a small sense of shock appeared in his eyes. The radiation these people were unleashing was affecting his Lineage. It didn''t make a significant change, but he was sure the effect it had would be immensely helpful to members of their own clan with weaker cultivation. Chapter 496 Prince Kouto Just as Cain was pondering about the power of the Warlock System, he noticed a sharp look on Gigant''s face, and the next second, the same expression appeared on his own as he turned to the distance and saw three figures flashing toward the Star Cruiser. Cain adopted a solemn expression as he saw the trio with shining bronze exoskeleton covering their bodies. Their physical appearance was very similar to Natuo''s. They were members of the Kraken Clan. The trio positioned themselves in front of the Star Cruiser, forcing it to stop as they unleashed their bloodline aura. Soon, the image of a majestic creature with a bronze exoskeleton and crab legs that seemed to master the seas appeared behind them. Cain''s eyes glowed with red light as he faced the pressure of the bloodline aura of the trio. It was immensely challenging since one of them was a Divine Ascension master, and the other two were Peak Apotheosis Masters. Fortunately, he did not have to resist for long as Duke Gigant stepped forward the next second, unleashing his own bloodline aura. The next moment, a majestic giant humanoid with a single eye and seven arms appeared in the sky. Despite the trio combining their bloodline aura, they were forced to take a step back as the aura produced by Duke Gigant was even more extraordinary. "What is the meaning of this? Even if you are members of one of the Ten Great Bloodlines, I am a Duke of the Deus Behemoth Empire!" Duke Gigant''s voice was thunderous, and while Cain felt nothing, the two Apotheosis Masters from the Kraken Clan trembled, and a stream of blood emerged from the corners of their mouths. The Divine Ascension Master among the group frowned as he saw Duke Gigant''s attitude. He had hoped the Duke would take a step back and let them handle the young man, but that clearly wasn''t going to happen. With no other path available, the middle-aged man took a deep breath and clasped his hands before the bloodline aura faded, along with the illusion of the majestic creature. Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire However, a powerful aura flooded the surroundings before Duke Gigant could utter a word. "Hmph, trying to use the name of a Ten Great Bloodline to perform a personal vendetta. Since when have we fallen so much!" A second later, a young man appeared in the sky, facing the members of the Kraken Clan. He had short white hair, and draconic blood scales covered his arms, legs, and part of his chest. Additionally, there was a ring of revolving blood behind his back. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw the man, who bore a striking resemblance to Desmond. "Prince Kouto." Marcellus immediately clenched his teeth when he recognized the young man from the Zanginis Clan. Of course, calling him ''young'' was an understatement; after all, Kouto was at least three hundred years old. However, that was young, considering he was a Divine Ascension Master! Kouto glanced at the trio and did not bother to hide his disdain before turning toward Duke Gigant and clasping his hands. "It is a pleasure to meet you again, Duke Gigant." "Hahahaha. You finally could no longer suppress your cultivation and jumped to the Divine Ranks. Soon, you will reach my level." Duke Gigant laughed as he felt the power of Kouto, and it was clear that the relationship between the two was not shallow. Chapter 497 Zanginis Sacred Home "Hahaha, please don''t make fun of me. I ignited my Soul Bloodline less than fifty years ago. I am still far from the Late Divine Ascension Rank." Kouto and Gigant laughed as they talked to each other, completely ignoring the trio from the Kraken Clan, prompting an unsightly expression to appear on Marcellus'' face. Kouto noticed the hatred in Marcellus, and his eyes grew cold as he turned to the man. "What are you still doing here? Hmph, even if I was not here, you could do nothing against Duke Gigant. Leave if you don''t want to stay here forever." Fear appeared in the Apotheosis Masters from the Kraken Clan, and while Marcellus was able to maintain his composure, he was also threatened by the power of the man. Ultimately, the Divine Ascension Master from the Kraken Clan only glanced at Cain one last time before turning around and leaving with the other two. After the trio vanished in the distance, Kouto turned toward Cain, and a small smile appeared. "You''re the young man my brother has talked so much about." Cain stared at the man in the sky and clasped his hand before bowing slightly. "I appreciate your help." "Hahaha, it was nothing. Besides, I am always happy to push back the Kraken Clan when possible." Kouto smiled before turning toward Duke Gigant. "I assume you''re going to the capital, answering the Imperial Summoning." "That is right." After obtaining confirmation from Gigant, Kouto turned back to Cain again. "My Rebirth Heart was crippled during an encounter with one of the Ten Dark Kings, so I recultivated and followed the Essence Evolution Path of Power." Cain chose not to reveal the whole truth of his condition to Kouto, understanding that for a secret weapon to be effective, it was better to fool both friend and foe. Besides, there was a limit to the level of trust he would show the brother of a friend he had not seen in more than a year. Kouto showed a hint of pity when he heard that Cain''s Rebirth Heart had been crippled, but then his eyes widened as he realized the speed at which Cain could fly. While movement speed was not equal to battle power, it was not that far off. "Wait, if you suffered a wound to your heart after meeting with my brother, you must have spent less than a year and a half to reach your current level!" Overcoming the psychological impact of losing your cultivation was something many people could not do, yet it seemed that Cain was able to not only do that but rise to an extremely high level in less than two years. Cain noticed the surprise in the Deus Behemoth''s eyes and simply nodded. "I encountered several lucky chances which allowed my cultivation to advance fast without sacrificing my foundation." Kouto noticed that Cain was not the talkative type, but he didn''t get offended and continued flying. Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire There were several Wave Beasts'' lairs beneath them, many with power that could threaten Apotheosis Realm Masters, yet none dared to approach the duo as the Deus Behemoth''s aura was too great. After nearly an hour, Cain saw a massive city built around what could only be described as an enormous volcano. However, as he focused on the volcano, something even more amazing appeared in front of his eyes. At first, it was shadowy, but soon, Cain saw a gargantuan hundreds of kilometers long with its body encompassed around the volcano. Before he could even understand what such a majestic beast was doing here, it flashed toward him. Just as Cain thought the creature would trample over him and Kouto, it vanished and was replaced by an old man with an imposing physique and aura. Although the man stopped right in front of them, the momentum of his body did not simply fade, and a massive gale clashed against Cain and Kouto. The Deus Behemoth maintained his standing without a problem, but the gale nearly blew Cain away. Chapter 498 Zuko Zanginis Kouto clasped his hand and performed a small bow toward the old man. "Father, I have returned." The old man nodded to Kouto before turning toward Cain, his eyes growing sharp, making Cain feel as if he were being gazed upon by a gargantuan blood snake capable of leveling entire Sectors. However, while the bloodline force emitted by the old man was crippling, Cain''s eyes soon began to burn with red light as his willpower burst, allowing him to gaze into the man''s eyes without any sense of fear and full of resoluteness. A flash of surprise appeared in the old man''s eyes as he saw the resolution and confidence in Cain''s eyes since even those with greater willpower would normally fail to look him directly in the eye. "So you are the boy that managed to survive the ambush of one of the Dark Kings. No wonder you can stand like that in my presence. Good, very good." The old man began to smile, and while his bloodline aura kept bursting with power, it now filled Cain with a sense of warmth and vitality. Then he clasped his hand and nodded. "My name is Zuko Zanginis, Archduke of the Deus Behemoth Empire and Patriarch of the Zanginis Clan. You can call me Zuko or Lord Zanginis." Cain noticed the change in the man''s attitude and did not maintain a cold demeanor as he clasped his hand and performed a slight bow. "Colonel Cain Laurifer from the Godslayer Humankind Empire. It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Zanginis." Kouto observed how the duo behaved and couldn''t hide his surprise, knowing just how high his father''s standards were and how even Divine Ascension Masters could not earn his recognition. Before the trio could say another word, their eyes turned toward the massive city around the volcano and saw a figure flashing toward them with blood wings on his back, advancing at an overwhelming speed. "Brother Cain! I knew you were alive!" The one flashing toward them was none other than Desmond, and there was a smile full of excitement on the young man''s face as he saw Cain. He did not stop until he was right in front of Cain and hugged this one. Surprise appeared in the eyes of Kouto and Lord Zanginis as they felt the immense purity in Cain''s energy pool, and it grew even stronger as they saw that the Blood Energy he unleashed matched the energy pool of a Wave King. That was enough to tell the duo how high the young man''s mastery over the Law of Blood was. Blood Wings emerged from Desmond''s back as he took a deep breath. "THUMP!" A powerful heartbeat echoed across the sky. It did not originate inside Cain but in the Deus Behemoth. "Second Gear!" Desmond shouted those words, wanting to show Cain just how high his mastery over the technique was, before flashing forward at a shocking speed. Cain''s eyes widened as he saw the young Deus Behemoth appear before him in less than a second, but he did not lose focus. By covering his body in shadows and using The Flow, he began to deftly dodge every single strike. Desmond''s attacks were powerful and fast, but Cain dodged them perfectly. The strength of the young Deus Behemoth was surprising, as were his martial skills, which allowed him to face the Late Wave King. Despite that, Desmond could land a single strike on Cain''s body. After nearly a minute and firing thousands of strikes, Desmond took a step back, putting distance again between the two as he looked at Cain while trying to regulate his breath. "Hahaha, you are truly fast and nimble, and it seems as if your body was made of shadows, not flesh and bones. But what about now!" Desmond''s eyes began to burst as he unleashed all his willpower and was ready to trigger the next level of Asura Form. "Third..." "Enough." Chapter 499 Good news and bad news (I) Before Desmond could trigger the technique, he heard his father''s voice and couldn''t help but frown. "Father, why are you interfering?" Desmond knew that triggering Asura Form''s Third Gear would wound his internal organs, but he was willing to endure it, not to mention that the damage would be only temporary, and he would heal in a couple of hours. Lord Zanginis just shook his head as he saw that even now, his son did not understand why he stopped the fight and pointed at the space behind this one. When the young man turned, his eyes widened as he saw a massive demonic dragon ready to lunge toward him with its jaws open. There was nothing Desmond could have done to stop the beast from swallowing him whole. "How!?" Desmond''s shock was understandable since he had not felt the creature''s presence at all. Even now, it was hidden from his Ego Wave, and he could only see it with his eyes. "That young man''s mastery over the Law of Darkness was high enough to hide the fluctuations of his energy, and you were too focused on what was ahead of you, leaving you open to an attack from behind." Lord Zanginis''s face was stern as he spoke, ensuring his son would engrave his words. A mistake like that in combat between friends only meant a loss, but it could be fatal on a battlefield. Desmond was impulsive but not a fool and nodded to his father before turning to Cain and deactivating his spells as a complicated expression appeared on his face. "You had to recultivate from zero, yet the distance between our power grew even larger. You are truly a monster of our generation." Facing Lord Zanginis'' wives were his children, a total of fourteen. The old man gestured for Cain to sit at the rear of the table facing him, which he did. And just as everyone took their spots, food had filled the table. "Let''s eat!" Instead of uttering a few words or displaying some regal table manners, Lord Zanginis shouted, and everyone began to consume the meals. Although they did not act like savages, neither did they show overly formal etiquette typical of high noble families. Cain didn''t mind the difference in the social behavior of the Deus Behemoth Race and began to consume the food. Just the first bite was enough to shock him since not only was the food delicious, but it was also overflowing with energy that spread across every cell of his body. For a piece of meat to have that effect on someone like Cain, whose flesh and blood had been refined over and over again, the only type of beast it could have come from was a Divine Beast. Those are Wave Beasts usually found in the Endless Ocean and whose power could defy Divine Ascension Masters. Not wasting time with words when it was clear that no one at the table was in the mood for talk, the Scarlet King began to consume the flesh of the Divine Beast, and more and more energy flooded his flesh and blood. It took nearly two hours for all the food to vanish from the table, and only then did Lord Zanginis look at Cain and speak. "By what I have heard, you are trying to find a way back to the Gaia Continent." Cain immediately focused on the old man as he heard those words. As the Patriarch of one of the Ten Great Bloodlines, Zanginis should have the means necessary to perform a feat like securing an intercontinental teleportation formation. "That is right." "Then I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you will not be allowed to use the intercontinental teleportation formation." Chapter 500 Good news and bad news (II) Cain couldn''t help but frown upon hearing those words. He understood that using an intercontinental teleportation formation would not be cheap. Still, he was willing to pay and had accepted the burden of antagonizing the Kraken Clan just to improve his standing in the Deus Behemoth Empire. If, after all that hard work and with his background, the Deus Behemoth''s Imperial Court still refused, they were surely looking down on him. Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire Of course, as a master of Order, Cain maintained a cool head and did not jump to conclusions as he waited for Lord Zanginis to continue. "It''s not that we don''t want to help. Actually, with all the hard work you put into cleaning the Colossus Sector of their filth, it would be enough for me to lead you directly into a teleportation formation that led to Gaia. But the problem is the state of the Endless Ocean." At this point, Lord Zanginis made a small pause as he waved his hand, generating a virtual image on the ceiling that depicted two massive continents with an even greater ocean separating them. "As you should already understand, teleportation isn''t just vanishing from one place and appearing in another. In essence, an intercontinental teleportation formation creates a wormhole between two points in space, drastically reducing the distance between the two." Cain saw how a wormhole appeared in Hyperion and the other in Gaia. When you go through it, the millions of kilometers between the continents are reduced to a few meters. "Unfortunately, while the situation on the continent has calmed down, the state of the Endless Ocean is still full of chaos. Due to the instabilities in space, you cannot cross it through a teleportation formation. The situation is so chaotic that we can''t even communicate with Gaia, and we are completely blinded to the state of the other empires." Lord Zanginis was a Titan of the Deus Behemoth Empire and the Patriarch of one of the Ten Great Bloodlines, so his understanding of the situation was much deeper than a Duke like Gigant. It was not that the Duke of the Colossus Sector was hiding things from Cain; he just did not know. "Aaaaaa. I see. If that''s the case, then indeed, I can''t cross the Endless Ocean through the use of an intercontinental teleportation formation." "Young man, I''m not looking down on you or your race, but literally, you cannot enter the Astral Bloodline Realm. There are several restrictions to the realm, and one of the most important ones is that the bloodline aura and radiation inside the realm would scorch the blood of anyone without one of the Ten Great Bloodlines." Cain misconstrued Kouto''s words at first, but now that he heard the explanation, he immediately agreed with the man. He could never enter such a place, as having his blood set ablaze inside his veins would be a nightmare. "Hmph, who do you think your father is? Of course, I understand that, but the boy''s timing is beyond perfect since old man Kabuto is preparing to start a tournament, and the winner will have the right to inherit a pure strand of the Solis Great Bloodline." Lord Zanginis showed an amused smile, almost as if he couldn''t wait to see Cain obtain victory in the tournament. "So what do you say, boy? Since you''ll be stuck on our continent for the time being, why don''t you make the best of it?" Cain was honestly surprised by the sudden waves of information, but soon, a smile appeared on his face. Since he was bound to remain on the Deus Behemoth Continent, he might as well get a new bloodline. "Can you tell me more?" "Hahaha, that''s the spirit!" Lord Zanginis laughed as he heard Cain''s response, clearly excited. Although Cain found the man''s behavior somewhat odd, it was evident that he was not trying to conceal his intentions. "That crazy bastard told me about it this morning, but soon the entire continent will know about it. The tournament will begin in twenty-two days and last an entire month. It will end a week before the opening of the Sacred Astral Bloodline Realm. Clearly, the old man wants to send anyone who wins into it." Chapter 501 Zanginis Clans nature Everybody in the room was surprised to hear the shocking news, but while they were surprised, none of them showed interest. Although the Solis Bloodline was extremely powerful, they had the Zanginis Bloodline running through their veins. It would not only be foolish for them to change it but an offense to their ancestors. "Husband, is Lord Kabuto really going to pass down his bloodline to someone outside of the Solis Clan just like that?" The woman sitting closest to Lord Zanginis spoke, voicing the question on everyone''s mind. She was a middle-aged woman, but her maturity only made her more enticing, adding a charm some of the younger wives lacked. Cain''s eyes sharpened as he heard that. He knew just how unique and powerful the bloodlines of the Deus Behemoth Race were and how they usually kept them within their clan. Besides, passing down a bloodline of such power was not as simple as injecting a Wave Virus, as a bloodline of such power had already begun to touch the realm of souls. Lord Zanginis turned to his wife, and his wild aura immediately became tame as he adopted a solemn attitude as he spoke to her. No one was surprised by the serene nature of the man, as they all understood just how important the woman was to him. "I was also surprised since that would surely incite the anger of some people inside the Solis Clan. But the madmen just said he was doing it because it was the only path and offered no explanation. You know how seers are; they just act according to those strange visions and prophecies and do not care what everybody else thinks about it." The woman thought for a moment before softly nodding, satisfied with the response, as did everyone else at the table except for one. "Seer?" Cain couldn''t help but ask that question, as that was a term he was not familiar with. Of course, he understood that Old World''s seers were people who claimed they could see the future, but that was clearly not true, and most of them were con men. However, this was not the Old World; it was Aether. Who knew what the word seer could mean in a place full of miracles? Lord Zanginis turned toward Cain, and he could see the confusion and curiosity in this one''s eyes. Cain was not surprised that Lord Zanginis could see through his spells; after all, the man was someone in the Late Divine Ascension Realm. "That is right. The Dark Blood God Phantom Technique has several levels. Nevertheless, I have only managed to obtain up to the third level, and the power of this one is at the bottom of the Apotheosis Realm, which my Essence Cultivation is already rising above." Although Cain said it as if it was nothing impressive, everyone at the table looked at him as if he were a monster. Being able to display that level of battle power while being a Wave Champion was simply too fantastic. If Kouto and Lord Zanginis had not seen it before, they would have had difficulty accepting it, but there was no way to deny it. "Then we should visit the Art Hall. We have several powerful arts that can be useful to you, especially since you favor the Law of Blood." Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire Cain was honestly surprised to see the level of friendship and closeness Lord Zanginis was showing, as the Saint Techniques of a family were one of their greatest secrets and the key behind their power, something they guarded very closely. "Although I am very thankful for your help, I don''t feel comfortable accepting such gifts without giving anything in return." Although Cain was tactful, Lord Zanginis had lived for a long time, so he could see the hidden message in those words. Still, he did not get angry and only burst into laughter. "Hahahaha. Brat, you don''t have to worry; my invitations have no strings or anything like that. It''s just the nature of our family. That is how my father raised me and how I raise my children." Chapter 502 Crimson Void Cultivation Technique Lord Zanginis spoke in a friendly manner as he smiled, but he saw that Cain''s eyes were still vigilant. "Brat, our clan has always helped honorable warriors without reservation. We are indeed binding you from a certain point, but only through friendship and gratitude, nothing more. The seven wives and fourteen children turned toward Cain with smiles, and there was no trace of deception in their faces. Cain was momentarily at a loss for words and couldn''t help but be amazed at the level of this scheme. It was direct, and unless you were a complete bastard who would betray those who helped you, it would work. He indeed felt at a loss since, as someone who liked to repay all his debts, he would certainly not forget this help. "I see, then I can only say I will remember this grace." "That''s more like it." Lord Zanginis smiled as he stood from his chair and looked at the rest of his family. "The dinner is over. All of you return to your training or whatever you were doing." Everybody was already used to the easygoing attitude of the family Patriarch, so they all stood up from their chairs and, after saying goodbye, left the room, except for Desmond and Kouto. The duo was interested in seeing what kind of technique Cain would choose and wanted to tag along. Cain didn''t mind, so he just nodded to the duo, and the trio followed Lord Zanginis out of the castle. They calmly headed to a large black building embedded into the base of the Blood Volcano. Lord Zanginis uttered those words and remained silent, as did Kouto and Desmond. None of them wanted to influence Cain''s decision, as this was something that could define his cultivation path for a long time. Cain nodded to the Patriarch of the Zanginis Clan and began to examine the starry gems. He saw several Saint Cultivation Techniques of the Astral Path of Power, but they followed the Warlock System, so they would not help him much. Besides, he was supposed to have his Astral Rebirth Heart crippled, so he paid proper attention to those of the Essence Evolution Path. The Saint Cultivation Techniques of the Essence Evolution Path of Power followed the Inner Universe System, which was the same for the Godslayer Humankind and Deus Behemoth Race. All the techniques had extraordinary abilities, with some capable of generating gargantuan beasts capable of leveling cities with a single wave of their claws. However, Cain''s eyes sharpened as he gazed upon the last one. "Crimson Void Cultivation Technique." Cain was immediately attracted to the technique as he saw it was a Saint Cultivation Technique that could be used at close range, something that most Essence Evolution Cultivators would only do in a desperate situation. However, it was a feat he could fully exploit since it would allow him to use the full power of his body and Astral Rebirth Path of Power. The cultivation technique focused on the power of the Law of Blood but also required domain over the Law of Space. Although it would have been better if it focused on the Law of Darkness, there was not really a problem since he was already getting used to the idea that his Lineage would soon change. Find more adventures on My Virtual Library Empire Taking a moment, Cain closed his eyes. He sent his Ego Wave into the starry gem, and the next second, he was transported into an illusion featuring a stoic middle-aged man with a thin yet muscular body covered in bloody scales. The middle-aged man assumed a meditative position in the sky as suddenly, the space around his body grew denser and denser, exponentially increasing the gravity and pressure around him. Nowhere was this effect more potent than in his Evolution Core. Chapter 503 Split a mountain in two Cain could see everything, including the interior of the man''s body, and saw how the pressure was tempering the Essence Wave. However, while the overwhelming density of space had wondrous effects tempering the energy pool, it was so much that the Evolution Core was about to shatter. It was at this point that the man''s blood vitality began to burn as it voraciously consumed copious amounts of Blood Energy, using them as a stream of vitality and regenerative power to help the Sacred Organ endure the pressure. Use space to generate immense pressure in order to temper your Essence Wave, only to use your vitality and Blood Energy to reinforce the Sacred Organ. It was an extremely dangerous training style that required immense focus and control, but the benefits were, without a doubt, overwhelming. There was a solemn expression in the middle-aged man as he made several feathers with powerful space energy spread in the surroundings. It did not take long for space to begin to tremble, and soon, the world changed, with the clouds going red and a river of blood forming beneath him. It grew larger and larger until it managed to cover several kilometers. The man stood like that for several minutes before opening his eyes, adopting a battle stance as he gazed at a massive mountain before him and made a gigantic halberd appear. He began to wave the halberd, generating arcs of compressed Blood Energy as he moved around the sky, performing spatial distortion. Those skills could make him flawless among the lower Ranks, but any Wave King could easily overcome them. However, he did not remain in that state for long as the power of the Law of Blood and Law of Space grew stronger. The next second, he began to move the halberd with even greater power, generating spatial rifts that unleashed waves of destructive Blood Energy. Simultaneously, a blood barrier formed around him, bending space to deflect projectiles and using Blood Energy to absorb impacts. It was not the end. The man waved his halberd, and arcs of blood energy appeared hundreds of meters away from his position, leaving large cracks in the mountains as his body constantly shifted from one direction to the other, performing minor teleportations. Cain opened his eyes the next second, and there was a decisive light in them as he stared at the starry gem and knew he wanted it. It was perfect for him since it perfectly suited his battle style. "I see you made a choice. The Crimson Void Cultivation Technique could be considered the strongest of the Essence Evolution Path of Power techniques. Of course, it is also incredibly difficult since it requires great mastery over the Law of Space," Lord Zanginis noted, softly nodding. While it was challenging to master, it was also fitting for a monster genius like the Godslayer Human before him. "You can take it, but remember to return it in the future, as we only have four starry gems with the complete technique." Cain took the starry gem and performed a bow as he stared at the man. "I greatly appreciate your help. I know it is not much, but if you want, I have no problem handing you a new starry gem with the complete Asura Form so anyone can use it." Desmond already had a starry gem with Asura Form all the way to the Third Gear, but the deal he and Cain made was that only he could use it, not to mention that the young man needed the starry gem to keep increasing his proficiency. Although Desmond managed to reach the Third Gear, he was still at the bottom and required more practice if he wanted to harness the full power of the skill while reducing the backlash. Lord Zanginis and Prince Kouto immediately smiled as they heard Cain''s proposal. Both had seen the power of Asura Form, and it was a truly powerful skill that could raise the strength of figures at the Divine Ascension Realm like them. "Hahaha, I would not say no to a token of friendship." Chapter 504 Space Orbs Lord Zanginis smiled as he nodded to Cain and accepted the proposal. After that, he looked at the young man for a moment before speaking again. "For the domain aspect of the Crimson Void Cultivation Technique, you need treasures capable of harnessing the power of space. I have one in our armory, and I could lend it to you while you remain in the Bahamut Sector." Cain smiled as he heard that. Of course, he was not so shameless as to expect the man to give him the treasure, but he was not too keen on just having it borrowed. So, after a moment, he waved his hand and took out the thin blood saber he stole from Sabina, the Divine Ascension Master from the Blood Path. "I wonder if this would be enough to buy the treasures. I could not erase the Ego Mark on it, but I am sure it is a powerful artifact of the blood type capable of unleashing Divine Ascension Rank power." Lord Zanginis looked at the weapon with surprise, as did Kouto and Desmond. The fact that Cain had an artifact with the Ego Mark of a Divine Ascension Master intact most likely meant he stole it from that person. "Allow me," Lord Zanginis spoke as he took the weapon, and his eyes began to glow with golden light. The thin red saber trembled momentarily, but Sabina''s Ego Mark could not endure long against the man''s willpower and soon crumbled, allowing him to inspect the weapon. "Oh, impressive. This artifact can be used by even those at the Late Divine Stage, and it is perfectly suitable for those who train in the Law of Blood. Are you sure you want to exchange it?" Lord Zanginis did not try to hide the artifact''s power, and even though it would be helpful for the Zanginis Clan, he asked the young man if he wanted to carry on the deal. Cain smiled as his impression of the Zanginis Clan kept growing better, and he softly nodded. While the artifact was powerful, it could only carry Essence Wave, so it would not work for him. "The price of the Space Orbs is slightly below the Blood Saber. Mmm, brat, what do you say if I help you exchange your merits from your work in the Colossus Sector for the chance to train in the Spatial Rift Grotto? It is a unique cultivation ground full of spatial disturbances, very useful to master the Law of Space." His mastery of the technique was supreme, and he could maintain Third Gear without backlash for a few minutes. Normally, one would think that Cain would start to think of the next step, but things were not so simple. Third Gear pushed your blood flow to the theoretical limit that your circulatory system could endure. Even someone like Cain could only tolerate it for a few minutes, and the moment he became a Wave King, he would lose that ability as the strength of his heartbeat would increase, and so would the pressure that Third Gear would generate. Of course, Cain already thought of a way to fix it since, as soon as he became a Wave King, he planned to push the Biometal Herculean Technique to the fourth level, Platinum Heart, which would once again allow him access to Third Gear. As he finished engraving the skill into the starry gem, Cain looked at it with a solemn expression on his face. ''There is no such thing as a Fourth Gear. To push it to the next level, I will need a complete evolution of Asura Form''s principles.'' Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire Cain pondered that train of thought for a long time, but in the end, he did not come up with something better and could only accept that Third Gear was his limit, at least for the time being. He exited the room and went to the castle''s entrance, where he saw Lord Zanginis descending from the sky. "Good, you are ready. Here, in this space ring, are the twelve Space Orbs." Cain grabbed the space ring and saw inside a massive dimension larger than all of his other space rings combined. "The place is far, so hold on." Chapter 505 Spatial Rift Grotto (I) Before Cain could even say a word, the man grabbed him by the shoulder, and the next second, they rose to the sky before flashing west of the Blood Volcano at a speed several hundred times faster than the speed of sound. Cain could do nothing but focus his Essence Wave around his body to avoid the wind from burning his skin. Luckily, it did not take long, and they soon appeared above the sky of a massive cave. Despite the grand entrance, a mysterious force obstructed the light, leaving only darkness visible inside. "?BOOM!" Lord Zanginis did not say a word before he and Cain descended with overwhelming strength, shattering the ground with his feet. Cain''s senses were still a little foggy since the Deus Behemoth Archduke''s speed was overwhelming even for him. Still, his eyes immediately grew sharp as he turned to the cave entrance and saw two figures suddenly materializing. One of them was a young woman with a fierce appearance and silver fur covering her shoulders, as well as wolf ears and a tail, with a sword at her waist. As for the other, he was a bulging man with sharp eyes and a bronze exoskeleton covering his figure. The duo immediately stepped forward as they clasped their hands and performed a slight bow. "Arthemis of the Fenrir Clan greets His Highness, Archduke Zanginis." "Korolis of the Kraken Clan greets His Highness, Archduke Zanginis." Although the duo were peak Apotheosis Masters and holders of the Deus Behemoth''s Ten Great Bloodlines, their status could not compare with the man, so they immediately bowed. However, the next second, their eyes turned to the Godslayer Human next to him. "He is Colonel Laurifer, a friend of the Zanginis Clan, and will use the Spatial Rift Grotto for the next three weeks." "The deeper you go in the Spatial Rift Grotto, the stronger the spatial distortions are, which will help you understand the Law of Space but also increase the danger. Remember not to bite off more than you can chew. I will return to pick you up when the tournament begins." Cain clasped his hand and nodded to Lord Zanginis before waving his hand and taking a starry gem from his space ring. "I managed to engrave Asura Form''s Third Gear yesterday. Please take it." A sneer appeared on the face of Arthemis as she saw how Cain handed a starry gem to Lord Zanginis. ''Hmph, who does he think he is? How could Lord Zanginis care about the technique that a measly brat could engrave.'' Although Korolis did not show the same level of disdain as the woman, he softly shook his head as he thought Cain was only embarrassing himself. "Awesome!" However, the duo was once again shocked as they saw the excitement and thrill in Lord Zanginis'' face. Lord Zanginis did not care what the other two Apotheosis Masters thought. He was indeed the definition of acting according to your wishes without caring for anyone else''s thoughts and freely expressing your emotions. Since he felt happy, why would he hide it just to make other people think better of him? Cain couldn''t help but smile, finding the old man''s behavior truly refreshing. Still, he did not waste time and bowed again to Lord Zanginis before walking into the grotto. Lord Zanginis waited until Cain''s figure vanished inside the Spatial Rift Grotto before sending a sharp glance at the two and flashing into the sky before disappearing. Arthemis and Korolis looked at each other. The next second, their minds concentrated on their space rings as they sent the information about what had just happened to their respective families. Their primary role was to guard the grotto, which was the property of the Deus Behemoth Empire, but they were also in charge of keeping an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. Chapter 506 Spatial Rift Grotto (II) The moment Cain walked into the grotto, his eyes immediately grew sharp, and he released his Ego Wave, as there was nothing but darkness. It was as if the moment he crossed the cavern''s edge, he had been transported into an entirely new dimension. It wasn''t just his eyes; Cain felt his connection to the outside world severed, and there was no way to communicate. His Ego Wave allowed him to focus on the surroundings, revealing that he was in a dark cave without any sign of life. The most important part, however, was the strange state of space inside. Although weak, there were minor spatial fluctuations as he moved forward. They were not dangerous but caused slight shifts in distance or perspective, leading to mild disorientation or dizziness. Luckily for him, his mind was strong enough to overcome those feelings. Of course, Cain hadn''t come here to resist the disturbance. After the disorientation became strong enough to affect his senses and prevent him from moving in a straight line, he stopped and closed his eyes. Cain''s mind focused on the state of space around him, trying to bring order to its chaotic state. His mind worked faster and faster as he sensed the hundreds of variations and changes. An average human would never be able to do anything but falter before such power. Inside Cain''s abdomen, an organ full of energy carried elemental aspects of existence, aiding his perception of the world''s phenomena. Minute by minute, Cain''s mind gained perspective as he understood the principles of such strange power. On the third day, Cain opened his eyes, and as he stepped forward, all the sensations of distortion faded. Cain''s mind was able to bring order to the disturbance, allowing him to walk in a straight line. It was incredibly minor, but Cain had developed an understanding of space''s esoteric and ever-expanding power! Cain showed a radiant smile on his face as he saw that strike. The Crimson Void Saint Cultivation Technique had five levels. The first one was the Foundation Stage, signifying a small understanding of the forces of blood and space, yet you were still far from accessing the skills of the technique. However, once you deepen the connection with blood and spatial energies, integrating them into your attacks and being able to trigger the offensive skills, it means that you reach the Consolidation Stage. Cain had no bloodline or unique treasure that improved his understanding of the Law of Space, so reaching this level in less than three weeks was simply mind-blowing! Still, he was not satisfied and continued walking forward, striking Slaughter repeatedly as he used the power of Spatial Distortion to temper his mind and senses. After nearly five hundred steps, Cain''s instincts screamed. There was nothing around him, but without hesitation, he stepped aside just in time to see the spot where he was standing burst with spatial energy. It was as if space had folded onto itself, unleashing a devastating force. Without hesitation, Cain took several steps back and only then relaxed. ''No wonder Lord Zanginis and Desmond said this place was dangerous. Although I would have survived without a problem thanks to the strength of my body and Astral Wave, that blast could have destroyed the body of a normal Essence Wave Champion.'' After a moment, Cain decided to turn around and head to the exit. Those spatial collapses were dangerous, not to mention his three weeks were over, and he needed to leave this place. Luckily, the way back was much faster since it was no different than walking through a forest. Cain had just taken a step outside the caverns, and before his eyes could even adjust to the light, a hand grabbed his shoulder and flashed into the sky at an overwhelming speed. Chapter 507 Lord Kabuto Immediately, Cain''s eyes narrowed, and he was about to unleash all his power when he noticed that the one holding him was none other than Lord Zanginis. There was an expression of distress on the old man''s face as he flashed with all his power into the distance. "Damn brat, why did you wait until the last second! We need to hurry up, or else you will be disqualified." "What is happening?" "That crazy bastard said that anyone who has not reached the test zone before the sun reaches its highest peak is disqualified. He just uttered the command this morning." Cain finally understood what was happening. It seemed that a sudden deadline had been added to Lord Kabuto''s tournament. Lord Zanginis'' face was full of frustration as he clenched his teeth and pushed his speed to the absolute limit, but by the expression on his face, it seemed that they would not make it. In the distance, Cain saw a majestic golden tree that rose for dozens of thousands of meters and a city built around it. That seemed to be the designated area, but he stared at the sky and saw that the sun was just seconds away from its zenith. "Brat, you have a strong body, right?" Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire Cain got a bad feeling when he heard those words but nodded, and he saw a wide smile appearing on the old man''s face the next second. ---- Hundreds of people from different clans stood in the ground outside the city built around that massive golden tree. Not very far from them, there were dozens of powerhouses in the sky. The ones on the ground were those who sought to participate in the tournament, while those in the sky were the family and friends of the ones with powerful backgrounds. All the people who sought to participate in the tournament focused on the crown of the gargantuan golden tree. "Darn geezer!" Cain couldn''t help but shout toward the distant figure of Lord Zanginis. The man had grabbed him as if he were a spear, thrusting him at a speed that made Cain feel like his skin would peel off. Had it not been for his reflexes and shadow constitution, he would have been forced to resist the impact using his Astral Rebirth Path of Power. All the Deus Behemoth participants in the tournament were shocked to see a human appear out of nowhere. And when they heard him shouting, they turned to the distance, only to see the Patriarch of the Zanginis Clan approaching. Many of them could not believe a young Godslayer Human that seemed to have come out of knowledge would dare to call the Patriarch of one of the Ten Great Bloodlines a geezer. Yet, Lord Zanginis'' reaction was a laugh. "Hahahaha, brat. Don''t worry about the small details. You made it in time!" Lord Zanginis seemed unconcerned by Cain''s words and just laughed as he turned toward Kabuto, the Patriarch of the Solis Clan. "Madman, I brought you someone new. He''s a personal friend of the Zanginis Clan. Actually, you should foresee the entire tournament, as all others will just be embarrassing themselves if they compete with this brat." Cain sighed as he heard those words, feeling the stares of the other contestants. He was sure that if stares could kill, he would have died a hundred times over. "Old lunatic." Cain didn''t bother to hide his thoughts. He was upset about being dragged around like a doll, and he knew that Lord Zanginis didn''t care about it. He turned to the geniuses supposed to participate in the tournament but didn''t focus on them for long, as his eyes soon turned to the figure on the throne atop the majestic golden sun. Although they were thousands of meters apart, Cain concentrated his energy to get a closer look and frowned as he saw the strange light in the old man''s eyes. ''Why is he looking at me like that?'' Chapter 508 Solis Clan "Why is he looking at me like that?" Cain couldn''t help but feel weird as he saw how Lord Kabuto not only focused on him but also had a strange and somewhat bizarre light in his eyes. Not wanting to draw too much unnecessary attention, he performed a small bow toward the figures on the thrones before walking to the side of the other contestants. Lord Kabuto''s eyes glowed with golden light as he regained control of his emotions, noticing the strange look in the eyes of the other Divine Ascension Masters of the Solis Clan. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire "I am sorry for that. It was nothing." Although the old man did not offer a real explanation, the other two could do nothing but nod as, regardless of their status and power, they could not question the behavior of the Patriarch. Lord Kabuto''s focus did not linger on the duo for long, soon turning to the old man marching toward him with a giant smile. "Wildebeest, where did you find that boy?" Lord Zanginis stopped his march once he stood before Lord Kabuto, patting the old man0s shoulders with so much strength that the space trembled. "Hahaha, it seems that brat made an impression on you. Cain is my son''s friend from the Gaia Continent who reached Hyperion right before the cataclysm." Lord Zanginis saw no reason to hide Cain''s information, so he revealed it. However, Lord Kabuto''s eyes narrowed once again as he turned to the young man in the red robe. Lord Kabuto''s eyes could see the reaction of every challenger, but his gaze returned to Cain again and again. The Godslayer Human was not the type to show fear, nor was he the kind to look down on the others for their reactions, standing as if nothing that had happened so far could affect him. Not wasting time, Lord Kabuto calmed his bloodline aura, making the majestic beast vanish as he waved his hand, causing fifteen golden fireballs to appear in the sky. Not only did the fireballs release great heat, but their power also generated an overwhelming gravitational force, increasing the gravity in the area exponentially. "The first ten to stand before me will earn the right to pass to the next stage." Lord Kabuto raised his hand and waved it down. That action marked the beginning, and immediately, every one of the warriors made their energy pool explode, pushing Wave Burst to its absolute limit as they triggered their fastest spells and skills, flying to the sky with all they had. The ones that took the lead were fairly young, most of them fifty or forty years old, with those nearing the age limit actually falling behind. While age could measure one''s cultivation time, it was not a good determinant of strength, especially among geniuses. The one that took first place was a young Wave King with golden wings on his back and eagle-like eyes. His bloodline was extraordinarily pure and strong, and he had a radiant smile full of confidence. Closely following the man with golden wings was a bulky young man with a mane covering his head and shoulders, and there was a fierce light in his eyes as dark energy emanated from his fists and hands, propelling him forward. The duo''s names were Kailon and Sulon, two known geniuses from the Deus Behemoth Empire, and although they did not come from one of the Ten Great Bloodlines, their background was not shallow. However, the one that took the third spot was not a Deus Behemoth. Cain was using all his power to advance as fast as he could but was having a hard time catching up. If he could use Third Gear and Blood Wings, he would pass the duo without a problem, but that would mean showing his Astral Rebirth Path of Power, and it was not worth it. ''Third place is fine. Besides, speed is not my forte anyway.'' Chapter 509 The Flows Second Level (I) Although Cain considered taking third place barely acceptable, all the other challengers looked at him with shock and wonder. The reason for the awe in the Deus Behemoths'' eyes was that he did not use spells to propel his body and was actually moving slower than the others. Yet, space seemed to distort in his path, diminishing the actual distance he needed to cover. While the challengers were astounded, the two Early Divine Ascension Masters from the Solis Clan in the sky were even more amazed. They were strong enough to see that Cain''s cultivation was actually at the Late Wave Champion level, and he was using the Law of Space to move through the sky. By the level of dominion over space, it was clear that Cain''s mastery had already risen above the Medium Basic Understanding and must have reached the Deep Stage. Although for other Laws, a Deep Basic Understanding was shallow and would not catch the eyes of powerhouses like those four, things were different when it came to the highly complex and powerful Law of Space. "Zuko, that boy, when did he begin to train in the Law of Space?" Kabuto''s voice was solemn, and when Lord Zanginis heard how his old friend spoke to him, he did not joke and responded thoughtfully. "He has been in the Spatial Distortion Grotto for the last three weeks. Before that, he had never come into contact with the Law of Space." "What? How is that possible!?" The bulky middle-aged man from the Solis Clan, who had to stand up, could not help but shout those words. Although the Spatial Distortion Grotto was an excellent cultivation haven for the Law of Space, reaching the Deep Basic Understanding in just three weeks was too much. Cain could use the Law of Space to fold the space between him and the spheres of fire, increasing it to gain more time to react. At the same time, he compressed space so a single step right or left could cover dozens of meters. That was not the only thing that helped Cain since he had activated The Flow to predict the patterns of the spells. Just as he pushed his mind to its peak, he could not help but feel a sense of wonder as he started to see the vibration frequencies and atomic patterns in the spells. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire It was both a new and old feeling since Cain never truly reached this level, but it was something he deployed during his battle against the Azure King. It seemed that his mastery over energy and improvement of his cultivation base had been helping him push The Flow to the next level. Cain''s eyes burst with red light as he could not help but smile and flashed faster and faster into the sky, easily dodging the sphere of fire. ''Just a little closer!'' He was approaching the level but had yet to achieve it and could not help but think that greater pressure might do the trick, so, unlike all the others, he did not slow down his speed and headed straight into the projectiles. Lord Kabuto''s eyes narrowed as he observed the behavior of the Godslayer Human, and a sharp light appeared in them as he clenched his fists with even more strength, making the fireballs move faster and redirecting them so they would concentrate on Cain. Everyone saw how the fireballs began to move faster and seemed to turn toward the Godslayer Human''s path, making many of them think that Lord Kabuto was not pleased to see a human doing so well in his tournament. Lord Zanginis could not help but frown as he observed how Kabuto seemed to be targeting Cain, but he remained quiet as he was sure that the young man would manage to overcome the sudden pressure. Chapter 510 The Flows Second Level (II) Cain cared little about what everybody else thought or why Lord Kabuto would increase the pressure, as he felt he was getting closer to a breakthrough. Up to this point, he had only been able to sense the physical frequencies of physical bodies, allowing him to read his opponent''s physical movements before they made them, granting him the chance to evade, deviate, or counter. But that was its limit, and no matter how much he strained his mind and sense, he could not advance further. However, facing the rain of golden fireballs, Cain felt increasingly close to breaking the barrier that stopped his perception from reaching the next level and discerning the frequency energy bodies and their atomic matrix. Achieving that level would grant Cain a genuinely magnificent weapon, not necessarily increasing the power of his body or spells but granting him a significant advantage during battles, especially against spellcasters. Just as Cain managed to evade another of the golden fireballs and prepared to push forward, dodging the following one, his eyes widened as he saw two more fireballs coming from the right and left. Lord Kabuto did not fire these; instead, Kailon and Sulon were the ones who sent them. Seeing how Cain was about to surpass them, the Deus Behemoths exchanged a secret glance before using all their power to push the fireballs coming towards them at the human. Although that action diminished their momentum, Kailon and Sulon smiled since now Cain had fireballs coming from all directions. The duo was not so malicious as to want to kill Cain; they just hoped to force the young man to pull back, diminishing his speed and granting the duo the advantage again. However, to the Deus Behemoths'' shock, Cain did not pull back. Instead, the red light in his eyes burst with incredible power as a powerful Ego Wave at the Late Apotheosis Realm emerged from his brain, pushing his cognitive abilities to the next level! Everybody watched in awe as a monstrous red force field emerged from Cain, and their shock only increased the next second as he used the soles of his feet to kick the fireball in front of him down before extending his hands, touching the surface of the two fireballs with his palms as he rotated his body. Kailon and Sulon could not believe what they saw as Cain seemed to grab a fireball with each of his hands and send them back towards them! ''RED!? Could it be him!?'' Even Cain could not see beyond the calm expression of the old man, and he gazed at him with a plain face. Although the sudden pressure did help him, it did not erase the fact that the old man''s spell had been targeting him, something he did not take too happily. A few minutes later, Kailon and Sulon managed to reach the sky and stood before Lord Kabuto. The duo had tired expressions as they were forced to overexert themselves to recover their advantage since the clash with the fireballs pushed them back hundreds of meters. Although the Deus Behemoths glanced at Cain with rage, he stood straight and did not bother looking at them. It did not take long for more people to reach the sky, and soon, all ten spots before Lord Kabuto were filled. A look of disappointment appeared in the other hundreds of challengers as the gravitational pressure and fireballs vanished. There was no point in testing them since it was already over. All of them silently left the area, leaving only the ten fastest in the sky, waiting to see what the next test would be. Lord Kabuto did not bother with those who lost, and his eyes remained on the ten people standing before him. Nine were Wave Kings between the middle and late stage, and none were above fifty. Yet, they all had an excellent foundation, meaning they were very talented individuals capable of jumping levels in battle power. However, the one that drew the most attention from Lord Kabuto and practically everybody watching the Solis Bloodline Tournament was obviously the Wave Champion Godslayer Human. He displayed great mastery over the Law of Space and was capable of somehow redirecting spells with a single touch. Although Lord Kabuto''s shock about Cain kept growing more and more powerful, the man did an excellent job hiding everything from everybody. "You ten have managed to secure your spots for the next phase. Follow me." Chapter 511 Facing an oceanic horde (I) Lord Kabuto did not say another word as he flashed toward the massive city built around the golden tree, soon landing in front of a massive platform nearly two thousand meters wide. Cain and the other challengers did not hesitate before flashing toward the platform. Still, they did so at a regular rhythm, as trying to prove their speed now would only show their weak mentality since it was already defined the fastest. As they descended, Cain scanned the rest of the challengers, and his eyes narrowed as he detected that one of them resembled Arthemis, the woman who reacted with rage when he monopolized the Spatial Rift Grotto. If that were all, Cain would not think much of it, but the man also seemed to be a master of the Law of Space. Although Cain inspected the man without turning in his direction, the Deus Behemoth constantly glanced at him with flashes of anger. ''If I must guess, the man was surely going to enter the Spatial Rift Grotto before the tournament, but I pushed him out. If he were also that woman''s family, it would explain her rash reaction.'' All these thoughts crossed Cain''s mind, but they were just afterthoughts since he did not care if the man disliked him. Even if he had known beforehand that he would gain the hate of another contestant, he would have still entered the grotto without hesitation. Where there was a winner, there would most likely be a loser, and Cain could not live his life thinking how his good fortune could affect others. It did not take long for the ten contestants to arrive at the platform and saw grades full of people from the Solis Clan who seemed to come to watch the tournament. However, what truly drew their attention were the ten golden formations in the middle of the platform. Cain''s brow raised as he heard that command. He was the only one sent to a specific location, while the rest could choose according to their instincts. His eyes narrowed as he was sure that the place he would go would not be exactly the safest, but he did not say a word and walked silently to the formation. Lord Zanginis'' eyes narrowed as he saw that, and he could not help but frown. His Ego Wave was strong enough to perceive the location that those formations connected to, and he was certain that the place Cain would be sent to was the most dangerous of all. Of course, while the Patriarch of the Zanginis Clan was angry, some smiled as they saw Lord Kabuto''s bias toward Cain. The contestants and their families were the happiest, as Cain was immensely talented, but it seemed that the Patriarch of the Solis Clan was going to do all in his power to avoid giving his bloodline to a human. As soon as all the participants settled into one of the Sunlight Formations, the formations started to emit a bright light. It covered each contestant with sunlight and propelled them away at an incredible speed, almost comparable to the speed of light. Even though that was an exaggeration, each contestant moved at a speed that allowed them to cover hundreds of thousands of kilometers in mere minutes. Lord Kabuto''s eyes focused on the beam of light that carried Cain, and he began to clench his fists with so much strength that they nearly began to bleed. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire ''Red robe, the Law of Blood, and that red force field. If he surpasses this next test, then...'' The old man did not carry on with that train of thought anymore but could not hide the meaningful light that appeared in his eyes. Chapter 512 Facing an oceanic horde (II) Cain''s speed of thought allowed him to react hundreds of times faster than the speed of sound, but he was moving at a fraction of the speed of light right now, so the only thing his mind could process was different flashes until suddenly, his body stopped in a sky bursting with lightning and thunder. The lightning storm that covered the continent was supposed to have vanished, yet it remained very vigorous in this place. Cain soon found the answer to this anomaly as he saw a massive tree, not much smaller than the one in the Solis Clan Sacred Home, but this one was covered in thunder and lightning, constantly discharging its energy into the sky. Although the lightning tree was majestic, Cain did not have time to wonder about it since hundreds of Wave Beasts noticed his presence and lunged toward him with madness and hunger. Cain''s eyes burst with red light, and just as the Wave Beasts were about to reach him, thirty-three daggers emerged from his heart and flashed at hypersonic speed around him. They killed every one of those Wave Beasts that dared to lunge toward him before expanding their killing field into the distance, creating a five-hundred-meter domain where there was nothing but death to any Wave Beast beneath the Middle King Beast Rank. Now that his Ego Wave had reached the Late Apotheosis Realm and he could infuse the Blood Nails with his Blood Energy (Essence Path), each became a weapon capable of instantly killing a weak King Beast. Of course, those weak Wave Beasts were never a real threat since they could not overcome Cain''s body''s defenses. His flesh and blood were as hard as a Peak Golden Level Artifact, something weak creatures could not harm. Yet, as thousands of Wave Beasts began to die, the stronger creatures in the horde soon noticed it, and all turned their gaze toward the Godslayer Human in the sky. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he turned to the shore where the truly powerful beasts were located and detected the presence of several powerful Grand King Beasts. He could choose to move away, improving his kill count with Wave Champion Beasts, but that was not his style. The red light in his eyes burst with even greater power as he stopped containing his Astral Wave, allowing the energy full of vitality and power to flood his flesh and blood, increasing his physical power as he extended his right hand, making Slaughter appear. Cain''s cutting power reached an overwhelming level when the Grand Blood Runes and the Sundering Concept enhanced Quantum Laceration. Of course, finding the precise angle to slash without getting harmed was complex, but The Flow made everything much more straightforward. However, Cain could not lose focus or get too happy as another Grand King Beast took the chance he had just finished its attack to send its maws toward him. The Grand King Beast resembled a massive sea turtle, and the force behind its maws was immense, capable of shattering mountains. However, Cain had already caught the Glutton Turtle''s presence with his Ego Wave and twisted his body using the Law of Space to dodge the maws at the last second. Just after dodging those massive maws, Cain clenched his left arm and fired a punch toward the Glutton Turtle''s neck, using the power of the Grand Blood Rune to destroy the neck of this one before landing a kick and sending the badly wounded beast flying away. Cain had just taken care of the Glutton Turtle when his eyes narrowed as another two Grand King Beasts spat a river of poisonous ink and acid in his direction. Dodging those attacks would have been impossible even with the Law of Space, but his smile did not fade. "THUMP!" The sound of a powerful heartbeat echoed just as the poisonous ink and acid clashed with each other, melting everything between them. The Shellback Sea Dragon and the Poison Octopus saw how their attack landed, and both expected to see a burned body the next second. "ZNNNN!" However, the only thing that happened was the sound of a blade severing the neck of the Shellback Sea Dragon! Chapter 513 Divine Beast Shock and horror appeared in the Poison Octopus as it turned to its dead comrade, but the only thing it saw was a red flash. "ZNNNN!" And the next second, a blade pierced its eye socket, flooding its brain with Grand Blood Runes that shredded its brain to mush. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire Cain pulled Slaughter out of the creature''s eye and stood still. His heartbeat was beating like crazy, and the Blood Wings on his back were vibrating at an overwhelming speed. The combination of Asura Form, Blood Wing, and the Law of Space allowed Cain to dodge the acid and poison and kill both beasts before they could even react. "BOOM!" The crashing sound that made the ground tremble was the halves of the Silver Edge Shark finally reaching the ground. Cain had killed all four Grand King Beasts before the corpse of the first one had even landed. Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he took a moment to sense the blood of all the Grand King Beasts and harmonize with them through the Law of Blood. Since there was so much vitality, he might as well use it to form Bloodthirsty Runes! "ROOOAARRR!" Of course, the horde would not just sit back and wait as Cain trained, and roars echoed as dozens of Late and Peak King Beasts marched toward him, with Grand King Beasts making their way from the distance and some emerged from the very ocean. The Blood Nails kept the weaker Wave Beasts at bay, but for the stronger ones, Cain would be the one to take care of them. Cain detected the beasts marching toward him and took a deep breath as he deactivated Third Gear, leaving only Second Gear active. Although the improvement was not as significant, he could maintain that state for hours without a problem. "ZNNNN!" The Godslayer Human and Wave Beast managed to maintain the clash for a second before Cain was sent hurtling away while puking blood and crashing against a mountain thousands of meters away. "BOOOOOMMMMMMM!" Cain crashed with the mountain with so much power that it pulverized it, yet he emerged from the debris the next second. Blood was all over his body, but the wounds soon healed as bright golden flames emerged from his Alter-Ego. He showed no care for the damage as his eyes focused solely on the creature that clashed with him with such power and momentum that he felt a meteorite had crashed into him. "A Divine Beast!" The bullfrog, which seemed to contain the bloodline of a lightning dragon and managed to send Cain flying away while puking blood, was a beast that had crossed into the Divine Ranks. Although a Divine Wave Beast was weaker than their counterparts with Sacred Organs, they could still harness the power of their souls, and they were usually more than powerful enough to kill Peak Apotheosis Masters! As one would expect from such a creature, it had developed a great sense of wisdom, which was why it was so shocked to see that the Godslayer Human it attacked by surprise could still stand. Not only that, but the clash left a scar on its diamond-incrusted head. The Divine Beast took Cain''s survival as a personal insult, and burning rage appeared in its eyes, but its body trembled for a second as an expression of pain assaulted it. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw that and knew his attack was not responsible. As he focused on the beast with his Ego Wave, he was surprised to see signs of old wounds that had yet to close, along with a strange feeling in the beast''s life force as if it was in disarray. ''It was poisoned!?'' For a poison to remain this long and have such an effect on a Divine Beast, despite their overwhelming vitality and immune system, the most likely perpetrator must have been a Divine Ascension Master. Cain knew that Divine Ascension Masters from the Deus Behemoth Empire were sent to all coastal cities to take care of the first wave of the horde emerging from the ocean, and this Draco Lightning Frog must have been one of the beasts that clashed with them. Chapter 514 Godslayer Human vs. Divine Beast If the Divine Beast were at full power, Cain would not have hesitated even a second before running away since he was not so arrogant as to think he could overcome a creature that could kill Peak Apotheosis Masters. There was no point in risking his life if there was no chance of winning. Besides, he had already killed a copious amount of Wave Beasts. However, things were different if the Divine Beast was wounded and poisoned, leaving its vitality and energy in a state of disarray. Cain''s eyes burst with red light as he pointed Slaughter toward the Draco Lightning Frog, and soon, all the blood left from the corpses of the Grand King Beasts began to flow toward him. The Divine Beast had zero domain over the complicated principles of the Laws, so it only saw how rivers of blood coalesced around the blade before concentrating into a small shining blood rune. Although the other runes were powerful, none could compare with the cutting power and the dangerous feeling the shining blood rune generated in the Divine Beast. However, despite being a creature in the Divine Rank, it was still a slave to its instincts. So when it saw the fighting will in the human''s eyes, killing intent burst from every cell of its gargantuan body. "ROOOOOOOAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!" "AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" The Divine Beast and the Godslayer Human roared as they expressed the fighting will inside their hearts and flashed toward each other, ready to use everything they had to kill the other. One bathed in blue lightning and the other in bright and dark golden flames. "BOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" An explosion that made the sky tremble and generated a tornado of destructive energy emerged as Cain''s blade and the Draco Lightning Frog''s claw clashed, one of them covered in lightning and the other in a trinity of blood energy, space force, and Blood Runes. Cain''s arms did not stop trembling, and he felt the muscle fibers in his arms tearing apart, but he clenched his teeth and resisted the immense force that threatened to push him away, using everything he had in this clash. In the end, Cain was still sent flying away, but so was the gargantuan body of the Draco Lightning Frog. Although the Godslayer Human was hurtled for thousands of meters and the Divine Beast for just a few hundred, that clash was enough to tell Cain one thing. The condition of the Draco Lightning Frog was not much better. While the wounds on its body were not as severe as those on Cain, every time it was wounded, it became a little harder to suppress the dangerous poison that had infected its flesh and blood. Despite their wounds, neither of them showed any sign of giving up, and their killing intent only grew stronger. Cain had just flashed toward the Divine Beast, moving to the side at the last second to dodge the claw before roaring with all his strength, hacking into the beast''s side. "?AHHHHHH!" "ZNNNNN!" The sound of a human roar and flesh being severed at a molecular level echoed as Cain left a massive cut on the left side of the Draco Lightning Frog. But just as he was about to smile, his eyes narrowed. The Flow showed him how the Divine Beast''s tail was about to clash with him the next second. Despite seeing the attack before it happened, he was too weak and in a bad position to dodge it, so he could only turn his body, using his back as a shield and gathering every ounce of his Astral Wave and Essence Wave in it. "BOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" An explosion as loud as that generated by a nuclear blast echoed as the Divine Beast''s lightning tail clashed with Cain''s body, sending him crashing into the ground and generating a massive crater. Cain was just rising from the ground when he heard a blast near him and saw how the Draco Lightning Frog descended from the sky and opened its maws as a gigantic amount of lightning emerged from its body''s core. The Divine Beast had decided to unleash its most potent attack, despite this one not only draining all its energy but also triggering its old wounds, as the fight had reached the point where it began to fear for its life. "?BOOM!" Chapter 515 Killing a Divine Beast "?BOOM!" Cain had just emerged from the crater when a giant sphere of lightning emerged from the Draco Lightning Frog''s maws, flashing toward him at immense speed with even more formidable power. The Draco Lightning Frog had used this attack multiple times before, and it could push back even those humanoids that used the power of their souls. That was why it was so shocked as it saw how the sphere of lightning changed direction just as it was about to land on the human. Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire "THUMP!" Before the beast could get over the shock, a powerful heartbeat echoed across the sky as Cain appeared above the Divine Beast''s head with his body reddened and a fierce expression on his face. The Draco Lightning Frog wanted to move, but poison flowing through its veins paralyzed its body, so it was not able to do anything as the human hacked with all his power at the top of its skull, generating arcs of energy that reached its brain! After that attack, Cain''s body lost all its power, and the young man fell on top of the beast, which continued trembling as its brain was severed in half and its soul sea destroyed. Cain could not move his body, but a radiant smile was on his face as he had managed to do the impossible and kill a Divine Beast! "Rumble!!!" The sound of steps soon appeared in the distance, and he knew that now that the battle was over and the presence of the Divine Beast had vanished, the other Wave Beasts would march toward them. Even though he could not move, Cain did not care about the horde. Using what little strength he had, he sent the corpse into a space ring. The horde marching toward them saw the massive body of the Divine Beast vanish, and their eyes turned to the human. But before they could get closer, the Sunlight Orb triggered its effect on its own, covering Cain''s body with sunlight and raising him into the sky before sending his figure back to the Solis Clan Sacred Home. Cain only uttered those words as he saw the way in which Lord Zanginis was looking at the Patriarch of the Solis Clan. While it was true he was sent to a very dangerous place, the reason for his wounds was his own decision as he chose to clash against a Divine Beast. He took a deep breath and cleaned his body from the blood before taking his place alongside the rest of the contestants. Lord Zanginis''s eyes narrowed as he saw that, and he softly nodded before rising into the sky. But this time, he did not sit along with the people of the Solis Clan and stood alone, clearly showing his annoyance with Lord Kabuto''s bias against Cain. Lord Kabuto saw the annoyance in his old friend''s eyes, but even though that disturbed him, right now, there was something much more important on his mind, something that involved the fate of the entire Hyperion Continent. ''He now returns covered completely in blood. A red body!'' Every time Lord Kabuto turned to Cain, he saw the color red following him, which made the turmoil in his mind and soul grow stronger. The old man''s willpower burst as he seized back control of his emotions and took a deep breath before focusing on the people on the platform and speaking in a solemn voice. "It is time to see just how many Wave Beasts you managed to kill during this stage. The top five will gain the right to pass to the last stage and fight for the chance to gain my bloodline." Shortly after Lord Kabuto uttered those words, the contestant in the far-left place began to glow, and fiery letters appeared above his head. -4640 Wave Beasts -799 Wave Champion Beasts -31 King Beasts -2 Grand King Beasts Chapter 516 Nearly a million People saw with surprise and awe as they read those numbers since the man who achieved such a feat was only a Middle Wave King, not even fifty years old. Yet, he managed to kill over thirty King Beasts, and even more shockingly, he slew two Grand King Beasts. When the other contestants saw those numbers, some frowned while others showed radiant smiles. Of course, the ones that frowned had lower scores, while the smiling ones were above. The sunlight soon covered the body of the next contestant, a Deus Behemoth with shark-like characteristics, showing his numbers: -5420 Wave Beasts -874 Wave Champion Beasts -35 King Beasts While those numbers were impressive, and he surpassed his competitor in all three categories, it was clear that the value of two Grand King Beasts was much more significant, so he could only sigh. Like that, the sunlight passed from one person to the other, and there was not much shock until it reached Kailon, the man with golden wings and eagle-like eyes. -8420 Wave Beasts -1274 Wave Champion Beasts -68 King Beasts -13 Grand King Beasts Kailon''s numbers were not that unique in terms of Wave Beasts, Wave Champion Beasts, or King Beasts, but when they saw the double digits in terms of Grand King Beasts, it was clear to all that the man had focused his power on the great enemies. There was a radiant smile on the man''s face as he saw how people looked at him, but his eyes soon narrowed with fighting will as he saw the sunlight covering Sulon. -7941 Wave Beasts Soon, the sunlight materialized above Cain''s head, and the first numbers that appeared left everybody in a state of silence. -894,213 Wave Beasts People could not believe what they were seeing. Even if Wave Beasts were weak and a Wave King could kill hundreds with a single strike, to have a number that neared the million was simply too much. Actually, Cain was also a little surprised to see that number. He had used Blood Nails to kill the weaker beasts but did not really count them, and once the Divine Beast came into play, he sent the Holy Weapon back to his heart as he could no longer bother with them. ''Mmm, the Sunlight Sphere must have counted the Wave Beasts that perished due to the collateral damage from my fight with the Draco Lightning Frog as my kills.'' It made sense that the number of Wave Beasts dying reached such a shocking level since every time Cain and the Divine Beast clashed, they unleashed explosions that matched those of nuclear weapons. "Hmph, he must have run away from the most powerful beasts and focused only on the minions!" Cain heard that voice coming from the sky and saw that the one shouting was none other than Arthemis. The woman had a bad impression of him, but he simply ignored her, not caring about her thoughts or those of the people who nodded to her. Just after Arthemis shouted those malicious words, her eyes widened as she saw the number of Wave Champion Beasts killed by Cain. -35,195 Wave Champion Beasts The number of Wave Champion Beasts was not as exaggerated as that of Wave Beasts since they could endure the shockwaves of Cain and the Divine Beast''s clashes as long as they were not near the core. But still, seeing the number reach over thirty thousand shocked everybody. This time, no one dared to utter a word, as they did not want to make themselves a fool like Arthemis, and quietly waited for the number that marked the King Beasts. Deep down, most of them expected that Cain had focused on the weaker beasts, as that would at least make sense of such a gigantic number, but they were out of luck. -934 King Beasts The number of King Beasts did not reach one thousand since those were only the ones he killed in the first hour. After all, once Cain''s battle with the Divine Beast began, all those beasts ran away. Nevertheless, it still left everybody with a sense of utter dumbfoundedness. There was no doubt now that Cain had not focused on the Wave Beasts and Wave Champion Beasts, and most likely, he had not even paid attention to them. Chapter 517 The final trial -84 Grand King Beasts Finally, the number of Grand King Beasts came up again, leaving everybody in utter dumbfoundedness. Not even if they combined the kills of all the other contestants could they match Cain''s. Lord Kabuto''s eyes burned with golden light as he saw those numbers and the feeling in his heart. ''Is he? Could it be!?'' The old man did all in his power to keep focused and was about to speak when he saw that the sunlight had not finished, and one more line of flaming words appeared. -1 Divine Beast Silence, absolute and definite, covered the Solis Clan Sacred Home as they saw that number. It was just 1, but it meant more than every other mark combined since it meant that the Godslayer Human had killed a creature in the Divine Realm! "Cheat, he must have cheated!" Fanir could not contain the emotional distress in his heart when he saw that final number and shouted. Yet, he soon saw how everybody looked at him as if he were a clown. The one that marked the number of kills was Lord Kabuto''s Sunlight Sphere. If the human had managed to trick it, it meant that Cain could trick the Ego Wave of a Late Divine Ascension Master. That would be even more amazing than killing a Divine Beast. Cain glanced at the Deus Behemoth and simply shook his head as he saw the weak mentality of this one. His gaze did turn to the Patriarch of the Solis Clan, whose eyes had burst with golden flames as it seemed he was unleashing the full might of his willpower. Lord Kabuto had been acting strange since the moment he appeared, and right now, Cain saw that other than shock, there was something else in the eyes of the old man, something that he could not quite figure out. Kabuto''s eyes narrowed as he gazed at Lord Zanginis but maintained a stern expression and watched over the contestants. "It is fine." Before things could escalate, Lord Zanginis heard Cain''s voice. He saw how the human looked at him with a smile before adopting a meditative position on the ground, only for golden flames full of bursting vitality to spread across his body the next second. Thanks to the few minutes of rest, Cain''s Ego Wave had regained some of its power, and he was able to conjure Radiance of Life, improving his body condition as he waited with his eyes closed. When the Deus Behemoths on the platform saw how Cain''s body began to heal, they all immediately adopted a square formation around him as they began circulating their energy, trying to regain as much power as possible during the next ten minutes. Silence returned as everybody waited to see what would happen. Although the four Deus Behemoths would work together, no one knew how things could come out since they would face a young man capable of killing a Divine Beast. No matter how weak and tired Cain was, underestimating him would surely be a deadly mistake. Lord Kabuto did not utter a single word, and his eyes could not leave Cain''s figure as he counted every second until he finally raised his hand and lowered it down. "Begin!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" The signal had barely appeared when the four Deus Behemoths made their Astral Wave burst with all their power as they flashed toward Cain, ready to use everything they had. Everybody''s eyes were on this battle since they wanted to see just what type of skills the Godslayer Human capable of killing a Divine Beast could unleash. Kailo, Sulon, Fanir, and Lorin were using everything they had as they unleashed their strongest attacks against Cain, not containing themselves in the least. They were not trying to kill the Godslayer Human since they were sure Lord Kabuto or another powerhouse would intervene. Besides, their instincts told them that if they contained themselves in the slightest, they would definitely lose. Just as the four Deus Behemoths were about to reach ten meters away from Cain and unleash their attack, he opened his eyes, and a red force field covered the platform in a fraction of a second. Chapter 518 Prophecy (I) "Thump." "Thump." "Thump." "Thump." The sound of four bodies falling to the ground echoed as the red force field vanished, and the only person conscious on the platform was Cain. Once again, a sense of utter shock assaulted the people watching the young man as they saw how he managed to overcome the mental defenses of the four Deus Behemoths, hypnotizing them and leaving them unconscious. Although it was shocking and left everybody with a sense of complete shock and wonder, there was one truth no one could deny: The Godslayer Human defeated the four Deus Behemoths without moving a single finger. Cain stared at the unconscious Deus Behemoths without any emotion. The four were powerful and talented, but they were too young, and their wills were not strong enough, so they succumbed to his Ego Wave in a second. After that, he stood up and, with emotionless eyes, he focused on the Patriarch of the Solis Clan. "I won." Two words, but the intent behind them was overwhelming as Cain glanced at one of the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines, a True Titan of the Deus Behemoth Empire. The next second, everybody turned to Lord Kabuto, and they could see the sense of shock in his eyes. The old man could not even say a word as he stared at Cain with eyes that seemed to be lost. It took several seconds for him to finally regain focus, and only then did the Patriarch of the Solis Clan speak. "I cannot simply give you my bloodline." Cain''s eyes narrowed, but he was not surprised. The old man had shown bias against him from the start, so he was not surprised this one did not keep his word. As for expecting that age and seniority would make someone honorable, only a fool would believe those things. The people looking from a distance could not help but show complicated expressions. Although they were not happy about the defeat of the Deus Behemoths, the fact that Lord Kabuto showed such deplorable behavior to a member of another race only made their empire look bad. "Enough! Everybody who is not a member of the Solis Clan, leave now!" Lord Zanginis noticed the state of his old friend''s mind and immediately shouted. Although the people from other clans were full of confusion and curiosity, none of them dared to defy the words of the Patriarch of the Zanginis Clan and left. Once they were alone, Lord Zanginis''s eyes glowed with powerful will as he used the pressure of his willpower to force his old friend to focus. Lord Kabuto frowned as he felt the pressure, but soon, the zeal in his eyes faded, and he regained his calm demeanor. He took a deep breath and clasped his hand to Lord Zanginis. "Thanks for that." After thanking his old friend, Lord Kabuto turned toward Cain, who kept looking at him as if he were crazy, and he showed a complicated smile. "Young man, please accompany me. I will answer your doubts in private. Wildebeest, you can accompany us." Lord Kabuto saw the caution in Cain''s eyes and didn''t blame the young man, as his behavior had truly been strange. This was why he proposed for Lord Zanginis to accompany them. Cain was indeed cautious of the old man but turned toward Lord Zanginis, who softly nodded. "He might be a madman, but he is a good man. You should hear him out." Cain glanced at Lord Zanginis and then turned toward Lord Kabuto before nodding. He was also curious about the old man''s strange behavior and wanted answers. After getting Cain''s nod, Lord Kabuto turned to the two Divine Ascension Masters from the Solis Clan. "Keep order for the time being. I will explain later." Chapter 519 Prophecy (II) Although the duo was as confused as everyone else by their Patriarch''s strange behavior, they understood that seers were unusual people and nodded before guiding all the people who came to see the tournament back to their homes. Lord Kabuto, Lord Zanginis, and Cain rose to the sky and headed to a castle embedded inside the golden tree, soon reaching a majestic throne room that belonged to the Patriarch of the Solis Clan. Lord Kabuto did not sit on the throne but waved his hand, making three seats appear before signaling Cain and Lord Zanginis to sit. "Darkness, absolute darkness that spread from the Kronos Continent into the Hyperion Continent, bringing the death of not just men, women, and children from the Deus Behemoth Empire, but also of every sentient life form. Even divine beings that could sunder the heavens could do nothing but succumb to the power of such might. It consumed all life, leaving only silence in its path." Cain and Lord Zanginis could not help but frown as they heard those words and saw the immense terror in the eyes of the Patriarch of the Solis Clan. It was so much that it seemed it had haunted him to the point of crippling his mind. "Normally, my visions present themselves as dreams, and I would be lucky if I can remember even 10% of it, and even then, it is all foggy. But this time is different. I saw the darkness as clearly as I can see you, and it has haunted me every single day for the last year." Lord Kabuto did not bother to hide his fear since even if he wanted, he could not do it as the memory of that darkness was too much. But then he turned toward Cain, and a flash of courage and hope appeared. "The vision remained the same until three months ago. The darkness flooded from the Kronos Continent, but this time, something happened." Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire "Hahaha, you really are a good brat!" Lord Zanginis laughed as he patted Cain''s back and smiled as he saw that the young man did not make things hard for his friend. Lord Kabuto was not as exaggerated as Lord Zanginis, but he also smiled and nodded to Cain in appreciation for not making things more complicated for him. He then took a deep breath, and a solemn expression appeared on his face as he glanced at the duo before him. "I don''t know the origin of that darkness or when it will attack, but I am sure you will play a crucial role in the survival of our empire." Cain and Lord Zanginis could see the solemnity in the old man, and they adopted severe expressions, but even then, they showed complicated expressions. Even if they knew the man was a seer and all the clues pointed to Cain being the source of the red light, it was not something they could reveal. For one, many people in the Deus Behemoth Empire would not take that prophecy well since, even if a great danger loomed, the idea that someone from a different continent and race would save them was insulting, especially if the man was not even 19 years old. Not to mention that the force behind the darkness, whatever or whoever it might be, would use their full power to kill Cain if they were to find out about it. Cain was strong, but if the vision was true, that darkness could erase an entire civilization with hundreds of Titans and several beings with a battle power above the Divine Ascension Realm. Appearing on their radar now that he could barely face a Divine Beast would be the same as asking to die. "I take it that the whole point of the Sun Avatar and becoming your foster son is to improve my connection to your clan and the Deus Behemoth Empire, so when the time comes, I will be by your side facing that darkness." Lord Kabuto smiled with embarrassment as he remembered all those words before nodding. "Haha, sorry, I went over the line a little back then. But do not discard it, as the offer is still on the table, and the gains will be amazing." Chapter 520 Bloodline Heritage (I) Cain couldn''t help but show a complicated expression as he saw the way in which Lord Kabuto looked at him. The man''s offer was indeed amazing, and the titles of Sun Avatar and Foster Son of the Patriarch of the Solis Clan were statuses that anyone in the Deus Behemoth Empire would give their right arm to attain, but it was not so simple. For one, after embracing Order, Cain could not easily develop an emotional attachment to a person, especially if he knew a goal was behind that relationship. Of course, the fact that Lord Kabuto sought to bind him by goodwill and his goal was to protect his race, which was an ally of Godslayer Humankind, factored in Cain''s decision, but still, he was not so keen on accepting it. "Mmm, a bloodline with your power would indeed be beneficial to me, and I will honor the titles I earn, but the thing about a concubine is not something I can accept." Titles and even a bloodline could bind Cain to a certain point, but attaining a concubine was not something he was very eager to do. After all, the goal of such a relationship would be a child. That was the type of soft spot that Cain would not accept, or at least not before reaching the peak of Aether. Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire "What, why are you so prude? At your age, I already had three wives!" Lord Kabuto immediately reacted, but this time, there was no chaos or confusion in his mind. He spoke as an older man trying to guide the younger generation. And the Patriarch of the Solis Clan was not alone. "The madman is right, brat. You are young and virile, yet you have no one by your side nor descendants on the way. People might start thinking that your thing doesn''t work correctly." "Fine, fine, it is your choice. However, you say you were fine with my bloodline and titles, and Wildebeest is our witness. We will have a ceremony to make it official, but I should pass my bloodline to you now." Lord Kabuto immediately carried on, ensuring Cain would attain his bloodline as if he feared the young man would back down. Cain, on the other hand, could only shrug his shoulders. Since it would provide him with great help, there was no reason to refuse. As for the idea of saving the continent in the future, he would have done that even if Lord Kabuto had not assisted him since he had friends in this place, not to mention he was a member of the Godslayer Imperial Army, which would obviously help an ally in case of need. "Great. Then there is nothing stopping us from carrying on with the Bloodline Heritage." At this point, Lord Kabuto paused and stared at Cain with a complicated expression. "The transfer of my bloodline will put immense stress on your body, especially your heart, making the process incredibly painful and dangerous since your Rebirth Heart is crippled." Cain knew that Lord Kabuto was not making an excuse, and the process would indeed generate immense pressure on his circulatory system. Nevertheless, his Rebirth Heart had already healed long ago, so there would not be a problem. "There is no need to worry. My Empyrean Sun Visualization Technique has a formidable healing ability, so I should be fine." "Brat, you should not underestimate the pressure of a Bloodline Heritage. Besides, even if you follow the Essence Evolution Path, your body is not something you can neglect, as it could have a detrimental effect in the future. Remember that the Laws will be engraved in your flesh in the future." Lord Zanginis spoke solemnly, and there was a flash of concern in his eyes as he understood the danger the Bloodline Heritage would pose to Cain. Chapter 521 Bloodline Heritage (II) "Mmm, we should fix your Rebirth Heart before carrying on with the process." Lord Kabuto showed solemn expression as he uttered those words, and before Cain could say anything, Lord Zanginis chimed in. "Madman is right. I actually have a treasure that could help you. It''s extremely expensive, but since you will be the hero of our civilization, then there''s nothing wrong with you having it." After saying those words, Lord Zanginis waved his hand, and a small apple appeared. It was similar to the one Desmond had given him back in the Gaia continent, but this one was smaller and had all sorts of mysterious runes engraved on its surface. Just watching those runes made Cain feel his mastery over the Law of Blood would increase. It was a treasure at a much higher level than the Blood Gem Heart, and even if Cain''s Rebirth Heart had not attained an 18 Revolution Refinement, there was a high chance it would be enough to heal him. "This is an Origin Blood Apple. The Sanguis Blood Tree produces one every one thousand years and will not only heal your heart but also engrave the runes of the Law of Blood in your bones. I will help you assimilate it into your body." There was a solemn yet decisive expression on Lord Zanginis''s face as he glanced at Cain and the apple. Not a single shred of hesitation could be seen in his eyes as he was ready to give the majestic treasure. Although the Origin Blood Apple was indeed appealing to Cain, he could not accept it, not just because of the burden of such a favor but the fact there was nothing to heal. Yet, before he could even find a way to turn down the apple, Lord Kabuto spoke. "The Origin Blood Apple might not be enough. Here, boy, this will do you wonders." "The Blood King crippled my heart, but I was able to heal it using a treasure I stole from a Divine Ascension Atrox." Cain revealed the truth behind his recovery but still hid certain aspects, such as the subject of Tribulation Refinement. For one, there were no gains in revealing it since the stronger you are, the weaker the effect of low-revolution flames would have, and for the duo that was already at the Late Divine Ascension, there would be no real enhancement in talent or battle power. Besides, Cain had to be careful with this ability since he was sure it would soon spread across the Atrox Immortus Empire as Astrid began using it to enhance her race. Lord Zanginis pulled the blood apple back as he stared at Cain with a complicated expression on his face before finally speaking with a stern voice. "Boy, I understand that you were forced to take the Essence Evolution Path during your stay in the Atrox Continent, and I''m glad you managed to fix your Rebirth Heart, but I can feel the vibrant force in your energy pools, and it seems that you are taking the path of dual cultivation. I understand that you are a genius, and indeed, your talent is something I have never seen before, but even so, dual cultivation is a waste of time and resources. Even if it helps you now, after one of your paths reaches the Divine Ascension Realm, the other that will be stuck in the Peak Apotheosis Realm would bring no benefits at all." Cain could see the solemnity with which Lord Zanginis spoke, and the man''s words were true since if he could not evolve both paths into the Divine Realms, then it would be a waste of time. "Boy, you should heed Wildebeest. It''s not a matter of resources since I am willing to give you full access to the Solis Clan''s treasury, but you need to think of the future. Time waits for none." Lord Kabuto also expressed his concern as he could not help but fear that Cain might follow a broken path, which would drain his time and talent and end up in failure, stopping him from achieving his destiny and facing the darkness. Chapter 522 Bloodline Heritage (III) Cain smiled at the duo before waving his hand, making a starry gem appear. "If I could not break through in both paths, I wouldn''t waste my time on a wild goose chase, but there is a way. The most mysterious person I''ve encountered in my entire life gave me this starry gem, which will open once after reaching the Apotheosis Realm on both paths. I know there is danger, and I might be the target of a bad joke, but my instincts tell me I am making the right choice. No matter what, I will evolve until breaking beyond the Wave King Rank in both paths and find out the truth." A sharp light appeared in the eyes of Lord Zanginis and Lord Kabuto as they heard Cain''s words and saw the conviction in his eyes. "Could you tell us more about that person who gave you the starry gem?" Lord Kabuto spoke with a solemn expression as he was intrigued by the type of man that could incite a pragmatic divine genius like Cain into such a path. Cain smiled and did not hesitate before revealing everything he knew about the old man, including the circumstances in which he met with that person. One of the reasons he was telling the duo all this was to see if they could help him unveil the mysteries behind that person. Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis were shocked to hear that Cain met that person shortly after arriving in Kronos and that he encountered this one right after landing in Hyperion. Clearly, such a man was not normal, but the duo could not help but shake their heads as they had no recollection of someone like that. "Mmm, brat, could you allow us to inspect the starry gem? I will be cautious and will not force it." Lord Zanginis glanced at the starry gem with a meaningful expression as he made that request. That was shocking for many reasons, the greatest of all being that it was the limit of Aether, and anyone above that level should have already been forced to leave the world and march into the Astral Sea. Silence reigned momentarily as the trio looked at each other and wondered what type of person that old man was, whose willpower could easily trample that of a True Titan and who seemed capable of tracking every move Cain made, even across continents. "Given all that we''ve learned, the most logical choice would be for you to continue your current path. We don''t know that man''s intentions or goals, but one thing we do know is that he is immensely powerful. Since that is the case, he could have easily killed you to take your memories, yet he seems to be interested in your growth. Even if we discover that dual cultivation is a dead end, you will not lose much as you are already nearing the Wave King Rank." Lord Kabuto''s words were met with a nod from Lord Zanginis. That seemed the most logical path given the circumstances. Cain had already decided on his path and would follow it regardless of the duo''s thoughts, but he was pleased to see they agreed. It seemed that they would be willing to open their coffers for him, making his journey ahead much more straightforward. After all, the amount of resources he was using right now for his Wave Champion cultivation base could match those of a Wave King or even Apotheosis Masters. Once he became a Wave King, he would need resources that even Divine Ascension masters would find daunting, and it was best if he got the help of two True Titans. "Since everything is in order, we should start the Bloodline Heritage. Boy, are you ready?" Cain adopted a solemn expression as he nodded to Lord Kabuto and assumed a meditative position on the ground, focusing the full power of his cultivation into maintaining his body in a state of life force excitation. He then removed the upper part of his robe, revealing a well-defined body full of muscles, yet still lean. Chapter 523 Bloodline Heritage (IV) "Wildebeest, it will be faster if you help us." Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire Lord Zanginis'' eyes sharpened as he stood before Cain and placed his hand on the young Godslayer Human''s head, channeling his body''s vitality into Cain''s. Once Lord Kabuto saw that everything was in order, he positioned himself behind Cain and placed his hand on the back of the young Godslayer Human. The next second, his eyes burst with golden flames as he unleashed the full power of his willpower, unleashing waves of destructive radiation power into Cain''s spine. Cain''s eyes widened, and immediately, a red light burst from them as he experienced a pain unlike anything he had ever felt before. It was so intense that he wanted to scream, but he clenched his teeth and endured the agonizing destruction of his bone marrow. Bloodline Heritage involved more than just implanting someone''s blood in his body; it required the complete destruction of an individual''s bone marrow before creating a new one that would generate a new Lineage. After ten minutes of overwhelming pain, every single cell of Cain''s bone marrow ceased to exist, leaving him covered in cold sweat, extremely hurt and weakened. Even with all his energy pools and Radiance of Life healing him, he would have had difficulty remaining conscious if not for Lord Zanginis constantly sending life force and vitality into his body. At this point, Lord Kabuto needed to select the type of blood he would use to create Cain''s new bone marrow. He could use the most common blood coursing through his arteries and veins, granting Cain a very weak and diluted Solis Lineage. Of course, Lord Kabuto would not use such a subpar method with Cain, and both the Godslayer Human and Lord Zanginis thought the old man would use the blood from his own marrow to replenish it or maybe go a step further and use the blood inside his Rebirth Heart. If Lord Kabuto used the blood from his Rebirth Heart, it would give Cain a very powerful and pure bloodline, not any less potent than normal geniuses of the Solis Clan. However, there was a limit to the number of times such a procedure could be performed since there was a limited amount inside the Sacred Organ. "THUMP!" "?BOOM!" Finally, after an hour, the evolution of his bloodline finished, and a burst of scorching energy emerged from Cain''s body. The most potent emanations came from the golden Blood Runes covering his arms, chest, and legs. He did not gain the physical characteristics of the Solis Clan, but everybody could feel the immensely potent bloodline force coming from those runes. Cain only needed to clench his fists to feel just how much his body had improved, and the power was nothing short of amazing. "Tap." "Madman!" However, before Cain could even focus on his power, he heard a body falling to the ground and saw how Lord Zanginis appeared next to Lord Kabuto. The Patriarch of the Solis Clan looked like he had aged a hundred years in this single hour, and his body had lost a significant amount of its vitality. The old man was having difficulty breathing, but there was a smile on his face as he stared at Cain and saw his changes. "Good... It seems that everything worked fine." Cain''s frown deepened as he observed Lord Kabuto''s condition. The old man was not in immediate danger of dying, but his state was truly deplorable, and his life force was in complete disarray, even as Lord Zanginis tried to stabilize his condition. Severing even a small part of one''s soul was not a trivial matter. The repercussions were significant, affecting the entire being. Lord Kabuto had understood the gravity of this act, yet he proceeded regardless. Witnessing Lord Kabuto lying on the ground, yet smiling despite his weakened state, Cain''s eyes sparked with resolve. He extended his hand, and a massive cauldron materialized in the room. Chapter 524 Revealing secrets and keeping others Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis saw the Refinement Cauldron appear but did not understand what Cain was trying to do. "Please, put Lord Kabuto... No. Please put Forester Father in the cauldron," Cain said with a meaningful tone, prompting a smile from the weakened Patriarch of the Solis Clan. Lord Zanginis did not understand Cain''s goal, but the best he could do was to diminish the damage, and it did not seem he would stabilize Lord Kabuto''s condition. Since that was the case, he could just hope the young man had a way to fix things, so he put Lord Kabuto inside the cauldron. Cain then took an 18 Revolution Flame from his spatial ring, and a complicated smile appeared on his face as he realized he was continually revealing his secrets to the duo. ''An 18 Revolution Refinement will not have a meaningful impact on the cultivation of someone like him, but it might be enough to reinforce his Sacred Organs.'' Bursting red light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he put the sphere of fire inside the cauldron, closed the lid, and communicated with the Patriarch of the Solis Clan. "Use all your power to revolve the energy that will flood your body to assimilate it." Lord Kabuto did not understand what was happening but nodded with the little strength he had left while his golden light appeared in his eyes. Cain saw that the old man was ready and released the 18 Revolution Flame. The next second, the flame coalesced around the body of the Patriarch of the Solis Clan, and soon, waves of world energy began to flood every cell of his body. Lord Zanginis'' eyes widened as he saw those waves of world energy flooding into the cauldron. He did not understand the type of refinement Cain was performing, but it did not matter since he perceived Lord Kabuto''s Soul Bloodline had begun to stabilize. Lord Kabuto didn''t provide a quick answer as he took a moment to analyze the state of his soul, body, and vitality. "My Soul Bloodline is still wounded, and trying to evolve my cultivation base in this condition will be nearly impossible. But I should not have problems with my life force or cultivation base loss, and in a fight, I could deploy around 80% of my power without drawbacks." Despite the severe drawbacks, Lord Kabuto''s smile did not fade, as he expected to find himself in a way worse state after losing a piece of his Soul Bloodline. Lord Zanginis was surprised to hear that. The fact that Lord Kabuto''s cultivation would not weaken and his life force was stable was already excellent news, and that he could deploy 80% of his battle power without drawbacks was even more impressive. Lord Kabuto was just as surprised as Lord Zanginis, and then the duo turned toward Cain with awe, wonder, and curiosity. The young man had managed to deploy a power that could heal the wounds of the wounded Sacred Organ of a Divine Ascension Master. Cain could see the curiosity in the duo but knew they would not ask out of respect for his privacy. Still, the cat was already out of the bag, so the best path was just to reveal the truth, or at least part of it. "It''s called Tribulation Enhancement. It is an ancient art that I learned during my time in the Kronos Continent." When the duo heard that, a somber expression appeared on their faces, a power such as Tribulation Enhancement in the hands of the Atrox Immortus Race would be very dangerous for the Dues Behemoth Race. "Only I have mastered this art according to my knowledge. No one else." Cain could see the worry in the duo''s eyes and immediately clarified that only he knew it. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire Although that was a lie, Cain was sure that if the Patriarchs were to find out about Astrid, they would channel the entire power of the empire to stop her growth, and he would not allow anyone to harm the young woman. Chapter 525 Becoming a Wave King (I) Lord Zagninis and Lord Kabuto had already developed a nearly blind trust in Cain, so they immediately accepted his words. "I wonder, could you teach us?" Lord Kabuto asked in a very formal tone, his expression making it clear that he would be fine if the young man refused. As for offering to buy the knowledge, he had already made it clear that Cain would have access to the entire Solis Clan''s treasury without restrictions. Luckily for the duo, Cain saw no reason to refuse. He extended his hand, beginning to ignite the Life Wave and explaining every step of the process as a 1 Revolution Flame appeared in his hand. Lord Kabuto and Lord Zagninis paid immense attention to each word Cain uttered. They took a moment to comprehend the knowledge and principles behind Tribulation Enhancement before trying to master the technique. Cain observed the duo doing their best and didn''t simply lay down without doing anything, seeing it as a chance to finally gauge how strong he had become. "System, scan me." Cain sought an objective analysis, and the Absolute Life Form System soon provided it. [Scanning Vessel... ... Scan of Vessel completed. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Late Wave Champion) / Essence Evolution (Late Wave Champion) Lineage: Solis Lineage (Maximum Purity) Wave Talent: High Tier 9 (High Tier 9) ---- Stats: Strength: 65.2 --> 79.4 "Starlight Stage?" Cain was confused by the term since he had never heard of it before, and there was no indication of it in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power Cultivation Techniques he had. Lord Kabuto, unconcerned about the loss of the flame, stared at Cain. "The state of your blood. I''ve read about it in some ancient texts. When your blood''s energy concentration and tempering reach the extreme, shining particles appear due to the crystallization of Astral Wave in it. I''ve never seen it before, but your blood matches perfectly the description." Cain smiled as he heard that, realizing his blood had reached the zenith of Blood Rebirth. "Your Essence Wave and Astral Wave have reached their saturation point. You should prepare yourself to evolve into the Wave King Rank before the opening of the Astral Bloodline Realm." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard the words from Lord Kabuto and took a moment to evaluate the state of his cultivation base. His Blood Rebirth had reached a stage that seemed to mark the absolute limit of the realm, and his Law Mastery was already at an incredibly high level, nearing Deep Law Fragmentation in the Law of Blood and Extreme Basic Understanding of the Law of Space. Although Cain could wait to enter the Astral Blood Sacred Realm, breaking through in a place full of danger was not exactly the wisest choice. It was more likely that one would end up dead rather than gaining a massive upgrade performing a breakthrough in such places. "Let''s do it." "Great. You are using the Crimson Void Cultivation Technique for your Essence Path, which is one of the best techniques of the Inner Universe Systems, so you should stick with it, especially since you are adept with the Law of Blood. But since you have the Solis Lineage, you should use a corresponding technique." Lord Kabuto waved his hand, and the next second, a starry gem appeared before the Godslayer Human. Cain caught the starry gem, and as he focused on it, words appeared in his mind. "Solar Blaze Path." "That is the core Astral Rebirth Cultivation Technique of the Solis Clan. Since you have its Lineage running through your heart, there is no better cultivation technique for you." Cain nodded as he heard the words from Lord Zanginis, but there was a meaningful light in his eyes. He felt a level of affinity with this technique that went beyond his bloodline, which made sense considering he saw himself as a majestic supernatural sun capable of sundering all darkness. "Since everything is in order now, I will retire as I have several matters to attend to. Brat, take this." Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire Lord Zanginis waved his hand and sent the Origin Blood Apple to Cain, surprising this one that the old man would still give it to him. "The Astral Bloodline Realm is dangerous, so you should keep it. If you want to repay me, keep an eye on the brat from my clan." After saying those words with a smile, Lord Zanginis nodded to Lord Kabuto and left the room. Chapter 526 Becoming a Wave King (II) Cain''s eyes narrowed as he glanced at the apple, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes as he sent it into his space ring. It would serve as a great source of vitality in case he was wounded, and in the meantime, he could use it to study the Law of Blood. "There isn''t time to waste, so you should start. You need to reach at least the third level of the technique in order to use its power to break through to the Wave King Rank and obtain the upgrade in Astral Blood," Lord Kabuto''s solemn voice conveyed the importance he placed on Cain''s cultivation. He then made the entire room glow as extremely pure Life Wave and scorching sunlight energy flooded the ceiling. Cain''s face grew stern as he nodded to the old man. Lord Kabuto had gone through a great ordeal to grant him this bloodline, and it would be irresponsible not to utilize it properly. He took a deep breath and adopted a meditative position on the ground, sending his Ego Wave into the starry gem, letting all the knowledge and insight of the person who created the technique flood his mind and soul. Lord Kabuto focused on Cain, flooding the room with energy and using his power to purify it further, surpassing the energy level produced by a high-quality wave crystal and just a little weaker than supreme wave crystals. ''The purity of his bloodline could not be higher, and his foundation is flawless. Yet, the Solar Blaze Path is extremely complicated as it focuses on the connection with astral energy. We should make it in time before the opening of the realm.'' Those thoughts just crossed Lord Kabuto''s mind when his eyes widened as he felt a sense of heat emerging from Cain''s body. ''Awakening his body''s innate connection with heat and yang! That''s the first level of the Solar Blaze Path, the Ignition Stage," The old man realized in pure shock as he saw that Cain had already reached the first level before even finishing the illusion enlightenment in the starry gem. Lord Kabuto ensured the energy in the room remained at an optimal level, smiling as he watched Cain''s body grow increasingly powerful. The burst of Astral Wave emerging from Cain''s body began to change, gaining a golden color along with the properties of heat and yang. Now that Cain had formed the Blazing Core, it would act as the core of his Astral Wave, allowing him the ability to manipulate internal heat for explosive bursts of speed and power and infuse sunlight force into his energy pool. Cain''s golden eyes began to glow as his Astral Wave burst with more and more power, this time emitting a scorching golden light! Every second that passed, Cain''s body improved, and the young man ensured he used the breakthrough to push the evolution of his blood cells forward as much as he could. Each time one changed, he could feel his body growing stronger. The improvement of a single cell was infinitesimal, but with trillions of blood cells coursing through his veins, the cumulative improvement was astronomical! Finally, after six hours, Cain''s burst of energy began to calm down, and his cultivation base stabilized. There was an exhausted expression on his face, as he had used every second of the evolution to improve his constitution, but this did not diminish the smile on his face. He clenched his fists, feeling the immense power coursing through his veins and every single muscle fiber. Cain allowed himself a few minutes to feel his body''s overwhelming power but did not lose focus. He began to take deep breaths as he regulated his breathing and energy for nearly ten hours. Lord Kabuto was surprised to see the improvement in Cain, and just as he wondered what the Godslayer Human intended to do next, he saw how the density of space around him began to increase to the point that it generated a shift in the gravitational force. Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire The old man observed how the core of that gravitational force was concentrated in Cain''s Evolution Core. The Blood Energy reinforced it, ensuring no wound appeared in the Sacred Organ. Chapter 527 Becoming a Wave King (III) A sharp light appeared in the eyes of Lord Kabuto as he observed the extreme density of Cain''s energy pool, which was already partially crystalized, signaling the impressive foundation of the young man. Immediately, the old man once again flooded the room with highly pure Life Wave, removing the sunlight energy, as Cain would only need pure Life Wave to perform his breakthrough in the Essence Evolution Path. Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire After three days, Cain opened his eyes again, and an unwavering light appeared in them as he intensified the density of space to an even more powerful degree, setting ablaze every single iota of Blood Energy (Essence) inside his body. More and more pressure was applied to the Essence Wave inside Cain''s Evolution Core as he kept increasing the quantity of his energy pool. The Essence Wave wanted to expand but could not, and its mass kept growing. Lord Kabuto watched in awe as the entire room was soaked in a red fog, and space began to distort. Cain''s evolution to the Wave King Rank triggered a reaction from the primary Laws of the Crimson Void Cultivation Technique. By the phenomenon''s intensity, it was clear that the foundation of the young man in the Essence Evolution Path was no weaker than the Astral Rebirth Path. "?BOOM!" After ten hours, a boom echoed from inside Cain''s body, more precisely from inside his Evolution Core, as the cyclone of Essence Wave collapsed, leaving only a sky-blue core the size of a chicken''s egg. ''His Essence Star is so big!'' Lord Kabuto thought to himself, amazed as he perceived the size of the Essence Star inside Cain''s Evolution Core. Essence Star was the name of the unique structure that an Essence Cultivator would generate inside their Evolution Core after evolving to the Wave King Rank. The process was similar to the transformation that a star would experience upon its collapse and rebirth as a dwarf star or neutron star. The mass remained the same, but the volume would decrease, generating a massive burst in gravitational force. The Essence Wave inside the Evolution Core would experience a similar process as it became an Essence Star. Usually, when a person broke through to the Wave King Rank, their essence star would be the size of an apple seed, and only divine geniuses would obtain an Essence Star the size of a small chestnut, yet Cain''s was nearly three times larger. "?BOOM!" Soon, a second explosion echoed inside Cain''s body. The Essence Star generated a vortex that devoured the energy in the surroundings like a ravenous beast. Soon, Cain''s Evolution Core was flooded with Essence Wave again, and so were his meridians, while the Essence Star slowly began to grow. Cain finally took a moment to relax as he felt the energy of his Essence Wave and smiled as his Essence Star devoured the surrounding energy continuously without him having to do anything. From now on, his cultivation speed and energy regeneration will be exponentially faster. ''System, scan me.'' --- Astral Blood Saturation: 40% Completion Main Law Mastery: Law of Blood (Deep Law Fragmentation) Secondary Law Mastery: Law of Space (Extreme Basic Understanding) --- Note: Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 28.1%.] Cain was delighted with his current stats. His Wave Talent had evolved again, which would greatly aid his cultivation, but it remained at Tier 9 despite improvements brought by the Wave Virus. It made sense, as there were no records of a Tier 10 Wave Talent, and Cain might be the first in Aether to achieve it. Even without reinforcement, his physical body was as strong as someone at the limit of the Wave King Rank, and his Astral Blood Saturation had already reached 40%. Just a bit more, and he would be able to use the Astral Blood Ability, igniting his blood cells to enhance his physical offensive and defensive capabilities exponentially. Regarding his Essence Evolution Path, he smiled upon seeing his Law of Blood evolve to Deep Law Fragmentation. While his Law of Space remained at Basic Understanding, he sensed he was close to the next stage. This step could take weeks or months, but he was prepared. "How do you feel?" Lord Kabuto inquired with curiosity, unable to gauge the extent of Cain''s growth. "I am great. Everything went smoothly, but I will remain in meditation for the next week to stabilize my cultivation base and perform the next level of my body refinement technique." "Oh, about that. We have several Astral Path body refinement techniques you could use. Don''t you want to change it?" Lord Kabuto offered. Cain appreciated Lord Kabuto''s words but softly shook his head. "I have the Biometal Herculean Technique of the Blood Sea. It''s easy for me to train, and the next level will give me a body as strong as a Platinum Artifact." "Oh, the Blood Sea. I have heard of them. Since the technique will give such massive improvement to your body, then indeed, it will be better if you stick with it. Since I have nothing else to do, I will leave you. You are now my Foster Son and the Sun Avatar of the Solis Clan, so I will commence the ceremony. Don''t worry, keep training, and I will call you when everything is ready." Cain showed a small smile as he clasped his hand and performed a bow to Lord Kabuto. "I will be ready when you call me, Foster Father." "Great, great!" Lord Kabuto smiled, pleased with Cain''s attitude, and left the young man alone as he exited the room. Cain knew that turmoil might spread across the Solis Clan but wasn''t worried. He waved his hand, summoning a massive cauldron and filling it with Platinum Level Metals before starting a flame to melt them. As he waited, he calmly circulated his Astral Wave and Essence Wave through his meridians, adjusting them to their new power and potency. Chapter 528: The Soul King As Cain''s soul was full of joy at his newfound power, allowing his life force to evolve even higher and gaining over one thousand years of longevity, a person within the Sacred Home of another of the Ten Great Bloodlines was practically spouting blood and cursing his name. "Damn human insect!" An old man with a decrepit appearance shouted as rage and anger overwhelmed his heart. His eyes were sunken, and a powerful death aura soaked his body, making it clear just how weak his life force was. Despite his weakened state, the old man still possessed tremendous power and energy in his body since he was a Peak Apotheosis Master, and the Kraken Bloodline ran through his veins. This man''s name was Norkuo, Natuo''s father and High Elder of the Kraken Clan. The old man could not suppress the rage as he remembered receiving the news that his bastard son, who was supposed to return home, had been slain by a human. When he found out, Norkuo''s first impulse was to find the human and break every bone in his body before crushing his brain, but he immediately discarded that idea. If that person could kill Natuo, who was stronger than him, what could an old man with a foot in the grave do? Of course, not being able to fight Cain directly didn''t mean Norkuo would give up, and using the influence he amassed over thousands of years, he obtained the help of a Divine Ascension Master. Norkuo expected that Marcellus'' power would be enough to seal Cain''s fate. Yet, not only did the human survive, but the old Deus Behemoth heard there would be a ceremony in the Godslayer Human''s honor as this one would become the Foster Son of the Patriarch of the Solis Clan and gain the title of Sun Avatar. "Lord Norkuo, you should not get so angry. At your age, distress and anger will only put you one step closer to the grave." Norkuo''s eyes narrowed as he heard those words that seemed to carry concern yet hid malicious mockery. The fact that someone managed to intrude into his cultivation room located at the core of the Kraken Clan Sacred Home was shocking, but the old man knew that very few things could stop this person. The one who appeared in the room was a man with white hair, crystal blue eyes, pointy ears, horns on his head, draconic blue scales on his limbs, and a long blue tail. "Soul King." The Soul King only sneered at Norkuo''s words and did not offer any explanation to the man before a meaningful light appeared in his eyes. "You have lost your son with a cultivation at the Apotheosis Realm, and you have no vessel capable of enduring the pressure of your soul, so a soul transfer is no longer possible. Secure a spot for yourself for the next Astral Bloodline Realm, and I will help you obtain another 1000 years of lifespan. Fail, and you will no longer be useful to us." Not bothering to utter another word, the Soul King turned around and vanished from the room, leaving Norkuo alone. Shock appeared in the old man''s eyes as he heard that nearly impossible request. However, a new wave of rage helped him regain focus. "Dammit!!!!" Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire Norkuo shouted, releasing all the pent-up frustration in his heart before focusing on his computer ring and beginning to communicate with everyone in the Kraken Clan who owed him a favor. The Soul King appeared hundreds of kilometers away from the Kraken Clan Sacred Home and soon descended into a giant swamp. His presence grew more and more weak until suddenly, his figure began to change, becoming nothing more than a small pebble that sank to the bottom of the dirty waters. --- Billions of kilometers away from that dirty swamp, at a distance so far that even moving at the speed of light would take nearly half an hour, there was a figure inside a dark tower. He was a man with white hair, crystal blue eyes, pointy ears, horns on his head, draconic blue scales on his limbs, and a long blue tail. Of course, this person was none other than the Soul King. However, unlike the one that became a small rock and was now inside a dirty swamp, his aura was hundreds of times more potent, and his eyes glowed with a powerful soul force that could break the minds of weaker life forms. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Chapter 529: War of Hell (I) "BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" The Soul King had just opened his eyes when he heard a massive blast. It was so full of power and destructive that one might think it could only be produced by the crash of a giant meteorite falling into a planet. His eyes grew cold as he teleported, soon appearing atop the tower. Essence Wave coalesced around his eyes as he looked into the sky and located the reason behind the explosion. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Space shattered as two men clashed hundreds of thousands of kilometers above the ground level. One resembled a young man with short red hair and starry eyes. Despite his medium build, every attack he fired seemed to bring a celestial body, as if his fists were plucking the stars from Aether''s heaven. The other was more mature, with a larger body covered in black lightning that seemed to destroy the sky. Thick arcs of black lightning, full of destruction and gravitational power, coursing around his body. "VOID KING!" "COLLAPSING LIGHTNING DUKE!" The duo shouted, full of killing intent, as a star punch and a fist covered in black lightning collided, generating another explosion that could surpass the destructive might of H-BOMBS! If this fight were to occur in the Old World, it would sunder continents and set the atmosphere on fire! Find your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire Although the Blood King showed great power, the light in his eyes could not burst into flames. Whatever flaw existed on his Ego Wave affected his battle power, and several deep cuts on his body had already reached the bone. When the Soul King saw the deplorable state of the Blood King, an expression full of rage appeared on his face. "Useless!" Coldness appeared in the Soul King as he saw how the Blood King could barely endure the onslaught of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. He flashed into the sky as his eyes focused on the swordsman, and an invisible wave of soul force emerged from them. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s eyes narrowed as he felt his instincts warning him of danger, and he pushed the Blood King away. His eyes burst with willpower, and he sundered the space before him. Although it seemed as if he had not attacked anything, the truth was he had just shattered the soul invasion spell that was about to reach him. The Soul King was not surprised to see the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar sundering his invisible spell, and he reached the sky with wings of dark blue fire emerging from his back. "Hmph, go down to a lower battlefield!" The Blood King had just regained control over his body when he saw the Soul King appearing and heard those words. Although he hated the condescending look in this one''s eyes, he could only comply and flash down, joining the battlefield that involved normal Titans and Divine Ascension Masters. Although the battlefield with Divine Ascension Masters was not as amazing as the one involving the Void King and Collapsing Lightning Duke, one could still see several powerful figures such as the Blood Duke, Bloodless #1, the Second Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and even those who had not reached that cultivation base but whose battle power allowed them to fight in it, such as Zarak Valentine. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar saw the Blood King flashing down. Although he knew that the Blood King would give the upper hand to the enemy on the Divine Ascension battlefield, the Soul King was not an enemy he could face without complete focus. The Soul King and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar looked at each other before both made their Essence Wave and Astral Wave burst, one unleashing all sorts of fire soul spells and the other hacking them with his sword to diminish the distance. Chapter 530: War of Hell (II) While the battles in the sky at the limit of Aether''s atmosphere were beyond amazing, the ones taking place on the ground were hundreds of times more bloody. Millions of Wave Warriors and Wace Champions clashed with all their power, killing each other while keeping an eye above to avoid becoming collateral damage from the fight of the Wave Kings. The war that began with the Great Cataclysm had not ceased for a single day, and the number of casualties on both sides was incalculable. The destruction had already leveled several sectors, and its flames covered the entire upper side of Gaia, displacing hundreds of millions of people to the Collapsing Lightning Sector, the only place where they could be safe from the grueling war. Typically, a war of this level would only last for a short time since the Godslayer Human Empire was not any weaker than the Inferno Daemon Empire, and they had the home advantage. Unfortunately, while the cataclysm affected Gaia and Atlas, the Godslayer Human Empire''s situation was way worse. Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire The capital constantly battled endless hordes of mutated beasts while the southern Sectors were in turmoil with hundreds of rogue organizations sowing chaos. The Imperial Lightning Fort was strong, but there was a limit to the size of its force. Unfortunately, no matter how much reinforcement the Collapsing Lightning Duke requested, none came. Ultimately, the Collapsing Lightning Duke was forced to take leadership over this area of the empire and face the threat with his own hands and the help of people outside the Imperial Army. The battle in the sky lasted for nearly five hours before the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the Void King put distance between them. Both were severely injured with broken bones and cuts that tore through muscles, yet their vitality did not weaken, making evident just how strong their bodies were. After exchanging glances, the Collapsing Lightning Duke sent a signal, just as the Void King did, and both forces began to separate, from the True Titans in the highest sky to the Wave Warriors and Wave Champions on the ground. "How could the Collapsing Lightning Duke and his forces mobilize so fast? We have worked in secrecy for years, yet they marched toward us from the beginning. We barely crossed the demilitarized zone and took over a few Sectors before they were in front of us!" The Blood King''s eyes were full of rage, but there was something else: a sense of chaos. Usually, one would think the Dark King was just emotional, but it was more than that. His current state of mind was none other than a Heart Nightmare, which emerged over a year ago when he failed once again against a young man who had not even turned twenty. It began small, but the feeling of insecurity in his mind and heart grew stronger by the day to the point that he could barely use the power of his Ego Wave Path of Power. That was why the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar had such an easy time against the man and nearly severed his arm during their last fight. "I have already told you. The Imperial Lightning Fort was organized in pursuit of revenge in the name of Cain Laurifer. It was just bad luck that such an event matched the start of the Great Cataclysm and the invasion." "NO! It cannot be something so simple. I refuse to believe that the Collapsing Lightning Duke would have challenged the entire empire for that brat. It cannot happen!" A sense of madness appeared in the Blood King as he shouted, and it was clear just how much distress the name of Cain Laurifer brought to his mind. "Enough!" The Void King shouted, silencing the Blood King before focusing again on Casidius. "General Casidius. Since we cannot advance further, you will lead your troops to the adjacent Sectors on our flanks. You must destroy all infrastructure and eliminate everybody in your path. We will remain in this Trinity Tower Formation so the forces of the Collapsing Lightning Duke cannot push forward." Chapter 531: The Soul Kings plot When General Casidius heard that command, his eyes widened, as did those of all other generals from the Inferno Daemon Race. "Void King, the sectors on our flanks have yet to finish evacuating all civilians. There is no real military gain in attacking them, and we will only be causing death to the weak who cannot pose any threat to us." Even though the Inferno Daemon Race and the Godslayer Humankind Race were at war, thousands of years of battle had led to the formation of unspoken rules between both sides. Although there were no qualms about killing soldiers on either side since that was the nature of war and every warrior had accepted such a burden, things were different when it came to civilians. Of course, there were events in which the actions of the Dark Races led to the death of many civilians, such as the Gaia Invasion, the event in which Cain awakened his Ego Wave and defeated a Wave Champion Atrox. However, that event came as a response since during a military mission from the Godslayer Human Race, something went wrong, and human spies blew up a civilian city. That triggered the rage of the Atrox Immortus Race, who infiltrated several Sectors with the help of the Inferno Daemon Race and wreaked havoc. That was why when Zarak fought the Apotheosis Master of the Abyssal Clan, this one uttered the words, "Every action has a reaction." Even if it was an enemy race, General Casidius did not feel good about killing a bunch of children and old people who could not fight back. However, the Void King did not have that problem. "You have your orders. Leave." General Casidius clenched his fists as he nodded and left with the rest of the generals, leaving the four Dark Kings alone. Once the four Dark Kings were alone, the Void King''s eyes grew cold as he glanced at the Blood King, making this one tremble. "You must be wrong. How could that brat start from zero in the Essence Evolution Path and reach quasi-Divine battle power in less than two years!?" "Hmph. Of the two, I am not the one that lies! Had you told us the truth, we could have used our forces in the Kronos Continent to track down the boy and kill him, yet your lies allowed him to escape. He even used his codename as a taunt, yet we knew nothing due to your cowardice." The Soul King sneered as he saw the reaction of the Blood King and no longer bothered with this one, turning to the Void King, waiting to see how this one would handle this problem. The Void King remained silent for a moment before focusing on the Soul King. "How feasible would it be to send assassins to take care of him now?" Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire "I am afraid that he has obtained the favor of the Patriarch of the Zagninis Clan, and the Solis Clan''s Patriarch just named him his Foster Son. To take him down, we will have to go through two True Titans." "I see." The Void King immediately discarded the idea since trying to overcome two True Titans was a task requiring the Dark Kings'' direct involvement. "There is a way. The Astral Bloodline Realm will open in a few days, and no one above the Apotheosis Realm can enter, so the Patriarchs cannot protect the boy there. I have already set pieces in motion." A sharp light appeared in the eyes of the Void King as he heard this, and he softly nodded. "As always, you never bring a problem without a solution." "It is my pleasure to be of assistance." Chapter 532: Emerging from secluded cultivation "It is my pleasure to be of assistance." The Soul King showed a radiant smile as he performed a slight bow toward the Void King. "Proceed as you see fit. I don''t care about the cost, but we must kill that boy. He has already grown too much." Once that was settled, the Void King turned to the Blood King, and his eyes began to glow as the starlight in them burst with overwhelming gravitational power. "?BOOM!" Before the Blood King could react, a shocking gravitational force coalesced around his body, sending him crashing into the ground and breaking the chair in which he was seated. The Blood King immediately tried to fight back, but just as he raised his head a few centimeters off the ground, the Void King appeared beside him and thrust his head back down. "CRACK!" The sound of breaking bones echoed across the room, and it seemed that the Void King was ready to shatter the skull of the Blood King. "If it weren''t for the fact we are at war, I would kill you here and now for lying to me. You are lucky, but there will not be a second time, as I will shatter every atom in your body the next time you fail me." As soon as the voice of the Void King faded, so did the gravitational force. The Void King did not even bother to glance at the Blood King and left the room. The Soul King and Shadow King stared at the Blood King with disdain and pity before leaving as well. The skill allowed Cain to shift his position in space, which is commonly used to put distance between an Essence Cultivator and his enemies. Yet, a dual cultivator like Cain could use it to get closer to the enemy and take full advantage of his body''s power. After that, Cain waved his blade again, but this time, no attack came. Or at least not where his blade struck. "?BOOM!" An arc of blood energy struck the wall on the other end of the room, nearly one hundred meters away from Cain''s location. That was also a Crimson Void technique called Warp Strike that allowed Cain to teleport energy strikes to unexpected locations, striking enemies from multiple directions and unpredictable angles. Cain couldn''t help but smile as he saw the power of that strike. He clenched his grip over Slaughter as he reached the fourth level of the Crimson Void Cultivation Technique. The Crimson Void Cultivation Technique had five levels, which were in order: Foundation Stage, Consolidation Stage, Blood Master Stage, Voidblood Nexus Stage, and Divine Voidblood Stage. Reaching the fourth level meant Cain''s mastery over the technique was just as high as that of a Peak Apotheosis Master. Not only would his attacks have more power, but he should finally be able to use the cultivation technique''s signature domain skill. Just as Cain was about to take out the Spatial Orb he obtained from Lord Zanginis, a message arrived through his [A.I. Chip Module]. "Boy, are you ready? We should not delay the ceremony anymore if we want you to enter the Astral Bloodline Realm." Cain''s eyes widened as he heard that, and he focused on the date, realizing there were already just three days until the opening of the Astral Bloodline Realm. He had lost himself in his cultivation and forgotten about the passage of time. "I am heading out." Cain took a moment to seal his Astral Wave and use the red mask that had fused into his flesh to hide his Astral Rebirth Path of Power. He could still use the sunlight energy to infuse his attacks and perform the range of skills granted by his Solis Lineage, but using Essence Wave as the fuel would diminish their raw strength. "It is fine. Even if I only use my Essence Evolution Path of Power, I should be able to deploy battle power at the upper stages of the Apotheosis Realm." Chapter 533: Saga to the Hyperion Continent (I) After ensuring his body and energy pools were fine, Cain focused on the castle, and with just the intent of leaving, he was teleported out. As Cain appeared in the sky, his eyes widened since he saw that the entire Solis Clan Sacred Home seemed to have experienced a carnival that had been ongoing for several days already. Cain did not have to wonder about the main topic behind this carnival since giant pictures of him were spread across the sky. They depicted his current appearance and had the title "Sun Avatar" above his head. He saw thousands of members from the Solis Clan present. Still, there were also people from several different factions, and he recognized many from the Ten Great Bloodlines, including a significant number from the Zanginis Clan. The next second, Cain turned to the side and saw a beautiful woman with lion-like ears, dark hair, and golden pupils appear beside him. Of course, her beauty could not affect the heart of a master of Order like Cain. The young woman was a little surprised to see the disinterest in the young man, as she knew just how enticing her presence was. ''As expected, someone that caught the attention of the Patriarch could not be normal.'' After that small thought, the young woman clasped her hands and bowed toward Cain. "I am Ran, disciple of Core Elder Lusmir. I will take you to the pavilion for the crowning ceremony." Cain was a little surprised to learn that the woman was the disciple of one of the Divine Ascension masters of the Solis Clan. ''That old geezer seems to want to tempt me.'' Cain could only shrug his shoulders as he figured out the intent in sending the woman to fulfill such a menial role as guiding him. He did not really care about it as long as she was not overboard. "Please." Cain nodded to the woman before signaling her to lead the way. Ran did not waste time and guided him to a large open pavilion with hundreds of people waiting outside. Although the Solis Clan Sacred Home was immensely large and capable of housing millions, Cain and Ran moved extremely fast, reaching the pavilion in less than a minute. Cain''s figure immediately drew attention since the entire festival was in his honor, yet he had not made a single appearance. To be fair, Cain was not even aware that such an event was taking place, and he only thought that Lord Kabuto would make a small ceremony, not such a grand event. When performing a crowning and bestowing a title on an individual, it was customary for the Deus Behemoth Race to display their path and feats. As for how Lord Kabuto obtained the information, given his status, it was not hard to access Cain''s personal record gathered by the Deus Behemoth Empire''s intelligence. Soon, everybody saw how images began to form in the sky, showing the figure of Cain when he just entered the Collapsing Lightning Military Academy. "Cain Laurifer was a young orphan who entered the military academy of the Collapsing Lightning Sector following the steps of his honorable late father. He immediately excelled, showing his strong spirit and merciless aura to his enemies." Soon, the figure in the sky showed Cain standing over a pile of corpses of members of the Dark Races, but there were also human skeletons beneath his feet. His eyes were cold and full of brutality that seemed capable of freezing anyone''s heart. "Of course, just as my Foster Son was capable of brutality beyond measure, he was also a warrior of justice and honor, putting his life on the line as he and his fellow soldiers protected cities from the ravenous acts of Wave Beasts." Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire The image of Cain on top of a pile of corpses changed. Soon, everybody saw him leading hundreds of soldiers against thousands of Wave Beasts, with him in the lead facing the greatest threats. Powerhouses and people of the other clans had shown coldness in their eyes when they saw the first picture since, while they understood that cruelty was needed in one''s cultivation path, it was not a feat people found enjoyable. However, people showed admiration as they saw the picture of him leading a small army to defend the innocent since those were core principles that the Deus Behemoth Race respected, especially in times when the Wave Beasts had killed so many of them. Lord Kabuto smiled as he saw the people''s reaction and let the image linger for a few seconds before showing a new one. In it, a young man and a woman faced a large Atrox, and it depicted Cain marching valiantly into the fray. Cain had not cared about the previous pictures, but his eyes narrowed as he saw the young woman in this one, and a flash of sadness appeared. Even as a master of Order, the sight of Beelze was not something he could ignore. Of course, he had the power to sever those emotions at any time, but he refused to do it, as he felt it would be an insult to the memory of the young woman who sacrificed herself to save his life. "My Foster Son values nothing more than friendship and honor, which was why he did not hesitate to march into the fray when he learned that his two comrades were facing a wounded Atrox Wave Champion, despite being a simple Level 2 Wave Warrior." Shock and awe appeared in the eyes of everybody who heard those words since the idea that a Level 2 Wave Warrior would jump into the fray against a Wave Champion Atrox was absurd. Even if the enemy was wounded, who would have the courage to do something like that? It sounded fantastic, but no one thought for even a second that Lord Kabuto would lie since it would be easy for the powerhouses present to learn the truth. Besides, everybody already knew Cain could kill a Divine Beast as a Peak Wave Champion. Once again, the image in the sky changed. This time, it showed Cain marching to the peak of a massive mountain with thousands of soldiers behind him. And on the zenith of that mountain was an enormous portal that seemed to dive into a new dimension. "Other than overwhelming battle power, my Foster Son has always deployed great tactical and warfare strategy skills, being able to lead an army of military students against horde after horde of Wave Beasts, carving a bloody path into a Natural Inheritance and seizing his first Holy Weapon with his bare hands." Chapter 534: Saga to the Hyperion Continent (II) All the powerhouses gazing at the picture adopted solemn expressions. Although they did not deny Cain''s feats, many could be explained if he had hidden help. That train of thought would not be entirely wrong since Cain obtained assistance in the form of Blood Hand Skill during the Blade Mountain events. However, nothing could assist you within a Natural Inheritance, and you could only depend on yourself. Clearly, the young man did not need the assistance of others to shine. The image in the sky changed again, and this time, it showed Cain on top of a red ocean in the middle of two great armies, and above him, there was a figure covered in bloody fog. "My Foster Son''s influence does not limit itself to small skirmishes as he was the core figure in the Blood Sea''s Civil War, a conflict with two Titans instigated by one of the mighty Dark Kings. Not only did Cain help the righteous side to win, but he protected the civilians, and his influence forced a True Titan to escape." All the powerhouses stared at Cain with awe as they connected the dots. Cain''s background in the Godslayer Humankind Empire was not shallow, and there must be people at the True Titan level guarding him. That information was enough to erase the notion that the young man needed to travel to another continent to improve his background since he was clearly very successful in his home. Once again, the picture changed. This time, it showed a bloody figure chasing Cain as he went through a massive portal with a bleeding wound on the center of his chest. "Unfortunately, no good deed goes unpunished. During his time in the capital, the Blood King ambushed my Foster Son. Despite the immense difference in their powers, Cain was able to escape, but not before having his Rebirth Heart crippled." When people heard that, a flash of pity appeared in their eyes since you needed more than talent to achieve Cain''s power. It required immense hard work and numerous lucky chances, so the idea of losing everything and starting from zero was terrifying. Of course, losing his cultivation had little to no impact on Cain since he could always strive in another path. However, that mental fortitude was thanks to his mastery of Order, or else even he would have had difficulty assimilating everything. Lord Kabuto changed the image again, showing Cain standing proudly with sky-blue energy emerging from his lower abdomen and surrounded by shadowy figures. "Of course, not even a crippled Sacred Organ could detain my Foster Son''s path, and he simply started from scratch with his Essence Evolution Path of Power, becoming the nightmare of the Dark Factions in the Kronos Continent that went by the name of Scarlet King. There, he not only destroyed several Tier 1 Factions but was involved in the battle between two Tier 0 Factions, hijacking their intercontinental teleportation formation and arriving at our home. We had not even heard his name, and he had already improved the safety of our empire!" Once again, people focused on Cain, especially those who took the military path since uncovering a secret intercontinental teleportation formation that connected their home to Kronos was a great prowess that could easily gain the emperor''s favor. The figure in the sky changed one final time, showing Cain with a golden aura covering the entire continent like a great hero. Cain had not finished, for after displaying the might of his Law of Blood and flooding the area with his Blood Energy (Essence), he began to manipulate the Essence Wave following the principles of the Law of Space. Everyone watched in awe and wonder as space began to change. Soon, a five-hundred-meter radius domain appeared. Floating rivers of blood appeared beneath Cain''s feet as the sky turned red, and he stood in the middle like a divine god. Domain skills were powerful but required a massive amount of energy. Luckily, Cain had already covered that, and the next second, his Ego Wave, which could extend for over 1000 kilometers, fused into the Nexus Blood Domain. The red force field stabilizes the Nexus Blood Domain, providing it with all the energy it could need and improving its power even more. Cain opened his palm, making Slaughter appear, and the next second, the Blood Rune covering his entire body began to glow as sunlight energy covered his weapon and extremities. "I will only face those who can endure the pressure of my domain." The Patriarchs and powerhouses who came to the crowning could not help but smile and softly nod as they saw how Cain handled the situation. With that single move, he avoided a lot of unnecessary fights, and no one could dispute the requirement he put forth. After all, if they could not endure the power of the Nexus Blood Domain, how could they even fight against Cain? "Allow me to be the first to challenge the man who earned the respect of our Patriarch!" Those words echoed across the pavilion as a figure bathed in golden light flew into the sky. Lord Kabuto''s eyes narrowed as he saw that young woman with golden hair, white armor, lion ears, and deer''s antlers flashing to the sky. "It seems that young Tania is eager to face my boy." Lord Kabuto smiled as he glanced at the Divine Ascension Master to his right. The woman showed a complicated expression as she saw her core apprentice flashing to the domain with a fierce smile. "Tania has trained very hard and has always sought to attain the Sun Avatar role. She is probably eager to fight and face the boy in his prime." Lord Kabuto showed a sympathetic smile to the woman on his right, and he knew that many promising geniuses had worked very hard to attain the Sun Avatar title, so they must be happy to see it fall into the hands of an outsider from another race. "She is very good, and I can see that she has trained very hard, having overcome the Flesh Calamity before turning seventy with a foundation that can only be described as spotless. You''ve done excellent work with her, Kenia, but I can only say her destiny fell short." Chapter 535: Facing challenges (I) Lord Kabuto''s statement had no apologies or false words, as he did not feel the need to lie to the duo. No matter how good the young woman was, she could not compare with Cain. Tania was indeed highly talented, having overcome the Fleash Calamity at a very young age and able to face those at the Peak Apotheosis Realm. However, Cain was a divine monster capable of killing a Divine Beast while being a Peak Wave Champion, and his talent only grew after his evolution to the Wave King Rank. Kenia, the Early Divine Ascension Master, could only nod. Of course, she was not happy that such a grand title would land on an outsider, but she was not so biased and close-minded as to not recognize talent when she saw it, and Cain was the definition of the word in every sense. The exchange between the two Divine Ascension Masters from the Solis Clan lasted just a moment, and Tania had already entered Cain''s domain. Tania''s eyes widened the moment she stepped inside the Nexus Blood Domain as she sensed her blood flow becoming sluggish, and she perceived it would freeze at any second, paralyzing her body. If that was not enough, the Nexus Blood Domain also unleashed an overwhelming pressure as well as weak spatial distortion affecting Tania''s senses. As an Astral Rebirth Cultivator, Tania had zero mastery over the powers of the Law of Space and Law of Blood, but she did not need to understand them to fight against them. "BOOMMMMM!" The woman''s dark golden Astral Wave exploded the next second, fighting against the powers affecting her blood and senses, as she took two small swords from her wrists and pointed them at Cain. "Are you ready?" Cain could see the zeal and dangerous light in Tania''s eyes and knew the woman would be troublesome as she would probably not contain herself and do something reckless. Of course, he was not afraid as his Biometal Herculean Technique would allow him to take a strike point blank from the woman. There would be a lot of damage since Cain only relied on Platinum Heart''s passive effect, but he would survive. However, that would tell everybody he had a body that no Essence Wave Cultivation could attain as a Wave King. Although it would not be enough to reveal the secret of his dual cultivation, it would make people curious about Cain''s constitution. ''I guess I need to be extra careful.'' Cain''s eyes glowed with a flash of golden light as he activated The Flow, and the movement of the woman''s muscle fiber, tendon, meridian, and energy flow became evident in his mind as he raised Slaughter and softly nodded. "I am impressed by your great mastery over the Law of Space, Colonel Laurifer. My name is Rodrick, and I am from the Fenrir Clan. Please allow me to compare my skills with yours." Rodrick took a step forward and immediately appeared next to the blood domain. He did not hesitate to enter, and while he could feel pressure affecting his blood flow, the power of the Law of Space could not affect him. Although the man followed the Astral Rebirth Path of Power and did not master the Laws, his bloodline granted him proficiency regarding the cosmic powers of space, allowing his senses to adapt to spatial distortions instinctively. Cain could feel the power of the man and knew it would be harder for him to counter this one using the Law of Space, but his eyes were calm as he took a deep breath and increased the amount of Blood Energy flooding through Slaughter. Once Cain was at his peak, he nodded to the man, marking the start of the fight. There was no energy blast as Rodrick flashed toward Cain, but his speed was even greater than Tania''s. That was not all, as a silver light covered his bastard sword, making it faster and increasing its severing force. Many of the powerhouses present were surprised to see the dual power of space and sword force on the man. Two forces were inherited within the Fenrir Bloodline: the power of space and the sword force. Usually, only one of these aspects was displayed. Still, those with great talent and luck could awaken both forces, allowing them overwhelming speed and destructive power. There were many ways for Cain to face the Deus Behemoth''s bastard sword, but he employed one that shocked everybody. Instead of trying to put distance between them, he flashed forward, meeting the descending bastard sword head-on. Rodrick was just as shocked as everybody else, and a flash of concern appeared in his eyes. It wasn''t that he feared a close battle, but his broadsword was descending with enough strength to split a mountain in half, and he could not stop it in time. Although the Deus Behemoth from the Fenrir Clan was full of fighting spirit, that did not mean he wanted to severely injure and possibly cripple the Sun Avatar of the Solis Clan. However, to the Deus Behemoth''s surprise, Slaughter met his weapon before it descended and managed to direct it to the left, avoiding a wound and leaving Cain in the perfect position to trigger a Quantum Laceration that sent the member of the Fenrir Clan flying away. Many people watching the clash could not help but feel wonder and confusion, as they did not understand how Cain could outpower Rodrick in a direct clash. After all, one was an Essence Cultivator, and the other followed the Astral Rebirth Path. Nevertheless, those with high enough cultivation saw that it was not strength that Cain used to overcome Rodrick''s bastard sword. "That young man could strike the bastard sword at a perfect angle while redirecting the flow of the sword force, pushing all the strength behind the blade to a different direction. It is that same strange ability he used to deflect your fireballs." The one who spoke was the Divine Ascension Master sitting to the right of Lord Kabuto. He was Lusmir, and the man did not hide his surprise and admiration for Cain''s abilities, showing an utterly pragmatic stance toward the new Sun Avatar. "That ability is truly a pinnacle power." Chapter 536: Facing challenges (II) Lord Kabuto nodded toward Lusmir, considering the skill to be something even he found hard to comprehend. It was not based on a simple understanding of the Laws but seemed to delve into highly complex principles. Although Lord Kabuto was interested in The Flow, he did not ask Cain to share it. Firstly, he did not want to pressure the young man into sharing his secret. It was also important to note that mastering such an ability was not something you could get better at with higher cultivation. The Tribulation Enhancement was a perfect example of the difficulty of those rankless skills. Although they tried their best, in the end, Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis gave up since it took them nearly a week to conjure a single 1 Revolution Flame. Clearly, they did not have talent in that aspect and would not be wasting their time if they kept working on it. Rodrick was just as perplexed as everybody else as he attempted to understand Cain''s skill. ''What was that ability!?'' The young genius of the Fenrir Clan had heard of Cain''s unique powers, but only now did he witness it. The only word he could use to describe it was unfathomable. Unfortunately, Rodrick did not have time to think. His eyes widened as an arc of blood energy appeared before him. Rodrick could perceive the energy strike that teleported right in front of him due to his attunement to the force of space, but he could not dodge it and only had time to raise his bastard sword as a shield. "?BOOM!" The explosion sent Rodrick flying again, and while his arms trembled, he was fine. At least, that was the case until he felt a blade on his back. The man''s eyes widened as he realized that Cain had silently appeared behind him, and there was nothing he could do but take a new blast of Blood Energy point-blank. "?BOOM!" People outside of the Nexus Blood Domain saw how Cain had fired the blast from the weapon after placing it on Rodrick''s back to improve the destructive power and could not help but feel awe at the young man''s power and courage. It took a lot of bravery to fight from such a close range against a Flesh Calamity Master. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw the figure of the Deus Behemoth flying away with blood leaking from his mouth, and he waved Slaughter again, firing three Warp Strikes before flashing forward. "Don''t underestimate me!" Rodrick shouted as the power of space force flooded through his body, allowing him to delay the Warp Strikes enough to wave his bastard sword to destroy them all. Without losing momentum, he guided the sword toward Cain''s approaching figure, detonating a massive blast of sword force that made the entire domain tremble! Lord Kabuto''s eyes widened as he saw the blast of sword force engulfing Cain. He knew that attack could not severely damage the immensely robust body of the young man, but he did not want anyone to realize the secret of Cain''s dual cultivation. Cain was not so arrogant as to think he could defeat the young woman, as he felt her strength did not fall short of the Draco Lightning Frog. ''Even if I were to use the full power of my cultivation, I would have a hard time just facing her, but I would like to see the type of skills she can unleash.'' Urien smiled as she nodded toward Cain and then took a step forward, immediately appearing inside the blood domain. Her speed was even faster than Rodrick''s, and her presence was much more challenging to perceive. Once she stood inside the blood domain, Urien''s Essence Wave exploded, and the size of her energy pool was overwhelming to the point that Cain''s eyes burst with red light as he had to use the full strength of his willpower to keep the domain stable. Urien''s smile widened as she saw that Cain''s domain could remain stable even as she flooded it with her energy pool that could unleash more than enough radiation to flood an Old World''s continent. She took her bow with her left arm and plucked one of her feathers with the right one. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw how Urien''s feather transformed into an arrow that enhanced the power of her Essence Wave and the might of her Law of Wind. He took a deep breath and grabbed Slaughter with both, channeling all his energy into the weapon. The Godslayer Human and Deus Behemoth looked at each other, and both solemnly nodded at the same time before unleashing their attacks. "Quantum Laceration!" "Serpent Gale!" Cain waved Slaughter down, generating a massive rift in space that exploded with a blast of blood energy toward the Deus Behemoth. At the same time, Urien let go of her feather, and it flashed forward, transforming into a green tornado with the form of a snake. "?BOOM!" Both attacks clashed in the middle of the Nexus Blood Domain, generating a massive blast and destroying each other. However, while the explosion neutralized the blast of Blood Energy, the broken part of the green tornado did not disperse, transforming into smaller wind snakes and flashing toward Cain from different directions. Cain''s eyes widened as he saw that, and a solemn expression appeared as he noticed a sign of spirituality in the spell. ''Law Integration!'' When it comes to Law Mastery in Aether, there are three great Realms: Basic Understanding, Law Fragmentation, and finally, Law Integration. Chapter 537: Law Integration When it comes to Law Mastery in Aether, there are three great Realms: Basic Understanding, Law Fragmentation, and finally, Law Integration. As its name suggests, Basic Understanding is the most basic of the three states of comprehension. Martial artists at this level develop a fundamental comprehension of universal Laws and how they relate to martial arts and spells. They start to understand the basic principles of these Laws and apply them to enhance their abilities, but it is still elementary and only granted a slight upgrade in power. Of course, there are exceptions to the weakness of Basic understanding. Some Laws, even at this level, can significantly improve your might, but those are extremely powerful and challenging, such as the Law of Space. And even then, their understanding is still shallow. Only at Law Fragmentation can a cultivator call himself savvy when it comes to a Law. At this stage, martial artists delve deeper into the Laws, breaking them down into smaller components for a more nuanced understanding. Cain''s Law Mastery over the Law of Darkness had delved deep into this realm, which was one of the many reasons he could advance so fast in the initial stages of the Law of Space. After all, the Law of Darkness yielded a certain level of control over space, and by reaching Law Fragmentation, he could delve into that power. However, even if you reach the Extreme Law Fragmentation Realm, you can only call yourself a scholar of the Laws. Only after advancing to the next level would you gain the right to call yourself a master. Law Integration delves into the integration of fragmented Laws, gaining a comprehensive understanding of their interplay and synergy. This stage often involves the development of unique perspectives and the creation of personalized techniques and martial arts styles. People at this level can use their insight to create unique spells tailored especially for them. However, the most important and significant milestone of Law Integration is the fact you can infuse the power of the Laws directly into your spells, allowing them to gain a certain degree of spirituality! Before reaching Law Integration, an Essence Cultivator must exert continuous control and focus on their spells and energy. Without a cultivator''s focus, a spell would just be a pile of scattered energy with flawed precision and even lower power. Nevertheless, after reaching Law Integration, things change. An Essence Cultivator''s Essence Wave would gain spirituality, being able to perceive the intent and instincts of the caster, allowing it to obtain countless variations and attack on its own if needed. That was why when Urien''s Serpent Gale spell shattered, it was easy for the woman to transform the scattered energy into smaller variations that carried on with the attack. Even if the woman had a tailored Lineage and focused only on the Law of Wind and nothing else to achieve Law Integration before becoming a Divine Ascension Master, her talent and potential were extraordinary. Urien definitely had a chance to reach the realm of Titans! Cain''s mind went through all these thoughts, but he could not allow himself to lose focus as he had to handle the four Lesser Serpent Gales coming from different directions. Using the energy redirection abilities of The Flow could work on only one of those strikes, leaving the other three to handle. ''Using Slaughter to destroy one of them, then redirecting another with my left arm to counter a third one, and relying on the Void Blood Shield to defend against the last one.'' Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire Having decided on a path, Cain channeled his energy into Slaughter, waving it to the side and generating a rift in space that blasted one wind snake to pieces. He then used his left arm to redirect another of the snakes, making it clash with one coming from the right. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Two explosions echoed inside the blood domain as two wind snakes crashed into each other before the last one blasted upon making contact with the Void Blood Shield. Powerful green gales covered Cain''s figure, but it did not last long as he flashed up. There was no damage on the surface of his body, but blood leaking from the corner of his mouth indicated that the blast had wounded him internally. Urien was surprised to see only a trail of blood in Cain''s mouth. Her attack had no killing intent but was still very powerful, yet its damage to the young man seemed minimal. The truth was that the explosion did even less damage than what the Deus Behemoth expected. The blast did make Cain''s body tremble. Still, it was not enough to generate internal bleeding, and he had bitten his tongue to give the idea he suffered significant damage. Before Urien could even figure out the key behind Cain''s endurance, her eyes narrowed as she saw the young man raise his blade. Soon, the full power of the domain began to concentrate in Slaughter, generating a maelstrom of blood and destructive spatial energy. "Bloodspace Vortex!" Cain shouted once all the power of the blood domain gathered above him, and then he sent the massive maelstrom crashing toward Urien. The Deus Behemoth woman did not hesitate before taking three feathers and making her energy explode, generating the phantom of a massive winged, feathered snake. She infused it into her arrows and sent the spells forward. A tornado in the form of a winged snake clashed head-on with the Bloodspace vortex, generating waves of blood energy, wind force, and spatial force in all directions, making the sky above them form a massive storm. "Snap!" Before the two spells could destroy each other, a snap was heard, and a stream of sunlight energy flashed into the sky, neutralizing both spells and calming the sky. Lord Kabuto was the one who defused the attack of the duo as things were escalating too much, and he had to stop it. Cain''s breathing was rough, and an uncomfortable expression appeared on his face as he had drained every iota of his Essence Wave and Blood Energy in that last attack. Although his body was well, his essence meridians were sore due to the tremendous stress they found themselves under during the continuous fight. Urien was fine since her cultivation base and power were greater, and four tribulations had already refined her energy pool. Still, she was impressed to see the extent of destructive power the Godslayer Human unleashed with a low cultivation base. "You are truly a terrific genius. It was a pleasure to test my skills against yours." The Deus Behemoth clasped her hands and performed a slight bow. Cain stared at the woman and, after taking a deep breath, he also did the same. They both descended to the ground, with the Godslayer Human returning to his throne to finish the crowning. There was no need for more combat as Cain had already proved a battle power that only the older generation could overcome, and there was no one so shameless as to try to fight the young man who was hundreds of years younger than them. Lord Kabuto nodded as he saw that everything was in order, and his eyes once again flooded the sky and earth as he connected his mind with the Sun Tree. "As the Sun Avatar, my Foster Son, Cain Laurifer, gains the right to call himself the favored child of the Sun Tree and inherits its power." Shortly after Lord Kabuto uttered those words, the Sun Tree began to glow. Hundreds of small branches emerged from its trunk as they coalesced around Cain''s figure. Cain saw how the branches fused into his skin, but he did not resist as his body rose into the sky, and ten minutes later, golden wood armor covered his figure. Sun Avatar was not just a simple title; it came with several benefits, but the most important was the Quasi-Divine Armor. It was an incredibly resilient armor that Cain could use even after becoming a Divine Ascension Master. It worked with Essence Wave and Astral Wave. Of course, once the second type flowed through the armor, the defensive might of this one would improve fivefold. Cain clenched his fists and could feel that even with his Platinum Heart, this armor would provide immense defensive power to his body. That was not all since the Sun Armor also constantly swallowed the Life Wave from the surroundings and transformed it into sunlight energy that he could use for his spells and attacks. ''With this, my defensive power should not fall beneath the Peak Apotheosis Realm. And once I can deploy Astral Blood Ability, I should have a body that is not any weaker than a Quasi Adamantium Artifact.'' A body almost as strong as the armor that Divine Ascension Masters use to protect their bodies. The idea that a Wave King could achieve such a feat was incredible, yet Cain was already on the path to achieving it. "We salute the Sun Avatar!" Chapter 538: Exploring the Dream World (I) "We salute the Sun Avatar!" People of the Solis Clan shouted, with all those at the Wave King rank and below bowing before Cain, signifying his rank in the clan. Cain''s eyes grew solemn as he clasped his hand and nodded to all the people of the Solis Clan. "The Sun Avatar crowning has ended. I appreciate everybody''s attendance, and I hope to see you all again during the opening of the Astral Bloodline Realm." Lord Kabuto''s voice echoed across the Solis Clan Sacred Home. Those who came from other families to witness the ceremony bowed to the man before leaving, while people of the Solis Clan dispersed. The two Divine Ascension Masters from the Solis Clan bowed to Lord Kabuto and nodded to Cain before departing as well, leaving the duo alone. "There are three days until the opening of the Astral Bloodline Realm. What would you like to do until then?" Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard that question. He had already acclimatized to his new cultivation, and while he had to seal his Astral Cultivation for the mock fights, they were enough to give him an idea of how powerful he was and test his skills. ''Cultivating and fighting would not help me. What to do?'' Just as Cain pondered his next step, his eyes narrowed, and a meaningful light appeared. "What is the safest place in the entire clan? Somewhere where I could let go of my guard without any danger?" Lord Kabuto was surprised by that question. It was clear he would do everything in his power to protect Cain, but it seemed that the young man wanted to go even a step further. "Mmm, if you want complete safety, then there is no better place in the entire clan than inside it." Cain saw how Lord Kabuto pointed to the Sun Tree, and his eyes narrowed as he focused on the majestic structure and immediately felt his Sun Armor reacting to it. "The Sun Armor will allow you to enter the Sun Tree, and this one will guard you until you wish to come out. It is normally used when the Sun Avatar is left in a severely injured condition and needs to boost up their healing in a comatose state, but you can also use it to rest without anyone being able to threaten you." Lord Kabuto''s words made it clear to Cain that he would be utterly safe once he stood inside the Sun Tree. After all, they would have to go through the tree''s defenses to reach him, and this one was even more durable than a Titan Tower. "Great, I will spend the next three days inside the Sun Tree. I will come out in time to enter the Astral Bloodline Realm." "Good. Then do so. I will take care of official matters of the empire in the meantime." Cain nodded as he understood that someone with Lord Kabuto''s background had a lot of important matters that required his help in the Deus Behemoth Empire, but he had pushed them back to help him. "I will see you then, Foster Father." Lord Kabuto smiled as he felt Cain slowly reaching out to him. He nodded to the young man before rising to the sky and flashing into the distance. Cain watched Lord Kabuto leave and went to the Sun Tree. The tree immediately opened, allowing access to Cain, and once he was inside, he felt an absolute calm. With a single thought, the tree closed down while he was covered by a cocoon of green energy that seemed to stimulate his body''s healing power. After ensuring everything was in order, Cain smiled, knowing this was the perfect place to explore something he had been eager to find out for a long time. ''I can finally go back to that dream world.'' Cain had always been someone very curious, and that dream world was indeed something that drew his attention, but the only problem was that once inside, he lost complete control over his body. He could not defend himself if someone attacked him since his consciousness had vanished entirely. "Apex, can you wake me up if there is any sign of danger?" Although Cain was sure the Sun Tree could protect him, he wanted a chance to wake up if there was danger and expected Apex to be able to do it. "Mmm, I could generate a small burst with the Astral Beast Soul Core, shaking your soul sea. It would not harm you, but you should feel it." "Let''s try it." Cain did not waste time and closed his eyes. Although going to sleep as soon as they wanted was impossible for ordinary people, he had absolute control over his body''s chemical functions, so it took a thought to fall asleep. Unlike previous times when Cain focused his mind on not leaving his body, he let go this time. The next second, Cain opened his eyes and found himself in the sky of a massive forest with giant trees. Cain saw his body remain as a phantasmagoric humanoid red energy field, and the sky was the same rainbow-colored. Shortly after arriving, Cain felt a slight tremor. It was feeble, but he smiled as he focused and woke up the next second. "I take it that it worked." Apex''s voice echoed inside Cain''s mind. He had unleashed that soul tremor, and three seconds later, Cain woke up. "Yes, it certainly did. I will go back again. Wake me up if there is any danger, please." "Will do." With the confidence that he could react to any incoming threat, Cain fell asleep again. This time, he did not intend to leave the dream world until the opening of the Astral Bloodline Realm. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire Cain''s eyes opened again in the forest; this time, he was determined to find other life forms. His body was weightless and did not require air, nor could it be affected by temperature, so it was easy for him to rise thousands of meters above the forest until he finally saw signs of civilization in the distance. They resembled vertical structures, and it was hard to say whether they were habitable. "Mmm, it seems my physical capabilities are not that different from a normal human." Cain''s vision in Aether allowed him to see an ant hundreds of meters away, and if he were to enhance his eyes with his Astral Wave, it could increase hundreds of times stronger, but that was not the case here. Not wanting to lose time, Cain began to float toward the vertical structure. His flying speed was not great, but his body could fly through solid objects, so he was still very fast, moving roughly 30 kilometers per hour. He had advanced a few hundred meters when his eyes narrowed as he looked down and began to see all sorts of wild fauna. There were insects such as spiders and worms, but there were also eagles, squirrels, and the like. ''Interesting. It seems that they instinctively stay away from where I first arrived.'' Cain glanced at all those animals, but they did not draw too much attention until he saw beasts that were completely new to him. The first one of those types that drew Cain''s attention was a pack of deer that seemed to be running away, but unlike average deer, these had sky-blue shining antlers. Just as Cain wondered what they were running away from, he saw a nearly two-meter-tall beast resembling a tiger lunging toward one of those shining deer. ''Wait, that is not a normal tiger. That is a saber-toothed tiger!'' Cain was amazed to see an Old World prehistoric beast appearing in this seemingly ordinary forest. As one would expect, the deer could not endure the saber-toothed tiger''s massive power, and its life ended. ''The circle of life.'' Cain had killed millions of Wave Beasts, so he obviously would not feel bad about seeing a deer dying, and he just accepted it as the course of nature before slowly descending to the saber-toothed tiger. The beast kept consuming its food even as Cain phased through it. ''I cannot harm it, but it doesn''t seem it can even detect my presence.'' Having discovered something new, Cain rose into the sky again and continued floating toward the city. He continued flying for roughly an hour when his eyes narrowed as he was finally able to gain a good view of the city. It was not so large, capable of holding roughly one million people, and the streets were packed. What drew a little surprise in Cain was the level of civilization he was seeing. There were large structures and houses in all directions, but no proper buildings or vehicles. ''It seems that the level of civilization in this place reminds me of the feudal era of the Old World. How strange.'' Just as those thoughts crossed Cain''s mind, his eyes narrowed as he saw a dozen warriors on horseback marching out of the city and into the forest. Although Cain could not tell their power due to his condition, his perception was high enough to understand that they were not simple humans. Chapter 539: Exploring the Dream World (II) Their horses were marching at hundreds of kilometers per hour, and those on top could maintain their reins without problems. Clearly, they were able to deploy physical abilities and a speed of thought superior to ordinary mortals. ''This world''s cultivators?'' Cain''s interest was piqued as he saw those people. If you want to learn more from a place, you will find more information from those with a higher status and power. Although they were not really impressive, Cain still decided to follow them and saw how they dismounted from their horses before taking all sorts of weapons, with one person at the back holding a staff. Many of them began to charge different types of energy in their weapons while those in the back with magic robes unleashed spells that seemed to enhance the physical might of the melee warrior. Cain was a little surprised to see those abilities. Although the magic boosts were not impressive and took a lot of time to charge, they were still abilities that cultivators in Aether did not have access to. It didn''t take long for the group to come into contact with a pack of giant prehistoric bears. The melee warriors immediately took the lead while the magic caster unleashed different offensive spells. Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire The level of coordination and teamwork displayed among the group was impressive, but Cain couldn''t help but frown as he observed their limited abilities and power. ''Warriors, archers, rangers, and wizards? Is this the type of cultivation path from this world?'' Although Astral Rebirth Cultivation and Essence Evolution Cultivation shared characteristics with warriors and wizards, there was a significant difference in their abilities. An Essence Evolution Cultivator could fight at close range and cast spells nearly instantaneously, not charging them like a wizard. At the same time, Astral Rebirth Cultivation had a plethora of elemental and mid-long-range attacks they could use. ''By their robes, I can tell they are some sort of nobility, but their battle power is too low. A single Level 4 Wave Warrior could kill all of them if he takes them by surprise.'' Seeing their power and realizing how little he could learn from them, Cain left and headed into the city. It was normal in several senses, with most of the population being regular people, and he only detected signs of cultivation in less than 5% of the population. Cain visited different locations and listened to the conversations of many people. Usually, he would wander and allow the [A.I. Chip Module] to gather all the information and give him a detailed summary, but that was not possible in this case, and he was forced to use his own means. It took him around ten minutes to discover that the city''s name was Gorlon City, under the control of the Gorlon Family, a Viscount Family. Those who left to hunt were the Gorlon Viscount and his entourage. "That power is enough to gain the title of Viscount?" In Aether, to become a Viscount, you would need to be at least a Wave Champion and have the power to level entire buildings with your bare hands, but the requirements in this place were much lower. ''They may not put so much emphasis on brute power in this place. It would make sense that connection, status, and armies would give you a position since there is a limit to the power of a single person.'' Cain continued gathering information and eventually found out that this was one of the countless cities under the reign of the Trinity Kingdom. As Cain continued advancing toward the capital of the Trinity Kingdom, he saw larger cities. Some had millions of inhabitants, with the number of cultivators increasing exponentially the more he advanced. However, the social hierarchy remained the same, with a strict feudal system. More than once, Cain observed people who seemed to have higher cultivation adopting a submissive stance towards those weaker but with a higher social status. It became clear to Cain that social status alone was enough to allow certain people to do whatever they wanted. During his journey, Cain saw a man on horseback moving nearly three times the speed of sound, battling what seemed to be a massive dinosaur over ten meters tall. The man could deploy battle power that could match a Wave Champion, yet it seemed that he could not rise into the sky or perform any type of aerial movement. Although the clash between the warrior and the dinosaur was impressive from a brawling point of view, yet again, Cain noticed how the man''s range of skills was very limited. If that warrior and Astral Cultivator with the same level of physical might were to fight, there would be no doubt that the second would win. After all, an Astral Cultivator could move through the air and use all sorts of spells to enhance himself and attack. It took Cain nearly ten hours of continuous flight before he finally saw a cultivator rising into the sky. It was a woman in magic robes leading an army of fifty warriors on horseback. ''Interesting.'' Cain''s eyes narrowed as he observed the woman and warriors. The woman had various equipment on her person, while the warriors wore the same type of golden armor on their bodies and a set of large spears on their backs. What drew Cain''s attention was that strange runes covered every one of those warriors'' armor and weapons. ''Judging by the physical might and speed they can achieve, they seem to unleash battle power similar to a Late Wave Champion, so I assume the woman should be this world''s equivalent of a Wave King.'' Cain deviated from his path and followed the magic caster and the army. It didn''t take long for them to reach what seemed to be a massive rocky mountain nearly fifty meters tall and hundreds of meters long. ''Wait!'' Cain immediately noticed something amiss, but the magic caster raised her wand before he could figure out what was happening. A torrent of energy emerged from her body, one so immense that it rivaled the energy pool of a Peak Wave King. "Magma Ball Shower!" That alone was already impressive enough for Cain, but he was shocked to see hundreds of giant magma balls forming above the women. It took a second to finish her spells before she fired it toward the rocky mountain. The power in that spell could compare to that of an Apotheosis Master''s spell, and her caster speed was not much slower. "ROAR!" As soon as the magma balls fell, a roar emerged, and Cain realized that the fifty-meter-wide and hundreds-meter-long mountain range was actually a dragon with rocky skin. The mythical beast seemed to have been in a slumber, and pain appeared on its face as it raised its giant head and gazed at the magic caster in the sky. The woman, not even 1.7 meters in height, smaller than the eyes of the creature, showed no fear as she raised her wand again. Earth chains emerged from the ground, intertwining around the dragon''s wings, stopping the beast from rising into the sky. "ROAAAARRRRRRR!" The Stone Dragon roared as it attempted to free itself from the shackles but could not. It opened its maw as it charged a breath attack. However, at this point, the warriors on horseback reached the beast, and their entire bodies began to glow. Cain could discern the power of those riders, and in his eyes, they were only marching to their death. Although it was true that numbers could make a difference in battle power at a certain point, fifty Wave Champions could do nothing to a beast capable of enduring an Apotheosis-level spell. However, Cain used Aether''s reasoning, and what he saw next shattered that. Runes began to glow on the horses, making them move like lightning, as runes also began to glow on the chest, shoulder, and arms of all the riders, not to mention that their spears also began to glow with overwhelming energy. Those fifty riders, whom fifty Wave Champions of any path could have easily overcome, become as strong as Wave Kings! They immediately divided into two groups, flanking the Stone Dragon, and just as the beast was about to unleash its breath attack against the magic caster in the sky, they sent their spears forward. At this point, the runes finally showed their power as the thrusting force behind each of those spears was nothing short of an Early Wave King attack! That alone was impressive, but the warriors showed such precision that all fifty spears landed simultaneously before exploding on the right and left side of the Stone Dragon''s neck. The Stone Dragon had just been charging its breath attack, so the spears generated not only a bleeding wound on its neck but also a severe backlash, allowing the magic caster in the sky to finish casting her next spell. "Meteor Fall!" A giant meteor roughly one-fourth of the Stone Dragon''s size fell from the sky, falling directly onto the creature''s back, pushing it into the ground and breaking several of its bones. "ROOOOAAARRRR!" The Stone Dragon roared in pain, but before it could do anything, the riders took the second spear from their backs and charged their runes again before sending them hurtling toward the dragon''s neck, aiming right at the open wounds. "BOOOOOMMM!" Chapter 540: A power above the limits of Aether "BOOOOOMMM!" The second volley of explosive spears did the trick, as the Stone Dragon collapsed to the ground and the light in its eyes faded. Immediately, all the warriors began to cheer as the spellcaster in the sky calmly descended to the ground with an expression of utter exhaustion. Those three spells seemed to have drained all the energy in the woman, but it did not erase the fact she managed to unleash spells way above her energy pool. Cain watched it all and had to admit that the performance he witnessed from the magic caster and warriors was impressive. ''The people''s abilities are limited and lack maneuverability, but it seems they can make up for it with equipment. Not to mention that as they rise higher, their range of powers grows exponentially.'' After witnessing this battle, two things were clear to Cain. The path to higher ranks in this place seemed very difficult to achieve, and their domain over cosmic forces was extremely limited. However, as they advanced, those restrictions seemed to weaken, and they could exponentially enhance their power through artifacts and runes, more than what the people of Aether could do. ''Aether also has Rune Masters, but none can grant such an upgrade to an individual''s battle power. Just activating one powerful rune would normally take the full power of a talented warrior, but that doesn''t seem to be the case in this place.'' Cain was not a Rune Master, but it seemed that the runes in this place differed from Aether''s. Before, Cain had nearly lost all interest in this dimension as the strength of the people was so weak that he alone could have overruled them all if he reached this place with his body. Of course, he would not have wasted his time since there was no gain in overpowering such a weak civilization, but this display of power changed things. Wanting to prove something, Cain got near the magic caster and put his hands through her head, but she did not detect anything. ''It seems that even those at her power level cannot detect me.'' Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire Cain stared at the woman momentarily and focused on her staff and the runes on the warriors before rising into the sky again and heading back to the capital. As he advanced, he saw more displays of great power on his path. Although they were impressive, all the warriors he saw, even those who could fly, were limited in several ways. So far, he had not seen anyone who could reach the power equivalent to a Divine Ascension Master, much less a Titan or God. It had already been nearly two days of flying when Cain finally caught a glimpse of what seemed to be the capital of the Saint Trinity Realm. It was a truly massive city with golden walls and a mystic aura that rivaled that of Eden or Evernight. What drew most of Cain''s attention were the massive statues of three divine goddesses surrounding the city, all extremely beautiful, seemingly pure, and otherworldly. Just as Cain''s eyes were drawn to beautiful status, he turned to the left. They immediately widened as he saw a dark storm in the distance and could feel a sense of danger and even terror. Cain''s eyes narrowed, and a sharp light appeared in them as he decided to approach the storm. After an hour, he finally saw it. It was not a storm but a massive army with dozens of millions of warriors. The bulk of the army was composed of warriors on metallic horses that scorched the ground beneath their hooves. The aura of each of them was not weaker than those he saw fighting the Stone Dragon, but even more impressive was that they all had at least a rune on their bodies. Among those warriors were hundreds of thousands of people in dark priestly clothes, all chanting strange words that resonated around the ground and sky, generating a dark aura. If that was not all, there were also dozens of thousands of winged figures in the sky, all unleashing waves of immense energy, with some seemingly capable of making the ground shatter and the sky tremble. Cain''s eyes widened as he saw the might of such an army. Although he could not measure their power effectively, his instincts told him this was a force that could face any of the six main races of Aether head-on. ''They are doomed.'' Although Cain had not had time to inspect the capital, by what he had seen of the Trinity Kingdom so far, their military might was around 10% to 15% of the Godslayer Humankind Empire, and there was no way they could face this power. Of course, Cain did not plan to intervene since even if his real body were present, he would only be sending himself to his death if he confronted such a massive army. He was already thinking of flying away as he did not know if these people would have the power to detect him. Cain did not know what would happen if someone destroyed this humanoid body formed by his willpower and was not eager to find out. However, just as he was about to move away, a figure appeared in the sky above the dark army. The figure was a warrior with golden armor and the image of a sun engraved on his armor. He had short black hair, his eyes glowed with golden flames, and a halo of white flames was on the back of his head. Cain did not feel anything from this person, but he saw how the entire dark army froze as he appeared, and they looked at the sky with dread as if they were seeing a monster. The priests began to shout, but Cain was too far away to hear what they were saying. The man''s eyes gazed at the dark army with loathing and disdain as he raised his right hand and began to speak in a voice that spread across the earth and sky. "Sun Lord, I summon your power in the name of the Trinity Kingdom. May your flames scorch the enemies in front of me!" As soon as the man finished speaking, the dark storm that covered the army spread apart as a beam of golden majestic energy fell from the sky into his hand. Cain''s eyes widened as he saw how an incredibly immense amount of energy gathered in the man''s hand while wings began to form on his back, and each one made the man''s power grow even higher. Finally, five wings formed on his back as all the energy in the pillar gathered in the palm of his hand. "Filthy being, burn beneath the might of the Sun Lord!" He gazed at the army that could have faced one of the six races of Aether with disdain before unleashing all that energy into a beam against them. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Cain''s eyes were full of shock and disbelief as he saw that beam of solar energy falling from the man''s hand onto the dark army, sundering it in half and killing millions of warriors, including those in the sky, as if they were nothing. The beam had so much power that it penetrated the earth for thousands of meters, scorching the ground and erasing the pollution the dark army unleashed. The attack carried on for over five thousand kilometers, encompassing the entire length of the dark army''s formation! ''What monstrous power!'' Cain was no longer the same young man shocked by the spell of an Atrox God and had faced True Titans of the level of Dark Kings. Yet, he was overwhelmed by the power of the man''s attack. It was an assault that could have carved an eternal scar in Gaia, capable of obliterating Eden, the Silver City. The might displayed by the man surpassed the limits of Aether, and Cain did not even understand how someone could wield such power. The wings on the man''s back faded the next second, and an expression of utter exhaustion appeared on his face as his youthful visage aged. That attack had inflicted significant damage on the dark army but did not eradicate it, and there were still many warriors alive. Yet, the man showed only disdain. Even in his weakened state, the power warrior felt no fear toward the remainder of the army. However, suddenly, his eyes narrowed as he focused on the distance, and a sharp light appeared in them. Cain''s eyes widened as he realized the man was looking directly at him. ''?He can see me!'' As soon as that thought emerged in Cain''s mind, he sent the intent, and his body dispersed as he left the dimension. Less than a millisecond after Cain vanished, the man appeared in the space where he used to be. A frown appeared on his face as he saw that Cain was gone, but he did not show much concern as he turned back to the dark army. Chapter 541: To the Deus Behemoth Empires capital (I) Cain awoke inside the Sun Tree the next second, his entire body soaked in cold sweat, and the shock in his eyes was evident. The level of power he had witnessed was unlike anything he had ever seen, and the scale of destruction was overwhelming. The golden humanoid in the deepest part of Cain''s soul saw the distress and how the Alter Ego began to use its full power to stabilize it. His eyes narrowed as he imagined Cain''s shock, and a small smile appeared. Although Apex did not know what Cain had seen on his journey through the dream world, he was sure it must have been a display of might unlike anything that could appear in Aether. Apex had always ingrained in Cain the idea that he should not be complacent with his power, but that was becoming hard to do as Cain advanced so fast and showed a talent and might that Aether could not even measure anymore. He had already reached the power to face the highest figures of the six great races, and it would not be long before he could challenge even those who called themselves Titans and Gods. How could someone like that not feel entitled to feel superior and complacent with his power? Fortunately, it seemed Apex would not have to worry about that. As for the shock in Cain''s heart being too much, Apex was even less worried about that since the golden humanoid could see how, once the shock began to fade, a burning light appeared in the young man''s eyes, full of fighting spirit and greed. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire Cain clenched his fists as a smile appeared on his face. He wanted that power, the might to level an entire continent and destroy millions with a single strike. After a few seconds, Cain began to take deep breaths as he calmed the raging thrill and battle will in his heart. He still did not know how to reach that realm with his real body. Yet, that was not a real problem since there were still a lot of things in Aether that could help in cultivation. Cain calmed his mind and heart but did not forget that person''s power. He then went through the messages in the [A.I. Chip Module] and saw files related to the Astral Bloodline Realm and the people that would accompany him. The message was sent to by Lord Kabuto shortly. He analyzed it before waving his hand, opening the Sun Tree, and emerging the next second. He immediately saw nine members of the Solis Clan waiting for him. ''All of them are Apotheosis Realm Masters, and by their age and power, it is clear they are very talented and have immense potential.'' "Good, you have come out. It is time to leave for the capital." Lord Kabuto appeared after Cain emerged from the Sun Tree. He did not waste time, and his aura covered all ten members of the Solis Clan as they rose into the sky and flashed toward the capital of the Deus Behemoth Empire. Lord Kabuto had used his sunlight energy to envelop everyone in the group so they could advance at a shocking speed. Still, the capital of the Deus Behemoth Empire was a considerable distance from the Sacred Home of the clan, so it would take a few minutes to arrive. Of course, Lord Kabuto could reach every part of the Bahamut Sector in half a minute if he deployed his full speed and was willing to use his secret techniques, but that would generate too much stress on the people he carried, not to mention there was no need for that. Besides, a few minutes would do good for the team, especially since one had little to no contact with the rest of the warriors. Cain glanced at the rest of the people from the Solis Clan who would go into the Astral Bloodline Realm but had only interacted with Tania before. All the others were also Apotheosis Realm Masters yet had vibrant life forces, so there was no one with age above one hundred years, and they were still technically considered part of the younger generation. The one who drew most of Cain''s attention was a man with sharp golden eyes, antlers emerging from the back of his head, and black hair. He was very handsome, and his body vibrated with power and might, making it clear how much he had advanced in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. What surprised Cain was the similarity between this man and Lord Kabuto. The man seemed to notice Cain''s gaze and looked at him for a moment before clasping his hands and nodding. "I am Zamuel. It is a pleasure to meet the Sun Avatar." Although Zamuel had higher cultivation and age, the status of the Sun Avatar was not just for show, and in terms of status in the Solis Clan, he was only below Lord Kabuto, Kenia, and Lusmir, the three Divine Ascension Masters. Cain clasped his hands to the man, and his eyes glowed with red light as he perceived the man''s aura. Although he could not perfectly gauge Zamuel''s power, he seemed to be the strongest of the nine. "The pleasure is mine." After that, Cain turned to the rest of the people flying by his side. He already analyzed the file with their names, but it would be best if they at least introduced themselves. The rest of the group members noticed the intent in Cain''s gaze and began to speak. "We have already met, Colonel Laurifer." Tania, the fierce swordsman, smiled at Cain. "My name is Golker. And this one beside me is Olker." A man with a bulky body and green hair presented himself and the thin comrade by his side. Although Golker followed the Astral Rebirth path and Olker the Essence Evolution path, both were extremely similar, making it clear they were brothers. Cain nodded to the duo. As for the fact that Golker did not address him as Sun Avatar, he had never cared for words, and only actions mattered. Besides, they were not in the military. "I am Simir, Sun Avatar." Shortly after the duo, a young woman saluted Cain. She was just one meter and seventy centimeters tall, the smallest of the group, but that did not mean she was the weakest at all. "And I am Lorin, Sun Avatar." After Simir, another young woman introduced herself. She was taller, nearly one meter and ninety centimeters, and there were two shields with sharp ends on her back. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw how similar this woman was to Core Elder Lusmir. ?A daughter?'' Cain did not dwell too much on those thoughts as he turned toward the trio in the back. Two were at the Flesh Calamity, and the last was at the Fire Tribulation. "I am Zol, Sun Avatar." "And I am Korn, Sun Avatar." The two Flesh Calamity Masters presented themselves. Zol wielded a massive warhammer, while Korn had a broadsword. "And my name is Polut, Sun Avatar." The Fire Tribulation Master saluted Cain. He was the oldest of the group, reaching nearly 100 years already, but his aura also seemed to be only second to Zamuel. Cain also saluted Polut before turning toward Zamuel. "Who will be the leader of this expedition?" When Cain asked that question, a complicated expression appeared on Zamuel''s face, as it did on the faces of all the others. None of the nine doubted Cain''s battle power as they had already seen him fight, and despite being a Wave King, he could deploy a battle strength that seemed to be near the Late or Peak Apotheosis Stage. However, the leader of an expedition does not always need to be the strongest person. The Astral Bloodline Realm was a very peculiar dimension. Only those below the Divine Ascension Stage could enter, but that was just the beginning of its oddities. Inside were bizarre beasts capable of killing Apotheosis Realm Masters, and if that wasn''t enough, constant waves of radiation flooded the dimension. In some areas, the radiation was feeble, and those with the Ten Great Bloodlines could endure it with little trouble. However, other regions exuded radiation that could destroy their cells, leading to a painful and agonizing death. Since the Astral Bloodline Realm had opened several times in the past, the dangerous areas should have been mapped. Yet, another issue was that space inside the dimension behaved erratically, with new paths forming every time it opened and old ones disappearing, limiting the usefulness of information from the past. Considering all these characteristics, choosing the person in charge of leading their group through those deadly passages was a matter of grave importance. "Originally, we had discussed and agreed that I would take the lead, as I have already internalized all the knowledge regarding the dangers of the Astral Bloodline Realm and developed countermeasures. Of course, since you are the Sun Avatar, you have the authority to take the lead." Chapter 542: To the Deus Behemoth Empires capital (II) "No need. You can keep the leadership." Cain immediately shook his head. The Absolute Life Form System had already assessed all the information regarding the Astral Bloodline Realm and generated contingencies for all the problems he might face. However, Zamuel must have all sorts of treasures in his space ring capable of maintaining the group''s safety, which Cain did not, not to mention he knew the people better and could guide them to exploit their might during battle fully. Zamuel and the others smiled as they heard that. They were happy that Cain did not let fame and status go to his head and took the leadership despite not being the most prepared. Lord Kabuto also smiled as he heard that. He was pleased that Cain didn''t forcefully take the group''s leadership. Although the Patriarch of the Solis Clan knew the young man''s excellent leadership skills, that didn''t mean he needed to jump into that position at every chance. After all, a good sword is not the sharpest, but the most useful for the right task, and the most suited for guiding the team into the Astral Bloodline Realm was not Cain but Zamuel. "Hahaha, your grand-uncle is very wise, isn''t little Zami?" When Zamuel heard the words of Lord Kabuto, his eyes couldn''t help but twitch. He was the great-grandson of Lord Kabuto, so technically, Cain would be his grand-uncle. However, calling someone who is not even twenty years old "grand uncle" while you were in your mid-eighties was extremely embarrassing. Cain also found it odd but did not say a word and simply remained silent. If they were about to bicker about it, Lord Kabuto would just make a fuss about it, so it was better if he ignored it. Luckily for Cain and Zamuel, that was the right path, as Lord Kabuto did not bring the topic up again and soon they arrived at the capital of the Deus Behemoth Empire. The Godslayer Humankind Empire had Eden, while the Atrox Immortus Race had Evernight, and the capital of the Deus Behemoth Empire went by the name of Amazon. Cain had seen great things on his travels, but his eyes couldn''t help but widen as he saw Amazon. Unlike most cities, this one was not made of buildings but of trees and lacked any sort of walls. But the most crucial part was the fact it was floating in the sky. Amazon was the size of a large island, capable of holding dozens of millions of people, and waves of golden-red energy emerged from it. It radiated a unique power that seemed to nurture the bloodline and body of anyone in its proximity. Unlike Eden and Evernight, the Deus Behemoth Empire did not create their capital. According to the records Cain obtained, this floating city appeared thousands of years ago, and the emperor moved the capital to this place after discovering its unique powers. The most important structure in Amazon was the gate to the Astral Bloodline Realm. Typically, entering the capital of an empire would require all sorts of verification, not to mention that you could not simply move freely and go wherever you wanted. Still, as the Patriarch of one of the Ten Great Bloodlines and a True Titan, Lord Kabuto could fly across Amazon without a problem. Cain gazed at the capital of the Deus Behemoth Empire with surprise and admiration. All sorts of structures were built using the trees and rocks around them. Some places used the crown of trees as merchant stores, while others used the caves on small mountains as rooms. It was a display of flawless symbiosis between the land and the people, something humanity failed to achieve in the Old World. It did not take long for the group to reach the center of Amazon, and Cain''s eyes immediately went to the massive portal forming on the ground. His perception of the Law of Space was high enough to understand it was a unique passage to another dimension, but that was all he could perceive since the principles behind it were too high for him. The portal was guarded by ten giant statues, all of them depicting strange beasts. Cain e saw a massive red snake, a creature with a lion head and golden wings, an enormous crustacean creature with a humanoid upper body, a gigantic wolf with a sword in its mouth, and a winged feathered snake. These statues represented some of the Ten Great Bloodlines with whom Cain had already made contact. His eyes immediately were drawn to the other five, and they were all just as majestic. One of them resembled a massive bipedal bear with wings that seemed to be made of metal blades, while another was a massive eagle-like beast that seemed to carry the power of cold to the extreme. The other two were sea creatures, one resembling a massive whale that seemed to generate its own gravitational field and the other a mighty shark covered in shadows and darkness. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire The last one, and also the one that unleashed the mightiest aura, was a tiger with horns and spikes emerging from its back that seemed to have lava instead of blood. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he focused on the lava tiger and felt that the aura of this one was much more vivid than that of the other statues. He could only assume it to be the radiation unleashed by the current emperor of the Deus Behemoth Empire, who belonged to the Vulcano Lineage. Although the giant statues were the first to see, Cain''s eyes soon turned to those around them. Four of the statues were already occupied by people, and he had just glanced at the statue of the Zanginis Clan when his eyes narrowed as he turned to the one of the Kraken Clan. ''Killing intent?'' Cain had detected a wave of hatred and killing intent, and it did not take long for him to find the origin as he saw an old man focusing on him with pure hatred and rage. Although Cain had never seen that old man, he noticed the similarity between this one and Natuo, so it was not hard for him to figure out that this one must be the father of the man and also the one that sent Marcellus to get him shortly after he arrived in the Bahamut Sector. Lord Kabuto noticed the sharpness in Cain''s gaze, and he was able to locate its origin. ''That is Norkuo, an elder from the Kraken Clan. It seems that he will also be entering the Astral Bloodline Realm.'' Cain heard Lord Kabuto''s voice, and he nodded. He was sure the old man already knew of his problem with the Kraken Clan, but this one had not moved against Norkuo. For one, no matter how strong Lord Kabuto was, he could not simply go and kill the elder of another clan. Not to mention, Cain had the power to kill the old man alone. Cain also did not expect the Patriarch of the Solis Clan to handle his problem and was ready to take care of the man if he had a chance. Even if Norkuo could not harm him, that did not mean he could not go after those he cared for, and he had already learned his lesson of letting danger linger after the events in Blade Mountain. Without further problems, Lord Kabuto guided his group beneath the majestic winged qilin statue. There was still time until the opening, so the people just waited silently until all Ten Great Bloodlines arrived. Cain turned to the group gathered beneath the Blood Snake statue. He noticed that while Lord Zagninis was present, neither Prince Kouto nor Desmond were among those set to enter the Astral Bloodline Realm. Prince Kouto, already a Divine Ascension Master, would be rejected by the portal, while Desmond was simply too weak. Unfortunately for the young man from the Zagninis Clan, even though he was very talented and could elevate his battle power to the Late Wave King level, all those entering the Realm were Apotheosis Realm Masters, with some capable of nearing the power of a Divine Ascension Master. One could only say that Desmond had bad luck and was too young, as not everyone could be a monster like Cain, capable of deploying Apotheosis battle power at the Early Wave King stage. After exchanging greetings with Lord Zagninis, Cain turned his attention to the group beneath the winged feathered snake and saw Urien. The young woman from the Aeolus Clan smiled at Cain and clasped her hands in greeting, which he returned courteously. The rest of the Aeolus Clan members followed their leader''s example and focused on Cain. All of them had been concentrating on their cultivation to stay at their peak before entering the Astral Bloodline Realm, so they did not attend the Sun Avatar Crowning. Today was their first time seeing the Godslayer Human, and there was a meaningful light in their eyes. Chapter 543: Eon Cain noticed the fighting will in several people from the Aeolus Clan, but his attention quickly shifted to those from the Kraken Clan. The Kraken Clan could become his greatest adversary in the Astral Bloodline Realm. Other than Norkuo, all other members of the Kraken Clan entering the dimension were young and full of vibrant vitality and power. The group was led by a man with red hair and blue eyes, covered in a bronze exoskeleton that radiated immense pressure. Of the nine, only the red-haired man raised Cain''s awareness, his instincts warning him of the power of this one. Not wanting to draw too much attention, Cain turned to the group to the left of the Kraken Clan beneath the shadow shark statue. This group was the Umbra Clan, characterized by the sharp fin on their arms and legs and known for their assassination skills. Cain''s gaze didn''t linger on the Umbra Clan as he observed two groups arriving in the sky. One group included Rodric from the Fenrir Clan, whom Cain had encountered during the Sun Avatar Crowning. The other group was full of individuals with massive constitutions, each between two and a half to three meters tall, and dark metallic fur over their bodies. That was the Ursa Clan. Unlike other clans, none of them wore armor, even the Essence Cultivators, showcasing their pride in the defensive power of their bloodline. Shortly after the Ursa and Fenrir Clans, two more groups arrived. One consisted of tall individuals with massive constitutions, but unlike the Ursa Clan, they were armored and positioned themselves beneath the statue of the massive mythical whale. Another group, composed entirely of winged stunning women with a cold aura surrounding their bodies and a freezing bloodline, positioned themselves beneath the ice mythical eagle statue. After the Gravita and Artik Clans arrived, Cain frowned, feeling an overwhelming wave of heat that made him uncomfortable. Cain''s body, resilient enough to withstand the magma of nearly all volcanos in Aether, was unsettled by this intense temperature. He looked up, along with everyone else, as a figure appeared in the sky. It was a middle-aged man with long dark hair, dark gray skin, majestic horns, and armor that seemed to contain revolving magma. That majestic man was Eon, the Emperor of the Deus Behemoth Empire, Patriarch of the Vulcano Clan, and the strongest Deus Behemoth in all of Aether. Despite containing his aura, the power he unleashed was so massive that it affected space-time, and the radiation he emitted was the highest of everyone present. "We salute the mighty Emperor of the Deus Behemoth Empire, Eon Vulcano," shouted everyone present, including Cain. Cain clenched his fists in awe of the man''s power. He had witnessed a greater display of power in the dream world, but experiencing things in person and with your own senses had a different feeling. The Deus Behemoth Emperor nodded as he descended from the sky, his gaze narrowing as he looked at Cain. Maintaining composure under such a powerful gaze was challenging, but Cain managed, his eyes glowing with red light. The exchange between them was brief as Eon softly nodded and continued descending. Only after Eon touched the ground did people notice ten warriors from the Vulcano Clan who would be entering the Astral Bloodline Realm. All Apotheosis Realm Masters have powerful auras and vibrant vitalities, yet the Emperor eclipsed their presence. A tense silence fell as all eyes turned towards Lord Eon, waiting for him to speak before ten warriors from each clan marched into the Astral Bloodline Realm. Once inside, they would be on their own. While there was a tactical agreement to avoid conflict, it was uncertain if this would hold once treasure was involved, especially since some clans already harbored animosity towards each other. "The Astral Bloodline Realm might be a land full of danger and treasure, where greed could cloud your judgment, but remember who you are and what you fight for." This concise statement, rich with wisdom and insight, was enough to awaken all the younger generation members, allowing them to consider whether killing their brothers and sisters in the pursuit of wealth was worth it. "Go." As soon as Eon gave the signal, the fighting will of all the people burst forth as they flashed into the portal. The portal was large enough to allow all groups to enter simultaneously. The moment Cain touched the portal, he felt a great force take control of his body, and he could do nothing but follow along. Previously, when Cain went through a portal or teleportation formation, he only felt the power of space but understood almost nothing. However, things were different now that his understanding of the Law of Space was at the Extreme Basic Understanding. Cain was still unable to fully understand the power behind the portal, but he knew his body was not being sent across a great distance but barely moving from his position. The Astral Bloodline Realm was located in the same place as Amazon. ''A parallel dimension?'' A parallel dimension is a dimension that occupies the same space as the central plane of existence that held Aether, but that possesses a different vibrational frequency, allowing the superposition of two things. As Cain considered this, the darkness faded, and he found himself in the ceiling of what could only be described as a gray cylinder dozens of thousands of kilometers tall and with a length his supernatural sense could not perceive. ''So this is the Gray Road. Majestic.'' Cain felt awe and wonder at the marvelous sight, but instantly, his eyes grew sharp as he saw his body falling. If that was all, there would be no problem, but hundreds of white skeletal monsters were on the ground of the gargantuan road. These creatures had all sorts of strange bestial appearances, and there was not a single organ inside their bodies, not even a brain, yet their eyes glowed with light very similar to that which appeared in the members of the Sacred Race as they unleashed their Ego Waves. "ROOOOOOOAAARRRRRR!" The monsters, covered in dust just a second ago, roared as they detected the life forms falling from the sky, and they all flew toward them with nothing but pure killing intent in their eyes. Cain''s eyes widened as he made his Ego Wave burst, and he frowned as he noticed how restrictive it was in its rage. Normally, his red force field could extend for 1000 kilometers, but now it covered only five hundred meters. Although that was trouble, Cain was not worried since he had another scanning force field that, while it might not have the range of his Ego Wave, was much more powerful. ''System, display the full power of the [Pseudo Multidimensional Scan Force Field].'' Cain expected to have a complete scan of 250 kilometers around him, but he was shocked to hear the Absolute Life Forms System''s response. [An unknown power is restricting the Pseudo Multidimensional Scan Force Field. Current range: 1000 meters.] Cain was surprised to hear that the dimension could hinder the [A.I. Chip Module] despite the capabilities of this one having evolved to a realm that could be considered the peak of Aether. Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire ''This place is definitely something different. It will not be of much help, but it will still grant me a greater range of control than my Ego Wave.'' All those thoughts crossed Cain''s mind in a second as he took out Slaughter and made his body glow with sunlight energy as the power of the Law of Blood and Law of Space burst. He did not wait for the Skeletal Beasts to surround him and flashed forward. Cain was not alone; all the other Deus Behemoths who appeared alongside him in the ceiling of the Gray Road also made their power burst. The people of the Solis Clan generated a potent burst of sunlight energy that scorched the air while simultaneously giving them supernatural speed. At the same time, those from the Zanginis Clan either made their bodies burst with Blood Energy or conjured powerful spells using blood. Those from the Vulcano Clan unleashed bursts of flames that ignited the air, while the women of the Artik Clan did the opposite, generating a cold field that froze the particles of oxygen. The warriors from the Gravita Clan banded together as they unleashed a gravitational field and dived toward the Skeletal Monsters, while the chest-bare fighters from the Ursa Clan lunged toward all the monsters in their path, seemingly intending to use their own bodies as battering rams. The people from the Kraken Clan followed a similar path to those of the Gravitas Clan as they all fused their energy, generating what seemed to be a wave of Astral and Essence Wave in the form of a tsunami capable of crushing pressure. While the people from the Umbra Clan split, all of them used strange forces that faded their presence. All the members of the Fenrir Clan took different types of swords as they used the power of sword force and space energy to blast the enemies. Not far from them, the people from the Aeolus Clan unleashed wind vortices that crushed and shattered all the Skeletal Monsters in their path. Chapter 544: One hundred vs one hundred thousand Cain had taken the lead and did not stay with the rest of the people of the Solis Clan, not because he thought he could face the horde by himself, but because his next attack would have a massive range, and he needed to be alone. Streams of Blood Energy and Essence Wave gathered in Slaughter as Cain summoned the Bloodspace Vortex, and soon the revolving sphere of destructive energy appeared in his sword. The attack was strong, but Cain went the next step as his eyes began to glow, and he summoned the Sundering Concept. "Shatter!" Cain sent the gargantuan sphere of Blood Energy and spatial energy forward, and now that it was enhanced by the Sundering Concept, every fiber of energy in it was reinforced with a force that sought to sunder all things in its path. "BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion echoed across the road as the Bloodspace Vortex shattered all the Skeletal Monsters rising toward the Solis Clan and carried all the way to the ground, where it exploded, leaving an empty zone nearly four hundred meters wide. All the Deus Behemoths present turned to the blast as they saw the level of destructive power. Rodrick and Urien could not help but widen their eyes as they saw the power behind that attack. Both of them had fought Cain before and believed they had a good measure of the young man''s power, but they were wrong. Although Cain''s talent in the Essence Evolution Path of Power and the Astral Rebirth Path of Power was incredibly high, it had always been his Ego Eternal Path of Power, which allowed him to jump entire ranks. After all, Cain''s Ego Wave matched that of a Peak Apotheosis Master and could enhance his energy pool, not to mention he controlled the power Sundering Concepts and had unique skills such as Radiance of Life and Radiance of Power. Cain did not have time to care about the sight of the others as he flashed at full speed toward the ground and immediately waved his hand, sending out the nine Space Spheres before flooding the air with his Blood Energy and Essence Wave, generating a Nexus Blood Domain! The ground flooded with blood as Cain''s Ego Wave fused into the domain, improving the power of this one, reaching the range and power of all his skills in it. The first step in the Astral Bloodline Realm was facing the horde of Skeletal Creatures. Running from them was not a wise choice, as they would follow nonstop, and facing them in radioactive areas or zones full of space fluctuations would be dangerous. As soon as Cain landed on the surface, his eyes narrowed since hundreds of Skeletal Monsters flashed toward him, full of murderous intent and without regard for their lives. Fortunately for Cain, before the beasts could even approach him, they were destroyed by beams of sunlight energy, and the next second, glowing warriors landed on the ground, adopting a defensive formation around him. Zamuel did a great job guiding the warriors of the Solis Clan; they adopted a formation with Cain at the center, using the power of the domain to improve their fighting capability. Although the groups had shattered dozens of Skeletal Creatures, many more marched toward them. But before the Solis Clan could unleash a new wave of attacks, warriors covered in Blood Energy descended from the sky and blasted the monsters to pieces. Zamuel was surprised to see the warriors of the Zanginis Clan immediately grouping with them. Even if their clans were allies, this place incited greed, so it was normal for people to maintain a certain distance. His eyes narrowed as he focused on the leader of the Zanginis Clan, a man with a youthful appearance towering nearly two meters tall and a bulging constitution. The man''s name was Lore, and like Zamuel, he was the grandson of the Patriarch of the Clan. Just as Zamuel wondered about the man''s purpose, he saw him focused on Cain, and the intent in his eyes was similar to that of a soldier waiting for orders. Zamuel had faced Lore from a very young age, so he was surprised to see that behavior from the stubborn and arrogant man. Cain also noticed the look in the man''s eyes but did not waste time, and immediately, a battle formation appeared in his mind. "The Solis Clan will maintain the ground while the Zanginis Clan will protect the sky. Adopt a dome formation using the Nexus Blood Domain as the core. Each group will follow the guide from their respective leaders." Zamuel and Lore smiled as they heard those words. Cain''s battle tactic allowed both groups to help themselves while maintaining their dynamic. Although one might think separating them between ground and air was wrong, mixing them would have affected each clan''s tempo. Immediately, the people of the Solis Clan adopted a pentagram formation around Cain while the Zanginis Clan covered the air. Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire The Law of Blood did not affect the Skeletal Creatures, but the Law of Space hindered their movements, making them slower and easier to destroy. Not only that, those of the Zanginis Clan were actually enhanced by being inside the domain, as their spells and skills that used the power of blood were enhanced. "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" Dozens of explosions echoed every second inside the domain as the warriors from the Solis Clan and the Zanginis Clan destroyed the Skeletal Creatures. Cain was in the center of the Nexus Blood Domain as the destruction raged around him. He was not making a move, but no one would blame him since he had already helped secure the ground, and the domain was helping them, so he more than did his part. Maintaining a domain was not easy, so it would be fine if he only concentrated on that. Cain''s Ego Wave made keeping the domain in place very straightforward, and the reason he was not making a move was that his senses were adapting to the hordes marching toward them. Finally, Cain''s eyes began to glow with golden light, and he took a step forward, vanishing. Just as Cain did that, four Skeletal Creatures were about to lunge toward a member of the Solis Clan, forcing this one to pull back when Cain appeared in front of them and performed a Quantum Laceration that blasted them to pieces. Before the member of the Solis Clan could even process Cain''s appearance, he had already vanished, appearing in the sky and sending another blast of Blood Energy at Skeletal Creatures that attempted to lunge toward an Essence Evolution Cultivator from the Zanginis Clan. Cain had just destroyed them when he once again waved Slaughter. The woman from the Zanginis Clan that Cain had just helped was confused as no power emerged from the weapon, but the next instant, she heard a blast in the distance and saw how a small explosion of Blood Energy appeared at the other end of the Nexu Blood Domain. Cain knew every move the Skeletal Creatures made moments before they did it. The power of The Flow allowed him to predict where he was most needed, and he used Spatial Phase to appear there or Warp Strike to attack from a distance. The people from the Zanginis Clan and the Solis Clan could not help but smile as they saw how Cain was able to appear just at the right time, diminishing the pressure they faced from the horde of Skeletal Creatures and allowing them to unleash their power more freely. Although all of the clans could face the horde of Skeletal Creatures, the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan did not have to overexert themselves at all, and up to the moment, none of them received even a small wound. Cain''s eyes did not stop glowing as the power of The Flow guided his attacks. Fighting this way and maintaining a domain in place required a massive amount of energy, but that was not really a problem as the [Gluttony Module] kept consuming the Draco Lightning Frog corpse and flooded his Evolution Core with Life Wave that his Essence Star automatically devoured before flooding his meridians with Essence Wave. As long as Cain did not use attacks that consumed too much of his energy too fast, he could continue fighting for hours, as the [Gluttony Module] would help him nonstop with his energy needs. Of course, people also noticed how Cain''s energy pool seemed to have no end, but they accepted it as one of the many strange things around the monster genius. The explosion lasted for a total of eleven hours until, finally, silence reigned. The only things left were the ninety-nine Deus Behemoths, one Godslayer Human, and broken pieces of Skeletal Creatures. Finally, the one hundred warriors that crossed through the portal in Amazon had destroyed the hundreds of thousands of monsters that had awoken from their hibernation with the sole purpose of killing them. Chapter 545: Taking the corpses Although fighting for eleven straight hours was strenuous, members of the Deus Behemoth Race had a racial advantage in terms of stamina, so despite being tired, they were still fine. Many of them turned to Cain as they expected the young man to be completely exhausted, as they saw how he maintained his domain for the entire eleven hours while fighting. Still, to everybody''s surprise, he looked better than all the others. Cain was not faking it, as he really was fine. No one here had an Ego Wave at the Third Realm, so they could not detect his Astral Wave even if he did not use his red mask. His dual cultivation would be evident if he used Astral Wave for spells, but no one noticed how he circulated a small amount across his body from time to time to keep his stamina. The young monster from the Godslayer Humankind Empire just became more and more mysterious to the Deus Behemoths, but no one had time for those thoughts since now that they defeated the hordes, it was time to take the rewards. The Deus Behemoths began to search around the corpses, ignoring the bones as they all went to the skulls to look inside them. The core component behind those Skeletal Creatures was a small crystal, which either had a milky sky-blue force known as Starwyrm''s Essence or a nebulous dark purple energy called Starwyrm''s Blood. The former was useful for Essence Cultivators as their Essence Star could consume it, improving their energy pool and purity. At the same time, Astral Cultivators could use the latter to enhance their Astral Blood Saturation. Starwyrm''s Essence and Starwyrm''s Blood were the most common treasures inside the Astral Bloodline Realm, and while the amount found inside the gems of the Skeletal Creatures was meager, they were still extremely valuable. Consuming them in massive quantities could greatly help even geniuses with flawless foundations. The division of these treasures was also one of the reasons why all groups worked separately, as none wanted to bicker with others for them. Zamuel and Lore glanced at each other as they tried to decide how to split the gems with Starwyrm''s Essence and Starwyrm''s Blood. Although both sides killed around the same amount of Skeletal Creatures, Cain''s work could compare with that of at least three Apotheosis Realm Masters, and since he was part of the Solis Clan, they should get more. "Divide half and half." Cain noticed the gaze of the duo, and before they could even open their mouths, he settled the problem. Zamuel sighed as he would have liked to keep more of the treasures, but since Cain spoke, there was little he could say. Lore''s smile widened as he was happy with an equal division of the treasure. With that settled, Cain began to search the broken skulls and take the gems like the others, but his focus was on the shattered skeletons. All the Deus Behemoths simply threw the broken bones to the side since they were useless, but that might not be the case for him. Cain sent one of the pieces to his [Demonic Devourer Dimension], and a small smile appeared on his face as the [Sky Flame] managed to consume it, taking a small amount of Starwyrm''s Essence. Although most of the energy was concentrated in the gem inside their skulls, there was still a significant amount in the skeleton of the monsters. It was just that all the others found it impossible to extract it from the broken pieces. Once he knew he was right, Cain continued working like the others, taking the gems and pushing the skeletons to the side. The harvesting process lasted nearly an hour, and that was because people used all kinds of methods and spells to take several gems at the same time. If they went one by one, it would have taken more time than the fight. After the harvesting, all the Deus Behemoths adopted meditative positions as they replenished their energy. This eleventh-hour fight against hundreds of thousands of Skeletal Beasts was the easiest part of the Astral Bloodline Realm. From this point forward, it was that the troubles began. The Gray Road had hundreds of paths, but knowing where each would lead you was nearly impossible. You had to take one and hope to find clues that could lead you to one of the Six Chambers. The Six Chambers are special locations inside the Astral Bloodline Realm. Each contained unique cultivation grounds that could help Astral Cultivators and Essence Cultivators improve their foundation, energy pool''s quality and quantity, and refine their meridians or bodies. Every group wanted to reach a chamber, but it was impossible to know what path would take you there since there were distortions in space every time the Astral Bloodline Realm opened. Also, deadly radiation areas could pop up at any moment, and there were even stronger monsters than the Skeletal Creatures guarding each of the chambers. And if all that was not enough, some chambers had unique defensive structures that could stop the advance of even Divine Ascension Masters. Ultimately, the best path was to take a route and find clues about where it would take you from notes of previous experiences and advance from there. It was not easy nor fast, but luckily, the Astral Bloodline Realm would last several months open. After three hours, the people from the Vulcano Clan rose from the ground and flashed down one of the routes, and it didn''t take long for those from the Gravita Clan to do the same. One by one, the warriors from the different clans rose from the ground as they had replenished their strength and advanced. The warriors from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan had also replenished their strength. They had finished before the others since none suffered severe wounds, but they did not move as Cain''s eyes closed, and he did not seem to wake up from his meditation. Zamuel and Lore saw how the other clans were advancing while they remained behind. Although being first did not mean they would advance faster in this place, being last was not good either, but neither dared to disturb Cain''s meditation. It did not take long for all eight clans to have left the area, and only then did Cain open his eyes. He saw that only the people from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan were left, so he did not hesitate before using the power of the Law of Space, taking control of the broken bones left by the Skeletal Creatures and sending them into his [Demonic Devourer Dimension]. Although the energy in an entire corpse was less than a fifth of the one contained in the gems, he obtained hundreds of tons of broken bones. He had waited since he did not want to bicker about him taking the corpses that belonged to others. Even if the broken bones were trash, if the other clans found out they had value for Cain, they would not have simply given it to him. Zamuel and Lore immediately understood why Cain waited, but they could not help but show a confused expression as they did not understand why the Godslayer Human wanted the skeletons. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire Cain noticed the confusion in their eyes, but he was not going to reveal his secret, and instead of telling a lie, he just changed the subject and focused on Lore. "I assume that Lord Zanginis told you to follow my lead." "Yes, Great Grandfather said we should follow you. We were supposed to be lucky following your guide and that you will treat us fairly." Lore did not bother to hide it and immediately revealed the information. Of course, no one forced him to oblige since Lord Zanginis had little influence in this place, but he trusted the old man, and so far, Cain''s had been helpful. "Mmm, I see. If Zamuel doesn''t have a problem, we could advance together and divide the resources according to meritocracy. In case of conflict, I will act as the judge." "There is no problem, Sun Avatar." Zamuel immediately clasped his hands. Two groups working together could lead to many troubles in a place full of treasure, but with Cain acting as the intermediary, both sides trusted that he would be fair. Since the leaders decided to work together, the Apotheosis Realm Masters from both sides smiled at each other. Besides, the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan had a long friendship, so it was easy for them to cooperate. Cain nodded, and it was time to choose a route. Usually, overthinking had little use since they could only follow a path and test their luck. If it was a dead end, they could only return to the main route and try again, but that was not true for Cain. A golden light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he focused on one of the side paths in the Gray Road. "I assume that each chamber unleashes a massive amount of energy, right?" Chapter 546: Pool of Purity "I assume that each chamber contains an overwhelming amount of energy, right?" Zamuel and Lore turned towards Cain as they heard his words and noticed his eyes glowing with golden light. "Yes, Sun Avatar. Each of the Six Chambers contains a cultivation ground with immense energy waves, but it is impossible to detect them from our location." Cain turned toward Zamuel as he heard that and realized only he could see the potent energy frequency coming from the route he was focusing on. "We should take that route. How we handle the troubles in our path will be up to you two." Zamuel and Lore focused on the route that Cain had just signaled. Neither of them felt anything special, but since that path was just as good as any other, they nodded and guided the warriors from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan in. Cain was in the middle of the group along with the other Essence Cultivators and flanked by Astral Cultivators since he was supposed to have a weak body. The group had advanced for an hour, dodging dangerous zones of radiation bursts and keeping a straight path. Zamuel and Lore were in the lead as both were Astral Cultivators and had the strongest bodies. They had just turned to the left when their eyes widened as they saw hundreds of skeletal monsters covered by black necrotic tissues. Although these monsters were much more powerful than the normal Skeletal Creatures, seeing them made a smile appear on Zamuel and Lore''s faces since these creatures were called Filth Monsters and were near one of the Six Chambers! All the warriors from the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan glanced at Cain as they couldn''t help but wonder how he figured out the right path. However, those questions could be answered later as the Filth Monsters noticed their presence and attacked. "ROOOOAARRRR!" The Filth Monsters roared as they charged toward the warriors from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan. Not only were they faster and stronger than the Skeletal Creatures, but every inch of their bodies was covered in a deadly substance, and the slightest wounds could infect their bodies with all sorts of poisons and toxins. Cain acted immediately, unleashing nine Spatial Spheres and deploying the Blood Nexus Domain, while the members of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan adopted battle formations. Since the creatures would attack them blindly, letting them enter the domain and use their formation to improve their battle power was better. Explosions reigned as the warriors from the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan destroyed the Filth Monsters. Cain carried on the same function as in the last battle, using The Flow to predict the movement of the horde and intercept them before they could do any damage. Despite being stronger than the Skeletal Creatures, these were fewer in number, so in less than fifteen minutes, all of them were destroyed. Everyone inspected the skulls of the Filth Monsters they killed and took the gems. Cain also took only the gems from the monsters he killed, despite his domain having helped, which was why no one said a word when he took the corpses for himself. His smile widened as he felt these broken corpses had more Starwyrm''s Essence and Starwyrm''s Blood than the Skeletal Creatures. There was also hazardous and toxic force, but the [Sky Flame] was able to consume it and transform it into energy for his body. The group advanced for fifteen more minutes until they suddenly found a crossroad. Zamuel and Lore looked at both paths, and normally at this point, they would go through the records of previous travels to figure out the most likely route to the chamber, but now they just turned to Cain. Cain''s eyes glowed with golden light as he used The Flow again before pointing to the right. The group followed the route, and smiles appeared on the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan members as they saw a new horde of Filth Monsters appear. It was clear now to Zamuel and Lore that it was not just luck, and Cain had a way of figuring out the route to the chamber. Although they were curious, neither asked and were just happy to have the young man in their group. The fate of this horde of Filth Monsters was not different from the last one. They were all destroyed in less than an hour before the group advanced. They flew for a little over four hours, facing six crossroads and destroying another seven hordes before finally seeing a pale red light ahead. Zamuel and Lore couldn''t help but smile as they increased their speed and finally reached what seemed to be a massive room. It was a vast, organic cavern with walls that had a textured appearance similar to tissue, illuminated in captivating hues of deep reds and purples. Dominating the center of this chamber was a serene, crystal-clear pool of water that radiated a gentle, purifying light. When the warriors from the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan saw that pool, they could barely resist the temptation to jump into it. Cain did not blame them, as he was just as thrilled to see that pool. This chamber went by the name of Pool of Purity, and the name of the liquid inside was the Elixir of Stellar Purity. It is a liquid that detoxifies and fortifies one''s internal organs, enhancing overall health and longevity. The purifying properties were so strong that they could not only disintegrate impurities but also harm you. However, there was no fear in any of the warriors from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan, as they were more than eager to jump in. "Tania, Golker, and Olker, you will take the first turn guarding the entrance." "Kino, Daka, and Kool, you will accompany them." Zamuel and Lore immediately named six of the cultivators to stand guard. Once inside the Pool of Purity, they would be too busy cultivating to look out for threats, so some needed to be alert. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire Although those six wanted to jump into the pool just like the others, none made a sound, and all accepted the responsibility. Besides, you could only stay a limited amount of time inside the pool before leaving, or else the Elixir of Stellar Purity could harm your body. Since the lookouts were decided, all the warriors removed their armor and were left in little clothes as they submerged into the Pool of Purity. Cain did the same, and immediately, his eyes widened as he felt the potent purging energy of the liquid coursing through his flesh, blood, and meridians, searching for the tiniest amount of pollution or filth to burn it. After less than three minutes, a black fog began to emerge from the bodies of some of the warriors. These were the impurities in their bodies. The more impurities, the easier it would be for the liquid to locate and expel it. Zamuel and Lore showed their great foundation since it took nearly ten minutes for a black fog to emerge from their bodies. However, the duo couldn''t help but show a complicated smile when they saw that it took nearly half an hour for the black fog to emerge from Cain. It was very thin, showing how little pollution was inside his body. Cain did not notice the looks on the other people''s faces as he was too engrossed in the power of the Elixir of Stellar Purity, removing the impurities from his body and energy pools. Although he had constantly tempered his Astral Wave and Essence Star, there was bound to be some pollution in all the treasures he consumed to improve his cultivation. The fact that Cain used only treasures at least two tiers above his rank helped diminish that pollution to the slightest but did not erase it. As for why the others did not do it, not every Wave Champion could consume high-quality wave crystals like candy since those were energy cores normally used by Apotheosis Realm Masters. As the Elixir of Stellar Purity removed what little impurities were left in his body, Cain focused on the [Demonic Devourer Dimension]. He saw two massive spheres of milky sky-blue and nebulous dark purple energy. That was the Starwyrm''s Essence and Starwyrm''s Blood the Sky Flame managed to extract from the hundreds of thousands of corpses of Skeletal Monsters. ''It is nearly thirty times the amount I could get from the gems, and the Sky Flame is still consuming the Filth Monsters!'' Cain controlled his thrill and calmed his heart as he divided his mind into two trains of thought, one focusing on revolving the power of the Elixir of Stellar Purity across his body. At the same time, he took control of the Starwyrm''s Essence and Starwyrm''s Blood in the [Demonic Devourer Dimension]. He sent the milky sky-blue energy into the Evolution Core, where the Essence Star voraciously devoured it. Cain also sent the nebulous dark purple power through his veins, improving the rate at which his blood cells carried on with the metamorphosis. Chapter 547: 50% Astral Blood Saturation Five days passed before the first of the warriors who had submerged in the Purity Pool emerged. She was a Water Tribulation Apotheosis Master from the Zanginis Clan, her face showing exhaustion but not diminishing her thrilling smile. The power of the Elixir of Stellar Purity had eliminated a significant amount of pollution in her body, improving the state of her Essence Star and the strength of her Essence Wave. The woman, noticing she was the first to emerge, didn''t give it much importance. She simply went to the pool entrance and nodded to a man from the Zanginis Clan, indicating she would continue with the vigilance. "Kino, it''s your turn." "Hahaha, thanks Amila." Kino, the Flesh Calamity Master from the Zagninis Clan, smiled as he thanked the woman and removed his armor before jumping into the Pool of Purity. The rest of the guards didn''t show much concern that they still had to remain vigilant, confident that more people would soon emerge. "Thump!" As expected, less than five minutes after Amila emerged, another figure flew out of the Pool of Purity. This time, it was a member of the Solis Clan, none other than Lorin, whom Cain suspected to be Lord Lusmir''s daughter. Lorin immediately moved to the entrance of the Pool of Purity and stared at Tania. "Sister Tania, you can go in." "Great." Tania, the fierce woman who had faced Cain during the Sun Avatar Crowning, smiled at Lorin before removing her armor and jumping into the Pool of Purity the next second. By the end of the day, all six guards stationed by Zamuel and Lore at the beginning were replaced, and it didn''t take long for many others to join them. The Elixir of Stellar Purity had an extremely potent purifying effect; the more impurities one had, the stronger its potency in the body. This was beneficial, but the problem was that the liquid put immense stress on the body and meridians, so breaks were necessary to avoid injury. Four days after Amila exited, Zamuel and Lore also emerged from the Pool of Purity. The duo''s robust foundations meant the potency of the Elixir of Stellar Purity in their bodies and meridians wasn''t too strong, allowing them to last nearly twice as long as the others. Although Zamuel and Lore were happy with their progress and endurance, they couldn''t help but display a complicated smile as they saw Cain still at the bottom of the Pool of Purity, showing no sign of needing to emerge soon. The duo could only accept that their foundation couldn''t compare with that of the monster from the Godslayer Human Race and went to the gate of the Pool of Purity. Shortly after Zamuel and Lore emerged, Amalia regained enough strength to endure a new cycle inside the Pool of Purity. Thus, the Solis Clan and Zagninis Clan warriors trained using the Pool of Purity for over a month. All of them used the Elixir of Stellar Purity to temper their flesh, blood, meridians, and energy pool, erasing the pollution inside. Since they were constantly rotated, everybody guarded the gate to the Pool of Purity at least twice, except for Cain, who had yet to emerge once. It was the thirty-third day when Zamuel and Lore emerged from the Pool of Purity for the third time. The power of the Elixir of Stellar Energy was no longer helpful to them, and they returned with the rest of the warriors. All nineteen of them had utilized the power of the Pool of Purity to the maximum of their capacities, and it was time to move on. However, one had yet to emerge. The warriors of the Zanginis and Solis Clans saw that Cain continued to use the power of the waters to remove impurities in his body. Cain seemed to mobilize the Elixir of Stellar Purity much more effectively than them, so despite the pollution on his body being much lower, he was taking longer to emerge. Since Cain had yet to emerge, neither of the two clans could leave. Luckily, they didn''t have to wait long, as by the start of the thirty-fourth day, Cain opened his eyes and emerged from the Pool of Purity. Cain''s skin was clearer than marble, and his entire body glowed with an air of purity as if he were immaculate. His Essence Wave revolved around his meridians with overwhelming speed and power. If before his energy resembled horses, now they were like dragons! The members of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan gazed at Cain with awe. The shock would be even greater if they knew his Astral Wave was just as pure, not to mention that the wanton consumption of Starwyrm Blood had a majestic effect on his Astral Blood Metamorphosis. ''System, scan me.'' Cain noticed that everyone was ready to move but was eager to see the effect of such wondrous cultivation ground, so he commanded the Absolute Life Form System to scan him. [Scanning Vessel... ... Scan of Vessel completed. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Early Wave King) / Essence Evolution (Early Wave King) Lineage: Solis Lineage (Maximum Purity) Wave Talent: Peak Tier 9 (Peak Tier 9) Stats: Strength: 95.1 --> 109.2 Agility: 56.2 --> 65.2 Vitality: 112.2 --> 124.6 Astral Wave: 69.2 --> 83.2 Essence Wave: 76.4 --> 91.2 Blood Energy (Astral): 134.3 --> 154.2 Blood Energy (Essence): 106.4 --> 123.6 Astral Blood Saturation: 50% Completion Main Law Mastery: Law of Blood (Deep Law Fragmentation) Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire Secondary Law Mastery: Law of Space (Extreme Basic Understanding) Note: Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 28.1%.] Cain was ecstatic when he saw his stats and the power of his body, the immense upgrade in his cultivation base in both the Essence Evolution and Astral Rebirth Paths of Power. It had been less than two months since his evolution to Wave King, but the consumption of tons of Starwyrm''s Essence and Starwyrm''s Blood had helped his energy pool push to the peak of the Early Stage, and it wouldn''t be long before he reached the Middle Stage. However, Cain''s Astral Blood Saturation excited him most, having reached the 50% mark! That meant that if Cain unleashed his Astral Cultivation, he could set the energy inside his blood cells ablaze, exponentially improving his defensive and offensive capabilities. Although there was no enhancement in his Law Mastery, Cain could feel how his understanding of the Law of Blood neared the Extreme Law Fragmentation. As for the Law of Space, he was already one step into the Law Fragmentation Realm, and it was just a matter of time before he achieved that incredible feat. ''The Law of Space at the Law Fragmentation Realm before twenty. I bet that''s a stunt not even those from the Fenrir Clan can achieve.'' Cain allowed himself a few moments to feel proud but did not get over his head. After all, it might be true that he could be the greatest genius in Aether, but that mattered very little in realms where a single person could unleash a beam capable of severing half a continent. The battle between the winged man and the dark army was still clear in Cain''s mind, and he constantly reminded himself of it as an excellent tool to keep his arrogance in check. Not wanting to keep the others waiting for too long, he flashed toward the group with the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan members. "It is time to move on." Zamuel and Lore nodded as they guided the group back to the Grey Road. As for the fact they had to wait for him, no one said a word; after all, it was not too long, and had it not been for Cain''s guidance, they would have wasted much more time finding one of the chambers. The path back was straightforward; luckily, they did not find any monsters as they had cleared all of them. That did not mean that people who traveled back to the Pool of Purity would not face dangers since dozens of paths intersected and led to each of the chambers. Not to mention that soon, the pollution that emerged from all the warriors from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan would fuse with the energy of the Astral Bloodline Realm and give birth to new Filth Monsters. After a few hours, Cain and the others managed to reach the Grey Road, and at this point, Zamuel and Lore turned to the Godslayer Human in silence. They were not alone since everyone in the group did the same, hoping Cain could lead them again to another of the chambers. Cain noticed their looks, and his eyes began to glow as he activated the power of The Flow, trying to detect the vibrational frequencies of the energy in the Astral Bloodline Realm. He focused on all the paths that were near them, but none of them showed anything special. "Let''s move forward." Zamuel and Lore nodded as they guided the group deeper into the Grey Road while Cain focused on all the paths, trying to detect if any of them had a potent energy fluctuation or were just dead ends. Chapter 548: Breath of Cosmos Chamber The group continued moving for nearly three hours, but Cain found nothing. Just as Zamuel was about to suggest taking a random path, Cain''s eyes narrowed. "There!" As soon as they heard those words, the warriors of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan''s eyes burst with fighting will. Zamuel and Lore kept their focus, as there was no guarantee the path was right, but less than thirty minutes in, smiles appeared on their faces. What the duo saw was a horde of monsters similar to the Filth Monster. However, unlike those near the Pool of Purity with filthy necrotic connective tissues holding their bones together, these were encompassed in a thick gray fog. "Gas Monsters!" Zamuel shouted with a smile, knowing these creatures roamed the roads leading to one of the six chambers named Breath of Cosmos. Although the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan members were excited to realize they were on a path to one of the six chambers, they immediately adopted serious stances, sealing their pores and generating a membrane around their bodies using their energy. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire Gas Monsters were not only stronger than Skeletal Monsters, but they unleashed a pungent airborne substance that could invade the bodies of living beings, destroying their lungs and poisoning them. Cain did not hesitate before waving his hand, unleashing the nine Spheres of Space and forming the Blood Nexus Domain, filling the ground with blood and covering the air with Blood Energy. Zamuel and Lore guided the group to form a battle formation inside the domain as they faced the incoming horde. The Gas Monsters marched toward the living warriors, full of killing intent, and with them came a gray miasma that poisoned the air. Luckily, as soon as they entered the domain, the pressure generated by the Law of Space repelled the miasma. The warriors from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan smiled as they saw that the Blood Nexus Domain managed to repel the strongest tool of the Gas Monsters. Without wasting time, they attacked with all they had. Cain kept the domain in place as he flashed toward a group of Gas Monsters that was making its way toward one of the Essence Cultivators from the Solis Clan. He appeared before them and waved Slaughter, generating a rift in space and unleashing an explosion of Blood Energy. ''Awesome!'' That thought appeared in Cain''s mind as he felt how fast his Essence Wave coursed through his body and how powerful his spells were now that a completely purified force fueled them. The higher the purity of the fuel, the more power it would release upon ignition. This thermodynamic truth was just as valid for spells and skills. Although thrilled by the speed and power of his spells, Cain remained focused. After bursting those Gas Monsters to pieces, he vanished only to appear on the ceiling of the Blood Nexus Domain and destroy the incoming monsters. The group took nearly an hour to take care of this horde of Gas Monsters. Once they were done, they searched inside their skulls and dug out the gems before Cain made all those broken pieces of bones covered in poisonous fog disappear. The warriors from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan were all curious about what Cain would do with them, but everyone had their secrets, so they did not bother the Godslayer Human with questions and just moved forward. Ten minutes later, a crossroad appeared, but Cain could guide them to the right path, and it didn''t take long for them to find another horde of Gas Monsters. Like before, the group relied on Cain''s Blood Nexus Domain to neutralize their miasma abilities before taking them down. After nearly ten hours of fighting and killing dozens of thousands of Gas Monsters, the group saw a nebulous light at the end of a tunnel. The next moment, they found themselves in a massive chamber hundreds of kilometers wide and long. The walls were covered in a strange substance that glowed with nebulous light like a starry sky, and in the middle of the chamber was a massive bifurcation. The Breath of Cosmos Chamber was visually stunning, but what truly mattered for the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan warriors was the starry, nervous gas that flooded the chamber. The name of the gaseous substance that covered the Breath of Cosmos Chamber was Essence Astral Air. It was able to reinvigorate warriors and improve the oxygen in their blood and tissues, helping them recover from all wounds and filling them with energy. However, their main goal was to flood the Evolution Core, where they would assimilate into the Essence Star. Since that was the case, it was no wonder that the Essence Cultivators from the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan would be the happiest. Zamuel and Lore were about to distribute the guarding positions when their eyes narrowed. Cain noticed the look in the duo''s eyes and immediately noticed the reason as he turned to the side. The trio looked to a different path from the one they used to reach this place, and the next second, a group of ten beautiful women with cold energy covering their bodies emerged from there. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw the warriors from the Artik Clan emerge. He did not look down on them just because they were all women. For one, the Artik Bloodline only manifested in women, and each of the ten that arrived was a warrior capable of leveling cities with their bare hands. Tension presented itself as the leader of the Artik Clan stared at Zamuel and Lore. Each of them was just as powerful as her, so if a battle arose, it would be a problem. She was extremely beautiful, with shining blue hair and a cold aura. Her eyes were crystal blue, matching the robe covering her figure, and did not distract from her crystal wings. "The amount of Essence Astral Air is more than enough for all of us. I don''t see a reason why we should not share." Zamuel and Lore looked at each other for a moment before turning toward Cain. Even though both led their groups during the battles, it was Cain who led them to the chambers, and he was also the one with the highest authority granted by the Patriarchs of both clans. ''Sun Avatar, how should we proceed? Although we could defeat Amara and the rest of the women of the Artik Clan, it would not be an easy fight, and there is indeed more than enough Essence Air for all of us.'' Cain stared at the woman for a moment before nodding to the duo. There was no reason to fight when there was no benefit and only downsides. "We agree to share the chamber with you, Amara." Zamuel nodded to Amara as the warriors from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan went to the right side of the Breath of Cosmos Chamber. Amara''s eyes narrowed as she noticed how Zamuel and Lore behaved around Cain. She had heard about the Godslayer Human''s prowess and knew this one was powerful, but it took more than just brute power to make mighty and proud warriors like those two follow him. ''Interesting'' The woman stared at Cain for a moment before guiding the members of the Artik Clan to the right side of the chamber. Zamuel and Lore assigned two members each from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan to guard the Breath of Cosmos Chamber entrances while the rest of the group went to train. Those selected to guard were Astral Cultivators, as Essence Cultivators would solely focus on their cultivation. Cain had ascended to the chamber ceiling as he closed his eyes. He took control of the energy in his surroundings using his Ego Wave and couldn''t help but frown as he felt the immense density and weight of the Essence Astral Air. His willpower was strong enough to raise a building from the ground, but it took all its power to send a single stream of the nebulous starry energy into his body. He immediately felt his body weighted down as he took control of the streams of nebulous starry fog coursing through his flesh and blood, filling it with vigor before coalescing into his Evolution Core. The Essence Star was constantly revolving with ferocious power as it eagerly devoured energy, and the fate of the stream of Essence Astral Air was no different. Despite its size being not much greater than an egg, the devouring power of the Essence Star was enough to drain an entire river in minutes, but the small stream of nebulous starry energy seemed like it would take a long time. Cain did not lose focus as he continued bringing streams of Essence Astral Air through his body and into his Evolution Core. It took nearly a day for him to fill the space inside his Evolution Core, and he felt his body weigh tons but was able to maintain control thanks to his robust foundation. Chapter 549: Metting Norkuo Cain allowed his mind to rest for a few minutes. He would saturate his Evolution Core again once the quantity of Essence Astral Air diminished, and in the meantime, he waved his hand, summoning a Blood Origin Apple. The divine treasure, pulsating with vitality and Blood Essence, drew the attention of everyone, and none were more surprised than the people from the Zanginis Clan. All of them recognized the Blood Origin Apple and knew the only way Cain could access something so valuable was if the Patriarch had handed it over to him. Cain didn''t care about the looks of the others. He cultivated using the Void Crimson Cultivation Technique while inspecting the runes on the Blood Origin Apple to improve his understanding of the Law of Blood. However, his eyes narrowed as he saw three cultivators from the Zanginis Clan approaching. All three were Essence Cultivators, and their eyes glowed as they focused on the Blood Origin Apple. They maintained a proper distance but were clearly interested in the runes containing the mysteries of the Law of Blood. There was no downside to those observing the Blood Origin Apple, so Cain raised it into the sky, allowing everyone from the Zanginis Clan to observe it. Smiles appeared on Lore and the rest of the people from the Zanginis Clan as they saw Cain''s magnanimous attitude. Hours became days as Cain kept his Evolution Core saturated with Essence Astral Air while at the same time coursing the Starwyrm Blood through his veins, pushing his cultivation forward and improving his understanding of the Law of Blood. As for the Starwyrm Essence inside his [Demonic Devourer Dimension], he decided to save it for later. After all, his Evolution Core was saturated, and the Essence Astral Air was of much higher quality. Astral Cultivators took turns keeping guard, but that was not a problem as they needed to rest after several days. Even if the Essence Astral Air could be used to invigorate the body, it was still a very dense energy meant for the Essence Star and not something the flesh and blood could endure without a problem. On the twentieth day, Cain''s eyes widened as his entire body began to tremble. Suddenly, streams of blood materialized around his body. Everyone from the Solis Clan to the Zanginis Clan and even those from the Artik Clan focused on the young man as they saw the phenomenon and understood it was a response to the Law of Blood rising toward the next level just as his energy pool did the same. Thanks to the incredibly powerful resources and the improvement of his Law Mastery over the Law of Blood to the Extreme Law Fragmentation, Cain pushed his Essence Evolution Path of Power to the Middle Wave King Rank three months after his evolution! Zamuel, Lore, and Amara focused on Cain and could not help but feel awe at the young man''s talent. They could feel how pure Cain''s energy pool was, and it was clear he had suppressed his cultivation to achieve the greatest foundation before advancing to the next level. Yet, he became a Middle Wave King before turning twenty. Cain could not help but smile as he felt the strength coursing through his body and the booming might of his Essence Star. ''With my current power, I should be able to face the Draco Lightning Frog, even if this one was not wounded!'' Having the might to face a creature in the Divine Ranks before becoming an Apotheosis Master was a monstrous feat that maybe no one in Aether could have the honor of. Yet, Cain was confident he could at least force the beast to run away severely injured. Although the feeling of strength was intoxicating, Cain did not dwell too long on them as his eyes began to glow with red light, allowing him to regain focus. He concentrated on the Blood Origin Apple and could not help but frown as he felt the help of this one diminished significantly now that his mastery over the Law of Blood reached the Extreme Law Fragmentation. Since the treasure would not help him anymore, Cain no longer focused on it. Of course, he did not store it, as the rest of the Essence Evolution Cultivators from the Zanginis Clan were fully engrossed in it. Cain did not take any other treasure and instead simply closed his eyes as the density of space around him grew stronger and stronger. He was delving deeper into the principles of the Law of Space engraved into the core teaching of the Crimson Void Cultivation Technique. Although the speed at which one could decipher the Laws was slower without treasures such as the Blood Origin Apple or the Spatial Rift Grotto, cultivation techniques had insights from the people who engraved the method in order to guide those who practiced it. Cain remained in meditation until the thirty-second day, when he finally opened his eyes. No breakthrough was coming, but his Essence Star began to develop a certain resistance to the Essence Astral Air. Like with any drug, the effects of the Essence Astral Air began to diminish after a prolonged period of use. Although Cain could still carry on forcing the Essence Star to devour the nebulous energy, that would not bring significant profits. In any case, he would only add pollution to his purified energy pool. As he opened his eyes, Cain noticed there were still some cultivators from the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan using the Essence Astral Air. Cain stored the Blood Origin Apple and descended to the ground as he gathered with the rest of the people guarding the gate. It was now his turn to wait for the rest of the cultivators to end their training. Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire Luckily, Cain did not have to wait for long as three days after he finished his training, the last of the warriors from the Solis Clan also could no longer take advantage of the Essence Astral Air, and it seemed that the people of the Artik Clan were also about done. The people from the Artik Clan had kept their distance from Cain and the others, and neither side exchanged many pleasantries. There was not a bad affinity between the clans, but in a place full of treasure like this, it was better to travel apart unless you had a very good relationship with someone. The groups were about to go back through their respective channels when they saw how a new clan emerged from a path different from the use taken by the Artik Clan. Cain''s eyes immediately grew cold as the group that arrived belonged to none other than the Kraken Clan. Immediately, his gaze focused on Norkuo, as this was the person he wanted to kill. Since the old man had attempted against his life and had clearly developed a deep hatred against him, Cain would do all in his power to erase that cancer before it could affect him or the people he cared about. As one would expect, Norkuo was at the back of the group, and the rest of the members of the Kraken Clan seemed to avoid him. Usually, the people who would enter the Astral Bloodline Realm were members of the younger generation, using the chance to polish their foundation before consolidating their cultivation in order to push forward and reach the Divine Realm Stage. Even Lord Zanginis knew the importance of the realm, so he did not send any of his sons, as they would have to be babysitted and it would not be fair to the rest of the warriors. Yet, Norkuo, an old man with one foot in the grave, managed to get a slot for the realm, which meant he took it from another member of the Kraken Clan''s younger generation. Since that was the case, it was no wonder that the rest of the people of the Kraken Clan would treat him with coldness. However, while that was the case on the outside, Cain could not help but frown as he observed the Kraken Clan. Not only did Norkuo not even glance at him, but even though the other members seemed to keep their distance and ignore the old man, Cain could notice the subtle sign of a battle formation that seemed to keep the old man as the core. ''There is something wrong, but what?'' Of course, since Cain detected something wrong, he would not simply wait and do nothing. Even if his senses and Ego Wave could not perceive it, that did not mean he was out of means as soon the [seudo Multidimensional Scan Force Field] covered the group. Although the realm restricted its range, the people of the Kraken Clan were close enough, and none of them could detect the tool''s power. ''Apex?'' Cain expected the Absolute Life Form System to solve his doubts and asked Apex to go through the information, but unfortunately, he was out of luck. Chapter 550: Ready to kill ''Sorry, brat, but the system did not detect anything odd with any of these people, even that Norkuo guy. According to his data, he is just an old man with one foot in the grave.'' When Cain heard that, the coldness in his eyes only grew stronger. The fact that the system did not detect anything wrong only told him that the problem was even greater than expected. If there was one thing Cain would never question, it would be his instincts, as they had saved his life countless times already. Whatever was happening, it managed to hide from even a force field with the detection power of a Titan. Cain was not the only one who reacted with coldness to the arrival of the Kraken Clan; Zamuel and the rest of the people from the Solis Clan did the same. Many of those present knew those who perished during the incident inside the Natural Inheritance, and they blamed the Kraken Clan for the death of their friends. Lore and those from the Zanginis Clan did not say a word but remained vigilant, ready to act if anything were to happen. If a battle were to start, they would not simply stand by and would support Cain and the Solis Clan. As for Amara and the women of the Artik Clan, they also adopted a solemn aura, but they were clearly not biased to any side. The relationship with the Kraken Clan might not be good, but neither was so bad that they would attack them. The one who took the foremost position in the Kraken Clan was a man with red hair and blue eyes, covered in a bronze exoskeleton that radiated immense pressure. His silver armor blended with his racial armament, making him seem like a fortress that no one could violate. At first, the man''s eyes were empty, but soon, they began to glow with a special light as he turned toward Amara. "It seems that Lady Amara has reached us before. Your destiny is in the uprising, and I am sure the elders of our clans will be happy to chat about our feats in this journey once we get out." Cain could not help but focus on the man as he heard those words. There was a hidden meaning in them since even if the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan managed to kill them all, there would be witnesses, and the elders from the Kraken Clan would figure things out eventually. Amara was very smart, so she also understood the hidden message in the words of the man from the Kraken Clan. A cold light appeared in her eyes as she understood how the man used her and her sisters as witnesses and a shield against the actions of the people of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan. "Hmph, I don''t remember you being so cunning, Robert." Amara sneered as she uttered those words before leaving with the rest of the Artik Clan. Of course, even if she left and did not intervene, she would still be a witness to the events that happened here. After the Artik Clan left, the atmosphere grew even more tense. The Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan clearly had more power than the Kraken Clan, but in a fight to the death, no one knew what could happen, not to mention this was a dangerous realm, and traversing it wounded was not wise. ''Prepare yourself, we will attack. I will take responsibility for any repercussions once we leave the realm.'' Zamuel and Lore''s eyes widened as they heard Cain''s voice in their minds and saw the eyes of the young man growing emotionless. They knew that Cain had certain problems with some people from the Kraken Clan, but they were surprised to see the killing intent in this one''s heart since attacking now would make the entire clan hate him, not just a few people. The truth was that Cain''s problem with the Kraken Clan was not so significant as to go to this length, nor was the threat that Norkuo generated, but something told him there was a problem with the old man and these people. Simple instincts would not have been enough to guide him in the past, but as a master of Order, Cain was absolutely resolute with every action that emerged from his heart and soul. Since Cain felt that there was something wrong with Norkuo, he would use all his power to kill the man here and now and destroy anything and anyone who dared to stand in his path. Although Zamuel and Lore were surprised, they looked at each other and nodded as they were ready to follow the young man''s command. There was already bad blood, so why play nice and not repay the behavior of the Kraken Clan inside the Natural Inheritance, especially if Cain was ready to take responsibility? Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire However, just as the duo was about to take their weapons and guide the rest of the warriors from the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan, Cain''s voice echoed a second time inside their minds. ''Change of plan. We leave now!'' Zamuel and Lore were confused by Cain''s sudden change of mind, but he did not give them time to think as he shared that command with everybody else and guided the group back to the Gray Road. The people from the Kraken Clan were surprised to see the people of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan, who seemed ready to fight one second ago, suddenly ran away. Only once Cain vanished did Norkuo raise his head, and there was a sky-blue light that seemed to radiate soul force! Cain frowned as he and the rest of the people of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan marched away from the Breath of Cosmos chamber. He noticed the look in Zamuel and Lore, but did not say a word until they were far away from the place. "How is the relationship between the Kraken Clan and the Umbra Clan?" Zamuel''s confusion only grew as he heard that question, but he still answered it. "Not particularly good. They had problems in the past but nothing recently. I guess you could call it neutral." Those words only deepened Cain''s frown, and he sighed before looking at Zamuel and Lore. "I detected a hidden presence near the tunnel entrance from which the Kraken Clan arrived. I only perceived two people, but I doubt that was all. I am sure there were many more hiding." When Zamuel and Lore heard those words, they also frowned. Even if their Ego Waves were limited, their perception was not something anyone could easily hide from. Clearly, the only ones who had such skill were the members of the Umbra Clan, adept in the use of darkness, shadows, and assassination techniques. The fact that they did not detect it, but Cain did was also shocking, but the duo just took it as another of the young man''s unique powers. Actually, the one that detected the hidden presence was not Cain but the [Pseudo Multidimensional Scan Force Field], as the moment the fight was about to begin, those presences moved forward and got in range. Although Zamuel and Lore believed in Cain''s words, they couldn''t help but grow confused as it did not make sense that the Umbra Clan would be secretly following the people from the Kraken Clan. If they had wanted to attack Robert and the others, they would have done so before reaching the chamber, but there was even less reason for the Umbra Clan to guard the Kraken Clan. "Whatever their relationship might be, it is best to stay away." Although the combined power of the Solis Clan and the Zanginis Clan did not fall inferior to that of the Kraken Clan and Umbra Clan, especially if Cain were to use the power of his dual cultivation, he felt there was something wrong and dangerous surrounding Norkuo. As for requesting the help of other clans, that was not an option since there was no way someone would help them kill twenty members of two of the Ten Great Bloodlines just because he felt something was wrong. "Ahhh." Cain couldn''t help but sigh as he could not figure out the mystery behind the dangerous aura of the Kraken Clan, and the fact he was too weak to force the truth out of them was annoying. Luckily, the power of Order soon emerged from his willpower and helped his mind regain clarity and focus. ''The best path forward is to take advantage of the rest of the chambers and improve my power.'' Danger could appear anywhere, and there was no way to predict what type of enemy you could face, but your power would never fail you. With that thought in mind, Cain and the other warriors from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan returned to the main path and began moving forward, looking for another route that led them to a chamber. Chapter 551: Fight inside the Void Fire Cauldron (I) Cain''s eyes glowed with golden light as he used The Flow to look for new energy fluctuations. The group kept moving for several hours, but none grew impatient since they all had faith in Cain''s abilities. If he had not directed them to a path, it was because all those they had seen were dead ends. After nearly nine hours of travel, Cain''s eyes narrowed as he noticed one of the paths had energy fluctuations and guided the warriors of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan in. At first, the warriors were happy as they were sure they had found a path to a new chamber, but it did not take long for them to frown as they saw no monsters on their path, which were usually signs of a chamber in the proximity. Zamuel and Lore were ready to go through their records to figure out whether they were on a good path when suddenly Cain shouted. "Pull back!" Cain made his energy explode as he took out Slaughter and sent two massive bursts of blood energy to the flanks of the duo. Just as Zamuel and Lore were about to ask about Cain''s actions, their eyes widened when they saw the walls beginning to tremble. Zamuel and Lore did not hesitate to pull back just as Cain said, and as they did, the wall began to move with shocking speed and momentum, trying to crush the duo. Luckily for them, the bursts of Blood Energy managed to delay the walls for a fraction of a second, giving them enough time. However, that was just the start since the walls around the rest of the warriors of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan also began to tremble. Although the group was surprised, they were all experienced cultivators and recognized the phenomenon, so they used all their power and skills to retreat. Cain continued sending bursts of blood energy and was not alone since Zamuel, Lore, and all the others also unleashed explosions against the walls to delay them as they moved back. They were using all their power, but slowly, the walls were catching up to them. Luckily, after ten minutes and pulling back over five hundred kilometers, the walls stopped trembling, and the group could relax. They were all tired as they were forced to use their energy to hinder the walls'' crushing power. However, other than exhaustion, there was also excitement in their faces, particularly in those who followed the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. The Crushing Walls were the sign they were nearing the Void Fire Cauldron. It is one of the Six Chambers, and just like the Breath of Cosmos Chamber was designed for Essence Evolution Cultivators, this one provided immense help to those who follow the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. Although no monsters were guarding the path to the Void Fire Cauldron, reaching it was much more troublesome as the strength of those walls was much greater than any horde of Filth Monsters or Gas Monsters, and they were nearly impossible to detect their movements. Once again, the members of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan turned toward Cain with awe and surprise as he could predict the motion of the Crushing Walls before anyone else. Cain was able to detect the movement thanks to The Flow, but that was the limit of his abilities, and at most, his attacks could slow them. They would have to figure out a path through the Crushing Walls if they wanted to reach the Void Fire Cauldron. Zamuel and Lore had prepared for this, and both waved their hands as they took objects from their space rings. The warrior from the Solis Clan took a small sphere of what seemed to be silver glue, while the man from the Zanginis Clan took a set of small metallic pillars. "Everybody get ready. The Crushing Walls react to the presence of living beings, and the more there are, the stronger their power, so we must move as fast as possible." Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire Zamuel''s voice made everybody adopt a solemn expression as they made their energy pool burst with everything they had and activated their fastest spells. Then the man put the orb of silver glue on the ground, and this one moved on its own, covering the walls for thousands of kilometers forward. "?BOOOOOOOM!" In the next second, all of the warriors from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan burst forward, generating an explosive echo as they advanced at an overwhelming speed. Immediately, the Crushing Walls reacted to their presence, but the silver glue stopped their movements, delaying them. "THRRRRR!" The twenty warriors had advanced less than eight hundred kilometers when the sound of tearing echoed, and they saw how the silver glue began to rip under the power of the Crushing Walls. At this point, Lore sent forward the silver pillars, and they not only grew in size but became a spider web that connected through every single wall, resisting the power of the Crushing Walls and keeping the passage open. Although the metallic web pillars were incredibly durable and could bear overwhelming pressure, they did not last long. They soon began to break, making the warriors from the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan grow tense and push their energy to the limit. Cain''s speed was not his forte, but thanks to his mastery over the Law of Space, he was able to move faster than most of the warriors. Just as the Crushing Walls were about to catch them, they saw a light at the end of the tunnel and pushed forward, only to witness a massive sea of what seemed to be boiling bronze liquid. Everybody smiled as they had managed to reach the Void Fire Cauldron, and in front of them was the Void Fire, an extremely powerful liquid that could be used to temper the flesh and blood, helping any type of body refinement technique and especially useful for Astral Rebirth Cultivators, even more for those that use yang and scorching energy like the Solis Clan. However, the group immediately adopted a solemn expression as they saw that there were already people here, and not just one group but warriors of two of the ten Great Bloodlines. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he stared at people with a barbaric appearance and dark fur and also those that seemed to have magma running across their veins from the Vulcano Clan. ''How troublesome.'' Void Fire was even scarcer than the Essence Astral Air, and the people of the Ursa Clan and Vulcano Clan had already occupied the entire chamber, so it was clear they would not be too keen on allowing two more groups to appear and displace them. As Cain expected, the warriors from the two clans stopped training as they emerged from the river of boiling liquid bronze and approached the group composed of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan. Although the people of the Ursa and Vulcano Clans were imposing, Zamuel and Lore showed no fear as they stood straight and gazed at the leaders of the groups. "Zamuel, Lore." The one who spoke first was a man from the Vulcano Clan. He was very tall with dark hair and ash skin, and by his facial features, he resembled Eon, the emperor of the Deus Behemoth Empire. "Gordon, Sima." Zamuel responded to the man from the Vulcano Clan and also saluted the woman from the Ursa Clan. Gordon and Sima stared at the group. Their instincts told them these warriors had grown very powerful over these short few months, meaning they had already gone through a chamber and managed to reach this one. The Vulcano Clan and Ursa Clan did not have any form of animosity but were not good friends either and only acted as one now as they faced the combined might of the Solis and Zanginis Clan. Gordon and Sima glanced at each other before the woman spoke imposingly. "We are willing to let those that follow the Astral Rebirth Path of Power into the Void Fire with us, but the others will have to wait until we finish." Zamuel and Lore glanced at each other as they heard that. Although the Void Fire would be helpful for the Essence Cultivators, its true power was for Astral Cultivators. Although the Void Fire would have been diluted by the time the Essence Cultivators from the Solis Clan and Zagninis Clan would use it, it should be enough for them so they could wait. However, before the duo could even deliberate, Cain took a step forward and gazed at the duo with coldness. "No deal. All of us will use the Void Fire." Cain could not allow the Void Fire to dilute as he needed to use its full power to train his body if he wanted the chance to push his Astral Cultivation to the Middle Wave King now instead of five months later. Although he could have tried a diplomatic approach, the pressure of the Kraken Clan made him throw away useless words and get straight to the point as he faced Gordon and Sima. Chapter 552: Fight inside the Void Fire Cauldron (II) When the duo heard those words, they immediately frowned and gazed at Cain coldly. Even if the young man was the new Sun Avatar from the Solis Clan, he was still a foreigner in their home, yet he dared to speak like that to them and incite a fight. Gordon stared at Cain for a moment before turning again toward Zamuel and Lore. "What is your decision?" The way the man spoke, ignoring Cain''s words, was meant as an insult, but Cain did not really care, and he was not worried as it did not take long for Zamuel and Lore to show fighting will in their eyes. Tension escalated as the two groups looked at each other with fighting will. Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire "There is no reason for all of us to battle. Your best three against our best three. The winner will have the right to lead all their people into the Void Fire, while the loser will have to take their Essence Cultivators out." Cain spoke again, making everyone''s eyes focus on him. The mock fight he just proposed was clearly meant to include him in the battle. The coldness in Gordon and Sima diminished greatly as they heard the words of Cain and saw how this one intended to use his own strength to secure the right for the Void Fire. If there was something the Deus Behemoth Race respected, it was strength and determination, and the Godslayer Human was showing both of them right now. Zamuel and Lore glanced at Cain and softly nodded with smiles on their faces. Although they did not understand why Cain wanted to use the Void Fire so much, this one had helped them enormously, allowing them early access to three of the Six Chambers already. If Cain wanted to use the Void Fire immediately, they were willing to fight for it. However, the fact the Godslayer Human would be fighting by their side made their image of this one even better. "Hahaha, very good. There is nothing better to fix a problem than with a fight. After all, in this world, might is right!" Gordon stepped forward and shouted as his entire body seemed to ignite with dark red flames. "Jarkan!" The moment Gordon shouted that name, a man flashed out from the Void of Fire Cauldron and appeared along his side. He was over two and a half meters tall, with a bulky body, and there was not a single hair on his face, giving him a menacing aura. Jarkan remained silent behind Gordon, focusing on Cain with his dark brown eyes. As he stared at the bulging man, Cain''s eyes grew sharp, and he used the [Pseudo Atomic Analysis] tool. This fight was too important, and he would gather as much information as he could. Although Jarkan would have easily detected Cain''s Ego Wave inspecting his body, the [Pseudo Atomic Analysis] tool was much more subtle. The Deus Behemoth detected nothing, and the next second, a stream of information appeared in Cain''s mind. [Scanning target... ... Scan of target completed. Name: Jarkan Race: Deus Behemoth Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Bone Calamity) Lineage: Vulcano Lineage Wave Talent: Middle Tier 9 Stats: Strength: 710 Agility: 389 Vitality: 598 Astral Wave: 694 Astral Blood Saturation: 91% Completion] Cain could not help but clench his fists as he saw those stats. The man was nearly seven times stronger than him and had a constitution that surpassed his by a factor of five. However, the one thing that raised the man''s danger was his Astral Blood Saturation. At 50%, you could use the ability of Astral Blood to enhance your defenses and offensive power exponentially, but it was only temporal. However, once your Astral Blood Saturation rises beyond 90%, you can keep igniting your blood cells for hours without a problem. ''He seems to be the oldest of the group, nearing one hundred already, but that is only fair as he is already at the Peak of the Apotheosis Realm! This man might be even stronger than Gordon, who is supposed to lead the Vulcano Clan''s warriors.'' Cain was certain that this man was even more dangerous than the poisoned Lightning Draco Frog. ''I will hide my Astral Wave, but I must unleash everything else to win.'' Zamuel and Lore were also aware of Jarkan''s strength, but they could do nothing other than trust Cain could handle the man. --- The warriors of the Ursa Clan, Vulcano Clan, Solis Clan, and Zanginis Clan all moved away from the center of the Void Fire Cauldron, leaving only the six. Although this would not be a battle to the death, neither would it be a small mock battle, and they could end up hurt if they lost focus for even a second. After all, every one of them had more power inside their bodies than a nuclear weapon! Zamuel took out short daggers that radiated with the power of sunlight energy while Lore activated his spiked gauntlets full of explosive Blood Energy. The blood inside their veins began to burn as they were ready to trigger their Astral Blood Ability. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" That was not all, as the duo also unleashed their Astral Wave and made it burst with overwhelming power, generating a dense pillar of dark golden and purple force. Gordon, Sima, and Jarkan did the same as their counterparts, taking out their weapons and making their Astral Wave explode. Sima, the fierce woman from the Ursa Clan, took out a massive hammer, and it was so heavy that the moment it touched the ground, it cracked. Gordon took out what seemed to be a massive bastard sword bathed in magma, while Jarkan took out a halberd made of fiery volcanic rock. Although it was normal for those in the lower levels of the Astral Rebirth Path of Power to rely only on their arms and legs, as their Ego Wave grew stronger, many of them attained more than enough mastery over the Four Basic Wave Arts to extend their Wave Cloak to their weapon flawlessly. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" As the trio made their Astral Wave burst, three more explosions echoed inside the Void Fire Cauldron. The five pillars were like the fingers of a divine deity clashing against the ceiling of the chamber, and if they were in the outside world, they could be seen for dozens of thousands of kilometers. Finally, all eyes turned to Cain as they waited to see his energy pool burst. The people of the Ursa Clan and Vulcano Clan had not come to the Sun Avatar Crowning, so while they had heard of the power of the Godslayer Human before, this would be the first time they could see it properly. As for the battle upon reaching the Astral Bloodline Realm against the Skeletal Creatures, at that point, everybody was focused on their own fight, so they only witnessed some impressive spells of the Godslayer Human, which was far from enough to gauge his true power. Cain took a deep breath as he took out Slaughter, and in the next second, a wave of sky-blue energy and Blood Energy emerged from his body. "?Boom!" A small blast echoed, and everybody saw the Essence Wave and Blood Energy pillar emerging from Cain. The Deus Behemoths immediately narrowed their eyes as they saw the purity of both energy pools and how, despite being a Middle Wave King, the potency with which these energies emerged from Cain''s body matched that of someone with a foot in the Apotheosis Realm. Although it was surprising, it was far from impressive enough. At this point, Cain''s eyes began to glow with red light, and he used the full power of his willpower to enhance his Wave Burst. "?BOOM!" Gordon, Sima, and Jarkan adopted solemn expressions as they saw the sky-blue and red pillar of energy blasting into the chamber ceiling with a might that did not fall short of any of them. Cain could not match the size of their energy pools, but his Wave Burst allowed him to unleash as much energy as they did. Of course, such a massive Wave Burst would mean that Cain''s energy pool would deplete much faster, but no one expected this to be a battle of attrition. However, what surprised everyone was that Cain could unleash such massive energy output without any backlash. Even if his willpower allowed him to do it, that did not mean his body and meridians could endure such overwhelming pressure, yet no matter how they looked at the Godslayer Human, he seemed perfectly fine. ''Jarkan, do not lower your guard for even a second. Remember, that man was able to kill a Divine Beast before becoming a Wave King.'' Gordon''s eyes held a solemn light as he sent a message to his comrade. ''I understand, Young Lord.'' Jarkan''s eyes began to glow with a silver light as he unleashed the full power of his Ego Wave, enhancing his body even more and immediately triggering his Astral Blood Ability. Even though the young man was nearly 70 years younger, he would use everything he had. Chapter 553: Cain vs Jarkan Zamuel''s entire body glowed with sunlight energy as he focused on Gordon, while Lore clenched his fists, his eyes fixed on Sima. Cain''s eyes overflowed with red light as he stared at Jarkan. Silence reigned until suddenly, a tiny pebble fell from the ceiling into the Void Fire, and that slight reverberation marked the start of the fight. Zamuel and Lore flashed head-on toward Gordon and Sima, and their counterparts from the Vulcano Clan and Ursa Clan did the same. Jarkan, on the other hand, flashed upward, expecting Cain to put distance between them, so he wanted to get a good view of the battlefield before diving with all his power toward the opponent. "THUMP!" Unfortunately for the halberd-wielding master from the Vulcano Clan, Cain did not put distance between the two. On the contrary, he diminished it so fast that they stood face to face less than a second after the battle started. Jarkan''s eyes widened as he saw the Godslayer Human standing right in front of him, so close that he could see the red skin of this one beneath the Sun Armor and hear the booming power of his heartbeat. Before Jarkan could even figure out how Cain achieved such shocking speed, his eyes widened as he saw that the Blood Energy and Essence Wave of this one had already coalesced around the blade in the form of a maelstrom. "Bloodspace Vortex!" Cain shouted as he finished his spell, ready to unleash all its power toward the Deus Behemoth. However, as he was about to wave Slaughter forward and release the vortex, his eyes narrowed as he saw Jarkan''s left fist flashing toward his face. Despite the shock and little time to prepare, Jarkan could still fire a punch with his free hand, charging it with a massive amount of burning energy and Astral Wave. Any normal Essence Cultivator would be forced to pull back in the face of such an attack, as no matter how strong their spells were, they could not compare with the physical might of an Astral Rebirth Cultivator. However, Cain was not a normal Essence Cultivator. His eyes burst with red light as he pushed the full power of Bloodspace Vortex forward and used his Void Blood Shield to protect himself, reinforcing the zone where the blow would land with Essence Wave. "BOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!" The battle had started less than a second ago, and two massive explosions echoed inside the Void Fire Cauldron, drawing everybody''s attention, including that of Gordon, Sima, Lore, and Zamuel. One of the explosions was a vortex of Blood Energy and space force, burying Jarkan''s body deeper and deeper into the ceiling of the chamber. The other occurred as Cain''s figure was blasted toward one of the walls with a force that could have obliterated a mountain range. The people of the Vulcano Clan focused on the ceiling as the vortex had overwhelming power, and Jarkan took it point-blank. However, those from the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan turned to the hole in the wall as they all saw the power with which Cain crashed, and it was something not even Earth Tribulation Masters could endure without severe injuries. "?AHHHHH!" Suddenly, a shout emerged from the ceiling, and a blast of Astral Wave emerged, blasting the vortex to pieces as Jarkan descended. His body was covered in bloody wounds, but there were no internal injuries, thanks to the dark purple matrix that covered his flesh. The Deus Behemoth had triggered the full power of his Astral Blood Ability before the attack landed point-blank, or else the damage would have been much worse. However, Jarkan showed no happiness about his body''s endurance and focused on the hole in the wall, seeing a figure emerging from it. If people were surprised with Jarkan''s endurance when they saw Cain, they were all dumbfounded. The Godslayer Human had received a direct punch to the face, but other than a small bruise and a trail of blood in the corner of his mouth, he was perfectly fine. ''His body, it was like hitting a piece of Platinum Metal. How can an Essence Cultivator from the Godslayer Human Race achieve such endurance?'' Jarkan was genuinely stunned as he knew just how much power was in his fist, yet he did little to no damage to Cain. Cain noticed everybody''s eyes focused on him, but he did not care. Revealing the unique constitution of his body was not the same as revealing his Astral Cultivation. He only took a deep breath as his heartbeat once again exploded with power, pushing Third Gear to the absolute limit along with a burst of dark golden flames that pushed his physical might to an even higher degree! "ZNNN!" Not giving Jarkan even a second to rest, Cain flashed into the sky, his body revolving, seemingly transforming into a tornado of Blood Energy and space force. Once again, everybody was surprised to see the Essence Cultivator Godslayer Human intending to transform the fight into a melee battle! Cain''s battle style also took Jarkan aback. Still, as a seasoned warrior, he managed to erase all those useless thoughts and simply clenched his teeth, flashing forward as the full power of his body gathered on his halberd, which ignited with dark fire. "BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!" The halberd and the blade clashed in the center of the Void Fire Cauldron, unleashing a massive explosion. To the shock of all, Jarkan could not push Cain flying away, and their weapons were connected, each trying to overcome the other. For someone with weak cultivation, it might seem that Cain''s physical strength equaled that of Jarkan, but that could not be further from the truth. Cain had increased his body''s torque and enhanced its strength with Radiance of Strength before unleashing it all in one strike of his blade, which carried a Quantum Laceration. Jarkan was aware of all that, but it only made Cain''s might even more remarkable in his eyes. If the young man could match his physical strength, it was one thing, but the level of skill he performed was much more impressive. Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire A smile began to appear on the Deus Behemoth''s face as he felt his opponent''s strength and his blood burning with fighting will as he unleashed more and more of his power. Cain maintained focus and blocked everything else out as his eyes glowed with golden light and perceived the movement of every muscle fiber, tendon, and stream of energy in the body of the Deus Behemoth. "?BOOM!" A new explosion echoed as the power in both weapons repelled each other, pushing the Deus Behemoth and Godslayer Human back. Still, they were able to regain control over their bodies nearly immediately and returned to the fray. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" More and more explosions echoed as Cain clashed head-on with Jarkan, allowing the explosive might of his spell to detonate right before the Deus Behemoth. Jarkan intercepted all the attacks from Cain, but there was little he could do about the blasts of Blood Energy and space force that kept leaving wounds on his body. He could only use his Astral Blood Ability to improve his physical defenses and endure the explosions. After nearly a minute and their weapons clashing thousands of times, Jarkan raised the halberd only to lower it the next second with immense power, but Cain had already anticipated that move. He used Slaughter to strike the weapon at the right angle, pushing it to the side before sending a punch. Usually, the punch of an Essence Cultivator would do nothing to an Astral Cultivator. Still, Jarkan felt his jaw almost break as that strike carried all of Cain''s torque and generated a blast of energy upon impact. However, Jarkan was not the only one who took damage as he managed to send a knee strike to Cain''s chest. In the end, both of them were pushed hundreds of meters away from each other. Jarkan showed a fierce smile as he regained control over his body and expected to clash with Cain again, but unlike him, the Godslayer Human could fire attacks from such a distance without a problem. Before Jarkan could even take a step forward, an arc of blasting Blood Energy appeared before him. The man waved his halberd, shattering the attack without a problem, but just as the attack was destroyed, he detected Cain''s presence on his right and saw a new arc of Blood Energy coming his way. Jarkan had just moved his halberd to intercept it, but before the attack could even land, Cain had seemingly teleported to his right and sent a new arc of Blood Energy. If that wasn''t enough, the Godslayer Human appeared behind him and sent another Quantum Laceration. ''Dammit!'' Jarkan could only shout inside his mind as Cain''s mastery over the Law of Space and assassination technique made it impossible for him to track his opponent, and he was now overwhelmed by arcs of Blood Energy coming from every possible direction. Chapter 554: Law Fragmentation of the Law of Space Gordon, Zamuel, Lore, and Sima were engaged in their respective fights, yet none were overexerting themselves as they couldn''t help but divert some of their focus to the battle between Cain and Jarkan. Each of the four was a supreme genius from their respective clan, considered among the best cultivators of the younger generation in the Deus Behemoth Empire, with destinies that could help them become Titans in the future. However, the incredible might displayed by the Godslayer Human, Cain, was simply astounding. Cain moved so swiftly that even the four began to see afterimages of the Godslayer Human surrounding Jarkan, witnessing dozens of arcs of Blood Energy raining down on the Dues Behemoth from every direction every second. Those who focused on the Essence Evolution Path of Power were even more astounded as they perceived the might of the Law of Space and how Cain''s mastery of its power increased with every attack he unleashed. Cain''s eyes were a mix of focus and trance as he used Spatial Phase to maneuver around Jarkan, unleashing dozens of Quantum Lacerations every second. Thanks to his instincts, part of his mind was engaged in the battle, but most of it was engrossed in understanding the Crimson Void Cultivation Technique, as his grasp of the Law of Space sublimated during the fight. Jarkan wielded his halberd with all his might, shattering all the arcs of Blood Energy launched at him, but that was the extent of his capability. Cain''s attacks had effectively created a prison around him. If the Deus behemoth were to stop his defensive formation and attempt to escape, the Quantum Lacerations would overwhelm him. ''These attacks are powerful but must demand a massive amount of energy. Even for a monstrous genius, sustaining such energy consumption for a long period is impossible with the cultivation base of a Middle Wave King. I just need to endure for a few more minutes.'' Jarkan''s assessment was correct. Despite the assistance of the [Gluttony Module], Cain''s energy was depleting rapidly. Unfortunately for the Deus Behemoth, before Cain''s energy could run out, the sense of enlightenment in his eyes reached its zenith. Jarkan noticed the change in the young human, but he had no time to ponder it. The frequency at which the arcs of Blood Energy fell on him tripled, and their power increased significantly to the point where he could no longer defend himself from all with his halberd. "Law Fragmentation of the Law of Space!" This thought echoed in the minds of everyone witnessing Cain and Jarkan''s battle, inspiring utter awe as they realized that the young Godslayer Human had managed to advance the Law of Space to the Law Fragmentation Stage. This feat was as impressive as pushing the Law of Blood to the Extreme Law Fragmentation, and even more shocking considering Cain had no bloodline aiding his understanding of it. The one who felt this power most acutely was Jarkan. The Deus Behemoth clenched his teeth, continuing to destroy the most potent arcs of Blood Energy while pushing his Astral Blood Ability to its limit to endure the onslaught. Suddenly, Jarkan saw all the arcs of Blood Energy vanish, along with the afterimages Cain had generated. Although the cessation of attacks should have been a relief, Jarkan''s instincts screamed danger, and he turned around only to see the Godslayer Human behind him, blade raised above his head. Cain''s eyes were sharp as he stared down at Jarkan with the raised Slaughter. Waving the weapon down was all Cain would need to unleash the strongest attack of the Void Crimson Cultivation Technique, a spell so potent that its creator had once cleaved a vertical structure the size of Blade Mountain in half! Jarkan clenched his teeth, feeling the immense power in the blade. He knew that unleashing such an attack would create a significant backlash for Cain and drain all his energy, but he wasn''t sure if he could survive the direct hit. "Ahhh, I surrender." Ultimately, the Deus Behemoth could only sigh as he accepted his defeat. There was no point in continuing the fight; even if Cain blacked out after firing that spell, the injuries would likely leave him comatose at best. Hearing Jarkan''s surrender, Cain did not lower Slaughter but instead turned to Gordon and Sima. The wounds on the duo were superficial since they hadn''t fully engaged in their fight, being distracted by Cain''s battle. Even so, taking that attack head-on would not be wise. Gordon and Sima exchanged glances and sighed, distancing themselves from their opponents. Even with Cain wounded and his energy nearly depleted, if the Godslayer Human joined forces with Lore and Zamuel, victory would be unattainable for them. "Essence Cultivators from the Vulcano Clan, refrain from entering the Void Fire until the people from the Solis Clan and Zagninis Clan have completed their training," Gordon''s voice was resolute. "The same goes for the Essence Cultivators of the Ursa Clan." Sima did not delay things as she uttered the command as well. Although the Essence Cultivators were displeased, there was little they could do. Besides, they could still cultivate their auxiliary body refinement techniques later, so there was no point in complicating matters. Cain lowered Slaughter after hearing these commands and began to calm the raging energy within his meridians. The explosive spells and energy output had put immense stress on his body, and while they left no visible wounds, recovery would still take some time. However, none of this erased Cain''s smile as he flashed towards a corner of the Void Fire Cauldron and submerged in the molten bronze-like liquid. The next second, the Spatial Spheres emerged, forming a one-hundred-meter domain around him. The Deus Behemoths could only sigh as they observed this domain, which blocked all their senses. They were left to speculate about the secrets behind the Godslayer Human''s overwhelming constitution. The warriors of the Zanginis and Solis Clans were already accustomed to Cain''s secrets, so they didn''t concern themselves with it and headed into the Void Fire. The Astral Cultivators used the liquid to enhance their cultivation base, while those on the Essence Evolution Path of Power improved their auxiliary body refinement techniques. Cain rested inside the Void Fire for three hours, utilizing the Radiance of Life to enhance his regenerative abilities until he was back at his peak. Before anything else, Cain took control of the Starwyrm''s Essence within his [Demonic Devourer Dimension], creating a continuous stream into his Essence Star. Then, he fully delved into the Void Fire, allowing it to enter his body and course through his veins! The Void Fire was an incredibly potent liquid, full of extremely powerful burning life force. Although helpful, even Astral Cultivators had to be cautious due to its scorching nature ¨C but not Cain. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire He had already reached the third level of the Solar Blaze Path and formed a Blazing Core inside his Rebirth Heart. This granted his Astral Wave the power of sunlight and heat. Due to the properties of his Astral Wave, Cain could directly channel the Void Fire through his blood, enhancing the power of his Blazing Core and Astral Blood Saturation. This pushed his cultivation and foundation forward at an overwhelming speed. Every warrior inside the Void Fire generated a whirlpool around their bodies due to the potency with which they consumed the liquid. Astral Cultivators obviously created a stronger whirlpool than Essence Cultivators. Those from the Solis and Vulcano Clan generated even mightier whirlpools than the Ursa and Zanginis Clans due to their proficiency with scorching forces and heat. Zamuel glanced at Gordon and narrowed his eyes. The whirlpool he generated was roughly four hundred meters in diameter, but the man from the Vulcano Clan reached four hundred and twenty meters. Gordon noticed Zamuel''s gaze and smiled, proudly displaying his robust foundation. However, his smile soon froze as he noticed Cain''s three-hundred-and-fifty-meter whirlpool with the Nexus Blood Domain at its center. Although smaller than his, Cain was a Wave King, so it made sense he would require less energy. And that was not even the most shocking part. "Isn''t he supposed to be an Essence Cultivator? How is he consuming so much Void Fire?" Gordon was so confused and shocked that he couldn''t help but vocalize his thoughts aloud, but no one blamed him since it was truly astonishing. They had come to accept that Cain had a surprisingly robust constitution, but it still didn''t make sense why his body would require so much Void Fire. Fully immersed in his cultivation, Cain revolved his Astral Wave throughout his body, pushing his cultivation forward. The powers of sunlight energy and heat grew more potent as his body adapted better to them. Finally, on the nineteenth day since entering the Void Fire, Cain opened his eyes, feeling his body tremble as the Blazing Core grew stronger and the amount of Astral Wave inside his body surged with power. Thanks to the constant refinement and help of the Void Fire, he managed to advance his Astral Cultivation to the Middle Wave King level! Chapter 555: The Gravitas Clan Not wasting the opportunity, Cain used the bursting power of his energy pool to superpotentiate the metamorphosis of his blood cells, pushing forward his Astral Blood Saturation with all his power. It didn''t take long for his energy pool to stabilize, and Cain felt every fiber of his body growing stronger. ''System.'' Shouting the command in his mind, Cain activated the Absolute Life Form System, which began to scan his body. [Scanning Vessel... ... Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire Scan of Vessel completed. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Middle Wave King) / Essence Evolution (Middle Wave King) Lineage: Solis Lineage (Maximum Purity) Wave Talent: Extreme Tier 9 (Extreme Tier 9) Stats: Strength: 109.2-->152.4 Agility: 65.2-->89.6 Vitality: 124.6-->189.5 Astral Wave: 83.2-->116.3 Essence Wave: 91.2-->124.3 Blood Energy (Astral): 154.2-->200.2 Blood Energy (Essence): 123.6-->220.2 Astral Blood Saturation: 67% Completion Main Law Mastery: Law of Blood (Extreme Law Fragmentation) Secondary Law Mastery: Law of Space (Low Law Fragmentation) Note: Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 28.1%.] Cain''s eyes sparkled with thrill as he observed the increased power of his body and energy pools after breaking through in the Essence Evolution Path of Power and the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. His Wave Talent had increased significantly after the evolution of his Law of Space, reaching what seemed to be the actual limit of Tier 9, and he felt he was just one step away from the next stage. His body and energy pools improved significantly, but the most notable rise was in his Blood Energy (Essence), likely due to his Law of Blood already being at the limit of the Law Fragmentation Stage. The Astral Blood Saturation had significantly increased, especially considering that the first fifty percent was the easiest part, and from there on, it would be an uphill race. Reaching 80% was the mark of a genius with a chance to reach the Divine Realm, while 90% was a threshold only those with immense talent, hard work, and resources had the slightest opportunity to attain. 67% of Astral Blood Saturation as a Middle Wave King gave Cain an extremely good chance of reaching beyond 90% before the Bone Calamity, and there was a chance he could do the impossible and push it to 100%. That was a feat worthy of True Gods and True Titans! After analyzing the state of his body and energy pool, Cain continued revolving the Void Fire through his body, this time with even greater power as his energy pool had increased in size and required more fuel. The people from the clans had all achieved a balance using the power of the Void Fire Chamber when suddenly they saw the whirlpool forming around the blood domain begin to grow larger. It didn''t take long before it became as massive as Zamuel''s. The warriors from all the clans looked at each other, unable to understand how Cain, an Essence Cultivator, could have a body that needed to devour as much Void Fire as Zamuel, an Apotheosis Master on the brink of the Bone Calamity. Gordon and Sima, unaccustomed to the surprises surrounding the Godslayer Human, were once again shocked but no longer wasted time trying to understand the enigmatic genius from the Gaia Continent and focused on their own cultivation. Cain continued inside the Void Fire, using the Nexus Blood Domain to mask his presence from everyone else, allowing him to revolve his Astral Wave at full power and further his cultivation. On the forty-first day, Cain opened his eyes and ceased his cultivation, sensing that the power of the Void Fire was no longer effective. Like his experiences with the Elixir of Astral Purity and the Essence Astral Air, Cain''s body and energy pools had adapted to the overwhelming power of the Void Fire, and it was no longer efficient to focus on it. He cloaked his Astral Cultivation with the red mask and rose into the sky the next second. Most Astral Wave Cultivators had already emerged from the Void Fire, with only a few still drawing power from it. Cain noticed that Lore and Zamuel were still inside but didn''t pay much attention, instead waiting at the entrance of the Void Fire Cauldron with the rest of the people from the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan. The people from all four clans observed Cain, trying to decipher the key behind his power and how his body could endure the consumption of such a vast sea of Void Fire despite being an Essence Cultivator. Cain paid no attention to their curious gazes and began to rest. After nearly a month and a half of intense cultivation using very powerful resources, he knew it was best to rest for the time being instead of applying more pressure on his body and energy pools. Four days after Cain, Zamuel and Lore finally emerged, leaving no one else from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan inside the Void Fire. Gordon and Sima had exited the liquid earlier that day. When they saw the duo from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan leave, they signaled to their clans'' Essence Cultivators that it was their turn to take advantage of the Void Fire. Even diluted, it should be more than enough for them. Zamuel and Lore nodded to the duo from the Volcano Clan and Ursa Clan and returned with their group. Once regrouped, the people from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan moved back through the passage they had arrived from. The Crushing Walls were still a challenge on their way back, but fortunately, they reacted more fiercely on the way to the Void Fire Cauldron than on the way out. Using their treasures, the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan returned to the Gray Road relatively easily. The group reached the middle of the Gray Road and turned to Cain. His eyes wandered around the passages, and upon detecting no strong energy fluctuations, he signaled, and they began to move forward. Cain and the warriors from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan had been moving forward in the Gray Road for nearly three hours when suddenly his eyes narrowed. He was not getting anxious about not locating a path since it could take days before finding a route toward one of the chambers. The reason for Cain''s sudden focus was that he detected a fluctuation in space approaching them at a shocking speed. Without saying a word, he stopped flying and took out Slaughter. Zamuel and Lore immediately raised their awareness when Cain took out his weapon. The duo did not detect anything but had seen just how sharp the Godslayer Human''s instincts were, so they prepared themselves for a fight and sent a signal for the rest to do the same. All the Zanginis Can and Solis Clan warriors adopted solemn expressions as they waited. After a few seconds, Zamuel and Lore also focused on the distance. Although they could not perceive the disturbance in space like Cain, they detected a strange and hidden force nearing them. Cain''s eyes grew sharper, and the golden light in them burst as he pushed The Flow to the limit in order to face the presence hidden in the distortion of space nearing them. However, just as there were less than one thousand meters between them, the disturbance in space seemed to have suddenly changed its path and entered one of the lanes on the side of Gray Road. Cain could not help but frown as he was confused by the sudden phenomenon, but things grew clearer the next moment when he noticed a group of five Dues Behemoths flashing toward them in the distance. "Members of the Gravitas Clan. And it seems they are injured." Zamuel and Lore also noticed the group and did not lower their guards just because they could see the people approaching them. The warriors from the Gravitas Clan all wore heavy armor, and wing-like fins were emerging from their backs, allowing them to move at a shocking speed despite their massive bodies. The one leading the group was a Deus Behemoth that was even larger than Jarkan, reaching a towering three meters in height, and there seemed to be a crushing gravitational field around his body. The five members of the Gravitas Clan stopped moving once they were nearly one hundred meters away from the warriors from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan. "Zamuel and Lore. It seems that you two have obtained a lot of gains already." Zamuel and Lore stared at the man leading the Gravitas as this one uttered those words. "I wish I could say the same about you, Norton. However, it seems that you find some problems." Zamuel spoke in a relaxed tone but did not lower his guard for a moment as he knew just how dangerous the man in front of him was. "Actually, you might help us with it. We are chasing a thief from the Fenrir Clan. That little shit and the rest of the dogs ambushed us and stole our treasure." Chapter 556: Blood Monsters Zamuel and Lore looked at each other as they heard Norton''s words. The Gravitas Clan was extremely powerful and considered at the zenith of the Ten Great Bloodlines. Overall, the Gravitas Clan was actually even stronger than the Vulcano Clan. Unfortunately for them, the Vulcano Clan gave birth to a monster named Eon, whose overwhelming individual power was unmatched by anyone in the Deus Behemoth Empire, which was why they were not able to secure the position of the Imperial Family. Of course, even if they were not the Imperial Family, being on good terms with the Gravitas Clan was wise, especially since the Fenrir Clan was accused of robbery. Sharing their knowledge and helping find a thief would help right a wrong. However, Zamuel and Lore were not naive. They couldn''t simply believe Norton''s words. Who''s to say it wasn''t the Gravitas Clan playing the thief, chasing a member of the Fenrir Clan to steal from them? If they were to help the Gravitas Clan, they would be accessories to theft and would gain nothing for it other than the animosity of the Fenrir Clan. "Sorry, but the members of the Fenrir Clan are adept at hiding their tracks using the Law of Space. We have no idea where they went," Zamuel said without hesitation. He didn''t want to be part of whatever drama was unfolding between the Fenrir and Gravitas Clans, and his statement was true since he had only managed to perceive a presence and could not pinpoint the exact whereabouts. Norton''s eyes narrowed as he focused on Zamuel and the rest of the Solis and Zanginis Clans for a few seconds before softly nodding, believing their words. However, before Norton led his group away, another member of the Gravitas Clan stepped forward and focused on Cain. "You are a master of the Law of Space, so surely you must have some insights regarding the whereabouts of the Fenrir Clan warriors. I am sure you want to do the right thing and help us." Cain assessed the member of the Gravitas Clan who spoke to him. Like his fellow warriors, the man had a massive body with fin-like wings on his back, and he emanated a remarkable gravitational power. ''He is Urik. He might not be the strongest of the Gravitas Clan''s younger generation. Still, he is extremely wise and cunning, so don''t underestimate him, Sun Avatar,'' Zamuel''s voice echoed in Cain''s mind, revealing the identity of the Gravitas Clan man that pushed the spotlight on him. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire Urik''s statement directed the entire group''s focus onto Cain, their stares laden with the gravitational power of their bloodlines. Most would feel immense pressure under such scrutiny, but Cain maintained complete control over his emotions. Even if he wasn''t a Master of Order, the gaze of a group of Apotheosis Masters couldn''t shake him. After all, he had faced True Titans and severed the arms of Divine Ascension Masters, so how could the group from the Gravitas Clan affect his mind? "Well, do you know anything about it?" Norton asked, surprised by Cain''s calm demeanor. "I know, but I see no reason to share that knowledge. Whether the Fenrir Clan member stole from you or you want to steal from them, it doesn''t matter to me. I will not get involved in your problems," Cain responded directly. As expected, the Gravitas Clan didn''t take well to his reply, and a coldness appeared in their eyes. "Are you sure about your answer?" Norton''s voice was eerily cold, his eyes flashing with fighting intent. Despite the numerical disadvantage, he showed no fear and seemed ready to fight Cain and anyone who dared to stand in his way. Norton''s behavior could be considered overbearing, but Cain''s reaction was even more tyrannical. Barely after Norton finished speaking, he moved forward at shocking speed, Slaughter in hand, stunning everyone. "Was that a threat? Because for me, there is only one answer to a threat." Norton''s eyes widened as he saw the Godslayer Human standing before him. Even though Cain''s head only reached his shoulder, he felt as if he were facing a giant, with no doubt in his mind that the Godsalyer Human was ready to attack with lethal intent. "I asked you a question." An eerie silence followed Cain''s words. His eyes began to glow with a red light, a sundering force emerging from him, ready to explode with the power of the Sundering Concept. ''How is this possible? I am an Astral Rebirth Cultivator, and he''s an Essence Evolution Cultivator. This short distance is perfect for me. Yet, my instincts are screaming to put space between us.'' Norton clenched his fists. Even though Slaughter hadn''t moved, he felt its edge at his neck and doubted he could withstand its attack without sustaining devastating injuries. Norton''s personal power and background usually justified his arrogance, but now he felt cornered. His pride urged him to attack Cain for his overbearing attitude, but his instincts advised otherwise. In the end, Norton''s instincts prevailed. He took a step back and gave Cain one final glance before moving away, promptly followed by the rest of the Gravitas Clan. As the Gravitas Clan departed, the warriors from the Solis and Zanginis Clans breathed a sigh of relief. The situation had been immensely tense, and despite their numerical advantage, they didn''t want to fight such a powerful group. Some looked at Cain with awe for his attitude, while others thought he was too overbearing, preferring the more relaxed approach of Zamuel and Lore. Of course, no one dared to reprimand the Godslayer Human. Cain didn''t oppress people out of pride or fun, but that didn''t mean he would let others walk over him. It was better to crush those who thought they could walk over you, or else they might think you were afraid of them and would not stop bullying you. Cain felt no need to explain his behavior and glanced at Lore and Zamuel as the group continued marching forward, searching for another of the Six Chambers. His eyes constantly used The Flow to detect strong energy frequencies, and a smile appeared on his face after another five hours of travel. "There!" Hearing Cain''s words, everyone''s eyes shone with anticipation and displayed grand smiles. They were utterly confident in Cain''s abilities, so his pointing in a direction meant they were close to another chamber. "Let''s go!" Lore shouted, and the Solis and Zanginis Clans warriors eagerly marched towards the indicated route. It didn''t take them long to encounter monsters resembling beasts made of coagulated blood and sharp bones. Upon seeing these monsters, the warriors'' eyes widened with thrill. On the other hand, Cain showed a complicated smile and sighed. The stark contrast in their expressions related to the function of the next chamber. While it would work wonders for Zamuel, Lore, and the others, it would be less effective for Cain. However, that didn''t mean Cain would slack off. Without hesitation, he brought out the nine Space Spheres and activated the Nexus Blood Domain to help the group handle the horde of Blood Monsters. Although the Blood Monsters were powerful, with their coagulated blood being extraordinarily toxic and their ability to heal themselves by sucking blood from any wounds they inflicted, they were utterly overwhelmed by the combined power of Cain and the others. After going through three of the Six Chambers, the group had become very powerful, improving their battle power by at least 20%. Not to mention that now Cain had reached the Law of Space''s Law Fragmentation, the power and range of his domain improved by at least 50%. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Explosions echoed across the path as the warriors from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan wreaked havoc, destroying more and more Blood Monsters. It didn''t take long for the ground to be covered in blood and broken bones. Once the group finished with the horde of Blood Monsters, they began to sift through the broken skulls to obtain gems containing Starwyrm''s Essence and Starwyrm''s Blood. However, no one touched the coagulated blood. Even members of the Zanginis Clan, who possessed a unique affinity with the element of blood, dared not interact with it due to its toxicity and poisonous energies. In fact, the blood was so toxic that the members of both clans stayed airborne to avoid contact with it. Cain gazed at the toxic coagulated blood on the ground and focused, using the Law of Blood to take control of it. He raised tons of it, along with the broken bones. It all disappeared before the warriors from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan could ask what he was doing. Although the coagulated blood was nothing but toxins for others, the [Gluttony Module] could effortlessly handle it. The Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan members, having already seen the Godslayer Human devouring various toxic forces, did not dwell on it and continued flying forward. There were many crossroads on the way to the chamber, but as before, Cain used The Flow to guide them correctly. After nearly a day of flying and facing several hordes of Blood Monsters, they finally saw it. Chapter 557: Astral Bloodline Chamber The chamber had clean walls and was by far the largest of the six inside the Astral Bloodline Realm, even greater than the massive Void Fire Cauldron, which could accommodate the fight of six entities with more power than a nuclear reactor. At the center of this enormous chamber was a fossilized, bulging sphere from which waves of scorching radiation emerged, so powerful that they had polished the walls, making them resemble a piece of flawless marble. Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire The name of this chamber was the Astral Bloodline Chamber, named after the power of the fossilized sphere at its center. Although the radiation was lethal, if one had the power to endure it, it could do wonders for one''s Lineage, improving its purity to an astonishing degree. All the warriors from the Zanginis and Solis Clans present were respected members of their clans, constantly receiving benefits from their elders who chose the Warlock Path, using the radiation of their Patriarchs'' Bloodline Force to improve their bloodlines. However, there was a limit to how much they could benefit, as those elders and even the Patriarchs were Divine Ascension Masters, just one rank above them. However, the power of the Astral Bloodline Core at the center of the chamber was so strong that it could help even Divine Ascension masters! If used properly, it could improve their Lineage by leaps and bounds. The reason Cain was not really excited about this chamber was that the Astral Bloodline Core had its limits. He obtained his bloodline using the Soul Bloodline of Lord Kabuto, a True Titan at the peak of Aether, so there was little the radiation in this chamber could do for him. In the end, Cain could only smile. He could not get upset because his bloodline was too pure and matched that of a Titan of the Deus Behemoth Race. Although the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan members wanted to move forward, they could not be rash. The energy that made it impossible for anyone without one of the Ten Great Bloodlines to enter the Astral Bloodline Realm without having their blood melt inside their veins originated from this chamber. The radiation inside the Astral Bloodline Chamber was so intense that even their bodies could melt if they were not careful. Luckily, there was no need for outside help as they could use their own power to face radiation waves. All the warriors from the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan took a deep breath as the power of their bloodlines began to gather. A red membrane didn''t take long to form above their skin. This membrane would act as a filter, diminishing the power of the radiation that reached their bodies, ensuring it was the right amount for training but not so intense as to harm their genes and induce cellular destruction. The Blood Membrane seemed fragile, and it was, as it would be very easy to break it through an attack, and even strong energy fluctuations could shatter it. Therefore, fighting was completely forbidden inside the Astral Bloodline Chamber. You could easily kill someone if you shattered their Blood Membrane, as the radiation would melt their insides, but the intense fluctuation of your energy pool would also shatter yours, so it would be akin to suicide. Despite these dangers, the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan warriors did not hesitate. The moment their Blood Membranes were formed, they began to advance. Although Cain would not gain significant benefits from this place, he still formed a membrane and advanced deeper into the chamber. Even if the radiation could not help his bloodline much, Cain could try to use its power to temper his body, improving his constitution enough to reach the final level of the Biometal Herculean Technique. As he walked deeper into the Astral Bloodline Chamber, Cain could feel the radiation waves affecting his cells and began to ponder. ''My mastery over the Law of Blood will allow me to push the Platinum Heart level of the Biometal Herculean Technique to its limit, but reaching the Adamantium Soul level will require much more. If I were to push my Law of Blood to the Law Integration level, I could engrave the power of the Laws into my bones and flesh, circumventing some of the requirements of the technique. Still, even after engraving the Law Runes inside my organs and skeleton, the physical requirements to endure molten Adamantium Level Metals in my bloodstream will be shockingly high. I might need to overcome the Flesh Tribulation to do it.'' Cain sighed as he understood just how long it would take him to reach the final level of the Biometal Herculean Technique. However, if anyone else were to hear his thoughts, they would not know whether to laugh or cry since not even the creator of the art dared to consider achieving the Adamantium Soul Level before the peak of the Apotheosis Realm. After all, the Adamantium Soul Level would grant flesh and blood that could match the armor of Divine Ascension Masters, and one''s defenses would rise even higher if they were to circulate their Astral Wave through the interconnected net of metal fiber the technique built under their skin. Unaware of how high his standards were compared to all other life forms in Aether, Cain continued moving forward, carefully assessing the power of the radiation to energize his cells but not allowing any harm to happen to the core components of his genetic material. Cain advanced nearly ten thousand meters before finally stopping, as he felt the radiation waves were simply too strong and his Bloodline Membrane would not be able to protect him anymore from the harmful effects of the energy waves. As he ensured the filtering power of his Bloodline Membrane, Cain focused on the Astral Bloodline Core in the distance, looking at it with wonder and awe. ''I''m not even one-third of the way in. The radiation beneath the Astral Bloodline Core must be enough to melt even my body, which is stronger than normal Apotheosis-level armor.'' After gazing at the majestic structure floating in the chamber''s core, Cain adopted a meditative position on the ground. He took a deep breath as he began to harness the power of the radiation with his body. The rest of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan members had done the same, using the power of the radiation to improve their bloodlines. Although they were using the power for different purposes, whether it was Cain or the members of the Zanginis and Solis Clans, they were all extremely careful not to unleash any energy fluctuation, as losing their Bloodline Membrane here could be deadly. Minutes became hours, and hours became days as the warriors harnessed the power of the radiation from the Astral Bloodline Core to improve their Lineage. Around the nineteenth day, a member of the Zanginis Clan opened his eyes from meditation and immediately began to move back to the chamber entrance. Although the man did not use his Wave, he moved very fast and did not stop until he was outside, and only then did he relax. The man''s face was pale, and there was an exhausted expression on his face as a small trail of blood began to leak from his nose. Even if the Bloodline Membrane could filter most of the harmful radiation, there was still some accumulated damage gathering inside the Deus Behemoth''s body. Luckily, the man was wise enough to come out before the damage turned severe. Although he was tired, the smile on his face was undeniable the moment he felt just how much his Lineage had improved. It didn''t take long for another person to wake up from her meditation; this time, it was a member of the Solis Clan, Kenia. Like the man from the Zanginis Clan, she moved out of the Astral Bloodline Chamber before deactivating her Bloodline Membrane. One by one, the members of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan began to exit the Bloodline Chamber with broad smiles. Soon, the only ones left inside were Cain, Lore, and Zamuel. The trio''s bloodline was the strongest of all, giving them a natural resistance to the harmful effects of the radiation. Still, they were not immune, and by the twenty-fourth day, the trio exited the Astral Bloodline Chamber. Cain''s face was pale as he reached the Astral Bloodline Chamber''s entrance, but he had a wide smile like everyone else. Although the radiation did not help his bloodline, it improved his body significantly in terms of resilience. Of course, he didn''t just focus on that, as he used the time to revolve the Starwyrm''s Essence and Starwyrm''s Blood, improving his cultivation base on both paths. Cain was still far from the Late Wave King Rank but advancing quickly. Even after everyone exited the chamber, no one left. It wasn''t that they would return, as there was not much gain in doing so, but before returning to the main route, everybody wanted to heal their bodies and take care of the harmful effects of the radiation. Chapter 558: Radiance of Valor (I) As they improved their constitution, Lore turned to Cain with a look full of awe and wonder. "I must say, Great Grandfather was right in saying we would be lucky by following your guide, Lord Laurifer. At this rate, we might be able to visit all Six Chambers, something that has never happened in the entire history of the Astral Bloodline Realm." When the warriors of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan heard those words, they all turned toward Cain with eyes full of awe and admiration, as well as great gratitude. There was a limited amount of time that the Astral Bloodline Realm would stay open, and once it was over, they would all be expelled. The time the Astral Bloodline Realm remained open each time varied but was between eight to ten months, which sounded more than enough to take advantage of every single chamber, but it was not so simple. Usually, a genius would need between one and one and a half months to take full advantage of the divine powers of each chamber, which would be enough to use all six chambers. Still, you must consider that not everybody had a guide capable of instantly figuring out the right path like Cain. Other groups had to test their luck and guide themselves using the knowledge their elders managed to amass, and they would be lucky if they found a chamber after half a month of searching. "Hahaha, of course, Colonel Laurifer is awesome. After all, he is the Sun Avatar, canonized by our Patriarch," Zamuel nearly shouted, excitement evident on his face. He felt uncomfortable the first time he learned that a Godslayer Human would become his clan''s Sun Avatar. However, now he couldn''t be happier about it, and he was not alone, as all the members of the Solis Clan showed the same pride. Many Solis Clan hoped Cain would remain in the Deus Behemoth Empire after the Astral Bloodline Realm as he would be a great addition to the empire. Cain showed a small smile and nodded to the Deus Behemoths but did not say much. He had indeed come to appreciate them as they were all very hardworking, but that was it. It was not their fault, nor did they do something wrong, but as a Master of Order, it was very hard for him to form relationships since his emotions were dormant. The members of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan were already used to the stoic nature of the young man, so they just smiled as they carried on healing their bodies, preparing to return to their peak before moving back to the Gray Route and searching for the next chamber. It took around fifteen hours for the warriors from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan to return to their peak. Without wasting time, they made their way back to the Gray Road, all brimming with excitement at the prospect of being the first Deus Behemoths to visit all Six Chambers and the improvements they could gain, which might be enough to allow them to reach the mighty Divine Realm. Cain was just as excited as the others, as the two remaining chambers would greatly help his body and mind. However, just as he was about to return to the Gray Road, his eyes widened in shock and danger. "Ambush!" Cain barely managed to utter the word before waving his hand and releasing the nine Space Spheres, hastily forming the Blood Nexus Domain. Instead of a domain, the Blood Nexus Domain took a shield-like form in front of Cain and the others. Zamuel, Lore, and all the other warriors from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan were shocked by Cain''s words and actions, as none of them had detected anything. However, during the past months, they had developed an unconscious sense of trust and reliance on the Godslayer Human. Hence, their bodies instinctively reacted, bursting with all their power as they took out their weapons. The warriors from the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan had barely raised their defenses when a mass of shadow appeared in front of them, blocking the path to the Gray Road. But that was just the beginning, as the shadow began revolving before forming a gargantuan shark-like avatar that surged forward with immense momentum and speed. The gargantuan shadow shark was so immense that it occupied the entire road and pierced through the Blood Nexus Domain in its shield form, shattering it to pieces without much problem before lunging toward the warriors from the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan with a power that could kill Divine Ascension Masters! "?AHHHHH!" Cain, Lore, Zamuel, and all the others roared as they channeled what little energy they could accumulate in such a short window of time and struck toward the gargantuan shadow avatar. "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion echoed as the combined power of Cain and the warriors from the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan clashed with the gargantuan shadow avatar, bursting it apart. Although Cain and the others were able to reduce the gargantuan shark''s power significantly with their attacks, the explosion still sent them flying back onto the road while spewing mouthfuls of blood. Despite the wounds they received and the shock that assaulted their minds, Cain and the Deus Behemoths from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan were all seasoned warriors, so they pushed their minds to their peaks as they regained control over their bodies and gathered, adopting a battle formation. Cain stood at the head of the battle formation, and soon, the Space Spheres returned to him. They were full of cracks due to the power of the shadow avatar''s crash but were still useful. His eyes were sharp, and his Ego Wave was bursting at full power as he gazed ahead with pure coldness and killing intent. It was not hard to figure out who was responsible for the attack. Soon, ten figures emerged from the shadows, all warriors with sharp fins on their arms and legs and auras that seemed to fade at any moment. "Talon, what does the Umbra Clan think it''s doing!?" Zamuel shouted at the man leading the group, his eyes full of killing intent. He knew that had it not been for Cain''s warning and intervention, that shadow avatar would have caused much more damage and possibly killed a few of them. Lore did not say a word, but he unleashed the same killing intent as Cain and Zamuel, and it was clear to all that the man from the Zanginis Clan was ready to kill. Talon did not bother with Zamuel and Lore, focusing only on Cain, a sharp light appearing in his eyes. He was proud of his assassination skills, and the last attack took a lot of preparation and the use of precious treasures. Yet, due to the interference of the young man, they did little damage. "You don''t want to talk. Fine. I will get my answer after ripping your chest open." Seeing that Talon was not offering any words, Lore finally spoke, his words filled with murderous intent as his Astral Wave burst with even greater power. That worked as a signal as all the warriors from the Zanginis Clan did the same, and it didn''t take long for Zamuel and the others to follow suit. Even though the shadow avatar injured them, that shallow damage could not weaken their battle power. Not to mention, they outnumbered the Umbra Clan two to one. However, before they could step forward, Cain raised his hand, stopping them. "Do you still plan to hide?" Cain''s eyes were icy as he focused on a corner behind the Umbra Clan. Cain''s words surprised the members of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan, but Talon and the members of the Umbra Clan were the most shocked. "How!?" Talon couldn''t help but shout. It was one thing for Cain to detect their attack, as any energy fluctuation was hard to conceal, but the fact that he managed to uncover even them was too much. "Hahahaha. Colonel Laurifer, your abilities are astonishing. It seems that it was not just that bloody fool''s stupidity that allowed you to escape our ambush in the Gaia Continent." Along with that voice, ten more figures emerged from the shadows, and these were none other than the people of the Kraken Clan. Leading the group was a young man who seemed to be in the prime of his life, radiating a shockingly powerful aura. Zamuel and Lore couldn''t help but glance at each other as they looked at the young man. They had no idea who he was and did not recall seeing him enter the Astral Bloodline Realm with them. ''He is Norkuo.'' Cain''s voice echoed inside the minds of the warriors from the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan, shocking everyone. They couldn''t help but focus once again on the young man, noticing the resemblance. Still, they couldn''t understand how Norkuo achieved such a massive change. ''He is just a vessel. Someone else is controlling his body.'' Chapter 559: Radiance of Valor (II) Lore and Zamuel were once again shocked by those words, and the somber expression on their faces only grew worse. The fact that someone managed to take control of Norkuo inside the Astral Bloodline Realm meant that this person had come with them and managed to hide from the perception of True Titans like the Emperor of the Deus Behemoth Empire. Cain noticed the somber expressions on the duo and didn''t blame them, as he also felt his instincts screaming danger. However, soon, his attention was drawn to the people around Norkuo, noting how all the warriors from the Kraken Clan had blank expressions on their faces, no different than mindless automatons. Unlike Cain, Norkuo showed a calm smile as he walked forward, his eyes beginning to glow with soul force, instantly generating shocking pressure on the warriors of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan. "Warriors of the Deus Behemoth Empire, I am the Soul King, one of the Ten Dark Kings of the Organization." Although they were just words, hearing them instilled a sense of fear in the hearts of the warriors from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan. Even if The Organization operated in the Gaia Continent, there was no one in Aether who did not know its fame and just how impressive the Ten Dark Kings were. The power of The Organization was so immense that some considered it the seventh great power of Aether, only slightly weaker than the six sacred races. The Dark Kings were the higher-ups of that massive underworld organization, their power matching that of True Titans, able to face even the Emperors. Thus, being in the presence of one was akin to facing death itself. A small smile appeared on the Soul King''s face as he saw the expressions of the Deus Behemoths, but it turned into a frown when he saw the calmness and coldness in Cain''s eyes, as if his title and fame gathered over thousands of years, meant nothing to the young man. ''Hmph, insignificant rat.'' Coldness appeared in the Soul King''s demeanor before his smile returned, and his eyes glowed with even stronger soul force as he glanced again at the Deus Behemoths from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan. "You are lucky as today I feel magnanimous. Warriors of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan, I am willing to let you live as long as you move out of my way so I can take care of that small pest from the Godslayer Human Race." Strange expressions appeared on the warriors from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan as they heard the Soul King''s words. They began to glance at each other, and it didn''t take long for some of them to cautiously move back. Cain noticed their gazes but remained silent, focusing on the Soul King with pure calmness as the red light in his eyes grew more and more powerful. A sharp light appeared in the Soul King''s eyes as he saw how just a few members of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan moved away from Cain, and even they were still not far and had not made up their minds. The soul force in the Soul King''s eyes grew even stronger as the smile on his face vanished, and soon, a fearsome killing intent flooded the area. "You better move out of my path, or I assure you, death will be the least of your concerns. I am a master of the soul path and a puppeteer, and each of you is a perfect specimen. If you don''t move right now, I assure you I will add you to my collection." The warriors of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan trembled as they heard those words, imagining themselves being dissected alive, their inner organs replaced, and their minds sealed, becoming living puppets. The fear was so intense that more and more members of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan began to move away from Cain, with even Zamuel and Lore doing the same. All of them showed expressions of shame, but the fear was simply too much, and they were not ready to face death. Cain saw how he was slowly being left alone but did not say a word, simply lowering his head to hide his face. It didn''t take long for Cain to be completely alone, making a cold and nasty smile appear on the Soul King''s face as the soul force in his eyes shook. "Hahaha, what about now, insect? Where was that calmness from before? Don''t tell me you are too afraid to even look at me." The Soul King''s voice was cold as he uttered those words, but then a frown appeared as the soul force in his eyes destabilized. "How bothersome it is to handle the emotions of an old fool. Let''s finish this fast." The Soul King uttered those words aloud, clearly speaking to himself, not caring what others thought. He raised his hand, about to signal the Umbra Clan to move forward when he saw Cain''s body begin to glow with a powerful red light. "I am Cain Laurifer." Those words made the red light burst with even greater power, flooding the entire area, but it was just the beginning. "I am the Scarlet King." At this point, Cain raised his head, and the red light in his eyes had reached its zenith, making his eyes glow like miniature suns. The Soul King was shocked to see the determination and willpower behind those eyes, a sense of absolute certainty and will that seemed impossible for a young man not even twenty years old to achieve. He felt something was wrong, but before he could react, Cain spoke again. "And I am the Empyrean Sun that sunders all fear and deception!" Cain''s voice made his Ego Wave burst before it collected above him in the form of a yin-yang sun. His Alter-Ego, the Sun Seed, was released, soon flooding the area with a burning red light. "Radiance of Valor!" Talon was shocked to see such a majestic Alter-Ego, having never witnessed anything like it. He could hardly believe someone could envision themselves with such grandeur. Immediately, he raised his guard and stood ready to face the power, but as the red light reached him, he felt nothing and noticed it did not harm him at all. The Soul King was also surprised to feel the power of the Alter-Ego not affecting him whatsoever. Yet, his eyes widened as he saw how the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan members trembled, trails of blood emerging from the corners of their mouths as their eyes began to glow with willpower. "?Impossible!" The Soul King couldn''t believe what he was seeing. The warriors of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan were quick to move away from Cain after just a few words because charged inside the Soul King''s voice was an imperceptible soul spell that flooded people''s hearts and minds with fear. Actually, the Soul King was surprised to realize that the warriors could resist his spell the first time and forced him to use even more power, yet now Cain was able to help the warriors of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan overcome his soul invasion art. Cain showed a small smile as shock appeared in the eyes of the people of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan, only for it to be soon replaced with rage as they gazed at the Soul King and understood how he had been playing with their minds. It didn''t take long for Cain to share that same coldness as he gazed back at the Soul King. The spell he just used was new, but he had mastered its principles from the moment he began to help people through hypnosis to overcome their fears. Using the Empyrean Sun Visualization Technique, he harnessed the power of his Sun Seed''s willpower. He fused it with the ethereal force of the Sundering Concept, allowing its light to sunder all fear and deceiving powers that could affect one''s mind and soul. Zamuel and Lore did not hesitate to position themselves between Cain and the Soul King, their eyes glowing with resoluteness and determination, along with a need to prove their honor and courage. The duo was shamed for falling under the spells of the Soul King, but they said nothing. The mighty warriors of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan would use actions to prove themselves and correct their failures. The duo was not alone as all the warriors from both clans moved forward, standing around Cain with eyes that glowed with pure fighting will and killing intent. The Soul King clenched his fists as he stared at the Sun Seed, and his killing intent grew as deep down, his instincts told him that if he allowed Cain to survive, he would deeply regret it. "Fine, if that is how you want it, then you can all die along with the human!" Bursting Astral Wave, and a powerful oceanic pressure emerged from the Soul King, and he was not alone. The rest of the members of the Kraken Clan also unleashed their power, and while their eyes were blank, it was clear they were ready to kill. Chapter 560: The power of dual cultivation (I) Talon couldn''t help but sigh as he saw how a battle was about to start and understood the repercussions of what would happen. There was no turning back for him or anyone else in the Umbra Clan. He made his Astral Wave explode, and the rest of the warriors of the Umbra Clan did the same. ''Leave the Soul King to me.'' Zamuel and Lore were surprised to hear Cain''s voice. Clearly, the Soul King had transformed Norkuo into a battle vessel and pushed the power of this one to a much higher degree, which would likely unleash battle power at the Divine Ascension Realm. Even if Cain was powerful, the duo was even stronger. However, as they saw the Sun Seed, they nodded in agreement, realizing that the Godslayer Human was the only one with the power to endure the might of the Soul King''s soul-force spells. ''Already Sun Avatar. But be careful, as I am sure his soul spells are even stronger when used in the open and without the need for cloaks.'' Cain glanced at Zamuel and nodded, but the truth was he was not scared at all. If the Soul King were to use a soul invasion spell on him, the man would surely regret it. No matter how strong the Soul King was, he could not compare with the soul force of the Astral Blood Beast, and that was not just destroyed but imprisoned by Apex''s power. When it comes to facing enemies that mastered soul-invasion spells, there was no doubt in Cain''s mind that he was the best suited in all of Aether. Since Cain would take care of the Soul King, Zamuel and Lore focused on their opponent, with the first staring at Talon while the second turned his gaze toward Robert. Zamuel took out his short dagger while Lore honed his spiked gauntlets, and Slaughter appeared in Cain''s grasp. All other members of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan also took their weapons and made their Wave burst at full power. All hesitation had vanished from Talon''s eyes, and a powerful murderous aura surrounded him as silver metal began to encompass the sharp fins on his arms and legs. Robert took out a massive hammer that seemed to carry the pressure of an ocean and made his Astral Wave burst, but his eyes remained blank, devoid of conscious thought, making it clear he was not in control. The same blank expression could be seen in the rest of the members of the Kraken Clan. However, that only made the members of the Kraken Clan more dangerous since Cain and the others knew the Soul King would not hesitate to use the Deus Behemoths for suicide attacks. The Soul King was the last to act, taking out a black broadsword as his Astral Wave burst with immense power. Cain could feel a dangerous aura emanating from Talon and Robert, but his eyes focused on the Soul King, his opponent. Even though the Dark King was using Norkuo''s body as a battle vessel, underestimating him would be a deadly mistake. Silence echoed as both sides looked at each other, and then it happened. "BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOOM!" "BOOOOOMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOMMMMM!" Explosions echoed across the road as Cain and the warriors from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan clashed with the Soul King and the members of the Umbra Clan and Kraken Clan. Cain flashed forward, meeting the broadsword of the Soul King head-on, generating a blast of Blood Energy and oceanic pressure between them. Even though his Astral Cultivation was sealed, his body had grown immensely powerful thanks to the chambers, allowing him to redirect the broadsword without a problem. With the broadsword out of the way, Cain was ready to move Slaughter up and cut Norkuo''s neck. Killing Norkuo would not kill the Soul King, but without a vessel, the soul of this one would vanish from the Astral Bloodline Realm. The Soul King''s eyes narrowed as he saw Cain''s eyes glowing with golden light and redirect his weapon. However, he was not surprised. No matter how weak the enemy was, the Soul King always put his entire effort into a mission, so he was aware of Cain''s unique parrying ability. The moment the broadsword was pushed down, the Soul King let go of it. Cain was surprised to see the Soul King letting go of the weapon, but then a sense of utter shock assaulted him. The Soul King immediately raised his hand, and the broadsword teleported back to his grip. Cain''s eyes widened as the vanishing of the broadsword threw him off balance. However, that was the least of his problems as the Soul King began to descend the broadsword the next second, and Cain felt his instincts screaming danger. "THUMP!" "BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" A powerful heartbeat echoed just before an explosion that made the road tremble, shocking everyone. Zamuel and Lore couldn''t help but glance at the fight between Cain and the Soul King as that blast was genuinely astonishing, with power neither of them could match. As the explosion dispersed, they saw the Soul King''s broadsword embedded in the ground and Cain in the distance, having collided with a wall. Cain hastily moved away from the wall, a somber expression on his face. It wasn''t the broadsword that had pushed him into the wall, but him pushing the Asura Form beyond its peak to gain enough speed to move to the side, resulting in him being unable to stop in time. None of that mattered now as Cain focused on the broadsword again, this time with his eyes full of caution. The weapon, with a black blade and a long hilt, didn''t seem special. Still, appearances were deceptive, as the broadsword could instantly teleport back to its wielder''s grip, ignoring the energy wave space. Such a skill might not seem very helpful, but it was perfect for facing someone like Cain, who could counter or redirect almost any physical attack. ''A Natural Holy Weapon. No, it''s even rarer than that. And that crushing power at the end must be a skill of the Kraken Clan that the Soul King can deploy at its highest power.'' "Oh, you managed to escape. To be fair, I just obtained this sword a few days ago, so I can''t truly use its power yet, but it is still amazing. Consider me impressed." The Soul King glanced at Cain, and even though he was in the middle of a battlefield with explosions going around him, there was pure calm and serenity in his eyes as the soul force in them seemingly reached its zenith. Cain clenched his grip around Slaughter as he understood the immense power that the Soul King could unleash, even if this one only relied on the battle vessel Norkuo. As for the fact that the Dark King was not using soul-invasion spells, it was impossible to say for sure the reason behind it. It might have been just one clash, but it was enough to tell Cain the disparity between them and how low his chances would be in a battle if nothing changed. "Ahhhh, I guess I was being too arrogant, thinking I could face one of the Ten Dark Kings in this state." A smile appeared on the Soul King''s face as he heard those words, but then his eyes widened as he saw a stream of dark purple energy bathed in golden burning power emanating from Cain''s body, soon becoming a pillar of Astral Wave! "Dual cultivation!" It wasn''t just the Soul King who was shocked to see a burst of Astral Wave coming from Cain''s body; Talon, Lore, and Zamuel reacted the same. Everybody knew dual cultivation was taboo and considered a waste of time. The only ones who did that were people with little talent, and even then, the disparity in both paths meant that the improvements the second path could grant were meager. However, Cain was not only considered a monstrous genius at the absolute zenith of Aether but the purity and power of his Astral Rebirth Cultivation did not seem any less than his Essence Evolution Cultivation. The strength of his Astral Wave was so formidable that no one in the younger generation of the Deus Behemoth Empire could compare with him. Cain felt how his physical power, defenses, and reflexes grew exponentially stronger now that his Astral Wave was coursing through his veins and meridians at full power, but that was just the beginning. His Blood Energy (Astral) activated the metallic web beneath his skin, pushing his Platinum Heart to the highest level. After his defenses came the attack, and Bloodthirsty Runes made with the blood of the Draco Lightning Frog covered Slaughter. Finally, it was time for speed, and the Blood Wings emerged from his back, flapping at the same speed as his Asura Form''s heartbeat, so fast that some of the people present could only see a blur. "I admit that your sword treasure took me by surprise, but now that I know its power, it''s time for me to show you the full extent of mine." Chapter 561: The power of dual cultivation (II) Just like the Soul King, Cain''s eyes were full of calm and coldness as he uttered those words, and his eyes glowed with a red light that made them resemble suns capable of sundering all darkness. The Soul King and Cain locked eyes, each filled with killing intent, as they calmly walked toward each other, seemingly impervious to the dozens of explosions happening every second around them. The Godslayer Human and Dark King were unleashing all the power in their bodies and souls, and only now would the true battle start. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!" Once Cain and the Soul King were precisely one hundred meters away from each other, they disappeared, only to reappear the next second in the middle of the battlefield, with Slaughter clashing against the broadsword. Waves of Blood Energy and powerful oceanic force spread everywhere, forming a tornado, with Cain and the Soul King in the center. The explosion was overwhelming, to the point that the shockwaves pushed those around them away. The only way to describe its power was at the Divine Ranks! Cain clenched his teeth as he resisted the immense pressure behind the broadsword, feeling the bones in his arms tremble, but he did not pull back. Luckily for him, the Sun Armor improved his already impressive defensive powers, and the Radiance of Strength pushed him even higher. The Soul King was also using the full power of his battle vessel. While he surpassed Cain in terms of strength, waves of sharp energy emanated from Slaughter, generating cuts on his arms that could overcome his armor and exoskeleton. "?AHHHHHH!" "?AHHHHHH!" Cain and the Soul King roared as they pushed their bodies to the limits before being blasted in opposite directions, crashing into the walls with so much strength that they made holes in them. However, before a second could pass, the duo had flashed back into the fray and continued clashing again. The Soul King raised his broadsword and waved it down at Cain''s incoming figure, the crushing oceanic pressure behind the attack overwhelmingly high, capable of leveling an entire city. Cain saw the power of the attack but showed no fear in his eyes. Just as it was about to reach him, his Blood Wings waved as the power of the Space Law burst, distorting space. "BOOOOOMMMMM!" The Soul King saw the explosion that his broadsword unleashed upon touching the ground, but there was no smile on his face as Cain had managed to vanish before he could connect his attack. It didn''t take him long to find the young man, as he only had to turn to the side to see Cain waving Slaughter toward him. Using the Law of Space, Cain managed to distort space, and by combining the power of Blood Wings and Asura Form, he moved so fast that it seemed that it resembled teleportation, something near impossible to achieve when space was flooded with destructive energy. Even though Slaughter carried so much power that it could sever in half the head of an Early Divine Beast, the Soul King did not lose his calm as he released his grip over the broadsword. Without the weapon, the Soul King''s hands moved fast enough to appear in front of his head. Before Slaughter could land, the broadsword teleported into his grip, allowing him to use the weapon as a shield. "BOOOOOMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion echoed once Cain''s Slaughter clashed with the broadsword, discharging the Quantum Laceration charged in it, pushing the Soul King with immense power against one of the walls. The Soul King pucked a mouthful of blood, but the weapon fulfilled its purpose as a shield, protecting the man from serious injury. Cain''s eyes were sharp, as the martial skill of the Soul King was nothing but majestic, greater than any of the enemies he had faced before, even the Blood King. In that previous attack, he had used all his power, combining the might of his Law Mastery and physical might. However, the Soul King still managed to defend himself and sustain very few injuries, whereas anyone else would have at least suffered a severe wound. The might of his enemy only made Cain''s killing intent burst as he flashed forward with all his power. The Soul King had regained control over his body, and as he saw Cain flashing toward him, the soul force in his eyes exploded. Soon, the surroundings began to change as his Astral Wave infused space, generating an oceanic domain around him. Once again, the Soul King managed to use one of the unique abilities of the Kraken Lineage, Ocean Domain, with a proficiency that surpassed all the clan''s geniuses. Cain could feel the pressure of that domain and knew his speed would be restricted, but he did not slow down and flashed forward, pushing his Blood Wings and Spatial Phase to the limit, hacking with Slaughter at full speed. The Soul King showed the same killing intent as Cain, and once again, he waved his broadsword, unleashing all its power. --- "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Explosions of Blood Energy and oceanic force echoed across the battlefield as Cain and the Soul King clashed dozens of times every second, the blade and broadsword moving at a shocking speed. The duo did not restrict their movements and occupied the entire route. The warriors from the Solis Clan, Zanginis Clan, Umbra Clan, and Kraken Clan could only move away as the duo approached them or else risk becoming collateral damage to their fight. Not even Zamuel, Lore, Talon, or Robert could endure being next to the duo as they were unleashing the power of Early Divine Ascension Masters. "Quantum Laceration!" "Oceanic Dash!" A blast of Blood Energy reinforced by the power of space clashed with a wave of oceanic energy as the blade and broadsword collided. Cain and the Soul King had already clashed for over ten minutes, and their bodies were riddled with wounds. The Godslayer Human''s bones had all sorts of microfractures, while deep lacerations appeared in the battle vessel. Cain could not use Radiance of Life to heal himself, as he needed to focus all the might of his Ego Wave on Radiance of Strength to match the Soul King''s strength. His power was immense, but his energy pool was diminishing at a staggering rate, and he would not be able to carry on for too long. Luckily, he was not the only one in a race against time, as the Soul King also had a limited amount of time before his battle power diminished immensely. The reason was that Norkuo''s life force was growing increasingly weak. It wasn''t just the attacks that were diminishing Norkuo''s life force. The main reason was that to improve Norkuo''s strength and achieve a perfect battle vessel, the Soul King sacrificed the old man''s life force. Despite their bloody appearance and wounds, Cain and the Soul King were still full of killing intent, and their eyes glowed as they prepared to break the stalemate and land a decisive blow. "BOOOOOOMMM!" A new explosion echoed as the Soul King waved his broadsword down, clashing with Cain''s raising Slaughter. However, as the weapons collided, trying to overcome each other, the Soul King''s battle vessel trembled and puked a mouthful of blood as the strength behind his grip diminished significantly. Cain''s eyes burst with red light as fortune seemed to favor him, and he put even more strength behind Slaughter as he raised the weapon, pushing the broadsword up with so much strength that it escaped the Soul King''s grip. The Soul King''s arms were in the air, and he had lost the broadsword. Even if the weapon could return to him, his hands were up, leaving him unprotected. Cain''s eyes burst with killing intent as he waved Slaughter down with all his strength, intending to sever the Soul King in half. However, just as Cain''s blade was about to touch the battle vessel, a smile appeared on the Soul King''s face, and he vanished. Pure shock appeared on Cain''s face as he saw the power of the Law of Space envelop the Soul King and teleport him. A feat like that would require the power of Law Integration, and even then, it would be complicated. However, Cain did not have time to wonder about the might of such ability as he perceived the Soul King appearing above him, right beside the broadsword. His eyes widened with enlightenment as he came to understand that the broadsword could not only teleport to its master but could also teleport its master toward it. The Soul King''s smile only grew as he saw Cain''s surprise. He had hidden this ability for the right time, and that was now. With Slaughter on the ground, Cain could not raise the weapon before his broadsword descended. "Ocean Divine Fall!" The broadsword descended with momentum and pressure that could crumble mountains to dust and level everything for dozens of thousands of meters, and all that power fell on Cain''s body. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Chapter 562: From bad to worse "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" That attack was the most powerful the Soul King had unleashed so far, so massive that it nearly divided the battlefield in half, pushing everybody away and temporarily halting all the other battles. The warriors from the Solis Clan, Kraken Clan, Zanginis Clan, and Umbra Clan did not immediately rejoin the fray after being thrust away by that blast. Instead, they turned to the core of the explosion. There was no clear winner between the two sides, so if the Soul King emerged victorious, it would tip the balance towards the Umbra Clan and Kraken Clan warriors. Dread appeared on Zamuel and Lore''s faces as they saw the attack had landed point blank on Cain. On the other hand, Talon was able to finally relax, sure that there was no way Cain could have survived that. As the energy dispersed, everybody saw Cain''s blood falling to the ground. However, shock set in as they saw the broadsword embedded in his chest, the weapon having shattered his left sternum and leaving a deep cut. The wound on Cain''s body was severe but far from what such an attack should have inflicted. The reason for that was the glowing blood vessels that seemed to burn energy. "Astral Blood Ability!" The Soul King couldn''t help but be shocked to see Cain using such a powerful ability, exponentially enhancing his defenses and turning a deadly attack into only a deep wound. A bad situation could always become worse. In the next second, Cain''s eyes burst with red light, using all his strength to move his wounded left arm and grab the Soul King''s wrist as he charged all his power into Slaughter. The Soul King felt the immense power in the blade, but his last attack had unleashed too much power, leaving him to endure the backlash. Therefore, he could not rid himself of Cain''s grip fast enough. "Dimensional Rend!" Cain shouted as Slaughter rose with all his strength, and under everybody''s sight, space began to tear apart. Furthermore, all the Bloodthirsty Seals exploded, infusing their power into the cut in space-time. The Soul King used all his strength to try to move away, but he could not escape before the tear in space burst, unleashing a spatial storm charged with an ocean of Blood Energy that engulfed him. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" The spatial storm and Blood Energy flooded the route, and while its main target was the Soul King, it engulfed everybody from both sides. Zamuel and Lore were not the exceptions. The duo had faced very hard battles and were riddled with injuries, but they did not lose focus. They took the chance of the Dimensional Rend explosion to command the warriors from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan back, taking a defensive formation. At the same time, they waited for the explosive energies to cool down. The Umbra Clan and Kraken Clan warriors did the same, with Talon and Robert adopting defensive stances along with the rest, trying to assess the condition of the battlefield. Finally, two more figures emerged from the epicenter of the blast. Cain landed among the group of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan, his face pale with a gaping cut on his chest that reached his ribs. The left side of his body was badly wounded, and his lung had collapsed. The Soul King also retreated with his warriors, and his condition was even worse as he had lost his right arm, his right leg mangled beyond recognition, and his entire body riddled with deep and bloody wounds. Clearly, taking the Dimensional Rend head-on, which the Bloodthirsty Runes enhanced, had done immense damage to the Soul King''s battle vessels. Silence reigned as both groups looked at each other. Cain''s wounds were not as severe as the Soul King''s, but he still lost a significant part of his battle power. While the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan could win the battle, it would be a Pyrrhic victory, and many would die, so no side was happy about the current situation. Still, Zamuel, Lore, and all the other warriors stared at the Umbra Clan and Kraken Clan with killing intent and resolution. Some might die, but they were warriors, and death was acceptable, especially if they could rid the empire of such an immense threat. Cain was having a hard time regulating his breathing. He had redirected the power of his Alter-Ego into Radiance of Life to mend his injuries, but he was still severely wounded. Nevertheless, his eyes were resolute as he stood straight and glanced at the Soul King with pure killing intent. The Soul King failed to regulate his breathing, and the damage he received was simply too much, even for a battle vessel with the vitality and constitution of a Peak Apotheosis Realm Master. His already unstable life force was rapidly losing control, worsening his condition. Continuing to clash with Cain meant the chances of victory were next to null. For the Soul King to infiltrate the Astral Bloodline Realm undetected by the True Titans of the Deus Behemoth Empire, he had been forced to fuse a piece of his soul in this continent with the soul sea of Norkuo. This meant that if the battle vessel were to shatter, the piece of his soul would crumble and fade, breaking his control over the members of the Kraken Clan. "Ahhhh, I will admit it, you are a true monster. Had you reached the Divine Ranks, even if my true body was here, I could do nothing but run away." The members of the Umbra Clan, Solis Clan, and Zanginis Clan were surprised to hear the Soul King''s words as the assessment of Cain''s power was mind-blowing. There was a massive difference between the Early and Late Stages in the Divine Ascension Rank, and a True Titan like the Soul King was at an even higher stage, yet it seemed Cain could reach the absolute Peak of Aether upon surpassing the Apotheosis Realm. That was a level of talent that was truly unheard of. Although those words should have made Cain feel good, his instincts began to scream louder and louder as if the danger was just about to start. It was at this point that the Soul King''s soul force burst, and screams emerged from behind him. "?AHHHHHHH!" The members of the Kraken Clan began to scream in pain, grabbing their heads due to the agony that seemed to have woken them up from their stasis as dark blue fire bathed their bodies. Cain, Zamuel, and Lore''s eyes widened as they saw how, amidst the screams, the members of the Kraken Clan began to grow larger, and their energy pools grew in intensity and purity. The transformation was not aesthetic at all, and in some cases, you could see bones breaking through the skin due to the fast growth, with their blood vessels growing thicker to the point that they resembled worms moving beneath their skin. Despite their eerie appearance, every one of them was growing more powerful by the second, and their transformation didn''t take long to be completed. Robert had always been tall, but after the transformation by the dark blue flames, he was now almost three meters tall. His muscles had grown exponentially, as had the density of the bronze exoskeleton covering his flesh. Bone spikes were breaking through his hands, making his fists more dangerous. Cain''s calm expression couldn''t help but break under such a sight. The power between both groups was nearly even, and he had pushed the balance in favor of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan by delivering that Dimensional Rend point-blank on the Soul King, but things changed once more. Each member of the Kraken Clan had grown at least 50% more powerful. Of course, such an immense upgrade came at a horrible cost, and Cain doubted they would be able to survive for long, but they only needed to endure this fight, and that would be enough. "I did not want to lose such valuable chess pieces, but you left me no other choice. Now your fate is sealed, and you can do nothing to escape my scythe." The Soul King''s voice was eerily cold, and there was no smile on his face or excitement. It was as if everything was already over, and there was no need for unnecessary emotions. Zamuel and Lore stared at Cain, unable to hide their distress, as their current situation was truly awful. They had already crossed blades with their enemies and understood their power. Now that they had grown much more powerful and would deploy suicide attacks without regard for their lives, there was no chance of victory. Even if they gave it their all, at most, they could kill a few members of the Kraken Clan and Umbra Clan, but that was all. Cain was not naive and understood their situation and just how low their chances of survival were unless something changed. His Ego Wave burst with power as the Force of Order shut down all unnecessary thoughts and emotions, allowing his mind to work faster than ever, trying to find a way out of this precarious situation. Chapter 563: From worse to horrible Suddenly, Cain''s eyes grew sharp, and his Ego Wave burst with power. At the same time, Zamuel and Lore''s eyes widened in shock as they glanced at Cain, hearing his voice in their minds and understanding his plan. It was extremely dangerous and would put all of them in great danger, but the only other way was death, so in the end, the duo softly nodded. The Soul King was a seasoned warrior, and there was no way he could not notice the silent exchange between Cain and the other two, but his face remained immutable, as there was nothing they could do to change what was about to happen. Just as the Soul King was about to signal for the enhanced warriors of the Kraken Clan and those of the Umbra Clan to attack, Cain waved his hand and released the nine Space Spheres, generating the Blood Nexus Domain. The Soul King saw the blood domain encompassing them all, but while it was very powerful against weak enemies, it could do little against the Umbra Clan and Kraken Clan warriors. ''Wait!'' Just as that thought crossed the Soul King''s mind, he noticed how the Space Spheres began to shine, releasing astonishing amounts of energy. After using the Blood Nexus Domain as a shield against the shadow avatar attack, the Space Spheres were damaged, but the reason for the shine was not that. Cain had been charging the spheres with the energy coming from the [Gluttony Module] to the point they were about to explode, which was precisely what he was after. "BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!" The nine Space Spheres and the entire Blood Nexus Domain exploded, unleashing a chaotic ocean of Blood Energy and spatial turbulence that flooded the area, covering both sides. The Soul King raised his broadsword, and Robert immediately appeared in front of him to protect him. The explosion affected his senses but did little damage as the blast spread in all directions, diminishing its destructive powers. ''What is he trying to do!'' The Soul King frowned as he did not understand what Cain was trying to achieve with such a distraction, and then he felt a powerful force coming toward them. His perception detected a beam of solar energy and Blood Energy flashing toward them with immense power. Immediately, Talon and the members of the Umbra Clan moved to the left, while the Soul King and those of the Kraken Clan went to the right, avoiding that ferocious energy strike. Just as the energy strike moved through both clans, it shattered, revealing Cain''s presence. "What!" The Soul King couldn''t help but shout as he saw Cain passing through their blockade and moving to the Gray Road. At the same time, all the Solis and Zanginis Clans warriors moved in the opposite direction, returning to the Astral Bloodline Chamber. Immediately, a flash of enlightenment appeared in the Soul King''s eyes as he figured out Cain''s plan. Cain used the distraction of the blast to escape and reach the Gray Road before looking for help, while the members of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan would return to the Astral Bloodline Chamber, where they would be safe as if it was impossible to fight inside it. Of course, it would have been great if everybody could escape, but that was impossible. Cain was the fastest and had the highest chance of getting help. "Soul King!" Talon couldn''t help but shout with fear and distress in his eyes. If Cain were to escape and inform other clans of what was happening, it would be the end of the Umbra Clan. There was no way the Deus Behemoth Empire would turn a blind eye to a clan working with one of the Ten Dark Kings of The Organization. As for the Soul King''s initial offering to the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan about letting them go if they let him kill Cain, that was obviously a lie. "Dammit!" The soul force in the Soul King''s eyes trembled as his emotions grew out of control again due to the mental distress, but through willpower, he regained control, and decisiveness appeared on his face. "You, Robert, and I will go after Cain. The rest of the Umbra Clan and Kraken Clan will follow the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan toward the Astral Bloodline Chamber and make sure they do not escape." The Soul King had not even finished speaking as the Kraken Clan and Umbra Clan members were already in motion. Cain was moving at full speed toward the exit of the route and back to the Gray Road. Hiding in the beam of energy had scorched his skin, but he ignored the pain as he advanced faster and faster. His eyes narrowed as he noticed three presences following him, only for one to suddenly vanish. ''The Soul King, Robert, and Talon. Good, if the trio is after me, the others will be able to reach the Astral Bloodline Chamber alive.'' Facing the trio on his own was not something Cain could do in his current condition. Even at his peak, facing the enhanced Robert would have been hard, and his chances of victory would have been zero if the Soul King and Talon joined the battle. Although Cain''s eyes were focused ahead of him, the [Pseudo Multidimensional Scan Force Field] showed him the trio''s presence, including how Talon hid in Robert''s shadows. Cain and the others had already been close to the Gray Road when the Umbra Clan ambushed them, so it didn''t take long to exit the route and reach the massive road. Immediately, his eyes wandered around, trying to find some sign of other Deus Behemoths, but there was no one. ''Dammit!'' Although Cain knew it could not be so easy, he still cursed at his luck. Without wasting even a second, he began to move forward, pushing ahead, trying to find someone. Not far from Cain, the Soul King was on top of Robert''s giant body, slowly but surely diminishing the distance between them. As for Talon, he moved hidden in the shadows, making sure no one could detect his presence. Cain was moving as fast as he could, but his wounds were too severe to activate Asura Form, so he could only rely on his Blood Wings and Spatial Phase to move forward. However, his speed was marginally slower than the enhanced member of the Kraken Clan, so it was just a matter of time before they caught up. Just as the distance between Cain and Robert was reduced to less than two hundred meters, luck finally smiled on him as he saw a group emerging from one of the roads. They were five Deus Behemoths, and their fur and fox-like ears meant they were members of the Fenrir Clan. The fact that there were only five members of the Fenrir Clan did not necessarily mean that the others were dead. Dividing the group into two was a good strategy when navigating the diverse routes, but none of that mattered. The only thing Cain cared about right now was the help this group could provide. They didn''t need to fight; it would be good enough if they could at least help him regain his breath and hear his words. The members of the Fenrir Clan were shocked to see Cain being chased by a wounded member of the Kraken Clan, missing an arm, along with Robert, whose body was severely disfigured. Rodrick, the strongest member of the new generation of the Fenrir Clan, was not among this group, but that did not mean they lacked a leader. A young woman with a thin sword on her back saw Cain approaching, and she was about to act, trying to gain time to understand what was happening. However, before the woman could say a word, one of the members of the Fenrir Clan moved forward and waved his massive sword, unleashing a powerful beam of sword force that blasted toward Cain. Cain''s eyes widened, and he immediately took out Slaughter, using a Quantum Laceration to destroy the beam of sword force coming at him. That attack couldn''t threaten him, even in his weakened state, but that wasn''t the problem. Even if it was weak, the beam of sword force forced Cain to slow down, allowing Robert to reach the one-hundred-meter mark. The man from the Kraken Clan waved his massive hammer toward Cain, unleashing a blast of concentrated oceanic pressure that struck Cain and sent him flying away while puking blood. Cain clenched his teeth as he regained control, using the attack to propel his body forward. A flash of rage and killing intent appeared in his eyes, but he controlled those emotions as he moved forward. Robert''s attack had pushed him thousands of meters forward, and now the trio stood between him and the Fenrir Clan, so there was no way to return. And even if there were, Cain would not do it as he did not trust them. The only choice was to push forward. Chapter 564: The Mind Cosmos Chamber Although the oceanic hammer attack had harmed Cain, it also increased the distance between him and the trio, granting him more time to find others. However, his chances were not great, and he was running out of time. Cain clenched his teeth and ignored the pain he felt as he moved forward at full speed. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed as he detected a fluctuation in the energy in one of the routes, indicating a path toward one of the chambers. While this would have been good news before, it was pointless now as it could very well be empty, leading him to a dead end. However, just as Cain was about to move past it, it happened. ''Boy, this way.'' Cain''s eyes widened as he heard that voice in his mind. There was no life form near him other than the trio, and the Astral Bloodline Realm limited the range of one''s Ego Wave, so no one should be able to communicate telepathically with him, yet it happened. There were two paths for Cain: moving forward, hoping to find another of the clans and request their help, or trusting that this mysterious entity could help him. A flash of determination appeared in Cain''s eyes as he made a sharp turn to the left and entered the route. The Soul King frowned as he saw this, knowing that entering one of the routes would eventually lead to either a chamber or a dead end, which made no difference for Cain since he would be trapped with them. Although the Soul King felt something was wrong, he did not hesitate before moving with Robert in that direction and commanding Talon to follow them. In the end, the trio also entered the route and pushed their speed to the limit as they wanted to catch Cain and kill him sooner rather than later to avoid other surprises. Cain moved at full speed, and whenever he saw a crossroad, the voice in his head would tell him the right path. He already knew it thanks to the power of The Flow, but the fact that the voice could direct him made his confidence in it grow. He pushed faster and faster, but Robert was even quicker, and the distance between the two was once again reduced to a dangerous level. Whatever the destination the voice was directing him to, it seemed the Soul King would catch him first. ''Dammit!'' Cain shouted in his mind, but there was no hesitation in his eyes as he triggered Third Gear, improving his heartbeat and the speed at which his Blood Wings waved, exponentially enhancing his speed. The Soul King saw how Cain''s speed exponentially increased and showed pure rage as he struck Robert''s head, improving the man''s energy pool''s output and allowing him to move faster at the cost of his life force. Clearly, the Soul King did not care what would happen to Robert as long as they could catch Cain. Cain was bleeding from every orifice on his face as the blood vessels ruptured due to the pressure of Third Gear, but he carried on until he saw a massive chamber ahead, and what he saw in the center was a twister of sky-blue energy. "The Mind Cosmos Chamber!" The name of this chamber was the Mind Cosmos Chamber, and it was just as massive as the Astral Bloodline Chamber. As for the cyclone in the core, it was the Mind Destroyer Cyclone, a unique phenomenon that could help people train their Ego Wave and mental defenses. The Mind Cosmos Chamber was actually one of the chambers Cain wanted to explore the most. Yet, right now, it was the worst, as the closer he got to the Mind Destroyer Cyclone, the stronger the impact on his mind, meaning he could not advance, and the path back was blocked by the Soul King, Robert, and Talon. The voice in his mind had guided him to a dead end, and right now, there was nothing he could do, but he once again heard it. ''If you want to survive, jump into the cyclone.'' Cain''s eyes widened as he heard those words. The closer you got to the Mind Destroyer Cyclone, the more pressure it would exert on your willpower. Being less than one thousand meters was the closest you could be without damaging your Ego Eternal Matrix, and getting into the cyclone was akin to suicide, yet the voice wanted him to do exactly that. "Face your doom!" As Cain contemplated the words of the mysterious entity, he heard the voice of the Soul King and saw him flashing with Robert, both charging all their energy and ready to kill. As for Talon, the man was moving under the shadow of the enhanced Kraken Clan warrior, and his energy was also ready to explode. Ahead was a path with a near 99% chance of death, but that could be hiding a mysterious secret, while behind him was a path with certain death. Since that was the case, it was not hard to figure out Cain''s next move. Cain pushed his body forward at full speed, using everything he had as he dived toward the center of the Mind Cosmos Chamber. It did not take him long to reach one thousand meters away from the massive cyclone, and his mind was already under so much pressure that he was about to black out. Despite the pain and feeling like someone was ripping his brain in two, Cain just clenched his teeth and pushed forward. It was at the 500-meter mark that he blacked out, but his body still carried a massive impulse, pushing him into the Mind Destroyer Cyclone. The Soul King''s eyes widened as he saw Cain diving into the Mind Destroyer Cyclone, as that was essentially suicide. Even if he passed out, the cyclone''s power would still exert an inhumane pressure over his Ego Eternal Matrix until this one crumbled into nothing. Once that happened, Cain''s mind, memory, and ego would cease to exist. Chapter 565: Primordial Race (I) There was shock, confusion, and disbelief in the Soul King''s eyes as he could not understand what he just saw. Cain Laurifer was by far the greatest talent of Aether, and even in a death end, this one should have chosen to go down fighting, and it did not make sense he would simply kill himself. Yet, that was exactly what happened. Although everything told the Soul King that Cain would die in a matter of seconds, his eyes remained sharp since the boy seemed to be incapable of staying dead. He was ready to command Robert to push into the cyclone and blow himself to pieces, hoping that the explosion would reach the young man. However, as soon as Cain entered the Mind Destroyer Cyclone, it went berserk, and the energy within it exploded, causing its size to grow and encompass the entire chamber. "Pull back!" The Soul King shouted as he observed the strange behavior of the Mind Destroyer Cyclone, moving back with Robert and Talon to avoid having their minds shattered by the power of the phenomenon. The trio was fast enough to move several thousand meters back into the route, avoiding the power of the Mind Destroyer Cyclone. The next second, Talon emerged from the shadow of Robert and glanced at the Soul King, waiting for instructions. Although the leader of the Umbra Clan''s younger generation was surprised by the reaction of the Mind Destroyer Cyclone, there was no doubt in his mind that Cain was dead, as it was impossible to survive the power of that phenomenon. The Soul King''s knowledge led him to the same conclusion as Talon, and he knew that Cain should have perished, but he couldn''t help but clench his teeth as he wanted to personally ensure that the young man had perished. In the end, the Soul King took a deep breath as focus returned to his eyes, and he suppressed the chaotic emotions. "Let''s go. We still have to ensure the demise of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan members." Talon showed a sharp expression as he nodded. No one who knew about the relationship between the Umbra Clan and the Soul King could survive. After one final glance at the Mind Destroyer Cyclone pushing against the edge of the chamber, the Soul King, Talon, and Robert made their way back to the Gray Road. Their plan was simple: return to the Astral Bloodline Chamber and ensure every Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan member''s death. --- Cain''s eyes were closed, and an expression of pain was on his face before he suddenly woke up. His eyes reflected the mental pain, but luckily, it was subsiding, and he was slowly regaining his focus. It took Cain nearly a minute before his mind finally recovered from the pain, and he immediately assessed the state of his body. He was still badly wounded, but his vitality and Radiance of Life had stabilized his condition. Only after making sure his body was fine did Cain observe the surroundings. Immediately, he frowned as there was nothing but darkness, and it seemed he was floating in an empty void. ''The last thing I remember was flashing into the Mind Destroyer Cyclone, blacking out, and waking up here. Since I did not die, I assume this was where the mysterious entity wanted me to arrive, but what is this place?'' "Good, you have woken up." Just as Cain was wondering what was happening, he heard a voice coming from the darkness. It was ancient, firm yet peaceful, and full of majesty not even the emperor of the Deus Behemoth Empire could compare. Just the voice was impressive, but the next second, a sense of absolute shock assaulted Cain''s mind and heart. Two eyes materialized in the darkness, and they were so massive that he could not see them whole, much less the rest of the face of this entity. The eyes were full of sky-blue lightning, and the power in them made Cain feel he was in the presence of the most majestic force he had ever seen in his entire life. Not even the beam of light that sundered the dark army in the Dream World could compare with those eyes. Luckily for Cain, as a Master of Order, his emotions were soon under control, and he overcame the shock of seeing such a creature. The entity''s eyes narrowed as he saw the speed at which Cain was able to overcome the shock, and a light full of respect appeared in them. "Impressive, you can endure gazing into my will despite being a simple Physical Realm Life Form. However, your nature as a Reincarnator might have something to do with it. Still, it is an impressive feat, so well done, boy." Cain had just overcome the shock of seeing those imposing eyes, only to be stunned again by the fact that the creature seemed to know about his identity as a Reincarnator. ''What is happening, Apex?'' No one should be able to deduce Cain''s nature as a Reincarnator, at least not without inspecting his soul. However, Apex should be able to take care of any foreign entity that could try to intercept his soul sea. ''I do not know what is happening or who this entity is, but I can assure you no one has come into contact with your soul sea.'' Apex might not help Cain with threats from the outside world like the Soul King, but he had always paid extreme attention to the young man''s soul sea and ensured nothing disturbed it. Cain frowned as he heard Apex''s words. If the entity had not interacted with his soul sea, how could it know one of his greatest secrets? Luckily for Cain, the entity noticed the confusion in his eyes and began to speak. "You have been using my liver to purify your Astral Wave, the air in my lungs to refine your Essence Wave, the acids of my stomach to enhance your flesh and blood, and the bloodline radiation of my heart to improve your body refinement art. During those times, I was able to interact with your body and feel your Primordial Essence." Chapter 566: Primordial Race (II) The voice was serene, as if those words were not impactful at all, but the shock in Cain''s eyes was simply overwhelming. It didn''t take him long to understand that this creature''s liver, lungs, stomach, and heart were the Pool of Purity, the Breath of Cosmic Chamber, the Void Fire Cauldron, and the Astral Bloodline Chamber! Once you understand it, it all makes sense, as there was indeed a resemblance between the Six Chambers and those vital organs. It was just that the idea was simply too ludicrous since if an entity were to have organs so massive, then its size would not be less than a continent! "It seems that you have many questions. Go ahead and make them freely, and I will answer all I can." The entity''s eyes contained a sense of fondness that made Cain confused, but he would not lose this chance as questions were aplenty in his mind. Cain took a moment and used all his power to calm his mind and heart as he focused again on those majestic eyes. There were many questions in his mind, but one triumphed above the others as it was related to his own secrets. "What is the Primordial Essence?" This entity used the Primordial Essence to figure out his identity as a Reincarnator, and Cain wanted to know more about it so he could do a better job hiding it in the future. The entity kept his word and immediately answered Cain''s question. "Primordial Essence is the most fundamental particle of your soul, the purest form of the essence of your existence. Your body, energy frequency, willpower, ego, and even a great part of your soul might change under certain circumstances, such as reincarnation. Yet, the one constant that will always persist is your Primordial Essence. If your Primordial Essence were to change, then YOU would have ceased to exist since the new individual that would rise from that new Primordial Essence would be a different YOU." Cain''s eyes narrowed as a sense of enlightenment appeared in them. ''So this Primordial Essence is the fundamental particle that makes Cain Laurifer. If that particle changes, there is no longer a Cain Laurifer. It must be in the deepest part of my soul sea and form the core of it.'' After understanding that, Cain could relax a little more and took a deep breath, allowing all the shock to go through him and regain focus again. He then clasped his hands and performed a slight bow. "I am sorry for my rudeness. Before we carry on, could I learn your name?" This entity seemed fond of him, but Cain was not naive and did not trust those he had never met before, so the best path was to maintain a formal and respectful approach. The shock from before had been too much, but now that he had regained his calmness, he could take a more diplomatic and wise approach. Upon seeing Cain''s respectful stance, the eyes did not show much, and they answered with the same amicable behavior. "Don''t worry too much about it. About my name, that is hard as I honestly do not fully remember it. I have lost a significant portion of my memories to the point I don''t even know how I arrived in this place or the reason for my current condition. You can call me Anark, as that sounds familiar for some reason and might be my name." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard those words. It seemed that this mysterious being had some amnesia. Although it could be a lie, there was no point for an entity like this to lie to him, but that did not mean Cain would lower his guard. "Lord Anark, could you tell me why you brought me here?" Once again, Cain focused on the important. The voice he heard in his mind that brought him to the Mind Cosmos Chamber and told him to jump into the Mind Destroyer Cyclone was none other than Anark, but he did not know why this being came to his help. Anark''s gargantuan eyes focused on Cain for a few seconds before speaking. "As you might guess by the state of my organs, my body is dead and fossilized. I am currently a corpse, and we are right now in what is a unique dimension born out of my broken soul sea. Only in this place can I express a little of my power and protect you from those enemies." Anark paused at this point, allowing Cain to understand his condition and why, other than guiding him into this dimension, he did nothing else to help him face the Soul King. Cain softly nodded and waited for the entity to carry on. "As for the reason I wanted to protect you. It is simple. I just wanted to help a member of my race." Cain''s eyes widened as he heard those words and understood their meaning. He remained in silence for a moment before finally answering. "I am a human." There was no way he could deceive this entity whose perception could reach the deepest part of his soul, so he tried to clarify things. Anark''s eyes showed only fondness before his voice once again echoed. "In this life, you might have been born part of the human race, but I detect in your Primordial Essence the soul aura of my kind. That means that you were once part of my race in one life or another." Cain''s eyes glowed with enlightenment as everything became clear to him. Anark entity helped him survive because he believed Cain was once part of the same race. He immediately believed Anark was mistaken; after all, Cain had memories of his past life in which he was also a human. It was true he developed unique powers no one else had, but that did not make him a member of another race. ''Don''t be so quick to discard the idea, brat. You have memories of a past life, not all of them. Who is to say you were not once a member of this entity''s race? Besides, it would be wise to play along even if that is not the case.'' Chapter 567: Primordial Race (III) Apex''s voice echoed inside Cain''s mind, and a profound light appeared in his eyes as he considered those words. He remembered part of his life, but it was true that there might be other reincarnations he might not remember. Besides, Apex was right, and playing along with Anark would be the right choice. Anark did not rush Cain and waited for him to take his time and process all the information. "I have no recollection of being part of a different race, but I cannot negate your words." Cain was wise with his words, not trying to feign that he knew what Anark was talking about, but he did not refuse the idea. Anark''s eyes remained the same this entire time, as the aura of Cain''s Primordial Essence was all he needed. "Could you tell me more about your race?" A sense of delight and excitement appeared in Anark''s eyes as he heard that question, and it seemed it was something he was eager to speak about. "Our race was born at the dawn of the universe. Stardust made our flesh, and nebulas with more heat than a sun formed our veins. We have a physical might that nothing in the universe can match, and the key behind this is the ability of our body, energy, and soul to act as a single force. Through this synergy, we can unleash physical might that could sunder supernovas! And that is just our physical might. Our spirit can commune with the cosmos to the point that there is no difference between man and the world, allowing us to harness the might of the universe in our fists and a myriad of skills that no martial art could match. We are the race that stands at the zenith of all life and regulates the order of all things! We are the Primordial Race!" A sense of awe and dread appeared in Cain''s heart as he heard those words. The way Anark described the Primordial Race was like divine-like beings that stood at the apex of all things and traversed the stars with power nothing could match. Being part of such a race was truly mind-blowing, but Cain did not lose himself in dreams. Even if he was once an entity of such might, that was no longer the case, and he was now a member of the Godslayer Humankind. Or at least that was what he thought. "There is a second reason I brought you here: to help you regain your racial heritage. I will aid you in becoming once again part of our race. You will regain your honor as a member of the Primordial Race." Cain''s eyes widened as a sense of utter excitement emerged from his heart upon hearing those words. According to Anark''s description, the Primordial Race was, by definition, an ultimate existence with bodies capable of crushing worlds and whose power seemed to know no boundaries. Becoming one of them would grant him a power high enough to break through his current predicament, but Cain was able to keep a cool head. "How is that possible?" No matter what kind of life form Cain was in the past, right now, he was 100% human, and that was not something that would change even if he were to awaken memories of previous reincarnations. After all, during the dream where he generated his Alter-Ego, he was able to perform incredible feats, but none of them carried on to his current life. Even now, when Cain attained guidance of abilities of his previous life, such as Asura Form, the Eye of Gluttony, or The Flow, he was forced to train them from scratch, and those were just techniques. Anark described a much more complex and thorough process since it would mean changing his foundation. Anark could figure out all the thoughts crossing Cain''s mind, but his eyes were full of certainty, making it clear he did not speak those words lightly. "The most important part of a life form is their Primordial Essence, and yours contains the aura of our kind. Using that as the basis, you can undertake the Primordial Path through the Inheritance of Spirit and the Inheritance of Flesh, awakening your racial heritage." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard those words. It seemed that there were inheritances that could help someone whose Primordial Essence once carried the mark of the Primordial Race to regain their power. However, there was something that bothered him. "Will that have a problem with my Paths of Power? Will I have to cultivate from scratch?" Although the Primordial Path was undoubtedly amazing and seemed to contain immense power, getting rid of his Astral Rebirth Path of Power and Essence Evolution Path of Power was not something Cain was willing to do in a place full of dangers where a Dark King awaited him. Luckily for Cain, that was not the case, and Anark immediately dissipated his worries. "There is no need for that. The Primordial Path is not a Path of Power that will train your Sacred Organs but a change in your nature and race. Actually, they can complement each other, so you should still improve your Rebirth Heart and Evolution Core to the best of your capabilities." Cain smiled with thrill as he heard that and softly nodded. Not wanting to interrupt Anark again, he silently nodded and continued listening. "The Inheritance of Spirit will focus on your ability to commune with the world, harnessing its power, as well as understanding its flaws, improving your strength and comprehension of the cosmic forces. As for the Inheritance of Flesh, that will focus on the state of your body, energy, and soul and their ability to achieve synergy. I can impart the Inheritance of Spirit directly into your soul, and you can use it to start your training in the Primordial Path, but the Inheritance of Flesh is different. For that, you need a true Primordial to imbue your body, energy, and soul with theirs, awakening the dormant powers. I cannot grant you the Inheritance of Flesh since I am currently just a soul, and to impart it, I need to attain Rebirth and regain my body." Chapter 568: Obtaining the Inheritance of Spirit "I cannot grant you the Inheritance of Flesh since I am currently just a soul, and to impart it, I need to attain Rebirth and regain my body." A flash of enlightenment appeared in Cain''s eyes as he heard that part. Anark was ready to impart the Inheritance of Spirit and did not ask anything in return, but to obtain the Inheritance of Flesh, he would need to help this one regain his body. Instead of feeling angry, a smile appeared on Cain''s face. A part of him always distrusted those who did something for selfless intent, but when they asked for something in return, everything became much easier. That request did not diminish Cain''s view of the Primordial at all, and he was still extremely thankful. After all, Anark helped him survive the Soul King''s chase and was now going to impart him the Inheritance of Spirit for free. "I promise on my family name that I will assist you to the best of my capabilities to attain your Rebirth." Cain did not hesitate as he clasped his hands and uttered those words in a solemn tone full of determination. Anark''s eyes glowed with a sense of thrill and fondness much greater than before, and it was clear he was highly pleased by the young man''s attitude. "Hahaha, good, good, we Primordials must always help each other. I can impart the Inheritance of Spirit immediately and use my power to help you attain the first level. I am sure you will be more than powerful enough to face those who chase after you then." Anark''s eyes glowed with that powerful sky-blue lightning, and Cain was indeed eager to obtain that power, but he did not lose focus. "How long will it take me to attain the first level?" Despite all the shock and excitement, Cain had not forgotten that the members of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan were currently besieged inside the Astral Bloodline Chambers. The group was safe there but could not remain inside indefinitely, as the radiation would begin to harm their bodies. At most, they would have two months before their bodies began to shut down. "Mmm, it is hard to say. It is impossible to say exactly, but the stronger you were in your previous life as a Primordial, the easier it would be for you to master the Inheritance of Spirit. If you are talented, it would take a few years to a decade. Don''t worry about being expelled; I can use my power to keep you in this dimension. As for your comrades, I am sorry, but just like I was unable to help you, I can do nothing for them, as my powers are limited to this place." Anark showed some sympathy, but that was it. Clearly, he was not distressed by the state of a few Deus Behemoths he knew nothing about. Cain did not find Anark''s behavior strange; after all, his view of the world was even colder and more pragmatic than the Primordial. However, Zamuel, Lore, and all the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan members stood by his side in the fight against the Soul King. They helped him escape the blockade and led him to safety, so leaving them to their fate was not something he would do. That was the only thing that stopped him from fully immersing himself in the Inheritance of Spirit and striving to become a Primordial. As for his racial identity as a human, that was never a worry. After becoming a Master of Order, Cain''s racial prejudice against the Dark Races vanished, and so did his sense of racial identity. He did not feel compelled to the human race. Of course, that did not mean he would cast aside the Godslayer Humankind Empire after all his friends, master, and lover were part of it. "How long would it take just to impart the Inheritance of Spirit?" "It will be fairly fast, around a day. But the start of the Primordial Path is incredibly complicated, and if you try to do it alone, it might take you a century, so I advise against it. It was not easy to bring you into this dimension, and you will not be able to return once you leave." Anark made it clear what would happen if Cain left before reaching the first level, but that was as far as he went. If the young man wanted to leave, it would be his choice, and he would not interfere with it. Cain remained silent for a minute as he considered things until a flash of determination appeared in his eyes. "Please hand me the Inheritance of Spirit and help me cultivate. I will leave in two months, regardless of my state." A sense of respect appeared in Anark''s eyes. Although two months were too little to make any significant advance in the Primordial Path, Anark respected Cain''s determination to help his friends at the cost of his own power. Of course, Cain also had the option to leave immediately after obtaining the Inheritance of Spirit, but there was a limit to how much a Master of Order was willing to sacrifice for others. "As you wish. Relax your mind, as I will transfer the Inheritance of Spirit directly into your soul. The process will be painful due to the massive amount of information, but you should be able to endure it without a problem, thanks to your willpower." Cain did as Anark told him and lowered his mental defenses, allowing the Primordial to interact with his soul. Of course, he did not blindly trust the Primordial, as they had just met, but he was confident he would be fine as Apex would guard his soul sea. The gargantuan eyes of Anark burst with sky-blue lightning, and its power began to surge into Cain''s mind, reaching all the way into the soul sea. Deep into the soul sea, the golden humanoid guardian of the world-size gate saw the sky-blue lightning flooding into Cain''s soul sea, and his eyes narrowed. However, Apex soon relaxed as he saw that the force carried only knowledge and insights but no ego or other form of will. Chapter 569 569: Earth Attunement in just two days Cain frowned as he felt a hundred voices echoing simultaneously in his mind, all carrying deep and profound knowledge. Luckily, his willpower was already at the Peak of the Apotheosis Realm, so he was able to endure without a problem. Just like Anark said, imparting the Inheritance of Spirit took a day. Once Anark stopped sending the stream of sky-blue lightning into Cain''s mind, he was able to relax. It did not take long for Cain''s relaxed expression to turn into shock and awe as he went through all the knowledge in his mind. "?Incredible!" That was the only way Cain could describe the Primordial Path. The first level was more complicated and had dozens, or even hundreds, of times more information than the entire Void Crimson Cultivation Techniques! ''No wonder he said even with talent, it would take me several years to just reach the first step of the first level.'' As Cain comprehended just how complicated the Primordial Path was, he couldn''t help but sigh as he understood that attaining the first level would be impossible in just two months. Still, there was no hesitation on his face, as that was the right path. After exiting this place, it might take him a long time to attain the first level of the Primordial Path, but he could not leave Zamuel and the others to die after they put their trust in him. Anark saw the determination and focus in Cain''s eyes and softly nodded before continuing. "As you already know, the Foundation Stage of the Primordial Path is Elemental Harmony. You must establish a deep, intrinsic harmony between your body and the basic elemental forces of nature, which are Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. Once you can harmonize with these elements, you will be able to perceive the natural energy and harness it into your body. This will enhance your physical strength, agility, stamina, reflexes, perception, and durability, and upon higher levels, allow you to display the power of the Elemental Laws through your flesh and blood." If anyone in Aether were to hear that last part, they would be shocked, as the Laws and body refinement were by themselves different paths, one developing powerful spells and the other an immensely powerful body. However, that was one of the keys behind the Primordial Race''s tremendous power, as they were able to generate synergy between different forces and deploy a power higher than the sum of its parts. Cain had already understood the principles behind Anark''s words, so he silently nodded and allowed the Primordial to continue. "To train the Foundation Stage, you would normally need to visit different embodiments where the Elemental Laws have reached an extreme and then carefully adapt to them. Luckily, I can use my power to generate those environments in this place and regulate them for your training." Anark''s eyes began to glow, and soon, a massive plane manifested beneath Cain''s feet. It was a rocky terrain with no sense of vegetation or any other forms of life. "You were born on the earth and have lived most of your life on its surface, so it will be the first element we will approach. Follow the Elemental Harmony''s principles, and erase the distinction between earth and your body, harnessing its power through your flesh and blood." Cain nodded, understanding what he needed to do. He descended into the arid terrain and adopted a meditative stance as he focused on the earth beneath him, following the principles of the Primordial Path. Silence reigned as Anark focused on Cain, its gargantuan eyes full of excitement and with a flash of nervousness. He had indeed felt the soul aura of a Primordial in Cain, but there was a chance he could have been mistaken. Luckily, this training would help him learn the truth. If Cain managed to train the Inheritance of Spirit, he would indeed have the Primordial Essence of a member of the Primordial Race. Hours passed without any change, but Anark did not grow nervous. After all, even for a highly talented individual, it would take weeks before the first sign of Elemental Harmony was shown. That''s why the Primordial''s eyes widened with pure shock when he felt how Cain''s presence slowly began to fade and merge with the earth beneath him. That proved that Cian had the soul aura of a member of the Primordial Race, but that was not the important part. The speed at which Cain was advancing was simply too fast! ''Maybe it''s just a flux. Yeah, that must be it; after all, no one can be so talented.'' Anark had no animosity against Cain; it was just that the speed of this one did not make sense, and he could not understand it. Unfortunately, his thoughts proved wrong as before the second day ended, the essence of the earth began to infuse into Cain''s body. Visible changes occurred as Cain''s skin became tougher, and the change rapidly spread across his body. "Earth Attunement in just two days. Amazing!" Even though Cain had just achieved the most basic state of Earth Attunement, the fact that it took him only two days was beyond shocking for the Primordial. Luckily, Cain was too immersed in his training and had shut down his sense of hearing, so he did not hear the exclamation of Anark and carried on training. As the days passed, the earth essence flooded deeper and deeper into Cain''s body, going through every part of him, until finally, on the tenth day, there was no difference between him and the ground beneath his feet. It was at this point that Cain opened his eyes. The visual changes on his skin faded, but he could feel the ruggedness of it. But that was the least important thing as he felt as if he had become one with the earth and could perceive everything that came in contact with it. ''Amazing.'' The feeling of being one with the earth was truly wondrous but also feeble as if it would break the moment he lost his concentration. Cain took a moment to relax as the connection with the earth broke, but he did not worry as he could regain that harmony by simply focusing. Chapter 570 570: Less than forty days Other than the thrill, there was also confusion in Cain''s eyes as he turned to Anark. Although there was no description of the time needed for each level, he knew he had just completed a fifth of the steps required to enter the Foundation Stage of the Primordial Path. At this speed, he would finish before two months, which was way faster than the minimum two years Anark had declared. The Primordial could see the confusion in Cain''s eyes but, in the end, could only sigh. "I am also stunned. I don''t understand how you can be so talented, and it honestly doesn''t make any sense, but it is a good thing, so I guess there is no need to overthink it." Although Cain''s nature was not as easygoing as Anark''s, there was no need to look for the cause right now, especially since he had a deadline. "Okay, since you have completed the Earth Attunement, it is time to start with the Water Synchronization," After Anark uttered those words, the earth beneath Cain''s feet vanished, replaced by a massive ocean that extended as far as the eye could see. Cain did not hesitate before diving deep into the body of water, and once he was hundreds of meters deep, he let go of control of his body, allowing the currents to take the reins and guide him. Slowly, his heartbeat and breath began to synchronize with the currents, adapting to the ocean''s calm and raging states. Just like with the earth element, the separation between Cain''s body and the water faded before the first day ended, and by the second day, he was already starting to display the effects of Water Synchronization, and the water essence began to flood into his body. Soon, Cain''s veins began to flow like water, developing a sense of fluidity and adaptability beyond the limits of a human body. Minutes before the ninth day ended, Cain''s body had become one with the massive oceanic body, and he opened his eyes. Anark''s eyes glowed as the body of water faded, and he gazed at the young man with utter amazement. Clearly, Cain''s monstrous divine talent was not limited to the earth element, and he did not doubt the same would happen with fire and air. "Let''s move to the next one." Along with those words, a massive sphere of flames appeared before Cain. Its size was gargantuan, and the intensity of the fire was so high that just being near it made his skin burn. Yet, there was only serenity in his eyes as he calmly moved forward. The closer he got to the massive sphere of flames, the more damage Cain took. It didn''t take long for his skin to char and his hair to set ablaze, but even as he resembled a charred corpse, he continued moving forward. Soon, he reached the sphere of flames and, without hesitation, stepped inside. Being near the fire had scorched Cain''s skin, so being inside the fire should have set his insides ablaze, but that didn''t happen. The moment Cain stepped into the ball of fire, the division between him and the flames faded, and he became one with it. It didn''t take long for the fire to not only cease harming Cain''s body, but soon, its essence began to flood his insides. Under the amazed eyes of Anark, Cain''s internal energy and vitality were invigorated, and his skin began to heal as his vitality was enhanced. Cain reached the core of the fire and stood inside for eleven days before finally opening his eyes again. He moved his hands to the sides, and the massive sphere of fire split in half! "Eleven days to achieve Fire Integration. The word ''monster'' is too soft for someone like you, boy." Anark''s words were full of admiration and awe as he once again was shocked by the simply overwhelming and impossibly high talent that Cain displayed. Cain smiled but did not say anything as he was too engrossed in the state of his body. All the wounds he suffered from the battle against the Soul King were now gone, and he was in peak condition. Actually, he was even stronger than before, not just in his life foundation but in the intensity and power of his energy pools and Paths of Power, which had significantly benefited from this experience. "Now, let''s start with the last one of the Elemental Infusions." Anark had just spoken when a tornado capable of leveling a continent of the Old World manifested in the dimension. Its power was so immense that Cain felt the pressure of it trying to grab his body and make him revolve at hundreds of thousands of kilometers per hour. Instead of resisting, Cain allowed the current to grab hold of his body, and he began to revolve around the massive tornado so fast that even Apotheosis Realm Masters would have a hard time keeping up with him. The centrifugal force of the tornado generated overwhelming pressure on Cain''s vital organs, and had it not been for his condition improved by the Fire Integration, he would have had a hard time remaining conscious. Luckily for Cain, it only took a few hours for him to start to commune with the elemental force of the wind, and instead of being tossed around like a bag of paper, he began to move according to the gales as if he were part of them. By the middle of the second day, Cain could not only mimic the movements of the wind, but its essence flooded into his body. There were no visible changes on the outside, but his agility and awareness improved exponentially. At the start of the ninth day, the wind essence had already permeated every corner of Cain''s body, and as he opened his eyes. He was able to stand at the highest point of the tornado, ignoring the power of the raging gales. When Anark saw Cain''s state, his eyes glowed, and the tornado vanished. "Just nine days for Air Assimilation. You took less than forty days to finish the Elemental Infusion with all four elements. That should take years, even for the most talented Primordial. Boy, you are a monster!" Chapter 571 571: Elemental Resonance Anark could not hide the thrill and excitement in his gargantuan eyes. The higher Cain''s talent was, the better his chances of growing strong enough to help Anark attain Rebirth and obtain a physical body again. Initially, the Primordial thought it would take thousands of years or maybe even more before Cain could help him since the Rebirth of an entity of his level was not a simple feat, but it might come sooner than he expected. Cain was just as shocked by his talent as Anark, and trying to explain it was not possible, as all those impressive feats were not something he did consciously. He just allowed his instincts to carry on, and it was as if something deep in his soul took over and transformed the incredibly complicated principles of the Primordial Path into something as simple as basic arithmetic. Despite being incredibly happy with it, Cain wouldn''t simply ignore it and planned to find the reason behind such talent. Of course, all that would wait until he destroyed the incarnation of the Soul King inside the realm and made sure all those who did him wrong paid. "I have mastered Earth Attunement, Water Synchronization, Fire Integration, and Air Assimilation. I can now train Elemental Resonance and officially take the first step into the Primordial Path." Being able to attune with the four elemental laws and harnessing their essence did not mean Cain had entered the Foundation Stage of the Primordial Path. All those incredibly complicated feats were prerequisites for taking the first step into Elemental Harmony. "Yes, now comes the most crucial part, Elemental Resonance. You can harmonize with the natural elements but must push your ability to commune with the world even higher. Your body must be able to resonate with all four elements simultaneously. At this point, you will be able to harness natural energy, allowing your skin to gain the toughness of earth, your veins the fluidity of water, your blood the intensity of fire, and your movements the agility of wind. Once you attain Elemental Resonance, you will have officially taken the first step into the Foundation Stage of the Primordial Path. While there will be a long way until you reach the apex of Elemental Harmony, you can continue your training in the outside world and will no longer require my help." Cain understood all that, and the determination in his eyes made it clear he was ready to take the next step. Anark did not waste time, and his eyes glowed as a massive new terrain materialized. This time, it was a gargantuan landmass set on fire with raging tornadoes and tsunamis striking from all directions. The destructive power of the elements was so immense that even an Early Divine Ascension Master would have a hard time enduring it. Still, Cain could calmly descend into the center of this cataclysmic environment and adopt a meditative position on the ground amidst the flames, raging gales, and oceanic waves. Cain could already harmonize with all four elements, but now he had to do it simultaneously, allowing all their essence to course through his body in harmony. It was incredibly complicated, as he must resonate with all elemental forces. However, once he did, he could harness the natural energy, achieving Elemental Resonance and gaining a physical might that was off the charts. Minutes became hours, and hours became days, but Cain did not move a single muscle as his attunement with the elements grew deeper and deeper. Anark''s eyes were full of excitement and expectation as he focused on Cain, hoping to see another miracle, and the young man did not disappoint. By the fifth day, natural energy flowed into Cain''s body, slowly permeating his flesh and blood. ''?Yes!'' Anark shouted in his mind as he saw how Cain began to harness the natural energy. As long as the young man managed to revolve it across his body and flood his cells with its power, he would achieve Elemental Resonance. More and more natural energy filled Cain''s body, improving every single physical aspect. But that was not all, as the natural energy also flooded into his Sacred Organs, enhancing his energy pools. On the fifteenth day, the natural energy had fully saturated his body. At this point, he opened his eyes as his Rebirth Heart and Evolution Core burst with an overwhelming power. The training in Elemental Harmony had not just improved his body and attunement with the elements but also enhanced his Essence Wave and Astral Wave to the point that both energies reached the Middle Stage''s limit and were ready to evolve to the next level. Anark noticed the change in Cain''s body, and the sky-blue lightning in his eyes burst with power as the terrain flooded with extremely pure energy, granting the young man all the resources he could need to evolve his Paths of Power. Cain acted like a ravenous beast, absorbing all the energy that flooded the terrain, feeding his Essence Star and improving the metamorphosis of his cells, pushing both paths forward with all his strength. A pillar of sky-blue and dark purple energy burst from Cain''s body as his Essence Wave and Astral Wave grew more and more powerful, pushing forward his understanding of the cosmic forces and the strength of his already immensely powerful body. But that was not all, as the improvement of these two also made his Peak Apotheosis level willpower grow even more. Every aspect of Cain''s existence was pushing forward. After almost ten hours, his raging energy finally began to cool down, and his body could relax. Cain rose from the ground, and as he clenched his fists, he felt the immense strength of his arms, which was already enhanced by the shocking amount of natural energy flooding his flesh and blood. ''System, scan me.'' Cain could not wait and immediately commanded the system to scan his body, and the always faithful Absolute Life Form System did not make him wait. Chapter 572 572: Leaving the dimension [Scanning Vessel... ... Scan of Vessel completed. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Late Wave King) / Essence Evolution (Late Wave King) Lineage: Solis Lineage (Maximum Purity) Wave Talent: ??? --- Stats: Strength: 152.4 --> 201.4 (274.6) Agility: 89.6 --> 130.9 (200.5) Vitality: 189.5 --> 248.3 (324.6) Astral Wave: 116.3 --> 155.2 (214.6) Essence Wave: 124.3 --> 177.5 (239.4) Blood Energy (Astral): 200.2 --> 220.4 Blood Energy (Essence): 220.2 --> 235.2 --- Astral Blood Saturation: 80% Completion Law Mastery: Law of Blood (Extreme Law Fragmentation) Law of Space (Low Law Fragmentation) Earth Law (Middle Law Fragmentation) Water Law (Middle Law Fragmentation) Fire Law (Middle Law Fragmentation) Wind Law (Middle Law Fragmentation) --- Note: Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 3.1%. The effect has diminished as the Vessel''s foundation is too strong for the Wave Virus to have an impact. Note: Natural energy has enhanced every aspect of the Vessel''s physical body as well as both Astral Wave and Essence Wave. The current value is marked between (). Once natural energy is depleted, the Vessel''s power will return to base stats.] Cain''s eyes showed his immense awe and shock as he saw the information the Absolute Life Form System displayed in his mind. His Wave Talent had risen to a level that the [A.I. Chip Module] could not properly measure due to the lack of information in its database. The evolution to the Middle Wave King in both paths was extraordinarily intense and pure, made clear by the immense evolution of his stats, and even more impressive was the height at which they were enhanced due to the power of natural energy now running through his body. Of course, there was a finite amount of natural energy, and once it was depleted, Cain would again need to resonate with the elements and flood his body with it if he wanted the improvements. Only at the last level of Elemental Harmonization would he be able to overcome this weakness. Nevertheless, the effect will last long enough for the subsequent battles, improving both his body and the power of his spells. His Astral Blood Saturation had improved a whopping 13%, allowing him to reach 80% before even taking a step into the Apotheosis Realm, and his attunement with the elemental forces allowed him to gain an understanding of the Elemental Laws to the point he now reached the Middle Law Fragmentation in all of them! His Blood Energy was the only thing that did not experience an incredible improvement. Still, Cain expected that much, as the Blood Chamber and Blood Flames, could not keep up with the overwhelming improvements of his body and energy pools. Unfortunately, they were not enhanced by natural energy either. ''They are still useful, but I must change my battle style soon. As for the fact the system still classified me as human, that was not wrong either since even after completing the first level of the Primordial Path, it would be far from becoming a true Primordial.'' Cain allowed his mind to wander briefly but immediately regained focus. He had grown immensely powerful but remembered very well that people depended on him and were running out of time. "Lord Anark, what is the state of my comrades in the Astral Blood Chamber?" Anark''s eyes showed a favorable light as he heard Cain''s words and saw that the young man had not forgotten about his friends, and now that he had obtained the power to help them, he was ready to march. "They are deep inside the Astral Bloodline Chamber, all still alive, but their condition is worsening rapidly. The radiation has accumulated to dangerous levels in their flesh and blood, and it would not be long before their bodies start to shut down. Unfortunately, they could not leave as all your enemies besieged the Astral Bloodline Chamber." Cain frowned as he heard those words. His current power was more than enough to kill Robert or any other members of the Umbra Clan and Kraken Clan, but he would not be facing them one by one, and it was clear that the warriors of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan were not in a condition to help him. No matter how strong he was, fighting twenty Apotheosis Masters would not be easy, especially if the Soul King led them. However, the danger did nothing to erase Cain''s determination, and he was ready to face the Soul King for the second time. "Lord Anark, I am ready to leave, but before I do, I wonder if you could share your knowledge about the Astral Sea and its wonders?" Cain did not know when he would see Anark again and wanted to peek into this one''s mind about the wonders and mysteries of the Astral Sea. He knew the Primordial had amnesia, but some memories might still exist. "I am sorry, boy, but my memory is flawed, to say the least. The Primordial Path is clear to me since they are racial memories embedded in my soul, but other than that, everything is foggy. I fear anything I share with you will only confuse you and might be wrong." Anark wanted to help Cain, but there was no point in sharing flawed memories that could mislead the young man. Cain understood the reasoning of the Primordial and did not press the subject. "I see; then allow me to express my thanks for this immense lucky chance. I hope that the next time I see you, Lord Anark, I will have the power to help you achieve Rebirth." "I wish you good luck, boy, and I hope you make our race proud. I will use my power to take you out of this dimension, and after that, I will return to my slumber, as using my power severely depleted me. I am sure you will crush all your enemies." Cain clasped his hands and performed a deep bow toward Anark. There was no need for more words as the Primordial knew the young man would repay his help. The next second, the sky-blue lightning in the gargantuan eyes covered Cain, and he vanished from the dimension. Chapter 573 573: 21 Revolution Refinement Cain appeared back at the edge of the Mind Cosmos Chamber. As he glanced at the Mind Destroyer Cyclone, he noticed how the intensity of it weakened significantly, probably meaning that Anark had indeed gone into hibernation. He glanced at the cyclone briefly before turning to the route. It was time to march into the Gray Road, which now Cain knew was actually Anark''s spine, and head into the Astral Bloodline Chamber, where he would face the Soul King. Although time was of the essence, Cain did not immediately march, and a profound light appeared in his eyes as he communicated with the system. ''How much Destiny Force have I accumulated?'' [Destiny Force: 54.3 M] The number was beyond amazing, but Cain only smiled as the lucky chances he had attained in his time on the Hyperion Continent had been mind-blowing. Such a massive number allowed Cain to do something he would have never considered before. ''System, create a 21 Revolution Flame!'' [A 21 Revolution Flame costs 1 M Destiny Force. Is the Vessel sure?] ''Do it.'' [Creating a 21 Revolution Flame] As soon as the system received the confirmation from Cain, the [Enhancement Module] came into play. The module consumed his Destiny Force, and soon, a sphere appeared before him. His eyes displayed a sense of wonder as he saw the majestic flame inside, but there was no time to lose. ''A 21 Revolution Flame will not directly improve my battle power but will enhance my talent, improving my Astral Blood Saturation and Law Mastery, allowing me to display greater abilities. It will take some time, but it should be completed by the time I reach the Astral Bloodline Chamber.'' With determination, Cain once again communicated with the Absolute Life Form System. ''System, use the [Body Enhancer Catalyst] tool to perform a flawless 21 Revolution Refinement.'' [A 21 Revolution Refinement costs 3 M Destiny Force. Is the Vessel sure?] ''Yes.'' As soon as Cain uttered those words, the sphere before him shattered into pieces, and the 21 Revolution Flame began to flood his body, drawing the world''s energy into his flesh and blood. The process would normally be incredibly complicated, but thanks to the power of the Absolute Life Form System, Cain did not need to worry. The process was painful, but he could still retain enough focus to fly, and like a comet, he flashed into the path back to the Gray Road. --- Inside the Astral Bloodline Chambers, close to the Astral Bloodline Core, stood the Zanginis and Solis Clans members. All of them honed their Bloodline Membrane, but their faces were pale, and blood continuously leaked from the orifices on their faces. Their skin had started to peel off as they suffered from debilitating and painful radiation poisoning. Zamuel and Lore were enduring the radiation coming from the Astral Bloodline Core better than all the others. However, they were still very sick already and needed to exit the chambers, or else their internal organs would begin to shut down. Unfortunately, that was not a choice. The duo''s eyes were full of hatred and gloom as they saw the Soul King and the warriors of the Umbra Clan and Kraken Clan waiting for them at the chamber entrance. Although the radiation from the Astral Bloodline Core was killing them, it was also the only thing stopping the Soul King and the others from attacking them. In the beginning, all the warriors of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan were hopeful that Cain would be able to get help, but once they saw the Soul King come back, a sense of despair assaulted them. The Deus Behemoths still harbored some small hope that Cain could have survived, but as time passed and their condition worsened, that feeling was fading away. By now, they were all at death''s door, and the idea that someone would come to help them had all but faded. Zamuel couldn''t help but sigh as he watched the warriors from the Solis Clan, and a sense of disappointment appeared in his eyes as he felt he failed them. It was clear by now they would all perish in this place, and their glorious destiny was over. However, even in such a grim and helpless situation, Zamuel''s eyes were able to burst with willpower as he turned toward Lore. The duo looked at each other briefly and softly nodded as they stood up. "Warriors of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan, hear my words." Everybody focused on Zamue, and a solemn and imposing expression appeared on his pale face. "I will not lie to you, as the path forward will only lead us to death. However, we are soldiers, Deus Behemoths, and we will not die without fighting!" It was not a long speech, nor did it carry fancy words, but it was perfect for members of the Deus Behemoth Race, whose nature was straightforward and without pretense. All the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan members stood up, and the fatigue and weakness seemed to fade from their faces as their willpower burst, showing the determination to give it all in the incoming attack. The Soul King saw how the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan warriors stood up and ready to perform one last attack, but his face remained serene. He showed no concern for a group of dying people trying to shine one last time before perishing. With a single glance from the Soul King, Rober, and Talon moved forward, and the rest of the warriors of the Kraken Clan and Umbra Clan also made their energy burst. No matter how weak of a threat the enemy was, a cornered animal could bite, and if they were reckless, some might die. "An ant crashing against a wall. How futile." The Soul King uttered those words of contempt toward the members of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan, who were ready to march into the final battle when his eyes widened. He immediately turned back, and a sense of utter disbelief appeared on his face as he saw a figure emerging from the earth. Chapter 574 574: Killing the Umbra Clan The newcomer did not break the ground, and it was as if he was part of the earth, flawlessly managing to rise from it without any sense of disturbance. His movement was so smooth and silent that even as he stood in the middle of the warriors of the Umbra Clan, none of them were able to perceive him. "Impossible." Full of disbelief and shock, that word emerged from the Soul King''s mouth as his mind could not process what was happening. Cain had just emerged from the ground, and he looked at him with a smile, his entire body set ablaze with dark golden flames as he triggered Radiance of Strength right before all his energy charged into the blade in his hand. "Dimensional Rend!" It was only as they heard those words that the members of the Umbra Clan perceived the young man who stood in the middle of their battle formation, but it made no difference as none of them were able to react to the next attack. Dimensional Rend would normally create a small and thin tear in space from which an overwhelming amount of Blood Energy would emerge. Yet, Cain was able to perform a full rotation with Slaughter, severing the space in the form of a halo as thick as his arm. The power of natural energy not only enhanced Cain''s physical might but also allowed his spells to evolve into a stronger version of themselves due to the immense power of the elements now flooding into his Astral Wave and Essence Wave. Two of the warriors of the Umbra Clan were too close to Cain, so the rending of space also cut their bodies in half as if their flesh and bones were made of paper, and what came next was an explosion whose power could threaten the life of Middle Divine Ascension Masters! "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" A sense of utter shock and awe filled the hearts of the warriors from both sides as none of them could believe what they had just seen. Cain had returned, and not only was he able to hide from the members of the Umbra Clan, known for their assassination skills, but he unleashed a strike whose power was simply off the charts. Cain showed a cold smile as he saw that his Dimensional Rend cut in half two members of the Umbra Clan, and the blast killed three more before sending the rest flying away with bloody wounds all over their bodies. The power of Dimensional Rend improved exponentially thanks to the natural energy. However, the energy output of his attack was simply too high for the Natural Holy Weapon, leaving deep cracks in the blade. The damage to the weapon made sense; after all, Slaughter was a Holy Weapon, and its power limit was the Apotheosis Realm, so something at the Middle Divine Ascension Realm was simply too much for the blade to endure. If Cain were to continue using it, the blade would shatter to pieces before the battle ended. Unfortunately for Cain, he did not have time to worry about the blade as a figure flashed toward him, waving a massive hammer carrying an abominable oceanic pressure. While everybody else, including Talon, was too shocked by Cain''s sudden appearance and overwhelming power, the Soul King was a seasoned monster with thousands of years of experience, allowing him to react immediately and order Robert to attack. Cain saw the massive hammer coming at him. Before he would have been forced to push his body to the limit to dodge the blow, relying on The Flow, but things were different now. He smiled as Slaughter returned to his heart, and his right fist burst with bright golden fire. The moment that golden flame appeared, the temperature of the place grew scorchingly hot, and the most shocked of all were the members of the Solis Clan. All of them knew the technique Cain was displaying as it was Solar Flare Fist, which allowed you to concentrate immense amounts of sunlight energy in your punches to increase their power. However, the energy in Cain''s fists could not be described as sunlight. It was not the quantity but the quality of this one that had evolved to a whole new level. "Sun Force Fist!" Cain shouted the name of the enhanced skill as he took Robert''s hammer head-on. One was a giant nearly three meters tall with a massive hammer, and the other was a young man just two meters tall with his bare fists. "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" A burst of bright golden flames and oceanic waves blasted in all directions as the fist and hammer clashed head-on. Robert had been enhanced at the cost of his life force, allowing his physical might and energy pool to reach that of an Early Divine Ascension Master, and he had his hammer that could push his power to an even higher level. On the other hand, Cain could no longer rely on his Holy Weapon as he had grown too powerful for this one and could only use his fists. Yet, there was a smile on his face as he pushed the enhanced member of the Kraken Clan back! Robert''s eyes were empty as his mind was totally under the control of the Soul King, but he clenched his teeth and tightened the grip around his hammer as he used every ounce of his strength not to be sent flying away by Cain''s fists! Despite all the enhancements, Robert could not face Cain, who was now potentiated by the natural energy. However, he was not alone, and immediately, two members of the Kraken Clan flashed toward Cain from the left and right, trying to take advantage of his stalemate. Cain''s smile did not fade as he saw the other two warriors of the Kraken Clan attack. He focused on the one on the left coming at him with two small and sharp daggers, and his eyes began to glow with a burning golden energy. "Sun Eyes!" Chapter 575 575: Return of the Scarlet King "Sun Eyes!" At that moment, two beams of concentrated solar force emerged from Cain''s eyes, blasting into the chest of the member of the Kraken Clan with the daggers, thrusting him into one of the walls with a burning hole in his chest. Zamuel and the members of the Solis Clan were once again shocked by the skill Cain just used. Its actual name was Solar Gaze, allowing you to discharge sunlight energy from your eyes. Since the eyes were so delicate, the blast''s power was not very strong and only worked as a distraction. However, Cain transformed Solar Gaze into Sun Eyes, an ability whose power could destroy the chest of a Peak Apotheosis Master! Cain felt his eyes burning but did not lose focus. Using his body torque, he managed to gain enough power to overcome the hammer and send Robert flying away. He had just done that when the member of the Kraken Clan coming from the right hacked with her massive bastard sword. The Flow allowed Cain to perceive the movements of the bastard sword, but that did not mean it would be easy to dodge it, as it was less than five centimeters away from his face. Normally, it would have been impossible to dodge the attack from such a short distance, but natural energy evolved every aspect of his existence. Cain''s muscles and bones seemed to gain the fluidity of water, and his movements the dexterity of wind. All that, plus the power of the Law of Space, permitted him to dodge the bastard sword and move forward, allowing him to stand right in front of the members of the Kraken Clan. His right hand opened, and his palm took the form of a blade as the power of the Law of Space and Law of Blood channeled into it. A normal body could not endure such power, and even an Astral Cultivator would have faced backlash, but right now, his construction was more than powerful enough to allow him to use spells with his flesh and blood. "Quantum Laceration!" That was the last thing the member of the Kraken Clan heard as Cain''s hand bent space and split his body in half, killing her instantly. "Pull back. Adopt defensive formation. Now!" Cain had just killed the second member of the Kraken Clan when the Soul King''s voice echoed. The Dark King was extremely wise, and instead of continuing to send pawns to the slaughterhouse, he gathered all the Umbra Clan and Kraken Clan warriors that could still fight. When he saw how the enemies grouped, a sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes, and he could not help but curse at the cautiousness and wisdom of the Dark King. Had they continued charging toward him in such a disorderly manner, he would have killed many more without effort. Unfortunately, all good things come to an end, and from now on, Cain will have to face them in battle formation. The battle would be incredibly hard even with his power, but Cain''s eyes burst with red light as he was eager to unleash his immense power and make the Soul King and all the others pay for chasing him like a dog and forcing him into a dead end. One side had Cain, a young man nearly twenty years old, while the other had more than twelve Apotheosis Masters, yet the members of the Umbra Clan could not hide their fear. In their eyes, what they were facing was not a young man but an immortal monster that returned from death to kill them all. The Soul King did not have the luxury of allowing his shock to overcome his rational mind, and while he did not understand how Cain managed to come back with so much power, none of that mattered now. Half of the members of the Umbra Clan were gone after Cain''s initial attack, and the rest were injured. Eight members of the Kraken Clan were still alive, including the Soul King, but the battle vessel was still badly wounded, and Robert had sustained several injuries due to the recent clash. ''Dammit, how can an insignificant brat push me to such an extreme!'' The Soul King shouted in his mind as he needed to find a way to overcome this ordeal and kill the young man once and for all. "I can see your killing intent, but are you sure of your path? The members of the Kraken Clan are under my soul control and are innocent. Once you leave the dimension, your crimes will spread across the Deus Behemoth Empire, and you will be a pariah." When Zamuel and Lore heard the words of the Soul King, a sense of disgust and loathing immediately appeared in their hearts as they could not believe the man''s shamelessness. The Soul King was using the members of the Kraken Clan against their will, yet he wanted to appeal to Cain''s sense of morality. The feeling of disgust was shared by all the members of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan, but there was also a sense of worry as they feared that Cain would feel conflicted in facing the members of the Kraken Clan, and that could lead to an opening the Soul King would use. However, all the worries in Zamuel, Lore, and the rest of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan members were unwarranted. "Are you so idiotic as to think something like that would affect my mind? Is someone like you really a Dark King of The Organization? I guess anyone can use that moniker now, including those too stupid to understand the nature of a true king." The battle thrill in Cain''s face vanished and was replaced by a sense of disdain as he waved his hand across his face, and the next second, a red mask appeared. "A king severs all obstacles in his path and shows mercy to no one. I don''t care about their conditions, just as I don''t care about the tragic past of all the people that I have killed before. They are an enemy and will die, and you will share the same fate once I return to Gaia." Chapter 576 576: Talons death All emotions began to fade from the eyes of the Scarlet King, and the sense of brutality and determination in them made the heart of Talon and the rest of the members of the Umbra Clan freeze. Some of the Umbra Clan''s warriors could not help but take a step back, and it was clear they were not ready to face the Scarlet King. "If he leaves this place alive, it would not be only you, but your entire clan that would face extermination. Eon Vulcano is not someone who has tolerance for traitors." The Soul King noticed the dread and fear in the members of the Umbra Clan, so he made it clear what would happen if they failed. Although the fear of death was great, the fear of their families being slaughtered was even greater. Talon and the rest of the members of the Umbra Clan clenched their teeth and transformed all that fear into rage as they prepared to fight Cain. The members of the Kraken Clan were under the control of the Soul King, so there was no need for words for them as they would fight with their lives on the line. The Soul King''s eyes burst with soul force as he prepared to command all the warriors and do everything in his power to kill the young man here and now since if he were to lose this chance, there was no doubt in his mind that this monster would chase him across Aether. Although it was extremely shameful for the Soul King to be afraid of a young man around twenty years old, there was nothing he could do about it. Zamuel and Lore saw that the battle was about to start, and they looked at each other. Even if they were wounded, they could not simply leave Cain to fight alone and were about to lead the warriors of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan when they heard the Godslayer Human''s voice in their minds. ''Stay there. You will only be a hindrance.'' The duo could only sigh and show a complicated smile as they heard Cain''s words and accepted the fact they were not in any condition to help him, remaining silent as they focused on the majestic battle that was about to happen. Cain''s eyes were emotionless as dark golden and bright golden flames burst from his body. The evolution of his Paths of Power had improved the strength of his willpower, allowing him to trigger both Radiance of Strength and Radiance of Life at the same time without a problem. Cain''s vitality and strength burst due to the power of his Alter-Ego. Still, he was far from finished as his veins began to glow with the power of the Astral Blood Ability, pushing his physical strength and defenses to an even higher level. "THUMP!" If that wasn''t enough, Cain triggered Asura Form, with his heartbeat beating so fast and with such power that it drowned out every other sound inside the route. Blood Wings emerged from his back, now adopting a solidified structure as the power of natural energy enhanced their speed and resilience, allowing them to act as shields. Talon and the rest of the warriors of the Umbra Clan could not help but clench their fists as they saw the amazing amount of power emanating from Cain''s body. Then, it happened. Cain''s Ego Wave burst as the Concept of Sundering enveloped every part of his body, and he then stomped the ground with all his strength. "BOOOOOMMMMM!" It was a simple kick to the ground, but its power was so immense that it felt akin to a small nuclear explosion, raising a cloud of white dust that shrouded Cain''s figure. "Focus on the ground!" The Soul King shouted, raising the awareness of the warriors of the Kraken Clan and Umbra Clan. The Dark King remembered very clearly how Cain was able to rise from the ground without any of them noticing his presence and attack, and this time he would be alert. All of them unleashed their Ego Wave, using their force field to cover the ground beneath their feet so that they could catch Cain. The Soul King''s strategy was sound, but they were looking in the wrong direction. It was true that Cain could flawlessly merge with the ground thanks to Earth Attunement, but that was not the only art he learned. Just as the Soul King focused his entire attention on the ground, his eyes narrowed as he felt a powerful gale descending from the ceiling. Looking up, his eyes widened upon seeing Cain flashing down with overwhelming momentum, making him resemble a blood comet with a golden core. By using Air Assimilation, Cain was able to eliminate the barrier between him and the air, allowing his body to hide in it until it was time to strike, and he did it in the form of a dive as the power of space and Blood Energy revolved around him. Cain had used his entire body to trigger the Bloodspace Vortex, transforming himself into a blood meteorite crashing into the enemy forces. The target of the attack was once again the Umbra Clan, specifically Talon! The leader of the Umbra Clan''s younger generation saw the blood meteorite falling toward him, and a sense of utter hopelessness assaulted him as there was no way to dodge it. "?AHHHHHH!" In a desperate attempt, Talon screamed as he channeled all his energy into his metallic fins, trying to face the blood meteorite in the form of a shadow tornado. Unfortunately for Talon, he was weaker than Robert, and Cain had channeled all his strength into this attack which combined the might of his physical body and the power of his spells. "BOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" An explosion echoed inside the route as the blood meteorite shattered the shadow tornado before ripping Talon to pieces and crashing into the ground, generating a blast that once again sent the warriors of the Umbra Clan flying away while puking blood. Chapter 577 577: Roberts death (I) "Dammit!" The Soul King couldn''t help but shout as the soul force in his eyes destabilized, his emotions affected by the willpower of his battle vessels. Talon, one of the strongest warriors at his disposal, had just died as the battle began. However, his thousands of years of experience allowed the Soul King to maintain enough control to command the seven warriors of the Kraken Clan, and they all marched toward Cain full of suicidal killing intent. Cain''s eyes glowed with golden light as he saw the warriors of the Kraken Clan charging toward him, and the power of the Flow showed him every single move they would make. ''Four Astral Cultivators and three Essence Cultivators.'' He didn''t simply wait for the members of the Kraken Clan to arrive as he flashed forward, meeting the enemies head-on, immediately appearing before the Astral Cultivators. Robert was leading the melee side of the force and as he saw Cain appear before him, he swung his massive hammer while at the same time, two other Astral Cultivators attacked from the right and left with a sword and blade. The last one had jumped to the ceiling and dived toward Cain with a spear aimed at his head. Attacks were coming from all directions, but Cain didn''t pull back. His focus reached its zenith as he used The Flow to counter Robert''s hammer strike, dodging the hammer and sending a Sun Force Fist directly to the man''s head before the weapon could touch the ground. Cain''s Sun Force Fist was immensely powerful, and combined with Robert''s momentum, it was no wonder the warrior from the Kraken Clan was sent flying away with the sound of broken bones echoing across the route. That would have shocked the heart of the members of the Kraken Clan, but right now they were nothing more than puppets under the control of the Soul King, so they ignored Robert''s wounds and carried on with their attacks with suicidal zeal. Cain saw the blade and sword coming at him, but he simply raised both arms, and the next second the sound of metal striking something hard was heard by all. The sword and blade had managed to pierce through the Sun Armor, but they were only able to make a small cut on Cain''s skin, proving just how immensely powerful his defenses were once he combined Astral Blood Ability with natural energy. Unfortunately, while he managed to neutralize the blade and sword, Cain still had to face the member of the Kraken Clan diving toward him with a spear aimed at his head. Just as the spear was about to reach its target, Cain''s eyes glowed with burning golden light and he triggered Sun Eyes, allowing beams of concentrated sun force to land on the spear-wielder''s chest, blasting this one into the ceiling with a hole in her chest. The Soul King saw another of his warriors perish, but he managed to maintain calm. He already expected that person to die, and the goal was to simply hinder Cain''s movement enough for the next attack. Cain had just taken care of the woman and was regaining his sight when he saw three typhoons flashing toward him from the left, center, and right. The three Essence Cultivators from the Kraken Clan had been charging their spells, and now they shot them at Cain with overwhelming power, as each of the typhoons had a force that surpassed the limits of the Apotheosis Realm. "?AHHHH!" With that shout, Cain made his Astral Wave explode, allowing him to push away the blade and sword, regaining control over his arms again. However, the typhoons were too close, and he wouldn''t be able to dodge them, but that was not a problem. The Essence Wave in his hands began to vibrate at a unique frequency that matched that of the typhoons on the right and left. He used the energy redirection ability of The Flow to change the course of both typhoons, sending them crashing into the Kraken Clan''s warriors on his right and left. "BOOOOMMMM!" "?BOOOOMMMM!" "BOOOOMMMM!" Three explosions occurred, two of them landed point-blank on the Kraken Clan''s warriors with the sword and blade, and the last one on Cain''s chest, all of them being sent flying away. Cain was embedded in one of the walls, and blood emerged from the corner of his mouth, but beneath his red mask, a bloody smile appeared as the damage he received from that strike was far from being able to weaken his battle power, and Radiance of Life healed his wounds at a speed visible to the eyes. It was not just his offensive power that surpassed the limits of the Early Divine Ascension Rank! On the other hand, the Kraken Clan members with the sword and blade who took the other two typhoons could barely rise from the ground, and it was clear they had suffered horrible internal damage. The only reason they could still fight was the Soul King forcing their bodies to keep fighting despite the damage. After forcing the Kraken warriors to rise, the Soul King clenched his teeth with frustration as he saw Cain rising from the wall as if nothing had happened and flashed back into the fray, making it clear that it would take more than a lucky strike to take the man down. The broadsword appeared in his right hand as he made his Astral Wave burst, ignoring the damage of the battle vessel. "Fight!" The voice of the Soul King echoed inside the mind of the terrified warriors of the Umbra Clan, erasing their fear and putting them into a frenzy as they ignored their wounds and flashed toward Cain along with the warriors of the Kraken Clan. Robert and the other two Astral Cultivators of the Kraken Clan were at the lead of the force, but it was clear they were at their last legs, and it would not take long for the damage inside their bodies to reach the point where they would not be able to move, even under the control of the Soul King. Chapter 578 578: Roberts death (II) Zamuel, Lore, and the warriors of the Zanginis and Solis Clans glanced at the battle with a sense of shock, awe, and admiration. Cain faced the Soul King and the warriors of the Kraken and Umbra Clans head-on. One had to admit that the Soul King''s strategy and battle formation skills were amazing, as he was able to guide the six warriors of the Kraken Clan and four of the Umbra Clan with great precision, allowing them to achieve a synergy. However, even then, the one in control of the battlefield was Cain. The movements of the Godslayer Human could only be described as flawless. He was able to respond to all physical attacks, either overwhelming them with his immense strength or countering them with flawless precision. As for the spells coming from the warriors of the Umbra and Kraken Clans, he would either dodge them or redirect them toward the enemies around him. Of the eleven warriors attacking Cain, the only one able to pressure him was the Soul King with his unique broadsword. Yet, even with the powers of the space treasure, Cain was able to dodge and face the strikes of the Soul King without losing control of the battlefield. Cain had just sent one member of the Kraken Clan flying away with a fist-sized indentation on his chest when his eyes narrowed, and he moved to the side just in time to avoid the Soul King''s broadsword from striking him. The power of Air Assimilation not only improved his agility and reflexes but also his perception, as he could feel any disturbance in the wind. Even if the Soul King could hide from Cain''s Ego Wave, he could not hide his presence from the wind. Of course, the [Pseudo Multidimensional Scan Force Field] also detected the Dark King''s movement, but if Cain were to wait for the system to warn him, it would be too late in a battle of this level. His reaction had to be instinctive, and any delay could lead to serious wounds. Cain had just dodged the broadsword when his right leg was set on fire, and he rotated his body, sending an explosive kick to the chest of the Soul King, sending him flying away while spewing blood. Just as Cain sent the Soul King away, two hammers flashed at him, one charged with oceanic pressure and the other with destructive shadows. Robert and a warrior of the Umbra Clan struck toward Cain with their weapons, but just as their hammers danced on his figure, he vanished. There was a sense of shock in the warrior of the Umbra Clan as he saw how Cain faded. The next second, he and Robert looked up as they felt a powerful concentration of energy. They saw the Godslayer Human on the ceiling while a massive amount of space force and Blood Energy gathered in his right and left hands. "Quantum Dive!" Cain used the ceiling as a jumping surface, combining the power of his impulse with Quantum Laceration, transforming both hands into spears. Robert and the warrior of the Umbra Clan were not able to react in time, and Cain''s right and left hands pierced their chests and embedded them into the ground, destroying their internal organs and killing them. Just like that, two more promising stars of the Deus Behemoth Empire perished, and that was just the beginning as Cain flashed toward the rest of the warriors, his slaughter aura growing stronger and stronger. "I will kill you!" The Soul King shouted, and it was clear by the state of the soul force in his eyes that his mind state was influenced by the emotion of Norkuo, the battle vessel. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw the Soul King lunging toward him with a maniacal and murderous expression, and the man was not alone as the last two Astral Cultivators of the Kraken Clan were by his side. Cain marched toward the trio, and just as they were less than one hundred meters away from each other, his eyes glowed with burning light, and a second blast of solar force emerged from his eyes, directed at the Soul King. Regardless of his mental state, the Soul King was a seasoned warrior, so he immediately put his broadsword before his chest, using the weapon as a shield against the beams of sun force. The weapon was able to resist the beams of solar force, but Cain''s Sun Eyes managed to push the Soul King thousands of meters away, allowing him to face the two members of the Kraken Clan without interference. Cain''s eyes sharpened as he pushed Third Gear to its limits and focused on the power of the Law of Wind and Law of Space to enhance his speed. Immediately after that, the power of space force and Blood Energy charged his palm once more, allowing him to trigger a horizontal Quantum Dive! "ZNNNNN!" The sound of space tearing was the only thing that the two warriors of the Kraken Clan heard before Cain vanished, only to reappear behind them the next second. They turned their heads and focused on the young man, but fell to the ground the next second as there was a hole in their chests where their hearts were supposed to be. Cain showed no emotion as he killed those men, but the next second his aura weakened tremendously, and his face grew pale. Finally, the natural energy that had saturated his body ran out, diminishing his physical might and energy pool so much that it made him feel beyond exhausted. "NOW!" The Soul King noticed how Cain''s aura suddenly grew much weaker and the strength force that flooded his body and energy pools vanished, so he shouted for the warriors of the Umbra and Kraken Clans still alive to attack with all they had. Cain''s eyes burst with red light as he saw two Astral Cultivators from the Umbra Clan flashing toward him while the rest fired spells against him. Chapter 579 579: Defeating the Soul King It was true that now that the natural energy had faded, Cain had grown weaker, but he was still an extremely powerful warrior with unique abilities and monstrous divine talent. Three typhoons of oceanic power came from Cain''s right while the Astral Cultivators of the Umbra Clan attacked with their shadow blades, accompanied by a massive dark spear sent by their Essence Cultivator. Cain made a sharp move to the left, taking control of two of the typhoons and redirecting their power toward the remaining Astral Cultivators from the Umbra Clan. The duo was not able to block the attacks, taking them head-on. Had the Astral Cultivators from the Umbra Clan been at their peak, they might have been able to survive, but they were badly wounded, so that blast was enough to push their bodies beyond their limits and stop their hearts. Two more Apotheosis Masters perished, but it came at a price as Cain could only raise his arms, and push his Astral Wave to its peak to resist the impact from the last typhoon and shadow spear. "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!" Cain was encompassed in an explosion of shadows and oceanic pressure that made his bones tremble, and if that was not enough, the next second a broadsword came crashing down toward his head, intending to split open his skull. The Flow had already shown Cain the attack from the Soul King, so he was able to take a step back and raise his arms, using them as a shield against the broadsword. The strike left deep lacerations on Cain''s arms that reached all the way to the bone, sending him flying away, but even as his body was hurtled without control, he was still able to summon Slaughter. The Soul King had already chased after Cain, trying to take advantage of the attack and unleash an onslaught when he saw the blade appear and how, mid-flight, the young man was able to charge the Holy Weapon. "Quantum Laceration!" Cain waved Slaughter, sending two spatial rifts charged with a monstrous amount of Blood Energy toward the Soul King. Despite the Soul King''s killing zeal, he had suffered too much damage during this battle, so if he were to take those strikes directly, he might lose the ability to fight. That was why he stopped his chase and raised his broadsword, intending to neutralize the spatial rifts with his oceanic pressure. However, just as the spatial rifts were about to reach the Soul King, they made a sharp turn, one moving to the right and another to the left, bypassing the Dark King and going after an Essence Cultivator of the Umbra Clan and another of the Kraken Clan. The spatial rifts were too fast, and the Essence Cultivators had used all their power in their last attack, so they were not able to counter them. Once the Quantum Lacerations reached their side, they burst with a might that the duo was not able to endure. "BOOOOMMMM!" "BOOOOMMMM!" The Soul King''s eyes widened as he saw those explosions burst to pieces the Essence Cultivators, and there was a sense of utter shock, as the sharp turn of the spatial rifts could only mean that Cain had pushed one of the core Laws of the Crimson Void Cultivation Technique to the Law Integration Rank! To reach the Law Integration Rank in a Law and allow your spells to gain spirituality was an incredible feat and something that shocked the Soul King to the core as he could not understand how the young man achieved such monstrous mastery over the Laws. The shock made the already unstable state of mind of the Soul King tremble once again, breaking his focus. Immediately his willpower burst into effect, but that short weakness was fatal as Cain had vanished from his perception. ''Where did he go!?'' The Soul King shouted inside his mind and did not have to wait for the answer for long as he saw Cain rising from the ground right behind the last two members of the Kraken Clan. The two Essence Cultivators were not able to detect anything until Slaughter severed their heads. Cain was truly exhausted at this point and was having a hard time regulating his breath, but there was no sense of weakness in his eyes as he turned to the Soul King. Right now, all the members of the Umbra Clan and Kraken Clan were dead, and only the two remained. The Soul King could see the weakened state of Cain and how he had truly depleted himself, but just as the thought that he could win appeared in his mind, he saw how the warriors of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan were flashing out of the Astral Bloodline Chamber full of smiles and killing intent. Of course, the warriors of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan were badly wounded due to the radiation poisoning, but the Soul King did not trick himself and knew he had little to no energy left and all his vital organs were wounded. "Dammit!" The Soul King shouted one last time before turning around and flying away with what little strength he had. Zamuel and Lore soon exited the chamber and reached next to Cain. The duo glanced at the Godslayer Human and there was nothing but respect and pure awe in their eyes as they could not believe just how powerful and extraordinary this one had become. However, they did not waste time and soon focused on the road as the Soul King was flashing away. They were weak and wounded but they could not allow the man to escape, even if the one inside the Astral Bloodline Realm was an incarnation. "Do not move. Just wait here and heal." Before Zamuel, Lore, or anyone else could go after the Soul King, they heard Cain''s voice as he closed his eyes. The warriors of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan did not know what Cain was trying to do, but while they wanted to kill the Soul King, none of them dared to even question the words of the young man. Chapter 580 580: Sealing the Soul King The warriors of the Solis and Zanginis Clan were ready to follow his command, but as they considered the word "healing," they all showed complicated smiles. The radiation poisoning that accumulated in their flesh and blood was too much, and the damage to their genetic material had reached a catastrophic point. Although they would survive, they would face dire sequelae, and trying to advance to the Divine Ascension Realm in the current condition was nothing but a dream. Of course, there was a way to heal, but that would require the help of a Divine Genetic Coder, and it would have to be someone at the absolute peak of the profession. All of them had high backgrounds, but the help of such a person was not easy to obtain, and even if they could, there was no certainty that person could fix all the flaws in their genome. Before, the warriors of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan had not worried about that since they were just concerned about survival. Yet now that they were able to think about the future again, a downcast expression appeared on all their faces. It was at this point that Cain''s red force field covered all the warriors, and the next second a sense of utter shock appeared on their faces as they felt an intangible force acting on their genes. "Relax and rest. The genetic damage the radiation poisoning did will fade." Zamuel, Lore, and all the others could not believe what they just heard, and the way they looked at Cain was as if the young man was an omnipotent divine entity capable of miracles. Although analyzing their genes was not possible, their Ego Waves allowed him to perceive the changes in their bodies and feel how the catastrophic damage was starting to fade. They were still badly wounded, and many of their cells had suffered necrosis. However, through the [Atomic Genetic Suppression] tool, Cain was fixing the genome of the remaining cells, so as long as they rested, their vitality would push them back to their peak. It would take months or maybe even years to fully heal, and the Deus Behemoths understood that, but it did not erase the thrill in their eyes. A few years was nothing for them, and right now the only emotion in their eyes was divine adoration for Cain. The warriors of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan would not hesitate to follow Cain to the gates of hell if this one commanded it. Cain perceived the gazes of the Deus Behemoths. Still, he did not have time to wonder about them, as his full focus was on resonating with the elements and drawing the natural energy into his flesh, blood, and energy pools. It took Cain nearly ten minutes of uninterrupted focus before finally filling his body and energy pools with natural energy, regaining his immense physical might and overwhelming abilities. Luckily for Zamuel and the others, it was around that time that the [Atomic Genetic Suppression] finished repressing all the genetic damage that the radiation from the Astral Bloodline Core had done to their bodies. "Wait here." That was the last thing the warriors of the Solis and Zanginis Clan heard before Cain flashed forward at a speed some of them could not even follow with their eyes. Although they were curious about Cain''s decision to go after the Soul King alone, none of them disobeyed the command and sat silently as they focused on healing. --- The Soul King was flying, using all the power left in the battle vessel. He did not care what happened to Norkuo, as long as he found another Deus Behemoth that he could possess and silently leave the Astral Bloodline Realm. Although it filled his heart with rage and frustration, the Soul King had to admit that he would not be able to kill Cain inside the Astral Bloodline Realm, as the young man had simply grown too powerful. ''I need my true body to kill him, but even if I come to the Hyperion Continent, the Patriarchs from the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan will stand in my way.'' The frustration in the Soul King grew as he realized he had no path to kill the young man, despite being one of the Ten Dark Kings and having reached the Late Divine Ascension Realm. "Dammit, dammit, dammit!" The Soul King shouted, and there was an expression of utter madness on his face. He was no longer able to suppress the raging emotions of Norkuo. It was during that outrage that the Dark King heard a voice in the wind. "Did you think I would let you escape?" Shock appeared in the Soul King''s eyes as he looked up and saw Cain flying right above him. He had made sure to hide his aura and randomize routes at all intersections, which was why he was stunned to see Cain manage to track him down. The Soul King had hidden well, but Cain could merge with the wind, using it as his eyes and ears. Of course, Cain would not explain that, and before the Soul King could do anything, he waved his right hand, charged with an extremely potent Quantum Laceration. "?AHHHHHHH!" The Soul King screamed in pain as Cain cut his arm and legs, before striking his back and shattering his spine, sending him crashing into the ground. Having lost his extremities and his spine shattered, the Soul King revealed a truly pitiful state, but Cain''s eyes showed not even the slightest iota of mercy as he flashed down and shattered the man''s sternum with his knee. "AHH...." The Soul King was once again going to scream from the pain when Cain squeezed his throat, stopping him from making any sound. Cain did not say a word as his eyes began to glow with red light and he sent his Ego Wave into the battle vessel, sealing the energy of this one and generating a cocoon around the brain. He did not want to destroy the Soul King''s incarnation, but to seal it! Chapter 581 581: Crippling the Soul King (I) Cain''s eyes burned with red light as he set his Ego Wave ablaze, using its full power to neutralize the energy inside the battle vessel, so the Soul King could not blow it up. Destroying the fragment of the Soul King present in the Astral Bloodline Realm would surely harm the Dark King''s true soul, but sealing it would do much more than that. After all, even if Cain was not proficient in the soul path, there were great masters in the Deus Behemoth Empire, and any of them could use the fragment of the Soul King to do a lot of damage to the man through curses or other types of skills. The Soul King understood all that, which was why a sense of horror appeared in his gaze upon seeing the red force field flooding Norkuo''s brain, where the core of his incarnation was present. If he allowed Cain to seal his soul force and take him out of the Astral Bloodline Realm, who knows what type of damage would his true soul in Gaia receive once the masters of the Deus Behemoth Empire get their hands on it? However, it did not take long for the horror in the Soul King''s eyes to turn into pure and monstrous hatred as the soul force in them burst with power. "Fucking brat, you asked for it!" A massive amount of soul force emerged from the Soul King''s eyes the next second, all marching directly into Cain''s mind and his soul sea. The Soul King was a True Titan, a life form with a cultivation base at the peak of the Divine Ascension Rank who could unleash power at an even higher level. Even if the piece of him inside the Astral Bloodline Realm was just an incarnation of soul force, the power it could unleash would be disastrous. Yet, upon seeing that soul force marching toward him, the only emotion in Cain''s eyes was thrill, and he shut down all his defenses, allowing the Soul King''s soul force to pierce into his soul sea directly. A dark blue electromagnetic force field pierced into Cain''s soul sea and while it seemed like a seamless agglomeration of soul force, someone powerful enough could see that it carried spirituality, more specifically the will of the Soul King. The Soul King was shocked to see he managed to seamlessly pierce into Cain''s soul sea so easily. Honestly, he did not believe he could truly reach the young man''s soul sea and only wanted to harm him and avoid being sealed. Although it was shocking and filled him with confusion, a dark and twisted joy appeared in the Soul King as he could harm Cain''s soul, and maybe even possess the young man, obtaining control over the most talented existence in Aether. Unfortunately for the Soul King, before he could even make a move, a gargantuan golden hand appeared and began to enclose the dark blue force field. ''What!'' The Soul King had invaded the minds of hundreds of life forms across his life, including that of True Titans and Gods, but he had never seen something like this. It made no sense to see such a massive golden hand inside the mind of an Apotheosis Realm Master. The power behind the golden hand was so immense that the Soul King felt totally and absolutely powerless in front of it. The hand had not even enclosed the dark blue force field and he already lost all control of his soul force, being paralyzed and at the mercy of the golden entity. "Do not harm it. Just seal it. I need the ego and will inside that soul force to be intact." Just as the golden hand was about to obliterate the dark blue force field, a voice echoed inside Cain''s soul dimension, coming from none other than the Alter-Ego. The gargantuan golden hand froze for a second as it heard those words, and the next moment its destructive power changed into a sealing force. The Soul King could do nothing as golden runes began to appear all over the dark blue force field, and it did not take long for this one to take the form of a golden blue sphere floating on top of Cain''s soul sea. Once that was over, a second voice echoed across Cain''s soul sea, and it belonged to none other than Apex. "You can use your Alter-Ego to influence your soul, so it means your willpower has evolved beyond the limits of the Apotheosis Realm. You turned twenty just a few days ago and you have advanced so much. Very good, brat." "Hahaha." A laugh emerged from the Sun Seed, something odd for Cain, showing just how thrilled he was with his ploy to work. Sealing the Soul King''s soul force inside Norkuo''s mind was just trying his luck and he was not very confident in his ability. His true goal was for the Soul King to invade his soul sea, as there was a force that could seal even beings that inhabited the Astral Sea. "I assume you want to obtain the Soul King''s memories." Apex immediately understood the reason why Cain would not allow him to immediately destroy the Soul King. Cain had the Gluttony''s Eye, an incredibly powerful ability that allowed him to obtain the memories of others. However, if he wanted to obtain the memories of the Soul King, Cain needed to consume the will and ego of the man. "You are right. I am done playing the offensive with The Organization, but if I want to destroy them I need to learn more about them. By the way, is the Soul King able to interact in any way with this soul force?" "Hmph, brat, who do you think you are talking to? The moment I sealed him, I severed any connection from this soul force with the main source. Actually, the damage the Soul King endured from the seal, is not any less than the total destruction of the dark blue force field." Cain''s thrill only increased as he heard those words. He was sure that the Soul King was not having a good time right now. Chapter 582 582: Crippling the Soul King (II) "AHHHHHHH!!!!" A scream of utter agony emerged from one of the most secluded and protected rooms in the Trinity Dark Towers inside the Zafire Sector, which was currently controlled by The Organization. The Soul King had just woken from his meditation a few seconds ago, and immediately he began to scream in utter and complete agony as he grabbed his head while blood leaked from every single orifice in his face. It did not take long for three figures to immediately appear in the room. The Void King, Shadow King, and Blood King stared at the Soul King with shock. There was no damage on the Dark King''s body, but the trio could feel the soul force of the man growing unstable, making it clear he had just suffered a severe spiritual wound. That was much worse than having his internal organs ravaged by destructive energies! The Soul King was in so much pain that he did not even notice the trio and continued twitching on the ground and screaming as the agony did not cease. A sharp look appeared in the eyes of the Void King and Shadow King, and they immediately put their hands over the Soul King''s shoulders, restraining him while at the same time using their Ego Waves to force him into a coma. The duo wanted to help the Soul King, but the first thing they needed to do was stabilize his condition, and for that, they needed to stop the brain activity of the Dark King. The Blood King did not move a muscle as he saw the duo helping the Soul King. It was not that he did not want to help, and truth be told, he was happy when he saw the Soul King trembling in agony, as he truly loathed the man. However, the reason why the Blood King did not move a muscle was not animosity but fear. After the initial burst of happiness at the Soul King''s agony, he remembered the mission of this one, and a flash of enlightenment appeared in his eyes as he realized the most likely culprit for the Dark King''s condition. "The... Scarlet King. He did it!" The Void King and Shadow King narrowed their eyes as they heard the words full of terror coming from the Blood King. They were not fools and came to the same conclusion as the Blood King. Neither knew how it happened, but the two Dark Kings were sure that the piece of the Soul King in the Hyperion Continent had been destroyed and the only one they could think could perform that feat was the young man they wanted to kill more than anything. A flash of killing intent emerged in the Void King''s eyes as he pictured Cain''s face, but no matter how much he wanted it, he could not march into the Hyperion Continent and kill the young man. Especially not now that the Soul King would enter a coma and their battle power would reduce significantly, making the war much more complicated. --- Unlike the Dark Kings, Cain''s mood was great. He had just gotten rid of the threat in the Astral Bloodline Realm, and obtained great benefits, with the greatest being the Inheritance of Spirit from the Primordial Path. "Help... me." Cain''s eyes widened as he heard that voice and looked down, only to see the battle vessel of the Soul King looking at him with pitiful eyes. "Oh, you regained your mind after the Soul King left. Interesting." The one that was begging Cain for help and that was used as the Soul King''s battle vessel during the saga of the Astral Bloodline Realm was none other than Norkuo. The old man was still alive, but he would not be for long as his life force was fading away. "Please." Norkuo could feel his life force vanishing and understood the identity of the man in front of him and the bad blood between them, but that did not stop him from begging. For the old man, there was nothing more important than survival. "Your life force is fading and trying to save you is nearly impossible for me." Cain paused at this moment as the red mask fused back into his skin, showing his face. And on it, there was a smile. "If I am honest, even if you were in perfect condition, I would still not let you leave this place alive. Goodbye." That was the last thing Norkuo heard as Cain tapped his head, and the next second the old man''s skull burst to pieces, spreading pieces of brain everywhere. Cain''s smile did not fade after killing the man. Norkuo had targeted him, therefore his fate was sealed and it was just a matter of time before his life ended. The moment anyone became his enemy, he would kill them. He did not care about their reasoning or background, only that they die. It was as simple as that for the Scarlet King. As for blasting Norkuo''s head, Cain was not a fan of gory scenes but he needed something inside the old man''s brain. Cain looked among the brain matter and soon found a dark blue marble with millions of microscopic runes. "This must be the treasure the Soul King used to contain that piece of his soul force. It seems very high level." Cain was impressed by the marble, but he did not know how it worked. However, that was not a problem, as he would gain all of the Soul King''s memories after devouring the will of this one. After storing the marble, Cain sent Norkuo''s body into the [Demonic Devourer Dimension] before taking the space ring and computer ring of this one and flying back to the warriors of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan. As Cain moved across the route at overwhelming speed, a profound expression appeared. He already had the soul force of the Soul King at his disposal, but obtaining the memories would not be simple. Chapter 583 583: Gluttony Concept ''Gluttony''s Eyes allows me to obtain the memories of the soul I consume, but for that, I need to overwhelm the willpower within them. And that is just the start. Even after overwhelming the ego in the soul force, fully assimilating the memories is not something easy to achieve, especially if it belongs to a powerful entity. If I want to improve the power of the ability, I need to go to its core, and that is the Concept of Gluttony.'' Just like The Flow, the first ability he obtained directly from his past life''s memories, Gluttony''s Eyes principles did not reside in the Laws, but in the power of Concepts. If Cain wanted to improve the power of Gluttony''s Eyes to consume the soul force of the Soul King and obtain his memories, he would have to master the Concept of Gluttony. However, that was easier said than done. Nothing was restricting Cain''s ability to perceive and comprehend the Concept of Gluttony, but there was also nothing helping him. Concepts were very powerful but also very hard to master, and some might say even harder than the Laws. In Aether, Cain had never heard of a treasure related to Concepts and one could only depend on themselves and, to some lesser extent, on the experience of others. The Sundering Concept was very powerful and Cain had made it grow constantly, but that was because it fitted his nature, and the Sun Seed helped him with it. Yet, the Concept of Gluttony was not very close to Cain''s heart and core ideals. Without any assistance, Cain would take years or maybe even decades to improve the Concept of Gluttony to the point of assimilating the memories in the Soul King''s dark blue force field. ''Wait!'' A flash appeared in Cain''s eyes as he was considering the Concept of Gluttony and something came to his mind, a treasure that he had been using for years and whose power was truly akin to the desire for frenzied consumption. And even better, this treasure was inside his soul. Cain stopped flying and a sense of utter focus appeared in his eyes as he took a deep breath and adopted a meditative position in the air. His Ego Wave burst with power as he focused on a unique dimension held inside his soul that contained a multicolored flame that could consume flesh, blood, and even mountains. The [Sky Fiend Flame] tool from the [Gluttony Module] was a power that could consume all things and that was always ravenous for more. Cain focused on the flame, allowing his mind and ego to run free, trying to pierce the core principle and power behind this one. Cain did not move a single muscle for over an hour, but his Ego Wave burst with more and more power as he lost himself in that majestic multicolored flame. Suddenly a sense of enlightenment appeared in his eyes and he extended his right hand. Due to his cultivation, Cain''s body and Essence Star were in a constant cycle, consuming the energy around him, but as the power of his Ego Wave focused on his right hand, the devouring force in that area grew nearly twenty percent all of a sudden! The realization broke Cain''s focus and the devouring upgrade faded, but he still smiled as he was on the right track. The power of the [Gluttony Module] found its core in the power of Concepts! Cain gazed at his hand and as he focused on it again and his Ego Wave burst with power, the enhanced devouring force came back. It is just the most basic mastery over the Gluttony Concept, but he can train it by focusing on the [Sky Fiend Flame]. ''It seems that the power had been inside me this whole time.'' Cain burst into laughter and almost hit himself for not realizing the connection sooner. Now that was over, he continued his flight, and it did not take long for him to reach the warriors of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan. The group was not worried about Cain as they did not believe this one could lose, so they focused calmly on their healing and their condition had improved greatly in the past hours. They were still pale, but they would be able to fly without a problem and could use nearly eighty percent of their battle power in case a fight were to occur. Cain focused on the warriors of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan and softly nodded as he saw they had healed. Then he focused on the battlefield and saw nothing had moved from how he left it. The broken corpses were still spread everywhere as well as their treasure. Clearly, the warriors of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan did not dare to even think of taking his spoils of war, making a smile appear on the young man. His eyes glowed as he sent the corpses into the [Demonic Devourer Dimension] and collected all the space rings and computer rings. Cain focused on the computer rings of the Umbra Clan and Kraken Clan and a sharp light appeared in them as he used the [A.I. Chip Module] to obtain the information. It would come in handy once he exited the Astral Bloodline Realm. "Let''s go. I will take you to the Starlight Refinement Chamber." The eyes of the warriors of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan glowed as they heard those words. The Starlight Refinement Chamber would be of great help to them, especially in their current condition, so they did not waste time as they rose from the ground and followed the Godslayer Human back to the Gray Road. Cain had to slow down his speed to not leave behind the others, but still, it did not take long for them to reach the Gray Road. Once they were there, they would usually have to spend a long time traveling in search of a route that unleashed a unique energy flow, but things were different now. He descended to the ground and used Earth Attunement to blend with it, slowly allowing his perception to spread for thousands of kilometers and then he opened his eyes and focused on a path. "Let''s go!" Chapter 584 584: Back to the Mind Cosmos Chamber Cain did not waste time and guided the warriors of the Solis Clan and Zanginis forward on the Gray Road for half an hour before diving into a route. It didn''t take long for the group to encounter a horde of monsters made of bones and foul liquid. The warriors of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan smiled but were not surprised to see the Slime Monsters since these were the ones guarding the Starlight Refinement Chamber. Cain had told them he would take them here, and there was no doubt in their minds that the young man would keep his word. Zamuel and Lore looked at each other and nodded as they were ready to command the warriors of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan into battle when they saw Cain''s energy burst and how a maelstrom of space force and Blood Energy surrounded his body. That was the same attack Cain used to kill Talon and send the warriors of the Umbra Clan flying away, and it seemed to combine the Bloodspace Vortex and the power in his body, transforming him into a blood meteor with a golden core capable of overwhelming destruction. Cain did not say a word as he flashed forward, carrying a meteoric impulse as he dived toward the horde of Slime Monsters, shattering all of them to pieces and clearing the route alone in a matter of seconds. The warriors of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan could only watch as Cain obliterated hundreds of thousands of monsters before making them disappear and guiding them forward without a single second of delay. Due to Cain''s power, it didn''t take long for the group to reach the end of the route and they saw a massive chamber ahead of them. It was a massive rectangular chamber with fibers extending in all directions. Despite being extremely thin, those fibers were extremely resilient. Still, the truly important part was the starlight glow they unleashed and how that light was able to refine their blood and plasma, improving their vitality and the body''s immune systems, as well as their regeneration abilities. A look of ecstasy appeared on the faces of Zamuel, Lore, and all the other warriors of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan as the Starlight Web covering the Starlight Refinement Chamber could improve their healing rate, reducing the time they would need to fully recover from the damage of the radiation poisoning significantly. Although the group was eager to enter the Starlight Refinement Chamber, none of them made a move and waited for Cain, as the young man stood at the entrance and did not seem to be moving forward. Cain noticed the eyes of the warriors of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan, but he did not say a word and simply extended his hand, beginning to draw the starlight into his body. He felt the power flooding into his blood and plasma, but after a few seconds, he shook his head. ''As I guessed. It is useless for me.'' The refinement inside Anark''s mind dimension had tempered his body from the inside out and healed any wound left in him, which was why the power of the Starlight Web was not useful to him. He already expected that much and only came here to bring Zamuel and the others. "Stay here until the closing of the Astral Bloodline Realm. We will see each other again on Amazon. I will stay in the Mind Cosmos Chamber." Zamuel, Lore, and the others were surprised to hear that Cain would be leaving, but they were able to guess that the Mind Cosmos Chamber would be more useful to the young man. "We understand. Good luck, Sun Avatar." "Hope to see you soon, Colonel Laurifer." Zamuel and Lore adopted a respectful stance as they said goodbye to Cain, as did all the other warriors of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan. Cain showed the group a small smile and nodded before giving one final look at the Starlight Refinement Chamber. ''So these are Anark''s kidneys. Interesting.'' With that last thought, Cain flashed back into the route like a comet, moving at a speed that befitted a Middle Divine Ascension Master. The path back to the Mind Cosmos Chamber was easy as Cain already knew the route and there were no monsters on his path. However, just as he was midway on his journey, his eyes narrowed as he detected several life forms inside the chamber. ''Mmm, this could be a little complicated.'' That thought crossed Cain''s mind but after ensuring his body was saturated with natural energy, he continued flashing forward and didn''t take long to reach the Mind Cosmos Chamber and see the Mind Destroyer Cyclone in the middle. However, the cyclone was not the only thing in the chamber as there were also ten Deus Behemoths, specifically the ten warriors from the Gravitas Clan. The warriors of the Gravitas Clan had arrived a few hours ago and were gazing at the Mind Destroyer Cyclone, wondering about the change in size and intensity of this one compared to previous times when they noticed a newcomer. Norton''s eyes narrowed and a cold light appeared in his eyes as the person that just arrived was none other than the young man who dared to disrespect him about a month ago. He was not alone, since all the warriors of the Gravitas Clan glanced at Cain with coldness, and that feeling just intensified when they saw he was alone. "Are you lost, little boy?" A man from the Gravitas Clan, nearly two and a half meters tall, uttered those words as he calmly walked toward Cain with a condescending and narcissistic smile. Norton and the rest of the group did not say a word and prepared to watch a show. The name of the man was Golun, and he was a Flesh Calamity Apotheosis Master. Of course, the members of the Gravitas Clan knew Cain was stronger than Golun, but none of them thought the Godslayer Human would dare to make a move since he was alone. Chapter 585 585: Using the Mind Destroyer Cyclone Galun believed the same as the rest of the members of the Gravitas Clan, which was why he dared to show such a cocky attitude. He was ready to humiliate Cain and gain some points with Norton. Cain did not say a word and, as he saw Galun walking toward him, he could only sigh and softly shake his head. The nasty smile on Galun''s face grew wider upon seeing Cain''s attitude, as he was sure the young man had given up on remaining in the chamber and was just sighing his sorrows away. "Hahah, I will not make things hard for you, little boy. Just express your regret for your past wrongdoing, and I will let you be on your..." Galun was not able to finish his sentence since the moment he stood in front of Cain, a punch landed on his jaw and sent him blasting to the ceiling of the chamber. Utter shock appeared in the eyes of the members of the Gravitas Clan upon seeing Galun blasted into the ceiling with so much strength that he was embedded in it. The man was still alive but had fallen unconscious, and they were sure he had several bones broken. "You dare." "Damn human!" Immediately after seeing the blow to Galun, the members of the Gravitas Clan burst with rage, but just as they were about to move, a stronger voice appeared. "Everybody stop!" The one who stopped them was not Norton, but Urik, the same person who had tried to influence Cain before to help them with the people of the Fenrir Clan. A solemn expression appeared on Urik''s face. His words managed to stop the warriors of the Gravitas Clan from attacking, but they all looked at him, demanding an answer, including Norton. Urik''s eyes turned to Cain and a sharp and wise light appeared in them as he spoke. "He did not use any form of energy in that attack, only his physical strength." Upon hearing those words, realization appeared in the eyes of Norton and the rest of the warriors of the Gravitas Clan. Before, they were too shocked and enraged, but now that they thought about it, they did not feel any form of Wave coming from Cain, and it seemed he only relied on his physical strength for that punch. However, if that was the case, then just how powerful was Cain''s body for him to nearly shatter the skull of a Peak Flesh Calamity Apotheosis Master like Galun? That question appeared in the minds of all the warriors of the Gravitas Clan, and their shock only grew as they remembered that Cain was supposed to be an Essence Evolution Cultivator. Cain focused on Urik and he softly nodded his head. Technically, he had used natural energy, but this one flawlessly fused with his flesh, blood, and energy pools. Had he used Astral Wave to enhance his punch, that attack would have killed Galun, which was a little too much. "You are indeed wise." Cain complimented the Urik''s cool mind before walking forward. He did not move to the side and headed straight to the group of the Gravitas Clan, and when they saw him get near, they instinctively moved to the side. Norton saw Cain''s back and clenched his fists with frustration but in the end, he only shook his head. "We are leaving." The rest of the warriors from the Gravitas Clan were surprised to hear that. It took a lot of work to reach the Mind Cosmos Chamber, but they would be leaving after only a few hours. Norton did not say anything else and he flew up to get Galun, before exiting the chamber. The members of the Gravitas Clan were not happy about leaving, but they followed their leader. Cain noticed the group of the Gravitas Clan leaving and shrugged his shoulders. Norton would not fight him but neither would this one remain in the same place, so he chose to leave. None of that mattered to Cain and he simply headed closer and closer to the Mind Destroyer Cyclone. The power of the Mind Destroyer Cyclone had weakened slightly after Anark went into slumber. Still, Cain was forced to stop due to the overwhelming mental pressure once he reached the five-hundred-meter mark. Cain then sat down and adopted a meditative position as the red light in his eyes burst with power. The mental pressure would help him strengthen his Ego Wave, and that would, in time, improve his mastery of the Concepts. That was not all, as Cain also divided part of his focus to the Starwyrm Blood and Starwyrm Essence in the [Demonic Devourer Dimension] and began to feed his Rebirth Heart and Essence Star. Just as Cain was ready to fully immerse in his cultivation, an inquisitive light appeared in his eyes and he spoke to the system. ''System, scan me.'' He had already done a scan shortly after taking the first step into the Primordial Path and reaching the Late Wave King Rank, but he was curious as to the objective improvement granted by the 21 Revolution Refinement. [Scanning Vessel... ... Scan of Vessel completed. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Late Wave King) / Essence Evolution (Late Wave King) Lineage: Solis Lineage (Maximum Purity) Wave Talent: ??? --- Stats: Strength: 204.4-->206.2 (277.1) Agility: 130.9-->132.7 (202.9) Vitality: 248.3-->252.0 (327.9) Astral Wave: 155.2-->161.6 (221.2) Essence Wave: 177.5-->180.2 (242.7) Blood Energy (Astral): 220.4-->221.2 Blood Energy (Essence): 235.2-->254.2 --- Astral Blood Saturation: 89% Completion Law Mastery: Law of Blood (Low Law Integration) Law of Space (Middle Law Fragmentation) Earth Law (Deep Law Fragmentation) Water Law (Deep Law Fragmentation) Fire Law (Deep Law Fragmentation) Wind Law (Deep Law Fragmentation) --- Note: Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 2.7%. The effect has diminished as the Vessel''s foundation is too strong for the Wave Virus to have an impact. Note: Natural energy has enhanced every aspect of the Vessel''s physical body as well as both Astral Wave and Essence Wave. The current value is marked between (). Once natural energy is depleted, the Vessel''s power will return to base stats.] Chapter 586 586: Back to Amazon Cain showed a smile full of excitement. His physical stats had not enhanced much, but that was not a surprise as the Tribulation Enhancement focused on talent, not raw strength. And in that aspect, Cain had improved tremendously! His Law of Blood had evolved to the Law Integration level, which was why his Blood Energy (Essence) increased so much, and his other main Laws advanced a stage, all of them growing much more powerful. As for his body, his Astral Blood Saturation reached a mind-blowing 89% and was just 1% shy of the mighty 90%, which would allow him to trigger the Astral Blood Ability for hours without a problem. After that burst of thrill and excitement, Cain focused, putting most of his focus on the [Sky Fiend Flame], leaving two trails of his mind power to ensure the safe growth of his Paths of Power. --- Back in the capital of the Deus Behemoth Empire, Amazon, the Patriarchs of all Ten Great Bloodlines and their entourage were standing on top of the respective totem statues as they waited calmly for the return of the geniuses of the younger generation. Even the mighty Eon Vulcano, the Emperor of the Deus Behemoth Emperor, was present since this would be a very solemn event, and there would be times when animosity could arise. After all, the Astral Bloodline Realm was a dimension full of treasure, and it was not strange for clashes to happen between the clans, and sometimes those fights could end in bloodshed, leading to animosity between the Ten Great Bloodlines. Not to mention that the people who went into the Astral Bloodline Realm were the most talented individuals of their respective clans, and they would soon have the chance to rise into the Divine Ascension Realm, becoming powerhouses capable of influencing the military power of Aether. Although the True Titans couldn''t figure out the exact time when the Astral Bloodline would end, by perceiving the disturbance in space they were able to get an approximate. Lord Kabuto stood on the statue of the Solis Clan and by his side were Core Elder Kenia and Lusmir. There were solemn expressions on the faces of both men as they could not help but grow nervous at the idea of something going wrong. Lord Kabuto saw in Cain the salvation of the Deus Behemoth Empire and was also very fond of the young man''s bravery and straightforward nature, while Core Elder Lusmir had sent into the Astral Bloodline Realm his youngest daughter, Lorin. Not far from them stood the group of the Zanginis Clan. Zuko Zanginis''s face was solemn as he waited, and close to him were the other four Divine Ascension Realm Masters of the Zanginis Clan, including his eldest son, Prince Kouto. Suddenly the eyes of all the Patriarchs grew sharp as they focused on the portal surrounded by the statues as they felt an overwhelming space force flooding the place. It did not take long for the fluctuation in space to reach an overwhelming level and the next second all warriors that were still alive inside the Astral Bloodline Realm were expelled. Some of them stood in the air, while others lay flat on the ground, and some were adopting meditative positions, as they were expelled in the position they were inside the Astral Bloodline Realm. The faces of Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis immediately brightened with thrill as they saw how all the warriors from their clans had come back alive and their auras were frighteningly stronger than before. Of course, not everybody was filled with thrill. There were some Patriarchs who showed complicated expressions upon seeing some members of their clans missing, but as ancient entities with thousands of years of age, they were able to maintain a composed stance. However, the same could not be said about the Patriarchs of the Kraken Clan and Umbra. Their eyes were full of shock and disbelief as they looked around the portal and realized no warriors of their clans were present, which could only mean one thing. The eyes of the Patriarch of the Kraken Clan, Gorkon Kraken, were full of disbelief and shock as he did not understand how all the people of his clan were gone, and the same shock could be seen in Taron Umbra, the Patriarch of the Umbra Clan. Yet, unlike Gorkon, other than shock there was also dread and apprehension in Taron''s eyes as a terrified notion appeared in his eyes. The rest of the Patriarchs also soon realized the lack of any member of the Umbra Clan and Kraken Clan, and all adopted a solemn stance as they raised their guards since the total annihilation of a clan had never happened before, much less two. Just as Eon was about to put order and find out what had just happened, one of the members of the younger generation opened his eyes. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Everybody turned to the origin and noticed those blasts emerged from none other than the Godslayer Human. Then they saw how a pillar of dark purple and sky-blue energy burst out of Cain''s body, revealing a Late Wave King cultivation base in the Essence Evolution Path of Power and Astral Rebirth Path of Power. Shock and disbelief appeared in the eyes of not only the Patriarchs but also of the rest of the Deus Behemoths on the portal as they witnessed Cain''s dual cultivation. And before they could even overcome that shock, another explosion echoed, this time emerging from the sky. "BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Along with that thunderous explosion that seemed it would shatter the sky came a multicolored firestorm. That was a force all Patriarchs had faced and whose power even they could not help but take seriously. "Ego Destruction Tribulation." Eon Vulcano''s face was solemn as he gazed at the growing storm of multicolored flames flooding the sky and turned to the Godslayer Human responsible for such a phenomenon. ''Barely twenty years old and already able to incite the Ego Destruction Tribulation!'' Chapter 587 587: Unveiling the truth (I) The Emperor of the Deus Behemoth Empire''s eyes glowed with admiration as he realized that Cain was already on the verge of the Third Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power. However, he did not lose focus and immediately his aura exploded, drawing everybody''s attention. "All Deus Behemoths on the portal, go to your respective clans. Everybody else will stay put. If anyone dares to make a move, I will take it as a personal offense!" The first part of Eon''s words reflected his worry toward the Deus Behemoths of the younger generation as he did not want them to become collateral damage to the Ego Destruction Tribulation. As for the second part, it was directed at the Patriarchs, since he would not let anyone harm the young human. "Hmph, if anyone dares to even think of harming my son, the Solis Clan will start a bloodline war with you until only one clan remains!" The Emperor had just finished speaking when Lord Kabuto''s voice echoed with an explosive might that did not lose to that of the Ego Destruction Tribulation, as a monstrous slaughter intent emerged from his soul, making it clear he would fulfill his words if anyone were to attack Cain. The Patriarchs of the other clans were surprised by the killing zeal in the Patriarch of the Solis Clan, and they were about to be even more shocked when they saw a second burst of slaughter aura emanating from the statue of the blood snake. "You will not have to worry about only the Solis Clan since I myself will butcher anyone that dares to put a single hand on that young man!" Lord Zanginis'' eyes were devoid of emotions, and his butchering aura was so intense that the Patriarchs of the other clans could feel a metallic taste in their mouths as if the air was flooded with blood. If anyone even considered making a move after the words of Eon, that immediately vanished as it would be the same as enraging three True Titans, and two of them were willing to go to war and exterminate their bloodlines. Silence echoed as everybody kept put and no one made a move, all of them gazing between the young man on the ground whose eyes burst with stronger and stronger willpower and the immense multicolored storm in the sky that kept growing. It didn''t take long for the multicolored storm to expand over 50 thousand meters and it just kept growing more and more powerful. Lord Kabuto couldn''t help but clench his fists as he saw how the multicolored storm grew past sixty kilometers in diameter and a sense of utter thrill appeared in his eyes. The stronger the Ego Destruction Tribulation, the more powerful and reinforced Cain''s potential would become. The young man was just twenty years old, so for him to incite such a ferocious response from the world, meant that he had faced countless life and death tribulations, and harvested every single lucky chance in his path, truly exploding his destiny beyond its limits. Lord Kabuto was not the only one shocked as they saw how the Ego Destruction Tribulation just kept growing until it finally expanded for a mind-blowing 81 thousand meters! "A 9x9 Ego Destruction Tribulation!" Lord Zanginis shouted with thrill and excitement as he saw the might of the multicolored flame, reaching the zenith of the destructive might an Ego Destruction Tribulation could attain! For Cain to achieve that destructive might at such a young age, it was clear to all that the core of the young man''s talent was not in his Astral Rebirth or Essence Evolution Paths of Power, but in the ethereal Ego Eternal Path of Power. The red light in Cain''s eyes reached its zenith as he looked at the multicolored flame. Fighting spirit burst inside Cain''s heart as he was eager to flash into the sky and face the tribulation. ''If I surpass it, my battle power would reach the absolute peak of the Middle Divine Ascension Rank, maybe even rising to the Late Stage, gaining the right to call myself a Titan!'' As that thought crossed Cain''s mind, his desire to face the Ego Destruction Tribulation only grew stronger, and there was not a single shred of fear in his heart. Yet, he felt that something was missing, as if this was not the limit. A 9x9 Ego Destruction Tribulation had always been considered the peak of the tribulation power one would face before their evolution to the Third Realm. Yet, Cain felt deep in his gut that there was something even greater for him. That was why, as the multicolored storm was about to reach its zenith and unleash a storm of mind-destroying flames, Cain closed his eyes and began to seal his Ego Wave, hiding it from the world. As soon as Cain''s willpower was hidden, the intent inside the Ego Destruction Tribulation grew unstable and its aura spread everywhere, trying to find the reason for its birth. However, upon finding none, the multicolored storm that had spread for 81 thousand meters began to disperse. The True Titans saw how the Ego Destruction Tribulation began to fade and noticed Cain''s willpower seemingly fading, and they all understood that the young man had chosen to delay the tribulation. Even those that had some bias against Cain, softly nodded as it was indeed wise to delay the process and prepare yourself since the power of a 9x9 Ego Destruction Tribulation was not a simple matter, and there had been geniuses in the past that were too eager and ended up perishing. Cain noticed the intent behind the eyes of the people watching him and knew many of them thought he was afraid of facing the multicolored storm. That was not the case, but there was no reason to correct them; besides, if he were to tell them he was waiting for something greater, he would only be making a fool of himself. Before anyone could say a single word, Cain''s eyes grew sharp and through the [A.I. Chip Module], he sent a message to every single one of the Patriarchs of the Deus Behemoth Empire, except for that of the Umbra Clan. Chapter 588 588: Unveiling the truth (II) Confusion appeared in the minds of the Patriarchs as they received a file. Cain had shocked them so much that all of them were overwhelmed by curiosity, and despite the shocking events and the many questions in their minds, they could not wait and opened the file, and immediately their eyes widened. The message contained several video files that depicted many of the events that happened inside the Astral Bloodline Realm. That included the initial battle when the Umbra Clan ambushed them, followed by the appearance of the Soul King using Norkuo as a battle vessel, and how Cain was forced to run and chase by the Soul King, Rober, and Talon. There was also clear evidence of the state of the warriors of the Kraken Clan, making it obvious to everybody they were nothing more than puppets under the control of the Soul King. The events inside the Mind Cosmos Chamber were omitted, but everyone saw how Cain returned to the Astral Bloodline Chamber. He did not show the battle, but some pictures depicted the fate of the warriors of the Umbra Clan and Kraken Clan. "YOU!" Gorkon Kraken shouted with rage as he focused on Cain, and his entire body trembled due to the overwhelming emotions flooding his mind and soul. He had just seen the corpses of all the Kraken Clan''s younger generation members that entered the Astral Bloodline Realm, and it was clear who was responsible. Of course, the Patriarch of the Kraken Clan also saw the Soul King using Norkuo''s body as a battle vessel and the control this one had over the members of the Kraken Clan. But one thing did not erase the other, not to mention that Robert was the man''s grandson, so the pain he felt right now was overwhelming. Despite the immense rage and emotional distress, the Patriarch of the Kraken Clan showed great control, as he only shouted toward Cain but did not make a move. Cain focused on the Patriarch of the Kraken Clan, and his eyes were sharp as he focused on this one. His eyes glowed with red light as he stared at the man with a fearless expression. "If you want to blame someone, blame your clan''s corruption, allowing someone like Norkuo to make dealings with a Dark King and bringing this one into the Astral Bloodline Realm. Or even better, blame the man who put his clan at the command of the Soul King, knowing what it would mean to yours. After all, no matter how strong the Soul King was, I doubt he was able to overcome Robert and the other eight without help." Shock appeared in the people who heard those words. Only the Patriarchs had obtained Cain''s file, so they did not know what was happening, but anything related to a Dark King could only mean catastrophe. Of everyone, the one whose shock was the greatest by far upon hearing the name of the Soul King was none other than Taron Umbra, the Patriarch of the Umbra Clan and the only one of the Patriarchs who did not receive Cain''s file. The man did not know what was happening but upon hearing the name of the Soul King, he knew things were not good, and saw how all the Patriarchs focused on him, with Gorkon Kraken''s eyes practically spouting rage and killing intent. "Are the human''s words true!?" The Patriarch of the Kraken Clan shouted with pure rage as he turned his hatred toward the Patriarch of the Umbra Clan. Even amidst his rage, he was able to analyze Cain''s words, and they were right. The Soul King was powerful, but his strength was far from enough to subdue Robert and the other eight geniuses of the Kraken Clan alone, so someone must have helped him, and that could not be anyone else but Talon and the rest of the warriors from the Umbra Clan. Taron Umbra felt immense pressure and his heart was beating like crazy, but he was an old man thousands of years old, and knew how to twist the truth. "I do not know what you are all talking about, and I refuse to answer baseless accusations without evidence, especially from a foreigner." Instead of trying to defend himself, Taron chose to feign ignorance, while at the same time discrediting any information Cain was offering and making sure his condition as a member of a different race was taken into the spotlight. Cain''s eyes were cold as he saw the tactic of the man and how the animosity and inquisitive stares in the Patriarchs began to weaken upon hearing those words. He had to admit that the man was cunning, but it was not like he came unprepared. "I am accusing you of being a traitor, aligning with the Soul King. Here is all the information that I got from your warriors'' computer rings." He once again used the [A.I. Chip Module], this time sending the information to the Patriarch of the Umbra Clan, so this one could not feign ignorance about the charges against him. Taron Umbra saw the file that arrived at his computer ring, and with his cognitive abilities, he was able to go through everything in a matter of seconds. Immediately his eyes narrowed as the file not only had video depicting everything that happened inside the Astral Bloodline Realm but also records of the communications between Talon and several obscure figures. Although Talon made great efforts to hide it, the [A.I. Chip Module] was able to decode all the information and easily find out the conspiracy between this one, the Soul King, and several higher-ups of the Umbra Clan. The evidence was incredibly damning, but even in those conditions, Taron was able to maintain a composed expression and he glanced at Cain with disdain. "Puny human, you have clearly shown great hacking skills by infiltrating the computer rings of the warriors of my Umbra Clan. Who is to say that you did not manufacture all this to hide the fact you killed my people and that of the Kraken Clan only to hide the crimes of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan? After all, everybody knows the greedy nature of your race." Chapter 589 589: Unveiling the truth (III) Once again, Taron showed great scheming abilities as he deflected the topic, pushing back to Cain and, this time, putting him in the role of the cunning and greedy evil human. Cain''s eyes remained cold as he stared at Taron, but he felt how the attention of the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines was turning to him, while their inquisitive gaze at Taron was growing weaker. Just as that happened, two figures appeared to the right and left of Cain. They were none other than Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis. The two old men stood next to the Godslayer Human as unsurpassable mountains, their eyes focused on Taron. Taron''s smile froze as he felt the eyes of the Patriarchs of the Zanginis Clan and Solis Clan, but he could not back down and needed to hit the iron when it was hot if he wanted to get over this predicament. "Kabuto and Zuko, I am not saying that you were part of whatever scheme the greedy human did, but you should question your people and find out the truth. Remember who your people are and where your loyalty and faith should reside." Once again, Taron tried to play the racial card, pushing the hearts of the Patriarchs toward the Deus Behemoth Empire and away from Cain, but those words had no effect on the duo. "Hmph, I trust this boy just as I trust a son. And I definitely trust him more than a cunning piece of trash like you," Lord Zanginis'' voice was cold, his eyes sharp as he stared at Taron. "For me, it''s simpler. If my son says you are a traitor, then you are a fucking traitor, and I will have your head," Lord Kabuto''s response was much more brutal and colder than Lord Zanginis'', and the old man seemed ready to jump toward Taron and rip him to pieces. Taron was shocked by the attitude of the two old men and could not help but feel at a loss as he did not know how to react when facing two people who simply did not act according to reason. "Stop." However, before a battle could start, Cain raised his hand and stopped the two old men. While he wanted to get rid of the Umbra Clan''s upper echelon, there was a right and a wrong way to do it. He wanted it to be clean and for that, he needed the support of the entire Deus Behemoth Empire. Cain took a step forward and faced Taron with calmness before softly nodding. "You are right, all the information I have shown until now can be manufactured, but you are sorely mistaken if you believe that is all I have." Taron could not help but clench his fists as he saw Cain''s eyes and felt that something was wrong. A flash of killing intent appeared in his eyes as he wanted to shut the young human down, but trying to do that while this one was flanked by Zuko and Kabuto was impossible. "Emperor, I hope you can stop this as those accusations are already putting a great stain on my clan''s honor, and I refuse to hear anything else. I expect you to be the voice of reason and put an end to this charade." Since killing Cain was not possible, Taron turned to Eon, hoping he would act and finish everything. As long as things cooled down, he could always twist things to his favor and make sure the truth never came to light. Eon''s eyes narrowed as he heard the words of Taron. He knew that something was wrong, but while the file Cain delivered was incriminating, there was truth in the words that it could be fake. However, before Eon Vulcano could come to a decision, Cain also turned to him. "Venerable Emperor of the Deus Behemoth Empire, I understand that there is a lot on your mind right now, but I would like to ask you a question." Eon''s eyes narrowed as he saw the calm expression on Cain''s face. He knew that saying yes would mean he was in some sense siding with the young human, but he was not someone who would let lies flourish just to hide his insecurities or due to worrying about the opinion of others. "Go ahead." Taron clenched his teeth when he saw how Eon decided to hear Cain''s words, and while he wanted to intervene, if he were to do it, it would be the same as disrespecting the entire Deus Behemoth Empire. Cain glanced at Taron with coldness but did not waste time and adopted a respectful stance as he spoke. "According to the records of your past feats, you once faced the Soul King. Could you tell me more about it?" Eon did not know where Cain wanted to arrive, but he answered the question of the young man. "I indeed faced the Soul King once, hundreds of years ago, when we were both just Early Divine Ascension Masters. It was an extremely dangerous battle and I nearly lost my life. I faced his soul invasion spells, but managed to force him to escape once my fists destroyed most of his internal organs." Cain immediately smiled as he heard that, since if Eon had endured the soul invasion spells from the Soul King, then everything was over for the Umbra Clan. He waved his hand, and a small marble with countless runes appeared. "I wonder if you could tell me, to whom the soul force in this treasure belongs." The Soul King had used that marble to contain his soul force for hundreds of years, and even if it was gone, that did not mean the soul aura imprinted for centuries would fade from one day to the other. The marble flew on its own toward Eon, who immediately marveled at the complexity of the runes in it. However, his eyes focused, and he sent his Ego Wave into the marble. Eon''s eyes widened as a sense of shock appeared before a burst of killing intent emerged to the point that the air began to set ablaze as he turned toward Taron and the group from the Umbra Clan. "This is the soul aura of the Soul King!" Chapter 590 590: Facing a Peak Early Divine Ascension Master (I) "This is the soul aura of the Soul King!" As soon as those words came from Eon''s mouth, all the Patriarchs turned toward Taron with shock, accompanied by coldness and killing intent. There was no way to feign the Soul King''s soul aura, and while it might not be enough to give an instant verdict, it was more than enough to capture Taron and the others and carry on a proper investigation. Taron began to tremble as he could not believe that Cain would get his hands on a treasure carrying the soul aura of the Soul King. He had a way to counter any other form of evidence, but how could he explain the presence of a Dark King''s soul force in the Astral Bloodline Realm? As for trying to say that the Soul King worked with Cain, Taron knew that no one would believe that, as it was already known by all just how much The Organization wanted to kill the young man, to the point of having sent the Blood King after him less than two years ago. By now, there was no one who did not believe to some degree that Talon and the rest of the Umbra Clan''s younger generation had worked under the command of the Soul King inside the Astral Bloodline Realm. Although Taron could try to say those members of the younger generation were working alone, that would not stop the empire from conducting a thorough investigation, and who knew what more they could unveil. ''I need to escape.'' Just as that thought appeared in Taron''s mind, he felt nine extremely powerful Ego Waves focused on his every move, to the point that if he were to take a step, they would jump at him like ravenous beasts and rip him to pieces. Although Taron called himself a True Titan, he was at the very bottom of that tier and was considered the weakest of the Patriarchs of the Dues Behemoth Empire. Therefore, trying to face all nine would be akin to suicide. The other nine Patriarchs were not happy at all with the Umbra Clan right now, and there were some like Gorkon Kraken doing all they could to stop themselves from lunging toward Taron and ripping him to pieces. In the end, Taron did not dare to make a move, and neither did the Middle Divine Ascension Master to his right, but the same could not be said about the Early Divine Ascension Master on his left. Upon feeling the combined pressure of all the Patriarchs along with that of the other Divine Ascension Masters, the Early Divine Ascension Master of the Umbra Clan was not able to endure and made his Astral Wave explode before flying away with all his speed. "Roman, you bastard!" Taron could not help but shout as he saw the action of Roman, the Early Divine Ascension Master. The behavior of the man only made them seem even more guilty. The Patriarchs were solely focused on Taron. The man was a master of assassination skills, so he could hide very well. Killing him would not be hard, but they wanted to capture him alive, so they could not break focus. Of course, neither could they allow an Early Divine Ascension Master suspected of treason to escape, so the Patriarchs were ready to command some of the Core Elders to go after Roman. "I will do it." However, before any of the Core Elders could make a move, Cain shouted and he flashed like a comet after Roman. "Cain!" Lord Kabuto shouted as he saw that Cain had gone after Roman. Even if the young man was powerful, Roman was a Peak Early Divine Ascension Master who mastered assassination skills. Yet, before Lord Kabuto could say another word, his eyes widened as he saw that the speed at which Cain moved was faster than that of Roman! It was not only Lord Kabuto who was shocked; all the other Patriarchs were surprised to see the overwhelming speed that Cain managed to achieve. "Great grandfather, please do not worry, an Early Divine Ascension Master is no threat to the Sun Avatar." "That is right, Lord Kabuto, Colonel Laurifer is incredibly powerful. There is no need to worry." Zamuel and Lore immediately spoke as they saw the worry in Lord Kabuto, and there were shining smiles full of confidence as they looked toward Cain in the distance. Eon, Lord Kabuto, Lord Zanginis, and the rest of the Patriarchs kept their Ego Wave on Taron and the Middle Divine Ascension Master of the Umbra Clan, but their eyes also focused on Cain. Cain had triggered Third Gear and Blood Wings combined with Spatial Phase, achieving a speed that allowed him to quickly reduce the distance between him and Roman. Roman glanced back and his eyes widened as he saw how Cain was flying after him. The man''s heart was full of killing intent toward the young human, but he knew that any delay could be lethal, so he clenched his teeth as shadows covered his figure, and the next second he vanished. Cain saw how Roman vanished and realized that even his Ego Wave could not perceive the man''s presence, but he only sneered. He did not even bother to command the [A.I. Chip Module] to track the man, since he was in a state of Elemental Resonance, he could feel the disturbance in the air. "?BOOM!" The Astral Wave and Essence Wave of Cain exploded as he appeared two hundred meters southwest of his position. His right fist glowed with sun force, but that was not all as a vortex of space force and Blood Energy formed in it. The Patriarchs and all the other Deus Behemoths seeing Cain from the distance were shocked to see the young man seemingly combine the power of the Laws and physical might in his fists, and their shock only grew as the next second he hit the air beneath him, and a scream echoed. "?AHHHHHHHH!" Chapter 591 591: Facing a Peak Early Divine Ascencion Master (II) "?AHHHHHHHH!" Roman''s figure appeared the next second, and he could not help but scream in pain as that punch landed on his back, and the next second, a blast of blood energy and space force with a golden core drove him into the ground! "BOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion echoed the next second as the blast carried Roman into the ground, leaving all those who saw it full of awe and wonder. That strike was not any weaker than the power of a Middle Divine Ascension Master, yet it came from a Late Wave King! Even if Cain had dual cultivated the Astral Rebirth Path of Power and Essence Evolution Path to Power, his strength was simply too overwhelming. The younger generation of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan could not help but smile at each other as they saw the expression on everybody''s faces. They were glad to see that shock in other people other than their own. However, everybody soon focused again as they saw Cain descending to the ground while Roman rose from the crater that the blast generated. Roman''s body was covered in deep wounds, and it was easy to see the skin and muscles on his back were shredded to pieces. He was an Early Divine Ascension Astral Cultivator, and his body should have overwhelming defensive power. However, to hide his presence, he was also forced to hide his Astral Wave, which meant that when Cain struck him, he did not have his Wave Cloak active, and nothing reinforced his body''s defenses. "You disgusting human!" Cain''s face was calm, and there was neither coldness nor killing intent in his eyes. Before entering the Astral Bloodline Realm, an Early Divine Ascension Master was an enemy against whom he would have to use everything he had only to get a chance at a decent fight, but now they were nothing special. "Surrender, confess all you know about the dealings between the Umbra Clan and the Soul King, and I will do my best to avoid your execution. You will spend the rest of your life in a dungeon, but you will still be alive." "Who do you think you are to speak to me like that!" Roman''s rage exploded as he heard Cain''s words, and he clenched his teeth and ignored the pain as he made his Astral Wave explode. His entire body was covered in shadow, to the point he became a humanoid shadow, and that was just the start as a dozen clones emerged from him. "Shadow Clone Onslaught!" Cain saw how a dozen clones marched at him and could feel how all of them had true battle power and could harm him. Still, he only shook his head as his perception immediately showed him the real Roman. "You are full of openings." Just as the shadow clones were ten meters away from Cain and were about to cut him to pieces, his hand took the form of a blade that exploded with the power of space force and Blood Energy. "Quantum Dive." Cain flashed forward at a shocking speed, avoiding the attacks, and appeared five hundred meters forward, with his hand piercing the chest of Roman. The next second, all shadow clones trembled before vanishing. "Puack!" Roman vomited a mouthful of blood, and there was utter agony on his face as Cain''s hand pierced his chest, grabbing his heart. He did not dare to make a single move as the young man only needed to squeeze to end his life. "Please... don''t kill me." Cain saw the pleading light in the eyes of Roman and did not say a word before his eyes glowed with red light. Immediately after that, Cain''s Essence Wave set ablaze, scorching the Early Divine Ascension Master''s Rebirth Heart. "?AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Roman began to scream in agony as the flames scorched his Rebirth Heart. The intensity of the flames was not so much as to kill him but intense enough to cause irreparable damage to the Sacred Organ. After ten seconds, Cain took out his hand from Roman''s chest, and the man fell to the ground with eyes full of despair as he realized his cultivation had been crippled. The Deus Behemoth did not even have the strength to kill himself at this point. Cain showed no mercy as he grabbed Roman by the neck before rising to the sky and flying back to the statues where all the Patriarchs were looking at him with eyes full of wonder and disbelief. His power and tactics were something even the mighty True Titans of the Deus Behemoth Empire found incredibly impressive, and his ruthless nature was terrifying. Cain noticed the shock in the eyes of everybody present and knew the effect his cultivation and power would have on others, but right now there was a more pressing matter. "Are any of the present experts in soul reading abilities?" When the Patriarchs heard that, they could not help but once again improve their impression of the young man. Using soul reading on an individual would lead to significant damage to their cultivation and life force, so they could not do it in people just because they were suspects of a crime. However, Roman was already on the verge of death, so it made no difference if he died now, or a few hours later. Cain could have neutralized the man but chose to cripple him, so no one could have any objection to his plan, and there was nothing to say about his method after all, everybody saw how Roman attacked full of killing intent. Although his strategy was good, the Patriarchs could only shake their heads as they saw the young man glancing at them. All of them followed the Astral Rebirth Path of Power, and none of them were proficient in spirit abilities, much less soul reading. Taron''s eyes were full of terror as he saw that they had captured Roman and planned to read the soul of this one, but he relaxed upon seeing that no one could. Unfortunately for the man, that calm did not last long. "In that case, I will do it." Chapter 592 592: A hybrid "In that case, I will do it." Under the amazed gaze of the Patriarchs, Cain''s forehead split open, revealing a third eye with a sharp row of teeth inside the eyelids that unleashed an abominable devouring force. Cain had offered the chance for someone else to read the mind of Roman since that way he would not be the only one accusing the Umbra Clan. But since there was no one capable of doing it, he carried on and used Gluttony''s Eyes on the Early Divine Ascension Master. He grabbed Roman by the neck and forced eye contact, triggering a clash of willpower. Roman was a Third Realm Ascension Master, but despair had already overwhelmed his mind, so as he faced Cain''s willpower, it did not take long for it to shatter. Under everybody''s shocked and awed eyes, tendrils emerged from Cain''s third eye, piercing into Roman''s brain and heart, extracting his ego and soul force before starting to ravenously devour it. The process was ghastly and lasted nearly two hours, but no one made a sound, and everybody waited until Cain opened his eyes again and the third monstrous eye vanished. Cain''s cognitive abilities were superb, but even he would have trouble computing thousands of years of memories. Luckily, he had the [A.I. Chip Module] which could work much faster than him, providing him with the most important details. It did not take long for the Absolute Life Form System to give him the information he needed for this process, and as he saw it, his eyes widened. "The Soul King is a member of the Umbra Clan!?" Shock appeared in the eyes of Eon and the rest of the Patriarchs as they heard Cain''s words. The realization that one of the great figures of the underworld of Gaia came from the Deus Behemoth Empire was stunning. "So the Soul King is a Deus Behemoth!?" A solemn expression appeared on Eon as he posed that question. His trust in the young human had grown to the point that he believed Cain''s words, even if this one revealed no evidence. Of course, the fact that there was a relationship between the Soul King and the Umbra Clan that went back ages, making sense, also mattered in the belief of the emperor. Cain frowned as he heard that question and stood in silence for a moment before softly shaking his head. "Not quite. The Soul King is the son of the previous Patriarch of the Umbra Clan and a slave from another race." Cain made a pause at this point and gazed at the emperor and the other Patriarchs with a complicated expression before carrying on. "His father was a Deus Behemoth, but his mother was a member of the Atrox Immortus Race." A deafening silence spread across the place as Eon and the others heard those words. A hybrid between the races was not something that was truly taboo, and while some looked down on them, most did not care. Of course, that was when the hybrid came between two races of the same side as Godslayer Human and Deus Behemoth, but when this one came from a mixture with the Dark Races, everything changed. Not only was the act of mating with a member of the Dark Races, heavily frowned upon and considered a vicious and disgusting act, but any child coming from such a relationship was considered a taboo abomination and was prohibited under the code and rules of all six empires. The reason for such a stand was not only out of hatred but also pity, as a child coming from such a background would live a life of absolute despair, incapable of truly assimilating with any of the six great clans. "Lies. They are all lies. My older brother would never do such a thing." Taron was not able to contain himself as he shouted full of rage. While for some it might seem he was protecting his family, the Patriarchs had already lost any trust in him, and they could see the desperation in his face. Cain, on the other hand, stared at Taron with an expression of disdain and disgust. "I am surprised to see you so protective, being that you plotted with the Soul King against your dear brother, taking this one out so you could rise to the Patriarch position." Taron''s eyes widened as he heard those words, and feelings of desperation and shock just kept growing stronger, but he clenched his teeth and his eyes burst with a gray light. "That is a lie. Had I done something so heinous, there was no way I would have shared that knowledge with Roman! You are just making things up!" This time the words of Taron made sense, and while it did not change the distrust the Patriarchs had, many of them glanced at Cain, wondering just how much they could trust his words. Cain could see those gazes, but he did not grow worried and simply smiled. "You were indeed secretive, and did not share that plot with anyone, but I am not merely reading the experiences of Roman. I am also making deductions based on the information that is presented to me, after all, I am an army colonel and investigative skills are a core of our military training." Eon and the Patriarchs softly nodded as they heard those words. Cain was not a mindless machine that could only repeat information, and he indeed had the ability to process information and pick up clues from it. "Of course, I cannot expect everybody to blindly believe my words, and luckily there is no need for that since there is someone who would be able to confirm my words, your dear older brother whose legacy you are so eager to protect." As soon as Taron heard those words, his entire face grew pale. The dread and shock were so great that he was not able to hide the immense distress that those words generated in him. "Oh, so I was right!" Chapter 593 593: Establishing order (I) "Oh, so I was right." Cain smiled, not concealing his satisfaction. He had been testing the waters with his accusations, but it seemed he had struck a nerve. Immediately, he noticed the loathing and despair in Taron''s eyes, but instead of dwelling on it, he turned toward Eon, who was looking at him with an inquisitive gaze. "I know that the previous Patriarch of the Umbra Clan, Auron Umbra, vanished nearly two hundred years ago, and many believe he is dead, but that doesn''t seem to be the case. It appears that after defeating Auron, the Soul King and Taron kept him alive, perhaps to torture him or for some other purpose." Cain paused, allowing the Patriarchs to process the information before continuing. "The Umbra Clan has a secret dungeon hidden from the empire, located beneath a massive mountain range on the periphery of the Bahamut Sector. That place was actually instituted by Auron. The man used it to cage his enemies, and on the lowest floor, he had slaves from other races that he used to satisfy his twisted desires. After Taron''s ascension to the position of Patriarch, the dungeon remained active, but the lowest floor was much more restrictive, and only he and another hidden figure visited it every few years. If my guess is correct, the hidden figure was the Soul King and the one we will find in the deepest level of the dungeon is none other than Auron Umbra." Taron''s shock and despair reached its peak as he heard Cain''s words. He felt he was drowning deeper and deeper, and nothing he could do would raise him from the waters. It was at this point that a frenzied expression appeared on his face, and he focused on his computer ring. "Don''t you dare!" Eon shouted as he sensed Taron''s computer ring acting, but he was too late, and a message emerged. Just as the emperor of the Deus Behemoth Empire was about to strike with ferocity, he heard Cain''s voice. "There is no need to worry. I have jammed all signals from the computer rings present. It seems that he sent a self-destruction signal to the Umbra Secret Dungeon, but I blocked it. Before we carry on, I think we should restrict the traitors." Cain was calm, yet his words carried a defining tone for Taron and the Middle Divine Ascension woman from the Umbra Clan. He called them traitors, and by the looks on the rest of the Patriarchs''s faces, they took his words as a verdict. "Wait, please allow me..." Fear brought Taron''s sanity back, and just as he attempted to speak, he felt a sharp pain in his back and saw a sword pierce his chest. The one who attacked was a woman with a fierce appearance, wolf ears, and capable of blending with space flawlessly to the point she took the True Titan by surprise. Taron wanted to react, but the damage was too severe, and sword force flooded his body, sealing his energy. The Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan was not the strongest, but her mastery over space was superb, and her sword skills were even better as she managed to sever Taron''s spine. She was careful enough not to touch the man''s heart, crippling him yet keeping him alive. The Middle Divine Ascension Cultivator saw how Taron was neutralized but she did not have time to worry about others as a colossal man appeared in front of her and grabbed her head with such overwhelming force and gravitational pressure that she could do nothing but pass out. "Hmph, pathetic." The Patriarch of the Gravitas Clan sneered as he sealed the mind of the warrior of the Umbra Clan before letting this one fall to the ground. Cain and the other Patriarchs did not make a move, but they pushed their perception and focus to the limit, making sure everything would go flawlessly. Eon''s eyes were cold as he saw the state of Taron and the other women, without a single shred of pity or mercy in his eyes. He would have killed the duo, if not because they were more useful alive, at least until they could extract all the information from their minds. After seeing the duo neutralized, Eon took a deep breath, and his aura began to rise higher and higher, drawing the attention of everybody present. Lord Kabuto, Lord Zanginis, and all the other Patriarchs adopted solemn expressions as they focused on Eon, and it was clear to them that the man was ready to put order and fulfill his role as the emperor. Once Eon opened his eyes, everybody adopted a respectful and submissive stance, ready to follow his command. "Xina, Forkon, bring the duo to the Imperial Prison. Then take control of the Imperial Army in Amazon and besiege the Umbra Clan''s Sacred Home, cutting all communication with the outside world. All members of the Umbra Clan must surrender themselves and wait for further notice. Any form of rebellion will be considered treason, and they will be executed on the spot." The Patriarchs of the Fenrir Clan and Gravitas Clan nodded and without delay, they grabbed Taron and the Middle Divine Ascension women before flashing into the distance. The warriors of the Volcano Clan behind Eon also bowed toward the emperor before rising into the sky and following Xina and Forkon. After that, Eon turned toward Gorkon, and a complicated expression appeared on his face, but soon sharpness and determination emerged. "Gorkon, every member of the Kraken Clan above the Wave King Rank must report back to your Sacred Home and remain there until further notice. I expect a thorough investigation of how deeply the corruption of the Soul King infected your clan." The Patriarch of the Kraken Clan could not help but sigh as he heard Eon''s words. His entire clan was practically under house arrest, and that included him. Still, the fact that Eon allowed him to carry out the investigation showed he was not a suspect of treason, at least not for now. "Yes, Your Imperial Majesty." Chapter 594 594: Establishing order (II) "Yes, Your Imperial Majesty." Gorkon bowed toward the emperor before turning toward Cain. He stared at the young man and although it seemed he wanted to say something, in the end, he only shook his head and left in silence along with his entourage. Cain watched Gorkon flying away and could feel the conflict within the man''s heart. The Patriarch understood that the Soul King was the true culprit behind everything that happened, but that did not erase the fact that the blood of the younger generation of his clan was on Cain''s hands. Although Cain was not someone to let loose ends, that did not mean he was also going to kill everybody who had conflicted feelings about him. Besides, it was not like he could defeat a True Titan, at least not yet. Eon watched Gorkon leave before turning to the rest of the Patriarchs and focusing on Cain for a moment. "Kabuto, Zuko, and Cain, you three will remain here. The rest head to your respective domains and put everything in order, preparing your armies for immediate mobilization if needed." The Patriarchs of the Artik Clan, Ursa Clan, and Aeolus Clan bowed to Eon before rising into the sky and flying away along with their people. The warriors of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan bowed to their Patriarch and the emperor before rising to the sky and leaving as well. There were only four people left, Emperor Eon, Lord Kabuto, Lord Zanginis, and Cain. Now that everybody was gone, Eon focused on Cain before speaking. "Sun Avatar of the Solis Clan, you will lead me, Kabuto, and Zuko to the underground dungeon of the Umbra Clan." Eon''s voice carried a profound tone, and the fact he referred to Cain by his identity as part of the Solis Clan meant he recognized this one as a member of the Deus Behemoth Empire. And that was not all as while Eon only needed Cain, he made sure to bring Zuko and Kabuto along, improving the stance of the young man. Cain stared at the emperor for a moment, clasped his hands, and performed a deep bow. "As you command, Your Imperial Highness." Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis smiled as they saw the connection between Cain and the Deus Behemoth Empire strengthening, and the status and background of this one rising beyond just his two clans. The four did not waste time and they rose to the sky, with the emperor and the Patriarchs following after Cain as they left Amazon and headed to the periphery of the Bahamut Sector. Although Eon, Kabuto, and Zuko did not use their full speed since they had to follow Cain, they did not have to contain much either as the young man was able to achieve a truly incredible speed thanks to his Astral Wave''s abilities and mastery over the Laws of Space and Wind. Less than thirty minutes later, Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he focused on a lone mountain range in the distance. "That is the place." Eon, Kabuto, and Zuko focused on the mountain range as they heard Cain''s words, and their eyes began to glow. They were ready to unleash their Ego Waves, but the young man immediately intercepted them. "Please, do not be rash. There are several contingency plans in that dungeon and if we make a mistake, the place is prepared to blow itself up and there will be nothing we can do to stop it." The emperor and the two Patriarchs froze as they heard those words. Although the culpability of the Umbra Clan was already sealed, they wanted to obtain as much proof as possible, and also rescue all the people inside the dungeon if they could. "I assume you have a way to take care of those defensive mechanisms." Eon turned toward Cain and the expression on his face made it clear he was sure that the young man could handle that problem. It was subtle, but instinctively the emperor of the Deus Behemoth Empire began to see in the young human someone capable of fixing all his problems. Cain only smiled as he nodded, and the next second his [A.I. Chip Module] came into action, with the [Pseudo Multidimensional Force Field] and the [Sub Quantum Hacking] tools fusing into an invisible and imperceptible force field that flooded into the dimension and began to deactivate all traps and fail-safes in place. The power of Eon''s perception was overwhelming, which was why he was so surprised to feel a unique force field coming from Cain. It was extremely subtle and if he had not been paying attention, he would not have detected it. "Let''s go. We can enter. I already deactivated all traps. There are some people inside guarding the place, but they are only Wave King and one Apotheosis Master." Eon and the Patriarchs did not even bother to quantify the guard in the place since even if Divine Ascension Masters were present, they could instantly overwhelm them. Since there was no need to contain themselves anymore, the trio unleashed their Ego Wave. As they sent their willpower into the mountain, their eyes soon widened as they detected a place dozens of thousands of meters underground, hidden with all sorts of cloaking formations. A cold light appeared in Eon''s eyes as he pointed his index finger at the mountain range and the next second a tiny beam of energy was shot. "BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Cain''s eyes widened as he saw how that beam of energy, less than a finger wide, evaporated the mountain range and generated a massive crater that blasted open the ceiling of the Umbra Clan Secret Dungeon. ''Amazing!'' Cain couldn''t help but gaze at Eon with awe, as that attack not only had overwhelming destructive power, but the energy control over it was sublime. Despite generating an explosion, there were no shockwaves, and the destruction was limited to the surface of the secret dungeon, not harming the inside or the people in it. Chapter 595 595: Auron Umbra Eon kept his eyes focused on the dungeon, but he noticed Cain''s gaze and a silent smile appeared on his face. That attack took every single ounce of granular control he had over his energy, but he wanted to display his power, showing the young man the might of an emperor. Although he kept a cold head and did not show on the outside, the level of talent the young man displayed had shocked Emperor Eon to the core. There was no doubt in his mind that Cain would rise to the highest peak of Aether, and before that, he wanted to display his might and generate a lasting impression. "Let''s go." After ensuring his display of strength had the desired effect, Eon did not delay further and led the group into the secret dungeon. Cain''s eyes soon regained his focus and as he turned to the dungeon, he observed its vastness, with metal walls and hundreds of floating cages inside, each containing a pitiful individual who seemed to be on their last leg. Eon, Zuko, Kabuto, and Cain descended into the secret dungeon and immediately drew the attention of a dozen warriors from the Umbra Clan. "Impossible. This can not be happening." The strongest of the group couldn''t help but shout in shock and dread as they saw the Emperor of the Deus Behemoth Empire descending with overwhelming pressure. These people were unable to do anything before Cain''s eyes glowed, and their eyes immediately lost focus. When Eon, Zuko, and Kabuto saw this, they turned toward Cain with complicated expressions. The young man just kept revealing more and more incredible abilities. Cain being able to instantly hypnotize an Apotheosis Realm Master, meant he was a very powerful Saint Hypnosis Master. Cain did not make a fuss of his Hypnosis Master abilities as for him, being able to hypnotize a weak Apotheosis Realm Cultivator was nothing much. It would have been easier to kill all the members of the Umbra Clan present, but they might have some knowledge he could need, which was why he left them alive. It did not take long for the four to descend to the ground of the underground dungeon and as they looked around and focused on the cages, they could see that they contained people from different clans, and many belonged to the Ten Great Bloodlines. Eon, Kabuto, and Zuko''s eyes burst with rage and killing intent as they saw people of their clans that they believed had gone missing or dead in this place. They were so weak and malnourished that even after all the ruckus they had created, none raised their heads and kept lying on the floor of their cells. Cain did not say a word, nor did he feel anything about these people. He was a Master of Order, so unless he knew some of the people in those cages, he felt nothing for them. Pity was not a sentiment someone who followed Order could experience, at least not in the way normal people could. Of course, Cain did not disturb the trio who seemed ready to burst with righteous fire, and instead focused on the teleportation matrix on the floor as the [A.I. Chip Module] began to interact with it and after a few seconds, it began to glow. "It will lead us to a separate dimension whose core is buried one hundred thousand kilometers underground. I assume that is the place we will see Auron Umbra." Eon, Kabuto, and Zuko felt the space energy in the formation and did not doubt Cain''s words, but they did not feel right leaving all the people in those cages. The sense of racial justice and protection was strong in the group. "Don''t worry about them. The guards will bring them out of their cages and take off their chains and energy blockers. By the time we come back, they should be all ready to leave." Cain''s eyes glowed as he spoke those words, and the guards of the Umbra Clan began to move, going from cage to cage, opening them, and taking the people out. Smiles appeared on the faces of the trio as they saw the guards taking care of their prisoners, and they turned toward Cain with appreciation before getting into the formation. The next second, the teleportation formation glowed with a blinding light, and the four vanished from the upper section of the secret dungeon of the Umbra Clan. The mind of the four was so strong that such short teleportation was not able to affect their senses. They found themselves in a small black room, and their eyes immediately focused on the individual kneeling in the middle. It was a naked member of the Umbra Clan with vicious wounds all over his body. His legs had spikes that nailed him to the ground, while chains descended from the ceiling and pierced his arms, making sure he would not fall. "You came back for more, bastard?" The man was looking to the ground, so he did not notice the newcomers and most likely believed he was speaking to the person who came every certain time to torment him. "Auron?" When the man heard Eon''s voice, his entire body trembled, and he slowly raised his head. The skin on his face was scorched to the point that the bone was visible, and one of his eyes had been gouged out, but that did not erase the sense of shock in his face upon seeing that the people that arrived were the Emperor of the Deus Behemoth Empire and the Patriarchs of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan. "Ha... haha... hahahahahahahahaha!" Auron began to laugh upon seeing Eon, Kabuto, and Zuko, and tears began to fall from his only good eye. In that laughter, there was a sense of immense resilience. Despite hundreds of years of agony, Auron was able to maintain his sanity, and as he saw the trio he believed all that pain was finally ending. His maddening laughter lasted nearly a minute before a sharp light appeared in his eye. Chapter 596 596: Twisting history "Your Imperial Highness must help me! My treacherous brother and the Soul King, my archenemy, imprisoned me in their secret dungeon. Please, free me from these chains so we can bring justice in the name of the Deus Behemoth Empire." Cain''s eyes narrowed, reflecting a mix of respect and awe as he listened to the man''s plea. Despite years of torture and the thrill of potential freedom, the man''s focus and cunning remained unbroken. Auron immediately blamed the Umbra Secret Dungeon on his brother and referred to the Soul King as his archenemy and nothing more. ''So sly.'' Unfortunately for the man, he had already served his purpose in Cain''s plan, and keeping him alive would only make things more problematic. Some might think that Auron would be full of gratitude toward Cain, as it was he who unveiled the relationship between the Umbra Clan and the Soul King. Yet, from what Cain learned from Roman''s memories, Auron would be incapable of that. The xenophobia of the former Patriarch of the Umbra Clan ran so deep, that he would ignore Cain''s involvement in his rescue, and instead focus on the damage this one did to his clan. Before Eon, Zuko, and Kabuto could respond to Auron''s plea, Cain stepped forward and focused on the old man. "You are really good with words, but please don''t play the role of the innocent victim, since it makes me want to puke." It was only at this point that Auron focused on Cain. He had noticed the young man, but upon realizing this one was not a member of the Dues Behemoth Race, he instinctively ignored him. Cain only smiled as he felt the loath and disgust in Auron''s eyes and continued speaking. "Allow me to make some arrangements for your colorful worlds. Your brother and your bastard son chained you in this dungeon where you once abused women and men from the Dark Races." A flash of realization appeared in Eon and the Patriarchs'' eyes. They were momentarily moved by Auron''s pitiful state, but Cain''s words reminded them that this dungeon was Auron''s creation. This unique dimension full of torture equipment was his personal hell, where he did unspeakable things to men and women. The pity in the trio''s eyes faded, replaced by coldness, remembering that Auron was not just a twisted individual who abused members of the Dark Races and fathered a child with one but had also secretly imprisoned people from across the empire, including those from their clans. Auron''s eyes widened upon hearing Cain''s accusations, and a silent killing light appeared in them. However, an even more intense feeling of distress assaulted him as he saw the coldness emerge in the eyes of Eon, Kabuto, and Zuko. He was fast and turned toward Cain with an expression full of indignation. "Human, how dare you accuse me of such heinous crimes, given my condition. This place was built by my brother long before his coup, and I only discovered it when they imprisoned me here," Auron shouted at Cain with righteous rage before turning to Eon, Kabuto, and Zuko. "My friends, please, free me. I will answer all your questions and help you uncover the truth once I am healed. We are all Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines, and we should stand together as the pillars upon which the Deus Behemoth Empire has risen for thousands of years." Complicated expressions appeared on the Emperor and the Patriarchs'' faces. While they were determined not to let the harm to their people go unpunished, they also had to consider the empire''s safety. The potential loss of the upper echelon of one of the Ten Great Bloodlines would significantly diminish the empire''s overall military power. Auron had indeed endured centuries of torment, which, in their eyes, was a form of punishment. As the trio considered their response, a small smile appeared on Auron''s face, along with a flash of coldness he managed to conceal well. Cain observed the trio and understood their dilemma. They were the empire''s leaders and had to prioritize the greater good and safety of trillions, not just their personal feelings. However, he wasn''t going to let Auron''s desires dictate the outcome. His gaze wandered around the black room, focusing on the rusty torture equipment, and he realized these were ancient artifacts of centuries of age. They were older than the time Auron had stayed locked in this place, so they were used on others first. "The torture equipment in this place is very old. It''s poetic justice that the Soul King used the same equipment you utilized to torture his mother on you." Eon, Zuko, and Kabuto turned to Cain. Clearly, the young man wanted to share something, and they would hear him before making a decision. Surprise and confusion flickered in Auron''s eyes as he noticed the trio''s respect and reference toward Cain. Auron couldn''t understand or accept their behavior, given his view of other races as inferior. Cain walked until he stood right in front of Auron, noting the man''s resilience. "I must admit, you''re formidable, and this experience only seems to have strengthened your willpower. It wouldn''t be hard for you to regain control over the Umbra Clan and return to your previous peak or even surpass it. However, I loathe your nature, and our coexistence within the Deus Behemoth Empire would become increasingly complicated, to the point where there could only be one of us." Cain paused, allowing a cold smile to form on his face, signaling bad tidings for Auron. "Fortunately for me, the Soul King had already destroyed your internal organs, and your wounds were too severe for healing. We wanted to help you but you were beyond salvation and we did the only merciful thing and ended your suffering." Shock filled Auron''s eyes as he heard Cain''s words. The young man wanted to twist history and make everybody believe he had perished in this place due to the actions of the Soul King. Chapter 597 597: Deal (I) The dread in Auron''s eyes only increased as he saw the reactions of Eon, Zuko, and Kabuto. The Patriarchs of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan stared at Auron for a moment before a coldness and killing intent emerged in their hearts. Since Auron would impede Cain''s proper assimilation into the Deus Behemoth Empire, he had to be eliminated. The fact that they never got along with the man, and he was a criminal who imprisoned people from their clans, made the decision very straightforward. It only took one glance toward Zuko and Kabuto for Auron to realize the path the duo had taken, clearly seeing they would choose the human over him. "Your Imperial Highness, please, you must stand for reason and justice!" Immediately, Auron turned toward Eon, and there was a flash of madness and fear in his heart. He had already resigned to his fate after hundreds of years of torture, but when he saw the trio, hope once again returned. Yet, it seemed that it was misplaced, and he would not be getting out of this place. Eon stared at Auron silently, a solemn expression appearing on his face as he glanced between the former Patriarch of the Umbra Clan and Cain. "Ahh, so be it. Auron Umbra will be remembered as a great man, who served the empire honorably. He fell under the plot of his younger brother, Taron Umbra, and his archenemy, the Soul King. He was jailed in his brother''s hidden prison and resisted for hundreds of years of torture, as they sought to get secrets from him, but he stood strong. He perished this day, as I finished his agony and incinerated his corpse, granting him a proper burial, worthy of a hero of the Deus Behemoth Empire." Eon turned toward Zuko, Kabuto, and Cain, and the intent in his eyes was decisive and also ominous. He would side with the trio, but Auron Umbra would not go down as a devious man who fell to the hands of his bastard son, but as a hero and respected Deus Behemoth. Of course, there were a lot of people who heard about Auron''s misdeeds during Cain''s revelation in Amazon, but Eon was sure he could ensure their silence, as an order from the emperor was not something they could defy. Although Zuko and Kabuto were not so happy to see a devious and disgusting man like Auron being considered a hero of the empire for the ages, they were willing to compromise. While the Umbra Clan would suffer greatly, it would not be exterminated, and it would be good for the young generations to have a figure to worship as they strive to regain their honor. Cain couldn''t care less about public opinion. For all that mattered, Auron could be considered a divine god if they wanted, as long as the man perished. Auron''s mind fell into madness as he realized they were practically discussing his epitaph in front of him and could not contain himself and shouted. "YOU BASTAR...!" Yet, before the old Patriarch from the Umbra Clan could finish his sentence, Cain struck his trachea with so much strength that it shattered, making the man twitch as he was no longer able to breathe. Of course, he could survive without oxygen as his force provided all the energy his body needed. The Soul King had not crippled Auron''s cultivation, as that would mean the man would have died within years. Instead, he incarcerated the man, and the same spikes and chains that nailed his body to the ground also sealed his energy and Ego Wave. Eon simply shook his head as he was in no mood to continue this charade, ready to shoot a blast of energy and kill Auron. "Please wait, I have a use for him." Cain stopped the emperor, and his eyes focused on Auron as they glowed with a red light and a sense of voracious gluttony appeared in them. Auron had just stopped his body from twitching when he saw the sense of gluttony. The red light in those eyes made him feel like prey, and a sense of utter terror flooded his mind. Despite his ragged and wounded state, Auron Umbra was still a Peak Divine Ascension Master, so the amount of energy and vitality in his body was nothing short of overwhelming. If Cain could consume it, it might be just what he needed to push his body and energy pools to the Peak Wave King and prepare himself for his first Calamity and Tribulation. Eon, Kabuto, and Zuko only had to look at Cain to feel the ravenous desire for consumption emanating from the young man''s will and understand the reason why he wanted Auron. "I cannot allow that. No matter what, Auron was once a Patriarch of one of the Ten Great Bloodlines. I cannot just let him become a source of food." Unfortunately for Cain, things were not so easy. He turned toward Eon and saw this one frowning, as he was not happy with his intent. He even noticed that Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis showed complicated expressions. "Mmm, I assure you that my desire has nothing to do with his race or bloodline. I have eaten thousands of people from all races, with humans making up the bulk of it." Cain thought that the trio''s worry stemmed from the idea that he wanted to treat members of the Deus Behemoth Race as animals, which was why he shared the truth. Yet, that did not change their expressions. Although Cain''s intelligence and wisdom were off the charts, his sense of what was normal was very twisted. And eating people was indeed very, very weird. Seeing that his words did not have the desired effect, Cain''s eyes narrowed as he spoke again to the Emperor of the Deus Behemoth Empire. "Give him to me, and I will help you uproot most of the Dark Factions all across the Deus Behemoth Empire within a year." Chapter 598 598: Deal (II) Eon''s eyes widened as he heard those words. If it were anyone else saying it, he would just take it as a boring joke or a bad attempt to impress him, but the young man in front of him was able to expose the connection between a Dark King from the Organization and one of the Ten Great Bloodlines. "Do you intend to go from Sector to Sector looking for Dark Factions and kill them?" If Cain were to say yes to that, he would immediately discard the young man''s words and kill Auron. "Of course not. That would take decades, besides, while I am strong, there are dozens of figures more powerful in the Deus Behemoth Empire than me." Upon hearing that, Eon''s gaze softened and a small smile appeared on his face. He was pleased to see that despite his power and talent, Cain was able to keep an objective point of view and did not overestimate himself. "Then please elaborate." Eon spoke, and his voice carried a sense of patience and intrigue. Kabuto and Zuko also focused on Cain as they were curious about how the young man would handle the Dark Factions. Even if all the Dark Factions were to ally, they could not face the Deus Behemoth Empire and would be easily overrun. However, their power lay in their discretion and secrecy, acting in the shadows. Going after them in the open was impossible, but maneuvering around the underworld was also extremely complicated. Auron was seeing all that and he could not believe that they were discussing allowing Cain to eat him, but none bothered with him. Cain showed a small smile as he saw the intrigue in the trio. "First of all, I will not be on the battlefield or terrain, and instead act as a center of information and logistics. I will extract the knowledge of prisoners'' minds, and then guide warriors across the empire in the search and destruction of the Dark Factions. I will remain in this dimension, and we will use the upper level of the dungeon as a detention center and headquarters. How I will do all that is up to me, but for the manpower, I will need control over a vast army. I need to have at least 10 Titans, 50 Middle Divine Ascension Masters, 500 Early Divine Ascension Masters, 5000 Apotheosis Realm Masters, and 1,000,000 Wave Kings. That is not all as I will need Rune Masters capable of generating teleportation formations to connect this place and key areas across the empire." Kabuto and Zuko were stunned as they heard the requirements Cain put forth for the force he wanted to command. There was no Duke or even Patriarch in the Deus Behemoth Empire that could amass such force, and the only army capable of that might was the Imperial Army under the control of the emperor. Eon''s eyes narrowed as he heard Cain''s words. The young man was asking for control over nearly half of the Imperial Army, something ridiculous for anyone other than the emperor to have, yet he promised an equally stunning reward. Eliminating the Dark Factions would not only erase a plague that assaulted the Deus Behemoth Empire, allowing those willing to side with the empire to shine brightly but would also permit them to decommission immense fortunes of criminals, which they could use to raise greater powerhouses. "How certain are you in your success, and what percentage of the Dark Faction will you be able to eradicate?" Cain showed a smile full of confidence as he heard that. "Eradicating every single Dark Faction is impossible since I am not an omnipotent entity, but I am certain we can erode over 90% of them if I am handed the forces I require." Eon stared at Cain for a moment, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes as he slowly nodded. "I accept your deal, and you have the right to keep Auron and use him as you please. The information about the troops will reach your A.I. Chip within the day, and your army will be ready in ten days. You will have total control over them, as well as unrestricted access to our military and intelligence network. The Rune Masters will be ready to act on your word and will form the teleportation formation wherever you desire. However, they will be guarded by members of the Vulcano Clan, and only they can trigger them." Eon made a pause at this point, allowing Cain to understand the level of power he would gain. Cain will have absolute and direct control over the army, with no one to supervise him, and will have the authority to build his teleportation formation wherever he desires, allowing this one to connect to the Bahamut Sector. As for the clause on the teleportation formations, that was understandable. After all, an enemy force could use them to teleport directly into the Sector where the capital was located. There was no doubt they would be destroyed once this mission ended as it was militarily unwise to keep them. While teleportation formations were useful and comfortable, they were also dangerous. Imagine what would have happened if The Organization had formations that connected directly to the Collapsing Lightning Sector. That would have made the war much harder for the Collapsing Lightning King. Cain understood all the power he would be getting and waited silently for the next part as Eon had not finished. "If you fail to deliver, then you will be indebted not to me, but to the Deus Behemoth Empire. Do you still want to carry on?" Being indebted to Eon and indebted to the Deus Behemoth Empire were very different things, and Cain knew it. However, the red light in his eyes was sharp as he stared directly at the emperor and nodded. After that, Eon gave one final glance at Auron, whose eyes were full of despair, but did not say a word and jumped back into the teleportation formation, leaving Kabuto and Zuko behind. He was giving the trio a chance in private. Chapter 599 599: The Imperial Armys arrival "Brat, do you really think you can do all that without help?" "We could move in the darkness to help you with your missions" Lord Zanginis and Lord Kabuto immediately spoke, their eyes full of concern. Cain had promised a goal that seemed impossible to achieve in their minds. Even if the young man was talented beyond reason, there was a limit to what he could do. Just the required computational skills and logistic mind to fulfill the mission was something the duo did not believe a living being could possess. Cain just smiled as he saw the concern in the Patriarchs'' faces. He was not worried about the mission as the [A.I. Chip Module] was more than capable of carrying on the weight of the logistic center for such an army. "I will be fine. There is no need to worry. But I will contact you in case of a problem." Lord Zanginis and Lord Kabuto saw the confidence and serenity in Cain''s face and could only sigh and accept the young man''s words. Without further delay, they said farewell to Cain and left through the teleportation formation. "We are finally alone." Cain was looking at the teleportation formation as he spoke those words, making Auron tremble due to the sheer terror. "Low...ly hu...man, jus...t k...ill me!" Auron''s rage was able to overcome his fear, and he shouted with rage and loathing despite the pain of speaking with his throat broken. Cain turned around and shook his head. Even at the gates of death, the predominant feeling in the man''s heart was disgust and xenophobia. Not wanting to hear more from the man, he struck him on the back of the head, knocking him out. After that, Cain adopted a meditative position in front of Auron and placed his hand over his head. He planned to use the Concept of Gluttony to devour Auron''s vitality and energy, using it to reinforce his body and energy pools. That way, he would train his Gluttony Concept and improve his cultivation base. Cain wanted to keep improving his mastery of the Gluttony Concept. While he could currently consume the memories of an Early Divine Ascension Master and should be able to do the same with the one in the Soul King''s soul force, he was not content with just that. "Gluttony''s Eye should be able to devour more than just raw information. If I improve my mastery over the Concept of Gluttony, I should be able to assimilate emotions, intent, and insights inside the soul force and ego." Although some might consider emotions and insight useless, that could not be further from the truth. Emotions, insight, and intents were the core behind Saint Techniques, and without them, they were useless. Cain wanted to obtain every single detail from the Soul King''s experiences, including his skills and insights into Saint Cultivation Techniques and Laws. But for that, he needed to improve his Gluttony Concept to a much higher level. He had already got a great level of insight and intent from the Gluttony Concept upon perceiving the nature of the [Sky Fiend Flame] but practice was also needed. Luckily, he had an immense amount of energy and vitality in front of him, and soon smaller sources of fuel would arrive for him to train. --- Ten days after Eon had left the Umbra Clan Secret Dungeon and returned to Amazon to continue establishing order after the upheaval, a massive force appeared in the sky of the incinerated mountain range. The massive army had over 1 million Deus Behemoths, all of them able to stand in the sky thanks to the immense amount of energy inside their bodies. There was none beneath the Wave King Rank. Of course, numbers in Aether had a finite effect as there were life forms capable of unleashing the power of H-Bombs with a single strike. Yet, there were ten such entities at the head of this massive military force. Eon had fulfilled his words and sent over fifty percent of the Imperial Army to the incinerated mountain range. Their mission was simple: to obey every command handed by the Godslayer Human, Cain Laurifer. Despite their power, the people in this military force grew in the army, so they knew discipline. Since the Emperor of the Deus Behemoth Empire commanded them to follow the human''s directives, they would do so. Still, many of the Titans could not help but look at each other with inquisitive gazes, as they were surprised by the order and curious about the nature of their new commanding officer. The name Cain Laurifer had spread across the Deus Behemoth Empire during the last years. The young man arrived on the Hyperion Continent shortly before the Great Cataclysm and saved millions from the Oceanic Wave Beast Hordes. After that, he nearly destroyed the underworld of the Colossus Sector before traveling to the Bahamut Sector. There he immediately reignited his relationship with the Zanginis Clan, to the point he was able to establish a deep relationship with Zuko Zanginis, the Patriarch. Shortly after that, he participated in the Solis Clan Tournament, and not only did he win, but he also became Lord Kabuto''s Foster Son and the clan''s Sun Avatar. After that news about him began to die down as he entered the Astral Bloodline Realm, and just as people were starting to forget the name of Cain Laurifer, he emerged from the realm and uncovered the relationship between the Soul King and the Umbra Clan. There were even tales of him crippling a Peak Early Divine Ascension Master from the Umbra Clan with two attacks. Although many considered that to be too surreal, there were dozens of witnesses to that clash. Cain Laurifer''s name had already become a legend among the people of the Deus Behemoth Empire, and even the Titans from the Imperial Army could not help but wonder about the character of such a man. "Gigant, you have met the young man and spent some time with him. Is there anything you can tell us about him?" A Deus Behemoth that resembled a mighty humanoid golden eagle with an imposing aura spoke to a one-eyed Titan to his right. Chapter 600 600: Scarlet Inquisition Force (I) Gigant, the Duke whom Cain met in the Colossus Sector, turned toward the Titan with golden eagle features as he heard the question. Soon, all other Titans and Divine Ascension Masters turned toward him with inquisitive gazes. Although Gigant was a reserved person and did not like to talk about others, the truth was that all that happened around Cain had also come as a shock to him. Since they would be working under the young man, it would help the Titans to have an idea about Cain''s nature, so in the end, Gigant chose to speak. "In all fairness, I don''t know the Sun Avatar too much, as the truth was that he never truly opened up to me. However, I can say he is a very pragmatic and straightforward individual, and any form of flattering will be useless. If anything, he would only look down on you. For a man like that, the only thing that matters is results. That is all I can say." A solemn expression appeared on the faces of the Titans as they heard those words, and it was clear they would be working for someone who would not tolerate any form of mistake or insubordination. Although following someone like that was strenuous, it also meant that person would make sure everybody did their part, something very important in a mission that involved over a million soldiers. Suddenly, the eyes of the Titans narrowed as they turned toward the teleportation formation on the ground of the empty dungeon. A figure appeared and the next second this one rose to the sky like a comet, immediately standing higher than the entire army. As soon as Cain appeared, the more than one million warriors focused on him. For anyone else, it would generate immense pressure as not only was that military force tempered in the battlefield and with an overwhelming slaughter aura, but it contained figures at the peak of Aether. Yet, the only thing every single one of the soldiers, from the youngest Wave King to the mightiest Titans, saw were eyes glowing with a red light full of absolute and complete resolution without a single shred of doubt or hesitation. Cain was a Master of Order, and there was a sense of complete and absolute control emanating from the bottom of his soul. There were a lot of things a good leader needed, but the most important one was the ability to make the hard choice without hesitation. Clearly, the young man in front of them was able to carry that responsibility. Silence reigned for a moment as the soldiers stared at Cain, but it did not last long as a sharp light appeared in the ten Titans. Every single one of those monsters capable of shattering the earth clasped their hands and performed a solemn nod. "We salute Army Commander, Cain Laurifer!" All ten Titans spoke in unison, making the sky tremble, but that was just the start. After they finished, it was time for the Divine Ascension Masters. "We salute Army Commander, Cain Laurifer!!!" The Divine Ascension Masters also clasped their hands, but their position in the army was lower than the Titans, so they performed a deep bow toward Cain''s figure. "We salute Army Commander, Cain Laurifer!!!!!!" Then came the time for the Dues Behemoths Apotheosis Masters and Wave Kings. While their power was much lower than the Divine Ascension Masters, the combined might of their voice was so intense that it generated a massive shock wave that spread into the distance, making the ground tremble and trees wave. They kneeled in the sky and would only rise once their commanding officer allowed it. If it wasn''t for Cain being a Master of Order, even he would have a hard time maintaining his calmness being in control of such an overwhelming military force. He did not make the soldiers wait for long as he raised his hand, allowing them to adopt relaxed positions. Before saying a single word, Cain''s eyes grew sharp, and an invisible electromagnetic force field emerged from his mind. That was none other than the [Pseudo Multidimensional Scan Force Field] that carried the power of the [Sub Quantum Hacking] tool. The power of the [A.I. Chip Module] was so subtle, that even the Titans barely perceived it. Yet, soon everybody noticed something had changed as the computer rings in their hands began to glow. That happened to every single computer ring in each of over a million soldiers. The ten Titans immediately turned to Cain with inquisitive gazes. Even if he was their commanding officer, their computer ring was private, and having it hacked like that was not something they were too happy about. Cain noticed their reaction but he stood straight as he focused on the army. "I have connected your computer rings to my A.I. Chip. You must keep your computer rings active at all times, and that includes their voice and video recording functions." Shock appeared in the eyes of the soldiers as Cain not only accessed their computer rings but also activated their recording functions, meaning that from now on the young man would hear and see all they did. Although watching a million people at the same time should be impossible, it was still something that violated their privacy. It was at this point that one of the Titans, a woman with a beautiful face, and soft black fur over her arms and legs, took a step forward and spoke. "Army Commander, permission to speak freely." Cain stared at the woman. He had her file, and her name was Amalia, the Founder and Patriarch of the Shadow Ferret Clan. She was raised in the military and managed to become a Titan due to her great power and hard work. Despite her strength being higher than that of Cain, and her discomfort with the lack of privacy, she maintained military etiquette, which made the young Godslayer Human have a favorable impression of her. "Go ahead, General Amalia." Chapter 601: Scarlet Inquisition Force (II) "Army Commander Laurifer, while we are under your command by Imperial Decree, even the Emperor shows deference and respect toward us. Your actions are an invasion of privacy and one that we could not tolerate without a reason." After speaking those words, General Amalia took a step back, standing with the rest of the Titans. While the others did not say a word, the expression on their faces made it clear they shared the woman''s feelings. Cain could feel the immense pressure of being under the sharp and intense gazes of those people who were ready to resist him, but even then he did not yield or falter. "Your words are right. My actions are an invasion of your privacy that would normally not be needed or even tolerated. Yet, for this mission, it is required." Cain made a small pause at this point as he focused on the soldiers and his eyes began to burn with a monstrous red light full of willpower. "The reason for this military force is the complete destruction of all Tier 0 Dark Factions in the Hyperion Continent, along with the decimation and dismantlement of the rest of the Dark Factions. Our timeframe is a single year." When the Titans heard those words, a sense of shock and disbelief appeared in their eyes. The mission Cain had just described was something everybody in the Imperial Army would want to see, but they accepted it as an impossible task. Cain could see that many of the soldiers were looking at him as if he was a madman. They did not believe he could succeed and that all this would be one great waste of time. Yet, all that was fine by him. "I know many of you might think I am delusional, and that my youth and inexperience are making me aim for an impossible goal. I don''t need you to believe my words, only to obey my commands and see the results." The ten Titans focused on Cain as he spoke those words and, while they were still shocked, they all silently nodded. Even if they did not believe the young man''s goal could be achieved, they were given a task and would fulfill it. As for the interference with their computer rings. Although Cain did not give a specific reason, the motive was clear to all. Since they would be going after the Dark Factions, there was a chance of spies and blackmail coming from the underworld, so Cain would handle it by monitoring every single soldier for the next year. Cain even did it before they could realize their mission, so if there was any spy among the ranks, they would not be able to communicate the information to the Dark Faction. Or at least that was the idea. It might sound like a good plan on paper, but there was no mind capable of processing all that information in real-time, making it ineffective and easy to find a flaw. At least that would be the case if the one processing the information was a humanoid mind. In the end, while the soldiers were not too happy about the interference with their computer rings, they understood the reason and since the Titans accepted it, there was nothing the lower-ranking soldiers could say about it. Seeing that the matter with the computer ring was handled, Cain waved his hand, and the next second a sphere with a multicolored flame appeared in his hand. The flame immediately drew the attention of the soldiers as its 19 revolving colors were truly wonderful and they could feel a unique energy coming from it. Cain allowed the soldiers to gaze at the flame and its majesty. Thanks to the upgrade in his Ego Wave and Essence Evolution Path of Power, he could already generate 19 Revolution Flames. Once everybody was able to gaze at the flame, Cain turned toward Duke Gigant with a solemn expression. "General Gigant, do you trust me?" Duke Gigant was surprised by that question. He stared at Cain''s eyes for a moment before adopting a serious expression. "I trust you are an honorable man." Cain nodded to the man and then, under everybody''s gaze, the sphere with the 19 Revolution Flame flew until it was right above Duke Gigant, just as a red force field formed a transparent cocoon around the man. ''Revolve the world energy that will soon flood every corner of your body with all your strength. Success and you will see your talent rise and foundation improve.'' Duke Gigant''s eyes narrowed as he heard Cain''s voice in his mind. He had no idea what the young man was trying to do, but upon seeing those red eyes full of resolve and confidence, he nodded and adopted a meditative position inside the red cocoon. A smile appeared on Cain''s face as he saw Duke Gigant''s trust and his Ego Wave exploded as he unleashed the 19 Revolution Flame. The other nine Titans and the million soldiers saw how the multicolored flames covered Duke Gigant, and just as they wondered what its purpose was, they felt the sky and earth tremble. The next second a gargantuan amount of world energy flooded into the red cocoon, and everybody saw how it invaded Duke Gigant''s body, reaching deep inside him. Duke Gigant could not help but frown as he felt the immense amount of energy flooding him and how it seemed he would explode. However, he did not lose focus and his Ego Wave burst as he began to mobilize it. Cain''s focus reached its peak as he guided the 19 Revolution Refinement, and thanks to the help of the Titan''s Ego Wave lessening the burden, there was no danger in the process and it was only a matter of time before success arrived. Minutes turned into hours but no one said a word as the process of Tribulation Enhancement was simply too enticing. Finally, after nearly three hours, the world energy began to fade and the red cocoon faded. Everybody stared at Duke Gigant in silence. They did not feel a change in the man, and he remained in a meditative stance with his eyes closed, yet something must have happened as all saw that immense amount of world energy flooding into his body. Chapter 602: Scarlet Inquisition Force (III) Cain knew that there wouldn''t be a shocking burst of power as the effect of Tribulation Enhancement was related to talent, not brute strength, and the effect of a 19 Revolution Refinement in a Titan would not be too crazy. He expected Duke Gigant to explain the effect of the 19 Revolution Refinement to the others, and then Cain would use that to entice them with even stronger ones. Yet, things did not go according to his plans. Duke Gigant stood silent and did not move a single muscle for an entire minute after the Tribulation Enhancement ended. However, the moment he opened his eye, his entire body burst with an overwhelming sense of power. "?BOOOOMMMM!" A burst of bloodline force emerged from Duke Gigant''s body, and in the next second the entire army saw a majestic giant humanoid with a single eye and seven arms appear in the sky. Everybody was able to recognize the metaphysical manifestation of Duke Gigant''s Soul Bloodline, but the shocking part came as a new arm emerged in the entity. While that happened, Duke Gigant''s body began to grow as his power and energy improved. The Titans stared at Duke Gigant as his power was rising before turning toward Cain with a sense of utter shock and awe. They did not know what he just did, but it triggered the improvement of Duke Gigant''s Soul Bloodline. Cain was just as shocked as the Titans, and although he would have liked to take the credit, he could not. The effect that a 19 Revolution Refinement could have on a Titan would be a 2 to 3% enhancement in talent and foundation. It was little, but that small amount must have been all that Duke Gigant needed to take the next step in his cultivation technique and improve his power. "General Gigant deserves all the credit. Tribulation Enhancement just gave him the final push he needed to advance." Cain only said that before turning toward Duke Gigant and focusing on the majestic phenomenon created by the man''s Soul Bloodline. Although the Titans were still full of questions, they accepted Cain''s answer and turned to Gigant, silently waiting as he carried on with his advancement. After an hour, Duke Gigant''s energy began to stabilize, and the manifestation of the Soul Bloodline began to fade. Shortly after, the Titan opened his eye, and there was a sense of thrill on his face that he could barely contain. Duke Gigant had been stuck for hundreds of years at that stage of his cultivation, and after the help of that multicolored flame, he was finally able to break through. His power grew immensely, and although he could not be considered a True Titan, he was definitely at the upper echelon of the Titan Tier. "Army Commander Laurifer, you have my eternal gratitude for granting me this lucky chance!" Immediately after overcoming the shock of his new power, Duke Gigant turned toward Cain and expressed his gratitude with such profound emotion that it seemed he would cry. Although he was a Titan, he was also a person, and achieving his goal after hundreds of years of effort was a truly emotive event. "General Gigant doesn''t owe me anything. I am merely repaying your kindness. Besides, it was you who did all the hard work, training every day for the last hundred years. I only helped you break the final barrier, nothing more." Cain''s magnanimous attitude only made the gratitude in Duke Gigant''s heart grow, and the awe and admiration in the army improved. As Cain saw those eyes, he could not help but smile as the effect of the Tribulation Enhancement was even better than expected. He did not lose the opportunity and turned toward the other Titans. "If your battalion fulfills their role in an exemplary manner, regardless of the result of the mission, at the end of the year, I will perform Tribulation Enhancement for you, and the Revolution Flame I will use will be even stronger." Trying to entice the entire army of a million with Tribulation Enhancements was impossible as Cain could not do it for every single one of them. However, he could offer it to the Generals, making sure they would push themselves to the limit, generating a domino effect that would reach the last soldier in the command chain. A burning flame appeared in the eyes of all ten Titans as they heard those words. Every single one of them wanted to take advantage of such a lucky chance. Many still believed that the mission would be a failure due to its overwhelming complexity, but they would push themselves to the utmost limit to fulfill Cain''s command, and that would be enough for them to experience Tribulation Enhancement. "We are ready, Army Commander Laurifer!!!" All ten Titans shouted with voices full of thrill and excitement, ready to march into any battle. For people like them, there was nothing more enticing than a power that could help them take the next step in their cultivation. "From now on, this military force will be known as the Scarlet Inquisition Force. I am the Scarlet King and you are the Scarlet Inquisitors. Our goal is to destroy Dark Factions and set the underworld ablaze!" Cain''s voice boomed across the sky as the [A.I. Chip Module] came into play, dividing the Scarlet Inquisition Force into ten battalions, each led by a Titan. Gigant and the other Generals saw a file reach their computer rings, depicting the forces under their control, their destinations, and their targets. Seeing the extremely detailed information and target package, the Titans could not help but nod toward Cain''s logistic skills. "Go!" With that single word, the Titans and nearly a million soldiers boarded the Star Cruisers and headed to different parts of the Deus Behemoth Empire. There were twenty thousand Wave Kings, three hundred Apotheosis Masters, and dozens of Rune Masters left behind. They would be the force that would handle the prisoners sent to this place. The soldiers had their orders, so once the rest of the army departed, they clapped their hands and bowed to Cain before beginning to reforge the upper level of the dungeon into the Scarlet Inquisition Force Headquarters. Chapter 603: Scarlet Inquisition Force (IV) Cain smiled as he saw the thousands of Wave Kings and Apotheosis Masters changing the terrain while the Rune Masters began to work on the teleportation formation. Now that everything was in place, he could focus on his cultivation. Of course, while the [A.I. Chip Module] would be able to act as the information and logistic core of the Scarlet Inquisition Force, it would still need someone to process that information and act accordingly. Luckily, there was an entity inside Cain''s soul sea that could fulfill that role. ''Apex, I will be depending on you.'' "Ah, yeah, yeah. Whatever, since you will be focused on your cultivation I will help you with this." Cain only smiled as he heard the bored voice of the System Spirit, confident that Apex would do an even better job than he could. Now he was truly free to focus on his cultivation, so he flashed back to the teleportation formation and vanished from sight. --- Scarlet Inquisition Force. That was a name that spread like wildfire across the Deus Behemoth Empire. It was a shockingly large military power originating from the Imperial Army with ten Titans under the control of the Godslayer Human and Sun Avatar, Cain Laurifer. Many of the Noble Families were shocked and in disbelief after they found out that the Emperor of the Deus Behemoth Empire had granted control over such an immense force to a Godslayer Human. Their shock only increased as they learned that the goal of the Scarlet Inquisition Force was to uproot the Dark Factions across the Hyperion Continent. Uprooting the Dark Factions of the Deus Behemoth Empire was a lofty and very ambitious goal, yet one that almost all Noble Families believed to be impossible to attain due to the very nature of the underworld. Of course, it was still something worth fighting for, yet such a task should be given to an honorable and respected Deus Behemoth, not a Godslayer Human who had been in the empire for only a year. Although Cain had performed great deeds, the truly mighty ones like the events in the Astral Bloodline Realm and the Umbra Clan were considered military secrets, so people only knew about his minor feats, such as his actions in the Colossus Sector''s underworld and his connection to the Solis Clan. Those were still impressive but far from enough for the Emperor to grant someone so much power. Clearly, the Scarlet Inquisition Force was not a force that the Noble Families found too compelling. Of course, since it was a force that originated in the Imperial Army, it brought with it a sense of respect, and people waited to see the effect an inquisition would have. Each Titan and their battalions were assigned to specific points in the Hyperion Continent that were also the core of the underworld. As soon as those Star Cruisers descended, the hundreds of thousands of Wave Kings burst into action, using the target package granted by Cain, and began to capture people. Surprisingly for all, the Scarlet Inquisition Force began with massive momentum as the first week they captured over 1 million people that belonged to all sorts of Dark Factions. The bulk of those people were convicted criminals who managed to elude the empire''s law and had been hiding for years, yet the soldiers of the Scarlet Inquisition Force were able to find all of them. But that was just a part of the detainees since many law-abiding citizens were swept under the wave of the Scarlet Inquisition Force. At first, normal people were terrified as they did not understand what was happening and why the Imperial Army would go after innocent Deus Behemoths. Many began to wonder when the soldiers would go after them. Luckily, that feeling did not last long as by the end of each day, there would be a report on the main networks of the Deus Behemoth Empire where the so-called law-abiding citizens that the Scarlet Inquisition Force captured were shown. There was shock and awe among the common people of the Deus Behemoth Empire when they saw that the people they believed were their quiet neighbors were criminals, and the evidence against them was so much that trying to deny it was impossible. Apex was able to control the common masses'' fear with ease as he simply showed everybody a valid reason for the Scarlet Inquisition Force''s arrests. However, the last group of detainees was more complicated, as even with a reason, they were not so easy to arrest. That involved members of Noble Families. Hundreds of thousands of the detainees were members of all sorts of Noble Families that had been involved with Dark Factions in one way or another. Some only inquired into the underworld''s services while others were core members of those factions. Even after being presented with the evidence, many of the Noble Families attempted to resist as they did not want to send their promising members to jail and tried to find a way through it, many trying to use bribery while others used force. Some of the members of the Scarlet Inquisition Force were susceptible to bribery; after all, one could not expect a force of a million wide to have people of only impeccable character, but no soldier dared to accept them as they knew their every move and action was under surveillance. As for the Noble Families trying to use force, that was not only useless but also dangerous. Apex did not tolerate any sort of resistance and whenever a Noble Family would try to face the soldiers of the Scarlet Inquisition Force, he would respond with overwhelming force. The System Spirit did not hesitate to give the order to kill nobles if they dared to fight against the soldiers. Luckily, he did not have to carry out such ruthless action for long as the brutality of the Scarlet Inquisition Force soon spread across the empire, and everybody came to understand just how dangerous resisting them was. Chapter 604: Duke Tazan Weeks carried on, and the power and might of the Scarlet Inquisition Force continued to rise. Normal people were delighted with them as their actions erased the criminal forces from their cities and towns, making them safer and also allowing them to improve their wealth and power without the fear of attracting the attention of the underworld. However, the same delight could not be said to be shared by the Noble Families. They were used to their status and the fact that as long as they were careful, no one would care about their crimes, but the Scarlet Inquisition Force did not give them any sort of special treatment. Actually, most of the focus of the military force was on them. One of the reasons was that members of the Noble Families were much more connected and had more information about Dark Factions than normal people. But that was not all, and the truth was that there was some bias, as Apex truly disliked those who used their background to bully the weak, which was why he was so ruthless against nobles. All the people being detained by the Scarlet Inquisition Force would be brought to the headquarters of each battalion that was built around their Star Cruiser and from there they would be put in the teleportation formation. Back in the Bahamut Sector, there was already a massive prison/headquarters built by expanding the Umbra Clan Secret Dungeon. Its size was quite immense, but that was to be expected as the number of people being sent each week from all over the continent rose above a million. Of course, not all those people were integral parts of Dark Factions and some of them had just been involved in merely passive roles such as relaying information or selling them stolen goods. They were criminals but that did not mean they were all going to die. The over twenty thousand soldiers left in the Scarlet Inquisition Headquarters had different functions, and one of them involved separating the criminals. Most of the prisoners would be sent to Imperial Prison directly where they would await trial, but there was a small portion that would be put in the teleportation formation on the ground, and sent to the room where the Scarlet King resided. The criminals put in the teleportation formation would never return, but none of the soldiers showed any sign of pity to these people. If their crimes were minor or at least not worthy of the death penalty, they would be sent to the Imperial prison. The fact they were invoked by the Scarlet King meant they were rotten to the core, and their crimes were punished by death. Not to mention that every time one of those people was sent to the Scarlet King, new target packages would be sent to the Scarlet Inquisition Force. It was clear to all the soldiers that the people sent to the Scarlet King were being interrogated, as for how he was so effective and fast, no one knew and they did not dare to ask. ... The might and fame of the Scarlet Inquisition Force kept rising over the coming months as they were truly a formidable force, displaying seemingly flawless military and logistics skills, trapping millions of criminals every single week. However, by the fourth month, its momentum finally began to wane and by the fifth month, the Scarlet Inquisition Force would be lucky if they managed to arrest one hundred thousand people a week. It made sense after all there was a finite number of criminals in the empire. Normal people felt the change in the empire. As the feeling of safety improved immensely, more and more people began to worship the Scarlet Inquisition Force as the number of people joining the military skyrocketed. While this was good news, those in the higher levels of the military knew that things were not so simple, and that was especially true for the Scarlet Inquisitors. Today was the first day of the sixth month since the Scarlet Inquisition Force was formed, and right now one of the Scarlet Inquisitors was currently drinking inside a majestic castle in the Silver Wave Sector. Duke Gigant took the massive cup in front of him and began to swallow the drink in it so fast that the liquid would slip from the corner of his mouth. "Old friend, relax. The beer will not go anywhere." The one that spoke was a man that resembled a silverback gorilla wearing white armor and every inch of his body unleashed a simply overwhelming physical strength and sharp metallic force. He was none other than the Sector Duke of the Silver Wave Sector, Tazan. "Ahh, how can I relax when I am under so much pressure, yet I have no way to handle it." Gigant shook his head, placing the cup back on the table with an expression of rage and frustration on his face. "What are you talking about? Everybody is talking about your actions as part of the Scarlet Inquisition Force and how you are cleaning the underworld of the Hyperion Continent." Tazan showed a smile as he uttered those words, and there seemed to be a sense of pride in his eyes as he genuinely seemed impressed by Gigant''s work. However, when the one-eyed Duke heard those compliments, he sneered. "Hmph, we are only taking care of the plague on the surface, but the disease that is the Tier 0 Dark Factions has gone nowhere. What is the point of jailing millions of low-level criminals when the true core of the disease remains? Once we are sent back to our respective domains, those cockroaches will emerge again, and all our hard work will vanish in just a couple of years. In less than a decade, I am sure everything will be back to how it was before." Gigant could not hide his frustration as he uttered those words, and it seemed that the feeling of impotence came from the bottom of his soul. Chapter 605: Ocean Wrath Tazan gazed at Gigant for a moment before sighing. "Gigant, Tier 0 Dark Factions are very good at hiding their tracks. I am sure that the Godslayer Human is doing his best, but trying to reach their upper echelon is a nearly impossible task." The rage in Gigant''s eyes burst as he heard those words, and he spat on the ground. "That human boy doesn''t know what he is doing. The emperor granted him such a massive force, yet he has us going around imprisoning nobles for small and insignificant crimes. I can''t wait for this to be over and to be rid of his command." A small smile appeared on Duke Tazan''s face as he heard Gigant''s words and saw the contempt on this one''s face as he uttered the word "human." "Emperor Eon is strong, but he is still young. Granting such a massive army to a human was a big mistake, but I am sure everything will be alright." Just as Tazan finished speaking, his eyes narrowed as he felt an alert in his computer ring. Like most people, he would turn off the notifications of his computer ring when in something important, like now, but there were special calls that would arrive regardless of the circumstances. These special calls and messages had an urgent nature that required immediate attention, yet Tazan ignored his computer ring. He was about to speak again when he saw that a second emergency call arrived, and before he could even process it, a third one also came through, and he could not help but focus on the computer ring. ''What is happening!?'' "You should answer, my friend. I assure you, you will want to hear them." Just as Tazan was wondering what was the problem, he heard Gigant''s voice. As he raised his head, what he saw was not a drunk man full of rage and frustration but the eyes of a seasoned soldier that depicted absolute focus. A very bad feeling assaulted Tazan, yet he could not stop himself and focused on his computer ring, allowing the calls to go through, and soon voices echoed in his mind. "Ocean Lord, the headquarters are being attacked!" "Master! I have been discovered!" "Leader, I am being chased by a Titan!" "The treasury is under siege. Ocean Lord, help us!" A sense of utter disbelief appeared on Tazan''s face as he heard those messages. The ones speaking to him were not members of the Silver Wave Sector or his military force, but those from the other side of his life. "Are you fine, Ocean Lord of Ocean Wrath?" Duke Gigant''s voice was eerily cold as he uttered those words, and his eyes glowed with a burning light as the full might of his willpower and energy was ready to explode. Tazan could not believe what he was hearing, but there was no way to deny the truth. Duke Gigant knew his identity as the Leader of the Tier 0 Dark Faction Ocean Wrath, and right now, the core of his faction''s infrastructure and upper echelon was under attack by the Scarlet Inquisition Force. Although the news shook him to the core, Tazan was a man who managed to reach the peak of the Deus Behemoth Empire with his own power and dominated the underworld for hundreds of years. His energy immediately exploded, as the silver metallic force that surrounded him changed into a monstrous oceanic power. Tazan''s eyes burst with killing intent as he was ready to strike Gigant with all his power. The attack would destroy the castle and the city around it, killing hundreds of thousands, but none of that mattered to him. Yet, before he could make a move, the man''s eyes widened as he detected a presence behind him. Unfortunately for Tazan, while he managed to detect Amalia''s presence, the woman was too fast for him and managed to strike his back eighty times. Amalia''s hands were soft, yet every time they touched Tazan''s back, the man''s entire body trembled as he felt a dark golden force flooding his body, paralyzing him. Thanks to Tazan''s overwhelming power and physical strength, it would take but a second to break free from the paralysis, but after Amalia, it was time for Duke Gigant to act. "Hecatoncheires Art: Shatterer Fist!" Duke Gigant''s energy exploded as he flashed forward, firing a fist with overwhelming power toward Tazan''s chest. The fist not only had immense power, but Duke Gigant displayed such granular control, that there was no shock wave or dispersion, and all its power was contained in the target. "PUACK!" Duke Tazan puked blood as his chest plate was shattered, and the next second he was sent up, shattering the ceiling of his castle and hurtling into the sky. Before he could even take control of his body, Duke Gigant once again appeared in front of him. "Hecatoncheires Ultimate Art: One Hundred Explosion Fist!" Duke Gigant''s eyes revealed a profound light as he used his strongest attack, one he managed to master recently, and whose power could allow him to harm even True Titans. His fist seemed simple as a white light appeared in it, yet the moment he touched Tazan''s chest, one hundred explosions echoed simultaneously. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!"... The explosions were so intense that some people in the city nearly fell to the ground as their ears rang. Those who were able to resist looked to the sky as they saw a majestic white burst of power. Tazan''s eyes were full of pain and disbelief as he could not understand how Gigant could unleash such immense power. That punch sent him hurtling out of the city without control, and just as they reached a desolated mountain range, General Amalia appeared above him, sending a palm strike of darkness and golden energy. "?BOOOOMMMM!" That dark golden palm did not have Gigant''s overwhelming power, but it managed to send Tazan crashing into the ground as it flooded his body with more sealing power. Chapter 606: The Scarlet Kings summoning Dust spread everywhere as Tazan''s crash into the mountain range obliterated the area. However, less than five seconds after the crash, the Duke emerged from the crater and rose to the sky. Despite all the damage, Duke Tazan was a Late Divine Ascension Master, and his body and vitality were immensely resilient. Duke Tazan was trying to control his breathing as he focused on General Gigant in front of him and noticed General Amalia behind. He knew he was in immense danger, but his eyes were still resolute, and any sense of fear had already vanished, replaced only by focus. "Gigant, we have been friends since we were children and went through life and death in the army. Allow me to escape, and I assure you will never see my face again. I will leave the Hyperion Continent and never return." Duke Tazan felt the burst of killing intent coming from General Amalia, but he was sure that as long as General Gigant did not interfere, he could escape. A flash of sadness appeared in General Gigant''s eyes as he heard Tazan''s words. Gigant and Tazan entered the Imperial Army thousands of years ago. As they fought against the Dark Races and shared blood on the battlefield, an extremely powerful friendship formed between them, a bond that felt no weaker than that of brothers. That was why Inquisitor Gigant was so shocked to learn the Scarlet King marked his old friend as the leader of one of the Tier 0 Factions that controlled a great portion of the underworld and was responsible for millions of deaths every year. Gigant''s first instinct was to refuse the information and shout that there was a mistake with the Scarlet King''s analysis, as he could not accept his closest friend to be the Ocean Lord of Ocean Wrath. Cain was oblivious to everything that was happening with the ten Inquisitors. He only took care of obtaining the memories of the criminals through Gluttony''s Eye and then sent it to the [A.I. Chip Module]. Apex was the one who truly commanded the Scarlet Inquisition Force and handled those problems. Although the System Spirit was ruthless, he understood Inquisitor Gigant''s feelings, which was why he shared all the evidence with the man. A sense of shock and loss appeared in Inquisitor Gigant''s heart when he saw the evidence. While it was not absolute, anyone with a sharp mind could see that the Ocean Lord of Ocean Wrath could not be anyone else but Duke Tazan. There was a plan to attack the upper echelon of Ocean Wrath, along with its headquarters and warehouse all at the same time, swiftly taking out the Tier 0 Dark Faction''s infrastructure and management. Hoping there was some sort of flaw in the Scarlet King''s analysis, Inquisitor Gigant asked to be part of the force sent to handle Duke Tazan during the continent raid over Ocean Wrath. If during the raid messages arrived at Duke Tazan''s computer ring, that would be all the evidence the Scarlet Inquisition Force would need to dictate the verdict over the Titan. "Tazan, Ocean Wrath has done immense damage to the empire, has killed countless civilians, and also led to the death of millions of our army brothers. If it was anyone else, I would not even bother to hear their voice, but it is true, you are my friend, my closest and dearest friend." A small smile appeared on Tazan''s face as he heard those words, and his mind immediately began to calculate the best route to escape from Inquisitor Amalia before leaving the Sector. Unfortunately for the Ocean Lord, the next part of Inquisitor Gigant''s speech was not what he expected. "However, our friendship means nothing compared with the safety of the Deus Behemoth Empire. The Scarlet King has requested your presence, and we will bring you to him. If you do not resist, I assure you I will plead for the Scarlet King to spare your life." Inquisitor Gigant''s eyes glowed as a sense of determination and resolution emerged from the bottom of his soul. No matter the identity of the person, if they harmed the Deus Behemoth Empire, they were his enemy, and he would respond with nothing but killing might. A sense of shock appeared on Tazan''s face as he heard that Gigant would not let him escape, and then a flash of fear emerged in his eyes as he realized that the Scarlet King was summoning him. Although obtaining information directly from the Scarlet Inquisition Force''s members about their methods was nearly impossible, Tazan as a Sector Duke and the leader of a Tier 0 Dark Faction had several means. This was why he knew that all the people who were summoned by the Scarlet King never returned, yet all the information in their minds became accessible to the Scarlet Inquisitors. "Are you going to hand me to that filthy human!?" As soon as Duke Tazan uttered those words, he felt the killing intent coming from Inquisitor Amalia explode, but that was not all as Inquisitor Gigant''s entire body burst with a monstrous slaughter aura. "I will ask you one last time, in the name of our past friendship. Are you willing to respond to the summoning of the Scarlet King?" A sense of doom assaulted Tazan for a moment but it soon was replaced by wrath and killing intent. "Fine, if that is how you want it. I will show you the might of the Ocean Lord of Ocean Wrath!" Tazan''s Astral Wave burst in the form of dark blue oceanic shock waves that spread in all directions, flooding the air with so much energy that it practically set the wind ablaze. Inquisitor Gigant and Inquisitor Amalia nodded to each other as they also unleashed all the power inside their bodies and Soul Bloodline, generating a pillar of white force and dark golden force. The energy the three Titans were unleashing was so immense that it generated storm clouds that covered the highest sky of the entire Silver Wave Sector. Chapter 607: Eon and Wanton Normal people did not know what was happening or why such ominous storm clouds covered the sector, but dread filled their hearts as explosions illuminated the sky and the ground beneath their feet trembled. Luckily, the explosions and tremors that spread across the Silver Wave Sector did not last more than ten minutes, and soon everything returned to normal. At least for ordinary people since a massive upheaval was about to shock the rulers and masters of the Deus Behemoth Empire. Back at the epicenter of those explosions stood Inquisitor Gigant and Inquisitor Amalia. Both were riddled with wounds and while not life-threatening, they were serious, making it hard for them to regulate their breathing. However, Tazan''s condition was much worse. The Ocean Lord of Ocean Wrath lay on the ground with a massive cavity in his chest, his right arm gone, and dark golden runes covering his body inside and out. The fight would have been much easier if Inquisitor Gigant and Inquisitor Amalia fought with the intent to kill, but the Scarlet King commanded that they bring the Ocean Lord alive. Even though that was dangerous, the words of the Scarlet King were nearly a divine decree by this point to the Scarlet Inquisition Force. It was already instilled in the minds of the Scarlet Inquisitors that as long as they followed the Scarlet King''s word to the letter, everything would go according to plan. They did not need to think, only to act. --- Eon Vulcano was currently on top of the sole volcano in Amazon, which was his personal cultivation ground. The immensely powerful high temperature and pure yang energy were exactly what Eon needed to improve his cultivation and training. Although he was the emperor, the truth was that Eon spent most of his time training and focusing on his own problems. For most of the administrative matters and rulings, he left it in the hands of the Imperial Court. That was not odd as most emperors did the same. An emperor did not need to micromanage the empire. They were chosen for their strength and their mission was to ensure the safety and order of the empire through their colossal might. And the empire pays them back with the most valuable and precious resources it can provide. After handling the problems with the Umbra Clan and sending the decree that gave Cain his army and military authority, Eon went into deep cultivation. In his mind, no matter how many problems the Deus Behemoth Empire might face, as long as he was powerful enough to ensure its safety, everything would be fine with time. Suddenly, Eon frowned as he opened his eyes only to see a bald and fat Deus Behemoth with sloth-like characteristics waving his hands at him. "EON!" The fat man did not dare to go close to the volcano, not due to fear of intruding into Eon''s cultivation ground, but the fact that the temperature was simply too high for him. After all, he was only an Apotheosis Realm Master and not a very powerful one. "Wanton?" When Eon saw the man, he did not hesitate to break his cultivation stance and flew to him. The man by the name of Wanton was no other than the Prime Minister of the Deus Behemoth Empire, and Eon Vulcano''s oldest friend. They met when they were very young and always supported each other. Unlike Eon, Wanton did not come from a powerful background, and his cultivation talent was average, to say the least. Actually, if not for Eon granting him all sorts of supreme cultivation treasures, Wanton would have never become an Apotheosis Master. However, while Wanton could not compare with Eon in terms of cultivation, he was considered to be one of the sharpest minds of the entire Deus Behemoth Empire. That, plus his hardworking nature, gained him the respect of Noble Families, the military, and commoners. It was also due to this friend that Eon was able to relax and focus on his cultivation, only taking his role as the emperor at crucial points. "Wanton, what''s happening? Is there a problem?" Eon''s eyes were sharp as he made that question. Since one of the Ten Great Bloodlines was practically crippled, the emperor knew there might be people who wanted to take advantage of the empire''s weakness. Wanton was having a hard time regulating his breathing as he ran to this place at full speed, but he managed to speak. "Of course, we have a problem, you fool. I have tried to contact you for hours. The Scarlet Inquisition Force has uprooted Ocean Wrath. They destroyed their headquarters, ransacked their warehouse, and captured the upper echelon, including the Ocean Lord who turns out to be Sector Duke Tazan!" Eon did not mind the way Wanton spoke to him. In public, they would fulfill their ceremonial roles, but in private, they interacted as they always had, as friends. Besides, his mind was currently in a state of utter shock after hearing such groundbreaking news. "What!? It has only been six months, and he''s already destroyed Ocean Wrath!" Eon was truly shocked and found it hard to believe. Although he acknowledged Cain was a genius cultivator and a great schemer and investigator, uprooting the Tier 0 Dark Factions was too ambitious a goal. Actually, Eon had expected Cain to fail, not because he had anything against the young man; on the contrary. If Cain failed, then he would be indebted to the empire, and Eon intended to have the young man repay that debt by enlisting in the Imperial Army as one of its Great Generals. However, it seemed that Eon had underestimated Cain''s military and investigative mind, and the young man might truly be on the path to success. After the initial shock, Eon turned to Wanton with an inquisitive gaze. "Uprooting Ocean Wrath is great news. What''s the problem?" "It''s not just amazing news; it''s incredible news. That young man has just performed a miraculous deed, and soon his fame and reputation will reach heights that not even Sector Dukes and military heroes could match." Chapter 608: The Scarlet King the next Deus Behemoth Emperor!? Eon nodded softly as he heard that, but his inquisitive gaze remained. "As it should be. A good deed deserves respect and honor." When Wanton heard that, he softly shook his head as he sighed. "Ah, your muscle brain still doesn''t get it. Right now, the common people of the empire see the Scarlet Inquisition Force as angels, and the Scarlet King is considered the embodiment of justice and protection, an avatar of righteousness." Eon nodded as he heard that. There was nothing that common people love more than a feeling of safety and justice, and since the Scarlet Inquisition Force is taking care of every criminal, it is normal for them to worship them. He knew that the Prime Minister had not finished, so he waited for Wanton to continue. "The old Noble Families are not so keen as the Scarlet Inquisition Force ignores their background if there is any sign of crime, but even so, they still have a somewhat good impression as they are fair and just. As long as the crimes are not too severe, they are just sent to prison without any harm." It was at this point that Wanton made a pause, and he showed a complicated expression before speaking. "The problem is the military. For the Imperial Army, especially for the members of the Scarlet Inquisition Force and the Scarlet Inquisitors, the figure of Cain Laurifer is rising to a level of divine devotion. It has come to the point that they are starting to paint their armor and weapons scarlet, as a sign of pride and identity." Even if Eon was not the wisest, he was not a fool either and could see the point that Wanton was trying to make. The warriors of the Scarlet Inquisition Force were all members of the Imperial Army, and that should be their core identity. However, it seemed that they were slowly seeing themselves as inquisitors more than soldiers. "The soldiers will follow the guide of the Great Generals and they know the Scarlet Inquisition Force will be dismantled after the one-year time frame." Wanton stared at Eon for a moment before speaking again. "After learning about the imprisonment of Duke Tazan, I requested General Gigant and General Amalia to bring the criminal to Amazon for questioning. However, Inquisitor Gigant and Inquisitor Amalia responded they would have to consult with the Scarlet King. Two minutes later, I was informed I could question Tazan, but would have to do it in the Scarlet Inquisition Force Headquarters." Eon''s eyes narrowed as he heard that. Clearly, when it came to deciding who to side with between the Prime Minister and the Scarlet King, the Great Generals chose to side with the latter. Even if Wanton was not powerful himself, as the Prime Minister his military authority fell second only to Eon, yet even knowing that, the Great Generals did not hesitate before putting the word of the Scarlet King higher. A complicated expression appeared on Eon''s face as he began to consider everything he had just learned. Although giving military power to someone was dangerous, he did not expect that Cain could generate so much faith and devotion in a few months, but clearly, he was mistaken. Of course, Eon could dissolve the Scarlet Inquisition Force right now if he wanted, but that would not only antagonize the Scarlet King but would also earn the disdain of the rest of the empire as the force was stamping out corruption and crime. Even if Eon did not care about the opinion of the Ten Great Bloodlines and Noble Families, that did not mean he wanted everyone in the empire to see him and the Vulcano Clan as a force that sided with the Dark Factions. "I understand, but is there really a problem? That boy is doing great deeds and will improve the power and stability of our empire. Besides, after the Great Cataclysm is over, he will return to Gaia with his people, so everything should be fine." Wanton shook his head again and it was at this point that a sharp light appeared in his eyes. "I have learned about Cain Laurifer, and I am sure he is someone without racial loyalty." Eon immediately frowned and a sharp light appeared in his eyes. Even if it was his old friend, he was unhappy hearing someone tarnish the name of a warrior who did so much for the empire. Wanton noticed that and immediately raised his hand and shook his head vigorously. "I am not calling that boy disloyal or anything like that. It is clear by the events in the Astral Bloodline Realm that he is someone who cares about friendship and honor, as he came back to save the members of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan from the Soul King at great personal risk. What I am referring to is his sense of loyalty and belonging to a race. For him, there is no difference between his own race, the Godslayer Humankind, and the other races. It''s all about people." If Cain were to hear those words, he would have to applaud the Deus Behemoth Prime Minister''s insight and analytic mind since this one was completely right. He was a Master of Order, and things like racial identity and racial pride were meaningless. "If it came to the point that he sees the Deus Behemoth Empire as a better home, then he would definitely choose it over the Godslayer Humankind Empire. There lies the problem, as once you are gone to the Astral Sea, what would happen if he aims for the emperor''s seat?" Eon''s eyes widened in shock as the notion assailed him. The concept of a Godslayer Human ascending to the role of Emperor of the Deus Behemoth Empire seemed like a bad joke, but was it really? Cain Laurifer had garnered the love of the common people, incited fear and reverence among the Noble Families, and earned the undivided devotion of the Military. Not to mention, he boasted a lineage from the Tem Great Bloodlines and was supported by both the Solis and Zanginis Clans to such an extent that these two mighty factions would go to war for him. Chapter 609: The upper echelon of Ocean Wrath Eon''s cultivation was nearing the Peak Divine Ascension Realm, and if he wished to advance beyond that, he would need to venture into the Astral Sea and reach for the stars. Once that happened, a new emperor would arise. If the Scarlet Inquisition Force succeeded in annihilating all Tier 0 Dark Factions, then the Scarlet King would emerge as the frontrunner for the emperor title. Eon and Wanton exchanged solemn expressions as they pondered the ramifications of what might happen if such a future came to pass. "Civil war," Eon uttered those two words, and Wanton nodded. Normally, choosing the emperor of a race was not complicated as the strongest one would rise above all others. Maybe they were not the best at ruling, but they were the ones who could establish order in an empire with hundreds of entities capable of leveling entire Sectors in a fit of rage. If people were not happy with how things worked, then bad luck, as this was a world where might makes right. However, things were different when it came to Cain. By all definitions, he was a monstrous talent beyond measure, and there was no doubt in the duo''s mind that he would reach the might of a True Titan before the time Eon ventured into the stars. Yet, even if the Scarlet King was the strongest entity in the Deus Behemoth Empire, he was a Godslayer Human, and there would be many who would not be happy with it. If enough of the Noble Families and Great Bloodlines opposed Cain''s reign, there was a good chance a civil war could arise, dividing the empire in two. Eon frowned, regretting not foreseeing this sooner, but now that everything was in motion, it was too late to stop this freight train. "What should we do?" Wanton adopted a solemn expression upon hearing the question from the Emperor of the Deus Behemoth Empire. "Cain Laurifer is capable of inspiring love in those who side with him and dread in the hearts of his enemies. He has unique powers capable of enhancing Titans'' foundations and is a master schemer with a cunning mind worthy of a millennia-old monster." The Prime Minister paused before a sharp light appeared in his eyes. "We have two paths: either support the ideology that a Godslayer Human could become our next emperor or make sure the empire becomes a toxic place for Cain Laurifer, making him want to leave." Wanton was not really against the idea of a Godslayer Human Emperor in the Deus Behemoth Empire. For him, as long as the person could improve the power and stability of the empire, there was no problem with granting him the title of emperor. However, the Prime Minister knew that not everybody thought like him and many would rather have a weaker empire than call a human their emperor. Eon''s face grew solemn as he listened and remained silent for several minutes before finally coming up with an answer. "So we either side with the Scarlet King, a man capable of scorching the underworld and filling our people with hope for a better future, who has the unconditional love and support of Kabuto and Zuko. Or, we side with those too blind to see that cooperation and acceptance are the keys to strength and safety." After uttering those words, all doubt and hesitation in Eon''s eyes vanished, replaced by a sense of determination. Wanton''s eyes widened as he saw the determination in his friend''s eyes, and he nodded with a small smile. "Good. I will take care of the problems that might arise. We''ll slowly reinforce the nature and fame of the Scarlet King in the hearts of our people and identify those who will oppose him." Eon knew that those who opposed the Scarlet King due to deep-seated xenophobia would be quietly removed from the empire. Although Wanton had an amicable appearance, Eon was aware that the number of people who had perished under his schemes could be counted in the dozens of millions. "You need to be careful if you make a move. If people find out our intent, all our efforts might backfire." "Don''t worry. I will use the Umbra Clan to work in the shadows. If they succeed, I will help them rebuild, and if they fail, I will just pretend they were working alone. Many in the empire consider the entire clan full of traitors, so no one will believe their words if they are discovered." Eon nearly trembled as he heard his old friend speak of such devious and dark plans with a calm smile on his face. Despite his low cultivation base, Wanton was a force of nature capable of twisting history and rewriting the military power of an empire. "I will go back to my training. If there''s a problem, contact me." Wanton nodded to Eon, and after that, the former went back to the Imperial Court while the latter returned to his training. --- Inquisitor Gigant and Inquisitor Amalia were currently in the Bahamut Sector, accompanying them was none other than the Ocean Lord of Ocean Wrath, Duke Tazan. The leader of the Tier 0 Dark Faction was not physically restrained, but his body, energy, and even willpower were effectively immobilized by the dark golden force that Inquisitor Amalia constantly infused into his body. Duke Tazan was unable to move, but he could still observe his surroundings. Turning his head slightly, he noticed on his right was a Deus Behemoth with white lion-like features, and on his left, was a woman with aquatic serpent features. They were the other Divine Ascension Masters of Ocean Wrath, known by their code names White Ocean and Ocean Serpent. Although the duo was incredibly powerful, they were bound by chains restricting their movements, and each was under the control of a Scarlet Inquisitor. Normally, prisoners would be sent directly to the Scarlet Inquisitor Headquarters without an escort, and the Wave Kings and Apotheosis Masters present would manage them. However, the situation was more complicated with Divine Ascension Masters involved and required the supervision of Titans. Chapter 610: Flesh Calamity (I) Inquisitor Gigant glanced at the Middle Divine Ascension woman with chains covering her body before turning his attention to the Scarlet Inquisitor who maintained a firm grip on the back of her head and used his Ego Wave to block her meridians. This Scarlet Inquisitor, with golden eagle features, was the man who had inquired about Cain''s nature when the army first arrived above the incinerated mountain range. "I am impressed that you managed to restrain Ocean Serpent without a single scratch on you, Kanon." Inquisitor Kanon turned toward Gigant, his face beaming with pride. Although the title of Titan sounded aloof and mighty, they were in essence strong Late Divine Ascension Masters. So facing a Middle Divine Ascension Master and remaining unscathed was indeed impressive and worthy of admiration. "Before the battle started, the Scarlet King provided me with a file detailing Ocean Serpent''s cultivation technique, a comprehensive description of all her skills, as well as her trump cards and how to counter them. I simply followed our Lord''s instructions, and everything went flawlessly." Ocean Serpent''s shock was evident upon hearing this. She had always been extremely evasive about her skills and abilities, yet it seemed the Scarlet King had unraveled her deepest secrets without her ever having encountered the man. While shock and dread filled the woman''s heart, the Scarlet Inquisitors simply nodded. At this point, all of them believe that the Scarlet King''s eyes could permeate any barrier and unveil any secret. Inquisitor Amalia turned to her side, slightly surprised to see the Scarlet Inquisitor with cheetah features had her right arm badly wounded, yet the rest of her body was unscathed. She was surprised there was a wound at all, considering White Ocean was just an Early Divine Ascension Master and should not have been able to harm a Titan. "Sister Ekatory, what happened to you?" Inquisitor Ekatory frowned, her expression tinged with anger. This rage was not directed at Amalia, as both women were acquainted, and she understood the question was born out of concern. Her fury was aimed at the man in chains before her. "This little bastard tried to blow himself up when he realized escape was impossible. The Scarlet King had already warned me about White Ocean''s propensity for self-destruction, so I was prepared to stop the overload of his internal energy, but I nearly lost my arm in the process." The other Scarlet Inquisitors softly nodded. While the Scarlet King could provide them with all the necessary information and strategies, the unpredictable nature of the battlefield meant that not everything always went according to plan. Still, the fact that Ekatory was able to capture the man alive despite this one wanting to kill himself was impressive. After their brief exchange, the four Scarlet Inquisitors returned to their silent vigil. They had been summoned by the Scarlet King, but they knew if told to wait, they would do so for as long as necessary. As they observed row upon row of dead or detained prisoners being placed in the teleportation formation, it wasn''t until the fifth day that they received a message on their computer rings: "Come." A solemn expression crossed the faces of all four Scarlet Inquisitors as they reinforced the restraints on Ocean Lord, White Ocean, and Ocean Serpent before stepping into the teleportation formation. The moment they did, the formation glowed, and the next second, the Scarlet Inquisitors and the upper echelon of Ocean Wrath vanished. The Scarlet Inquisitors'' minds and souls, strong enough to endure such short teleportation, immediately adapted to their surroundings, and the first emotion that struck them was utter shock. The entire room was enveloped in a powerful, dense red force field, but what astounded them were the dozens of millions of tiny bubbles floating around. Their powerful vision allowed them to discern within these bubbles tiny fibers of muscle tissue, along with blood cells, liver cells, and components of other internal organs. However, what truly shocked the four Scarlet Inquisitors was the floating golden skeleton at the center of the room. This skeleton was not empty, as they could see the Rebirth Heart, Evolution Core, and brain with the Ego Eternal Matrix intact. Besides the Sacred Organs and the meridians emanating from them, every single biological tissue other than the skeleton seemed to have disintegrated and aggregated into those tiny bubbles. The bubbles revolved around the golden skeleton forming halos, as this one generated a gravitational force keeping them near. Suddenly, the empty eye sockets of the skeleton began to glow with an intense red light, and a voice echoed in their minds: "Well done, Gigant, Amalia, Kanon, and Ekatory. You have successfully brought this trio alive. You have done an excellent job." The voice emanated from the golden skeleton floating in the center of the room, and the four recognized it. "Scarlet King?" Gigant voiced his shock and incredulity. It was clear to him that the presence was none other than the Scarlet King, yet he could not comprehend how the young man had been reduced to this state. "I apologize for my ghastly appearance, but I reached this state after triggering my Flesh Calamity. I was in too much pain during my Flesh Destruction, which is why I made you wait." All four Scarlet Inquisitors, being Astral Cultivators, had gone through their Flesh Calamity, but their experience was nothing like what they were witnessing. Firstly, while the Flesh Calamity is a stage in cultivation, it is not explicitly detailed in Saint Cultivation Techniques, as it is not something one achieves but rather something one survives. It is the power of the world that sends this force toward you, not something generated internally like an Essence Star or Astral Blood. Understanding this, it becomes clear that everyone''s experience with the Flesh Calamity is somewhat different, as the stronger one''s talent and foundation, the more powerful the Calamity will be. However, even with this understanding, the state of the Scarlet King did not make sense to the Titans. Chapter 611: Flesh Calamity (II) Flesh Calamity was divided into Flesh Destruction, Flesh Enhancement, and Flesh Reconstruction. Flesh Destruction involves the shattering of your muscles and the rupture of your internal organs. The more muscle fibers were shattered and the more your organs ruptured, the greater your vitality would need to be to resist. If your vitality was weak, you would perish. Following that came Flesh Enhancement, in which you began to flood your shattered muscle fibers and ruptured organs with Astral Wave. The more energy you manage to pack inside those wounded tissues, the better. Finally, there was Flesh Reconstruction, in which you used the energy in your tissues to regenerate them, making them more powerful than before. This was the normal procedure, and while there were variations, they were still within the norm. Yet, Cain had destroyed his flesh and blood to the point he was just a skeleton, and his tissues were now floating around his bones inside bubbles. Cain could see the shock in the eyes of the Scarlet Inquisitors and, to be honest, he was also surprised when he saw how his muscles, tendons, blood, and internal organs shattered and accumulated in the form of bubbles around his skeleton. Clearly, his Flesh Calamity was different from others, but that did not mean it was a bad thing. Since the mightier the destruction, the better the effect, everything should go well. Although Cain was not fond of revealing his secret, he needed the Scarlet Inquisitors to bring the upper echelon of Ocean Wrath to him. He had already consumed Auron Umbra and hundreds of thousands of Deus Behemoth to reach this point, but they were not enough. At this point, Cain required more than quantity. He needed high-quality energy and vitality, like the one inside Divine Ascension Masters. The golden skeleton calmly descended to the ground and, under the control of the red force field, began to move until it stood right in front of the Ocean Lord of Ocean Wrath. "So you are the infamous Ocean Lord of Ocean Wrath, the Plague of The West, the Wave of Death. I believed you would be fiercer, but right now all I can see in your eyes is fear." Duke Tazan could not control his body as it trembled nonstop. He had seen great horrors during his life, so despite the shock of seeing a walking skeleton, he could still endure it, yet the red force field that flooded the room carried an intent that made his instincts scream nonstop. The Titan had seen how in the last five days, thousands of criminals were sent to this place, yet there was no one but the Scarlet King present. It was clear to the man that the monster in front of him had eaten everyone to the point not even bones were left. The Ocean Lord was not the only one overwhelmed by fear as White Ocean and Ocean Serpent were also terrified. The red force field that encompassed the entire room was making contact with their bodies, making them feel they were inside a giant mouth that was ready to consume them. After 6 months of training and voraciously consuming countless lives, the mastery of Cain over the Concept of Gluttony evolved to the point it was even stronger than his mastery over the Sundering Concept. That was why the Scarlet King''s Ego Wave made the trio feel they were inside a monster''s maw. "What are... you going to do with us?" A voice full of fear and dread emerged from the side, and the golden skeleton turned to Ocean Serpent. "The same I did with all the others that entered this place. I will consume your bodies, break your minds, and then devour your souls." The skeleton saw how the dread and horror in Ocean Serpent exploded, yet the red light in his eyes remained serene. "You should be happy, all three of you. After I consume your souls and obtain your memories, I will have all I need to find the upper echelon of the other four Tier 0 Dark Factions. Your death will bring a period of peace and prosperity to the Deus Behemoth Empire that will last for hundreds of years. That might be enough to compensate for all your sins." It wasn''t in Cain''s nature to torment a defeated opponent, but the psychological games he played on the trio had a purpose. He wanted to weaken their minds, making it easier to overcome their willpower and allow the Gluttony''s Eye to integrate their knowledge. "Gigant, please, save me! I beg you!" The fear of being eaten alive was so immense that Duke Tazan could not help but start to beg his old friend to save him. Gigant had already hardened his heart when he brought Tazan to the Scarlet King, but upon seeing his friend''s plea, he couldn''t help but sigh and turn to the golden skeleton. "My Lord, is there no way we can find another way to pay for Tazan''s crimes? We could obtain his knowledge without killing him, and he is a very powerful warrior, useful for battle." As soon as Gigant voiced his plea, Inquisitors Amalia, Kanon, and Ekatory turned towards him, their gazes sharp with killing intent. Despite the danger, Gigant made no move to defend himself, instead lowering his defenses, making it clear he would accept the words of the Scarlet King. Cain, observing the scene, raised his hand to calm the other Inquisitors, acknowledging the genuine concern behind Gigant''s request. "Your words stem from friendship, something I can understand," Cain expressed, acknowledging the depth of Gigant''s emotions. He then turned his attention back to Duke Tazan. "The truth is, I do not need to kill all three of you. I could consume the souls of Ocean Serpent and White Ocean, then interrogate you to fill in the gaps. After that, I would place a seal on your mind and body, and utilize you as my weapon in battle. Is that something you can accept?" Chapter 612: The end of Ocean Wrath Duke Tazan''s eyes glowed at those words, feeling as if someone had thrown him a lifeline out of the darkness. His mind couldn''t fully process all the information, but he knew an offer was in place and the only thing that mattered was his survival. "I accept, I accept!" When White Ocean and Ocean Serpent heard this, they couldn''t help but feel a sense of shock and loss. Although they were criminals, that didn''t mean they were heartless. The trio had always been close, working together to achieve their goals and supporting each other. Yet, Tazan did not hesitate even for a second before abandoning them and accepting to work for the man that would take their lives. Duke Tazan noticed the look from the duo, but how could he care about them when his own life was on the line? However, he immediately noticed something was wrong as he saw the Scarlet King turn toward Gigant. "Is that enough?" Duke Tazan turned his head as he heard the question from the Scarlet King and saw Gigant softly shaking his head and sighing. "Yes." Duke Tazan didn''t understand what was happening, but it was obvious to the Scarlet Inquisitors. They did not care that Duke Tazan would sell himself and practically become a slave for the Scarlet King, as desperate times require desperate measures. However, there was no way they could accept someone who would not hesitate to abandon their friends in their ranks. Someone like that would run at the first sign of true danger and could not be trusted on the battlefield. "Scarlet King, I ask your permission to leave. Inquisitor Amalia is more than enough to contain the Ocean Lord." Inquisitor Gigant no longer referred to Duke Tazan by his name but instead, as Ocean Lord, making it clear he had severed his connection with the man. The friend he once knew was gone, and he had no word for the monster this one had become. "You may. Return to the Colossus Sector and wait for further instructions." Cain could see that the Titan had accepted this, and there was no need to push him to the next experience, so he allowed him to go. Inquisitor Gigant nodded to the Scarlet King, turned around, ignoring Tazan''s gaze, and vanished from the chamber. Once that was over, Cain did not say a word and walked until he was in front of White Ocean. He could feel the sense of utter terror and dread in the man''s heart. There was no mercy or pity in the Scarlet King''s soul as he put his hand over the head of the Early Divine Ascension Master. The next second, everybody saw how the energy and life force of the man were being consumed and funneled into the bubbles that surrounded the golden skeleton. Dread, absolute, and overwhelming, flooded the souls and minds of Ocean Lord and Ocean Serpent as they saw the golden skeleton devouring White Ocean''s life and that was just the beginning. The extremities of White Ocean began to crumble into dust as the devouring power consumed the flesh and bones from the inside out. "?AHHHHHHHHH!" The process was terrifying, something Cain intended. The willpower of Ocean Lord and Ocean Serpent was stronger due to their cultivation base, so he needed to weaken it if he wanted to be able to consume their souls. The screams had finished after the fifth hour as White Ocean had lost the ability to utter any sound by that point, and his senses had shut down. After fifteen hours, White Ocean''s body had been reduced to a stump without extremities, and even his ears, nose, and eyes were gone, devoured by the power of the Scarlet King''s Ego Wave and the Concept of Gluttony. The only internal organs yet to be consumed were the heart and brain, and Cain had not touched them since he needed the man alive if he wanted to use Gluttony''s Eye on him. Once Cain felt the willpower of White Ocean breaking, his skull cracked, and an eye emerged. Gluttony''s Eye triggered a clash of willpower, which Cain easily won before extracting the soul force and ego of the man and consuming it. A sense of thrill appeared in the light-filled eye socket of the golden humanoid as he was able to obtain more than White Ocean''s knowledge but also the feelings, emotions, and intent in his memories. Still, Cain did not lose focus, and after handling the memories for the [A.I. Chip Module] to process, he turned toward Ocean Serpent. "No, no, no, please no..." The woman began to plead and cry, but Cain could not care less. He was a master of Order and did not feel pity, and even if that was not the case, how many people had begged for her pity, only to die gruesome deaths? "You wanted to play the bad guy, and now playtime is over." Cain put his hand over Ocean Serpent, and just like with White Ocean, he consumed the woman from the inside out, in a torturous process. It took him a full 20 hours before devouring her soul force and ego. Unfortunately, while he obtained her knowledge, that was all as the Gluttony''s Eye could not assimilate the emotions and intent in her memories. The stronger the target, the harder the process, so Cain expected such setbacks. Without delay, he turned toward Tazan. He had left this one for last, as he wanted the fear to reach its peak, and by the terror in the eyes of the Deus Behemoth, he fulfilled his goal. Tazan opened his mouth, about to beg for his life once more, but before he could utter a single word, Cain placed his hand over his head and commenced the devouring process. After seeing the memories of Ocean Serpent and White Ocean, there was no way Cain wanted to hear the hypocritical pleas of the man who had killed millions with a smile on his face. Chapter 613: Flesh Reconstruction It took nearly thirty hours for Cain to devour Tazan''s energy and life force to the point where his extremities were gone, and it was at this point that the Eye of Gluttony emerged. Powerful willpower emanated from the organ that encapsulated the Concept of Gluttony, generating a clash of wills with Tazan. Cain''s willpower began to shake, and the entire room trembled due to the clash. Even if Tazan''s willpower had been weakened by fear and horror, he was still a Titan whose Ego Wave reached the might of a Late Divine Ascension Master. However, the red light in Cain''s empty eye sockets only glowed with more power as it continued with the clash with a sense of absolute certainty and free of all doubt and hesitation. Inquisitors Amalia, Kanon, and Ekatory were powerful enough to perceive the clash of willpower. The trio could not hide the awe and admiration in their eyes as they saw how the Scarlet King was clashing against a Titan and winning! The clash carried on for nearly an hour until finally Tazan''s eyes lost the last sign of power and will in them. Immediately after that, Gluttony''s Eye unleashed a monstrous devouring power and began to consume the soul force and ego of the Ocean Lord of Ocean Wrath. Cain''s focus reached its peak. He knew that devouring the intent and emotions of the Titan was not possible, but at least he wanted to obtain every single thread of knowledge he had amassed for the thousands of years of his existence. The Scarlet Inquisitors remained silent as Cain finished consuming the memories of the Titan. It took another hour to completely assimilate the memories and hand them over to the [A.I. Chip Module]. After that, Cain carried on with the devouring process and finished consuming the last drop of energy and vitality of Tazan, leaving nothing but a trace of dust. Inquisitors Amalia, Kanon, and Ekatory watched as Tazan''s body vanished and then saw how the bubbles revolving around the golden skeleton began to glow with a bright light as if a quality change had occurred. Cain could not smile since he did not have lips, but there was a sense of profound thrill in his heart as he saw that the millions of bubbles had saturated with energy and life, and he was ready to start the resurrection of his internal organs, flesh, muscles, tendons, and blood cells. "It will take me some time to generate the target packages for Earth Fall, Cataclysm, Golden Titans, and Diamond Shore. I have another mission for you three in the meantime." As soon as Cain finished speaking, he gave Scarlet Inquisitor Amalia a space ring before files reached the computer rings of the trio along with a mission. The eyes of the Scarlet Inquisitors widened as they saw the details of the mission and turned to Cain. "Is there a problem?" Cain''s eye sockets glowed with a sharp light, and as soon as the Scarlet Inquisitors saw it, all hesitation and doubt vanished from their eyes instantly. "We obey the Scarlet King!" Inquisitors Amalia, Kanon, and Ekatory shouted those words as they bowed toward Cain, and the moment they rose, a monstrous fighting spirit emerged on their faces as they were about to face an incredibly powerful adversary, yet they were not afraid. The trio turned around and went back to the teleportation formation, vanishing from the chamber and leaving Cain alone. "You have done a very good job, Apex. For them to be so loyal and fierce, it is as if they saw me as a divine entity." Now that Cain was alone, he spoke with the true mastermind behind the Scarlet Inquisition Force, the one that called the shots and was able to figure out the identity of the upper echelon of Ocean Wrath and generate a flawless plan to take down the Tier 0 Dark Faction in one move. "Despite their immense power and aloof titles, the identity of these people is that of soldiers. They want someone they can follow, someone who can ease the burden on their shoulders and guide them. They are happy since they do not need to think, only act." Apex''s words were not derogatory, as he did not consider soldiers or those who followed orders as lesser. Cain knew that and his eyes glowed with a flash of envy as he thought of Apex''s words. He could not help but think how things would be much easier if he could simply follow a path that promised rewards beyond his wildest dreams. Unfortunately, that was not possible for him since he was actually creating a unique path that broke beyond the wildest dreams of every great general and emperor of Aether. His unique Flesh Calamity was a perfect example of how he was deviating from the orthodox path and generating one of his own. Although he made it sound easy, the truth was that Cain was on the borderline between life and death during his Flesh Destruction. Had Cain''s mind not been strong enough to endure the pain, he would have blacked out and perished, and that was just the start. The process demanded a simply overwhelming amount of vitality, and if not for having Auron Umbra, a True Titan, and hundreds of thousands of Wave Kings and Apotheosis Masters to consume, the Flesh Destruction might have failed, and he would have also perished or, in the best case, ended up with a broken body. Luckily, Cain''s destiny was high enough for him to be in the right situation and with the right resources to survive the process. "Apex, I will begin my Flesh Reconstruction. Please, when the trio finishes their mission, just make them bring what I ask. I will not be able to continue with anyone as my sole focus will be on the rebirth of my organs." "Don''t worry, I have everything covered. Go ahead and focus on finishing the Flesh Calamity." Cain nodded after hearing Apex and he let go of all his worries about the outside world as he rose to the air and the golden bubbles began to slowly amalgamate back into the golden skeleton. Chapter 614: Scarlet Inquisition and the Fenrir Clan (I) Xina Fenrir was in her cultivation abode, floating in the air amidst a spatial storm that could shred Divine Ascension Masters to pieces. Yet, this phenomenon did nothing to the woman as she blended with those spatial forces effortlessly. Like all other important figures in the Deus Behemoth Empire, the Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan understood the ramifications of crippling the Umbra Clan. The military power of the empire had diminished, which was why she worked so hard to improve her own in order to answer the call of battle when needed. Suddenly, Xina''s eyes opened, and she focused on the door of her cultivation abode. Taking a step forward, she immediately appeared in front of the door, waved her hand, and opened it. On the other side stood a young woman with the physical characteristics of the Fenrir Clan, but instead of carrying a sword, she held a pair of glasses and a book in her hand. Her name was Priscila, and she was the personal assistant to the Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan. "I have told you not to bother me unless it was absolutely necessary, so I assume this is an emergency." Priscila immediately nodded, feeling the sharp gaze of Xina, and took a deep breath before speaking. "Three Scarlet Inquisitors have arrived, and they request your presence, my Lady." Xina''s eyes immediately narrowed, and a solemn expression appeared on her face. Although immersed in her cultivation, she kept an eye on important news and was aware of how the Scarlet Inquisition just uprooted Ocean Wrath in a single day. The Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan thought the same as everyone else when she heard about the formation of the Scarlet Inquisition Force¡ªthat they would not be able to generate a truly lasting change in the underworld and, at most, scratch the surface. Yet, it was clear she underestimated the young man who currently led over half of the Imperial Army. Xina, a True Titan and the Patriarch of one of the Ten Great Bloodlines knew that the power and fame of the Scarlet Inquisition Force would allow it to go against her entire clan. Besides, the Scarlet King had already caused the downfall of one of the Ten Great Bloodlines. "Did they give a reason for this meeting?" "No, my Lady. They just requested your company and also demanded the presence of all the members of the younger generation that entered the Astral Bloodline Realm." Xina''s frown only grew deeper as she heard Priscila''s words. The fact they demanded the presence of the members of the Fenrir Clan of the younger generation made it clear it was not something simple. "There is no point in delaying things. Tell them we will meet in the throne room. Bring the youths, and also have Kamora and Garon be present." Priscila''s eyes widened as she heard those last two names. Kamora and Garon were the other two Divine Ascension Masters of the Fenrir Clan. The Patriarch wanted to display strength as she faced the Scarlet Inquisitors. A sense of dread assaulted the young woman as she thought of the ramifications of a battle between the Fenrir Clan and the Scarlet Inquisition Force. "Yes, my Lady." Regardless of her worries, Priscila understood her job and without delay, she carried on. --- The throne room of the Fenrir Clan was truly majestic. It had white walls made of a unique material, and exquisite swords were hanging on them, all unleashing a powerful killing intent, making it clear they were not merely adornments but weapons that had seen a lot of bloodshed. There were three thrones, with the one in the center being occupied by Xina. On the right sat a man with a massive physique, dark hair, and milky white runes covering his arms, chest, and face. On the left was a woman with a petite figure, wearing a blue robe, seeming to blend with space. The duo flanking the Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan were Garon and Kamora, two Middle Divine Ascension Masters. Next to the thrones stood nine youths, all young with powerful bloodlines. These were the people who entered the Astral Bloodline Realm. One was missing, as not all members of the younger generation of the Fenrir Clan returned alive. Leading the group was Rodrick. He glanced at the rest of the group, his eyes sharp as he focused on the man at the end who was nearly trembling. ''Idiot,'' Rodrick thought but immediately turned to the entrance as three imposing figures walked forward. Despite his background and talent, the genius of the Fenrir Clan could not help but feel awe and admiration for the trio, monsters capable of rising from nothing to the highest stage of Aether. Inquisitors Amalia, Kanon, and Ekatory wore their scarlet armors, their expressions serene yet resolute as they walked into the throne room of one of the Ten Great Bloodlines led by a True Titan. Amalia led Kanon and Ekatory until they were less than ten meters away from the thrones. The trio then clasped their hands and nodded toward Xina. "Scarlet Inquisitor Amalia salutes the Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan." "Scarlet Inquisitor Kanon salutes the Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan." "Scarlet Inquisitor Ekatory salutes the Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan." The fact that the Scarlet Inquisitors, Great Generals of the Imperial Army and Titans, clasped their hands toward Xina was a significant display of respect. They did not bother with the other two, especially since the duo was sitting on their thrones and did not stand up in their presence. "I am happy to see the heroes of the Deus Behemoth Empire, the Scarlet Inquisitors, in my home. Had I known you would be coming, I would have organized a banquet." Xina smiled as she uttered those words. While they seemed amicable, they were actually testing the waters and trying to figure out what was happening. Luckily, the Scarlet Inquisitors did not beat around the bush and were very direct. "This is not a social meeting. We are on a mission in the name of the Scarlet King." Chapter 615: Scarlet Inquisition and the Fenrir Clan (II) "This is not a social meeting. We are on a mission in the name of the Scarlet King." Amalia paused at this point, and then the eyes of all three Scarlet Inquisitors glowed with fighting will and resolution as she spoke again. "We have come to take care of the criminals in the Fenrir Clan." As soon as Amalia''s words were spoken, the throne room began to tremble as Xina, Karon, and Garon''s eyes glowed with monstrous fighting will. The three Divine Ascension Masters of the Fenrir Clan were not going to just lay down and allow the Scarlet Inquisition Force to do as they pleased in the Sacred Home. "What is the meaning of this? How does that boy dare to send you three with accusations yet doesn''t dare to show his face!" Garon shouted with rage, yet immediately his body grew tense as he saw how the fighting spirit in Kanon and Ekatory turned into ferocious killing intent, and felt the duo was ready to jump at him. Even if the man had the Fenrir Lineage that allowed his battle power to rise beyond his cultivation base, there was no way he could handle two Titans. Yet, before the Scarlet Inquisitors could act, Amalia raised her hand, stopping the duo from letting their emotions take the best of them, and calmly focused on Garon. "I would advise you not to speak disrespectfully against the Scarlet King in our presence. This time we will ignore it, but there won''t be a second, and I assure you, your background means nothing to the Scarlet Inquisition Force." "Enough!" Xina shouted, unleashing her aura, and suppressing everybody in the room, including the three Titans from the Scarlet Inquisition Force. Although Inquisitors Amalia, Kanon, and Ekatory''s eyes narrowed as they felt the power of the Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan, they showed no fear and remained steady, not backing down. Xina saw the resolution in the trio and after a moment retracted her aura, before speaking. "Garon was rude with his words, but there is truth in them. If the Scarlet King is accusing my clan of crimes, then he should be present." Amalia stared at Xina for a moment before showing a soft smile. "The Scarlet King is currently overseeing the Scarlet Inquisition Force and as we speak, he is guiding a million soldiers across the entire empire and also deciphering the identity of the Tier 0 Dark Factions'' upper echelons." The Scarlet Inquisitor paused at this moment, allowing Xina, Kamora, and Garon to understand the immensity of the responsibilities of the Scarlet King before continuing. "The Scarlet King understands that a True Titan and Patriarch of one of the Ten Great Bloodlines of the Deus Behemoth Empire deserves proper respect. If you don''t want to speak with us, that is fine. We will leave and the Scarlet King will handle this in six months, after finishing all his responsibilities." At this point, Amalia''s soft smile widened, but a sense of coldness appeared in her eyes, making Xina and the other Divine Ascension Masters feel a bad premonition. The Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan clenched her fists as she heard those words. The Scarlet King had not shown himself in the last six months, guiding the Scarlet Inquisition Force from a secret chamber in the headquarters. If she were to meet the Scarlet King in six more months, it would be a year since the last time Xina saw the young man. Although a year was nothing and should not make a difference in battle power, she was aware of how Cain managed to rise from the Peak Apotheosis Realm to the Middle Divine Ascension Realm during the time he spent inside the Astral Bloodline Realm. Who knew just how powerful the young man would become now that he had the resources of the Deus Behemoth Empire at his disposal? "So, Lady Xina, should we depart and inform the Scarlet King his presence will be required for this matter?" Xina''s eyes focused on Amalia, seeing the woman had no fear of her. Clearly, the Scarlet Inquisitor was confident in the force behind her. In the end, the Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan could only sigh. "There is no need to bother the Scarlet King when he is working so hard to ensure the safety of our empire. However, I don''t care about the strength of the Scarlet Inquisition Force; I will not allow you to take members of my clan without proper reason." Kamora and Garon glanced at the Patriarch, but they did not say a word. Xina did not want to face the Scarlet King, but the duo did not blame her, as no matter how angry they were, they knew just how monstrous of a talent that individual was. Not to mention, they had heard rumors of what happened in the Scarlet Inquisition Force Headquarters, and how hundreds of thousands of prisoners simply vanished. Inquisitors Amalia, Kanon, and Ekatory smiled and softly nodded. The trio was happy that the Patriarch had chosen to cooperate with them, as they understood just how terrifying the methods of their leader were. The Scarlet King would devour people from the inside out, so one could only imagine what he would do to those who angered him. "Of course, my Lady. The Scarlet Inquisition Force will never arrest anyone without ironclad proof of their crimes." Amalia did not waste more time with useless thoughts and she sent a file to the three Divine Ascension Masters from the Fenrir Clan. Xina, Kamora, and Garon immediately focused on their computer ring and saw a list with hundreds of names, all belonging to members of the Fenrir Clan. The trio was shocked and could not believe that there would be so many criminals in their clan, but as they went through the file attached to each name, strange expressions appeared on their faces. The crimes they were being charged with were too minor. Over 95% of the names were charged with minor crimes such as selling stolen property, buying weapons from the black market, and contracting the services of members of the underworld for non-lethal tasks such as blackmail. Chapter 616: Scarlet Inquisition and the Fenrir Clan (III) Of course, even if they were not severe and no one perished, they were still crimes that broke the empire''s code and rules and there would be a punishment, but that would be a fine or at most a few months in prison. Not something worth the presence of three Scarlet Inquisitors. The other five percent was more problematic since they had indeed committed severe crimes, with many of them deserving serious prison time and some so heinous that death was the only path. However, even then there was no need to send Titans to handle them since none of the criminals was part of the upper echelon of the Fenrir Clan. Xina stared at Amalia and her eyes sharpened as she glanced at the nine people waiting silently on the side. There was something else the woman was after, and it had to do with the members of the younger generation that entered the Astral Bloodline Realm. Despite the list containing hundreds of names, of the nine members of the Fenrir Clan present, only one of them was in the file, and it was the same one that was trembling. ''Fanir?'' The Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan focused on Fanir and a solemn expression appeared on her face. The young man was talented but he was barely able to qualify for the Astral Bloodline Realm, and it was thanks to her sister asking for a lot of favors that he was able to accompany Rodrick and the others. Of course, the Patriarch was aware of Fanir''s encounter with Cain during the Solis Clan Tournament, but there was no way such a minor clash could lead to all this so there had to be something else. "Fanir, is there something you would like to share with us?" Xina was not in the mood to go around deciphering things, so she immediately questioned the young man for answers. Fanir trembled as he heard those words and he opened his mouth but no words came out. Fear and apprehension had blocked his ability to speak. Seeing this, a young woman with a thin sword on her back took a step forward. "My Lady, during our time in the Astral Bloodline Realm, we divided into two groups. I led one of them and we encountered Cain Laurifer running from Robert and an unknown man with features of the Kraken Clan. At that moment, the Sun Avatar attempted to approach us, but Fanir attacked, forcing him to keep running away. I accept all responsibility for my lack of leadership." As soon as the young woman uttered those words, Rodrick also took a step forward. "It is not Camila''s fault, my Lady. I should have been more cautious and not divided our party." "Enough" Xina shut down the duo and as she focused on Fanir who was now overwhelmed by dread, she could not help but sigh and shake her head. The young man had allowed his envy and jealousy to get the best of him, attacking Cain when this one was being chased by the Soul King. Although Xina did not know the details of that chase, she was sure the Scarlet King found himself at death''s door due to Fanir''s actions. If Cain had perished, then no one would have cared about Fanir''s attack, but not only did this one survive but rose to a point where his word was only beneath that of the Emperor. "Ahhh, how does the Scarlet King suggest we proceed with these cases?" "First of all, the 17 names marked with a red seal will face the full power of the empire''s laws. They will all be sent to the Imperial Prison where they will await to stand trial. Due to the evidence, 16 of them will face death sentences. As for Fanir Fenrir, he will serve consecutive sentences and will spend 300 years in prison." Three hundred years was a lot of time, and in all fairness, Fanir''s crimes were not that grave. But there were many, and they added up. Normally those sentences would be served concurrently, and he would have spent only about twenty years, but there was no way Cain would allow that. Fanir''s eyes widened as a sense of shock and despair assaulted him upon hearing Amalia''s words. Although his lifespan was measured in the thousands of years, he was less than one hundred. And that was just the beginning since in prison Fanir would not be able to cultivate, leading to the atrophy of his Sacred Organs. It would be impossible for him to advance to the Divine Ascension Realm or even reach the Peak of the Apotheosis Realm once he got out. "This is not fair! Even if I attacked that man, it was inside the Astral Bloodline Realm, and the codes and rules of the empire are not valid there. The human is clearly using military power to solve personal vendettas!" The pressure of facing a cell for hundreds of years was too much for Fanir, and he could not help but shout at Amalia. The Scarlet Inquisitor turned toward Fanir and looked at him as if he was a buffoon. "I do not know what you are talking about. Your crimes are well recorded and documented, with evidence clear for all to see. We have not made a single accusation or reference to the events of the Astral Bloodline Realm." Fanir trembled as he knew those words were true, and finding no way to handle the situation, turned toward the Patriarch. "My Lady, please help me. You can not let them take me!" Xina stared at the young man for a moment before sighing again. Her eyes glowed and Fanir blacked out the next second. It was clear to everybody that the sentence of Fanir had the goal of vengeance, and while some might find it petty, his actions nearly cost Cain his life. The man was actually lucky to be part of the Fenrir Clan, or else Cain would have killed him. Chapter 617 617: Cosmic Tyrant Framework "Leave." Xina uttered those words, and the younger generation of the Fenrir Clan immediately bowed and silently left the throne room. Now that the matter with Fanir was handled, there was no need for them to remain present. Inquisitors Amalia, Kanon, and Ekatory watched the group leave but were indifferent. It was better if those younger were not present as they would speak of topics too high-level for them. "The Fenrir Clan does not shelter criminals and traitors, so we accept the Scarlet King''s verdict. You can take those with a death penalty over their head and Fanir to the Imperial Prison." Although Xina was not exactly pleased with Fanir''s outcome, she did not have any problem seeing the death of the other 16 members of the Fenrir Clan. She had seen their crimes, and if the Scarlet Inquisition Force did not take care of them, she would not allow them to sully their clan''s Sacred Home. Kamora and Garon shared the distaste of their Patriarch toward those criminals, so they silently nodded. "I assume that the Scarlet King also has a plan for the other two hundred and forty-nine members of my clan with criminal charges." Xina did not reach her position simply due to her power but also her sharp mind. She could see that Fanir was just one of the reasons why the Scarlet Inquisition Force had come to their Sacred Clan. Amalia''s soft smile remained, but the coldness in her eyes had vanished, replaced by serenity and amiability. Now that she had handled the unpleasant matters came the second part of their mission, which was even more critical. "The Scarlet King is magnanimous, and while crimes must receive a sentence, there are different types of punishment. I will not bother with those who are only required to pay a fine, as I am sure wealth is not something the mighty Fenrir Clan cares about." Xina almost smiled as she heard the words magnanimous. She remembered very well the behavior of that young man upon emerging from the Astral Bloodline Realm and how he mercilessly crippled the Early Divine Ascension Master of the Umbra Clan. She doubted the man even had those feelings, but of course, she would not say them now and continued listening to Amalia. "The ones that matter and can be shown leniency are those whose crimes demand prison time. They must face punishment for their acts but don''t need to spend it in the Imperial Prison. The Scarlet King can change the sentence to house arrest for all who committed white collar crimes, as long as Lady Xina ensures they abide by the rules of such restraint and would not show their faces in the empire." Xina, Kamora, and Garon smiled as they heard that. There was a massive difference between paying their sentence in the Imperial Prison and under house arrest. First of all, while they would be confined to the Fenrir Clan Sacred Home, the city is massive, so they would have a good enough amount of freedom and still be able to cultivate, something that would not be possible in the Imperial Prison. Some of them could go into secluded cultivation and emerge once the sentence is completed, killing two birds with one stone. The upper echelon of the Fenrir Clan was very tempted by that arrangement as many of the names in the file were promising youths who had made stupid mistakes, and they would be happy to help them. However, the trio knew there was no such thing as a free meal in this world, especially when they spoke of someone like the Scarlet King. "And how can the Fenrir Clan repay the kindness and mercy of the Scarlet King?" Xina''s voice was solemn, and there was a sharp light as she prepared, wondering what the Godslayer Human was after. "Cosmic Tyrant Framework and Void Weaver Art." The eyes of the three Divine Ascension Masters from the Fenrir Clan widened, and a sense of shock appeared in their hearts as they heard those names. "?Impossible!" Garon could not help but shout. Despite wanting to help the members of the Fenrir Clan, those two techniques were simply too valuable and the most potent core arts of the clan. But before he could say another word, Xina raised her hand. Garon and Kamora were surprised to see Xina contemplating the idea, but they knew she would not be rash and waited for her to speak. "The greed of the Scarlet King is truly something else." When Inquisitors Amalia, Kanon, and Ekatory heard that statement from the Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan, they did not get angry as they had to admit it was a good description of their leader. However, the word gluttony would be much more fitting. Xina stared at the trio and began to calculate before a solemn expression appeared on her face. "Although the Void Weaver Art is an extremely precious and powerful Essence Evolution Cultivation Technique of the Inner Universe Divine System, we can hand it over to the Scarlet King as we have three copies. However, the Cosmic Tyrant Framework is different." Amalia''s face had the same gravity as that of the Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan as she understood the importance of this task. "We are aware that the Cosmic Tyrant Framework is a Natural Inheritance your clan found inside the Astral Bloodline Realm five thousand years ago that surpassed the Holy Tier and might even go beyond the Divine Tier." Xina, Kamora, and Garon were shocked to hear that. The knowledge regarding the Cosmic Tyrant Framework was a great clan secret since even if they were one of the Ten Great Clans, they were not unassailable, and people might get greedy and try to steal it. Even though they had distorted the origin of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework and hidden its power, it seems that the Scarlet King was able to find it. "The Scarlet King seems to know a lot about our clan." Chapter 618 618: Space Sword "The Scarlet King seems to know a lot about our clan." Kamora, the other female Divine Ascension Master from the Fenrir Clan, spoke for the first time, her eyes conveying a profound inquisitiveness about why the Scarlet King knew so much about them. Amalia turned to the Middle Divine Ascension Master, her eyes shining with a powerful sense of belief and conviction. "Nothing can hide from the eyes of the Scarlet King, at least not for long." The conviction in the eyes of Kanon and Ekatory mirrored that of Amalia. It had become a core belief within every warrior of the Scarlet Inquisition Force that the eyes of the Scarlet King encompassed the entire Deus Behemoth Empire. Xina, Kamora, and Garon couldn''t conceal their awe at the trio''s devotion. In just six months, the Scarlet King had instilled such faith in the hearts of a million soldiers, including Ten Titans. They could only describe someone of that caliber as a monster. Yet, Xina''s gaze hardened as she continued. "If you understand the significance of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework, you should also comprehend why we cannot hand it over. There is only one copy in Aether, with Garon and I using it to train, so we cannot lend it to the Scarlet King." Amalia recognized the determination in Xina''s eyes and knew the woman meant those words. Despite the implications of sending dozens from the Fenrir Clan to prison, the Cosmic Tyrant Framework represented the clan''s entire power base. "I can see your conviction regarding this matter, but please don''t rush to make a decision, especially since we haven''t finished our offer yet." With that, Amalia waved her hand, and a broad sword materialized in her grasp the next second. It might appear ordinary to anyone else, but to the Divine Ascension Masters of the Fenrir Clan, it was anything but simple. "A Space Sword. Why do you have it?" Xina asked, her voice cold with suspicion. The weapon in Amalia''s hands was another treasure related to the Astral Bloodline Realm but different from the Cosmic Tyrant Framework. The Space Sword that Amalia had in her possession was a treasure the Fenrir Clan spent a lot of wealth and time creating. First, a group of youngsters from the Fenrir Clan would place the sword in a special location of the Astral Bloodline Realm, known for its space energy, and leave it there after the dimension closed. Hundreds of years later, when the Astral Bloodline Realm opened again, a new group from the Fenrir Clan would search for the sword, which would have evolved into a unique treasure capable of immense power. During the past Astral Bloodline Realm event, it was Rodrick''s group''s turn to search for the Space Sword left in the previous dimension opening. After a lot of hard work, they found it, but the youths from the Gravitas Clan, led by Norton, attacked them and tried to steal it. A member of the Fenrir Clan named Lorta ran with the weapon while Rodrick and the others faced the members of the Gravitas Clan. Yet the woman vanished, and the group could not retrieve the weapon. After the Astral Bloodline Realm closed and Lorta was nowhere to be found, Rodrick and the others believed it was the Gravitas Clan that killed her and informed Xina of all that happened. The Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan came to the same conclusion as Rodrick and intended to forcefully retrieve it from the Gravitas Clan in the future. However, upon seeing the Space Sword in Amalia''s possession, the three Divine Ascension Masters from the Fenrir Clan began to believe it was Cain who killed Lorta and took the treasure. While the Space Sword was important for the Fenrir Clan, there was no way they would accept negotiating it for the Cosmic Tyrant Framework. That would be like saying it was fine to kill their people, steal their treasure, and then use them to trade with them. Amalia felt the pressure of the trio''s rage and killing intent but did not lose focus. Instead of speaking, she sent a new file to the computer rings of Xina, Kamora, and Garon. The trio''s eyes were still sharp and flashed with hostility, but they maintained rationality and opened the video file. It showed the fight between Cain and the Soul King, making it clear that the one first in possession of the Space Sword was not the Godslayer Human. Xina, Kamora, and Garon glanced at each other. According to the video, the one who killed Lorta and stole the weapon was the Soul King, and then Cain stole it from the man after destroying the battle vessel that was Norkuo. However, this type of evidence could be manufactured. Amalia saw the suspicion in the trio''s eyes but was not worried because the Scarlet King had not just given her the Space Sword but something else as well. She waved her hand again, and a white metallic coffin appeared this time. Xina''s eyes narrowed as she saw the coffin. Without opening it, she waved her hand, making it float toward the trio, who used their Ego Waves to inspect the inside and saw the corpse of a young woman. A flash of sadness appeared in the eyes of Xina, Kamora, and Garon as they recognized Lorta''s corpse. Thanks to their Ego Wave, they could see the wounds in the woman''s mind and soul dimension, making it clear that the person responsible for her death was a master of the soul. The young woman was very talented, but she was unfortunate to have stumbled upon the path of the Soul King. The Dark King had preserved her body, as she was a useful puppet, but Cain did not follow that path, so he sent her back to her clan. Xina waved her hand, storing the coffin to give the young woman a proper burial later. Then, she glanced at Kamora and Garon, and the eyes of the trio began to glow as they spoke telepathically. Chapter 619 619: A skull Amalia, Kanon, and Ekatory waited in silence, not disturbing the trio as they decided whether or not to take Cain''s deal and hand over the Cosmic Tyrant Framework. Finally, after ten minutes, the three Divine Ascension Masters of the Fenrir Clan softly nodded to each other and made a decision. "We are willing to give the Scarlet King a copy of the Void Weaver Art as long as he doesn''t share it with others without our consent. As for the Cosmic Tyrant Framework, we are willing to lend it for a period of ten years." Amalia couldn''t help but frown as she heard the last part. The Cosmic Tyrant Framework was an incredibly complicated art, and ten years might not be enough to grasp its most basic principles. ''Accept it. Ten years is more than enough for me.'' However, just as Amalia was about to negotiate for more time, she heard the Scarlet King''s voice through her computer ring. Then a small smile appeared as she realized that while ten years might be a blink of an eye to others, their leader only took twenty years to reach his current level. "We accept your conditions." Xina was slightly surprised hearing those words as she expected Amalia to bargain and was willing to compromise to some extent, yet she accepted immediately. Of course, she would not argue against a good deal and nodded to the woman. "Then it is settled. Kamora and Garon gather the members that will be sent to the Imperial Prison to await their trials. Also, handle the matter of those that need to pay fines and those that will have to serve house arrest." "Kanon, Ekatory, please assist the masters from the Fenrir Clan with the criminals meant for the Imperial Prison." Kamora, Garon, Kanon, and Ekatory nodded as they received their assignments and took the unconscious Fanir with them as they left the castle chamber. Xina and Amalia looked at each other and nodded before leaving the throne room and heading to the treasure chamber of the Fenrir Clan. --- Cain''s golden skeleton floated in the middle of what was once the torture chamber of Auron Umbra. The golden bubbles were slowly coalescing around his bones, fusing and generating the rebirth of his inner organs, muscles, tendons, and every other part of his fleshy body. The process was extremely delicate and complex, as it involved the reconstruction of his flesh from the inside out, and any flaw could lead to a weak point that could affect his future cultivation. His eye sockets glowed with a red light that depicted absolute focus and concentration, so he detected nothing when the teleportation formation in the chamber glowed, and two objects appeared. For the following months, Cain''s mind was focused solely on Flesh Reconstruction, and it wasn''t until the thirty-fourth day that he was finally able to rest as he finished the rebirth of his fleshy body. He remained silent in the air for nearly a minute before opening his eyes, and immediately, his body burst with so much power and energy that the entire chamber began to tremble. "BOOOOMMMMMMM!" An extraordinarily dense and pure pillar of Astral Wave emerged from Cain''s body. An expression of utter thrill and delight could be seen on his face as he clenched his fists and felt the overwhelming physical strength of his muscles and the vitality and endurance of his vital organs. "?HAHAHAHAHA!" Cain couldn''t help but burst laughing as the feeling of power was simply too immense. He had attained an overwhelming qualitative improvement, a body superior to that of an Astral Early Divine Ascension Master, and there was still a long way to go before the peak of the Apotheosis Realm. Despite the thrill, Cain regained his focus after a few moments, and then his eyes went to the two objects above the teleportation formation. He immediately knew they were the treasure he sent the Scarlet Inquisitors to obtain from the Fenrir Clan. One of them was a small black box containing a starry gem, and within was engraved the Void Weaver Art, but the one that truly caught Cain''s attention was the Natural Inherence. Natural Inheritance can take any form, as they are the amalgamation of energy and the power of the Laws, giving birth to a great treasure. Blade Mountain''s Natural Inheritance took the form of a sword with the Sonic Blade Fusion Cultivation Technique, but the Cosmic Tyrant Framework was different. "Is that a giant skull?" The Natural Inherence that the Fenrir Clan obtained from the Astral Bloodline Realm and that contained the Cosmic Tyrant Framework art had the form of a demonic skull the size of a house with strange glowing runes on the forehead and eye sockets. Although it was strange, there was nothing that said a Natural Inheritance could not take the form of a skull, but Cain knew that the Astral Bloodline Realm was the corpse of Anark, a Primordial. Maybe the treasure in front of him is not a Natural Inherence in the form of a skull, but the skull of an extremely powerful entity that became a Natural Inherence through the passage of time. The ramifications of the second alternative were shocking, but Cain only shrugged his shoulders. He knew the life forms that inhabited the Astral Sea and other dimensions like the Dream World were much more powerful than True Titans. However, there was no point in pondering about them when there was still a long time before embarking on that path. ''Before going into the arts, there is something else I would like to know.'' Cain smiled as he shifted his attention from the treasures to himself. "System, scan my body." It had been nearly a year since Cain last analyzed the condition of his body, having reached the Peak Wave King in both paths and advancing to the next level in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. As always, the Absolute Life Form System carried out its mission and scanned Cain''s body before providing an objective report. Chapter 620 620: The end of the underworld (I) [Scanning Vessel... ... Scan of Vessel completed. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Flesh Calamity) / Essence Evolution (Peak Wave King) Lineage: Solis Lineage (Maximum Purity) Wave Talent: ??? --- Stats: Strength: 206.2 --> 552.9 Agility: 132.7 --> 302.5 Vitality: 252.0 --> 620.6 Astral Wave: 161.6 --> 398.2 Essence Wave: 180.2 --> 230.5 --- Astral Blood Saturation: 95% Completion Law Mastery: Law of Space (Deep Law Fragmentation) Earth Law (Extreme Law Fragmentation) Water Law (Extreme Law Fragmentation) Fire Law (Extreme Law Fragmentation) Wind Law (Extreme Law Fragmentation) --- Note: Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 0.5%. The effect has diminished as the Vessel''s foundation is too strong for the Wave Virus to have an impact.] Cain smiled as he saw how much his physical might have increased, which would rise even higher if he saturated his body with natural energy. There was also an immense delight in Cain''s heart upon seeing just how high his Astral Blood Saturation percentage had reached. He was sure of reaching 100% before the peak of the Apotheosis Realm, and what actually drew his interest and curiosity was if he could attain a realm even higher. The Blood Energy that originated from the arts of the Astral Rebirth Path of Power and Essence Evolution Path of Power was gone as Cain used its power to satiate the energy and vitality requirements of the Flesh Destruction. He had already decided to change his battle style, which was why the Absolute Life Form System no longer measures his mastery over the Law of Blood. As for the reason why he advanced faster in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power while the Essence Evolution Path of Power lagged, that had to do with the fact that Auron Umbra and most of the people he devoured had Astral Wave flooding their bodies instead of Essence Wave. Still, Cain was not worried as his Essence Star had steadily grown stronger, and he felt that the First Tribulation would arrive at any moment. Until then, he needed to improve his foundation as much as possible. "Now that I''ve finished my Flesh Tribulation, I need to allow my body to rest and adjust to my new strength. Once I have adapted, I will need to keep improving my energy pool and carry on with the metamorphosis of my blood cells, improving my power in preparation for the Bone Calamity." There were times when your body required strenuous training and others required rest, and now Cain''s body needed the latter. That was good as it would allow him to focus on his Essence Evolution Path of Power. Cain waved his hand, bringing the box to him before taking out the starry gem inside. Although the Crimson Void Cultivation Technique was powerful, not only was the Void Weaver Art stronger, but it would adapt better to his dual cultivation battle style, especially since he would return to using his arms. The power of natural energy could enhance every aspect of Cain''s existence, but it could not improve his weapons. Slaughter nearly shattered after deploying a few spells enhanced by natural energy, so he would depend on his arms and legs from now on. Not wanting to waste time, Cain closed his eyes and sent his Ego Wave into the illusion generated by the master who engraved the technique into this starry gem. He faced the illusion and remained with his eyes closed as he went through the principles and levels of the cultivation technique. Although the Void Weaver Art was an extremely powerful and complex cultivation technique, Cain had already harnessed the power of the Law of Space, making mastering the first levels of the method very simple. Hours passed, and soon, Cain''s body began to tremble. Or at least that was what someone with a low mastery over the Law of Space would see, but the reality was that it was not he who trembled but the surrounding space that he was manipulating. The Void Weaver Art allowed the cultivator to see space as a web, filled with potential energy and pathways that he could interfere with, generating all sorts of powerful phenomena that could assist him in battle. Cain maintained his meditative stance for nearly a week before finally opening his eyes, and the next second, a shockwave carrying a spatial storm emerged from his body, making the entire chamber shake. "I have reached the Void Domination Stage, the one meant for Peak Apotheosis Masters, very fast. Of course, this speed has a lot to do with my reaching the last level of the Crimson Void Cultivation Technique. However, it is the Celestial Singularity Stage that will allow me to truly exploit the power of my Essence Evolution Path of Power, and attaining that will be much harder." Improvement requires time, and Cain knew that which was why he did not have a problem adopting a meditative stance on the ground and focused on the Void Weaver Art. --- While Cain was immersed in his cultivation, honing his mastery over the Law of Space and gearing up for his First Tribulation, the Deus Behemoth Empire experienced a significant upheaval. However, unlike the previous Great Calamity that instilled fear in the hearts of the innocent and common folk, this event was met with widespread celebration. The underworld of the Hyperion Continent was dominated by five Tier 0 Dark Factions: Ocean''s Wrath, Earth Fall, Cataclysm, Golden Titans, and Diamond Shore. These factions had been in power for hundreds of years, their influence so deep-rooted and their operations so shrouded in secrecy that their existence had come to be seen as an unchangeable fact of life. Despite their damage to the empire, people just had to accept it. Yet, this status quo was shattered by what many called the Avatar of Justice and his legion of angels. In just six months since their emergence, they had eradicated Ocean''s Wrath, beginning an unprecedented campaign against the underworld''s most formidable forces. Chapter 621: The end of the underworld (II) The destruction of Ocean Wrath seemed to have turbocharged the Scarlet Inquisition Force, and the number of criminals being arrested rose by a factor of ten, surpassing the million weekly detained at the start of the Inquisition. This massive increase was due to the fact that Apex now had much more information about the underworld, allowing him to generate target packages around criminals who were much better at hiding. Of course, the low-level criminals were not really important in the grand scheme of things as they were like weeds; you take one out, and a new one would arise to take its place. That did not mean they should be ignored since these low-level criminals were the ones who did the most damage to ordinary people. However, it was in the Tier 0 Dark Faction realm that an actual change could be instilled, and before the end of the seventh month since the creation of the Scarlet Inquisition Force, a second of those underground forces was struck. This time, it was the turn of Earth Fall, a Tier 0 Dark Faction known for its handling of assassination and slave trading. They were not a priority for many of the powerhouses of the empire as Earth Fiend, its Leader, made sure to focus only on the weakest part of the population. Unfortunately for Earth Fall, the ones that bullied the weak and feared the strong were the ones Apex loathed the most. So, after obtaining the knowledge of Ocean Wrath, he immediately focused on figuring out Earth Fiend''s identity. It took the System Spirit less than two weeks to figure out Earth Fiend''s identity, but he could not be hasty. If he killed the man, the rest of the upper echelon would enter in panic, and most likely, they would take everything of value and vanish from the Hyperion Continent. Apex only gave the green light for the Scarlet Inquisitors to act once he managed to identify the entire upper echelon of Earth Fall and its core infrastructure. The same day that Apex mobilized the Scarlet Inquisitors, a Tier 0 Dark Faction that lasted for over five hundred years vanished. The news immediately spread across the Deus Behemoth Empire''s public network, and the trillions of Deus Behemoths across all Sectors began to celebrate. Earth Fall was immensely infamous as it had harmed hundreds of millions or maybe even billions of innocent civilians during its reign. Most people could only accept in despair once they or the people they cared about fell under its claws as they were powerless, but now those monsters were finally facing justice. "Scarlet King!" "Scarlet King!" "Scarlet King!" That name echoed across the Hyperion Continent as people chanted it as if it was a cry of justice for all the sins committed by those who hide in the underworld and prey on the innocent. --- The same night that Earth Fall fell, five Scarlet Inquisitors appeared in the Scarlet Inquisition Force Headquarters, carrying the upper echelon of Earth Fall. The ones that took care of Earth Fall were not the same Scarlet Inquisitors that went after Ocean Wrath, as the Titans that did not participate in that event asked for a chance to prove their worth and might, something Apex accepted. One of the Scarlet Inquisitors, resembling a massive humanoid black lion with dark wings on his back, went by the name of Lork. His entire body glowed with a soft, dark light, which he used to suppress the kneeling figure before him. As the Scarlet Inquisitor stared at the pitiful figure of the Deus Behemoth with earth-tortoise features, loathing emerged in his eyes. This pitiful woman was none other than Earth Ghost, an Essence Evolution Early Divine Ascension Master, but most importantly, she was the core architect of Earth Fall''s slave trade. If it weren''t for the Scarlet King''s demand these people be brought alive, Lork would not have hesitated to crush the woman''s skull. "Hahaha, there is no need to waste your rage on these people. Besides, by what I learned from Gigant, their fate is way worse than just dying." Another of the Scarlet Inquisitors, another man with features of a black panther, laughed as he saw the disgust in one of his friends. He was also using his energy to suppress another member of the upper echelon of Earth Fall with features of a poisonous snake. Lork turned to the man on his right, and an inquisitive light appeared in his eyes. "What are you talking about, Kirin?" The Scarlet Inquisitor with the black panther features was about to speak again when a powerful voice echoed. "It is not our place to question the Scarlet King''s methods." The one who spoke was an old Scarlet Inquisitor with attributes of a polar bear, and a row of steel spikes and a tail emerged from his back. His massive hand was on top of the head of a petite man with armadillo-like features. The prisoner in the hands of the old Scarlet Inquisitor could not stop trembling as his energy was suppressed, and he felt a crushing pressure on his head that might shatter his skull at any second. The words of the old Scarlet Inquisitor immediately made the atmosphere tense, but luckily, it did not last long as new laughter echoed. "Hahahaha, old Kern, there is no need to be so serious. I am sure that Kirin did not mean it like that." A woman with rainbow-colored scales smiled as she spoke. She was not alone as by her side was another woman with the features of a white bat, and they were both guarding a single target. "Zamira is right, old geezer. After all, I am not crazy enough to question our Leader." "Hmph." The old Scarlet Inquisitor just sneered, but he knew his comrades did not mean anything wrong with those words, so he just focused on his prey. Just as the mood between the Scarlet Inquisitors rose again, they adopted a solemn expression as they all heard a voice in their minds through their computer rings. "Come." Chapter 622: Earth Fiend A teleportation formation glowed inside the underground chamber. The next instant, five Scarlet Inquisitors appeared, and with them were the upper echelon of Earth Fall in chains and with their energy and bodies sealed. Unlike the experience of Gigant, Amalia, Kanon, and Ekatory, the five Scarlet Inquisitors did not arrive at a gore scene with skeletons and bubbles of blood upon reaching the underground chamber. They only saw a handsome man with a scarlet robe floating in the air amidst spatial storms. Of the five Scarlet Inquisitors, the only one that followed the Essence Evolution Path of Power was the woman with the white bat feature. Her name was Cindra, and a sense of utter awe and shock appeared in her eyes as she focused on the spatial storm and saw that their origin came from the young man''s body. ''Amazing! His mastery over the Law of Space must be near the Extreme Law Fragmentation!'' The Law Fragmentation Realm was nothing impressive for a Titan that followed the Inner Universe Divine System, but that referred to the most common Laws. Reaching the Extreme Law Fragmentation was beyond amazing when it came to supreme cosmic powers like the Law of Space and the Law of Time. The awe in her eyes only increased once the Scarlet Inquisitor noticed that Cain was still a Wave King. Cain noticed the overwhelming shock and awe in the eyes of the Scarlet Inquisitor, but he did not show much interest; instead, he smiled at the entire group of five Titans. "You have done an excellent job capturing the upper echelon of Earth Fall alive, Inquisitors Lork, Kirin, Kern, Zamira, and Cindra. This success will greatly boost our ultimate goal of setting the underworld ablaze, leaving nothing but dust and ashes. You will be greatly rewarded once our mission is completed." "We serve the Scarlet King!" Inquisitors Lork, Kirin, Kern, Zamira, and Cindra bowed, and while they did not utter another word, smiles full of thrill and delight appeared on their faces. The Scarlet King had risen to the point of becoming a living legend, and obtaining his praise was something even Titans could brag about. Not to mention, they were sure the reward this one would grant them would allow their powers to rise to higher levels. Cain nodded to the five Scarlet Inquisitors and indicated for them to straighten before turning his eyes to the four prisoners in front of him. Those four were the upper echelon of Earth Fall, three of which went by the names Earth Ghost, Earth Ghoul, and Earth Specter. A small smile appeared on Cain''s face, and he almost laughed as he realized their names were similar to those of his own Dark Faction in the Kronos Continent. Still, immediately, sharpness returned to his eyes as he focused on the most important one of the prisoners. Cain calmly walked to the prisoner who was suppressed by two Titans, Zamira and Cindra. It was an old woman with long white hair and the features of a fox with white and black fur. Despite her fragile appearance, she was actually the most dangerous of all, as this old woman was none other than Earth Fiend, the leader of Earth Fall. As Cain raised the head of the old woman and looked into her eyes, he could not help but feel a sense of respect as there was no fear in her. Unlike the Ocean Lord of Ocean Wrath, who begged for mercy until the last minute, Earth Fiend showed only peace and serenity. "Duke Ormina, the Saintess of Virtue and Protector of the Frail." When hearing the true names of Earth Fiend for the first time, sharp expressions appeared in the eyes of the Scarlet Inquisitors. Duke Ormina was the Sector Duke of the Mormon Sector, and she was renowned for her charitable nature, always striving to grant ordinary people a safe place and raising promising youths who came from humble backgrounds. Who would imagine that one of the Sector Dukes, famous for their virtue and charity, was actually one of the empire''s greatest and most heinous monsters? Some powerhouses and important figures in the empire found it hard to accept, but the fame of the Scarlet King was so immense by this point that no one doubted his words after he shared the evidence against the woman. "Do what you have to do, boy. If you are expecting me to beg, then you are sorely mistaken. I lived my life according to my rules, and I am ready to face the reaper. If it''s my time to soar into the void of darkness, then so be it." Words were easy to utter, but Cain could see that the old woman meant them. She was not afraid and was ready to face anything. "I will not be able to break your will, will I?" If Cain wanted to use Gluttony''s Eye on a Titan, he first needed to break their mind and spirit, or else it would be impossible to win the clash of wills, but he could see in the eyes of the old woman that would not happen. "You are welcome to try." There was no fear nor cockiness in the old woman''s eyes. She was not trying to act superior in her last moment of life and was honestly free of fear and doubt. Cain stared at the old woman for a moment before silently nodding, accepting no amount of pain or psychological torture would break her spirit. "Your fate is death; there is nothing that will change that. However, death can be painful and slow, or it can be fast and painless. Share your knowledge of the underworld with me, and I will end it in one move." Ormina was about to shake her head when she saw a devious smile on Cain''s face. "Don''t think of it as helping me or even the Deus Behemoth Empire. I am sure you would want some company wherever you are going." Chapter 623: First Level of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework The eyes of the old woman widened as she heard those words, and a flash of enlightenment appeared in them. Cain was betting on her selfish nature, hinting that since her Dark Faction would crumble to nothing, why don''t take the other down with her? "Hahaha, you are even more sinister than I imagined, young man. I do not care about pain, but it is true; why should my faction fall and those other bastards keep breathing." After that, Ormina began to share all sorts of knowledge and insight related to the underworld, focusing on the other three Tier 0 Dark Factions that were still active and hiding. Of course, Cain was not naive and knew that Ormina could be blaming innocent people either to tarnish the reputation of the Scarlet Inquisitor Force, to obtain a personal vendetta, or maybe just for fun, but he had a way of handling it. Unlike the case with Earth Fiend, Cain could devour every single memory of Earth Ghost, Earth Ghoul, and Earth Specter. With that, Apex should be able to discern any form of a lie in the old woman''s words. It took nearly five hours for Ormina to share all her knowledge, and then she nodded to the Scarlet King. As soon as the woman did that, Cain''s right hand moved at a speed so fast that it surprised even the Titans. Cain''s right hand went through Ormina''s neck before an extremely thin cut appeared, and her head rolled to the ground. The scene was shocking, but it was just the beginning since his eyes began to glow with a red light, and the next second, his Ego Wave encompassed the corpse of the old woman. Under the shocked sight of all present, Cain''s Ego Wave began to decompose Sector Duke Ormina''s corpse and devour its energy and vitality before it could fade. Earth Ghost, Earth Ghoul, and Earth Specter trembled as they felt the ravenous devouring power in the red force field and knew they would be its next meal. The trio could do nothing as Cain spent hours devouring the corpse before turning their eyes to them. "Your turn." Unlike with Earth Fiend, Cain devoured the other three alive, breaking their wills and consuming their soul force and memories. They begged for a quick death and promised to tell him everything they knew, but Cain could not trust their words, so he employed Gluttony''s Eye on all of them. After finishing devouring the soul force of the ego of Earth Specter, an annoyed expression appeared on Cain''s face. He was able to consume all knowledge of the Middle Divine Ascension Master. However, he was still unable to assimilate the emotions and insights of those above the Early Divine Ascension Master Rank. The sphere with the soul force and ego of the Soul King was still inside Cain''s soul sea. He had not interacted with this one yet since there was no way to stop once the process started, and he needed to be sure of being able to completely assimilate everything left by the Dark King. The Soul King might be the maximum exponent of the soul path in Aether, and Cain wanted all that knowledge and skills for him. ''I need more practice.'' Although it was somewhat disappointing, Cain did not dwell too much on it, and once he finished with the upper echelon of Earth Fall, he turned toward the Scarlet Inquisitors. "Go back to your domains. Soon, new target packages will arrive, and you must be ready to act." The five Scarlet Inquisitors nodded toward Cain, clasped their hands, and bowed before returning to the teleportation formation and vanishing from the underground chamber. Once Cain was all alone, he clenched his fists and felt the state of his body. It had been nearly a month since he completed his Flesh Calamity, and during all that time, he had only focused on his Essence Evolution Path of Power, allowing his body to rest. "I should be able to start training the Cosmic Tyrant Framework by now." With a wave of his right hand, Cain took out the giant demonic skull, and the next second, he covered this one with his Ego Wave. There was no illusion this time, as mastering the Cosmic Tyrant Framework was divided into comprehension and training. Cain would need to comprehend the runes engraved on the skull, which would guide him through the Cosmic Tyrant Framework principles. The higher his mastery over the Law of Space, the easier it would be for him to comprehend it. He closed his eyes, and it was not until ten hours later that he opened them. As they glowed with a profound light, a solemn expression appeared on his face. "The tales were not exaggerating its power. It is a truly formidable body refinement art that progressively enhances the practitioner''s endurance to withstand forces of cataclysmic proportions. The first level utilizes the Law of Space to fortify the body''s internal and external structure, making it dense and resilient on a molecular level." Not wanting to waste time, Cain adopted a meditative position and, using the principles of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework''s First Level, he began to alter his body''s molecular structure. After two days, Cain''s entire body trembled, and a small shock wave emerged. He opened his eyes, and his Ego Wave could perceive his body''s enhanced molecular structure. Of course, there was no physical improvement, as the First Level of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework would only grant you a body as strong as the armor of a Peak Wave King, and Cain was way beyond that. Although it might sound like a waste of time, if Cain wanted to reach the upper levels, he had to start from the beginning. After completing the First Level, Cain once again sent his Ego Wave into the demonic skull and began deciphering the next level''s principles. This time, it took him a week before enlightenment again appeared in his eyes. Chapter 624: Second Level of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework. Cain''s eyes widened as he understood the principles of the Second Level of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework. "I need to deepen the spatial reinforcement of my body, enhancing my endurance, and I will achieve that by aligning my molecular structure with the world''s spatial fabric. Truly amazing." Cain took a deep breath and controlled his excitement before closing his eyes and starting his training. However, just as a week passed, he opened his eyes, and a disturbed expression appeared. "Too slow." As he calculated the speed at which he was advancing, Cain figured it would take around a year before mastering the Second Level of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework, which was too much. If the Divine Ascension Masters from the Fenrir Clan were to know Cain believed mastering the Second Level in a year was too slow, they would puke blood as they needed decades, and that was thanks to the help of their Lineage that was connected to the Law of Space. "Attunement!" Just as Cain was trying to find a better way to train the Cosmic Tyrant Framework, a word echoed in his mind. The Second Level required him to align with the fabric of space, which was very similar to the principles of Elemental Resonance. A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he focused, revolving Elemental Resonance and allowing his body to resonate with the elements, making natural energy flood his interior. Immediately, Cain''s ability to commune with the elements of the world enhanced, but he did not stop there. Earth, wind, water, and fire are all elements that occupy a portion of space. The connection was feeble, but using the Law of Space, Cain was able to enhance it, allowing him to improve his ability to align his molecular structure with the fabric of space. It took only a few hours for Cain to improve his attunement between his body''s molecular structure and the fabric of space, and then he trained the Second Level of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework. Immediately, a smile appeared on Cain''s face, and he clenched his fists with excitement since the speed of his cultivation improved a hundredfold! Thirty-two days later, a new shock wave emerged from Cain''s body, and this one was dozens of times more potent than the last one. He opened his eyes, and as he analyzed his body, an expression of utter excitement appeared on his face as he had mastered the Second Level of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework. This time, his body did grow stronger. Still, it was only a marginal improvement as Cain had already mastered the Platinum Heart of the Biometal Herculean Technique, granting him a fleshy body as strong as a Peak Platinum Grade Wave Armor. However, the advantage of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework was that it did not need an energy input like Blood Energy with the Biometal Herculean Technique to display its full power. Cain did not really care about the improvement that the Second Level granted since it was on the Third Level that the Cosmic Tyrant Framework would show its true might. "According to my knowledge, the Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan is at the bottom of the Third Level, and she only managed to achieve that after using the Fenrir Lineage to create a Soul Bloodline, exponentially enhancing the power of her bloodline." A potent red light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he again sent his Ego Wave into the giant demonic skull. This time, the process was much more complex, but he still comprehended the Third Level''s basic principles after three and a half weeks of intense meditation. "Amazing!" Cain could not help but shout as he learned the core principles and power of the Third Level of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework. "If I attain the Third Level, my molecular structure will be enhanced, granting me a fleshy body as hard and resilient as Adamantium Grade Wave Armor, but that is just the most basic power. Its true might resides in the ability to achieve a sublime synergy with the Law of Space, allowing my body to disperse the energy from Divine Tier attacks across the spatial dimensions I have attuned to. In essence, I will become one with the space around me, allowing any attack that reaches my body, either energy or physical, to disperse part of its power into the surroundings, diminishing the damage I take." Just picturing the level of physical resilience he would attain made Cain tremble with excitement. Of course, that level would typically take hundreds of years just to achieve the most basic state, but he was confident in his ability. However, just as Cain was ready to embark on his cultivation, he heard a voice in his mind. "Not so fast, the Scarlet Inquisitors are waiting for you." Cain frowned as he heard Apex''s words. As he focused on the last movements of the Scarlet Inquisition Force, he realized that the upper echelon of Diamond Shore and Cataclysm had been captured, and the two Tier 0 Dark Factions were uprooted. It had been less than ten months since the Scarlet Inquisition Force was instituted, yet four of the five Tier 0 Dark Factions had already been destroyed. Cain was slightly surprised to learn that two of the Tier 0 Dark Factions were taken care of at the same time, and it seemed that the information he managed to take from Earth Fall had been very useful. "Mmm, I guess I should handle them before immersing myself in my cultivation again." Not wanting to waste time, Cain sent a signal, and five seconds later, seven Scarlet Inquisitors appeared in front of him. Gigant, Amalia, and many old faces were in the group, but there was also a new one. Cain turned to the only Scarlet Inquisitor that had not appeared before, a woman with red draconic scales and large wings without any tail. The Titan''s name was Iory, and Cain could not help but think the Scarlet Inquisitor''s title truly fit her. Of course, Cain did not dwell on the woman and focused on all Scarlet Inquisitors with a smile. "Well done, all of you. We have improved the safety and ensured the prosperity of the Deus Behemoth Empire." "We serve the Scarlet King!" Chapter 625 625: Akus Vulcano "We serve the Scarlet King." As the seven Scarlet Inquisitors uttered those words, one of the prisoners, restrained by Gigant, spoke. "Scarlet King, we should talk in private." Sharpness and coldness immediately arose in the eyes of the Scarlet Inquisitors at the prisoner''s audacity to speak like that to the Scarlet King. The one who spoke was a middle-aged man with yellow eyes and lava draconic features, who turned out to be none other than World Flame, the Leader of the Tier 0 Dark Faction, Cataclysm. Just as Gigant was about to blast the head of World Flame into the ground, Cain raised his hand and stopped the movements of the Scarlet Inquisitors before focusing on the middle-aged man. Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he noticed the wounds on World Flame and Gigant and realized someone was missing. When facing Titans from the underworld, Apex always sent at least two Scarlet Inquisitors to ensure victory and capture the Tier O Dark Faction''s Leader alive. The one who accompanied Gigant during this mission was Kern. The old Scarlet Inquisitor with polar bear features was not dead but suffered dire wounds in the battle against World Flame and required immediate healing, which is why Gigant brought the man to the headquarters alone. "To have faced two of my Scarlet Inquisitors and only come up with such little wounds, after nearly having killed one, is impressive; I will give you that. However, there is nothing that requires a private meeting between us. I don''t have secrets from my Scarlet Inquisitors." Cain''s eyes were serene as he stared at World Flame as if there was nothing the man could say or do that could affect his heart or mind. However, World Flame''s eyes did not break contact, and he focused on Cain with even more defiance. "Are you sure you want to do it this way? What I am going to share is related to my true identity." Solemn expressions appeared on the faces of the Scarlet Inquisitors as they heard that. According to their target package, World Flame''s true identity was that of Amon Ignitio. Unlike the other leaders of the Tier 0 Dark Factions the Scarlet Inquisition Force captured, Amon was not an influential figure with a majestic background. Until yesterday, he was considered a nomad Titan without any organization beneath him. Although that sort of nomad life was weird for Titans, or anyone of great power for that matter, it was not unheard of. Gigant and the others believe that they uncovered the man''s secret after learning of his control over Cataclysm, but it seems there is even more information. "Lord, should we leave?" Gigant spoke solemnly, and the other Scarlet Inquisitors remained silent, waiting for instructions from the Scarlet King. They were Great Generals of the Imperial Army and understood that sometimes secrets needed to be kept that way. Cain glanced at the Scarlet Inquisitors before turning his eyes back to Amon Ignitio with a calm smile. "There is no need. Amon wants to tell us that he is part of the Vulcano Clan." Shock appeared in the eyes of the Scarlet Inquisitors as they heard those words, and they were not alone as the other criminals were shocked, even those that came from Cataclysm. Amon''s eyes widened, but they immediately regained focus, as he was not all that surprised. After all, he was speaking with the man whose eyes seemed to reach every corner of the underworld. "I can see that you don''t very much care about the bloodline running through my veins, but I am not any member of the Vulcano Clan; my identity is much more complex than you could ever imagine." "You are Emperor Eon''s Great Granduncle, Akus Volcano." Once again, a wave of shock appeared in the eyes of everybody present, and this time, it also involved Amon Ignitio. The man could not believe that his greatest secret, one he had hidden and not shared with any soul in the world, was uncovered by the 21-year-old man in front of him. To be fair, Cain was not the one who uncovered that secret, and neither was Apex, at least not directly. The capability of the [A.I. Chip Module] had reached such an immense computation level that upon gathering all the information on the Deus Behemoth Empire''s network and the underworld, it managed to uncover Amon Ignitio''s past. Although there was a sense of utter shock assailing Akus, he still managed to regain his focus and showed an arrogant expression before staring at Cain. "Since you know my identity, then free me at this instant. The blood of the Deus Behemoth Emperor runs through my veins, and you have no authority over me." The Scarlet Inquisitors began to look at each other with complicated expressions. While their power, authority, and faith in the Scarlet King emboldened them to go against even the Patriarch of the Ten Great Bloodlines, they were talking about the Emperor. Akus noticed the expression on the Scarlet Inquisitors'' faces, and a smug smile appeared, but it did not last long. "?Hahahaha!" Akus could not help but frown as he saw that Cain began to laugh. "What is so funny?" Cain stopped his laughter and glanced at Akus with an amused smile before shaking his head. "I am obviously laughing at you, a coward who thinks he can make me change my mind. You were too afraid to march for the Astral Sea. Yet, you were also unable to endure failing to obtain control of your clan and see how Eon surpassed you, not only becoming the Patriarch of the Volcano Clan but the Emperor of the entire Deus Behemoth Race." "Shut up!" Akus shouted with rage as a wild expression appeared on his face. Everything Cain said was right. He could not endure the humiliation of seeing his grand nephew taking the position he believed was his, but he did not dare to embark on the Astral Sea either. That was why he faked his departure from Aether and formed Cataclysm, becoming a king of the underworld. "A filthy human like you cannot speak to me like that. Now let me go or..." Chapter 626 626: Taking care of Akus Akus was unable to finish his sentence as Cain flashed forward at incredible speed and grabbed his head, starting to exert so much pressure that the sound of bones cracking began to echo across the chamber. Terror and shock appeared in the eyes of Akus as he did not understand how a young human who had not even become a Divine Ascension Master could unleash such overwhelming physical power. Even if the Scarlet Inquisitor was suppressing his Astral Wave, he was still a Titan, yet his skull was about to shatter. Not only did Akus feel the strength in that grip, but it was as if the space around his head was starting to compress. The Cosmic Tyrant Framework, an ability whose core is defense, upon capitalizing on its interaction with space, allowed Cain to enhance his physical body with the immense power of the Void Weaver Art. Cain''s eyes were cold as he glanced at Akus, but he noticed the complicated expressions that appeared in the Scarlet Inquisitors. While they obeyed his orders to the letter regardless of the task, the men and women couldn''t help but feel conflicted as it seemed Cain was about to kill the great uncle of the Deus Behemoth Emperor. These feelings were not a sign of disloyalty, as they were normal emotions that would arise in soldiers who spent their entire lives following the emperor''s command. The fact none of them made a move or even spoke a word was actually proof of just how highly they esteemed the Scarlet King. Fortunately for the seven Scarlet Inquisitors, Cain was not going to make them choose. The next second, they saw that a group call had formed between them, Cain and Eon. "Cain? What is the matter? Oh, we are not speaking, just the two of us." It took a moment, but Eon''s voice appeared on the other end of the call. "I currently have the Leader of Cataclysm under custody. However, he says he is your great-granduncle, Akus Vulcano." "What!" Eon''s stunned voice echoed across the call, making it clear how surprised he was about that information. After giving the emperor a moment to process the information, Cain continued with the call. "You could come and see if it is true and take him with you if you so desire, Your Majesty. However, you are an important and busy man, and this person is surely lying. After all, your great-granduncle was a hero of the empire, and there is no way he would have become such a lowly life form, killing the weak and preying on the innocent." The seven Scarlet Inquisitors'' eyes narrowed as they heard the Scarlet King''s words and gazed at him with surprise. Despite his young age, the man was also very adept in the political aspect of ruling. There was silence on the other end of the call for a few seconds, but then Eon''s voice returned. "You are right; my great-granduncle was a hero, and his family still holds him in high esteem. There is no way that man and the criminal that led a Tier 0 Dark Faction for hundreds of years could be the same person." Eon made a pause at this point, and then he spoke again with a solemn and cold voice. "I am sure the Scarlet King will know how to proceed." "The only ones that will leave my chamber alive are the great generals of the Deus Behemoth Empire that understood the price of disclosing false information." Cain''s eyes turned to the Scarlet Inquisitors as he spoke, and all immediately felt their bodies grow tense. Even if the seven were more powerful than Cain, the figure of the young man in their heart was so great that they couldn''t help but grow nervous under his sharp gaze. All seven Scarlet Inquisitors adopted a formal military stance as they silently bowed to the Scarlet King, engraving in their minds that what they heard in this place was nothing but lies that did not need to be repeated. Cain''s gaze softened as he saw the seriousness in all seven Titans, and he softly nodded before speaking again. "Everything will be handled cautiously, Your Majesty." "Good. Then, since there is nothing more, I will return to my training. Continue the hard work, Scarlet King." After that, the call was finished, and Cain''s focus returned to Akus. While there was a smile on his face, his eyes were those of a beast about to consume its prey. In all fairness, Cain could have handled all this much more quickly and efficiently. While he let Apex handle the Scarlet Inquisition Force, he kept an eye on important matters and knew the identity of the Leader of Cataclysm before he was captured. He could have commanded the Scarlet Inquisitors to kill the man on the spot or neutralized Akus''s ability to speak when he reached the chamber, but he didn''t. First of all, such haste might have raised suspicion, and people could begin to wonder and investigate what made the Leader of Cataclysm so special. That was why Cain revealed the information to Eon and the Scarlet Inquisitors. This also allowed him to test the character of the Emperor and the Great Generals, all of whom proved to be truly remarkable. Cain''s eyes glowed as he enhanced his grip, and the power of the Law of Space burst forth. Akus'' body trembled the next second and fell to the ground. The man was still alive, but Cain had managed to transfer the physical pressure of his hand to the man''s brain using the Law of Space, crushing the part related to muscle movement, paralyzing him. "You will not utter any more lies." Cain spoke with a smile before the full power of his Ego Wave flooded the chamber, making the devious criminal who led the underworld for hundreds of years tremble in fear as they felt themselves inside a monster''s maw. "Now, it is time for the meal." Chapter 627: Devuring the Soul Kings memories The last feelings in Akus Vulcano''s eyes were terror and despair as he witnessed his extremities being devoured before his eyes. Then, his eyeballs were also consumed by the red force field. What he felt next was a power forcing a clash of willpower, which he lost before overwhelming pain assaulted his brain. By that point, the only thing the man wanted was death, which he received after Gluttony''s Eye consumed his soul force and ego. Cain assimilated the knowledge in Akus''s memories before allowing his Ego Wave to finish consuming what remained of the man''s corpse. Once he was done with him, a wide smile appeared on his face. It had taken him less than three days to consume all six Divine Ascension Masters, thanks to the improvement in his Gluttony Concept and Gluttony''s Eye, but that was not the part that made him the happiest. There were two Middle Divine Ascension Masters among the upper echelon of Diamond Shore and Cataclysm, and Cain assimilated not only the duo''s knowledge but also their emotions and insights. Gluttony''s Eye power had finally evolved to the point of consuming the full spectrum of the memories of a Middle Divine Ascension Master, which should be enough for him to finally consume the Soul King''s soul orb inside his soul sea. Of course, Cain would not carry out such a process with the Scarlet Inquisitors present, so he focused on the seven Titans. "You have done a great job. We are one step away from destroying all Tier 0 Dark Factions and bringing peace and prosperity to the Deus Behemoth Empire. Wait for further instructions on the upper floor." The seven Scarlet Inquisitors bowed to Cain and used the surface of the Scarlet Inquisition Force Headquarters. Now that only one Tier 0 Dark Faction was active and no underworld powerhouse dared to show its face, it was best if the Scarlet Inquisitors remained in the headquarters, as from this place, they could immediately reach any part of the empire through the teleportation formations. Once Cain was all alone, he took a deep breath and lay on the ground before closing his eyes. He was not meditating or resting but had fallen asleep. Thanks to the power of his vitality and the might of his mind, sleep was not something Cain needed anymore. However, he could choose to enter that state, as it would allow his body and mind to attain true relaxation. Something important if he wanted to be at his peak for the following task. Six hours later, Cain opened his eyes, and a sensation of rest he had not felt in months washed over him. It was truly impressive and allowed his mind to achieve great focus, which he would need. Without wasting any more time, Cain adopted a meditative position on the ground and closed his eyes as he began to flood his body with natural energy. While that power was meant to improve his physical and energy control, it would also enhance his senses and mind, which would be helpful. Once the natural energy saturated him, Cain focused on the dark blue sphere with golden seals inside his soul sea. A cut appeared on his forehead the next second, and Gluttony''s Eye emerged. The power of the organ that embodies the power of the Gluttony Concept burst, but instead of flooding a target on the outside, its power invaded Cain''s soul sea and lunged toward the soul orb made of the Soul King''s soul force and ego. Cain''s entire body trembled once the power of the Gluttony Eye reached the soul orb, and he faced the fragmented Soul King''s willpower inside. The pressure and resistance he faced did not feel any weaker than that of the broken Titans he had devoured before, and this was just a tiny piece of the Soul King. The Dark King''s willpower was clearly on a completely different level than the average Titans. Still, Cain had prepared and faced countless clashes of will over the last ten months, so he succeeded after immense effort and hours of fighting. The soul orb with the Soul King''s soul force and ego trembled as its resilience faded, and it was time for the Gluttony''s Eye to start its consumption. Cain could not help but clench his fists as memories appeared in his mind. He saw a young boy born in what could only be described as a dungeon and how this one grew in the worst possible conditions. As soon as the little boy was able to understand what happened around him and the nature of his birth, rage and hatred overwhelmed him. As soon as those feelings appeared, Cain smiled with pure thrill since he was assimilating not only the Soul King''s knowledge but also his memories and insights. That meant he could use them to obtain the man''s skills and cultivation techniques! Not allowing any other distractions, Cain focused as the thousands of years of memories from the Soul King went through his mind. Despite the hardship and pain he saw, no emotion of sympathy or pity appeared in his heart. For one, the Soul King had tried to kill him, and more importantly, he was a Master of Order and could not feel empathy, at least not in the way normal people experience it. More and more memories appeared in Cain''s mind. Of course, they were going at an immensely fast rate; after all, there was no way Cain would spend thousands of years watching every second, but he was not worried about missing something since he could focus and would remember them in the future. The smile on Cain''s face only grew wider as the more he learned, the more he could understand the soul aspect of cultivation and skills connected to the spirit. He even gained access to the Soul King''s insights related to the mysteries of the Soul Law. Although having access to those insights was not the same as mastering the Law, Cain could use them in the future and ponder about them to train the Soul Law if he wished to. Chapter 628: Wind Tribulation (I) The seven Scarlet Inquisitors that brought the upper echelon of Cataclysm and Diamond Shore were in the main level of the Scarlet Inquisition Force Headquarters. All around them, dozens of thousands of Wave Kings were handling the millions of prisoners that arrived every week at this place. Of course, people at their level would not bother with such menial tasks and were currently healing, making sure to recover their strength to their peak and be ready to march the moment the Scarlet King commanded it. "RUMBLE!" Suddenly, the seven Scarlet Inquisitors woke up from their meditation as they saw how the headquarters began to tremble. Immediately, their eyes grew sharp and focused on the origin, realizing it came from none other than the dimension located thousands of meters underground. Not only was confusion in the eyes of the Titans upon seeing that the origin was the chamber of the Scarlet King but there was also a sense of utter shock upon realizing the amount of energy this one was unleashing. "?Incredible!" Gigant could not help but utter that word as he felt that the energy and power being unleashed in that underground dimension was nearing the level of a Titan! The reason for such commotion occurred when Cain reached the latter years of the Soul King''s memories. The moment he saw the last memories of the man, his eyes opened, and the smile on his face froze. Immediately, all the happiness and thrill Cain felt upon obtaining every aspect of the Dark King''s memories faded and was replaced with utter rage and killing intent. "YOU DARE!" Cain shouted as his Ego Wave exploded, clashing against the chamber''s walls with pure rage. It did not take long for the power in his body and energy pool to do the same, generating a pillar of multicolored force that flooded the entire chamber and made it tremble to the point that cracks began to form in the walls. More and more energy emerged from Cain''s mind and body as the rage that assaulted his heart was overwhelming. He was a Master of Order but was not a sociopath, and while he could ignore most people, those that formed part of his Life Matrix were important. This was why the killing intent in Cain''s soul exploded upon learning that The Organization had launched a war that threatened the north of the Godslayer Humankind Empire, where his friend and lover resided. Cain''s fury was so intense that his energy kept exploding, and the dimension started to grow unstable, but he did not care. His eyes turned to the distance as that was the direction where the Gai Continent resided. The last memories of the Soul King were from a year ago, and in them, Cain saw that the situation was not good for the forces of the Godslayer Humankind. Who knew what could have happened in this last year or whether his lover, master, and friends were even still alive? If it were not for the Power of Order, Cain would not have resisted the desire to leave the Hyperion Continent and traverse the Endless Ocean immediately. Just as Cain''s energy was about to shatter the dimension, his eyes narrowed, and he turned his gaze to the sky. While he could not see it from inside the dimension, his senses told him a powerful storm was rising. His rage and outburst of energy had pushed his Essence Evolution Path of Power beyond the limits of the Wave King Rank and triggered the First Tribulation of the Apotheosis Realm. The Power of Order reached an extreme as it began to suppress and nullify all emotion in Cain''s soul. His eyes became empty and so cold that they could freeze the heart of anyone who dared to focus on them. Cain took a step forward, not bothering with the formation and using his own power to teleport outside of the dimension, appearing hundreds of thousands of meters in the sky. Despite being day, the sky had darkened for dozens of thousands of kilometers as if a storm was brewing, yet there were no clouds. An oppressing feeling covered the heavens as the air thickened and howls and screams began to echo. Those were not the screams of monsters or beasts but the wind itself as it carried the might of the tribulation designed to destroy those who wish to break beyond the physical realm of existence. The thousands of Wave Kings in the Scarlet Inquisition Headquarters could not help but look at the sky with horror as they felt a power that could eradicate all of them, and even Apotheosis Masters felt terror as they felt the energy that began to amass in the sky. There were a lot of Essence Cultivators among the present who had faced the Wind Tribulation, but the power in the sky was different from anything they had faced. It was simply too destructive, too powerful for them even to assimilate. Iory, the only Essence Cultivator among the Titans, could feel the tribulation''s power better than anyone, and she could not help but shake as the power of the Law of Wind in it reached a level she found unfathomable. Gigant and Amalia stared at the Wind Tribulation, but they were not surprised by its power as they both saw the soul-shaking Flesh Calamity that the Scarlet King endured. It made sense that the Tribulations would also differ from those normal people would face. What truly shocked the duo was the coldness and emotionless aura that emanated from the Scarlet King, one so monstrous that it made even Great Generals like them feel afraid. Cain gazed at the sky with emotionless eyes before focusing on the Scarlet Inquisition Headquarters and its thousands of people. While he did not fear the power of the Wind Tribulation, he knew it would level everything around him. Immediately, he stepped to the side and reappeared hundreds of thousands of meters away. The darkness and oppressing force that had covered the sky above the Scarlet Inquisition Headquarters paused for a moment before seemingly redirecting its attention to the distance and surging forward. Chapter 629: Wind Tribulation (II) Cain did not stop, continuing to flash ahead at an overwhelming speed while the Wind Tribulation followed him. Although the Law of Space and the Void Weaver Art allowed his body to achieve an overwhelming speed, Cain knew he could not escape the sky. However, that was not a problem, as his goal was not to run from the Tribulation. Cain only wanted to reach a desolate place where there would not be collateral damage. After thirty seconds, he stopped running as he had reached an empty poisonous swamp, void of any sentient life form. Less than a second after Cain''s stop, the sky turned dark, and the power of the Wind Tribulation flooded the place with even greater strength than before, seemingly enraged by the fact it had to chase him. Cain focused on the sky with emotionless eyes. He did not activate his armor or use his Wave to protect himself. While the Wind Tribulation was extremely dangerous, it was also a great lucky chance as its power would temper his flesh and blood, improving his attunement to the Laws while engraving the power of the Wind Law into his Essence Start and Essence Wave. There was no fear or hesitation in Cain''s soul as he prepared to receive the full power of the Wind Tribulation with his naked body. The Wind Tribulation grew more and more powerful, and the howls of the air reached a point where they made the earth tremble. Suddenly, a deafening silence envelops the area as the wind itself seems to draw in a breath, creating an eerie calm. Without warning, gales of unprecedented power descend, spiraling around Cain. These were not ordinary winds but concentrated manifestations of the destructive power of the Wind Law. Immediately, the swamp was destroyed, with every vertical structure blown away, generating a massive storm that spread for hundreds of kilometers. Cain was in the center of the storm and saw how the winds formed a series of concentric rings around his body, moving at blinding speeds. The centrifugal force made him feel his blood would emerge from his orifices and pressured his internal organs. Even with his physical might and vitality, this would have been a test for Cain, but this Tribulation was nothing but an enhanced version of the power he faced during his training in the Primordial Path. Cain closed his eyes and was able to adapt and manipulate the wind barrier around him, allowing them to interact with his body safely. The process continued for nearly two hours, pushing his focus to the limit. Then, the winds sharpened, becoming as deadly as blades that flashed toward him. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he clenched his fists and began to strike toward the incoming wind blades. Other Essence Cultivators would shatter the wind blades with spells to protect themselves, but that would prevent their bodies from tempering with their power. Cain used his bare hands to face those wind blades, and while they damaged him and left deep cuts all over his body, they also began to improve him. The blade gale lasted for a total of five hours, and by the time it was over, there was not a single corner of Cain''s body that was not riddled with cuts. Yet, that also meant that there was not a shred of his flesh and blood that the Law of Wind did not temper. Cain showed no concern for his wounds and focused on the Wind Tribulation''s power. The Whirling Barriers and Blade Gale were the two phases of the Wind Tribulation and should be the end, yet that was clearly not the case for him. The darkness still flooded the heavens, and the power of the Wind Tribulation only grew stronger. "Monster." "Murderer." "Killer." "Demon." "Bastard." Suddenly, voices echoed inside Cain''s mind, and he saw how the wind around his figure turned dark, and the howling voices of the people he had killed began to emerge. His eyes narrowed as he felt powerful feelings of shame, fear, and confusion trying to rise inside his mind, pushing him to feel regret and break his spirit. "Hmph!" That was the only response Cain gave to those sounds, as this phase was even easier to handle than the other two. He was a Master of Order and could shatter any emotion that might arise in his heart, including those that others tried to put in him. The Wind Tribulation tried to shake his mind and soul with horrible illusions and forcefully install negative emotions, but Cain''s face did not flinch in the slightest as they had no effect on him. Of course, that was not without a positive effect, as the more Cain resisted, the more his soul force seemed to improve, as if the power of the Wind Law was nurturing it. After realizing that, Cain wished it would last for days, but after nine hours, the voices faded. Cain''s eyes suddenly narrowed as he felt his instincts screaming danger, and he looked to the sky as the full power of the Wind Tribulation that extended for hundreds of kilometers began to concentrate into a cyclone. That monstrous cyclone began to descend with momentum and power capable of shattering a continent, its eye fixed on Cain. The seven Scarlet Inquisitors were watching the event from a distance, and their look of amazement and awe had not changed since the start. Yet, now there was also horror as even they would need to focus on resisting the power of that cyclone. Cain was not a fool and could feel the immense power of that cyclone, and even with the reinforcement of natural energy, it would be dangerous to take it head-on without cover, but he did not want to diminish its tempering power. Instead of blocking it, his body burst with bright golden and dark golden flames as he triggered the full power of Radiance of Life and Radiance of Strength, improving his regeneration ability and resilience. "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Chapter 630: Medium Law Integration "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" The moment the cyclone crashed into Cain, it thrust him to the ground before exploding with greater might than any atomic bomb of the Old World could unleash. Powerful gales exploded in all directions, sending any tree trapped in it flying away and even raising mountains from the ground. The Scarlet Inquisitors could not hide their shock as they saw such a massive blast, and while they were worried, they did not dare to get closer as the Wind Tribulation could explode with power due to external influence, which would not help Cain. In the end, the Titans could only wait and hope for the best. Cain was currently at the bottom of a gargantuan crater formed by the clash of the cyclone, and his entire body was riddled with deep injuries. His vital organs were fine, but the Wind Tribulation had torn his muscles apart and left most of his bones with several fractures, making it hard to move. That damage was considerable since, by now, Cain''s resilience was not inferior to a Pseudo Adamantine Wave Armor, even without any energy reinforcement. The Radiance of Life was healing his body when the raging, destructive gales that flooded the area began to change. The destructive nature of the Wind Tribulation that sought to shatter his body and break his mind faded, replaced by a healing force. On their own, those powerful gales began to flood into Cain''s body. Cain''s eyes widened as this healing force was new and not what other Apotheosis Realm Masters would experience when enduring their Wind Tribulation. ''Duality?'' That word echoed in Cain''s mind, but he did not lose focus and took advantage of the gales'' healing force to boost his body''s regeneration power. The dark sky began to fade as the healing gales thinned out. Cain remained on the ground until the last healing gale was absorbed into his body, and only then did he stand up. He clenched his fists, and a small smile appeared as emotions returned to his heart. "System." That word was the only thing the Absolute Life Form System needed to understand what Cain needed, and like always, it fulfilled its job. [Scanning Vessel... ... Scan of Vessel completed. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Flesh Calamity) / Essence Evolution (Wind Tribulation) Lineage: Solis Lineage (Maximum Purity) Wave Talent: ??? ... Stats: Strength: 552.9-->589.2 (812.4) Agility: 302.5-->371.2 (546.3) Vitality: 620.6-->670.9 (940.3) Astral Wave: 398.2-->420.3 (601.0) Essence Wave: 230.5-->333.5 (490.6) ... Astral Blood Saturation: 95% Completion Law Mastery: Law of Space (Extreme Law Fragmentation) Earth Law (Extreme Law Fragmentation) Water Law (Extreme Law Fragmentation) Fire Law (Extreme Law Fragmentation) Wind Law (Medium Law Integration) ... Note: Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 0.4%. The effect has diminished as the Vessel''s foundation is too strong for the Wave Virus to have an impact. Note: Natural energy has enhanced every aspect of the Vessel''s physical body as well as both Astral Wave and Essence Wave. The current value is marked between (). Once natural energy is depleted, the Vessel''s power will return to base stats.] The excitement in Cain''s heart increased even more as he saw those stats. The physical improvement he obtained solely due to the Wind Tribulation was not much. Still, he could feel how his Essence Wave moved dozens of times more smoothly across his body and how the amount of energy his Essence Start could generate improved immensely. The one thing that excited Cain the most was seeing how much his mastery over the Law of Wind had improved. Although it was at the bare bottom of that stage, he managed to achieve Medium Law Integration, a feat that even those at the Divine Realm found hard to match. However, all the excitement and thrill did not last long, as Cain''s mind and heart were still full of worry about the fate of his friends in Gaia. Cain''s eyes gazed into the Endless Ocean, but now that he recovered his focus, he discarded the idea. He had the power to traverse that ocean infested with Wave Beasts and phenomena, but even with all his abilities, it would take him several years to reach Gaia that way. As for teleportation formations, those were still inaccessible. While the effects of the Great Cataclysm were gone on the land, it still affected the sea, which was why there was no way to communicate with the other continents, much less teleport to them. "Apex?" If there was one person who knew how to reach Gaia quickly, it would be the System Spirit, whose current understanding of the Deus Behemoth Empire might rival that of Eon. "This is the fastest way." Apex did not make Cain wait and immediately shared with him the information he had, providing him with the fastest method to reach Gaia. Cain frowned as he saw the difficulty of the method and the price, but there was no hesitation in his eyes as he focused on his [A.I. Chip Module] and contacted Eon. "Your Majesty, we need to meet immediately." Less than five seconds after Cain spoke, a voice echoed on the other end of the communication channel. "Come to my cultivation ground." Cain ended the call after receiving the message from the Emperor, and then his gaze shifted to the horizon. He took a deep breath as the power of the Law of Space and the Law of Wind enhanced his body and energy, and the next second, he dashed forward. "ZNNNNNNNNNN!" The sound of space tearing echoed, and the Scarlet Inquisitors watched with awe and shock as the Scarlet King, a twenty-one-year-old man, managed to achieve a speed even they would find hard to match! "Incredible." Gigant could not help but utter those words as he observed the Scarlet King''s speed, and the other Scarlet Inquisitors could only nod in agreement, forced to accept that, at least in terms of speed, the Scarlet King had already achieved the tier of a Titan! Chapter 631: Exodus Formation Cain utilized his maximum speed as he returned to the floating city at the heart of the Bahamut Sector. Although he lacked skills or spells directly associated with the Law of Wind, surviving the Wind Tribulation had imprinted runes of the Law of Wind on his bones. And that enhancement was even more powerful inside his Essence Star to the extent that his Essence Wave was imbued with the Law of Wind''s power. Thanks to his amazing speed, Cain quickly spotted the flying city in the distance. Despite Amazon''s several defensive formations, as the leader of the Scarlet Inquisition Force, his military authority was second only to the Emperor, allowing him to fly over Amazon and soon reach a massive volcano. Eon was meditating inside the volcano, above the scorching lava that burned hotter than the sun of the Old World. His eyes narrowed upon noticing the young man''s arrival atop the volcano, as the speed achieved by Cain was astonishing. ''He has evolved once more, not just in his cultivation base but also in talent and potential.'' Eon couldn''t help but silently smile, reassured that the path he and Wanton had chosen was the right one, as Cain''s strength continued to grow at a simply monstrous rate. He was about to exit the volcano when Cain instantly appeared above the lava. Immediately, Eon''s eyes narrowed, observing how Cain''s body could withstand the blistering heat from the Prime Volcano using only his Essence Wave Cloak for protection. ''It''s not just his speed, but his defenses also seem to have evolved. How long would it be before he could match the might of a True Tian?'' This question crossed Eon''s mind, prompting a solemn and serious expression as he regarded Cain not just as a young man with potential but as a formidable force capable of standing toe-to-toe with him. "What do you need, Scarlet King?" Understanding that Cain''s request for a personal meeting signified a matter that couldn''t be easily handled, Eon immediately headed to the point and did not waste time. Cain looked at Eon, his eyes shining with determination as he made his request. "I need to use the Exodus Formation." Eon''s expression tightened upon hearing this. The Exodus Formation was a closely guarded military secret known only by the Emperor and the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines. There were no digital records of it, emphasizing its significance and confidentiality. The Exodus Formation was the Deus Behemoth Empire''s ace in the hole, capable of safely transporting one billion Deus Behemoths across the Endless Ocean, bypassing any spatial or energetic barriers. It was reserved for catastrophic events that threatened the very survival of the Deus Behemoth Race, allowing a fraction of the population to escape the Hyperion Continent. Although it was a great secret, Eon knew the young man in front of him could uncover the Tier 0 Dark Faction in just a couple of months, so it was not that impressive he knew it. What shocked Eon was that Cain suddenly requested such an important empire tool. "Explain." Eon wanted to understand the urgency behind the young man, especially since Cain possessed the means to cross the Endless Ocean on his own. Cain''s eyes briefly flashed with killing intent as he went through the memories of the Soul King, but he quickly regained his composure. "The Organization has initiated a war in the north of Gaia, with support from the Inferno Daemon Race. With the Golden Emperor and most of the Imperial Army preoccupied with the chaos spread by the Dark King in the south and west, the Collapsing Lightning Duke is left to fend off the invasion alone." "What!?" Eon''s eyes widened in utter shock. The impact of those words hit him harder than learning his great-granduncle was still in Aether and was a criminal. The Godslayer Humankind Empire was their ally, and its downfall would significantly weaken their combined power and resistance against the Dark Races. Immediately, Eon''s eyes glowed as he focused his will to control his emotions, adopting a solemn and analytical expression. He remained silent, calculating his next steps. It became clear to him why Cain sought to use the Exodus Formation; the young man needed to reach Gaia urgently since a war threatened his entire race. Cain waited for Eon to make his decision, understanding the Emperor was considering many aspects and therefore did not rush him. Finally, after five minutes, a decisive light appeared in Eon''s eyes. "I will permit the use of the Exodus Formation and provide you with an army''s worth of cultivation resources, armors, healing drugs, and potions, along with unique war formations and treasures. However, I cannot allow you to take warriors of the Deus Behemoth Empire with you." Cain''s eyes narrowed upon hearing the last part. Although he had not explicitly requested reinforcements, the Deus Behemoth Empire, being an ally of the Godslayer Humankind Empire, should provide aid in such a conflict. Nonetheless, Cain remained silent, noting that the Deus Behemoth Emperor was about to explain his decision. "I understand my responsibilities towards our allies, but the Deus Behemoth Empire has suffered significant damage following the loss of the Umbra Clan. Your efforts and those of the Scarlet Inquisition Force have improved the empire''s safety and allowed us to amass considerable wealth. However, it will be some time before this translates into true military strength. Any warrior departing with you through the Exodus Formation would not be able to return until the effects of the Great Cataclysm are over, and we cannot afford such a weakness for an extended period. Your information indicates that The Organization was aware of the Great Cataclysm and took advantage of it to initiate their war. While their influence appears to have been limited to the Soul King within my empire, there''s no guarantee they don''t have plans to incite the Atrox Immortus Empire to attack us at the first sign of vulnerability. I promise to send True Titans to Gaia as soon as the teleportation formations are operational again. Until then, I can only offer war equipment and resources." Chapter 632: Accessing the old mans starry gem Cain stared at Eon for several seconds before finally sighing and softly nodding. The words of the Deus Behemoth Emperor made perfect sense, as he could not demand warriors when they might soon be needed in the Hyperion Continent. "I understand, and I accept your words. I will be content with the military equipment and resources and hope they will be enough." Eon was relieved to see that Cain understood and accepted his decision. He did not want to antagonize the young man, and it was very important for him to see the Hyperion Continent as home, but he could not risk the safety of his empire. "Excellent. I will begin to adapt the Exodus Formation so it can assist you and also charge it with energy. According to my calculations, completing it should take two to three months. I will exert my best effort to expedite the process, but there is a limit to how much we can accelerate things." Cain nodded as he understood that the Exodus Formation indeed required a charging time of months, which made sense considering it was a formation meant to send him across the Endless Ocean. "That is fine. I will use the time to complete my mission and ensure no hidden threats are left in the Hyperion Continent." Eon couldn''t help but smile as he heard those words and saw that, even with all the distress and worries, Cain had not forgotten about his mission and the safety of the Deus Behemoth Empire. "I will leave you to it. I will ensure that all the war equipment and treasures are ready by the time the Exodus Formation is charged. I will inform you as soon as it''s finished." Cain clasped his hands and performed a bow toward Eon before rising to the sky and flashing back to the Scarlet Inquisition Headquarters. Once Eon was alone, he released a deep sigh, and an expression of exhaustion appeared on his face. The responsibilities of overseeing an entire race were heavy, and he looked at the starry sky with excitement. "Soon, I will march to the stars and leave this burden behind." After uttering those words, Eon''s eyes sharpened. Without hesitation, he rose to the sky and headed to the Imperial Court, as many important matters needed to be handled with the urgency they demanded. ... Cain returned to the underground chamber in the Scarlet Inquisition Force Headquarters a few minutes later and did not say a word to the Scarlet Inquisitors, as he was not in the mood to talk. He was resolved to return to Gaia, but even in the best conditions, he would enter a war with True Titans at the helms. If he wanted to make a difference, much more than just war equipment and treasures would be needed. Cain would have to achieve a level of battle power that could sunder the sky and collapse Sectors. A coldness flooded Cain''s eyes as he used the Power of Order to shut down his emotions and began to look at things from a purely rational perspective, analyzing his next step. "Right now, the only Path of Power in which I can achieve substantial improvement in a short period of time would be my Ego Eternal Path of Power." Cain''s willpower had reached the peak of the Second Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power long ago, and his Ego Wave kept growing purer and denser. He was already able to initiate a 9x9 Ego Destruction Tribulation, which was supposed to be the highest possible. Once he surpassed that, his Ego Wave would have the power to alter matter and enhance his energy pool with much greater force. Although Cain still felt there was something hidden in the Ego Destruction Tribulation that he was not seeing, time was of the essence, and he needed more power. "Wait!" Suddenly, a sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes. He focused on his space ring, and a starry gem appeared in his hand the next second. This was none other than the starry gem that the strange old man had given him, and that was supposed to be the key to dual cultivation beyond the Apotheosis Realm. Cain had already survived his Flesh Calamity and faced the Wind Tribulation so he could finally access the information within it. Cain gazed at the starry gem, and the next second, he sent his Ego Wave into it. As soon as his willpower entered, the world around him vanished, and he found himself in a starry void surrounded by dots of light. As Cain was wondering what was happening, the dots of light began to coalesce in front of him, forming a humanoid figure with golden hair. His eyes immediately narrowed as the figure that appeared was an exact copy of his current self. He had obtained the starry gem when he possessed the True Avernus Bloodline, yet the humanoid figure was a perfect copy of his current self with the Solis Lineage. A starry gem should contain a recorded message and not change over time, yet this one clearly had. "His Essence Evolution Path of Power and Astral Rebirth Path of Power are exactly the same, and even his Ego Eternal Path of Power is also at the extreme of the Second Realm." Despite all this, Cain did not lose focus and concentrated on the copy made of starlight as it adopted a meditative position in the void. The figure remained like that for several minutes until, finally, its entire body trembled, and its aura burst with power. Cain''s eyes widened as he could sense every minute detail in the copy of him. The burst in power did not come from an improvement in the Essence Evolution or Astral Rebirth Paths of Power, and the Ego Eternal Path of Power remained at the Mind Over Wave Realm. The reason for the burst in aura on the copy was that its soul force managed to evolve beyond the limits of the Apotheosis Realm. Chapter 633: The Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulation Cain couldn''t help but clench his fists upon seeing that incredible feat. Although he had managed to maintain his soul force a rank above his cultivation base during his time as a Wave Warrior and Wave Champion, he had yet to achieve that feat as a Wave King. Although he was an Apotheosis Master, technically, the Apotheosis Realm was just the Extreme Wave King Rank, and the next major cultivation level was Divine Ascension. Cain''s soul force had improved drastically over the past years, but he was still at the peak of the Apotheosis Realm, and he did not believe it to be possible to rise beyond it without first pushing his Ego Wave to the Third Realm. Just as Cain wondered about the purpose of showing him a copy of himself rising its soul force to the Divine Ascension Realm, a thunderous burst echoed, and he saw a storm of multicolored flames arising above the figure. Cain looked at the storm and immediately discovered this one was the Ego Destruction Tribulation, but it was different from the ones that assailed him when he emerged from the Astral Bloodline Realm. The multicolored storm that formed above the copy was just 9 kilometers wide, meaning the weakest level of tribulation that someone could experience upon advancing to the Third Realm. While that would allow your Ego Wave to reach the Mind Over Matter, your talent and potential in the Ego Eternal Path of Power would be mediocre, to say the least. When your Ego Wave evolved to the Third Realm, it was no longer all about quantity but also about quality. The size of your Ego Wave would relate to your willpower, but the quality of this one would be connected to the powers of your Alter-Ego and your mastery over Concepts. Someone who survived a 9X1 Ego Destruction Tribulation would attain the Third Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power. Still, his Ego Wave would always lag behind his primary Path of Power, and his Alter-Ego would offer little to no improvement over his body and spells. However, the next second, a new storm formed above the previous one, and this was 18 kilometers wide! "Layers!" Cain''s eyes widened as he saw the second storm twice as large, and just as he expected, a third one manifested, and this one was 27 kilometers wide. Instead of simply growing in size as it normally did, this Ego Destruction Tribulation grew in layers. The first layer to form was a 9X1 Ego Destruction Tribulation, the second a 9x2 Ego Destruction Tribulation, and the third a 9x3 Ego Destruction Tribulation. It did not take long before a new storm emerged above the last one, and this one was 36 kilometers in length, embodying the power of a 9x4 Ego Destruction Tribulation. The process continued until a 72-kilometer-wide multicolored storm appeared before a final 81-kilometer layer emerged. "If you push your soul force to the Divine Ascension Realm before the Third Realm, then you will face The Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulations." Cain''s eyes glowed with enlightenment as he heard the old man''s words echo across the dimension. It became clear to him now the reason why the copy improved its soul force beyond the limits of the Apotheosis Realm before facing the Ego Destruction Tribulation. "?BOOM!" Immediately, Cain''s attention was drawn back to the illusion as the Nine Layers Ego Destruction Tribulation began to assail the copy. Each layer fell with overwhelming power full of soul-destructive power, but the figure endured them as if they were nothing. Cain adopted a solemn expression as he was sure he would not have such an easy time when facing The Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulation but did not lose focus as he knew the next part would be the crucial one. After overcoming The Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulation, the copy opened its eyes, and these glowed with a red burning light before his Astral Wave and Essence Wave exploded with power, evolving beyond the peak of the Apotheosis Realm. Absolute concentration appeared in Cain''s eyes as he saw that the copy had evolved its cultivation base and prepared to take the next step, fusing its soul into his Sacred Organs in order to become a Divine Ascension Master. This was the most important part, as Cain understood only one soul existed, and you needed to fuse this one into the Sacred Organ to become a Divine Ascension Master. Therefore, you could not become a Divine Ascension Master in both Paths of Power, and one would forever be stuck at the Wave King Rank. At this point, the eyes of the copy burst with red flames, and the power of the Ego Wave reached an unprotected level before all of it emerged from Cain''s body and began to coalesce above his head in the form of an infinitesimal thin blade. "Soul Severing Will!" Once again, the old man''s voice echoed, and Cain saw how his Ego Wave''s blade flashed down his body. It did not damage the flesh but managed to sever his soul in two! Splitting your soul in half is not only an act that requires divine powers, but it is also a feat nearly impossible to perform without leaving oneself in a state of utter coma. The soul and your ego form your core essence, the fundamental part of your existence. Cain had severed the connection of the Soul King with a small fragment of the man''s soul, which put this one into a profound coma. Things would have been much worse had the Void King and Shadow King not interfered. Cain''s eyes widened with a sense of utter shock and awe as he witnessed this. Any life form that divided their souls in half would immediately be left in an endless coma in the best scenario or perish outright, yet the copy of him managed to survive. It took a moment, but Cain understood why this copy could endure such a procedure and not perish. Chapter 634: Danger for speed "First, you improve your soul force to the Divine Ascension Realm. That would allow your Ego Eternal Path of Power to trigger The Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulation. Upon survival, your soul force would grow even stronger thanks to the enhancement of your Third Realm''s willpower. And finally, by pushing the Astral Rebirth and Essence Evolution Path of Power to the peak of the Apotheosis Realm, your soul force would be strong enough to endure being severed in two." Struck by such a process and its effects, Cain did not lose focus as now that his soul was split in two, the copy sent both streams of soul force into his Sacred Organs, triggering the evolution of the Astral Rebirth Path of Power and Essence Evolution Path of Power to the next level! Cain understood this was also an extremely important part. Surviving the division of your soul did not mean you were not harmed by it, and if it kept like that, you could not function. Fusing those two souls into the sacred organs would allow this one to heal and prevent any damage or split personality from being born. The copy went through the process before the strength of its body and the energy pool inside its Evolution Core exploded, raising it to the Divine Ascension Realm, becoming a dual cultivator of the Divine Tier! After that, the illusion faded, and Cain opened his eyes with a solemn light in them. The knowledge regarding how to perform the Soul Severing Will had already been engraved in his mind. Still, before being able to use that divine ability, he needed to push his soul force to the Divine Ascension Realm and resist The Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulation. For that, he could only depend on himself. Cain remained silent for several minutes as he calculated every step. Finally, a decisive light appeared in his eyes. "Pushing my soul force to the Divine Ascension Realm without first evolving my Ego Wave will be extremely complicated, but that is the path I must take. If I went through the 9x9 Ego Destruction Tribulation, I would be a strong piece on the battlefield in Gaia, but that is all. However, if I survive The Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulation, not only would the path to dual cultivation open for me, but I would also become a peak figure in the war and able to truly change the tides." Cain had already decided but did not delude himself that the task would be easy. The soul force of an Early Divine Ascension Master was over twice as large as that of a Peak Apotheosis Master, and breaching that gap was nearly impossible. According to the knowledge of the Dues Behemoth Empire, there was no record of any life form in Aether being able to perform that feat. Luckily for Cain, there was a treasure in his soul sea that was constantly improving his soul force. He closed his eyes, and the next second, he saw the Astral Blood Beast''s Soul Core gradually flooding his soul sea with pure spiritual energy. It had been several years since the Astral Blood Beast attempted to possess him, and Apex encaged it, but the soul core of this one had yet to drain up. It made sense since this was a beast whose soul force sent the First Collapsing Pillar flying away. "Apex, can we speed up the assimilation of the Astral Blood Beast''s soul force?" The faster Cain assimilated the soul force of the Astral Blood Beast, the faster his own soul force would break through the limits of the Apotheosis Realm. Of course, there were dangers since the reason the speed was so slow was to avoid harming Cain''s soul and also to prevent any fragment of the Astral Blood Beast''s will from affecting his personality. Apex remained silent for a few moments as it studied the viability of the task before answering. "I could speed up the process, making it three times as fast. If I do that, the fragments of the Astral Blood Beast''s soul force will try to corrupt your personality, and you will be in a constant clash of wills this entire time. A normal person would go crazy and his personality twisted, but since you are a Master of Order, you should be able to fight back. However, a single flaw or weakness and your ego and personality would begin to twist." A solemn expression appeared on Cain''s face as he heard the System Spirit''s words, and he did not take the risk lightly. Even if they were just fragments, they were talking about the ego of an ancient beast whose power was greater than a True Titan by several levels. In any other circumstance, Cain would not have considered, but right now, time was of the essence, and he had to accept the danger. "Do it." As soon as Cain gave the go-ahead, the golden humanoid at the farthest corner of his soul sea waved his hand, and the next second, the spiritual force emerging from the Astral Blood Beast Soul Core burst with power. ''Hunger.'' ''Death.'' ''Regret.'' ''Hatred.'' ''Survival.'' ''Rebirth.'' Cain''s eyes narrowed. The moment the amount of soul force flooding his soul sea increased, a stream of malicious words began to echo inside his mind, and they were not alone as they carried potent emotions. Immediately, his eyes glowed with a sharp red light as he used the Power of Order to control those raging and negative emotions. It took nearly an hour before those voices echoing inside his mind only became whispers, and he could concentrate again. Cain then waved his hand and took out the demonic skull that carried the Cosmic Tyrant Framework. The war would be dangerous, and he was sure that the upper echelon of The Organization would be gunning for him, so he needed to focus on his survival abilities. The Cosmic Tyrant Framework would enhance his defense, improve his understanding of the Law of Space, and allow him to deploy the power of the Void Weaver Art through his flesh and blood, so it would be of immense help. Chapter 635: Fighting a Titan (I) A Deus Behemoth male was hiding in a small cave on the shore of the Hyperion Continent with rage and indignation on his face. He was a Titan and a Sector Duke who enjoyed status and honor for hundreds of years, yet now he was forced to hide like a rat. His name was Goldkin, and he was the Leader of the Tier 0 Dark Faction, Golden Tyrants. Under his command, countless atrocities occurred in the Deus Behemoth Empire, and finally, he faced the consequences. At first, when he heard about Ocean Wrath''s fall, Goldkin just took it as a stroke of luck by the Scarlet King and was confident he had done a much better job hiding his organization than Ocean Lord. However, after Cataclysm and Diamond Shore were destroyed and all the upper-echelon members vanished, Goldkin understood just how serious the situation was. He immediately began accumulating as much wealth as possible from his Sector and dealings in the underworld before silently departing from his castle and marching to the shore. The man refused to suffer the same fate as Ocean Lord, Earth Fiend, and World Flame, so he decided to leave the Hyperion Continent. However, that was not so easy as under the authority of the Scarlet Inquisition Force, anyone who used a teleportation formation capable of crossing Sectors had to report to them, and it did not matter how high their background was. That forced Goldkin to move across the Sectors silently like a common thief, hiding his presence at all times. Always hiding his presence made his travel much more complicated, which was why he barely reached the shore after two months of running. He was recovering his energy in a cave and preparing to march into the Endless Ocean when suddenly his eyes narrowed as he looked to the sky. "?Impossible!" "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" Just as that word came from Goldkin''s mouth, the mountain he hid in was blown to pieces. The blast was strong enough to destroy the earth, but it could do nothing to his body. However, that did not matter, as there were five figures in the sky that could undoubtedly harm him. Scarlet Inquisitors Gigant, Amalia, Kern, Ekatory, and Kanon were in the sky, all honing scarlet armor and their eyes glowing with killing intent and willpower as they surrounded Goldkin. The Leader of Golden Tyrants could not help but tremble at the sight of seeing five Titans surrounding him. He was confused and could not understand how, after all his effort to keep his tracks a secret, the Scarlet King was able to discover his whereabouts. Escaping from the five Scarlet Inquisitors was impossible, and the Leader of Golden Tyrants understood that. When faced with certain death, people react in one of two ways. They beg or go mad with rage. "Hahaha, fine. I want to see just how powerful the Scarlet Inquisitors are!" Goldkin took the second path as his entire skin adopted a golden color, and immediately, his physical might grew exponentially. "Who is going to fight me first, or are all the mighty Scarlet Inquisitors so cowardly that they cannot fight on their own and need to gang up on their enemies!" Gigant, Amalia, Kern, Ekatory, and Kanon did not show anything at the taunt of the Leader of Golden Tyrants and remained silent, simply watching over the man and covering any exit. Goldkin could not help but frown as he saw the five Scarlet Inquisitors seem to be waiting for something, and then his eyes turned to the distance. "ZNNNNNNN!" The sound of space sundering echoed, and Goldkin''s eyes widened as he saw a figure flashing at an incredible speed and reaching the sky directly above him. The newcomer was a young man with golden hair and eyes who burned with a red light. The physical pressure he unleashed was simply incredible, and even more amazing was the fact every time he took a deep breath, space seemed to contract, and when he exhaled, this one dilated. It was as if the world would follow the movement of his internal organs. "Scarlet King!" Cain''s eyes were cold as he focused on the Leader of Golden Tyrants, and without saying a single word, a pillar of Astral Wave and Essence Wave exploded from his body as he pushed his Wave Burst to the utmost limit while revolving the natural energy as fast as he could. "THUMP!" Next came a shockingly powerful heartbeat that made the sky tremble, and as Cain''s skin turned red, bright golden and dark golden flames covered his body. Asura Form for speed, Radiance of Life for regeneration, and Radiance of Strength for physical power. Finally came a burning golden fire that ignited his fists and legs, as he used the sun force to enhance his extremities'' destructive power, but that was not all since soon, gray chaotic energy enhanced those flames. Goldkin''s eyes widened with every power-up that the Scarlet King unleashed, and a sense of utter shock assaulted him when he saw how the young man managed to coat his fists and legs with spatial storms! Unfortunately for the Leader of Golden Tyrants, he did not have time to think how the young Godslayer Human could unleash such might since the next second, this one flashed forward and appeared instantly before him. "FINE!" Goldkin shouted as his right golden arm flashed forward with immense power and clashed directly with the fist covered in sun force and spatial storms. "BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" The moment both fists clashed, a blast that did not lose in power to an H-Bomb shone over the shore of the Hyperion Continent with so much energy that it could have devastated a continent of the Old World. Awe and shock appeared in the eyes of the Scarlet Inquisitors as they saw Cain''s fist clashing with Goldkin''s punch, neither being able to overcome the other. It was clear now to all that the Scarlet King was able to reach the Titan Tier at twenty-one years old! Chapter 636 636: Fighting a Titan (II) Cain''s eyes were cold and full of killing intent as he used all his power. He had decided to face the last of the underworld leaders before leaving the Hyperion Continent since this would be the type of fight that awaited him in Gaia. The clash of fists lasted for three seconds and unleashed so much energy that the air in a ten thousand-meter radius was set ablaze before both were sent hurtling away in opposite directions. Cain and Goldkin managed to recover control over their bodies almost instantly but to the shock of the Deus Behemoth, the Godsalyer Human suddenly vanished from his sight. ''Where did he go!?'' Goldkin''s eyes widened as he could not understand how Cain had just vanished, but then shock appeared on his face as he felt a presence behind him, and it was none other than the Godslayer Human. ?Teleportation!'' Both of them were unleashing monstrous amounts of energy into the air that generated severe disturbances in space, and that should make teleportation impossible unless one of them had already reached the Law Integration Tier on the Law of Space. Cain''s Law of Space was at the Extreme Law Fragmentation. Still, his Cosmic Tyrant Framework allowed him to align with the fabric of space, permitting him to perform abilities above his current Law Mastery. Of course, he would not explain that to Goldkin, and the only thing the man received was a kick to the neck that sent his body crashing into the ground. "?BOOOOMMMM!" Goldkin''s crash generated a massive blast and spread a giant cloud of dust. Cain''s eyes glowed with golden light as he triggered The Flow and immediately headed forward full of power. As he approached, a burst of Astral Wave emerged, and the Deus Behemoth''s entire body began to glow with an intense golden aura as his strength exploded. "Golden Tyrant Fist!" Goldkin sent forward a powerful punch with all his strength and full of killing intent. The attack was not only powerful, but it carried immense speed and instantly connected with the face of Cain. A cold smile appeared on Goldkin''s face as he saw that punch landed, but it froze the next second as Cain''s figure shattered to pieces when his fists landed. "Afterimage!?" A normal afterimage would not trick the senses of a Titan, but this one was made using the Law of Space. Before Goldkin could even process what had just happened, a punch landed beneath his ribs on the area above his liver. The man''s entire body trembled as he felt how the energy behind that punch not only avoided any dispersal but its force was somehow able to pierce through his flesh and explode inside his body, exponentially increasing the damage his inner organs received. However, even with all that pain and damage, Goldkin was able to prevent his body from being sent flying away, and he clenched his fists, sending his forearm toward Cain''s head. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw that attack, and he had to admit that Goldkin''s resistance was truly impressive. Without wasting time, he raised both arms and used them as a shield against the incoming golden forearm that resembled a gold ax intended to split him apart. "BOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" A golden explosion flooded the terrain, and Cain felt his arm and shoulder would cave in, but he managed to resist thanks to his Cosmic Tyrant Framework''s ability to disperse part of the incoming force through the space around him. Goldkin''s eyes once again betrayed the shock on his soul upon seeing how Cain was able to resist his attack without any serious injury. Before the Deus Behemoth could retrieve his arm, the Godslayer Human twisted his body to the side, sending a kick that landed straight on his jaw. Goldkin could not resist the attack''s power this time and was sent into the sky, with the force generating havoc inside his brain. His senses were blocked due to the brain trauma, and he was not able to respond before two fists landed on his chest. "Solar Space Storm!" Cain uttered those three words as he unleashed his first authentic dual cultivation strike. Using his granular control over his body, he transferred all the physical strength of his muscles into a blast of kinetic energy, which was enhanced by the full power of his Essence Wave in the form of a spatial storm that concentrated that power into a cannon. "PPPPZZZZZ!" A silent sonic blast echoed across the sky as a cannon of golden physical power and spatial storm exploded point-blank in Goldkin''s chest, making him puke a mouthful of blood before being sent hurtling away for dozens of thousands of meters until finally, he clashed with a mountain. The five Scarlet Inquisitors could not hide their awe and shock as they saw that attack since it contained simply overwhelming power, and some of them could not help but accept that it was a force their bodies could not endure without suffering devastating wounds. Cain''s breathing was rough as that attack had truly drained a lot of his energy, but his eyes soon narrowed as he focused on the shattered mountain where Goldkin crashed and the figure of a massive golden dragon appearing. "ROAR!" The golden dragon was the metaphysical manifestation of Goldkin''s Soul Bloodline, and it roared as the man rose to the sky. There was a large burning wound on his chest and back, and his inner organs were severely injured, but he could still fight, and the mad killing intent in his eyes made it clear he was not ready to simply surrender. Cain clenched his fists as he stared at the Deus Behemoth, and his eyes glowed with red light. He knew killing a Titan would not be easy, especially one known for his defensive power, but that was exactly what he was after. A fight that would push him beyond his limits and show him just a fraction of what awaited him in the war on Gaia. Chapter 637 637: Water Tribulation (I) "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Explosions echoed across the shore of the Deus Behemoth Empire as the leader of the Tier 0 Dark Faction, Golden Tyrants, faced the master of the Scarlet Inquisition Force, the Scarlet King. The battle had already carried on for nearly thirty minutes, devastating the area for over two thousand kilometers. One was an old monster whose name had reached the highest stage of the Deus Behemoth Empire for hundreds of years, while the other was a young man just twenty-one years old. Yet, the one that had the upper hand was no other than the Godslayer Human. Cain''s eyes were sharp and full of focus as he faced the strikes from the Deus Behemoth Titan, using every single opening he could find to land a powerful blow that would make the entrails of this one tremble. Of course, the fact that Cain had the upper hand did not mean the battle was easy, as Goldkin was still a seasoned warrior, and his physical defenses could be considered formidable even for Titans. "Die!" Goldkin shouted as the golden glow on his right hand burst with force before adopting a blade form and flashing toward Cain''s neck. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw the open palm coming at him, feeling a sharpness in this one mightier than any sword he had faced before. Yet, there was not just sharpness in it, as the golden aura burst forward the next instant, morphing into a spear intended to pierce his skull. Goldkin showed a vicious smile as his sharp golden aura extended forward. This was a vicious attack that had managed to take by surprise several enemies in the past, and its offensive power was terrifying. Yet, just as he pictured the golden aura piercing Cain''s eyes, the young man moved his head at the last moment, dodging the blow and appearing by his side. Cain''s eyes glowed with a red light that pushed his cognitive function and speed of thought beyond its limit, but also the golden light of The Flow that showed him the attack before it happened, allowing him not only to dodge it but to be in the perfect position to send his next strike. Cain''s entire body twisted, generating a massive torque which he focused on his right fist after charging it with all the Astral Wave and Essence Wave he had left in his Sacred Organs. "Boooooooooommmmmmmmm!" An explosion echoed for hundreds of kilometers, yet its might was very weak compared with the ones left by the duo before. That was because all the power in that last punch exploded not outside but inside the body of the Deus Behemoth Titan. Goldkin''s face contorted into one of utter pain and agony as he felt how that blow shattered his liver and kidneys and left deadly wounds on every other internal organ inside his body. "?AHHHHHH!" The Titan screamed as he vomited a mouthful of blood, and the next second, he was sent hurtling into the sky without control. Cain''s eyes glowed with killing intent as he saw Goldkin''s figure flashing away, but while he wanted to pursue the man, that was not possible. He had exhausted the last iota of Astral Wave and Essence Wave in that previous punch, and the natural energy inside his body had depleted, leaving him very weak. Goldkin flew hundreds of kilometers into the sky before his figure began to fall, and finally, he crashed into the ground, generating a massive crater. The Titan''s face twisted in pain as he puked another mouthful of blood before finally being able to stand straight. His vitality was formidable, so he could function even if he lost several vital organs, as long as his Rebirth Heart and brain were still working. That did not mean he was not suffering horribly, and by the fact his body could not stop trembling, it was clear he could barely continue fighting, yet the killing intent in his eyes remained. Cain noticed the madness in Goldkin''s eyes, and if he were to continue fighting, there was a chance he could end up dying. Of course, he could simply use what little strength he had left to escape, and the Deus Behemoth Titan would slip into a coma due to his wounds in a few hours. However, Cain did not have to do any of that; he simply looked to one of the Scarlet Inquisitors in the sky. The next second, Amalia appeared behind the badly wounded Goldkin and struck the back of this one, flooding his insides with her dark golden sealing force. Goldkin could not fight back against the powerful Scarlet Inquisitor in his condition, and his entire body convulsed before he fell to the ground, incapable of moving a single finger. The Scarlet Inquisitor detected the state of Goldkin''s internal organs once her dark golden energy sealed him, and she could not hide her awe and admiration as she perceived the man''s condition. ''?Incredible!'' Cain was able to perceive the emotions in the Deus Behemoth female''s eyes, but he did not have time to care about that since he felt a change in the world. The air became thick with moisture, and the scent of rain permeated the surroundings while water elements in the vicinity began to stir and swell unnaturally. The next second, clouds began to gather swiftly, darkening the sky in a spectrum of blues and grays for hundreds of thousands of meters as a powerful intent permeated the heavens as if the will of the world was making itself present. "Water Tribulation!" Amalia and the rest of the Scarlet Inquisitors immediately understood the phenomenon that assaulted the area, and it was none other than the Second Tribulation of the Essence Evolution Path of Power. Cain''s eyes focused on the sky, and a sharp light appeared. It had been just two months since his Wind Tribulation, but it made sense that the Water Tribulation would come so soon. His soul force had constantly been growing, and since he attained Law Integration in both the Law of Wind and Law of Blood, the purity and density of his Essence Start were beyond formidable, exponentially improving his cultivation speed. Chapter 638 638: Water Tribulation (II) Although Cain''s condition was stable, he had suffered a lot of wounds during his fight with Goldkin, and it would not be wise to face the Tribulation in his condition, but he did not have a choice. Cain''s eyes turned to the distance, extending his hand. The next second, his Ego Wave generated a powerful suction force, and the paralyzed figure of Goldkin flashed toward him. Goldkin could not move his body or utilize his energy due to Amalia''s sealing force, leaving him helpless as a devouring force invaded his body, beginning to consume his life force and Astral Wave. An expression of utter agony appeared on Goldkin''s face. Still, Cain remained indifferent as he focused on the water in the air, which began to condense, forming droplets that float and whirl, each carrying an overwhelming force. With his grip on Goldkin''s neck, Cain devoured the vitality of this one and lowered his energy defenses, allowing his body to face the full brunt of the incoming Tribulation. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" With a deafening clap of thunder, the Water Tribulation began. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Rain fell, not as mere droplets, but as torrents, each drop heavy with the essence of the Water Law, capable of penetrating stone and metal with its relentless force. The Scarlet Inquisitors could only watch from a distance as hundreds of thousands of droplets began above Cain, covering his figure and piercing the ground around him for hundreds of thousands of meters. Cain closed his eyes and focused on mobilizing the vitality he was stealing from Goldkin around his body while thousands of drops began to leave small indentations on his flesh. His body was so strong that it could resist the power of an H-Bomb, yet those droplets could harm his skin, indicating just how strong the Water Tribulation had become. Just like his Wind Tribulation, the Water Tribulation that Cain faced was in a completely different league than that of other Apotheosis Masters. Cain did not move a muscle and waited as he focused on enduring the Tribulation and devouring Goldkin''s life force while rivers formed around his figure. Goldkin was also affected by the Water Tribulation''s power, but the heavenly phenomenon did not focus on him, and the damage was just due to collateral nature. It seemed that the Water Tribulation regarded the Deus Behemoth Titan not as another target but as a life treasure of Cain. Regret and pain overflowed Goldkin''s figure as the water droplets were riddling him with wounds, making his condition worse and worse. It took two hours for the droplet storm to fall, and a small ocean had formed around Cain''s figure. The Godslayer Human had his body riddled with tiny wounds, but there was no internal damage. The same could not be said about Goldkin, however. Cain glanced at the Titan in his grip and noticed how the light in his eyes had vanished. The Leader of Tier 0 Dark Faction, Golden Tyrants, perished while being used as a life battery, and the only emotion in Cain''s eyes was regret that this one did not last longer. Not wasting time, Cain sent Goldkin''s corpse into the [Demonic Devourer Dimension] as he could no longer split his attention and prepared for the next phase of the Water Tribulation. Less than a minute after the downpour, the small ocean that had formed around Cain began to react with overwhelming fierceness. Swirling waters began to rise to form massive whirlpools around his body. The power of the whirlpool grabbed Cain''s body and began to twist it at an overwhelming speed while trying to suffocate him. "RUMBLE!" The ground trembled as a whirlpool that seemed able to connect the earth and the highest sky grew more and more powerful, yet Cain only closed his eyes and began to use Water Synchronization. Once again, he used his training in the Primordial Path to face the Tribulation, which worked amazingly. Cain began to synchronize his breathing and heartbeat with the flow of the cyclone, allowing him to move with it instead of being crushed under its overwhelming power and rotation force. The whirlpool lasted for five hours, and while Cain had to maintain focus every second, he could survive it without injuries. He not only survived but was also able to guide natural energy into his body and use the [Gluttony Module] to refill his Astral Wave, Essence Wave, and Ego Wave. Cain only opened his eyes as he felt the cyclone''s power begin to wane and saw how the water started to return to their calm state. "I already survived the Deluge of Cleansing and the Endless Whirlpool. That would normally be the end of the Water Tribulation, but that is not the case this time." Not only did the storm clouds in the sky carry on, but the power in these increased as all the water that flooded the ground rose and formed a massive floating ocean that raged. Cain could feel a power in that floating ocean that did not seem to embody physical destruction but something else, and as the first tidal wave fell from the sky, he knew it. The tidal wave crossed Cain''s body, leaving his body perfectly still in the sky before crashing into the ground. The Godslayer Human did not make a move, but the next second, his entire body began to shake as he grabbed his head, and an expression of agony appeared on his face. "MURDER!" "KILL!" "RAGE!" "HATRED!" Those words echoed inside Cain''s mind along with overwhelmingly powerful emotions. He was a Master of Order and could usually face those negative emotions easily, but now their impact on his mind and soul was enhanced by the fragmented will of the Astral Blood Beast. Cain bit the tip of his tongue with all his strength, nearly ripping it off, and used the pain to regain his focus as he forced his mind and soul to stabilize just in time to face the next tidal wave. Chapter 639 639: Water Tribulation (III) "FEAR!" "REGRET!" "LOATH!" "COWARDNESS" Again, a new wave of power and corrosive negative emotions sought to break Cain''s mind and shatter his will. Yet, he resisted, and his eyes grew cold as he faced the sky and prepared for the next tidal wave. The tidal waves that wreaked havoc on Cain''s emotions lasted nine hours, and by the end, his entire body could not stop trembling, and an expression of near madness could be seen on his face. Those negative emotions, combined with the pressure of the Astral Blood Beast''s fragmented ego, nearly broke his mind, but thanks to his formidable willpower and Power of Order, he survived. Cain''s breathing was rough as he focused his mind to the limit in order to regain its serenity. Thanks to the Power of Order, he regained enough rationality to see how the tidal waves that nearly broke his mind had transformed into a small river. The river was serene and so crystalline that Cain could see his reflection. Then, the Water Tribulation''s power exploded one more time, and a figure began to rise from the river. The Scarlet Inquisitors in the distance watched with awe and shock as a water humanoid that was a perfect replica of Cain rose from the serene river, its empty eyes focused on the Godslayer Human in the sky before a destructive force burst from its body and flashed up. Cain still could not regulate his breath and felt his mind would shatter at any moment, but his eyes glowed with resolution as he flashed forward. Sun force and spatial storms covered his right fist as Radiance of Life and Radiance of Strength burst with power, enhancing his physical power and regeneration abilities. Silence reigned as Cain''s fists and the water reflection''s punch collided, but it did not last long. "BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" An overwhelming explosion made the sky and earth tremble as Cain managed to shatter the water reflection''s fists before driving his punch into this one''s chest and diving into the ground, generating a second powerful blast that generated massive tidal waves and flattened the surroundings. Cain lay flat on the ground, barely able to regulate his breathing. He felt like he would pass out at any second as his body was truly in a weakened state, and his mind was exhausted, but he clenched his teeth and endured, focusing on the Radiance of Life, and waited. Luckily, he did not have to wait for long. Moments after he destroyed the mirror reflection, the drops of water that spread for hundreds of kilometers after the clash began to rise as their nature changed from destruction to healing and flooded into Cain''s body. A small smile appeared on the young man as he felt the healing power of the water flooding his body, improving the regeneration granted by Radiance of Life. His physical condition improved more and more. Now that he no longer had to worry about the Water Tribulation, he could focus on calming the raging emotions that attempted to twist his mind and personality. Cain remained in the crater in the ground in silence until the last drop of water had flooded into his body, and he was able to calm down the voices in his mind. Once all that was taken care of, he stood up and began to clench his fists, testing the condition of his body. "I am still somewhat injured but should be able to recover to my peak in a few days." After that, an inquisitive light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he communicated with the Absolute Life Form System. "System, scan me." Like always, the Absolute Life Form System carried out the command given by Cain without hesitation, and soon, a stream of information appeared in his mind. [Scanning Vessel... ... Scan of Vessel completed. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Flesh Calamity) / Essence Evolution (Water Tribulation) Lineage: Solis Lineage (Maximum Purity) Wave Talent: ??? ... Stats: Strength: 589.2-->623.2 (910.4) Agility: 371.2-->387.5 (589.3) Vitality: 670.9-->710.5 (1090.3) Astral Wave: 420.3-->455.4 (670.0) Essence Wave: 333.5-->472.6 (697.6) ... Astral Blood Saturation: 96% Completion Law Mastery: Law of Space (Extreme Law Fragmentation) Earth Law (Extreme Law Fragmentation) Water Law (Medium Law Integration) Fire Law (Extreme Law Fragmentation) Wind Law (Medium Law Integration) ... Note: Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 0.2%. The effect has diminished as the Vessel''s foundation is too strong for the Wave Virus to have an impact. Note: Natural energy has enhanced every aspect of the Vessel''s physical body as well as both Astral Wave and Essence Wave. The current value is marked between (). Once natural energy is depleted, the Vessel''s power will return to base stats.] Cain smiled as he saw the massive improvement in his Essence Wave and how his Water Law evolved to the Medium Law Integration after surviving the Water Tribulation. And that was not all, as despite his [A.I. Chip Module] not being able to grade it, he could feel how his soul force once again increased after overcoming those tidal waves that nearly drove him mad. Once he finished with his introspection, Cain turned his focus to the Scarlet Inquisitors in the distance. The group had not dared to come closer before due to fear of interrupting his Water Tribulation, but even now, they gazed at him with pure awe to the point they could not hide the devotion and admiration in their eyes. The zeal in the eyes of the Scarlet Inquisitors did not have to do with Cain''s Water Tribulation but with the fact that Goldkin had perished. Not only had Cain shown the power of a Titan, but he kept his word and did the impossible, purging the underworld of the Hyperion Continent from all its Tier 0 Dark Factions in a year! Cain did not look down on their emotions and nodded to the group before rising to the sky and flashing back to the Bahamut Sector. The time for his departure was coming closer. Chapter 640 640: Leaving the Deus Behemoth Empire (I) The entire Scarlet Inquisition Force, composed of over one million soldiers, stood in the sky above the headquarters that had been used as a temporary jail for over 60 million criminals in the last year. The Wave Kings, Apotheosis Masters, and even the Divine Ascension Masters were kneeling in the sky, including the ten Titans whose names rose to holiness due to their incredible feats as Scarlet Inquisitors. The only one standing upright was a young twenty-one-year-old man whose eyes glowed with a powerful red light and whose aura depicted absolute certainty and focus. Cain''s eyes were sharp as he took a deep breath, and the next second, his willpower burst. Everyone saw how a sun emerged around the young man, with a Yin-Yang pattern, embodying a power of utter destruction and endless growth. The soldiers of the Scarlet Inquisition force couldn''t help but grow awestruck by such a majestic Alter-Ego, and then they heard the voice of the Scarlet King echo as a divine decree from the sky. "Scarlet Inquisition Force, we have done what others believe impossible. We scorched the underworld, destroying the Tier 0 Dark Factions, and punished the millions that thought they could break the rules and codes that protect the weak and innocent." "SCARLET KING!" "SCARLET KING!" "SCARLET KING!" "SCARLET KING!" "SCARLET KING!" The soldiers began to shout from their kneeling stance, and there was a zeal in their eyes as they focused on the young man with pure devotion, respect, and admiration. Cain allowed the million soldiers to chant for a minute before raising his hand, immediately generating a deafening silence, and turned his eyes to the Scarlet Inquisitors, the core of the force and the ones that took care of the upper echelon of Ocean Wrath, Cataclysm, Golden Tyrants, Diamond Shore, and Earth Fall. "Scarlet Inquisitor Gigant, rise." Cain''s voice carried a solemn aura, and Duke Gigant raised his body and gazed at the young man. "For your incredible feats, displaying honor and duty above all things, I grant you the title of Scarlet Hecatoncheir." "I humbly accept this great honor." Gigant clasped his hands and performed a deep bow. He had received many titles in his military career, but this was by far the one that granted the most thrill. Cain signaled for the man to raise his head again and then extended his right hand as a flame with twenty colors appeared. When the Scarlet Inquisitors saw that flame, their eyes glowed with awe and desire. It was even mightier than the one that Cain used the last time on Gigant, and that allowed the man to push his cultivation technique to the next level. Cain did not have much time to train his Tribulation Enhancement. Still, thanks to his improvement in his Essence Evolution Path of Power and mastery over the flow of energy, he was able to create a 20 Revolution Flame. Gigant could not hide his thrill as he saw that flame and softly nodded as he adopted a meditative position while Cain''s Ego Wave formed a cocoon around him. Cain sent the 20 Revolution Flame into the cocoon before unleashing its power. The next second, the multicolored flame coalesced around Gigant, flooding the Titan''s flesh and internal organs while triggering a 20 Revolution Refinement, which made giant waves of world energy flood into his body. Gigant''s Ego Wave burst with power as he used the full might of his willpower to revolve the world energy, allowing it to enhance his body and energy and preventing it from agglomerating inside him and making his body explode. Cain''s eyes also glowed with red and golden light as he used his willpower to ensure the revolution of the world energy and The Flow to adapt to its changes and be able to respond in time in case of any danger. Thanks to Gigant''s Late Divine Ascension Ego Wave and Cain''s mastery over Tribulation Enhancement, the process was completed without a problem after a few hours. Gigant opened his eyes once the world energy had finished its revolutions across his body. There was a profound light in the man''s eyes as he analyzed the state of his body and energy, and a soft smile soon appeared. The enhancement in his foundation and talent should be around 1 to 2%, and while that was little, he had improved more this last year than in the previous one hundred. "I will never forget your kindness, My Liege." The soldiers of the Scarlet Inquisition Force couldn''t help but focus on Gigant as they heard those two last words. They were not the words of a soldier to a superior but something that went beyond military duty, indicating a bond that would last beyond that. Although the implications of those words were significant, no one said a word and remained silent. The way they looked at the Scarlet King was not different from the way a mortal would look at a divine entity, and no one found anything wrong with Gigant''s words. Cain stared at the Scarlet Inquisitor for a moment before nodding, signaling this one to return to the formation, and then turning his attention to a woman with the features of a shadow ferret. "Scarlet Inquisitor Amalia, rise." The woman straightened her figure and gazed at the Scarlet King with eyes full of devotion and admiration. "For your incredible feats, pushing yourself beyond your limits to capture the enemies, I grant you the title of Scarlet Shadow Seal." Amalia clasped her hands and bowed as she heard those words and engraved the new title in her mind. "I humbly accept this honor." Cain signaled for the woman to rise as a new 20 Revolution Flame appeared. Amalia could barely control the delight, but she did not lose focus. She took a deep breath before adopting a meditative position in the sky. Cain''s willpower formed a red cocoon around the woman before allowing the 20 Revolution Flame to cover the woman and trigger the world energy. Chapter 641 641: Leaving the Deus Behemoth Empire (II) Amalia''s willpower was not any lesser than Gigant''s, so with Cain''s help, she was able to assimilate the oceans of world energy into her flesh, blood, and Wave. The process was lengthy, but once it was over, the woman''s entire body trembled, and as she opened her eyes, a sense of enlightenment appeared in them. Unlike Gigant, who had received a 19 Revolution Refinement before, this was the first time Amalia endured the power of Tribulation Enhancement, and the improvement in her talent and foundation was roughly 3.5 to 5%. It was still very little, but it was enough for the Scarlet Inquisitor to feel that the weight that had prevented her advancement for decades suddenly became much lighter. Amalia could not hide her smile full of thrill as she was sure with a little effort, she would be able to improve her cultivation after so many years of being stuck at her current level. "I will engrave this kindness in my soul, My Liege." Scarlet Inquisitor Amalia immediately clasped her hands and performed a deep bow to Cain, making it seem she was swearing her loyalty. Cain nodded to the woman and signaled her to return to her post before focusing on the next Scarlet Inquisitor. ... "Scarlet Inquisitor Karon, for your incredible feats, always standing by the side of your comrade in times of need, I grant you the title of Scarlet Winged Shield." "Scarlet Inquisitor Ekatory, for your incredible feats, being the first to reach the front lines, I grant you the title of Scarlet Sundering Speed." "Scarlet Inquisitor Lork, for your incredible feats, displaying great bravery in the face of mortal danger, I grant you the title of Scarlet Ferocious Heart." "Scarlet Inquisitor Kirin, for your incredible feats, fighting head-on against formidable enemies to protect your comrades, I grant you the title of Scarlet Dark Valor." "Scarlet Inquisitor Kern, for your incredible feats, keeping a rational mind in the face of great danger and even death itself, I grant you the title of Scarlet Cold Mind." "Scarlet Inquisitor Zamira, for your incredible feats, chasing your enemy beyond all obstacles, I grant you the title of Scarlet Rainbow Blade." "Scarlet Inquisitor Cindra, for your incredible feats, always maintaining control over the battlefield and of your own power, I grant you the title of Scarlet Silent Spell." "Scarlet Inquisitor Iory, for your incredible feats, never backing down no matter the danger, I grant you the title of Scarlet Draconic Spirit." Each of the Scarlet Inquisitors received a meaningful title. Along with it came a powerful 20 Revolution Refinement that allowed them to push their talent and foundation forward, which would very soon translate into an improvement of their battle power and cultivation base. Once the ceremony was over and all the Scarlet Inquisitors received their rewards for their flawless efforts, Cain''s Sun Seed burst with even more power as his willpower flooded the area. "All of us did a formidable job, and you should forever engrave that into your souls. Let it be the fuel that will drive you to the next step, even if the world itself crumbles to pieces. Your hard work and determination will never fail you, and they will be the pillar on which you can rise above the heavens!" Cain''s figure vanished along with those words, leaving the Scarlet Inquisition Force alone. The millions of soldiers who followed his guidance understood that his departure meant the end of their duty as part of the Scarlet Inquisition Force, which was why, from the Wave Kings to the Titans, all of them remained in their position until the end of the day, as a show of the immense respect and admiration for their leader. ... Cain appeared in the sky of Amazon shortly after departing from the headquarters and saw the figures of the Patriarch of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan waiting for him. Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis knew of Cain''s departure for the Gaia Continent. There was no way they would have interfered with the man''s decision since it was the right thing to do. The duo gazed at Cain with a complicated expression as they knew he would be marching into great danger, yet they could not follow him. Without hesitation, they each sent a space ring to the young man, and once this one gazed at the ring''s contents, a sense of shock assaulted him. Cain saw enough resources inside each ring to revive a Titan from the grave, and it was clear that it was not easy for Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis to gather them. "Father, uncle, I will return alive." Smiles appeared on Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis'' faces as they heard those words and saw Cain flashing to the Imperial Castle. They understood the young man''s nature and knew it was nearly impossible to incite genuine, lasting emotions in his heart, but they would last forever once they were there. Just as night fell and darkness covered the Hyperion Continent, a sudden burst of golden light illuminated the sky. The trillions of Deus Behemoth across the empire turned to the Bahamut Sector as a pillar of energy that seemed to break through the sky appeared. Cain''s presence vanished from the Hyperion Continent that day, but the same could not be said about his legend. The name Cain Laurifer would begin to resonate with more and more strength across the Deus Behemoth Empire as statues started to appear across the Sectors. It would not take long before the title of Scarlet King would echo in the minds of every man, woman, and child in the Deus Behemoth Empire as a chant against the underworld, embodying righteousness and power. He saved hundreds of millions during the Great Cataclysm, became the son of the Solis Clan''s Patriarch, uncovered the scheme of the Soul King and defeated the incarnation of this one in the Astral Bloodline Realm, took down the corrupted Umbra Clan, and set the underworld ablaze before finally killing with his own hands the leader of the last Tier 0 Dark Factions. Despite being a young man from another race that reached their continent less than three years ago, Cain Laurifer became one of the greatest heroes in the story of the Deus Behemoth Empire. ----- End of Book 7. A hero in a foreing land. Chapter 642 642: Marching back to the battlefield (I) Book 8. A shooting star across the blaze of war. --- There was a massive dark tower in the Golden Core City of the Golden Core Sector, where a dozen men were at the highest level. Each one exuded a monstrous aura and was a seasoned master of war. Yet, the mightiest among them were the trio in the center of the room, observing a holographic representation of the Sector, along with their troops and those of the enemy. "We have kept the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army forces from crossing the Golden Mountain Range. If they keep pushing forward, they can send small squads across the mountain range and flank the Golden Core City. If that were to happen, the Void King would only need to draw us to the battlefield and delay our movements for a few hours for the Inferno Daemon''s Divine Ascension Master to destroy the city and the Titan Tower." There was a solemn expression on the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s face as he gazed at the holographic map and prepared the next step. While wars in Aether were usually straightforward, with two armies clashing and the one with the better battle formation and soldiers winning, there were also times when strategy and deception were critical. If they lost the Golden Core City, the Collapsing Lightning Alliance would lose its safe haven and would be forced to pull back much farther away after each clash in order to heal. Although the Collapsing Lightning Duke was extremely powerful and was able to rally two True Titans, dozens of Divine Ascension Masters, and millions of Wave Kings, the combined power of The Organization and the Inferno Daemon Empire managed to push them out of the Zafiro Sector twelve months ago, forcing the battlefield to the Golden Core Sector. Not only was this Sector a critical strategic point since it would allow the invading army to spread across the northwest and northeast without a problem, completely dominating the north of Gaia, but it was also the neighboring Sector with the Collapsing Lightning Sector. If the battle were to carry on south, it would make fighting extremely hard and threaten the lives of billions, so they could not allow it. "Has there been any news about the Soul King''s status?" The one who spoke this time was a two-and-a-half-meter-tall man with short white hair, bulging muscles, and pale skin. This was none other than the Patriarch of the Aegon Family, a True Titan renowned for his assassination skills, Angar Aegon. Not everything had been bad news for the Collapsing Lightning Alliance. Twelve months ago, the Soul King vanished from the battlefield. The Collapsing Lightning Duke and the Patriarch of the Aegon Family pondered for a long time why the sudden disappearance of the True Titan, and they even came to the possible answer that it was a plot to make them lower their guard. However, after six months and seeing that even when the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army found itself in trouble, the man did not appear, they could only conclude that something must have happened to the man and he could not battle. Yet they did not lower their guard as who knew when he could appear again. A man very similar to Angar took a step forward and performed a small bow before speaking. "We have continued gathering information, but not even the Divine Ascension Master from the Inferno Daemon Race knows what happened to the Soul King. The only ones that might have an answer would be the other Dark Kings, yet they keep silent regarding this topic." Angar nodded to the man before focusing on the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. He had the highest authority when it came to espionage and assassination, but the duo had much more experience in war than him, so he left the decision of that type to them. "Has there been any report from the Imperial Court?" The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar spoke with a solemn voice, and it carried a shred of hidden rage when he mentioned the last two words. He was not alone in that feeling, and many of the present felt rage in their hearts as they thought of the capital. Reinforcements were needed by the Collapsing Lightning Alliance, not just in the upper levels but also in the lower ones. Although Goldslayer Humankind Wave Warrior and Wave Champion could do nothing to face Inferno Daemon Divine Ascension Master and much less The Organization''s True Titans, thousands of them could keep hundreds of Inferno Daemon Wave Kings busy. Then the Godslayer Humankind Wave Kings that were free, since those in lower Rank managed to distract their enemies, could focus on the Inferno Daemon Apotheosis Masters. Finally, if enough Goldslayer Humankind Apotheosis Masters could aim higher, they could face Inferno Daemon Divine Ascension Masters and generate a true shift in the battlefield. Once you understand all that, it was clear just how vital reinforcements were for both sides. This time, a bald man took a step forward. Luther was only an Apotheosis Realm Master, and his power was a level lower than the people present. Yet, he was a great strategist and logic master, which was why he could stand among these giants on the highest level of the tower. "The Imperial Court still refuses to send reinforcements as they state that the condition in the south and around the Prometheus Sector is just as dire as ours. However, I managed to secure resources, which will arrive in a few days." When the Collapsing Lightning Duke, Angar Aegon, and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar heard Luther''s words, a deep frown appeared on their faces. None of the generals blamed Luther, as the man had constantly done a great job in the logistics department and practically forced the Imperial Court to hand over resources for the war. Their rage was directed to the Imperial Court. They knew that the horde of Mutated Oceanic Beasts was dangerous and the other Dark Kings were wreaking havoc in the south of the empire, but those threats were much lesser than the one they faced. Chapter 643 643: Marching back to the battlefield (II) For one, the Mutated Ocean Beast Hordes had significantly reduced in size and power after several years of fighting, and while the Dark Kings were indeed sowing chaos in the south, they did not dare to show their faces and acted from the shadows, so there was only so much damage the Sectors were taking. None of those scenarios could compare with the all-out war the Collapsing Lightning Alliance faced in the continent''s north. It was clear to all present that someone in the empire''s capital was downplaying their situation, diminishing their ability to resist the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army and aiding The Void King. "Ahh, keep trying. We cannot continue like this, as the number of Inferno Daemon Invasion Army is resupplied with new blood every month." The Collapsing Lightning Duke sighed as his numbers weakened with each battle, yet the invader army kept getting reinforcements. While he was certain that there was a plot against him in the capital, he did not have any evidence, and the answer they gave to deny more troops was infuriating but valid enough. It would take but three hours for the Collapsing Lightning Duke to reach the Silver City if he were willing to burn his energy and endure a severe backlash, but that might not be enough to get answers. If he were to vanish from the north of the continent, the Void King and the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army would immediately attack with all their power. And the same would happen with the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and Angar Aegon left. As for sending someone else, that would be even more useless as the Imperial Court would refuse to receive them with the excuse that they were too busy handling the problems of the empire and that person would lack the strength to demand an audience. The Collapsing Lightning Duke showed a complicated expression as he was trying to decide the best path forward. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and he was not alone since all present showed the same reaction. The reason for their reaction was the news that the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army was advancing towards the Golden Mountain Range and seemed intent on establishing a God Tower in that location. It had been less than one week since the last clash between both armies, and they were still not completely healed, so the movement of the enemy army took the Collapsing Lightning Alliance by surprise. The Collapsing Lightning Duke felt something was wrong, and he was not alone since the rest of the people in the room also felt the same, yet there was nothing they could do but march. Defending the Golden Core City would be nearly impossible if they allowed the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army to establish a God Tower in the Golden Mountain Range. Losing the Golden Core City would almost be the same as losing the entire Sector. "All soldiers, prepare. We are marching to the Golden Mountains." The voice of the Collapsing Lightning Duke echoed across the A.I. Chip of every soldier in the city. Although many of them were still tired and in the process of healing their wounds, war waited for no one, and they honed their armor and marched onto the battlefield. ... The Collapsing Lightning Alliance and its millions of soldiers could see the Golden Mountain Range less than half an hour later, and their eyes glowed with killing intent as they focused on the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army in defensive formations at the foot of the mountain. The Collapsing Lightning Duke did not focus on the Inferno Daemon warriors. Instead, his eyes went to the ones on the peak of the Golden Mountains. He saw five Inferno Daemon Divine Ascension Masters building a massive tower, while in the highest sky stood the Void King, Blood King, and Shadow King. Although using five Divine Ascension Masters to build a God Tower would diminish the overall battle power of the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army, only cultivators of that level could build such a structure on a battlefield of this level as they would have to protect it from collateral damage. Besides, unlike the Collapsing Lightning Alliance, the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army could afford that temporary decrease in battle power. ''Even if the ones working are Divine Ascension Masters, it will take hours, or maybe entire days, to build the God Tower, yet a single point-blank strike would destroy all their work and resources. What is that man plotting?'' The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes were sharp as he stared at the Void King. Although he knew there was something he could not see, he could not allow the God Tower to be completed, so there was no other choice but to fight. "KILL!" With that word, a new clash carried on as the Goldslayer Humankind soldiers marched forward, making their Wave explode, and in less than a minute, explosions echoed across the mountain''s base. Barely a second after that, the Titans and Gods of both sides clashed in the highest sky, unleashing explosions that set the air hundreds of meters above the ground ablaze. As for the highest sky, that was reserved for those individuals whose battle power surpassed the might of even the most potent weapons of the Old World. Angar Aegon''s body radiated shadows as his Astral Wave burst across his body, while the Shadow King only glanced at the man before transforming into dozens of shadow streams. Soon, a clash between the two began, moving at shocking speed, and their auras barely perceptible for even True Titans. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar went straight for the Blood King, and his eyes were bursting with killing intent as he took out his sword and pushed his power to the peak. If he were to finish the Dark King, it would greatly help their side. The Blood King''s eyes burst with a golden light and a maddening expression as his entire body morphed into that of a blood dragon. In the last years, the Blood King had regained some of his lost power, yet during every fight, there was a sense of urgency and dread, as if every second that passed pushed him closer to death. The mightiest of all the battles was none other than the one between the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the Void King. Chapter 644 644: Final strech (I) The Collapsing Lightning Duke and the Void King have already unleashed monstrously powerful attacks for several hours, each strike carrying overwhelming killing intent. The duo recognized the influence of the other on the battlefield, not only in terms of battle power but also on the morale of their armies. The Collapsing Lightning Alliance knew their situation was precarious, with problems on all flanks. Still, as long as the Collapsing Lightning Duke stood strong, they could continue pushing forward, no matter the damage they sustained. In contrast, the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army did not hold the Void King in such high esteem since he was human. Yet, they respected strength from the bottom of their hearts. Following the Dark King had allowed their race to push forward into the Gaia Continent for the first time in thousands of years, so they believed they would win as long as they followed his guidance. The Collapsing Lightning Duke knew that killing the Void King would wreak havoc in the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army since only that man could command the Dark Races'' Gods and calm any hesitation or doubts in the minds of those powerhouses. The Void King was aware that it was the Collapsing Lightning Duke who kept the alliance between members of the Imperial Army and individual factions together, and there was no doubt it would crumble without him. Given all that, it was no wonder the Sector Duke and Dark King were eager to eliminate the other. "Collapsing Lightning Thrust." A shout emerged from the Collapsing Lightning Duke as he gathered most of his Astral Wave and black lightning on his right elbow and flashed forward like a divine spear, creating a gravitational force that shattered the space in its path. A solemn light appeared in the Void King''s starry eyes as he saw the elbow strike carrying more power than an H-bomb. Gravitational waves sealed his path to escape, so he took a deep breath as he raised both palms, and the power of his body exploded. "Star Push." All the power inside the Void King''s body seemed to gather in his palms, unleashing a repulsive force. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" "CRACK!" An explosion echoed across the battlefield as the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s elbow connected with the Void King''s palms, generating waves of destructive energy in all directions and shattering the space around them. Blood appeared in the mouths of the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the Void King as they pushed themselves beyond their limits. The battle had already reached its zenith, and they could not hold on for much longer. This was particularly bad news for the Void King since the God Tower was just two-thirds completed, and if he could not continue fighting, all the effort and resources put into it would go to waste with a single attack from one of the Collapsing Lightning Alliance''s True Titans. "?AHHHHHH!" A flash of madness appeared in the Void King''s eyes as he shouted and managed to push the Collapsing Lightning Duke away before rising to the highest sky, nearly reaching the limit of Aether. The Collapsing Lightning Duke felt his instincts screaming danger as the Void King''s eyes began to burn with a white flame, his willpower allowing his soul, energy, and body to deploy power beyond their limits. "Stellar Path: Stellar Dive." All warriors from both sides could not help but glance at the sky as the Void King''s body emitted scorching energy before transforming into a five-thousand-meter-high meteorite. The Void King did not remain in the sky for long after his transformation as he lunged toward the Collapsing Lightning Duke, sealing space with a gravitational force that made it nearly impossible to escape from the attack. The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes widened with shock and awe as he saw the type of power the Void King could unleash. This type of attack had the power to level an entire continent of the Old World! "?AHHHHHH!" Although the Collapsing Lightning Duke was surprised by the power of the Void King, he did not fall to fear as his Ego Wave was set ablaze, and torrents of dark lightning began to coalesce around his body before gathering into his right arm. The Collapsing Lightning Duke bent his knees as he gathered more power into his right fist, reaching such a high level that space began to twist. It seemed crazy, but the Sector Duke intended to stop that world-crushing meteorite with his fist! Silence reigned on both sides as they saw the meteorite moving closer and closer, and just as they thought a clash was about to happen, a figure materialized behind the Collapsing Lightning Duke! The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes widened as he detected the figure behind him, and the same shock appeared in the eyes of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the Patriarch of the Aegon Family. None of the trio had detected that life form before, but one could not blame them as the colossal four-meter-tall man blended well with the battlefield since his entire body emanated the aura of death! The one that appeared was none other than the Undying King, and before any of the True Titans could do anything, his Essence Wave exploded, and he clasped his hands before aiming at the Collapsing Lightning Duke. "Eternal Stasis Field!" The Collapsing Lightning Duke was not able to respond before a dark wave full of necrotic energy clashed with his body, pushing every cell of his body to a state of inertia. A cold smile appeared on the face of the Undying King as he felt how his spell landed point-blank on the Collapsing Lightning Duke, but the smile did not last for long as he saw the man turn his head and focus on him. "?Impossible!" The Undying King could not believe his eyes as the Collapsing Lightning Duke could move just enough to strike his chest with the back of his fist, in which a cataclysmic amount of Astral Wave and dark lightning had gathered. "?BOOM!" Chapter 645 645: Final strech (II) "?BOOM!" A thunderous explosion echoed across the sky as the Collapsing Lightning Duke managed to strike the Undying King''s chest, making it blow to pieces before sending the Dark King flying away for thousands of kilometers. It took all his power, but the Collapsing Lightning Duke could endure the spell''s power just enough to send the Undying King flying away with that blow. Unfortunately, that was the limit of his power, and he was not able to block the meteorite that clashed with him the next second. Under the shocked and terrified gaze of the millions of Goldslayer Human soldiers, the massive meteorite clashed with the Collapsing Lightning Duke before diving into the ground hundreds of kilometers away from the battlefield on the other side of the Golden Mountain Range. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" The meteorite fall triggered an explosion like none of the soldiers from the Goldslayer Humankind and Inferno Daemon Race had seen. Despite being on the other side of the massive mountain range, everybody could see the blast of fire and chaotic energy rising into the sky. And that was just the start, as the next second, a shock wave with overwhelming power flashed in all directions, generating a wave of destruction that could level everything in over one thousand kilometers! Luckily for the soldiers of the Collapsing Lightning Alliance and Inferno Daemon Invasion Force, before that shock wave carrying a temperature higher than the core of a volcano could reach them, it clashed with the Golden Mountain Range. The imposing golden mountains that stood over seven thousand meters tall shattered under the might of those shock waves before powerful gales struck both armies, sending the weaker warriors of both sides hurtling into the air. Although many Wave Champions ended up injured and some Wave Warriors perished, the armies could be considered lucky since if not for the Golden Mountain Range taking the brunt of the shock wave, anyone beneath the Wave King Rank would have perished, despite being over five hundred thousand meters from the clash. The powerhouses from both sides were able to resist the shock wave without a problem, and all of them turned their eyes to the clash zone that was now an area full of chaotic energy and fire. Since the Golden Mountain Range was destroyed, so was the God Tower, but the Gods from the Inferno Daemon Race could not care less as they saw how the Void King clashed with the Collapsing Lightning Duke with an attack that broke common sense. In the minds of the Inferno Daemon Gods, there was no way the Collapsing Lightning Duke could have survived that attack, meaning the strongest warrior on the enemy''s side and their leader was gone. "FOR THE GODSLAYER HUMANKIND!" However, before the sentiment of victory and defeat could install in the hearts of both sides, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar shouted as his Ego Wave was set ablaze and, with a single strike, sent the Blood King flying away into the far distance. Without even a second of hesitation, the man flashed toward the crashing zone. "FOR THE GODSLAYER HUMANKIND!" Less than a second after that, another cry echoed from the Patriarch of the Aegon Family, who made his energy explode with even greater strength and attacked the Shadow King with pure ferocity. "FOR THE GODSLAYER HUMANKIND!" That cry soon emerged from the Titans and Divine Ascension Masters, who pushed themselves to the limits with eyes full of battle spirit. The battle cry did not take long to echo across the battlefield as the wounded humans stood up and flashed back into the fray with nothing but killing intent and determination. "Dammit. Fight!" The Gods of the Inferno Daemon Race could not help but shout in rage as they commanded their troops to battle. The loss of the Collapsing Lightning Duke should have marked the end, but the fight carried on due to the words of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. Back in the crashing area, the Void King was hundreds of meters above the ground, with a pale face and blood leaking from every orifice on his face. That attack was incredibly powerful, but so was the demand it placed on him. The Void King tried to regulate his breath as he focused on the Collapsing Lightning Duke buried in the crater. The blast had scorched the man''s skin and shattered his chest and most internal organs, yet there was still a frail trail of life force in him. "Still alive! You stubborn bastard, just die!" Shock appeared in the eyes of the Void King as he saw how the Collapsing Lightning Duke was still alive, and just as he prepared to send the final blow, a sword marched toward him, forcing him to block. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s eyes burned with killing intent as he struck with his sword toward the Void King but did not chase after him as he was sent flying away, instead turning his focus to the Collapsing Lightning Duke. The man was just as surprised as the Void King to see that the Collapsing Lightning Duke was still alive. He did not lose a second before sending the Sector Duke into one of his unique space rings that could contain life before filling the dimension with treasures capable of restoring vitality. A sharp light appeared in the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s eyes as he ensured the treasures would channel their vitality into the Collapsing Lightning Duke. ''It is hardly enough to heal him, but it should be enough to stabilize his life force.'' Although the Collapsing Lightning Duke required immediate medical attention, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar could not abandon the battlefield. His eyes focused on the sky and saw the Void King gazing at him with coldness. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar understood the difference between his power and the Dark King''s. Still, if he did not face him, no one else could, so he clenched the grip on his sword and flashed into the sky. Chapter 646 646: Arrival The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar dashed after the Void King, pursuing him with his sword and striking with all his might whenever they came near each other. His attacks were extremely powerful and moved so fast that average Titans couldn''t perceive them. However, despite all the power and speed behind the sword, the Void King could use his palms to block it. Every time the sword would come near, the Void King would place his palm in the weapon''s path, making the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar feel as though he was slashing at an invisible wall, and that was not all. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar could perceive an invisible force field around the Void King encompassing a fifty-meter radius. Although the radius was small, every time the True Titan entered this section of space, he would feel a crushing gravitational pressure assaulting him, forcing him to use his full power just to move freely. This gravitational force field was present when the Void King faced the Collapsing Lightning Duke. Still, the Sector Duke overcame it thanks to his monstrous strength and mastery over gravitational forces, something the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar did not possess. ''It''s okay. I do not need to win; I just need to endure long enough.'' The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was not foolish enough to think he could win and knew they needed to pull back. However, a hasty withdrawal would cause the death of hundreds of thousands or maybe millions of soldiers, something he could not allow. He had already sent the command to the squad and battalion leaders to return to the Golden Core City, but that would take time. Until then, he needed to keep the Void King busy no matter what. The Void King was not a fool and saw the plan of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar but did not lose focus or try something foolish as to continue burning his willpower. Even if he could keep the man''s attacks at bay, that did not mean it was easy. After all, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s sword carried truly powerful momentum and had yet to recover from the Stellar Dive. However, the Void King remained calm since he was not alone. "YOU!" A draconic scream of rage emerged from the distance, and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar clenched his teeth as he saw how the Blood King was flashing back into the fray. He had managed to send the Dark King flying away with his last sword strike. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar expected to win more time, but it seemed that the Blood King was stronger than he believed. He understood the danger of his situation, but his eyes only burst with even stronger willpower as he pushed the Void King away with his sword, just in time to slash to the side and face a draconic claw bathed in burning blood energy. "?BOOM!" A burst of destructive energy flooded the sky as the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar faced the Blood King. There was a frenzy in the Blood King''s eyes as he attacked with all he had, but the sword cut through the flesh in his hand, making it clear who had the upper hand. Unfortunately, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar did not have time to be happy as his eyes narrowed, and the next second, he moved to the side just in time to dodge a punch charged with a starry light aimed at his temple. The Void King''s eyes emanated killing intent as he landed a kick on the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar after this one dodged his blow. Now that there were two, he could fight, and maybe they could kill two True Titans! That kick sent the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar flying as blood leaked from the corner of his mouth, but he just clenched his teeth and regained control over his body. He gazed at the Blood King and Void King and felt his instincts screaming, warning him of the immense danger he faced and urging him to run. Before the arrival of Cain Laurifer, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was considered the greatest genius to have ever emerged from the Collapsing Lightning Sector. Even now, he is regarded as a massive genius, having reached the Late Divine Ascension before turning 600 years old and managing to push his battle power to the True Titan level. With only a few hundred more years, he could raise his cultivation to the point where he could easily take the position of Emperor and rise to the Astral Sea like a shooting star. With such a glorious destiny, how could he fall here? However, all those doubts and hesitation vanished when he glanced at the man inside his space ring. "Old man, you could have used that small window of time after resisting the spell to activate your trump cards and escape but chose to harm the Undying King and give us a chance. Hmph, how can I do any less!" "BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" Everybody turned toward the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar as they saw a pillar of Astral Wave emerge from him, only for this one to slowly gain a silver color. Although those at lower cultivation did not comprehend what was happening, Divine Ascension Masters from both sides understood the nature of the fuel the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar used to make his aura rise to such monstrous levels. The Void King''s eyes narrowed as he adopted a solemn attitude as he saw how the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was starting to ignite his life force. It seemed that the man was determined to make this place his final battlefield and would try to take them with him. "Come and face my blade!" "ROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRR!" Just as the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was ready to flash forward and burn all he had, a powerful bestial roar echoed from the heavens. Gods and Titans were shocked by such a roar, and the soldiers from both sides looked to the sky only to see a dragon head pierce the storm clouds the battle had generated. Chapter 647 647: 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation There was a sense of shock and amazement in the eyes of all, including the True Titans, as the size of that monster was simply overwhelming. If its head was so massive, its entire body could curl around a whole Sector! However, even more shocking was that the dragon''s head vanished the next second, and a small figure began to descend. It was just a two-meter-tall young man with white hair and golden eyes. Still, when the Collapsing Lightning Alliance''s powerhouses saw him, a sense of shock assaulted them since he was the most striking genius of the Goldslayer Humankind, who was supposed to be dead. "Cain!" The one who shouted was a middle-aged man covered in a blue force field. His eyes were blind, but they could not hide the thrill that overcame his soul as he detected that young man. That simple word led to a sense of shock, disbelief, and hope in the eyes of hundreds of thousands of the soldiers of the Collapsing Lightning Alliance. The next second, that shock and disbelief spread to all parties since shortly after the young man appeared, they saw gargantuan metallic pyramids following his descent. The Gods from the Inferno Daemon Race could not care less about the presence of an Apotheosis Realm Master, no matter how grand his entrance was, but the moment they saw those massive pyramids, everything changed as they could see those were weapons of war of the highest caliber. "81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation. Activate!" As soon as those words echoed across the sky, the 81 metallic pyramids began to glow. An invisible force field descended from the sky, crushing like a hammer inside the bodies and energy pools of the members of the Dark Races. Wave Warriors fell to the ground powerless, while Wave Champions could barely move, and Wave Kings lost their abilities to fly. As for Divine Ascension Masters, they could resist, but all of them felt their energy stagnated, making it extremely hard to revolve, reducing their power by roughly 20%. Seven words! That was all it took for Cain to turn the tables, transforming what seemed to be a tragic withdrawal into a chance for victory! A defining silence covered the battlefield as people from both races looked at the young man in the sky, unable to believe what they saw. Yet, it did not last long as a figure immediately flashed into the sky at full speed, his body covered in light. "Stop him!" Angar and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar shouted as they saw God from the Abyssal Clan flashing toward Cain, full of killing intent. Although the duo was still overcoming the shock of that majestic arrival, they could see the power of the war formation and could not allow that Abyssal God to kill Cain and interfere with it. Unfortunately, the Dark Kings obstructed the duo, and no one else was fast enough to intercept the God, so everybody could only watch as the Abyssal God flashed toward Cain with a massive bastard halberd in his hands. Cain had not stopped his descent since he exited from the Exodus Formation along with the 81 metallic pyramids. When he saw the Abyssal God, his eyes burst with red light as he unleashed his full power, triggered the Asura Form, and made his Astral Wave and Essence Wave explode before pushing the Concept of Sundering to the limit. The Abyssal God was shocked to see Astral Wave and Essence Wave coming from Cain, but that only made his killing intent explode with even more strength as every cell of his body began to glow, pushing his speed even higher. Both sides only saw a red flash and a golden flash crossing paths and moving forward a few hundred meters before stopping. "What is your title, Godslayer Human?" Despite the distance, all people could hear the words of the Abyssal God. "I am the Scarlet King." "Scarlet King. A good title." That was the last thing the Abyssal God said before his body lost all its strength and began to fall from the sky. It was then that people were able to see the cut in his chest where his heart was supposed to be. As the Goldslayer Humans and Inferno Daemon saw that, a sense of utter awe and amazement appeared in the hearts of each of them since the young man in the sky only used one blow to kill a God! Cain felt how all the eyes were focused on him, and he raised his bloody hand before shouting in a voice that seemed capable of sundering all darkness. "For the Goldslayer Humankind!" It was a simple chant, but just as it managed to drive them back from despair after the fall of the Collapsing Lightning Duke, this time, it made their fighting spirit burst since they saw in that young man a path to victory! "For the Goldslayer Humankind!" "For the Goldslayer Humankind!" "For the Goldslayer Humankind!" Cain''s energy burst with more and more strength under the chants of the soldiers before turning his focus to the side and taking a step forward, appearing next to the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. The Gods and Titans were wondering what battlefield the young man would choose, and it seemed he intended to step into the highest level right from the start. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was shocked to see the young man he had to protect from the Dark Kings less than six years ago standing by his side and seemingly wanting to fight with him. Before the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar could even say a word, Cain waved his hand and sent three broadswords to the man. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar immediately sent his Ego Wave into the swords, and as he understood their power and abilities, a sense of shock and awe appeared in his eyes before looking at Cain again. The Godlayer Humans looked at each other for a second before nodding and making their energy explode to the limits as they focused on the Blood King and Void King. Chapter 648: Cain vs the Blood King Cain and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar did not waste a second before diving forward toward the Dark King, full of killing intent. The duo''s power had reached its peak, and they were ready to use all they had against the Blood King and Void King. The Blood King''s eyes were full of shock and dread from the moment he saw Cain, and that feeling exploded after the young man killed the Abyssal God with a single blow to the heart. Now, seeing the Godslayer Human that was the bane of his existence diving toward him, he only wanted to run away. "What are you waiting for? Fight!" However, the Void King shouted before the Blood King could step back. The face of the Dark King contorted in pain upon hearing that order, and the next second, pure madness appeared in his eyes as he roared and flashed forward with maddening zeal. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw the state of mind of the Blood King. Still, he did not lose focus and made sure to push his body to the limit by empowering it with the Radiance of Strength as he dived toward the man with sun force and spatial storm in his extremities. A punch bathed in golden and gray energy clashed with a draconic claw of blood energy, and soon, a massive blast spread in all directions before the duo was sent hurtling in different directions. Cracks had formed in the epicenter of their clash as the power they unleashed surpassed the resistance of Aether''s space. The Blood King regained control after seven hundred meters, while Cain did it after one thousand. The Dark King was on top when it came to brute power, but Cain did not hesitate for a second before diving back into the fray. The four-meter-tall humanoid blood dragon and the young man bathed in golden flames began to clash in the sky, each unleashing power capable of leveling cities. The speed of their attacks kept increasing as the duo rose higher and higher, becoming a beacon in the sky. Cain''s eyes narrowed as the Blood King lunged toward him with its massive maws, but he managed to dodge to the side using The Flow before landing a ferocious blow to the man''s liver, making this one tremble. ''His battle skills and awareness are off.'' His first battle with the Blood King was still very clear in Cain''s mind, and he could see that the man''s discernment and cognitive mind seemed to be off, yet before he could analyze the advantage of that, a knee strike flashed toward his chest. Cain used his left arm as a shield, avoiding the attack from landing directly on his chest before being sent hurtling thousands of meters. Even if the analytic mind of the Dark King was off, he managed to make it up with a battle frenzy. The Blood King''s killing intent burned in his eyes, as he wanted to chase but could not do so as that last blow paralyzed his body. However, he was not limited to close-range attacks, and the next second he opened his maws. "Blood Dragon Breath!" Cain had barely regained control over his body when that cannon of blood energy was about to land on his body, but his eyes glowed with a burning golden flame. "Sun Eyes!" Two beams of sun force emerged from Cain''s eyes and clashed with the Blood King''s energy cannon, generating a fantastic sight in the sky as the duo used all their power to overcome the other. "AHHHHHHHH!" "AHHHHHHHHH!" The young man, covered in golden flames, and the blood dragon roared as they fueled their attacks with more and more power until the clash generated a massive blast that covered the sky and engulfed both of them. Silence reigned for a moment as the view of everybody was covered by a storm of energy, but it did not last long as everybody heard Cain''s voice again the next second. "Solar Space Storm." A golden cannon that seemed to blend the power of Astral Wave and Essence Wave dispersed the chaotic energy, and everybody could see how Cain triggered that attack point-blank on the Blood King''s chest. The Blood King''s chest was scorched, and so was his back as he was sent hurtling away while puking mouthfuls of blood. Yet, even after receiving that devastating attack, he managed to regain control over his body in less than a second. "ROAR!" The Dark King unleashed a bestial roar as the frenzy in his eyes only increased, and he flashed toward Cain with pure killing intent. Cain''s eyes widened as he saw that the Blood King managed to endure his strongest attack point-blank with such ease, but he did not lose focus and, without hesitating, flashed toward the enemy with burning killing might. The brutal fight between the human and the demonic dragon continued, with one using technique and ability and the other relying on its endurance and raw power. The Void King, Shadow King, First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, Angar Aegon, and every single God and Titan present could not help but glance at the battle between the Scarlet King and the Blood King. No matter who they were or their side, everybody present had to admit that Cain Laurifer was an impossible existence as he was supposed to be barely twenty-one years old yet already faced a True Titan head-on! The killing intent in the heart of the Void King just kept growing the more he saw Cain face the Blood King, as the young man''s talent was simply too much. If he was not stopped now, he would have the power to bury his claws into The Organization in the future and do a lot of damage. Unfortunately for the Void King, no matter how strong his killing intent was, he could do nothing to Cain since, right now, he barely had the strength to defend against the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s sword strikes. Chapter 649: Overwhelming the Void King The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar no longer went down a suicidal path of burning his life force, but his battle power rose to a new level thanks to the three broadswords. These weapons were none other than the Sacred Treasures of the Fenrir Clan, the Space Swords. Although they were extremely resilient and could grant someone the ability to teleport, these broadswords could be considered a Quasi Divine Treasure at best. However, their true power would be released once the three were together. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar hacked with all his strength with one of the broadswords, and there was a smile on his face as he felt how the edge of the weapon was able to cut through the fabric of space and any other impediment on his path, including the gravitational force field that protected the Void King. Annoyance appeared on the Void King''s face as he made the energy in his left arm explode in order to block the sword strike, and even then, a small cut appeared on his flesh. He ignored the wound and used his free arm to send a blow to the enemy. However, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar only smiled as he let go of the sword before being teleported to the one on the left and, without hesitating, hacked with this one. Once the three Space Swords were together, they would form the Trinity Space Sword Domain. The domain drew spatial energy and reinforced each sword with sundering power, making their edge able to cut through anything. But that was just part of its power. It would also allow the swordmaster in control of the broadswords to teleport from one to the other, allowing for blinking speed attacks and survival abilities. The Void King had never faced a sword formation like this, so he could not react before a deep cut appeared on his back and sent him hurtling into the ground. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s eyes burned with killing intent as he chased after the Void King. He needed to take advantage of the Dark King''s wounds and lack of familiarity with the formation to do as much damage as possible. Back on the devastated Golden Mountain Range, the situation for the Infernal Daemon Invasion Force was not any better, as the power of the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation had reduced their power so, despite their numerical advantage, they were slowly losing terrain at the hands of the Titans and warriors from the Collapsing Lightning Alliance. As for those warriors on the ground, they were orderly but quickly making their way back to the Golden Core City under the protection of the Wave Kings and Apotheosis Masters. Although the Inferno Daemon Wave Warrior and Wave Champion could barely fight under the power of the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation, they had received the order to pull back and would obey. A smile appeared in the Titans and Divine Ascension Masters from the Collapsing Lightning Alliance as they saw their troops pulling back. Although they had gained the upper hand, they could see beyond the fury of battle and analyze things objectively. Cain Laurifer was overexerting himself to face the Blood King, and despite his massive battle power, his energy pool and stamina were limited, so he could not endure for much longer. And while the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar had the upper hand and was managing to wound the Void King, once this one overcame his backlash from the last attack, things would grow dire again. Not to mention, the more time they waited to treat the Collapsing Lightning Duke, the harder it would be to heal him, so the wisest path right now was to take advantage of their upper hand to retreat and save the lives of their soldiers. Cain''s eyes glowed with red and golden lights as he continued fighting the Blood King, using all his power. There were bruises all over his body, and he could feel several of his bones cracked. If it weren''t for the Radiance of Life healing him, the damage to the battle would have affected his battle power a long time ago. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and as he dodged a claw intended to rip his throat, he fired a double strike to the chest of the Blood King and sent him flying away before moving away. At the same time, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar sent a ferocious sword strike toward the Void King, and while this one was able to block it with his forearms, the blow still sent him flying away. He used that window to pull back as well. Just as Cain and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar pushed their enemies, Angar Aegon managed to do the same with the Shadow King and fled to the sky, adopting a defensive formation around the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation with the Titan and Divine Ascension Masters. Cain and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar appeared within the formation the next second, giving one final glance at the enemy force before flying away along with the metallic pyramids. They had managed to cover the retreat of their troops, and it was time to leave to treat their wounds. "ROAR!" While the Gods and Divine Ascension Masters only gazed at the Collapsing Lightning Alliance''s departure, the Blood King roared after regaining control over his body and seemed ready to march after them. "Enough!" However, before the Dark King could start that suicidal chase, the Void King shouted, stopping his movements. The Void King glanced at the retreating army with an expression full of anger and hatred. He was so close to victory, yet a young man''s appearance sent everything crumbling. However, even as rage and hatred overwhelmed his heart, he was able to maintain a cool head. "Let''s return." There was no longer a point in remaining in this place. As for building a God Tower, not only were the resources for such a structure extremely expensive, but the battle had affected the surroundings, and it was not a place they could use anymore as a battle station, not even a temporary one. Chapter 650: A new 21 Revolution Refinement (I) Angar Aegon, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and the Titans and Divine Ascension Masters who flew back to the Golden Core City couldn''t help but glance at Cain. The young man was injured, and his energy had been depleted, yet there was no sign of instability in his life force, indicating he hadn''t needed to resort to extreme measures to face the Blood King. Cain could sense the gazes of the powerhouses but wasn''t in the mood to talk as a ferocious scream of rage and murderous intent consumed his mind. ''Fight.'' ''Keep killing.'' ''Get revenge.'' ''Return to bloodshed.'' Those screams echoed louder and louder in Cain''s mind, trying to trigger an emotional response and twist his ego and personality in the process. Upon arriving at the battlefield, Cain''s first action wasn''t to activate the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation but to scrutinize the faces of the Collapsing Lightning Alliance soldiers. Upon seeing Zarak, Shura, and Levi among the ranks, Cain felt relieved, as if an immense weight had fallen from his shoulders, but he also noticed many familiar faces missing. He understood the nature of the people with whom he had bonded in the past during his time in the Collapsing Lightning Sector and realized their absence likely meant they were too injured to participate or had perished. As a Master of Order, Cain''s heart and soul could endure the loss of anyone, even those integral to his Life Matrix. Although it would be painful and challenging, he was capable of overcoming it, yet the unbridled fury of the Astral Blood Beast made it particularly difficult to calm those emotions. It took every ounce of focus in Cain''s mind not to allow those emotions to distract him, so it was no wonder he kept quiet the entire time. Once the powerhouses and the 81 metallic pyramids returned to the Golden Core City, the lower-level soldiers who had managed to safely retreat looked up in awe. Their admiration was primarily focused on Cain, who stood out like a divine god-king against the sky with his golden eyes and red robe. Suddenly, a figure darted into the sky and rushed toward Cain. The onlookers were taken aback but remained silent upon recognizing the individual. Cain watched as the figure approached rapidly before embracing him tightly, her tears streaming down her face. The newcomer was a young woman with red hair, green eyes, and a striking beauty¡ªShura. Shura couldn''t contain her tears as she clung to Cain, fearing he might disappear if she let go. The shock she experienced upon seeing the arrival of the man she loved and believed to be dead was overwhelming. Still, years on the battlefield had tempered her mind, allowing her to cover the retreat of the Wave Warrior and Wave Champion when commanded. However, with the immediate threat of battle gone, she allowed her emotions to overflow, overwhelmed with joy and relief at seeing Cain alive. Initially, Cain''s demeanor was detached as the Power of Order was working at full power, severing all his emotion to keep his mind calm, but soon, a warm smile appeared on his face as he embraced the young man, soothingly stroking her head. ''This is nice.'' This moment of tenderness lifted a significant burden from Cain''s shoulders, allowing his mind and heart to attain a deep sense of peace. Although Shura was a vulnerability for him, she also served as a source of comfort, easing his heart and mind, something that would become increasingly important in the future. Like a bow''s string, he recognized the need for relaxation to prevent snapping. After a few moments, Cain gently took Shura''s shoulders and eased her away from his chest, looking at her with a kind and loving smile. "We will have our time, I promise." Shura nodded softly, understanding the situation, and with one final smile filled with love, she rejoined the rest of the soldiers. Cain''s gaze lingered on Shura for a few more seconds before his smile faded, and he turned to Angar and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. "There will be time for questions later," he stated. The True Titans narrowed their eyes but nodded without hesitation, and the next moment, the trio vanished, teleporting into the Titan Tower. Although the powerhouses and the rest of the soldiers were brimming with curiosity about the young man and how he managed to arrive on the battlefield with such majestic weapons of war, their immediate concern right now was to tend to their wounds. --- Cain, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and Angar appeared in the war room of the Titan Tower. "Please bring out the Collapsing Lightning Duke. We need to be fast." Before the two True Titans could inquire further, Cain spoke and extended his hand, from which a flame with 21 colors appeared. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and Angar were astounded by the sight of the multicolored flame. He and Angar sensed its extraordinary power but were uncertain of its nature. If anyone else had presented such enigmatic power, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar might have hesitated, but Cain had proven himself in battle, transforming a dire situation into a flawless withdrawal. Although the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar didn''t understand Cain''s intentions, he trusted the young man wouldn''t do anything to harm the Collapsing Lightning Duke. Without delay, he retrieved the Duke''s body from his space ring. Cain''s eyes narrowed upon seeing the dire state of the Collapsing Lightning Duke. The Duke''s flesh and bones were scorched, most of his vital organs shattered, his Rebirth Heart deeply wounded, and his skull severely fractured. The fact that the Duke was still alive despite such injuries was astonishing. Under normal circumstances, recovery would likely result in a significant drop in cultivation. However, that wouldn''t be the case, thanks to Cain''s ability to harness the formidable power of Tribulation Enhancement. Without wasting a moment, Cain introduced the 21 Revolution Flame into the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s body and utilized the [Enhancement Module] to perform a flawless 21 Revolution Refinement. Chapter 651: A new 21 Revolution Refinement (II) The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and Angar watched as flames with 21 colors enveloped the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s body before seeping inside, and that was just the beginning. The next moment, the True Titan''s eyes widened as they noticed a gargantuan amount of world energy flooding into the room before sipping into the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s body. Cain''s eyes glowed with red light, giving the impression that he was using the full power of his Ego Wave to control the process. In reality, the Absolute Life Form System handled everything, ensuring no risk of failure. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and Angar had no idea what was happening or how those multicolored flames triggered such a tsunami of world energy. What they did understand was that it was somehow repairing the damage the Collapsing Lightning Duke had sustained. The world energy triggered the evolution of all the cells in the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s body, thereby fixing the damage from the catastrophic attack by the Void King. After thirty minutes, the 21 Revolution Flame began to fade as the wave of world energy it had initiated fully integrated into the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s body and energy pool. The True Titans could barely believe their eyes as they observed that the previously scorched skin and muscles that had covered the Collapsing Lightning Duke were replaced by pristine skin. The man was still in a coma, but the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and Angar could not hide their smiles as they felt the powerful beating of the man''s heart and the strength of his life force. Although the Collapsing Lightning Duke was still severely injured, his current damage could easily be treated with high-level treasure, and he should be able to use around 80% of his battle power after two weeks of treatment. Considering the man was at death''s door less than an hour ago, the shock in the duo''s hearts was understandable. "How?" The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar couldn''t contain his doubts any longer and looked at Cain with eyes full of wonder and curiosity. "That is an ancient profession named Tribulation Enhancement that I learned in the Kronos Continent. It allows someone to harness the power of Tribulation, stealing it from the world and using it to enhance your foundation and talent. Since it generates a qualitative change in your body at a cellular level, it can also heal your wounds and fix damage to your foundation." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and Angar were surprised by the power Cain managed to master, and their shock grew even more when they heard the young man learned this ancient craft in the Kronos Continent, home of the Atrox Immortus Race. Once again, doubts and questions appeared in the duo''s eyes, and fortunately for them, Cain did not leave them waiting. "Long story short, the teleportation formation of the Azure Royal Family I used to escape from the Blood King threw me into the Kronos Continent. From there, I hijacked another intercontinental teleportation formation and reached the Hyperion Continent before the Great Cataclysm would seal teleportation across the Endless Ocean. During my time in the Hyperion Continent, I faced an incarnation of the Soul King, and after destroying it, I learned about the war that raged on Gaia. So, I used the Exodus Formation of the Deus Behemoth Empire to return." Silence reigned in the room for a moment as the True Titans could barely believe what they just heard. Although Cain said it in such a casual way, they were sure it was a saga worthy of millenary legends. "Wait, you faced the Soul King''s incarnation. When was that exactly?" Angar''s eyes narrowed as he heard how Cain took care of an incarnation of the Soul King and couldn''t help but ask that question. Cain looked at the man and could deduce the reason for the question. "It should be around a year and six months ago. I assume the Soul King did not show his face during this time." Once again, a sense of shock and awe assaulted the duo as they realized that Cain had been helping them even from afar, as he was the reason why the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army was down one True Titan. "Just how deep was the wound you gave the Soul King?" Although the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was immensely grateful for Cain''s help, there would be time for compliments later as they needed to know the condition of the Soul King and when he would return. Even though it was Apex who handled most of the matters regarding the Scarlet Inquisition Force, Cain had focused on this one in the last stretch, and his abilities as a great general were high enough to understand priorities, so he immediately answered the question to the best of his abilities. "The technique the Soul King used is named Soul Puppet Incarnation. It allows the man to deposit a small piece of his Ego Wave and soul force into a unique vessel and, around it, create a puppet he can control in any part of Aether. Each Soul Puppet has Early Divine Ascension battle power, and as long as they are not shattered, the Soul King will not experience any backlash. However, the loss of a single one would generate a deep soul wound in the man, and I doubt he would be able to recover in less than ten years." Shock and awe appeared in the eyes of the True Titans as they realized just how deep Cain''s knowledge was about the Soul King, and the young man was just beginning. "Since I managed to read the memories of the Soul King, I have a great understanding of the nature of the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army. Although this information is from a year ago, it will still be of great use, but before we go to that, we should help him wake up." Cain turned to the Collapsing Lightning Duke as his eyes glowed with red light, and a bright golden flame appeared in his hand. Chapter 652: A seat at the table The Collapsing Lightning Duke frowned as a feeling of extreme discomfort assaulted him. He felt every inch of his body twitching as if his cells were in a state of extreme excitement, and slowly, he opened his eyes. There was confusion in the Sector Duke''s eyes as he gazed at the metallic ceiling, beginning to remember what had happened before he lost consciousness. Suddenly, a sense of shock assaulted him, and he hastily stood up as his awareness burst. Looking around the room, he saw the faces of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and Angar, and then shock overtook him again as he saw the face of someone who had vanished several years ago. "Cain!? What is happening!? How long have I been unconscious!? How are the troops!?" The Collapsing Lightning Duke immediately started firing questions. He could feel how his body had vastly recovered, which should mean he had been unconscious for a long time, and that was not good news since the longer he was out, the more advantage the Void King and the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army gained. "Old man, relax. I will explain everything." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar understood the nature of the Sector Duke better than anyone and expected such a reaction. After giving the man a second to breathe, he explained everything. The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes widened as he heard how Cain managed to arrive in such grandeur before triggering a formation that suppressed the entire enemy army and killed a God with one strike. Then, like a monster, he faced the Blood King to a tie and allowed the Collapsing Lightning Alliance to retreat safely back to the Golden Core City. If such battle might was not enough, the young man was able to heal most of his wounds using an ancient profession named Tribulation Enhancement. Finally, the icing on the cake was the fact Cain was the reason the Soul King failed to present himself on the battlefield for the last year. "Hahahahahahahahaha. Did I tell you all that this brat was something else? Look at him, so young and already facing True Titans." The Collapsing Lightning Duke released a thunderous laugh as he clapped Cain''s shoulder with so much strength that it generated shockwaves, making the room tremble. An Apotheosis Realm Master''s bones would break under such power, but Cain''s body had the endurance of an Adamantine Wave Artifact, so he only felt a palm. The smile on the Collapsing Lightning Duke only increased as he felt the resilience in Cain''s body, but then his eyes widened as he stared at him with confusion. "Boy, are you simultaneously cultivating the Essence Evolution Path of Power and the Astral Rebirth Path of Power?" When the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the Patriarch of the Aegon Family heard those words, they also turned to Cain. They had seen how the young man had unleashed both Astral Wave and Essence Wave during his fight against the Blood King, and now that they could finally take a breath and relax, doubts arose in their minds. Dual cultivation was considered a taboo path that only talentless people would take. Still, the three True Titans would not dare to give Cain advice regarding cultivation since it was clear that the young man''s talent had vastly surpassed theirs. The question was just out of curiosity, and luckily for them, Cain did not have a problem sharing. "I have found a path to dual cultivation." The eyes of the True Titans glowed like lighthouses as they heard Cain''s words, beaming with a sense of utter and absolute desire. The Collapsing Lightning Duke, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and the Patriarch of the Aegon Family were Astral Cultivators. While they could channel immense might through their flesh and blood, they understood that their power would rise to a whole new level if they could also master the power of the Laws. Although none of them said it out loud, the three True Titans gazed at Cain with an unmistakable sense of desire in their eyes as they were eager to learn that path. Of course, since Cain shared the path''s existence, he would not hide how to pursue it; after all, if the trio learned about it, there was no loss for him. "It is very straightforward. You must push your soul force to the Divine Ascension Realm while maintaining your Ego Wave in the Second Realm. Then, after your soul force evolves, you will have access to a unique Ego Destruction Tribulation that will allow you to divide your soul into two pieces, which can be used to evolve the Rebirth Heart and Evolution Core to the Divine Ranks." The eyes of the trio twitched, and a sense of disappointment appeared on their faces. Although it was straightforward, it was also nearly impossible to achieve. First of all, they were already out of luck since their souls had fused with their Sacred Organs, but even if they were younger and had yet to reach that point, who could achieve such an outrageous requirement as pushing their soul force to the Divine Ascension Realm while being an Apotheosis Master with a Second Realm Ego Wave. The trio nodded to Cain and engraved the information in their minds, but they did not think it would be of much use. The number of people in the world who could take advantage of that information might be just one. "Ok, enough distraction. We need to focus on the matters at hand. While we escaped from a close call thanks to the Scarlet King''s timely arrival, it doesn''t erase the fact that a new True Titan had entered the battlefield." The words of the Collapsing Lightning Duke spread a solemn aura over the room. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the Patriarch of the Aegon Family also noticed the way in which the man referred to Cain, and it was clear the young man had managed to gain a seat at the decision table. Chapter 653: Discussing the battlefield "First of all, was anyone able to assess the condition of the Undying King before this one escaped the battlefield?" The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s face was solemn as he uttered those words. The unexpected appearance of the Undying King led to him nearly dying under the attack of the Void King. He remembered how his punch managed to pulverize the chest of the Dark King and was sure he destroyed the heart. That should have been enough to ensure someone''s death, but there was a reason why that man called himself Undying. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and Angar looked at each other before shaking their heads. Although they saw how the Undying King was sent flying away, they were too embroiled in their fights to divide their attention. Neither of the True Titans expected an answer from Cain since the young man arrived several minutes after the events involving the Undying King, yet he spoke. "Although I do not know the state of the Undying King, I assure you that unless you shattered his soul, in less than three weeks, the man will be back on the battlefield." The Collapsing Lightning Duke, First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and the Patriarch of the Aegon Family were shocked by such an assessment, and just as they were about to ask Cain how he was so sure, they saw a file reaching their A.I. Chips. As the trio looked into the files, their eyes widened. There was a compendium with the names of the Ten Dark Kings, including skills, abilities, battle power, and known feats. "That is all the information I have. It comes from the memories of the Soul King." A new wave assaulted them before the True Titans could recover from the shock of the compendium. The trio already knew that Cain managed to obtain information from the memories of the Soul King''s incarnation in the Hyperion Continent. Still, for him to prepare such a file, his mastery over soul reading might be at the highest level of Aether. Cain noticed the trio''s look but did not distract himself and carried on. "The Undying King might not be the strongest, and his spells might not be all that impressive, but when it comes to survival skill, he is the best of the Ten Dark Kings, so unless you felt your punch destroy his soul, he will soon return to the battlefield." The Collapsing Lightning Duke frowned as he heard that since, after reading the compendium, there was no doubt in his mind Cain was right. More than once, the Undying King had taken wounds that should have been lethal to anyone else, yet he returned in a few weeks as if it were nothing. Unfortunately, while the memories of the Soul King hypothesized the possible secret behind the Undying King''s incredible survival abilities, there was nothing sure. "If that is the case, then we must assume he will likely appear in the next battle." The frown on the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s face grew deeper as he analyzed the next step. Cain''s arrival had granted them a very powerful addition to their troops. Still, the young man was only an extremely powerful Titan and had yet to be able to deploy battle power above the Divine Ascension Realm for an extended period of time. Since that was the case, they would be in a tight spot in the next battle as they would be down one True Titan. "Mmm, can you guide me through the function of the metallic pyramids?" The Collapsing Lightning Duke learned about the power of the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation from the retelling of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. He knew it was potent and could be of great use, but he was sure something so massive must have drawbacks. "The 81 black pyramids are one of the greatest war treasures of the Deus Behemoth Race. With them, we can trigger the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation and generate an invisible force field within a radius of over 2000 kilometers. It can completely incapacitate Wave Warriors and Wave Champions and suppress Wave Kings to the point they can barely use 20% of their strength and lose the ability to fight. As for Apotheosis Masters, they can only use 50% of their strength. Divine Ascension Masters can retain between 20% to 25% of their strength under the effect of the formation. Unfortunately, when it comes to targets, the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation can only affect Dark Races. It was designed that way since it would be too much for the formation to analyze one person at a time. Another drawback is that every metallic tower uses one supreme wave crystal for each hour the formation is active." The trio showed complicated expressions as they heard the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation details. Its power was extraordinary, and it made sense that it could only target members of the Dark Races, as trying to keep focus on every soldier inside a massive battlefield was impossible. The problem lay in the resources it consumed. Every hour the formation was active, it would drain 81 supreme wave crystals. That was the same as consuming 81 pieces of Adamantine Wave Artifact an hour. "How long can we keep the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation active with the fuel already deposited?" "10 hours." The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes widened as he turned to Cain with surprise upon hearing that answer, and he was not alone since the other two True Titans were also stunned. It was obvious that the Deus Behemoth Emperor had lent the formation to Cain. That was already impressive, proving that Cain''s status in the Deus Behemoth Empire was not simple, but that was, in the end, a loan. However, the fact that the metallic pyramids had a charge for ten hours meant that the Emperor gave Cain 810 supreme wave crystals. That was more wealth than the entire Collapsing Lightning Sector could produce in ten years! Chapter 654: Spies in the Collapsing Lightning Alliance The Collapsing Lightning Duke felt a great weight coming down his shoulder as he saw that the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation would be enough to handle their current predicament. Even if the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation could not affect the Dark Kings, it would weaken the entire Inferno Daemon Invasion Army. That would generate a chain reaction from the lowest battlefield all the way to the highest, hopefully allowing some Titans the freedom to join the True Titan''s battlefield. Although the man was curious about what Cain did to obtain so much goodwill from the Deus Behemoth Emperor, he knew those questions could wait. "Good, it might just be temporary, but the 81 Heaven Suppression Formation will help us equal the battlefield. Since we have handled the core predicament, let''s summon the rest of the generals and start analyzing our next movements." Although the final decision was in the hands of the Collapsing Lightning Duke, he always allowed the other generals and powerhouses to be present and share their ideas and insights regarding the battlefield. A good leader knows how to take advantage of the people around him and not limit himself to his ideas. However, there was someone who was against that path. "I don''t think that would be wise." The Collapsing Lightning Duke turned toward Cain with an inquisitive gaze. Although the man was very young, the Sector Duke knew he was remarkable in many ways, so he indicated for Cain to carry on and explain. "We have been presented with a great opportunity. The Void King knows the state his attack left you, and he must surely believe you are in a deep coma right now, with severe wounds and on the brink of death. We should continue with the facade and actively use it to incite the man to make a mistake." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and Angar nodded as they heard Cain''s words since they made perfect sense. Yet, the Collapsing Lightning Duke softly shook his head as he immediately found a flaw. "It is indeed wise to feign weakness to draw your opponents into a trap, but how long would we need to wait for that? Not to mention that we also have to consider the impact on the morale of the alliance. My power and feats are recognized across the empire, which is why most of the Sector Dukes chose to side with me instead of just taking their families and running away, leaving their domains unprotected. Although the troops are energized right now, that is due to the thrill of battle, and they have yet to analyze their situation. Once they understand that no one can put up a front to the Void King, we will have serious problems, and our fragile stability might collapse." A solemn light appeared in the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and Angar as they analyzed the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s words and understood how dire their situation would have been if they had been unable to wake him up. Cain''s eyes could not help but narrow as he stared at the Collapsing Lightning Duke and came to understand just how deep the man''s military mind was. Anyone could make an analysis based on data and numbers, but only a few would be able to truly factor in the hearts and minds of the people around them in the equation. "You are right. Your absence will have a negative impact on the morale of the troops and might make the alliance crumble, but I have a way to navigate through that. First, I have an immense amount of war resources that will be distributed to the troops immediately. There will be peak armor and weapons for everybody, including Divine Ascension Masters, along with treasures capable of healing any wound. Finally, I will offer this to improve their power." Cain opened his palm, and the trio saw a 20-colored flame appear. "Although a 21 Revolution Flame is incredibly complicated to generate, a 20 Revolution Flame is much easier, and I have 30. That should be enough to keep all those generals and Sector Dukes hesitating on what to do next firmly on our side, at least for the meantime." The Collapsing Lightning Duke stared at Cain for a moment, and soon, a smile appeared on his face as he saw how the young man could play with the greed in the hearts of the great generals and Sector Dukes to ensure their remanence on the battlefield. "Good, very good. Yes, with their wounds healed, new weapons and armor, and the excitement of Tribulation Enhancement, we can keep them grounded for the time being without problems. But that will only last a finite amount of time, and we still have no idea when the Void King will attack." "Actually, we can incite the man to make a move by using the spies The Organization has in the Collapsing Lightning Alliance." Upon hearing that, somber expressions appeared on the True Titans, especially in the Patriarch of the Aegon Family. Spies were common in war, and the one in charge of finding them was none other than Angar. The man had pushed himself and his family to the limit in order to maintain the secrets of the Collapsing Lightning Alliance. "We have done our best to ensure that anyone dealing with sensitive information is thoroughly vetted, and the surveillance of the Titan Tower is active 24/7 to warn of any suspicious activity." Cain turned to the Patriarch of the Aegon Family and softly nodded. "I have no doubt you have done an excellent job, but the problem with these spies is that they can pass unseen. Their disguise is flawless." Without further delay, Cain waved his hand, and a new file appeared in the A.I. Chip of the trio. It was a list of names, supposed to be traitors sharing their information with the Void King. Coldness and anger appeared on the faces of the trio as they saw the names. Most of the people were Wave Kings and Apotheosis Masters, and while they were not the core of the battle power, several of them had shown incredible military feats and fought bravely with all they had. The one who was the angriest was none other than Angar Aegon since one of the names in the list Cain had just given him was his youngest son. Chapter 655: Preparing an ambush "If you are going to accuse someone of betrayal to our race, then you must have flawless evidence to back up those words." Angar''s voice was cold as he stared at Cain. Clearly, the notion that his son was put on a list full of traitors was not something he found amusing. The Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar shared the emotions of the Patriarch of the Aegon Family. Some of the names on the list were friends and comrades they had made in their military career, and they could not simply allow someone to tarnish them with the mark of a traitor. The trio would not have even bothered to hear him out if it wasn''t for Cain''s feats and reputation. Cain maintained calm under those cold gazes and did not blame the trio for their reaction since he would have reacted the same if someone had tarnished the name of the people he cared about with such a horrible crime. "First of all, I did not say they are traitors. I said they are spies, and they are actually unaware of their actions, which is why they have been able to hide so well, and no one suspected anything." The coldness and anger in the trio diminished and were replaced by confusion. How could it be possible for dozens of people to be spies and not aware of their crimes? Cain obviously would not leave them waiting and carried on. "All the people on the list are giving information to the Void King, but they do not know they are doing it. During a moment in the last 20 years, each was visited by the Soul King, who managed to influence their minds. It was extremely subtle to the point none of you could detect it, but the commands were present deep in their subconscious. All the people on the list are actively communicating with the Void King. They might think they are just chatting with a friend or writing nonsense in their diaries. Yet, in reality, they share all their knowledge about the Collapsing Lightning Alliance in encrypted messages with the Dark King." A new wave of surprise assaulted the trio, just for them to burst with killing intent. Of course, the target was not Cain but the Void King and Soul King. The Patriarch of the Aegon Family could not help but tremble as he felt the hatred and rage in his heart exploding. Angar wanted nothing more than to fly toward the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army and butcher the man, but he did not lose focus and controlled his emotions before staring at Cain. "Is there a way to fix it? Is my son in danger?" The True Titan was an extremely powerful warrior and fearless when facing even the greatest adversaries. Still, when it came to his son, he was like any other father, immensely worried something might happen. "Please do not worry. Since the Dark Kings wanted to give no clues any of you could detect, the Soul King could not do anything directly or leave a trace of his energy in the victims, so the process was just potent mental conditioning. I can fix it without a problem; there is no danger for the victims as long as I do it." Cain already knew all the tricks and skills of the Soul King, so breaking mental conditioning without risking the person''s life. When Angar heard those words, he was able to relax and nearly fell. It might have been just a few seconds, but the idea of losing a son was something the man did not dare to imagine. The Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar were relieved that their comrades would be fine. Although the trio would want to fix the mental condition immediately, now that they knew about it, they would be foolish if they did not use it, especially since there was no danger for the victims. "Okay, I am fine with you hiding my presence in order to downplay our current battle might. Am I right to assume you already have a plan in mind on how to incite a move from the Void King?" The Collapsing Lightning Duke saw the potential of Cain''s mind, and as he saw the scheming and devious light in the eyes of the young man, he knew the young man already had a plan. "We cannot make it too obvious as the Void King would see through our trap. The man''s mind is something only a fool would underestimate, but we must neither leave too few clues. He would hesitate to make his move if he is not certain, and we would have lost our chance." Cain''s eyes glowed with coldness and killing intent as he revealed his plan to the trio, and the more they learned about it, the wider the smiles on their faces, as they were sure the Void King would get a good surprise. After Cain finished explaining his plan, he, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and Angar turned toward the Collapsing Lightning Duke. The Collapsing Lightning Duke analyzed all factors, and after a moment, he nodded with a solemn expression. "The plan is excellent, but we must remember we will face the Void King. Even if we manage to ambush him, the man is extremely powerful. We have already seen the might of his ultimate ability, and who knows what else he could unleash if desperate enough. It will take around two and a half weeks to implement your plans, and until then, I will focus all my time on recovering as much of my battle power as possible, and each of you should be ready to explode with energy when the time comes. We must be prepared to put our lives on the line since if we kill the Void King, the war is over." The expression of all in the room grew solemn as this was a chance to finish everything and save countless lives. Failure was not an option. Chapter 656: Taking care of friends "All soldiers under my battalion, adopt formation now!" An old Peak Wave King shouted with a voice that seemed to echo across the streets, and soon, one thousand soldiers appeared in front of him, displaying great military discipline and training. The group consisted of ten Wave Kings, one hundred Wave Champions, and over eight hundred Wave Warriors. Some were old, while others were young. Still, after three years of endless battles against the Inferno Daemon Invasion Force, every single one could be considered a war veteran capable of great might on the battlefield and with a mind of steel. The old Peak Wave King nodded as his soldiers aligned in formation. After ensuring they were all paying attention, he proceeded. "I have good news. Lord Laurifer, the Scarlet King, has gifted us a massive amount of resources we can use immediately. All of you will receive a Peak Wave Armor and Weapon according to your cultivation base, along with top-tier cultivation resources." With a wave of his hand, a space ring flew to every man and woman present. As they inspected the contents, a sense of shock and awe appeared on their faces. Their armor, worn and damaged after years of battle, could be now replaced with these new Wave Artifacts, a significant upgrade that would improve their battle power and survival abilities. Not to mention, the cultivation resources in each ring were top-tier and would greatly assist them. The old Wave King continued after giving the soldiers a moment to examine their space rings. "Soon, you will be summoned to the Titan Tower. The Scarlet King also brought a massive amount of healing drugs and resources. Everyone will enter the Recovery Capsules to treat their wounds. According to what they told me, these drugs can not only repair your body but also enhance your bloodlines and energy pools, so make sure to be in peak condition to take full advantage of this lucky chance." Thrill and delight appeared in the eyes of the soldiers. The continuous battles against the members of the Inferno Daemon Race had left hidden wounds all over their bodies. While these did not impact their battle power significantly, they prevented them from exerting themselves fully. It seemed that soon, they would no longer have to worry about that. "Lieutenant Colonel Hellblazer and Major Sinar, stay. The rest, leave." The soldiers could not help but turn to the duo but did not dare to disobey the old man''s words and soon departed the place, leaving the trio alone. "Colonel Jukar," Levi and Lurin stepped forward and stood before the old Peak Wave King, clasping their hands and performing a deep bow. It had been several years since Cain last saw the duo. Now, Levi was an Early Wave King, and Lurin was a Peak Wave Champion. Although their growth could not compare to Cain''s monstrous progress, they were considered geniuses in their own right, having advanced very fast thanks to their hard work and the support Cain gave them during their youth. Colonel Jukar glanced at the duo and softly nodded. He had nothing but praise for Levi and Lurin, as they had always been very hardworking and reliable in managing their squads. "Here, this is something special the Scarlet King gave me for you two," he announced, presenting each with a new space ring. As Levi and Lurin explored the contents with their Ego Wave, they were shocked to find not just armor, weapons, or cultivation resources but something much more astonishing. Each ring contained a Peak Apotheosis Deus Behemoth! The Apotheosis Masters in each ring were in a meditative position, revolving the energy inside their bodies, keeping their cultivation at full power. Just as the duo wondered what they were supposed to do with the Deus Behemoth Peak Apotheosis Master, Cain''s voice echoed inside their minds. "This is a death row criminal of the Hyperion Continent''s Tier 0 Dark Factions whom I have hypnotized. Once awakened, it will extract you from the battlefield before going on a suicidal rampage against the enemy''s army." The duo looked at each other in disbelief, realizing just how powerful Cain had become. Cain''s plans to protect his friends and loved ones were ingenious. He could have easily removed them from the battlefield with his military authority, but he chose a method that honored their duties as soldiers and didn''t send the wrong message to the rest of the troops. That is why Cain came up with the Hypnotized Death Road Warriors. It took a lot of effort and time to hypnotize these Deus Behemoths, and it was not really cost-effective, but it would prove efficient in protecting those who were special to him while still allowing them to carry on their duties on the battlefield. Colonel Jukar did not have the authority to inspect the space ring, but just by seeing the expression of the duo, he could tell that whatever was inside must have been shocking. Of course, the man did not ask since he was not the type to pry into the affairs of soldiers under his command, especially since the duo was now under the protection of a man who could face a True Titan. "That is all. Return to your duties." Levi and Lurin immediately regained their focus as they heard the old Peak Wave King''s voice and adopted a military stance before clasping their hands, bowing, and leaving the area. Scenes like that were repeated all over the Golden Core City as the battalion leaders were handing over treasures to their soldiers before passing unique space rings to some special people. --- Just as the millions of soldiers obtained Wave Artifacts and resources, the Divine Ascension Masters of the Collapsing Lightning Alliance were also given powerful treasures that could help them improve their battle power and cultivation. And on the highest level of the Titan Tower, all the great generals and Titans of the Collapsing Lightning Alliance were present, facing the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, the Patriarch of the Aegon Family, and the Scarlet King. Chapter 657: Enhancing great generals (I) There were 15 individuals on the highest level of the Titan Tower gazing at the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, the Patriarch of the Aegon Family, and the Scarlet King. Nine of these people were Titans while the others were Middle Divine Ascension Masters, and each of them was a great general of the Collapsing Lightning Alliance with hundreds of thousands, and in some cases, millions of soldiers under their command. Although they were all able to maintain a composed expression and did not show any sign, it was easy to see the worry and doubt in their hearts, something that disturbed the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. The soldiers'' morale had significantly risen thanks to the weapons, armor, resources, and healing drugs, as it would help them improve their chances of survival in a war that raged in their homes. However, things were more complex with these generals. While they had followed the Collapsing Lightning Duke into war and obeyed his command, they had the authority to leave Gaia''s north with their families and take refuge in the south. While extremely dishonorable, it was not so unbelievable. There should have been five other Titans present. Still, once those Sector Dukes noticed the Imperial Court did not enforce their defense of the northern Sectors, they chose to escape, leaving ordinary people to defend themselves. The Collapsing Lightning Duke was furious with those Sector Dukes and wanted nothing more than to rip them to pieces for their cowardice, but he could not give himself the luxury of exerting personal vendettas with a war to lead. So, he ignored them but made sure to remember their names. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar took a deep breath as he stepped forward and made his energy burst, drawing everybody''s attention. Although they would be following Cain''s plan, the one that would take the lead while the Collapsing Lightning Duke recovered was going to be the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, as the man was already a legendary figure in the army. Cain had no problem with it, as he understood he was no longer on the Hyperion Continent, where his word was practically law. Actually, he preferred that way since, without having to lead, he could instead focus on his power. "My friends, I can see the doubt that assails your minds and the dread that creeps into your hearts, but I assure you, the battle is far from over. The Scarlet King brought with him resources and weapons that would improve the might of our troops, from the weakest Wave Warrior all the way to the Early Divine Ascension Masters, not to mention that the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation will give us an edge every second of our next skirmish." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s voice was booming with power, reminding all the great generals of the feats Cain performed. This was done not only out of gratitude but because they needed to raise the young man''s figure to the point of myth if they wanted the plan to work. The great generals turned toward Cain, and their eyes glowed with gratitude. All of them still remembered the grand entrance the young man made and how he was able to kill a God before facing the Blood King to a draw. Suddenly, an old man took a step forward. He had short black hair and a slender body and was wearing intricately designed golden armor, and the air around his figure had a metallic taste. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he gazed at the man and felt the mighty aura he radiated despite hiding his power. ''The Sector Duke of the Golden Core Sector, Holan Maverillion. According to my information, he is a powerful Titan, and his mastery over the Law of Gold is extremely high. He should be even stronger than Goldkin.'' The old man stared at Cain momentarily, clasped his hand, and performed a small bow before turning toward the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. "Permission to speak freely, War Master." "Please, Lord Maverillion, you have more than earned the right to speak your mind." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar stared at the man and immediately nodded. While the old man seemed frail and calm, he was a mighty warrior, and his ferocity when facing the Gods was already legendary. The man was not part of the Imperial Army in any capacity. Yet, the moment the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army appeared, he was one of the first to align with the Collapsing Lightning Duke and march into the war of his own free will. "Thanks. First, allow me to express my gratitude and awe to the might of the Scarlet King. You are, without a doubt, the mightiest talent I have seen in my thousands of years on this planet, and I am sure you will rise to a point we old men could only dream of in the future." Holan spoke those words with a smile, but then it vanished before turning to the First Collapsing Pillar. "However, right now, the Scarlet King lacks the strength to face a full-power Blood King for an extended period of time, meaning we are at a disadvantage on the highest battlefield. I have lived thousands of years, and if death comes for these old bones, I will receive it without fear. However, if I am going to fight, risking not just my life but that of my people, I need to see a path to victory." The moment those last words came out of Holan''s mouth, his eyes glowed with a golden flame, and an aura sharper than any blade emerged from his body and soul. A solemn expression appeared in the rest of the generals as they heard the words of the Sector Duke, and then they all took a step forward as well, unleashing their auras, making it clear they shared the old man''s feelings. When the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar felt the combined might of all great generals, he could not help but clench his fists and almost took a step back, but his eyes burst with willpower as he stood firm, resembling a massive sky pillar that could withstand any storm. Chapter 658: Enhancing great generals (II) Cain glanced at the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and as he saw the man remain steady in the face of such immense pressure, he silently nodded. As a Master of Order, his mind and soul were impervious to the desires and views of others, but he knew normal people were not like that. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was a great warrior with a solid mind, but it was hard not to feel pressured by the demand for results from the great generals of the army, especially when their request made perfect sense. Holan and the great general were not asking for riches or wealth but for a path to victory. They were putting their lives on his hands, and if he could not offer a practical way to face the Void King and Inferno Daemon Invasion Army, why would they follow him? After a moment and taking a deep breath, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s aura grew stronger as he gazed at the generals with eyes that glowed with pure resolution. "You are right. We need a path to victory, and as a War Master, I must carve one." Holan''s eyes narrowed as he saw the determination in the eyes of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. He did not seek to make things complicated for the man, but if he was going to lead a force that might dictate the fate of the north of the Godslayer Humankind Empire, then his soul should be powerful enough to face this pressure. The Sector Duke calmed his aura, and the rest of the great generals did the same as they all waited for the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar to speak. "I understand our predicament in the highest battlefield, but we have already figured out a way to handle that. We will redistribute our forces, allowing another Titan to act as support for the Scarlet King while he faces the Blood King." As they heard those words, a frown appeared on the faces of the great generals. While the assistance of a Titan might be enough for the Scarlet King to face the Blood King, that would put all the people in the Divine Ascension Battlefield in extreme danger. They were already at a numerical disadvantage against the Gods of the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army, and losing a single Titan would make the fragile balance crumble. There was no way someone so experienced in warfare as the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar could not see that, so the great generals waited for him to explain the details. "For that redistribution of power, we will need to improve the individual battle power of the people in the Divine Ascension Battlefield, and for that, we will once again request the help of the Scarlet King." At this point, Cain took a step forward and waved his hand, revealing flames with 20 colors. The great generals focused on the multicolored flames with inquisitive gazes. Their cultivation and soul force were enough for them to understand that the flame was mysterious and extremely special, but that was it. None of them could see its true nature or what use it might have. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar waited a moment, allowing all the great generals to analyze the flame before speaking again. "The Scarlet King mastered several unique arts during his time outside Gaia, and one of them is known as Tribulation Enhancement. It is a unique art that allows the Scarlet King to steal the luck of the world and grant it to someone, reinforcing the talent and foundation of that person." Shock and awe appeared in the eyes of the great generals as they looked once again at the multicolored flame. The stronger and older someone gets, the more importance they would give to their talent and foundation since those dictate just how high their cultivation could rise. Many of the great generals presented more than enough resources at their disposal. Still, they were unable to push their cultivation base to the next level as they had exhausted their potential. Cain allowed the group to gaze at the 20 Revolution Flame for a moment before making it disappear, and then he focused his eyes on one of the great generals. This one was a bald man with white skin and black armor. That person was someone Cain knew very well. The man was none other than Bloodless #1, the Leader of the Bloodless Force and the current highest commander of the Blood Sea''s forces in the Collapsing Lightning Alliance. Bloodless #1 kept his imposing constitution of four meters in height and muscular body, and his cultivation was even higher than the last time Cain saw him since this one managed to break through the Early Divine Ascension Realm and reach the Middle Stage. Life and death battles tend to fully excavate all the potential hidden within your body and soul. If there was one thing that war did not lack, it was battles that pushed you beyond your limit. However, while the man was now a Middle Divine Ascension Realm, he was also missing his left arm. Those types of wounds were very significant for Astral Cultivators, who relied on the power of their bodies, and they were also hard to fix as the level of resources required to regrow a Divine Ascencion''s arm was extremely high. Cain knew that he needed to demonstrate the power of Tribulation Enhancement to these great generals, and who better candidate than the person who once saved his life when he was but a Wave Warrior? "Great General Elijah, stand before me." Bloodless #1 adopted a solemn expression as he heard his name coming out of Cain''s mouth, and without hesitation, he moved forward before raising his right arm to his chest and performing a small bow. "Scarlet King." Despite his significant wounds, Bloodless #1''s eyes were resolute. It was clear that the damage to his body had done nothing to affect the mind and will of the man. Chapter 659: Enhancing great generals (III) Cain stared at Bloodless #1, pleased that the man''s will and heart were just as formidable as he remembered. Even though Cain was now even more powerful than him, he still felt a great sense of awe as he saw those eyes full of conviction and determination, ready to face any danger for a cause he believed to be right. "You and I go a long way back, and your merits on the battlefield are more than enough to qualify you for the Tribulation Enhancement. Unfortunately, if you have serious wounds, the power of the Revolution Refinement will not act properly and might even backfire." Those last words were obviously a lie, but it was all part of Cain''s plan, as he did not want people to understand the healing properties of the Tribulation Enhancement. Besides, it was also true that it would not help regrow the arm since Revolution Refinement only improved something already there. A complicated smile appeared on Bloodless #1''s face as he heard that, but he did not say a word and simply nodded. However, just as he was about to resign himself, he saw how Cain waved his hand again, this time revealing a dark root the size of an arm. Shock and awe appeared in Bloodless #1''s eyes as he saw the dark root move as if alive, and despite being hidden, he detected a monstrous amount of what he could only describe as god-tier Blood Energy. Bloodless #1 was not the only one shocked; even if the other great generals did not follow the path of blood, they could feel the root''s formidable power and were sure it was incredibly precious. "This is an Origin Root from the Sanguis Blood Tree. Allow it to fuse with your body." Bloodless #1''s eyes widened once again as he understood the origin of this root. As someone who trained in Blood Cultivation, there was no way he would not recognize the name of the clan in the Deus Behemoth Empire that followed the same path. He looked at Cain with a sense of disbelief as he could not understand how the young man managed to obtain something so valuable. Cain did not disregard the value of the Origin Root. Despite Lord Zanginis''s goodwill, the old man only gave him one root. It was supposed to be saved for an emergency, but Cain knew that Bloodless #1 could give it a better use; besides, he had several treasures to heal him in case something happened. The great generals could not hide their envy as they saw Cain''s offer to Bloodless #1. Still, none of them said a word as they understood the duo''s relationship was very deep, not to mention that Bloodless #1 had earned all of their respect due to his formidable battle power and bravery on the battlefield. Bloodless #1 did not feign fake modesty and bowed to Cain again before adopting a meditative position and opening his mouth. The next second, the Origin Root flashed on its own into the man''s body, going down his throat and soon merging with the wall of his Rebirth Heart. Bloodless #1''s eyes widened as a sense of utter pain assaulted him, and his pale complexion turned red as he felt his skin grow scorchingly hot. It was an agonizing feeling, but the man just clenched his teeth as blood began to leak from every orifice of his body. Cain, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, Angar, and the great generals waited in silence, careful not to disturb Bloodless #1''s assimilation of the Origin Root. Thirty minutes went by, and the agony in the man only grew, but even in that pain, a smile formed on his face as he saw how the stump that was left after losing his left arm began to tremble. Under the amazed gaze of the great generals, a new limb began to grow from the stump. It was made of dark wood, but people would be greatly mistaken if they considered this arm a mere prosthesis. It was a genuine extremity, just as powerful as Bloodless #1''s old arm and capable of growing stronger alongside the rest of his body. A dark wooden arm was not aesthetically pleasing, but how could a seasoned warrior like Bloodless #1 care about something so vain like that? The only emotion on his face was delight, one so intense that it pushed the agony away. Finally, the new arm was completed, and as Bloodless #1 clenched it, he felt its immense power. The delight was even greater as he realized that the Origin Root had not just healed him but made him much more powerful than before. Pure and absolute thrill appeared in Bloodless #1 as all the blood he lost was reabsorbed back into his body, becoming food for the Origin Root that was now spread across his body. "Scarlet King, allow me to express my immense gratitude for this great fortune!" Bloodless #1 kneeled on the ground as he clasped both hands, and his eyes were glowing with gratitude as he stared at Cain. "I was just returning the favor. Now, it is time for the next part." Cain smiled at the man before waving his hand, making the 20 Revolution Flame appear. Bloodless #1 could not help but smile, and the thrill in his heart only grew stronger. He had already been healed and surpassed his previous peak, but now he was going to obtain a second great lucky chance! Without even a second of hesitation, Bloodless #1 adopted a meditative position, leaving himself at Cain''s disposal, ready to follow the young man''s guidance. Cain''s eyes glowed as he used his Ego Wave to generate a cocoon around Bloodless #1 before allowing the 20 Revolution Flame to encompass the man. The great generals saw how the multicolored flame covered Bloodless #1''s skin before flooding into his body, and their eyes widened as they felt the sky and earth trembling and waves of world energy flooding into the room. Chapter 660: Enhancing great generals (IV) Bloodless #1 frowned as he felt the gargantuan amount of world energy flooding into his body, and for a moment, he thought he would explode. "Revolve the world energy across your body, allowing it to assimilate into your flesh, blood, and energy. If it stagnates inside your body, it will explode, and you will die." Cain''s voice echoed inside the man''s mind, and while he was taken aback by the danger of Tribulation Enhancement, Bloodless #1 was immediately able to push his focus and willpower to the limit and force that immense energy to revolve across his body. All the great generals put immense focus on the Tribulation Enhancement. Although they could not expect to obtain such a grand gift as an Origin Root from the Scarlet King, the power of the multicolored flames was supposed to be the core behind their new war strategy, and they needed to know just how much it would help them. Cain had already improved his domain over a 20 Revolution Refinement to a very high level, so once Bloodless #1 pushed his willpower to the limit and assisted with the assimilation of world energy, he was able to carry on the process flawlessly. Bloodless #1 remained silent for several minutes after the 20 Revolution Refinement ended. Once he opened his eyes, his entire body began to tremble as the Blood Energy and Astral Wave inside his body exploded with power. The man kept pushing his energy with more and more power as he felt it running more smoothly than ever before, with its power and purity having significantly improved. And that was not all, as a sense of enlightenment appeared in his eyes, and he felt the mysteries of his cultivation technique were now much easier to decipher. "Hahahaha. Yes, the Path to Titanhood, I can see it now!" Bloodless #1 couldn''t help but shout as he felt the mysteries of the realm of Titans he believed were severed to him due to his lack of talent and foundation now revealing itself. It would not be easy, but if he kept pushing himself to the absolute limit, he would reach it and maybe even go further! The great generals stared at Bloodless #1, and they knew the man was not exaggerating as they could feel the purity and strength of his energy and cultivation. It was clear to all now that the power of the Tribulation Enhancement was nothing short of monstrous, and desire emerged in the eyes of everybody. Cain saw the greed in the eyes of the great generals, and a smile appeared on his face since that was exactly what he wanted. Honor was an excellent motivator for remaining on the battlefield, but greed was just as effective. "The effect of the 20 Revolution Refinement will be weaker the stronger your cultivation, and for those at the Titan Tier, it would only generate an improvement of 3.5 to 5%." The Titans among the generals couldn''t help but grow a little disappointed as they heard that, but it was not really that surprising since it made sense that the higher your cultivation, the weaker the effect of a treasure or lucky chance would be. After all, they already had the talent and foundation capable of reaching Titan Tier. Of course, while their mood diminished, they were still very eager to obtain the power of Tribulation Enhancement since even a 5% improvement to their talent and foundation would be a great help. Cain allowed their spirits to calm before waving his hand again, and this time, a 21 Revolution Flame appeared. "Of course, the effect of this one will be even better." Just as the Titans among the great generals were able to contain their excitement and desire, they saw the 21 Revolution Flame. While they did not know its power, they were sure the effect it would have on them would be just as meaningful as the 20 Revolution Flame had on Bloodless #1''s Middle Divine Ascension cultivation. Cain allowed all the great generals to gaze at the 21 Revolution Flame for a whole minute before making it disappear. "I can exert a 20 Revolution Refinement on each of you, but 21 Revolution Flames are much harder to create, and the process of Revolution Refinement is even more complicated. But don''t worry, I am confident I can apply it to all of you in less than six months." The great generals'' eyes narrowed as they heard those words, and they could not help but look at Cain with a new light. The young man was clearly not just strong and talented but also very good at schemes. He would grant them the 20 Revolution Refinement now without any cost or attachment, as it was needed for the forces of the Collapsing Lightning Alliance to have a chance against the Inferno Daemon Alliance. And he would dangle the 21 Revolution Flame over their heads, promising to give it in six months, making sure they would remain on the battlefield until then. "Hahahaha." Suddenly, a burst of laughter echoed across the room, and the origin was no other than Sector Duke Holland. The man laughed for a few seconds before smiling at Cain. "I am eager to test the effect of the 21 Revolution Refinement in six months." After that, the Second Duke turned toward the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and gave a solemn nod. There were no words, but it was clear that the old man accepted the path they were taking, and the expression of the other great generals made it clear they were equally content. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar smiled and felt a great weight fall from his shoulders but did not lose focus. "Then, I advise all of you to take this week and ensure you are in perfect condition. As the Scarlet King said, injuries could generate a severe backlash and flaws in the process of Tribulation Enhancement." All the great generals nodded as they heard that and took it to heart. They had no reason to doubt those words and would push themselves to their peak and solve any damage the last battle left in their bodies. Chapter 661: Beelzes true identity "Before all of you go, I need to make a petition. I need treasures of the wind, water, earth, and fire elements. As for the reason, I cannot disclose it." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar waited until the mood of the great general was at its peak before making that request. Even if he was the War Master and could lead these people onto the battlefield, that did not mean he could simply demand their wealth. When the great generals heard that, they all began to look at each other. Although handing over personal wealth was not very pleasing, they could understand it when it came to matters of war, yet the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar did not disclose the reason. Once again, the great generals focused on the Sector Duke of the Golden Core Sector, and the old man stared at the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar for a moment. "Just what level the treasures need to be?" Before saying yes or no, Holan wanted to know what type of treasures they would be handing over. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar did not answer the question and instead turned toward Cain. "Mmm, the higher the level, the better, but I can exchange quality for quantity as long as the latter is high enough." The great generals looked at each other, and after some silent communication, they all nodded and began to deposit treasures into a space ring. It did not take long for the dimension inside the ring to carry metric tons of treasures of the four elements. Most were meant for Wave Champions or Wave Kings, while others were useful for Apotheosis Masters. The great generals had accumulated these treasures through their journeys but had grown too powerful for them. Of course, that did not mean they were not valuable, as they could be given to their disciples or family. "Will this be enough?" Holan took the space ring and extended it for Cain''s Ego Wave to analyze it. "Yes, I can work with it. Thanks." Cain nodded and made the space ring float to his hand. "If there is nothing else, we will leave and prepare for the Tribulation Enhancement." "Feel free to leave." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar nodded to Holan, and the next second, all the great generals left the room, leaving the trio alone. Only then was the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar able to relax and fall onto the throne. While he seemed relaxed, every word and action of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was part of a scheme. Angar only smiled as he saw the exhausted expression on the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, making it clear that the man was not good with this type of play, and then he turned toward Cain, who was gazing at the space ring as if nothing had happened. "I think it went well." "The seed is already planted. We only need to carry on the next part flawlessly, and rumors will spread, reaching the Void King in no time." Cain took his eyes from the space ring and turned toward Angar, who was looking at him with a meaningful expression. His eyes narrowed, and he turned to the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. "Please, leave us." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was a little surprised by that request, and as he looked at the duo, he could see a powerful intent in their eyes. He nodded, and without a word, he left the room. Cain stared at Angar for a moment and waved his hand, making a black metallic coffin appear. An expression of sadness that bore from the bottom of his soul appeared in the eyes of the Patriarch of the Aegon Clan as he kneeled next to the coffin and gently opened it, revealing a beautiful young woman with white hair inside. The effect of the coffin had halted Beelze''s corpse deterioration, making it seem as if she was simply dreaming. Angar''s eyes began to shed tears as the pain in his heart reached its zenith, and he gently caressed Beelze''s face. Cain was about to leave the room to leave the man alone when he heard him speak. "Even though she was not really my daughter, the pain I feel seeing her like this is as if someone had ripped my arm." Angar uttered those words before closing the coffin and saw Cain looking at him with an inquisitive gaze. Cain was indeed curious about the man''s words. He had interacted long enough with Beelze to remember her aura and bloodline, which were exactly the same as Angar''s. Angar showed a sad smile as he saw Cain''s confusion, and luckily for the young man, he did not intend to keep him in suspense. "Her body originated from my seed and grew in her mother''s womb, but her soul belonged to none of us. You are the first person I have ever told this to." Cain''s eyes widened as he heard that. According to what Angar was telling him, Beelze''s soul did not belong to him or the mother that birthed her, meaning she was most likely like him, a soul that managed to find its way to an empty vessel! Cain could not help but frown as all sorts of complicated thoughts appeared in his mind, and as he focused on the man in front of him, a question emerged. "Why would you care for her so much if you knew?" Cain could not understand why Angar would feel so much pain for Beelze. After all, she was someone who emerged out of nowhere, essentially hijacking the identity of his daughter. In his mind, the man should feel enraged that an alien entity attempted to trick him in such a manner. When Angar saw the expression on Cain''s face, he just smiled and shook his head. "Ah, you really are different. I bet that even if the entire Godslayer Humankind Empire had collapsed, as long as the people you love were fine, you wouldn''t have cared." Chapter 662: Beelze and the Dream World Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard those words, and he did not try to correct the man because those words were correct. He was a Master of Order; the death of billions or even trillions meant nothing to him unless they were part of his Life Matrix. Cain was not evil and had a sense of justice, loathing those who took advantage of the weak, but his empathy was not like that of normal people. If he had never met someone, no matter how cruel or horrific the past of this person was, he could not care. It was not that he did not want to, but as a Master of Order, he could not. Angar saw how Cain''s eyes remained focused on him, and he just sighed. "It doesn''t matter if her soul did not originate from mine. I saw her come into this world. I cared for her and taught her how to walk, fight, and protect herself. She was my daughter, no matter her origin." Cain''s frown grew deeper as he heard those words. He knew that point of view should make sense, especially for an orphan like him, and they would have in the past, but now he felt they were mistaken. The Path of Order gave a powerful and absolute mind and heart, but it came at a cost. Angar saw the confusion in Cain''s eyes, but he was not in the mood for more talk and was about to store the coffin. "Wait!" However, before Angar could do it, he heard Cain shout and saw the eyes of this one glowing with a meaningful light that just kept growing deeper. Cain remained silent, but his mind worked harder and harder as he remembered the last moments with Beelze. Those memories were too painful before, and he did not like to revive them, but now they went through his mind over and over again. ''The way she behaved was not like someone in the last moments of life. She acted like...'' A thought appeared in Cain''s mind that made him tremble. It was something that filled him with excitement but also fear. He wanted it to be true but was afraid of letting hope rise, only for it to shatter the next second. Luckily for him, the Power of Order soon took effect, and his emotions grew under control as a sense of resolution appeared in Cain''s eyes. Without saying a word, he opened the coffin, and the next second, Essence Wave began to condense in his right palm. Angar was confused by Cain''s state, and that feeling only grew as he saw how the Essence Wave soon turned into a dark blue flame. He had faced the Soul King multiple times during the war, and the power Cain used was similar to that of the Dark King. Cain did not care about Angar and focused on the dark blue flame in his hand as a solemn light appeared in his eyes. He was about to use one of the spells he learned from the Soul King''s memories, which was known as Soul Tracker. You could use Soul Tracker to perceive where that person would be by using something that belonged to them, and the more intimate the connection of the object, the better. That was how the Soul King managed to track him inside the Astral Bloodline Realm. In theory, using Soul Tracker on the corpse of a person should be useless as there was no soul to track, but Cain''s eyes burst with willpower as he placed his hand over Beelze''s corpse. At first, Cain felt nothing, and just as he was about to give up, he felt something. It was an extremely subtle connection and was about to fade, but it was there. Immediately, Cain''s Ego Wave exploded as he unleashed all the power of his Essence Wave. Angar was shocked to see Cain''s Essence Wave exploding with so much power, but he felt he should not disturb the young man and silently waited. Cain pushed his energy and mind harder and harder to the point blood began to leak from his eyes, but he kept pushing forward until suddenly an image appeared in his mind. There was only one image, a multicolored sky as if a rainbow had spread over the heavens. It would have meant nothing to anyone else, but Cain knew exactly what that place was. "The Dream World!" Cain just shouted those words before the connection was broken. His entire body began to tremble as he puked a mouthful of blood to the ground, and the pain was so intense that he nearly passed out. However, despite all that, a smile of pure and absolute bliss appeared on his face. Beelze, the first woman to have truly gained his heart and who sacrificed her life to save him, was not dead. Somehow, she was in the Dream World! It took a few minutes for Cain to overcome the pain, and then he noticed how Angar looked at him with an inquisitive gaze. Cain stared at the man for a moment, and as he remembered the expression of pain and sadness in his eyes, he chose not to lie. "There is a world, a dimension I can access through my mind during my dreams. I do not know the origin of this world or its location, but it is inhabited by people similar to us. I just used a spell that was able to track the location of someone''s soul, and it showed me that Beelze, her soul, is in this place." Angar trembled as he heard those words and a sense of hope burned in his eyes. He knew there were all sorts of unique dimensions and that Aether was far from being everything. The Astral Sea was full of wonders, and there was a chance his daughter was there. "Can you tell me more?" Cain nodded to the man and began to answer all his questions calmly. Chapter 663: The Blood Dukes fate Cain was currently on the lowest level of the Titan Tower in Golden Core City. He had come here after a lengthy chat with Angar, as the duo explored in detail the nature of the Dream World. If the strength of its life forms was an indicator of the size of a dimension, then the Dream World was much larger than Aether. Although that predicament would not be enough to stop Cain, he was currently one of the core figures in a war that encompassed the north of the entire Gaia Continent and involved the survival of billions. He barely had time to rest, much less go into a different world he knew nothing about and search for someone whose name or face he did not know. After all, the chances that Beelze''s name and appearance in the dream world would be the same as in Aether were slim at best. That was why Cain and Angar chose not to lose focus and dedicate themselves fully to the war, and once it was over, they would allow themselves to follow their hearts and search for the young woman. Cain calmly walked to the end of the room and saw several people in Recovery Capsules. This place was heavily protected, and only those with the highest authority could come in, but that was not a problem for him since his military rank had already risen to the level of Marshal, and his authority in the Collapsing Lightning Alliance was just as high as that of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. "So you were still alive. Not bad." The one whom Cain spoke to was a middle-aged man nearly three meters tall with black hair, a long beard, golden eyes, and a scar in the center of his face. That person was none other than the Blood Duke, and the Titan was in a deep coma as there was a hole in the center of his chest. When Cain first analyzed the battlefield and saw Bloodless #1 and Shura, along with the forces of the Blood Sea, but noticed the Blood Duke was lacking, his first thought was that the man had perished. He did not feel sad as his relationship with that man was purely transactional, and they were not really on good terms. However, after obtaining the entire log and codex of the War of Hell, Cain came to learn the Blood Duke was in a deep coma as he managed to kill a God, but in the process, received a near-lethal injury that left his Rebirth Heart severely damaged. The man entered into a deep coma as his body needed all the energy it could to stop the wounds from worsening. If Cain did nothing, the Blood Duke would need decades or maybe centuries to heal, and even if the Titan woke up, there would be a marked loss in his cultivation base. Honestly, Cain would not have cared for the man''s fate if not for the war, as he remembered very well how this one used him as a pawn in his plans. "I guess you are in luck." Cain did not say anything else before waving his hand, sending the Blood Duke''s Recovery Capsule into his space ring, along with five others that contained four Early Divine Ascension Masters and one Middle Divine Ascension Master in similar condition. After that, Cain stepped forward and appeared hundreds of meters above the Titan Tower. The First Collapsing Lightning Duke and Angar were already waiting for him there. The trio looked at each other and nodded before flashing into the distance. None hid their auras so everybody could see how they left the Golden Core City. Although it raised some confusion, none worried as the trio was not heading into the areas dominated by the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army. Cain, Angar, and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar flew for almost ten minutes before appearing above a massive forest, and the next second, they dived down. As soon as they reached the ground, the Astral Wave of the Patriarch of the Aegon Family burst, and a dome of darkness that covered over five hundred kilometers emerged, covering the entire forest. Some of the great generals followed the trio with their eyes and could not help but grow curious about what they were trying to do, but in the end, there was a chain of command, and they had no right to demand answers from the War Master. --- "Although I am not very good with domains, no one will be able to see what happens here without me noticing it." Angar spoke confidently as streams of darkness emerged from his body and flooded into the surroundings. Cain analyzed the cloaking power of Angar''s Shadow Domain and nodded as it was indeed formidable and more than enough for what they intended to do. He waved his hand the next second, making the six Recovery Capsules appear. The young man took the Blood Duke''s body out of the Recovery Capsule before making appear the 21 Revolution Flame that he generated using the [Enhancement Module] before using the power of this one more time, triggering a 21 Revolution Refinement. Soon, gargantuan waves of world energy began to flood the area, but Angar''s shadow domain was able to cover everything. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar saw that happening and simply took a meditative position on the ground and began training. The only reason why he came here was to give the idea all three were needed for this process when the truth was that only Cain was required. Just like with the Collapsing Lightning Duke, Cain made it seem as if the process was extremely complicated when, in truth, the one that did all the job was the Absolute Life Form System, and there was no chance of failure. Once the process was over, Cain saw how most of the wounds in the Blood Duke''s body had vanished as new cells had replaced the wounded and damaged ones. Chapter 664: Elemental Manifestation (I) After Cain finished with the Blood Duke, he placed the man back in the Recovery Capsule and ensured this remained unconscious before turning to the other five Divine Ascension Masters. He approached the capsule containing the Middle Divine Ascension Master known as Jessica. Jessica was the leader of a medium-sized organization in the Zafiro Continent, but the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army completely uprooted it. Her rage and hatred made her immediately add her forces to the Collapsing Lightning Alliance. During a skirmish a month before Cain''s arrival, Jessica ended up severely injured. While her Evolution Core was fine, a God''s spell destroyed the rest of her inner organs. The only thing the Collapsing Lightning Duke could do for her was to put her in stasis to prevent her condition from worsening, hoping to find a way to help her in the future. Fortunately for the woman, Cian had the means to help her. He removed Jessica from the Recovery Capsule and immediately covered her body with his Ego Wave before sending in a 19 Revolution Flame. Unless absolutely necessary, Cain would not spend his Destiny Force on the [Enhancement Module], so a 21 Revolution Refinement was out of the question. Due to her condition, Cain chose to do a 19 Revolution Refinement for Jessica. She was in a coma, putting the full weight of the refinement on Cain, and he was not sure he could perform a 20 Revolution Refinement with 100% success on her. That''s why he first performed the 19 Revolution Refinement. Once she got better and could assist in assimilating the world energy, he would proceed with the next one. World energy flooded Jessica''s body, and Cain''s eyes glowed with red light as he pushed his mind to the limit to ensure she did not explode. It was challenging, but Jessica''s face regained some color, and her life force, which seemed ready to extinguish at any moment, stabilized and slowly gained more power. Cain nodded, ensuring everything was in order, and placed Jessica back in the recovery capsule, allowing her body to slowly regain strength before moving on to the next. It took him nearly six hours, but Cain managed to perform a 19 Revolution Refinement on each of the Divine Ascension Masters, and he could feel how their condition was slowly improving inside the Recovery Capsules. "I guess that''s it. We just need to wait now." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and Angar nodded and continued with their training, pushing their cultivation to its peak. Although the process was over in less than a day, the trio would remain inside the shadow domain and away from everyone''s eyes for the next two weeks, making it seem like they needed that much time to perform the healing. Cain also focused on his cultivation. As for using the 20 Revolution Refinement or a 21 Revolution Refinement on the True Titan, they had already discussed that and did not consider it wise. First of all, if they were to receive a 21 Revolution Refinement now, the improvement to their talent and foundation would be minuscule, not over 1.5%, and they would lose the chance of using the Tribulation Enhancement in the future to heal themselves. If the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar or Angar were to take a 21 Revolution Refinement now and receive crippling injuries in the future, a 21 Revolution Flame would have no use. While Tribulation Enhancement could heal your body, it was a byproduct and not its primary goal, so one could not truly depend on it to go around healing your body. Cain and the Collapsing Lightning Pillar had already experienced a 21 Revolution Refinement, and the only way Tribulation Enhancement could heal their bodies again would be if they received a 22 Revolution Refinement or stronger. ''I wonder just how much stronger my foundation would become if I took in a 22 Revolution Refinement. That would be the Divine Tier of Tribulation Enhancement.'' That thought crossed Cain''s mind, but he did not waste too much time on it as he waved his hand, and the next second, tons of treasures carrying the essence of wind, water, earth, and fire emerged. The goal of asking for these treasures was to plant the idea they were needed for the healing arts, as Cain did not want people to associate the recoveries with Tribulation Enhancement, but that was not all. Cain closed his eyes as he focused on his cultivation. His Astral Rebirth and Essence Evolution Paths of Power grew stronger daily, as both Sacred Organs were constantly being infused with the Starwyrm Essence and Starwyrm Blood contained inside the [Demonic Devouring Dimension]. The fuel these forces provided to Cain''s energy pool was much better than high-quality wave crystals, and while there was a finite amount, Cain was sure it would last for at least four more months. Since his cultivation base was handled, Cain focused on his constitution and physical might. The most straightforward path would be the Cosmic Tyrant Framework, but that was not possible as Cain had to return the skull to the Fenrir Clan before coming to the Gaia Continent. While the Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan had allowed Cain to keep the Natural Inherentece for ten years, that was under the condition it remained in the Hyperion Continent. Both sides compromised, and Cain returned the Natural Inheritance with the Cosmis Tyran Framework in exchange for obtaining temporary possession of the three Space Swords. Given that the body refinement art was inaccessible, Cain focused on his Primordial Path. Cain''s Ego Wave emerged, generating a force field that covered thousands of meters, and soon, the treasures of the four elements began to revolve around his figure. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the Patriarch of the Aegon Family glanced at Cain as they saw the four-element treasures forming a tornado but did not pay too much attention and focused on their cultivation. Everyone''s path was full of secrets, and it was not polite to inquire about it. Chapter 665: Elemental Manifestation (II) As the tornado of the four elements revolved with increasing power, Cain entered Elemental Resonance and began to absorb natural energy. Once his body was saturated with this power, he trained in the next phase of the Foundation Stage of the Primordial Path: Elemental Manifestation. During Elemental Resonance, Cain needed to resonate with the natural elements, allowing his body to contain the power of natural energy. Although his body gained certain physical characteristics related to the elements during this phase, they were minor and did not have a significant effect on his battle power. However, things changed once he took the next step and achieved Elemental Manifestation. Elemental Manifestation required Cain to infuse his body with the forces of the four elements. Unlike natural energy, which would circulate through his body and energy pool, making him temporarily stronger, this process would permanently infuse the power of the elements into his flesh, blood, and energy pools. To attain Elemental Manifestation, one would normally need to explore different environments charged with the essence of the four elements and slowly draw them into their bodies. Using treasures was not recommended, as assimilating them would add foreign components other than the elemental essence into your body, leading to pollution of your foundation. However, Cain harbored not a single shred of worry. After natural energy had flooded his body, he opened his eyes. The power of his Ego Wave burst as the Concept of Gluttony flooded it, making its power skyrocket and, in the process, slowly degrading the treasures inside the red tornado. Although some of these treasures were meant for Apotheosis Realm Masters and were as hard as a Platinum Artifact, Cain''s Ego Wave was able to deploy such a mighty devouring force they could not resist and shattered. It didn''t take long for streams of different essences to flood into Cain''s body. Some were green, blue, red, and brown, related to the four elements, while others were gray, dark, and so on. They were all mixed, and trying to separate them was nearly impossible, but Cain didn''t care and absorbed everything. The elemental essences flawlessly merged with his flesh, blood, and energy according to the guidance and principles described in the Primordial Path. However, the other essences were not so smooth. Some began to infiltrate Cain''s tissues and bloodstream, contaminating them. Trying to determine the affected areas would be challenging, and not even Cain''s Ego Wave could do it, or at least not fast enough to prevent the corruption from spreading. Luckily, the [A.I. Chip Module] had the [Pseudo Atomic Analysis] tool, which could mark the contaminated areas without a fraction of a second. Of course, locating them was just part of the problem since Cain still needed to stop the corruption from spreading and eliminating it, and that was where the Gluttony Concept came into play once more. He sent streams of his Ego Wave with the power of the Gluttony Concept and devoured everything contaminated. That meant that from time to time, Cain would be consuming his own flesh and blood, and while that would have a psychological impact on most people, he showed no concern. As for the physical damage, the Radiance of Life was able to regenerate all the damaged tissues in a few seconds. Days passed, and Cain continued with his training, infusing the elemental forces into his flesh, blood, and energy while using the Gluttony Concept to devour everything else. By the eleventh day, Cain finally opened his eyes as the metric tons of treasure of the four elements were gone, all now inside his body. As Cain clenched his fists and felt the power of the elements running through his flesh and blood, he softly nodded. ''Good. I''ve made decent progress. With a few more months of training, I should be able to complete Elemental Infusion. That would lend my fists the weight of mountains and my steps the elusive nature of the air.'' Cain rose from his kneeling stance before placing his hand on the ground, and the next second, his Ego Wave burst with even more strength as Essence Wave concentrated in his right hand, soon generating a powerful necrotic aura. The moment the necrotic aura emerged, everything it came into contact with began to rot. The spell Cain was using was Death Touch, one of the abilities he learned during his time on the Kronos Continent but never came to use. The spell allowed Cain to use the power of the Law of Death to take away the target''s vitality forcefully. Without hesitation, Cain placed his hand against the ground. He drove all his power into the spell, extending the power of Death Touch across every inch of the five-hundred-kilometer forest inside Angar''s Shadow Domain. As the power of Death Touch expanded, consuming the trees and even the earth beneath his feet, Cain felt waves of vitality accumulating inside his body. Yet, he could only shake his head as the effect of the spell was simply too weak, and it filled the air with the stench of death, making it so that nothing could grow in this place in the future. The amount of life Cain could obtain using the Concept of Gluttony would be much higher and would not wreak havoc on the environment this way. Yet, the corruption and necrotic aura flooding the air and earth was exactly why Cain was doing this. The True Titans noticed the necrotic aura infusing into the death ground in a radius of five hundred kilometers but did not bother with it. They rose to the sky, making sure the stench of death did not sully their clothes. Cain truly exerted himself, devouring the life in the area and flooding the place with the aura of death. After thirty hours, not only was there not a single sliver of life present, but the power of death had impregnated the earth and sky to the point that ordinary people would not be able to survive in this place. Chapter 666: Commanding the Blood Duke Usually, such actions would be heavily frowned upon and considered breaking the codes and rules of the Godslayer Humankind Empire since damaging the environment in such a drastic way generates overall damage to all forms of life, including humans, as well as the quality of Life Wave in the surroundings. However, the north of Gaia was currently in a war, so how could anyone care about that, especially since the Imperial Court had practically left them to their fate against the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army? "It should be enough." After analyzing the terrain, Cain was satisfied and focused on the six Recovery Capsules. He took the Blood Duke, Jessica, and the four Early Divine Ascension Masters out of the capsules before sending the life force he devoured from this massive forest into their bodies. The sudden infusion of vitality made the group tremble for a moment, and slowly, they began to regain consciousness. The one whose condition was the best of the group was the Blood Duke since although his wounds were the worst, he had received a 21 Revolution Refinement, and the power of this one was exponentially more potent than a 19 Revolution Refinement. The Blood Duke slowly opened his eyes, and there was dizziness in them. He remembered his last battle and how he fell unconscious shortly after killing that God from the Abyssal Clan, but then all turned black, and he had no idea how he got here. The first thing the leader of the Blood Sea saw was a young man with white hair and golden eyes, and while this one had changed from the last time they interacted, there was no way he would forget that face. "Cain!?" There was shock and confusion in the voice of the Blood Duke. He couldn''t help but shout as he saw the young man who was supposed to have perished under the claws of the Blood King. Cain stared at the Blood Duke and simply nodded before gazing at the rest of the Divine Ascension Masters and making sure they were fine. The Blood Duke was full of questions, but before he could open his mouth again, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the Patriarch of the Aegon Family appeared next to the young man. "Do not force yourself. I don''t know how the battle affected your memories, but you were all in a severe and precarious condition. We have been keeping you in a coma for the past few months as we had no way of healing you. Luckily, the Scarlet King was able to use one of his secret arts to revert some of the damage done to your bodies." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s voice was sharp and severe, making it clear to the group that the one responsible for their recovery was none other than the young man. The shock and awe in the Blood Duke exploded as he heard those words and turned to Cain. He was not alone since the other five Divine Ascension Masters were just as shocked to learn that the young man was able to heal them while True Titans could not. The next second, the Blood Duke and the five Divine Ascension Masters began to analyze their surroundings, and they immediately noticed the dense aura of death that had seeped into the earth and sky to the point that the air was deadly to weak life forms. Before they could overcome the shock and analyze what was happening, Cain spoke to them. "As the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar said, you must not overexert yourselves. What I did right now was just treat your more severe wounds, and you are still far from being completely healed." Although the Divine Ascension Masters were still getting used to the idea that the one who brought them back from the grave was the young man who did not seem to be even thirty, they maintained focus and nodded with a solemn expression on their faces. They could feel how their wounds were stable, and a lot of the damage was gone, but they would be lucky to deploy over 30% of their battle strength in their condition. The only one who did not feel that way was the Blood Duke, and the man couldn''t help but frown as he perceived his condition was much better than what Cain described, and he could already deploy around 80% of his battle power. However, before the Titan could express his confusion and seek an answer, he heard Cain''s voice echoing inside his mind. ''Play along. Do not break the facade.'' A flash of confusion appeared in the Blood Duke, but he noticed how the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the Patriarch of the Aegon Family were discreetly glancing at him. Immediately, he hid his doubts and ensured the state of his life force and body resembled that of the other five. Cain did not say a word but nodded in his mind as he saw how the Blood Duke could keep the facade so well. Although he did not like the man, he had to admit that the Blood Duke was top-tier when it came to schemes and acting. The next second, Cain made six red armors with engravings of blood snakes appear. They were all Platinum Artifacts, not useful for the group, but the purpose was not to help them in battle but to cover their bodies entirely. "We will now return to the Collapsing Lightning Alliance Headquarters in the Golden Core City. You will use these armors to cover your bodies and faces. During the journey, allow your energy pool to unleash its radiation so people can perceive your cultivation base, but hide your auras, bloodlines, and anything else that might reveal your identities." Confusion appeared on the faces of the Divine Ascension Masters as they heard those instructions. However, seeing the severe light in the eyes of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar made it clear to all that it was not a request but a command. Chapter 667: The Void Kings plight (I) The Void King was on the highest level of a God Tower, utilizing the full power of the structure to flood his body with highly dense energy. At this moment, the strongest of the Dark Kings of The Organization was fully immersed in recovering, as the damage he suffered during the last skirmish was not minor. Actually, the fight with the Collapsing Lightning Duke and then with the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar only left superficial wounds on his body from which he could completely heal in hours. The actual reason for his deterioration was the backlash he received upon using Stellar Dive since not only was he forced to overexert his Ego Wave to push his body and soul to a level capable of that power, but his meridians were barely able to contain the massive burst of energy required by the technique. Suddenly, the Void King''s eyes opened, and he saw a figure covered in shadow appear. "How did it go?" The Shadow King saw the solemn expression in the Void King, and while the man was able to maintain a cool head, he knew this one long enough to see when he was worried. "I thoroughly researched the area where Angar''s Shadow Domain took place. The life in the area was totally drained, and that was not all. The power of death had completely impregnated the surroundings. I also detected traces of elemental essence that were left, most likely after the destruction of countless treasures." A deep frown appeared on the Void King''s face as he heard those words. He had kept an eye on the reports sent by the silent spies placed by the Soul King at the start, and he had received very bad news. The Void King expected that after crippling the Collapsing Lightning Duke, the Collapsing Lightning Alliance would show signs of crumbling and instability, but none of that happened. On the contrary, the army''s morale, from regular soldiers to great generals, seemed to have significantly risen. Then he learned that Bloodless #1, one of the great generals with a Middle Divine Ascension Cultivation, had suddenly recovered his arm, and if that was not enough, his aura became much more powerful. It was easy to trace the origin of all those changes to the young man whom the Void King wanted nothing more than to rip to pieces, but it was the news he received two days ago that truly shocked him. The Scarlet King, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and the Patriarch of the Aegon Clan had left the Golden Core City. They reached a forest not far from there before hiding themselves in a Shadow Domain over 500 kilometers wide. No one knew what they were doing, but the Shadow Domain vanished two weeks later, and the trio returned to the Golden Core City accompanied by six warriors in red armor. Although the six individuals hid their identities behind red armor, they allowed people to perceive the radiation of their energy pools. Immediately, the hearts of the millions of soldiers in Golden Core City filled with thrill and excitement as they detected that they were all Divine Ascension Masters, and one was a mighty Titan! The Void King hated to admit it, but showing a group of Divine Ascension Masters as reinforcemts was a great stunt, and he was sure the Collapsing Lightning Alliance''s morale would be at an all-time high the next time they clashed. However, what shocked and disturbed the Void King was what happened later. Just as Cain, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and Angar were about to vanish inside the Titan Tower with the Divine Ascension Masters, one of them trembled as his vitality seemed to grow chaotic, and he unintentionally revealed his aura. The aura of the Divine Ascension Master was immediately hidden, and the group vanished the next second. Still, it was enough for one of the spies to recognize the Titan among the group with red armor as none other than the Blood Duke! "What do you think?" The Void King''s voice was solemn as he spoke to the Shadow King. Now that the Soul King was in a deep coma, the only one he could discuss his plans with was the man who covered his figure in shadows every day. The Shadow King stared at the Void King and remained silent for an entire minute before answering. "I was present during the clash in which the Blood Duke received those crippling wounds, and the man was lucky just to remain alive. The fact he could fly through the sky and, other than that short fluctuation in vitality, seemed completely fine would lead us to a single conclusion. Cain Laurifer has an art that should be able to heal crippling injuries, even those in the bodies of Titans. If I am right, the other five warriors in red armor are the Divine Ascension Masters who ended up in a coma during the past few years. This art required the power of the four elements and had a devastating effect on the life of the surroundings, which explains why they chose to do it away from Golden Core City." The Shadow King''s voice was calm as always, but it was impossible to know if he was able to maintain such composure or was simply using his power to hide his emotional state. However, those words did have an effect on the Void King, whose face grew solemn as he spoke again. "I received a new report a few hours ago. The great generals were summoned to the Titan Tower, and shortly after that, a new command was spread across the entire city. All soldiers, regardless of their ranks, needed to hand over all the elemental treasures they did not use immediately." The Shadow King''s eyes narrowed as he heard that, and as he saw the somber expression on the Void King, a flash of worry appeared in his normally immutable voice. "Are they preparing to heal the Collapsing Lightning Duke?" Chapter 668: The Void Kings plight (II) The Void King could not help but clench his fists as he heard that. He remembered the state of the Collapsing Lightning Duke and, according to basic reasoning, it was impossible to heal the man''s wounds in a short period. However, the Void King also knew that the Blood Duke should have been in a coma for decades, yet the man could fly across the Golden Core City, allowing all the people to feel his cultivation base at the Titan Tier. If Cain Laurifer managed to heal the Collapsing Lightning Duke, even with the Undying King, they would be unable to gain the upper hand on the battlefield, and time was not on their side either. The more days they took to dominate the north of Gaia, the higher the chances everything would crumble. This war would have ended in a few weeks if not for the Great Cataclysm blocking reinforcements from the Deus Behemoth Race and Anima Machinarium Race. The Void King was strong but not omnipotent and could not face the entire might of the three great races, so he needed to hurry up. No matter what, they could not allow the Collapsing Lightning Duke to heal, but that was not the only thought that appeared in the Void King''s mind. A sharp light appeared in the eyes of the mightiest of the Dark Kings as he glanced at the Shadow King. "There is another explanation for all that is happening." "It is all a ruse. The Scarlet King is luring you into a trap." The Shadow King was able to carry on the thought of the Void King since he also came to that conclusion. Everything they had seen so far could be an elaborate scheme to lure the Void King into attacking them while he was weak so they could kill him. Of course, both Dark Kings also considered the chance they were being paranoid since there should be no way someone so young as Cain Laurifer could ideate such a devious plan, as that would mean the young man was able to discover the spies that managed to go unnoticed all these years. Yet, that was the young man who not only escaped from the Blood King while being a simple Wave Champion but also managed to put the Soul King into a coma. No matter how much they hated him, they had to accept that Cain tends to make miracles. "What are you going to do?" The Shadow King stared at the Void King and saw how this one sighed. "What else can I do? I cannot allow them to heal the Collapsing Lightning Duke, so I need to attack. If we are lucky, there is no trap, and we just uncover one of that man''s secrets. Such a potent healing art must have its drawbacks, and if we manage to interrupt it, we could end up worsening the condition of the Collapsing Lightning Duke and leaving the Scarlet King wounded." Determination and killing intent appeared in the eyes of the Void King as he uttered those words, making the Shadow King nod. There was a reason why that man could lead a group of killers and monsters that could level entire Sectors. "If they are really going to heal the Collapsing Lightning Duke, they would do it in silence and away from the city. Moving an army silently across their defenses will be impossible, so only a few of us should move. Are we able to summon more Dark Kings to the north?" The Void King agreed with the Shadow King''s analysis but shook his head as he heard about reinforcements. "Our friend in the Imperial Court is doing his part, avoiding the mobilization of reinforcements to the north, but if we diminish too much the pressure in the south and west, he would have no way to explain the lack of troops to face the invasion of Inferno Daemon Gods. Just bringing the Undying King to this place was complicated enough and put us in a tight spot." The Shadow King nodded as he understood their situation and was not really hopeful that other Dark Kings could come up. "In that case, we must depend on the Inferno Daemon Gods. Will they be up for the task?" "They have to be. I will make sure they understand the consequences of failure." There was a cold light in the eyes of the Void King. It was clear that, despite fighting on the same side for several years, there was no bond between them, and he only saw those Gods as tools that could be easily thrown aside in the quest for victory. "We will also need him." The words of the Shadow King made the Void King frown, and the man could only sigh before nodding. The next second, the two Dark Kings vanished from the room and appeared on the lowest level of the God Tower. "RUMBLE!" "RUMBLE!" The sound of flesh hitting metal echoed across the room, and the Dark Kings could not help but frown as they saw the Blood King inside a cage, hitting the metallic walls with pure madness in his eyes. "His mind is breaking to pieces. The mental compulsion should not have caused this." The Void King couldn''t help but frown as he saw the state of the Blood King. Since they needed the man to fully exert his power, the Void King had brainwashed the Dark King, suppressing his fear and survival instincts. It was dangerous, but the loss of the Soul King had weakened them, and the Void King needed the man to unleash his full power without the fear and doubt that weakened his willpower and the might of his Ego Wave. It worked great during the past year, allowing the Blood King to clash head-on with the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. However, after the clash with Cain, the Blood King seemed to have entered a frantic state he could not break free of. Chapter 669: Assassination (I) The Void King''s eyes were cold as he gazed at Golden Core City in the distance from a hidden location. He could see millions of soldiers in the city, all in battle formation, ready to march at any second, with several Titans and Divine Ascension Masters in the sky. Those warriors made the city an amperage fortress. Still, its power rose even higher as Titan Tower unleashed its full power, flooding the air with highly dense energy that enhanced the soldiers'' battle power and a massive force field capable of detecting any incoming threat. Anyone else would think this was a sign of an army ready to march at any second, but the Void King knew that was not the case. According to his spies, after collecting copious amounts of four elemental resources, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar ordered all the troops to be ready to march before flashing into a small island south of their position with Cain and Angar. Once the trio reached the island, a Shadow Domain emerged, covering their figures, making it impossible to know what they were doing inside. The trio did not reveal their plans, but all the Collapsing Lightning Alliance hoped for a new miracle. Yet, that was exactly what the Void King sought to stop. The Void King focused on the great generals in the city''s sky, and a solemn expression appeared on his face. Although the Dark King did not dare to release his Ego Wave and inspect those warriors since the Titan Tower might detect it, his cultivation was high enough to perceive the aura of those Titans and Divine Ascension Masters, and he was pretty sure they were indeed who they were supposed to be. Seeing the great generals present in Golden Core City and away from the Shadow Domain, the Void King''s suspicion of a trap diminished, and his worries about Cain being able to heal the Collapsing Lightning Duke increased. As for why the trio did not bring the great generals with them into the Shadow Domain? The Void King came to the logical conclusion that Cain wanted to hide what he was doing, not raise suspicion. Not to mention that if no Titans were protecting Golden Core City, the Dark King could easily destroy it in minutes. "Can we do it in silence?" The Void King obviously did not utter a word out loud and instead spoke through his Ego Wave with the man by his side. The Dark King was not alone since the Shadow King, Undying King, and four Gods of the Inferno Daemon Race were with him. As for the Blood King, although the Void King would have liked to use the man, he was so broken that trying to use him for something that required finesse was like asking a monkey to make a painting of a river. Ultimately, the Void King decided to leave the Blood King caged in the God Tower and would deal with him after they solved this problem. A solemn light appeared in the eyes of the Shadow King, who analyzed Golden Core City before turning his gaze to the Shadow Domain nearly a thousand kilometers south that covered what was supposed to be a rich island with a copious amount of Life Wave and vitality. Going directly through Golden Core City was impossible, but trying to flank it would not be so easy either since there were all sorts of hidden surveillance tools around it that could detect even True Titans. "If I deploy my full power, it will barely be able to cover the presence of all seven of us as long as all of you focus on hiding your presence to the best of your abilities. However, even then, it will be extremely challenging, and a single flaw will break our cover, and the Titan Tower will detect our presence immediately." The Void King, Undying King, and Gods adopted somber expressions as they heard those words. All of them were extremely powerful, but if they were detected, not only would their mission fail, but they would have a hard time returning to the Trinity Dark Towers, having to go through an entire army ready to march into battle at any second. The Void King and Undying King took deep breaths as they used the immense power of Peak Divine Ascension Cultivation and soul force to hide their presence. The four Inferno Daemon Gods could not match the soul force of the Dark Kings, but they were chosen for this mission for their cloaking abilities. The Shadow King nodded as he saw everybody cloaked their aura and energy before his shadow covered all of them just to vanish the next second. Hidden among the shadows of the trees, rocks, and even insects, the group managed to circumvent Golden Core City and, after an hour, reached an island covered by the Shadow Domain. It would have taken much less if they could move freely, but the group did not have that luxury. A solemn light appeared in the eyes of the Void King as he gazed at the Shadow Domain. He did not delude himself that he could pierce the domain of the Patriarch of the Aegon Family without this one noticing them. Once they touched those shadows, the trio would perceive their presence and call for reinforcements. "Time is of the essence. Although it would be great if we could kill them all, our primary goal is the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the secondary is the Scarlet King. Once we attack, we will have around 60 seconds before the Titans in Golden Core City arrive. We must be fast, and we must be deadly!" Sharpness and killing intent appeared in the eyes of the Dark Kings and Gods as they heard the words of the Void King and understood just how high the stakes were. Failure would mean losing their edge in the war, which could ultimately lead to the death of all of them. Chapter 670: Assassination (II) There was a small pebble close to the Shadow Domain that extended for several hundred kilometers, covering the entire island. Suddenly, from the shade of the pebble, a figure emerged. It was none other than the Void King, and his energy immediately exploded as he sent his fist forward. Although a punch should not be able to harm shadows, this one carried a gravitational force that could shatter meteorites, and once it touched the domain, a massive blast echoed. "BOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!" After the punch shattered the domain, the Void King''s eyes narrowed, and a sense of absolute focus and killing intent appeared in them as he saw the figure of Cain surrounded by a tornado of death aura and elemental treasures. The young man seemed to be draining the essence of those treasures and the life of the environment before flooding that energy and vitality into a scorched corpse on the ground. There was no way the Void King would have forgotten the state of the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s body after striking him with his Stellar Dive. As he felt the feeble vitality in the body, his killing intent exploded. Immediately, the Void King''s eyes turned toward the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the Patriarch of the Aegon Family, who looked at him with pure shock and confusion as if they could not understand how the Dark King had arrived here. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and Angar immediately made their energy explode. Without hesitation, they flashed toward the Void King, full of killing and murderous intent. The reaction of the True Titans was all the Void King needed to be sure this was not a trap, and they had indeed managed to uncover the enemy''s plots, coming just in time to stop it. Just as the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the Patriarch of the Aegon Family lunged toward the Void King full of killing intent, two more figures emerged from the pebble''s shade. The next second, the Undying King and the Shadow King lunged toward the duo. "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion made the island crack as the two Dark Kings unleashed their most potent spells, overexerting themselves to push the True Titans into the sky and away from Cain. The Void King smiled as he saw how the Dark Kings managed to push the True Titans out of the way, and he turned toward Cain. The young man had opened his eyes and looked at him with coldness and not a shred of fear. Those eyes erased the smile from the Void King''s face and only made his killing intent explode as starry energy burst from his body. The four Gods emerged from the pebble''s shadow right at that moment, and all five flashed toward Cain, intending to deliver the finishing blow to the Collapsing Lightning Duke before taking care of the young man. Just as the group was about to reach striking distance, Cain waved his hand, and the ground beneath him began to glow. Immediately, an energy shield manifested with the figures of ten majestic beasts, covering both him and the Collapsing Lightning Duke. The energy shield released massive power, but the Void King and the four Inferno Daemon Gods did not delay their move and unleashed all their power. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion that pulverized the small island occurred the next second. Yet, there was no happiness on the faces of the Void King and the Gods as they saw how, while everything else was destroyed, the energy shield remained steady, with Cain and the Collapsing Lightning Duke inside uninjured! The Void King was shocked to see how his mighty attack only left a few cracks in the energy shield, and there was no sign of this one breaking anytime soon. Although he was not overly arrogant, the Dark King knew how powerful his attacks were, and he could not understand how a simple energy shield could resist. There was no way the Void King could have known this was one of the mightiest war treasures that the Deus Behemoth Empire could produce, the Ten Bloodline Sacred Shield. Just the cost of the materials was over 200 supreme wave crystals, and only a handful of people could make it. Unfortunately for the Void King, he did not have time to figure out the Ten Bloodline Sacred Shield''s origin as the clock was ticking. The Void King''s eyes narrowed as he perceived dozens of Divine Ascension auras emerging from Golden Core City and flashing toward their location at full speed. With those massive explosions, there was no need for Cain or anyone else to call reinforcements, as the great generals and the rest of the Divine Ascension Masters could see something horribly wrong happening. "Use all you have. We cannot fail!" The Void King shouted, drawing the attention of the Gods, and the killing intent of all five exploded as they made their energy burst with all their power and began to hammer the Ten Bloodline Sacred Shield with all their might. Escaping would not be easy, but no matter what, they had to kill the Collapsing Lightning Duke, and by the state of this one, it would only take one blow. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Dozens of explosions appeared over the surface of the Ten Bloodline Sacred Shield every second as the Void King and the Inferno Daemon Gods struck it with all their power, each attack carrying more power than an H-bomb. Cain''s eyes widened as he saw the cracks forming on the Ten Bloodline Sacred Shield, and a sense of urgency appeared as he began to redirect his energy into the energy shield, yet the cracks kept appearing. "Shooting Star Punch!" Finally, the Void King''s eyes began to glow with white flame as his energy exploded. His body trembled, and blood leaked from every orifice on his face, but a white starry light covered his right arm as this one flashed toward the energy shield. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" With a deafening explosion, the Void King''s Shooting Star Punch delivered the final blow to the Ten Bloodline Sacred Shield! Chapter 671: Shattering the Collapsing Lightning Dukes skull Shock appeared in Cain''s eyes as he saw how the Void King and the four Gods only took thirty seconds to break the Ten Bloodline Sacred Shield. Then, his entire body trembled, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood. A vicious light appeared in the Void King''s eyes as he saw Cain suffer a vicious backlash due to the interruption of his spells. Although he would have wanted to take advantage of that opportunity and kill the young man, there was one prey that was much more important. Cain clenched his bloody teeth as he did all in his power to put his chaotic energy under control and focused on the Void King, seemingly ready to clash with him with all his power, but that was not going to happen. Before Cain could make a move, two Gods of the Abyssal Clan, one covered in flames and the other in lightning, lunged toward him, tackling him with so much power that they dived into the waters. The Void King smiled as he saw that the last obstacle in his path was removed, and along with the two remaining Inferno Daemon Gods, they lunged toward the Collapsing Lightning Duke. It was overkill to attack with so much power a comatose man with one step in the grave already, but that was the point, to pulverize the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s body so there was no chance this one could return. The fastest was obviously the Void King, and while the man suffered a tremendous backlash due to the ignition of his Ego Wave, his fists still carried an immense amount of power as starry energy covered it. Pure killing instinct emerged from the heart of the Void King as he aimed his fist at the face of the Collapsing Lightning Duke. The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s head exploded into hundreds of pieces under the might of the Void King''s fist, with the soul sea of the True Titan shattered into pieces. ... ... ... Or at least that was what the Void King expected to see, yet the scorched body moved in the last second, dodging the blow before opening his eyes. The eyes supposed to belong to a man at death''s doors glowed with white flame full of immense willpower and focus as a smile appeared on the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s face. The Void King thought he was attacking a charred body incapable of moving, so he focused only on offense, which was why he was not able to do anything when the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s punch landed on his chest with so much strength that it shattered his sternum and several of his ribs before sending him flying into the sky while spitting blood. Shock, awe, and confusion appeared in the eyes of the Dark King and the Inferno Daemon Gods as they saw how the scorched skin faded from the Collapsing Lightning Duke, revealing a body brimming with power and vitality. The Collapsing Lightning Duke could not help but smile when he felt the bones of the Void King breaking under his fists and, without delay, turned toward the two Gods that had lunged toward him with killing intent. Panic and dread appeared in the eyes of the Gods as they understood the strength of the man before them, and not even working together could match him. Yet, they were too close and were unable to avoid a blast of dark lightning landing on their bodies and sending them flying away with severe injuries. The Void King felt crippling pain in his chest, but he was able to endure the agony of having his ribs shattered and regain control over his body. He focused on the Collapsing Lightning Duke with a sense of disbelief and shock. Even when he considered this to be a trap, he never expected the man to have already healed. The idea of killing the Collapsing Lightning Duke overcame the Void King''s rational mind, as he ignored everything else in pursuing that goal, going to the extreme of overexerting himself once more to break that barrier just to receive a horrible strike the next second. And if things were bad, they could always get worse. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Two explosions echoed thousands of meters beneath the water, and the Void King could perceive how two Titans appeared out of nowhere and were fighting the Abyssal Gods that had lunged toward Cain. "How!?" The Void King could not help but shout with shock as the ones that appeared were none other than the Blood Duke and the Sector Duke of the Golden Core Sector, Holan. He had clearly seen the duo floating in the sky of Golden Core City and perceived their auras, so he could not understand how they were also here. Cain rose to the sky, and there was no sign of weakness on his face, and it was clear that the backlash of before was just a ruse. He focused on the Void King and saw the confusion on the man''s face. He understood the Dark King''s confusion, as there was no way the Void King would have known Cain had access to the Soul King''s skills and could disguise the aura of two normal Divine Ascension Masters as that of the great generals. It was not easy, and Cain could only do it with two people, but it was enough. Of course, he would not explain anything about that, and the only emotion in his eyes was killing intent as his power exploded, with his skin turning red and his Astral Wave and Essence Wave bursting with all their power. The Void King could not contain the hatred that burned inside his heart, as he was sure the responsible for all this was the young man, and he wanted nothing more than to rip the rip his limbs one by one. However, survival would be a challenge right now as he felt how the Collapsing Lightning Duke rose to the sky and the duo was blocking his exit paths. Chapter 672 672: Facing the Void King head-on The Shadow King and Undying King were just as shocked as everybody else to see the Collapsing Lightning Duke display so much power while two Titans had been hiding this entire time. Soon, dread appeared in the Dark Kings'' eyes as they saw the Void King surrounded by the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the Scarlet King. Although they knew the Void King was immensely powerful, he was clearly enduring a severe backlash and might not be able to resist the duo''s onslaught. Unfortunately, the Shadow King and Undying King could do nothing to assist the Void King in his fight. Just as the duo had blocked the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the Patriarch of the Aegon Clan from helping Cain before, now the tables had turned. Cain and the Collapsing Lightning Duke did not hesitate for even a second. The moment their energy pools peaked, they flashed toward the Void King with nothing but killing intent. The Void King was barely able to process the situation in which he found himself when he saw a punch bathed in dark lightning aiming at his temple, while a kick covered in solar fire and spatial storms flashed to his lower abdomen. Those attacks not only carried immense power and martial skill but were fired with such precision and teamwork that they arrived in front of the Void King simultaneously. Despite his wounds and the sense of shock that assailed his soul, the Void King was able to react. A powerful starry energy covered his entire body as he used his right arm to protect his temple and raised his leg to stop the kick. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Two explosions echoed in the sky at the same time as the Void King managed to resist the punch and kick. His entire body trembled, and blood leaked through the corner of his mouth, but still, he was able to face the duo. Or at least that was what the Void King thought since he had barely blocked the kick to his lower abdomen when Cain''s entire body rotated. A second kick flashed to his face, and he could not block it this time. "?BOOM!" An explosion of solar force and spatial energy blasted in the face of the Void King, sending him flying away and hindering his vision. ''How did he overcome my Stasis Armor!?'' That thought appeared in the Void King''s mind as he was sent hurtling into the sky and focused on regaining control over his body. One of his unique abilities was the generation of a gravity force field that covered his body and not only acted as armor but also delayed the movement of everyone that came into contact with it. The Collapsing Lightning Duke was able to overcome it since the man also mastered the power of gravity in his attack, but the Void King did not feel such might in Cain''s body. What the man did not know was that Cain''s body could align with the fabric of space thanks to the Cosmic Tyran Framework, which allowed him to ignore the gravity force field. However, the Void King did not have time to figure that out, as the moment he regained his vision, he saw the Collapsing Lightning Duke diving toward him. The next instant, a falling knee bathed in dark lightning crashed into the chest of the Void King, shattering even more bones in his chest and pushing him into the sea. "?BOOM!" After the Void King was sent into the sea, Cain flashed toward him, and a second explosion was heard. A vacuum formed in the water as the Dark King and Scarlet King''s fists clashed, generating shockwaves that pushed the waves away. Cain could not help but tremble as his fists collided with that of the Void King, and he felt his bones would shatter before being sent flying away. Even with all his injuries, the Void King was much more powerful than him. Luckily for Cain, he was not alone. The Void King was honestly surprised by Cain''s strength, but he was not able to focus on the young man since he felt the Collapsing Lightning Duke appear behind his back. The Collapsing Lightning Duke sent a ferocious blow toward the Void King, and this one turned around just in time to use his arms as a shield. "?BOOM!" A new explosion that generated a massive vacuum in the sea formed once the Collapsing Lightning Duke landed on the arms of the Void King and sent this one flying away. The Void King felt how that blow generated minor fractures in his arms but was also happy since it sent him flying away and in a direction outside of the battlefield. He could use the impulse of the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s strike to attempt to escape. However, before the Void King could even try that, Cain appeared on his route, blocking the path out of the battlefield before sending a rotating kick toward him. The Void King could not regain control over his body in time, so the kick landed straight on his back, making the sound of more bone cracking emerge from his body before flying into the core of the battlefield. An expression of rage and agony appeared on the Void King as he clenched his bloody teeth to forcefully regain control over his body, just in time to respond to the incoming punch of the Collapsing Lightning Duke. "?BOOM!" An explosion of starry energy and black lightning flooded the sky as both men were pushed in different directions. The Void King gained a second to breathe as the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the Scarlet King flanked him once again. His eyes burned with willpower as it was clear he would not simply give up, but that did not mean he did not understand the danger. Not only was the duo very powerful, but in less than thirty seconds, over a dozen Divine Ascension Masters from the Collapsing Lightning Alliance would flood the area. Chapter 673 673: Ready to kill the Void King "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Explosions of all types flooded the sky as the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the Scarlet King attacked the Void King with everything they had. The battle was intense, and deep wounds began to appear on the duo, but that did nothing to reduce their slaughter intent. The Void King was also using all his power as he faced the duo, and his condition just kept worsening as more wounds appeared all over his body. He had several unique abilities that he could use to overcome powerful enemies, but that required the overexertion of his willpower. That was no longer an option after the backlash from using Shooting Star Punch. Cain''s eyes glowed with red and golden light as he pushed his mind to the limit, using The Flow to read the movements of the Void King, allowing him to dodge a kick to the neck that could have severed his head before striking the man''s abdomen. The Void King trembled as the internal damage he received was reaching catastrophic levels, but he just clenched his teeth and lowered his legs, striking Cain''s shoulder and sending him crashing down. Less than a second after that, the Void King had to turn to the side, and his starry energy exploded as he exchanged blows with the Collapsing Lightning Duke. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Dozens of explosions mightier than H-bombs covered the sky every second as the Void King''s starry punches met the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s black lightning fists. The eyes of the duo burst with killing intent as they sought to break the other, and the Collapsing Lightning Duke managed to take the lead. He dodged a starry punch before connecting a downward kick on the Void King''s head, sending him down. The blast of dark lightning and brain trauma affected the senses of the Void King, so by the time he regained his focus, Cain had already emerged from the bottom of the sea and connected both fists on his back. "Solar Space Storm!" A cannon of solar energy and spatial force blasted point-blank on the Void King''s back, scorching the skin and making those destructive energies flood his inner organs before sending him back to the sky where the Collapsing Lightning Duke was waiting for him. The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes burned with killing intent as he saw the figure of the Void King, and a massive amount of dark lightning concentrated in his hand as he flashed down, ready to intercept the man and destroy his brain. However, just as the Collapsing Lightning Duke was about to reach the Void King, the eyes of this one regained their focus, and a flash of madness appeared in them along with a burst of white flames, and he struck toward the incoming threat. The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes widened as he saw the fist covered in white starry energy coming towards him. He was surprised the Void King could still unleash so much power and was forced to intercept the blow with his own. "?BOOM!" An explosion of dark lightning and white starry energy shattered space as the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the Void King were pushed in different directions. The Dark King used the chance to regain control over his body, and a crazy expression appeared on his face as blood kept leaking from his eyes and ears, making clear just how much brain damage he had suffered. Cain had already risen to the sky but did not lunge toward the Void King as he felt the aura of this one weakening, but the madness in his eyes made him take things with caution. It was not wise to underestimate to what extremes a cornered enemy would reach, and he was not willing to sacrifice his life to take down the Void King. The Void King could not control his breathing and felt so much pain that he thought he would black out at any second, but despite his feral state, he could still think. However, that did not help much since he could analyze his situation, which was not good. The Divine Ascension Masters of Golden Core City had finally managed to arrive. The great generals had already neutralized the Gods that the Collapsing Lightning Duke sent flying away with his punches, while the Blood Duke and Holan were completely suppressing the other two Abyssal Clan Gods. The Shadow King and Undying King were still fine, but the Void King noticed how the duo intentionally moved the battle away and was sure they were already preparing to escape. He looked around and saw how the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the Scarlet King blocked his escape routes. Even if he could overcome the duo, there were dozens of Divine Ascension Masters circulating the area, making running away nothing but a dream by this point. "?HAHAHAHA!" Suddenly, the Void King began to laugh, with blood falling from his mouth every second before turning his eyes toward Cain, and the desire to kill in them was overwhelming. "You. All of this is your fault! I should have shattered your skull myself and not handed the task to incompetents." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard those words and felt the overwhelming killing intent in the Void King''s eyes. However, his only response to the man was the same killing might as he glanced at the Collapsing Lightning Duke. The duo looked at each other before glancing at the rest of the Divine Ascension Masters around them. It was time to kill the Void King and end the war, but they needed to be careful. The Dark King would not go down lightly and try to take down as many people as possible with him. Just as the Scarlet King and the Collapsing Lightning Duke were about to make their move supported by over a dozen powerful Divine Ascension Masters, it happened. "?ARRRRHHHHHHHHHH!" A guttural sound echoed with so much power across the sky that it almost made their ears bleed. Everybody looked at the sky as they saw rings of fire and shadows manifesting. Cain''s eyes widened as he could not help but clench his fists as that energy in the sky made his entire body tremble due to a crippling sensation of fear that sought to grip his heart and mind. Chapter 674 674: New threat Cain was not alone since the rings of shadows and fire affected the minds of everyone present, paralyzing some of the Divine Ascension Masters with overwhelming fear. If the Collapsing Lightning Divine Ascension Masters had to describe it, it would be like a virus that infected their minds and spread across their bodies, growing stronger each second. The strongest Titans managed to use their overwhelming soul force and Third Realm Ego Wave to resist the pressure, yet the fear remained inside their hearts and did not seem to go anywhere. Cain''s eyes glowed with a monstrous red light as the Power of Order repelled the horrifying feeling assaulting his mind. His eyes became emotionless as he severed everything that could distract him and focused on the rings. Thanks to his mastery over the Law of Space, he could discern that their true nature was that of a portal, so he ready himself to face what would appear. However, nothing could prepare Cain or any of the Titans for what came next. What emerged from the massive portal of fire and shadows that covered the sky was beyond monstrous. It had four fingers with leathery skin, and its palm seemed to contain a domain of fire and shadows. "RUMBLE!" The sky trembled, and the earth shattered as a demonic hand, larger than a city, emerged from the portal. Under the shocked gaze of the Scarlet King, the Collapsing Lightning Duke, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, the Patriarch of the Aegon Family, and dozens of Divine Ascension Masters, it grabbed the Void King. "ATTACK!" Despite facing the same shock and fear that everyone else, the Collapsing Lightning Duke demonstrated why he was a legendary figure by managing to shout that order and making his killing intent explode. He did not know the origin of the monstrous hand but was determined not to let it take the Void King out of the battlefield. Cain''s eyes burst with even stronger power as he heard the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s order. The whole strength of his Ego Wave was unleashed, emitting a shining golden light that washed over the battlefield. "Radiance of Valor!" As the Radiance of Valor washed over the Titans and Divine Ascension Masters, they regained their focus, and the fear weakened, allowing their willpower to explode along with their energy as they followed the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s command. No one dared to approach the demonic hand, unsure of its powers, so they kept their distance and fired attacks with all they had. Beams and energy blasts were fired toward the demonic hand, soon covering it in waves of chaotic and destructive energy to the point it was obscured from view. The Collapsing Lightning Duke raised his fist, stopping the attack and gazing at the chaotic energy storms covering the demonic hand. As it vanished, a sense of shock and dread filled his heart as their barrage of attacks, which could have leveled a quarter of a Sector, barely inflicted superficial wounds on the demonic hand. Before the Collapsing Lightning Duke or the Scarlet King could do anything else, the demonic hand pulled back into the portal of shadows and fire, vanishing from the battlefield along with the Void King. Once the demonic hand disappeared, the portal glowed for a second before blasting to pieces, generating a shock wave that spread in every direction at a shocking speed, so fast that no one could dodge it. Cain immediately raised his defenses as the shock wave approached him, but even after passing through him, it caused no damage. Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he turned to the four Gods remaining on the battlefield and shouted. "Get away from them!" The Scarlet King''s warning drew the Divine Ascension Masters back to reality, and they noticed that the Inferno Daemon Gods were beginning to glow. Immediately, they followed Cain''s instructions and moved away from the Gods. However, before the great genes could get too far, every single one of the Gods exploded, detonating all the energy inside their bodies in a single blast. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Four explosions detonated simultaneously, illuminating the heavens and flooding the earth and sky with an incredible amount of destructive energy, generating waves that extended in all directions and even reached Golden Core City, over one thousand kilometers away. Luckily for all the people in the city, the Titan Tower had already deployed its power, generating a force field that protected them from the shock waves that carried enough radiation and heat to melt the bodies of normal Wave Champions. The people in Golden Core City could only look toward the distance as a dome of fire and energy rose for dozens of thousands of meters into the sky. Cain''s figure soon emerged from the blast with scorching wounds all over his body, and soon, several other figures did the same. He looked around and noticed how all the great generals had managed to survive, which made sense since those who managed to reach this place were very strong and acted fast. Luckily for all of them, while Cain might sometimes lose focus on the battlefield, the [A.I. Chip Module] continuously surveyed the terrain and the people in it. That was why it warned him about the changes inside the Inferno Daemon Gods. The portal of fire and shadows had vanished, but Cain could not help but clench his fists at that phenomenon. Whoever was behind the rescue of the Void King could conjure a portal in the north of Gaia, generating a hand that could withstand the barrage of spells from several Titans like nothing before making the Gods explode so they could not be questioned. Cain was sure that the shock wave just triggered something already there, indicating whoever was behind the portal had performed alterations in the Gods, meaning there was a certain intimacy between them. A somber expression soon appeared on Cain''s face as he realized that the person behind all this was not only extremely powerful but also vicious and capable of igniting the self-destruction of people who had trusted him. Chapter 675: Hesitation is failure The Titans and Divine Ascension Masters quickly moved to Cain''s side. The young man detected the explosion before any of them, allowing them to distance themselves from the Gods and sustain significantly fewer injuries from their self-destruction. Clearly, the young man''s perception and battlefield awareness were exceptionally high, crucial now that they faced such a mysterious enemy capable of unleashing an extremely powerful spell from an unknown location and taking the Void King away. The great generals were extremely alert, ready to respond to anything as they glanced at each other. Most were still shocked to see that the Collapsing Lightning Duke had recovered, as Cain had revealed the knowledge of the plot only to those participating to avoid any mishaps. Fortunately, the Blood Duke and Holan shared their understanding with the great general as they waited for further instructions. The Collapsing Lightning Duke approached Cain, and while he was taken aback by the demonic hand that captured the Void King, he was also extremely surprised by the young man at his side. Cain not only devised and executed a plan that nearly killed the mightiest entity in Gaia''s underworld, but he also overcame the terror aura of the portal with his own strength and aided the other Titans and Divine Ascension Masters with his unique abilities. Cain was a monster in every aspect of cultivation and war, clearly destined to rise higher and higher, and the Collapsing Lightning Duke was determined not to let that talent go to waste. Cain noticed the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s gaze but soon turned his attention to the figures of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and Angar, who approached the group with an annoyed expression. Although the duo''s fight with the Dark Kings had moved far from the battlefield''s core, they reached Cain and the others in less than ten seconds. "The Shadow King covered the Undying Kind with his power, and the duo escaped. We were distracted by the shadow flame portal, and they used the self-destruction of the Gods as a distraction to escape from our perception." The Collapsing Lightning Duke nodded at Angar''s words, not blaming him since their goal was never the Shadow King or Undying King. Hunting them down was futile; if the Shadow King chose to hide, trapping him would be impossible without sealing the entire Golden Core Sector and painstakingly patrolling every square inch of terrain. Such a task would require the full power of the entire Collapsing Lightning Alliance, and while killing the Shadow King and Undying King would harm the enemy, it would not stop the war. "What do you think we should do?" The great generals were slightly surprised that the Collapsing Lightning Duke would seek Cain''s advice openly. It was not the fact of asking for advice but the fact the Collapsing Lightning Duke sought Cain before anyone else elevated the young man''s status within the Collapsing Lightning Alliance to possibly even higher than the True Titans. The First Collapsing Lightning Duke and Angar showed small smiles, unfazed by the Sector Duke seeking Cain''s advice instead of theirs. Despite their expertise in warfare and intelligence, they acknowledged Cain''s strategic and scheming mind was superior to theirs. Cain pondered for a full minute before responding. "Whoever was behind that flaming portal clearly was only to rescue the Void King. If he had the power, he would have saved the Gods as well, but instead, he made them explode so we couldn''t interrogate them. I doubt such power can be used without great sacrifices, so while we should be alert, there is no need to overly worry." After allowing the others to consider his analysis and seeing that they all agreed and were able to relax, Cain''s eyes began to glow with a powerful red light. "Instead of waiting to identify our new enemy, we should seize this opportunity and attack the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army''s headquarters of the Golden Core Sector with all our might." The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes widened, and a smile appeared on his face, admiring the determination and bravery in the young man''s heart. The unknown enemy behind the demonic hand could have paralyzed anyone, blinding them to the opportunity that had presented itself. With the Inferno Demon Invasion Army headquarters in the Golden Core Sector unprotected by True Titans and four of their Gods gone, their power was at an all-time low. This was their chance to attack before the Shadow King and Undying King could return to the Trinity Dark Towers. "Hesitation is failure." These three words were all the great generals needed to understand their next move. "Time is of the essence, so we must act quickly. Only those at the Apotheosis Realm and above will march. We will use the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation to neutralize the lower-level Inferno Daemons." Cain nodded at the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s approach, pleased that he did not underestimate the importance of numbers. While it might seem that Wave Warriors and Champions could do nothing against them, attacking an enemy''s fortress was not so simple. Cain''s flesh and blood were as hard as Adamantium Wave Armor, and he could redirect all damage taken across space. Even if a million Wave Champions attacked him simultaneously, they could do nothing to him, but what if all that energy were concentrated into a single beam? Cain did not doubt that the Trinity Dark Towers in the Golden Core Sector would have such war formations, so using the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation was wise. "James, you will remain in Golden Core City. I highly doubt the Shadow King and Undying King would dare make a move, but you should be able to face the duo with the power of the Titan Tower." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar nodded at the command. Although he also wanted to march toward the Trinity Dark Towers, it was unwise to be blinded by greed and disregard your defenses. The Void King''s actions were a clear example of that. Chapter 676: The plight of the Gods (I) A member of the Hell Clan stood on the highest level of the central God Tower at the headquarters of the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army, his face a mix of indignation, hatred, and distress. General Casidius had just received a message from the Shadow King informing him that the Collapsing Lightning Duke had healed and four Gods had perished in a mission south of the Golden Core Sector. This news shocked General Casidius, who had only just found out that the Dark Kings had embarked on a secret mission, taking four of his great generals with them. The Void King had kept the mission secret, and there had been no inclination to inform the God of the Hell Clan about his movements or that he would be taking four Gods with him. The worst part came when General Casidius inquired about the trio''s return, and the Shadow King merely stated it would take time before abruptly ending the transmission. General Casidius attempted to communicate several times with all the Dark Kings, but none of them answered. "Bastards!" Unable to contain himself, General Casidius shouted in rage as he struck the table in the middle of the room, shattering it to pieces. He had always disdained the Dark Kings'' nature and felt no respect for traitors, yet he was compelled to work under their command due to imperial orders. Now, the group had not only caused the death of nearly half of the great generals but also left them to fend for themselves. Soon, General Casidius''s eyes began to glow with a powerful golden light as his willpower surged, calming his mind and taking control over his emotions. He took a deep breath and sent a command through his communication ring. Less than five seconds later, another five individuals appeared in the room. The Gods looked at General Casidius, wondering why the sudden emergency summoning occurred. General Casidius wasted no time and immediately informed them about their situation. The five Gods'' eyes widened as they heard the horrible news, and a mix of coldness and hatred soon emerged in their eyes. "Those bastards!" "Do they call themselves leaders, yet they act behind our backs and leave us facing the incoming threat alone!" "Hmph, what could we expect from garbage that dares to betray their race!" The hatred and rage were so intense that the Gods no longer bothered to hide their disdain for the Dark Kings. As for their hatred toward the Collapsing Lightning Alliance for supposedly killing the four Gods, they were obviously angry as well, but that was the enemy army, and it was expected to fight them to the death. However, the Dark Kings were supposed to be on their side and help them, not leave them in a horrible situation and simply vanish. General Casidius allowed the great generals to express their hatred for a few moments before raising his hand, silencing the noise. Unleashing their pent-up hatred was good, but there were more pressing matters to attend to. "We must evacuate the Golden Core Sector and return to our fortress in the Zafiro Sector. We no longer have reinforcements from the Dark Kings, and our current forces will not be able to withstand the power of the Collapsing Lightning Alliance." A somber expression appeared on the faces of the great generals as they heard those words. To penetrate into the Golden Core Sector, they had shed blood and tears, with millions of soldiers carving a bloody path, yet now they would lose it all due to the reckless actions of the Dark Kings. Although none of the great generals wanted to leave, they were not foolish and understood that a tactical retreat was the only path. Seeing that the great generals all agreed with his plan, General Casidius nodded and began to dictate the withdrawal strategy. "We will mobilize all soldiers, sending the resources in this place back to the fortress in the Zafiro Sector through the teleportation formations. We will leave behind anything whose value is less than a high-quality wave crystal." Although the idea of carrying all the wealth through space rings was tempting, it was not so simple since the dimensions inside those rings were limited to the energy radiation and weight they could contain, so sending it through the teleportation formations was safer. "After securing the assets, all soldiers beneath the Apotheosis Realm must leave through the teleportation formation. Those who remain will cover the exit. If we are lucky, the Collapsing Lightning Alliance will arrive by the time all our lower-level soldiers are gone, and we will be able to retreat without harm with the Energy Cores of the God Towers and the valuable pieces." "What about the Blood King?" One of the great generals asked Casidius, and the group remembered the mad Dark King contained in the lowest level of the God Tower. The man was very powerful, but his mind seemed to be failing, and if they wanted to retreat with him, it would endanger them all. "Hmph, if The Organization doesn''t care about our lives, why should we care about theirs?" General Casidius''s voice was cold as he uttered those words, and all the great generals nodded, making it clear none of them were interested in helping that mad Dark King escape. All great generals agreed with the plan, but just as they were about to implement it, their eyes widened as they all received a piece of shocking information from their surveillance force. [The Collapsing Lightning Alliance has mobilized. They will arrive in less than twenty minutes.] "What, how can they be so fast!" General Casidius could not believe what he just heard. They had barely taken in the news of the fall of four of their Gods, yet the enemy army was already at arm''s length. Although soldiers in Aether could move much faster than troops in the Old World, the distance between Golden Core City and the Trinity Dark Towers was thousands of kilometers, so there was no way a massive army with millions could move so fast. Chapter 677: The plight of the Gods (II) [The forces coming are only Apotheosis Masters and Divine Ascension Masters. They also carry with them those metallic towers brought by the Scarlet King and are led by the Collapsing Lightning Duke.] General Casidius clenched his fists as he saw the temerity in the Collapsing Lightning Alliance. They left the weaker troops behind, exposing their warriors to higher risk but also improving their speed to the point that the Inferno Daemon''s great generals were caught off guard. A solemn light appeared in all the great generals as they understood that the withdrawal would not be as clean as they initially thought. Remaining and fighting would mean their death, forcing them to make a choice. "If we keep our focus on our resources, we should be able to take most of them before the Collapsing Lightning Alliance overcomes our defenses, but there will be no time to allow the millions of lower-level troops to escape." General Casidius spoke in a solemn voice as he was forced with a very hard choice. While one would think lives were always more valuable than resources, war was not black and white. If they left their resources behind and prioritized the lower-level soldiers, their situation in the Zafire Sector would become dire. Unless the empire sent them new resources, they would have no choice but to escape further north once again. "The formation brought by the Scarlet King will suppress all of our Wave Warriors and Wave Champions, so they should evacuate immediately. As for the treasures, we will only bring out the top-tier treasures and leave the rest." General Casidius knew there would be harsh punishment for leaving so many resources behind. Still, his eyes were resolute as he decided the lives of his soldiers took priority over wealth. All five great generals nodded at General Casidius'' words and began to mobilize their troops. Soon, alarms began to echo across the Golden Core Trinity Dark Towers. ... Explosions filled the sky above the Trinity Dark Towers as the Collapsing Lightning Alliance and the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army''s forces fought with all they had. Although the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army no longer had the assistance of the Dark Kings and had lost five of its Gods, they were able to face the Collapsing Lightning Duke, Cain, Angar, and the dozens of Divine Ascension Masters and hundreds of Apotheosis Masters on equal ground. That impressive feat was thanks to the three God Towers that reinforced each Inferno Daemon warrior with an overwhelming amount of energy. Not only that, but the God Towers also unleashed energy beams every second against the most powerful warriors of the Collapsing Lightning Alliance, and they also generated a force field that protected everyone inside the headquarters. Of course, such extraordinary abilities require an equally extraordinary amount of energy. The God Towers were going on overload, not only consuming titanic amounts of energy but also generating so much pressure that their formations began to break down. It was just a matter of time before the God Towers stopped working. The great generals of the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army understood all this, but it was not a problem since the God Towers were not meant to last beyond this clash. Cain''s eyes were cold as he faced an Abyssal Clan God in dark armor. The God relied only on his arms and legs, yet his movements were full of variations, and if that was not enough, they also carried a sonic force. "BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Cain used his forearm to block the blow of the Abyssal God without a problem, yet the next second, he clenched his teeth, and an expression of pain and discomfort assailed him. Every time the Abyssal God landed an attack, it would release a powerful sonic blast that seemed to converge on Cain, disorienting him. Although his flesh, bones, and even tendons had been tempered to the point of exchanging blows with True Titans, the man''s attack carried not only physical might but also a sonic force that affected his nervous system. Despite the disorientation, Cain could react in time to avoid a kick aimed at his head, but just as he did that, he detected a beam of energy emerging from one of the God Towers. He was in no position to dodge but did not need to do it since he could use The Flow for such a simple energy attack. A sharp light appeared in the eyes of the Abyssal God as he saw how the young man in front of him could push away an energy beam that could make a hole in the chest of a Titan with nothing but a simple touch. The God''s name was Zinir, and thanks to the energy reinforcement of the God Tower, his battle power neared that of a True God, yet the young man could fight him head-on. Zinir had not forgotten about Cain''s first appearance and how he managed to kill a God in a single move, but back then, that great general was already wounded, and the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation diminished his power. Initially, Zinir thought Cain was just lucky, and the great general was careless, but this fight proved things were not so simple. Cain did not care about the thoughts that passed through the mind of the Abyssal God. After sending that energy beam away, he flashed forward and sent a powerful punch charged with sun force and spatial storms. Zinir was a seasoned soldier, so despite the shock at Cain''s battle power, he was able to remain focused and counter the punch with a kick. He perceived space distortion as they were about to clash, and the young man moved a few centimeters to the left. While it was minimal, it was enough for Cain to dodge the blow and break through the man''s defense, sending his strike to the God''s liver. The Abyssal God''s body trembled as he felt the power in that punch seem to move past his arm and explode inside his body, wreaking havoc on his inner organs. Luckily, the energy reinforcement allowed him to resist and counter with an elbow strike to the back of Cain''s head. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he felt the attack and was about to turn around and raise both arms, using them as a shield. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" Cain was sent flying away, with blood coming out of his ears due to the sonic blast, but he clenched his teeth and forcefully regained control over his body before flashing back into battle. Chapter 678: Negative teleportation Not far from the battle between Cain and Zinir, there was an arc of dark lightning constantly clashing against massive mountains, moving hundreds of times faster than the speed of light. The lightning arc destroyed those structures with a single move, but another would replace them the next second. Facing the strongest warrior of the Collapsing Lightning Alliance was none other than General Casidius. The Hell Clan God showed absolute focus as he could barely keep the Collapsing Lightning Duke at bay even with the God Tower''s energy enhancement. If the distance between the two were to be reduced too much, he might die. The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes were sharp as he clenched his fists and destroyed another of the mountains. A normal mountain could do nothing to the True Titan, but the ones fired by Casidius were spells that harness the power of the Law of Earth. Each mountain was incredibly durable and carried a weight that did not fall short of a small meteorite. Although his eyes beamed with killing intent, the Collapsing Lightning Duke had no sense of urgency. Once he arrived at the Trinity Dark Towers and saw how the weaker soldiers were escaping while the strongest stood in the sky, he chose against the use of the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation. That decision was not out of a sense of mercy, as there was no room for such emotion in war, but out of objectivity. If they used the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation, they would just force the strongest warriors in the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army to escape sooner, leaving the weaker soldiers behind. The lives of hundreds of thousands of Wave Warriors and Wave Champions were not worth dozens of supreme wave crystals in the mind of the Collapsing Lightning Duke. The goal was just to push the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army out of the Golden Core Sector, and while it would be great if they could kill Apotheosis or Divine Ascension Masters in the process, there was no need to risk their lives for that. All the great generals came to the same conclusion as the Collapsing Lightning Duke. They attacked with all their power but focused on preserving their lives and just draining the power of the Inferno Daemon Gods. ... While the Inferno Daemon Gods focused on the retreat of their soldiers and the Collapsing Lightning Alliance Titans in draining the power of the God Towers, none of them knew what was happening thousands of meters beneath them. An imposing figure stood on the lowest level of the primary God Tower of the Trinity Dark Towers. It was a young man nearly three meters tall with a constitution fitting of a member of the Abyssal Clan, yet his skin was red, and there were Hell Clan''s horns on his head. If Cain were to see this person, he would immediately recognize him as one of the few individuals who could incite his instincts to scream after obtaining the Power of Order. This figure was none other than the seventh son of the Dark Emperor of the Inferno Daemon Empire, Horus Ekleipsis. Despite being at the lowest level of the God Tower, Horus''s eyes seemed to be able to pierce through the wall and see the battle going on in the sky, yet no one was able to notice him. His gaze focused on the Collapsing Lightning Duke for a moment before turning to Cain, and a sharp light appeared in them. "Who would have thought I would see you again so soon and in this place." A small smile appeared on Horus'' face as he focused on Cain and remembered the young member of the Hell Clan, Kain Lauzer, whom he met in the Kronos Continent. Back then, he had suspected the relationship between the duo, but Cain''s acting abilities were too good, and since he had more important matters at hand, he just ignored him. "Had I killed you back then, it would have been much easier." While those words seemed to carry regret, Horus''s face was perfectly calm, as if it did not really care about Cain''s effect in the war and was simply stating a fact. "It doesn''t matter since everything is still going according to plan." After that, Horus took his eyes away from the sky. He showed no concern for what was happening or cared about which side would win. His focus turned to the madman hitting the walls of his cell with all his power. "An ego overwhelmed by fear and rage. Who would have thought you, the worst of the ten, would become so useful." Horus uttered those words with a smile before waving his hand and opening the cell. As soon as he did that, the Blood King flashed toward him like a maddened beast, his mouth open as if intending to bite. Although the formations in the dungeon could suppress the energy pool of the Blood King, he was still a very powerful Astral Cultivator and could still crush a normal Divine Ascension Master with his bare arms. However, just as the Blood King appeared before him and was about to bite his neck, Horus''s eyes glowed, and his hands grabbed the face of the Dark King before blasting him into the ground. A flash of sanity seemed to appear in the eyes of the Blood King as he felt the overwhelming physical power in the hands of the man. He attempted to free himself, but Horus was able to keep him down without using a single shred of energy. Horus smiled as he saw the Blood King''s futile attempt to free himself, and a dark flame appeared in his eyes. "You cannot resist the weight of fate." Although they were simple words, the Blood King detected in them an intent that made the fear in his heart grow more and more potent. Horus''s smile widened, and then the power in his eyes burst as a flaming shadow covered him and the Blood Duke. "Negative teleportation." Chapter 679: Bone Calamity (I) The battle between the Collapsing Lightning Alliance and the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army lasted nearly thirty minutes before the force field emerging from the Trinity Dark Towers suddenly began to expand. Cain was battling against Zinir with all he had when he noticed the sudden enlargement of the force field. While he could resist this one, if he were trapped inside, the God Towers would not only enhance his enemy but also suppress his energy, which was not wise. Instead of risking his life to kill the Abyssal God, he rose to the sky, out of the force field''s range. Like Cain, all the Divine Ascension Masters and Apotheosis Masters did the same, choosing to ascend into the sky, escaping from the force field. And while they did that, the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army warriors flashed back to the God Towers, heading into the teleportation formations. The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes narrowed as he saw the Gods escaping, but he did not interfere with the teleportation. While they could push through the force field and attack, that would put in danger the Collapsing Lightning Alliance''s Divine Ascension Masters and Apotheosis Masters, and it would not be worth it. General Casidius looked to the sky from the teleportation formation, and his eyes were cold as he gazed at the Collapsing Lightning Duke. This was the first time he experienced the man''s power, and he was truly remarkable, formidable even among those with the title of True Titan. The teleportation formation glowed, and the Gods and Apotheosis Masters of the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army vanished, just for the force field to do the same the next second. "Take cover!" The Collapsing Lightning Duke shouted as he knew things were not over. While there was no longer any Inferno Daemon Invasion Army warrior to protect the God Tower, there was no way those great generals would leave them so the Collapsing Lightning Alliance could take control over them. Every warrior and great general knew the God Towers would self-destruct and immediately moved away, yet there was someone who did the opposite. The Collapsing Lightning Duke and the great generals watched with shock and dread as Cain teleported right in front of the left God Tower. "Look out...!" Before the Collapsing Lightning Duke could even finish his sentence, Cain put a hand over the God Tower, and the energy that was about to go into overload and trigger the self-destruction froze. The shock in the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the great generals reached its zenith as they saw how Cain seemingly could freeze the self-destruction of the God Tower with a single touch. They had heard the young man was a master hacker, but to reach this level, he must have the capability to interfere with the energy formation inside the God Tower at an inhumane speed. Cain''s focus peaked as he used the [Sub Quantum Hacking] tool to neutralize the God Tower. Immediately, he teleported to the one in the middle. For the [A.I. Chip Module] to have the power to overcome the God Tower''s energy matrix, Cain needed physical contact. Right in the last second, Cain was able to touch the middle God Tower and stop its self-destruction. Yet, just as he intended to do the same with the last one on the right, it exploded. "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" The last God Tower exploded, generating a massive ball of fire that engulfed Cain''s body. Yet, less than a second later, he rose above the flames. There were burning wounds all over his body, but the Radiance of Life was already healing him. An annoyed expression appeared on Cain''s face as he saw the flames of fire engulfing half of the fortress. ''One tower lost. One harmed by the self-destruction of the first one. One is in good condition. I would have made it in time if my mastery over the Law of Space had reached the Law Integration Tier, but I guess this is good enough.'' Cain softly nodded, considering the feat barely acceptable. Yet, he did not notice the look of awe and shock in the eyes of the True Titans, great generals, and practically anyone else who was watching him. Although Cain had a nearly impossibly high standard for himself, the truth was that his feats had already defied the realm of logic for all those watching him. His battle power was nearing the True Titan Tier, his analytic and scheming mind was enough to trick the Dark Kings into a trap that nearly caused the death of the Void King, and he seemed to have mastered countless unique arts capable of enhancing people''s talent, restoring their vitality, and even interfering with structures at the level of the God Tower with a single touch. "Hahahaha. Good, very good. Everybody, we must make use of this chance granted by the Scarlet King. Let''s take control of those towers. Repair the damage and fortify it." The Collapsing Lightning Duke was ecstatic as Cain''s actions had made reinforcing their control over the Gold Core Sector much easier. Creating a fortress from scratch and repairing one were two very different things, as the second would be cheaper and much faster. Cain watched how the great generals guided the soldiers into the fortress, immediately starting the repairs on the God Tower, which should now be called Titan Tower. Everything was going great, but there was a frown on his face as he felt a powerful force approaching him. ''Is it time?'' The feeling was not new, as Cain had experienced it almost nine months ago. While it was a massive lucky chance, it was also a very dangerous event. Luckily for Cain, he had what he needed to survive in this place. Cain''s eyes turned toward the central God Tower and focused on one of the highest floors of this one. Once he hacked the tower, he could also scan it. Right now, he was focusing on what he could only be the Blood King''s cultivation chamber. Chapter 680: Bone Calamity (II) Just a few hours ago, the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army headquarters in the Golden Core Sector was bustling with activity from the Gods. Now, it overflowed with Godslayer Humans, moving from one place to another, doing all in their power to reinforce the fortress as fast as possible. The Collapsing Lightning Duke hovered in the sky, a large smile gracing his face as he watched the soldiers work. Once this fortress was completed, they would completely dominate the Golden Core Sector, ensuring the safety of their flank and finally returning to the Zafiro Sector. Although it was tempting to march straight into the Zafiro Sector, that would not be wise. The path was too long, and without a place to retreat after each battle, they would be unprotected while tending to their wounds and recovering their energies. While it was good to act decisively, haste makes waste. The Collapsing Lightning Duke understood that very well, and he would not make such a mistake when they were making progress. The Sector Duke was thrilled with the current situation. Yet, as his gaze shifted to the primary God Tower, a solemn expression appeared, and he couldn''t hide his worry. Cain had informed him that he needed to enter secluded cultivation and should not be disturbed for any reason. Even in an emergency, he could not leave, and it would be up to them to resolve it. The Collapsing Lightning Duke was the highest leader of the Collapsing Lightning Alliance, and not even the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar or Angar could take such liberties under his command. However, the Sector Duke was at a loss, knowing very well that trying to order the young man against his wishes would be extremely dangerous. It wasn''t just his fighting power that allowed the Collapsing Lightning Duke to command the alliance, but also his acute and keen mind. After spending a month together, the Sector Duke had perceived the true nature of the Scarlet King. Cain''s return was not motivated by some sense of racial honor but by his friends and loved ones. He was growing so rapidly that soon, the empire would have nothing to offer him, much less the ability to restrict him. The best path was just to support him with all their power. ... Now, on one of the highest floors of the God Tower, Cain stood naked above a pool of boiling golden blood, completely exposed. This chamber was the Blood King''s cultivation ground, and the pool contained a special liquid that the True Titan used to cultivate¡ªa combination of blood from extremely powerful life forms mixed with high-level resources. Making this liquid was extremely complicated, costing the Blood King hundreds of supreme wave crystals. Yet, Cain was now merely taking advantage of it. If the Dark King were to know that, he would surely feel his soul burning with rage. Cain couldn''t care less about what the Blood King could think and focused on the boiling golden blood, ensuring it had adapted to his alterations. He mixed tons of elemental treasures into the boiling golden blood. Although collecting the treasures through the Golden Core City was just a ploy, he chose to keep them as they would be helpful in his cultivation. No one had anything to say about it since they practically chanted his name in gratitude. Ensuring everything was in order, Cain took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and began the process. Nearby, at the pool''s edge, stood Shura, looking at Cain with worry. She was aware of the tribulation the young man was about to face and could not help but fear that something might go wrong. Shura had asked to stay by his side, and since her presence was not a problem and Cain felt bad for leaving her alone all these years, he accepted. Suddenly, a burst of energy emerged from inside Cain''s body, and the next second, his flesh began to melt! It was a horrifying scene, and soon, his bloody muscles were exposed, only for the liquefaction to affect them next. Shura''s eyes widened as she witnessed the gory scene. What Cain was going through was none other than the Bone Calamity, yet it was unlike what any other Apotheosis Master would experience. The standard process of Bone Calamity was divided into two phases: Bone Destruction and Bone Reforging. One would use the powers of the Laws that governed the Astral Rebirth Path of Power to shatter every bone in their body. The more ruptures experienced, the better, to the point that every bone should present fractures every millimeter. Yet, even in that state, their flesh would remain firm, acting as a pillar that held the broken bones in place. Although Shura was worried, she understood that her partner was unlike anyone else she had encountered in her life, so she remained silent, wishing for the best and making sure not to become a distraction. After an hour, all of Cain''s skin and muscles had melted, mixing into the pool of golden blood beneath him. But that was far from over since now it was time for his vital organs to start melting. Cain no longer had a face, so there was no way to express it, but he was in agonizing pain. It was like going through the Flesh Calamity all over again, but this time at a much faster speed. After his eyes melted, a red light emerged in his eye sockets as his willpower burst with more and more strength to keep him stable. Two more hours passed, and all the vital organs except the Sacred Organs melted, leaving only his golden skeleton with his Ego Eternal Matrix Brain, Rebirth Heart, and Evolution Core. Suddenly, the force of the world burst, taking control of the liquid flesh and blood that had merged into the pool, making it rise and revolve around the golden skeleton. Shura''s eyes widened with awe and wonder as she saw how a crystalized blood cocoon covered Cain''s golden skeleton, just for a new burst of energy to ignite inside it. Chapter 681 681: The truth of The Organization Cain''s eye socket glowed with a dense red light as he witnessed how his bones, harder than an Adamantium Artifact, began to crumble to dust. It started with the finger on his hand and slowly made its way up. If having his flesh melt was painful, the process of crumbling his bones to dust gave Cain the most excruciating pain of his entire life. It was an agony so intense that his mind urged him to stop the process immediately, and it would not be difficult since Cain knew that he just needed to resist for the Bone Calamity to be over, but that would also cripple his Astral Rebirth Path of Power. The more his bones were destroyed, the stronger they would be upon reconstruction, and if he stopped before pulverizing every single one, there would always be a flaw left in his foundation that would haunt him in the future. So, despite the agony that made him want to scream like a madman, Cain endured the pain and counted the seconds for the process to be over. That was the only thing his mind could process right now, so he could not see what was happening outside the Crystallized Blood Cocoon. Shura had not taken her eyes away from the cocoon and saw how, once it was complete, the world''s power began to drive vitality into it. Luckily for Cain, the pool of boiling golden blood had enough life force to feed a True Titan, so he would have no problem on that front. ... While Cain was going through his Bone Calamity, the Void King slowly opened his eyes, and as he regained consciousness, he felt every muscle and bone in his body trembling with pain. That was the result of pushing his body beyond its limits before having recovered from the backlash of Stellar Dive. However, all that was pushed to the back of his mind as the Dark King remembered the monstrous dark hand that pulled him out of that desperate situation. A somber expression appeared on the Void King''s face since, just like the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the Scarlet King, he was oblivious to the nature of that demonic hand. He used what little strength he had left to rise from the ground and analyze his surroundings. There was a dark sky above him covered by what seemed to be perpetual storm clouds, and the ground beneath him was black, scorched beyond remedy. The Void King immediately figured out where he was as he recognized the border between the Gaia Continent, home of the Godslayer Humankind, and the Atlas Continent, inhabited by the Inferno Daemon Race. The flames of war had filled this place with an aura of death and destruction that seemed to have impregnated the fabric of space. Mighty armies of both the Godslayer Humankind Empire and the Inferno Daemon Empire usually surrounded the border. Yet, since the war had moved into Gaia, it was now empty. "You woke up just in time." Shock appeared in the eyes of the Void King as he heard those words, and only then did he notice the figure next to him. It belonged to a young man with a massive build and red skin. "Horus Ekleipsis?" There was no way the Void King would not recognize the man before him since this person facilitated the alliance between The Organization and the Inferno Daemon Empire to attack Gaia. Confusion, doubt, and suspicion appeared in the Void King''s eyes as he stared at the Imperial Prince since the young man was supposed to be only an enigmatic and ambitious individual, not someone capable of conjuring a spell that could help him escape from the claws of the Collapsing Lightning Alliance. Horus glanced at the Void King, and a smile appeared on his face as he looked ahead. "Turn around, or you will miss it." The Void King could not help but frown as he heard the man''s words, and as he turned his head to where this one was gazing, a new wave of shock appeared in his eyes. What the Void King saw was the Blood King chained to two metallic pillars in the form of an "X," while four individuals in dark robes were engraving signs with their dark blood on the man''s body. "What is the meaning of this? What do you think you are doing to my soldier!" Although the Void King felt nothing but disdain for the Blood King, the man was still one of the Ten Dark Kings of The Organization. If they did not respect his man, that meant they did not respect him, and that was something the Void King would not tolerate. Horus'' smile faded as he heard the defiant tone in the Void King''s voice, and then he turned to him with emotionless eyes that depicted a sense of brutality no sentient life form should be able to unleash. "Careful, boy. You have been a good pawn all these years, and I still have plans for you, but do not forget your place. I guided you in your dreams and helped you create your little group, and I can do whatever I want with any of you." The Void King could not help but tremble in front of those eyes as he had never felt this much fear before, but that soon took a second place as a sense of utter and absolute shock assaulted him once he analyzed Horus'' words. Most people in Aether believed that The Organization was a force led by ten True Titans, but those at a high enough level knew that the true mastermind and origin of this powerful underworld force was the Void King. He was a supreme and mysterious genius of the Godslayer Humankind who managed to assemble all other Dark Factions of Gaia under his rule and could entice True Titans from all across Aether to side with him. While the Emperors loathed the Void King, they all had to admit he was a formidable figure with a mind like no one else. However, no one knew that someone helped the Void King every step of the way. Chapter 682 682: A Master of Reincarnation From his youth, he had always been someone who guided the Void King in the right direction. It was an entity the Void King had never met in person and whose face was nothing but a shade. That man who would present himself in his nightmares and guide him, showing him the right path forward. The entity taught the Void King everything he knew about cultivation and even guided his path in taking control of the Dark Factions and how to entice the True Titans from across Aether to follow him. Calling that person the true master of The Organization would not be wrong since the Void King was just a proxy who followed the man''s directives. "How can you be him!?" The Void King''s confusion was understandable. After all, the entity had presented itself for the first time over a thousand years ago. It did not make sense for that person to be the same as the young Inferno Daemon Imperial Prince before him, who was not even thirty years old. Horus'' eyes began to glow as he saw the fear and confusion in the eyes of the Void King, and a twisted smile appeared on his face. It seemed as if the doubt in the man''s soul was intoxicating for him. "Hahaha, you are but a small child who sees this tiny planet as everything and cannot possibly grasp just how insignificant you are in the grand scheme of things. If you want answers, grow stronger and show me that I can use you as more than a simple pawn. Until then, shut up and obey my command like you have always done." Horus no longer bothered with the Void King and turned his eyes to the Blood King and the four priests engraving dark blood runes on his body before creating a pentagram on the ground. "There was once a man, a human, whose life could only be described as the epitome of normal. He was born in a normal world with somewhat advanced technology, but other than that, he was nothing special." The Void King was still trying to overcome the shock that assaulted his mind when he heard Horus'' words. As he focused on the Imperial Prince, he saw zeal beginning to appear in his eyes. "That man did not achieve anything special in his first life and perished from old age, yet it was in death that he was able to break free from the chains of mortality." The zeal and fervor in Horus'' eyes only increased, and he did not seem to care about the Void King''s reaction. He was just speaking to himself, and the Dark King was lucky enough to be present. "During his second life, that man mastered the power of death and destruction, and that was just the beginning. In his third life, he took a step further and dominated the Force of Rebirth, becoming the apex of his realm, but even that was not enough. He entered a fourth life, and at this point, this great man subjugated the Origin of Life and Death, becoming the Master of Reincarnation." Despite the shock and confusion that assaulted the mind and soul of the Void King, he could not help but feel awe from the bottom of his soul as he heard Horus'' words and imagined what kind of entity was capable of returning from death over and over again, always coming back stronger than before. Horus paused at this point as he focused on the formation made of dark blood that was starting to glow, and then he carried on. "That Supreme Exarch performed feats that escaped the comprehension of life form and mastered powers beyond what even I could comprehend. In his third life, he performed true miracles and created a new race. That race was the epitome of talent, able to train the body, Laws, and willpower simultaneously and in perfect synergy. They are so powerful that they can barely be considered adults when they reach the first stage of the Soul Realm, what you call Divine Ascension. Even the least talented and weakest would be a supreme divine genius in this place." At this point, Horus paused as he focused all his attention on the runes and saw how the power of the formation rose higher and higher while the dark priests began to chant strange words. The Void King did not understand the words coming out of the dark priests, but his eyes widened as he saw the bodies of these ones begin to disintegrate as the formation drained their life, yet they kept chanting. Each of the dark priests showed a fanatic light in their eyes as the formation devoured their lives and consumed their bodies. The Void King trembled as he saw pure bliss in their eyes and could not understand what would drive people to such a maniacal state of fervor. Finally, silence reigned after the last dark priest perished, crumbling to dust as the formation consumed until the last drop of vitality in their bodies. Then, the power of the formation exploded, generating a pillar of dark energy that seemed to crash into the sky. "RUMBLE!" The Void King saw the sky tremble under the power of that dark pillar, and the next second, a fissure appeared in the sky. A malevolent aura emerged from the fissure, one so dark and evil that it froze the body of the Void King. Just for the next second, a stream of dark and evil energy would emerge from it and flood into the Blood King''s body. The Blood King could not scream as the dark and evil energy pierced through his mouth, eyes, nose, and ears into his body, but it was evident by the way he could not stop twitching that the process was horribly painful. However, other than pain, the Blood King''s body began to radiate formidable power, and the dark and evil energy seemed to fuse into his flesh and blood, changing his nature. Chapter 683 683: A race born of corrupted emotions "The key to that majestic race was a unique structure built inside their hearts that opened cultivation paths and allowed them to fuse different lineages. You could call that structure the core of the race." Horus'' smile widened as he saw how the evil and maleficent force flooded the Blood King, and he clenched his fists with excitement and thrill, making it clear this was something very important to him. The Void King''s eyes widened as he detected that fundamental change in the Blood King. Despite all the shock, he could still perceive how that evil force began concentrating on one of the Sacred Organs. However, it was not in the Astral Rebirth Heart, which confused him since that place should be where that baleful force gathered to build the core. Instead, the place where that baleful and nightmarish energy gathered was in the Blood King''s brain, seemingly flooding all the way to the soul sea. Horus was engrossed in the Blood King''s transformation, but he noticed the confusion in the Void King. He turned to the man and simply smiled as an adult would smile at a child who did not understand what was happening. "While the power and talent of the majestic race, whose core was located in the heart, was by all measures sublime, they were not the final creation of the Supreme Exarch. During his fourth life, as he mastered the Origins of Life and Death and dominated Samsara, he was also able to break the barrier between imagination and reality. He transformed thought into flesh, and that was how he gave birth to a miracle, a second race born of emotions." The zeal and fervor in Horus'' eyes grew even stronger as he reached this point, and it was clear his thrill and devotion to that second race were even mightier than the first one. The Void King was smart enough to understand that whatever was happening to the Blood King was related to the second race built by the Supreme Exarch. While everything was shocking and honestly terrifying, his heart was burning with curiosity, wondering just how powerful a race built by a man capable of turning ideas into flesh was. "The members of this new race were the perfect warriors, fearless and brutal, capable of slaughtering entire worlds without hesitation or the slightest sliver of mercy. Their flesh and blood were born out of negative emotions and twisted psychic energy, granting them bodies capable of facing titanic entities born of stardust. But their physical might was just one side of the coin. Due to their nature, they were the most gifted race of the entire multiverse regarding the elusive power of Concepts." Horus kept talking to himself, not paying attention to the Void King anymore. If he turned to the side, he would notice the shock and dread in the eyes of the Dark King. The Void King could not even imagine how strong a body made of negative emotions and twisted psychic energies would be. After all, you could break bones and slash flesh, but you could not do the same to an idea, and that was practically the essence of that race. If you fuse a body like that with supreme talent in the power of Concept, you would undoubtedly obtain a monster in every sense of the word capable of a destructive might like nothing Aether had ever seen before. "What will happen to him?" The Void King could see that the Blood King''s body did not stop shivering all this time due to the pain, even as the man grew more and more powerful. While he did not really care about the Blood King''s life and death, he might become Horus'' next test subject. Right now, the Void King could barely use twenty percent of his power, so he had no illusions of escaping Horus'' claws. As he heard that question, Horus turned toward the Void King and softly nodded once he saw how the man could slowly regain his composure. "That fissure in the sky connects to their home world of that unique race. The negative psychic energy of that world is currently flooding the Blood King''s mind, making him relive his deepest fears, regrets, and desires. Once his mind is completely and utterly broken, the negative energy will fuse into the Alter-Ego, corrupting it and triggering a transformation." The Void King frowned as he heard that. An Alter-Ego was the metaphysical representation of your willpower and core personality. "If his ego and will are corrupted and transformed into something else, then would the Blood King still be the Blood King?" "Hahahahaha." Horus burst into laughter as if the Void King''s question was the funniest joke he had heard in a very long time. It took a few seconds for him to calm down, and then he shook his head. "How could the mind of someone with such a weak will like that man survive this process? His mind was already broken by fear and wrath, making the transformation easier; that is why I chose him. Yet, the Blood King has already perished for all intents and purposes. Once The Corruption is over, it will begin The Transformation, in which the corrupted Alter-Ego will fuse with his flesh and blood, triggering a change in the core nature of the man, helping his transformation into a new and much more powerful race. One that feels no fear, no doubt, and who will soon wipe out all others." The Void King couldn''t help but feel a new wave of dread assaulting his heart as he heard Horus'' words and imagined what fate the man wanted to establish in Aether. Many questions and waves of doubt were assaulting the Dark King''s mind, but one rose above all others, and he could not help but ask it. "What is he becoming?" Horus'' smile widened as he heard that, and he stared at the body chained to the pillars before uttering a single word. "Depravita." Chapter 684: Back to the Zafiro Sector (I) It took less than a week for the Collapsing Lightning Alliance to repair all the damage done to the fortress by the last God Tower, and now they had a new headquarters from which they could take a step forward into the Zafiro Sector. Of course, before making that move, the Collapsing Lightning Alliance had to retake control over the Golden Core Sector. The war had generated complete havoc over the thousands of cities in the Sector, generating billions of refugees. Those people had been moved back to the Collapsing Lightning Sector, but it was not sustainable. With the help of Sector Duke Holan, the Collapsing Lightning Duke guided the millions of warriors across the Golden Core Sector, making sure to reestablish order in the lost cities, taking care of the Wave Beasts while reinforcing those areas. That process would usually take a lot of time, but by relying on the geographic understanding of Sector Duke Holan, they were able to do it in a quarter of the time, and in less than ten days, they had already finished. Of course, there was still the lengthy process of putting the refugees back to their homes, but that was not something the Collapsing Lightning Duke would take care of, as there were logistic branches in the military that could handle it. ... On the highest level of the central Titan Tower stood the Collapsing Lightning Duke, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, the Patriarch of the Aegon Family, and the great generals. All of them had smiles as they watched over the holographic map and saw how the Golden Core Sector changed from a disputed zone to one under the control of the Collapsing Lightning Alliance. However, a solemn expression soon appeared as their eyes moved up north. The Zafiro Sector had been under the control of the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army for over a year, and it was heavily fortified, making taking back control a titanic task. Still, they would have to do it if they wanted to push the enemy out of Gaia. "Have there been any signs of the Shadow King and Undying King in the Sector?" While the next goal of the alliance was to take back the Zafiro Sector, the Collapsing Lightning Duke did not want to leave loose ends in the Golden Core Sector. "I have done thorough research, and by compiling all the information gathered by our forces during the reconstruction efforts in the Golden Core Sector, we found no indication of the duo''s presence. I highly doubt they would have chosen to remain behind and most likely sneaked back to the Zafiro Sector and regrouped with the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army." The Collapsing Lightning Duke nodded as he heard Angar''s assessment and believed the two Dark Kings would not remain in the Golden Core Sector since the danger highly surpassed the benefits they could obtain. "In that case, we will prepare to march north. Trying to overcome the Trinity Dark Towers in the Zafiro Sector directly would be too dangerous, so we will take control of the Crystal Mountains in the Sector''s periphery, establish a temporary headquarters there with a teleportation formation connecting to this place, so we can retreat in an emergency. Once we have cleared the surrounding area of any traps or surveillance devices, we will make our move." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, Angar, and the rest of the great generals nodded. The plan was wise, and they were happy to see that the Collapsing Lightning Duke did not get carried away by the zeal of battle and thrill of victory, trying to march toward the Trinity Dark Towers in the Zafiro Sector immediately. "War Master, might I ask if the Scarlet King will be accompanying us?" The one who asked that question was Sector Duke Holan, but the Collapsing Lightning Duke could see how the eyes of all the great generals glowed with curiosity as they were very interested in the answer. The great generals were not alone since the Collapsing Lightning Duke noticed how even the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and Angar turned at him for an answer. Although reliance on only one figure was dangerous for such a large army since they might crumble if something happened to him, the Collapsing Lightning Duke could not blame the group for their feelings. After all, Cain managed to arrive the moment things looked the darkest for the Collapsing Lightning Alliance, facing the Blood King and helping everyone retreat before curing all the comatose Divine Ascension Masters, including a Titan, and granting everyone a 20 Revolution Refinement. If that was not enough, the young man also deceived the Void King and nearly killed him before helping expel the Gods from the Golden Core Sector. He then prevented the self-destruction of two God Towers so the Collapsing Lightning Alliance could take control of them and use them as Titan Towers. Such impressive feats and power implanted the idea in the great generals that as long as the Scarlet King was by their side, they could overcome any threat and turn the tables no matter the enemy''s power. The Collapsing Lightning Duke stared at the group for a moment as he considered what to say. He had only told them that Cain needed to enter secluded cultivation but nothing more. After a moment, a decisive light appeared in his eyes as he waved his hand. An image appeared on the ceiling of the room, and all the great generals saw in it a Crystallized Blood Cocoon constantly draining the energy from the pool of boiling golden blood. As they focused on the cocoon, they could see into it and noticed a golden skeleton without arms or legs, whose ribs and waist were being pulverized. Confusion appeared for a moment in the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, Angar, and the great generals. Still, it did not take long for them to understand that the skeleton inside that Crystallized Blood Cocoon was none other than Cain. "The Scarlet King is currently facing his Bone Calamity." Chapter 685: Back to the Zafiro Sector (II) Although they could see it with their own eyes, it still shocked the group that such a majestic and gory tribulation was Cain''s Bone Calamity. Over half of those present followed the Astral Rebirth Path of Power, and they very clearly remembered the Bone Calamity and how every bone in their bodies shattered to pieces. It was an excruciating pain, but no one faced anything even remotely similar to what the Scarlet King was going through. There was no doubt in their minds that the pain Cain faced was much worse than the ones they experienced. "Clearly, the Bone Calamity of the Scarlet King is of a much higher level than the one we faced, and the explanation is simple: his foundation allowed him to awaken a much more powerful response from the world force and the Astral Rebirth Laws." The great generals nodded as it made sense. The stronger your foundation, the more powerful your Calamities and Tribulations would become, and no one had a mightier and more robust foundation than the Scarlet King. "The Scarlet King is a great general and a fearless warrior who would not hesitate to face even Dark Kings, but his cultivation must take focus." The Collapsing Lightning Duke paused at this point, his eyes growing sharp as he continued. "The Scarlet King is the greatest genius of all Aether, capable of the impossible, achieving dual cultivation beyond the Apotheosis Realm. I dare say that securing the Scarlet King''s cultivation would be worth losing the war for the north of Gaia." Silence reigned the next second, and the eyes of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, Angar, and the great generals widened as the Collapsing Lightning Duke stated that the cultivation of one person was worth more than twenty Sectors and hundreds of billions of lives. However, as the Godslayer Humankind Divine Ascension Masters contemplated those words, they slowly began to nod as they saw the reasoning behind them. By all measures, Cain was a monster capable of facing Gods without a problem and exchanging blows with True Titans, yet he was just at the first stages of the Apotheosis Realm. If the Scarlet King became an Astral-Essence Divine Ascension Master, his battle power would reach a level none could even dream of, perhaps capable of killing True Gods with a single blow. With that power, the Scarlet King could go through any battlefield and secure the victory of the Godslayer Humankind, to the point he could guide them into Atlas, a feat that only the First Titan was able to achieve. Although the Scarlet King would eventually have to leave Aether after his cultivation base surpassed the Peak Divine Ascension, there would be decades or even hundreds of years before that. All their enemies would have been scorched under his flames by that point. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, Angar, and the great generals remained silent after that, and no one even suggested that Cain would march with them during the next phase. There was now a new sense of purpose and ambition in their eyes. They were fighting by the side of a legendary figure and were ready to engrave their names in history as well, so they would use everything they had during their next fights, pushing themselves beyond their limits. They were ready to push forward with their own power and wait for that young monster with great news in the core of the Zafiro Sector. A sharp light appeared in the Collapsing Lightning Duke as he saw the fierce light in the eyes of the great generals, and a smile appeared on his face. He chose to tell them about Cain''s Bone Calamity to keep the young man''s reputation spotless, and it raised morale even higher. "Bloodless #1 and Sector Duke Holan, you two will remain in this place along with Generals Jessica, Ganes, Kurt, Pilon, and Foster. I doubt someone could go past us and attack this place, but we cannot leave the Scarlet King unprotected. No matter what, you must ensure his safety, even if everything else fails." Elijah and Holan nodded, and a solemn expression appeared on their faces as they understood the severity and immense responsibility placed on their shoulders. Both of them had obtained Cain''s favor in the last months, with the 20 Revolution Refinement allowing their cultivation to be on the brink of the next step. However, even if the young man had not increased their destiny with the power of Tribulation Enhancement, they would still be eternally grateful. After all, it was Cain who saved the Blood Sea and whose actions allowed the return of the Golden Core Sector to human hands. As for the other generals, they were the Middle and Early Divine Ascension Masters that Cain woke up from their coma. The group was still healing, so keeping them here as an extra layer of safety while allowing them to recover was killing two birds with one stone. "The Scarlet King has handed over control of the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation to me, and we will take it to the Zafiro Sector. Each of these black pyramids is extremely valuable, so you should all remember that their safety is paramount." The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes were sharp as he ensured everybody engraved those words before carrying on. "Are there any more questions?" Seeing that everybody was full of resolution and free of doubts, the Collapsing Lightning Duke nodded and sent the command to march. In less than an hour, the Collapsing Lightning Duke, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, the Patriarch of the Aegon Clan, and the great generals led millions of soldiers out of the fortress and into massive Star Cruisers. Although the absence of the Scarlet King was noticed, the soldiers were told that the man was on a critical mission to improve the might of the Collapsing Lightning Alliance. That, plus the absolute resolution and determination in the eyes of the great generals, was all the soldiers needed to be ready to march with all they had into the battlefield. Chapter 686: Death Valley General Casidius stood on the highest level of the central God Tower within the Trinity Dark Towers in the Zafiro Sector and was not alone. Accompanying him were five other Gods who had been present during the withdrawal from the Golden Core Sector. However, that was not all. In a corner of the room were none other than the Shadow King and the Undying King. The duo had managed to escape from the Golden Core Sector, but they were unsure what to do next. While the Void King was saved, they had no idea what had happened to their fearless leader. However, they received a message a few days after the catastrophe in the Golden Core Sector. It was from the Void King, commanding them to regroup with the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army in the Zafiro Sector. After that, he informed the duo he would be healing in a secret location before cutting all communications. Although the Dark Kings knew they would not have an easy time with the Inferno Daemon Gods after they chose to run and leave them to their luck in the Golden Core Sector, they did not dare go against the Void King. General Casidius and practically every God from the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army loathed the duo. Still, they were powerful and useful in battle, so they allowed them to return, but no longer with their lofty status. The Shadow King and the Undying King were more powerful than the Gods, but they were outnumbered, and the God Towers did not obey their commands, so they just remained silent and ignored the disdain from the great general, waiting for the return of the Void King. General Casidius could see the intent in the Dark Kings and knew the duo did not respect him, but as long as they were helpful, he would swallow his rage. Besides, right now, he had more pressing matters. There was a holographic representation of the Zafiro Sector in front of the Gods. In it, they could see how the Collapsing Lightning Alliance had already begun to spread their domain and control over the Sector. "How can they be so fast!" One of the great generals, the God Zinir, could not help but shout with rage and frustration, and while the other Gods could keep their composure, they were also very disturbed. When the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army reached the Dark Trinity Towers in the Zafiro Sector, they immediately began reinforcing the fortress while requesting resources from the Inferno Daemon Imperial Army. The Inferno Daemon Empire acted extremely fast, and, unlike what General Casidius had expected, he did not have a problem securing a massive amount of wealth. General Casidius and the other great generals were happy and began to think they could turn the tables and return to a stalemate with the Collapsing Lightning Alliance. However, just as the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army was starting to get ready to mobilize again, they found out that the Collapsing Lightning Alliance had captured the Crystal Mountains and established a fortress with a Titan Tower in that location. The Gods could not believe that it took less than a month for the Collapsing Lightning Alliance to establish a foothold in the Zafiro Sector, and things only went from bad to worse. Although the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army did their best to delay the Collapsing Lightning Alliance, the Godslayer Humans seemed to be on overdrive as they took every clash with fanatic zeal. Even though the Dark Kings were of help, the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army was at a disadvantage on every single battlefield. Two months after their arrival in the Crystal Mountains, the Collapsing Lightning Alliance had already taken control of the entire south of the Zafiro Sector, establishing battle forts and spreading their surveillance tools in every corner of the domain. In just three months since their escape from the Golden Core Sector, they lost the south of the Zafiro Sector, and they could not take a step in it without the Collapsing Lightning Alliance knowing it. Undoubtedly, for the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army, the only way they could reverse that would be by winning a direct clash with the Collapsing Lightning Alliance. Still, for that, they needed more warriors. While the Inferno Daemon Empire did not have a problem sending resources, things were much more complicated regarding Gods. General Casidius did not dare to request the assistance of True Gods since those were the most potent weapons of the Inferno Daemon Empire, each with a domain that could crumble if they moved away. But without the assistance of at least half a dozen Late Divine Ascension Masters, trying to turn the tables was nothing but a dream. Just as General Casidius was trying to figure out his next step, he received a communication from his scouts. [The Collapsing Lightning Alliance is moving into Death Valley. It seems they bring with them the materials for a Titan Tower.] General Casidius could not help but clench his fists as he heard that report. If the Collapsing Lightning Alliance took Death Valley, they would be less than one hour of flight from the Trinity Dark Towers. It would be easy for the Collapsing Lightning Duke to attack them by that point, forcing them to retreat further north. Unfortunately for General Casidius, even if he wanted to stop them, he lacked the military force to do it. But not even five seconds later, a new message arrived. [General Casidius, mobilize all your military forces and intercept the Collapsing Lightning Alliance. Your reinforcements will arrive during the battle.] General Casidius recognized the voice since it belonged to the man who was able to mobilize more than ten Gods from the Imperial Army into this invasion force, Imperial Prince Horus. Although General Casidius knew it would be dangerous to march into the fight before the reinforcements had arrived, he also knew there was no way a simple God like him could contradict Horus Ekleipsis. "Yes, Your Imperial Highness." Chapter 687: The Depravita of Blood (I) "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Explosions echoed across Death Valley in the Zafiro Sector as the forces of the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army used all their power to stop the Collapsing Lightning Alliance''s Titan Tower. Even though there were several Divine Ascension Masters protecting the construction of the Titan Towers, which reduced the number of fighting warriors in the sky, the Collapsing Lightning Alliance was able to handle the Gods and Inferno Daemon soldiers without a problem. The Undying King and Shadow King were powerful, but they could barely keep the Collapsing Lightning Duke, First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and Angar at bay. Meanwhile, the Titans easily suppressed the six Gods in the Divine Ascension Battlefield. Every one of the Great Generals had received a 20 Revolution Refinement, making their energy flow with much more power and speed than before. That, plus the high morale and thrill, made the battle power they could unleash much greater than their counterparts. The Gods and Divine Ascension Masters from the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army were doing their best, but even with all their training and willpower, they could not help but feel despair as this was, by all measures, a lost battle. The Collapsing Lightning Duke smiled as he saw how the Titan Tower was just a few minutes from completion. Once that happened, they would have secured their foothold in the center of the Zafiro Sector. However, it was at that point when everything seemed to be going their way that it happened. "?BOOM!" The sound of thunder echoed in the distance. Usually, such a sound could not disturb the Titans and Gods since every attack they unleashed had the might of an H-bomb, but this one was different. Although it was the sound of thunder, when it reached the ears of the Godslayer Humans and Inferno Daemons, they all heard a cry of pain and anguish that made their hearts tremble. The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes widened as even someone like him could not help but shiver under the might of that thunder. As he looked toward its origin, he saw a dark storm hundreds of kilometers wide approaching the battlefield. It was not just the Sector Duke that turned toward the storm; all the warriors on both sides did. In that dark and foul storm, they could feel an aura full of corruption, and just watching it made those with weak willpower tremble in fear. Those with high enough cultivation could keep their eyes on the storm, and as they focused on it, they saw that there was a creature at the center. It had a humanoid form but did not resemble any of the six Sacred Races. The creature had a massive build, over six meters tall, with bulging muscles. He seemed to lack proper skin, giving him a bloody contour, but the most striking part was his face. There were draconic features and eyes that burned with a ferocious red flame, releasing an overwhelming desire for blood and slaughter. "Blood King?" The one who spoke was none other than the Shadow King. The Dark King failed to control his shock and uttered those words aloud, making the Collapsing Lightning Duke, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and Angar focus again on the monster and see the resemblance. The Blood King could transform into a draconic being using his Alter-Ego, but this transformation was different. The creature''s aura was stronger and more corrupt, and it definitely did not feel like a simple transfiguration. Despite being hundreds of kilometers away, it seemed that the creature was able to hear the voice of the Shadow King, and a ferocious smile appeared on his face. That smile made the hearts of the Titans and Gods that gazed at it tremble, and then a wave of shock and terror assaulted all as the creature and the foul storm he brought vanished. The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes widened as he could not understand how the Blood King and the foul miasma he carried simply vanished. Even if he did not master the Law of Space, his perception and soul force were strong enough to detect teleportation, but he felt nothing. However, it did not take long for the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s instinct to start screaming, and then he turned to the Titan Tower. With pure shock and terror in his eyes, he saw the monster standing there. "Impossible." The Collapsing Lightning Duke was in disbelief as he could not understand how the monster could teleport hundreds of kilometers, crossing all their energy barriers, and appear before the Titan Tower. All the Divine Ascension Masters guarding the Titan Tower noticed the monstrous figure after the Collapsing Lightning Duke spoke, and they could not help but tremble as their entire bodies were paralyzed. Each of them was a seasoned warrior who had faced countless life-and-death scenarios, yet they could not stop trembling as the monster''s aura overwhelmed their minds and hearts, literally making their blood turn cold. The Blood King stared at the Titan Tower for a moment and, without any words, clenched his fists before striking the ground, unleashing a blast of dark Blood Energy that engulfed the area. "BOOOOMMMMMMMMM!" The Titan Tower was immediately obliterated under that blast. The pain of the flames woke up the Divine Ascension Masters, allowing them to react and emerge from the explosion of dark Blood Energy. Among those who had been guarding the Titan Tower was the Blood Duke, and there were severe burn wounds all over his body as he rose from the blood fire. Fear and dread appeared in the man as his eyes could not leave the blast, wondering just what kind of monster could unleash such might with a single punch. Unfortunately for the Blood Duke, he was looking in the wrong direction. As he rose into the sky, he felt like he had just clashed with a wall. The terror in the Blood Duke burst as he turned around and saw the monster smiling at him. Chapter 688: The Depravita of Blood (II) Although the Blood Duke was a great warrior and a mighty Titan, his body froze as he gazed into the monster''s eyes. It was as if his own blood had turned against him, paralyzing his limbs and even freezing his energy, leaving him at the mercy of the horrifying creature. "NO!" The Collapsing Lightning Duke shouted, but before he could make a move, the monster grabbed the Blood Duke and bit the man''s head off! Silence reigned as neither side could believe what they were seeing. It was not the first time a Late Divine Ascension Master had perished in this war, but it was the first time it happened in such a gory and horrible way. The monster showed a bloody smile, and everybody saw how it swallowed the Blood Duke''s head before engulfing the entire body of the decapitated Titan in a second. The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes twitched as he was still trying to understand how it all happened. That monster teleported to the Titan Tower without anyone perceiving him before generating a massive blast with a single punch. After that, he again teleported, appearing directly behind the Blood Duke before paralyzing the man with nothing but fear and ripping his head off with a single bite. "Bastard!" Instead of trying to find answers to questions he could barely put into words, the Collapsing Lightning Duke burst with killing intent and made his energy explode as he flashed toward the Blood King. The Blood Duke was not a friend of the Collapsing Lightning Duke, but they shared a much deeper bond; they fought together in war. So how could the Sector Duke just allow the man to be treated as a snack? The monster had not bothered to look in the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s direction, even as the man appeared behind him and sent a fist charged with dark lightning at the back of his head. The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s face twisted with loathing and rage as he pictured the head of the monster blasting to pieces under the might of his lightning fist, yet just as his attack was about to land, the creature vanished again. Shock replaced the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s killing intent and rage. The second the monster vanished from sight, he felt a presence appear behind him. The man used all his power and martial expertise to twist his body and raise his arms. Luckily for the Collapsing Lightning Duke, he was able to react just in time to protect his head from receiving the punch of the monster. However, he was not unscathed since the moment that punch landed on his arms, he felt an overwhelming force that could shatter the sky, and the next second, he was sent hurtling away. The Collapsing Lightning Duke felt a metallic taste in his mouth and was shocked to realize that even as he defended from the strike, the potency of the monster''s attack was able to shake his inner organs. Unfortunately for the Collapsing Lightning Duke, he did not have time to breathe as the Blood King flashed after him at an overwhelming speed. The Collapsing Lightning Duke could feel the monster approaching, and while it was tempting to give himself to rage and bloodshed, he understood that he needed every iota of his will and focus to face such a creature. His eyes glowed with white flames as he forcefully regained control over his body and countered the fists charged with dark Blood Energy aimed at his face. The Blood King''s massive fist charged with dark and foul Blood Energy clashed with the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s dark lightning punch. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" "CRACK!!!" A massive blast of dark lightning and foul Blood Energy was unleashed once the two fists clashed, unleashing massive waves of destructive energy in all directions and shattering the fabric of space. The Collapsing Lightning Duke and the Blood King were sent flying away in different directions after the clash. Yet, while the War Master of the Collapsing Lightning Alliance regained control of his body after five hundred meters, the monster did it after only one hundred! It was clear by that clash which one had the strongest body of the duo, and the worst part for the Collapsing Lightning Duke was that he still had no idea what kind of abilities the monster had. "Fight!" Things went from bad to worse for the Collapsing Lightning Alliance as General Casidius shouted, mobilizing the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army warriors back into the fray. Although, in all honesty, that monster terrified God and did not dare to assume he could figure out what happened through his head, it seemed he was on their side, and he would take advantage of it. "?AHHHH!" War cries echoed again on the battlefield as the Dark King, Gods, and Inferno Daemon Invasion Army soldiers charged against the Godslayer Human warriors. The sudden charge took aback the Godslayer Human soldiers and their minds were still trying to process all that had happened in the last thirty seconds, yet war did not wait for anyone. The Collapsing Lightning Duke clenched his teeth as he saw the state of the battlefield. In the beginning, the Titans'' and soldiers'' morale was at an all-time high, but now they fought with fear and doubt in their hearts as they did not understand what kind of enemy they were facing. Fear and doubt were lethal on the battlefield, and things would only grow worse for the Godslayer Humankind soldiers if they were not purged. Unfortunately, no matter how much the Collapsing Lightning Duke wanted to help them, every iota of his focus needed to be on the monster before him, or else he would suffer the same fate as the Blood Duke. "?AHHHHH!" The Collapsing Lightning Duke shouted with all his power, making his will and battle spirit explode as he unleashed every speck of power in his body. A dark smile appeared on the Blood King as his body also burst with energy, generating a pillar of foul and dark Blood Energy that rose to the sky. Chapter 689: The Depravita of Blood (III) Once again, explosions echoed across Death Valley in the Zafiro Sector. Yet, this time, it was the Godslayer Human side that was slowly losing ground to the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army. Morale was crucial in a war, not to mention that the Titans and True Titans fighting in the sky could not help but divert part of their focus to the monster. That creature could teleport without anyone detecting its presence and was capable of ripping the head off the Blood Duke in a second. Who''s to say the monster would not suddenly appear behind them and rip them to pieces? All the great generals understood just how dangerous it would be not to put their full attention on the enemy in front of them, but there was nothing they could do as logic dictated something, but the monster had terrified them. Even the mightiest warrior who had faced rivers of blood would fear the unknown. As for the main battle happening in the highest sky, it was one mightier than even those that occurred when the Void King was present. The cracks in space could not be fixed before a new one would appear, and the air had already been set ablaze due to the simply outrageous amount of energy that flooded the sky. Bruises, scorched skin, and cracked bones had appeared on the Collapsing Lightning Duke after less than ten minutes of battle against the monster, yet his enemy did not seem to have any visible wounds, as if his attacks could do nothing to him. The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s focus had reached an all-time high as he faced what he could only describe as the most terrifying enemy of his life, and he could feel himself on the border between life and death, as a single slip could cause his demise. He connected an uppercut to the monster''s head, and the power in that blow was so high that it cracked the fabric of space. Yet, the Blood King managed to resist, and a vicious smile appeared on his face as he stared at the Collapsing Lightning Duke and sent one of his punches. The Collapsing Lightning Duke moved his head at the last second, dodging the punch charged with foul Blood Energy before unleashing a barrage of blows to the monster''s chest. Each punch carried the power of an H-bomb, and it was concentrated in an extremely small area, demonstrating the granular control the Collapsing Lightning Duke had over his physical might and energy. However, even as the monster received all those blows to the chest, the only thing he showed on his face was a smile before raising both arms. The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes widened as he felt the monster''s arms falling on him, like divine axes capable of severing the world, and he immediately formed an X with his arms to defend himself. "BOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" An explosion echoed across the sky, and the Collapsing Lightning Duke could not help but tremble and puke blood before diving into the ground as the physical power in those arms was overwhelming. He was doing his best to regain control over his body, and as he gazed at the monster in the sky looking at him with a smile, a flash of overwhelming hatred and rage appeared in his heart. Just as those emotions appeared in the Collapsing Lightning Duke, the monster vanished from the sky and appeared by his side before grabbing his head and rising forward, using his body as a battering ram against a mountain range. The Collapsing Lightning Duke felt his back turning bloody due to the constant clashes, but immediately, his eyes burst with the strongest white flames of his life. "?AHHHHHHHHHHH!" Along with that roar, the Collapsing Lightning Duke sent a punch to the body of the Blood King, and it carried so much force that it managed to push the monster hundreds of meters into the sky and helped free himself from that grip that nearly shattered his skull. "?AHHHHHHHHHH!" The Collapsing Lightning Duke had not finished as he roared again and continued sending punches charged with everything he had toward the monster''s chest, pushing this one higher and higher into the sky. Every punch managed to send the Blood King hurtling through the sky, but the monster did not stop smiling as if the ferocious blows he received were funny to him. Yet, just as the Collapsing Lightning Duke began to tremble due to overexerting himself, a sharp light appeared in the monster''s eyes. "Hmph! Too late!" The Collapsing Lightning Duke noticed the monster''s sharpness, but he only sneered. The next instant, a broad sword pierced through the Blood King''s back, going through his heart, and emerging in the front. That sight froze the battlefield once again, and Titans and Gods alike could not help but feel shock and awe in their hearts as they observed the battle strategy and trust between the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. The Collapsing Lightning Duke had overexerted himself, enduring self-harm to push the Blood King to a place in the sky where the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar had silently placed one of his Space Swords. Once the Collapsing Lightning Duke pushed the monster to the right place, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar drove the Undying King away and teleported to the sword before channeling all his power in it and piercing the monster''s heart. The duo did not say a word or communicate in any other way that could reveal their plans, only trusting that the other would be able to figure out their intention. That level of camaraderie can only be achieved if you have absolute trust in the other. And it allowed them to kill the monster. ... ... ... ... Or at least that was what the duo thought. "?HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Pure and utter shock appeared in the True Titans as they saw how the monster began to laugh with the sword still on his chest. Before the duo could react, the Blood King connected a punch to the Collapsing Lightning Duke and a kick to the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, sending them flying away. After that, while gazing at the millions looking at him with shock and terror, he ripped the Space Sword out of his chest, leaving a massive hole that began to close the next second. Chapter 690: A golden light that burn fear "?HAHAHAHAHAHA!" The monster laughed harder and harder as he saw the apprehension and terror rising in the eyes of the Godslayer Humans, and an intoxicated feeling appeared on his face as if those emotions were the most delicious feast he could hope for. It did not stop with laughter as the next second, the Blood King''s eyes began to glow with an even stronger red flame, and soon that foul and evil storm from before returned, covering the sky and unleashing horrible pressure on the entire battlefield. The terror in the eyes of the Godslayer Humans exploded, and slowly, a feeling of utter despair began to emerge in their hearts, as the monster resembled an invincible entity not even True Titans could face, and who, even after having his heart severed, was able to heal immediately. It was then that a majestic golden light emerged in the sky and clashed against the foul and evil miasma that emerged from the Blood King! The warriors of the Godslayer Humankind who were on the brink of despair felt the warm light washing over their bodies, setting the fear and doubt in their hearts ablaze. The next second, they all turned to the sky and saw a majestic yin-yang red sun that sundered the dark and foul aura from the Blood King. However, that red sun was just an illusion, and soon, they saw the young man with white hair and golden eyes standing proudly in the sky and facing the monster. The moment the soldiers of the Godslayer Humankind saw that young man, smiles slowly rose on their faces. While the monster was an entity that seemed to be born of nightmares, they had their own monster who could make miracles! Cain Laurifer had arrived on the battlefield! Smiles appeared on the Godslayer Humans while shock rose in the eyes of the members of the Inferno Daemon Race. However, the one with the most significant reaction was the monster that just ripped one of the Space Swords from his chest as if it were nothing. "?AHHHHHHHHHHH!" The monster unleashed a scream of pure and absolute rage as he sent the sword flying away and stared at the young Godslayer Human. His entire body trembled due to the immense and absolute wrath that invaded him. Cain''s eyes were cold as he stared at the monster and unleashed his Radiance of Valor to fight against the foul and dark miasma this one unleashed. He did not know what was happening or how the Blood King achieved such might, but one thing was clear: he needed to kill this one. A red light appeared in Cain''s eyes, and just as they were about to explode with killing intent, he heard a voice in his mind. "Brat, don''t do it! No matter what, you must not unleash negative emotions." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard Apex''s voice in his mind, but while he was confused, instead of killing intent, his eyes grew emotionless as he used the Power of Order to sever all his emotions. ''What has happened to the Blood King?'' Clearly, Apex had an idea of the type of monster before him, and Cain needed to know everything he could before facing this one. The golden humanoid in the deepest part of Cain''s soul sea showed a complicated expression for a moment, but in the end, a decisive light appeared in his eyes. "That is a Depravita. It is an entity whose flesh and blood are made of solidified negative emotions and corrupted physical energy, so it doesn''t have vital points, not even the heart. If you allow negative emotions to appear in your heart and mind, that monster will use them as a gateway, allowing it to silently teleport to you." Cain could not help but frown as he heard that. A body without vital points was already hard enough to combat, but the monster would teleport to him if he showed any negative emotion. ''No wonder it defeated the Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. How can I kill it?'' Countless questions arose in Cain''s mind, but he made the most important one. Since Apex had already shared this much, he carried on. "The only way to truly kill a Depravita is to pulverize their body until they can no longer regenerate. If you sever their head, they will still be alive, but it will paralyze them for several seconds. Other than that, the most important advice I can give you is to cover your attacks with the purest form of willpower you can amass." Although the exchange between Cain and Apex took a long to describe, the truth was that it lasted less than a second, and just as the System Spirit gave him that last advice, the monster lunged forward with his maws opened. Silence reigned on the battlefield as neither side made a move, and they all gazed at the sky to see what would happen between the clash of the Godslayer Human glowing with golden light and the monster that exuded a foul and corrupted miasma. If the Godslayer Human could not face the monster, it would be the end of the Collapsing Lightning Alliance. Cain''s eyes were the epitome of emotionlessness as he saw the monster lunge toward him, teeth aimed at his head. The creature was nearly three times his size and exuded an aura that could freeze the blood of anyone, but the only reaction he obtained from the young man was a powerful heartbeat. "THUMP!" Cain''s entire body turned red while his veins glowed as he sent his Astral Wave ablaze. Just as the monster''s maws were about to close on him, he flashed forward with a skill and agility that was simply outstanding. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" All the Titans and Gods saw how the young man dodged the maws and flashed forward before connecting five blows on the monster''s body. They had seen how the creature resisted the strikes from the Collapsing Lightning Duke as if they were nothing. However, under Cain''s attacks, the Blood King''s body trembled, and a stream of blood emerged from the corner of his mouth! Chapter 691: Master of Order vs Depravita (I) That was all the Godslayer Humans needed to see to transform their desperation into excitement, and soon that excitement turned into a burning battle spirit as they gazed at the enemy''s army. "Fight for the Scarlet King!" The one who shouted those words was not Cain but a bloody figure that rose from a crater. The Collapsing Lightning Duke had an indentation on his chest, and it was clear he had endured massive damage from the Blood King''s punch, but as he gazed at the young man facing the monster, his entire body glowed with willpower as he flashed back into the fray. "For the Scarlet King!" The Collapsing Lightning Duke was not the only blood figure that flashed back into the fight, as the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar did the same. The duo was wounded, but their eyes brimmed with willpower as they charged after the Undying King, ready to challenge the Dark King''s title. "For the Scarlet King!" "For the Scarlet King!" "For the Scarlet King!" "For the Scarlet King!" Soon, a war chant echoed among the great generals and soldiers of the Godslayer Humankind as they exploded with willpower and faced the enemy with absolute resolution and without fear. ''Dammit!'' General Casidius could not help but curse in his mind as he turned to the sky and saw how that man, glowing like a sun, was able to revitalize the heart of the entire army, once again turning the tables. "Fight!" There was nothing else the God could say other than to command the Inferno Daemons to clash against the wave of Godslayer Humans. And like that, the battle that seemed over a second ago was reignited with much greater power. Gods and Titans clashed with all their power under a sky divided into radiance full of bravery and determination and a corrupted miasma full of negative emotions. Everybody was doing all they could to suppress the enemy, but it was clear to all that the fight that would determine the outcome would be that of the battlefield that took place even above that of True Titans. As he fought the Blood King, Cain''s eyes had reached the epitome of focus. The monster was much more powerful and faster than him, but thanks to The Flow, he was able to predict his movements. Of course, only predicting the movements was not enough to counter them, but Cain''s martial arts had reached a whole new level. His body had the dexterity of wind and the fluidity of water, his punches carried the weight of mountains, and his energy harbored the explosive might of a volcano. Cain could unleash all those abilities through every inch of his body because after going through his Bone Calamity and assimilating all those elemental treasures, he had completed the Elemental Manifestation Phase of his Primordial Path of Power! Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw the monster''s claw aiming at his head, and he managed to twist his back over ninety degrees, dodging it before sending a kick with all the torque his body could generate. The Blood King felt the kick land on his jaw, and a flash of shock appeared in his eyes. He could not understand how the attack of this human, which carried just as much force as that of the man with the dark lightning, could generate such a powerful impact on him. Not only did the young man''s attack make him feel scorched skin, but his body''s pseudo-invulnerability to physical and energy attacks did not work. However, despite the shock, the feeling that persisted in the eyes of the monster was absolute rage as he resisted the kick and sent a ferocious blow with his right fist. Cain saw that fist coming his way and dodged to the side, yet the hand suddenly opened, revealing a mouth that unleashed a cannon of dark Blood Energy. ''The Concept of Blood!?'' Cain felt the power of the Concepts in that attack, as it seemed to burn the energy inside the monster''s blood and unleash it in the form of a blast. The attack was silent until the last second, so Cain could only raise his arms and energy to the limit to defend himself. "BOOOOOMMMMMMM!" The blast of dark Blood Energy struck Cain point-blank, sending him flying away with burn wounds all over his body, and if that was not enough, the monster immediately flashed after him. The Blood King appeared above Cain in less than a second and sent a ferocious blow to the young man, yet his eyes widened as space seemed to distort, moving the young man''s body to the side and allowing him to dodge the attack. Cain did not waste that chance as he grabbed the monster''s extended arm and twisted his body mid-air. Using all the torque he could muster and pushing the Sundering Concept to the limit, he sent a ferocious kick to the Blood King''s neck, keeping his grip on the monster''s arm so this one would not be sent flying away and trying to separate the neck from the rest of the body. A tear appeared in the Blood King''s neck as that kick nearly sent his head flying away, but the monster clenched his teeth, pushing his body to the limit, resisting the blow before waving his right arm, sending Cain flying away again. Cain immediately regained control over his body and saw how the wound on the monster''s neck healed. But he was not discouraged. While for others, it might seem as if there was no damage to the Blood King, he could monitor the man with the [A.I. Chip Module] and see how the energy of this one reduced slightly. It would not be easy, and the slightest mistake could cost him his life, but there was a path to victory. The duo did not remain apart more than a second before lunging at the other, unleashing devastating attacks while their golden radiance and dark miasma tried to overcome each other. Chapter 692: Master of Order vs Depravita (II) The battle in the highest sky above the Zafiro Sector grew more intense as Cain and the Blood King unleashed every ounce of power in their bodies to kill the other. The Godslayer Human was able to land twenty blows for every single one he received from the monster, but the problem was that a single blow from the Blood King did as much damage as twenty of Cain''s. Unlike the Blood King, Cain had vital points, and every time a blow would land on his vital organs, he would feel his entire body clenching due to the pain. However, he did not have the luxury of succumbing to that and was forced to overexert his willpower to ignore that automatic physiological response and continue fighting with all he had. As for the monster, it kept fighting with absolute ferocity no matter how much damage it received. The way it battled was as if his life had no meaning, and the sole purpose of his existence was to kill the man in front of him. Maybe the mind and personality of the Blood King had shattered during the transformation into a Depravita. Still, enough of him remained to push the monster''s hatred toward the young man to inhumane levels. The Blood King just endured a blow to the throat that would have shattered the trachea of even True Titans and made them suffocate with their own blood, but the monster was able to resist. Before Cain could move away, he sent a ferocious elbow strike toward the young man''s face. Pure savagery appeared on the Blood King''s face as he pictured his elbow shattering every bone in Cain''s face. Still, before he could connect, a beam of golden sharp energy landed on the left side of his body, sending him flying away a few dozen meters. That attack barely had the strength to harm the Blood King but managed to break his stance, push him away, and neutralize his attack, saving Cain from that devastating elbow. Immediately, the monster turned to the attack''s origin and saw a middle-aged man with golden armor had arrived. The one who attacked the Blood King using a spell that channeled the Law of Gold''s power was the Golden Core Sector Duke, Holan. Holan was shocked to see that monster capable of such might, but all that was pushed to the back of his mind when he saw this one attacking Cain. The Titan had accompanied Cain to the Zafiro Sector, but he was not as fast as the young man, so he arrived just now. "?AHHHHHH!" The Blood King shouted in rage, generating a sonic scream that seemed to concentrate its power on Holan, and the Titan felt a crippling fear crawling into his heart. The monster smiled and prepared to teleport to the Titan once those emotions reached their zenith, but then a bright golden light covered the Sector Duke. Cain concentrated Radiance of Valor on the Sector Duke as he put himself between the man and the monster. Holan''s eyes widened as he saw the back of the young man and felt that there was an impregnable wall between him and that monster. ''Cover me from a distance. Do not get near the Blood King, and use all your willpower to suppress any negative emotion that might arise in your heart.'' Cain''s voice echoed in Holan''s mind. The middle-aged man did not ask for a reason or question the command, only nodded, engraving those words as a divine decree. "?AHHHHHH!" The monster roared again, but Cain''s eyes remained emotionless as he flashed toward this one, his arms and legs covered in a thin red force field that was the quintessence of his willpower. Once again, the Godslayer Human and the Depravita monster clashed, but Cain obtained total control over the fight this time. Now that Cain had the help of Sector Duke Holan, he could focus on unleashing more powerful attacks. Holan''s eyes burned with a golden flame as he unleashed every ounce of energy he had in those spells. Although the attacks of the Late Divine Ascension Master barely harmed the Blood King, they constantly broke his stance and distracted him, allowing Cain to land blows that did true damage to the monster. "?AHHHHHHHHHH!" The Blood King roared as all the energy in his body seemed to explode, his muscles bulging and veins protruding to the point they resembled demonic worms. That massive force allowed the monster to send Cain flying away before immediately lunging toward Sector Duke Holan. Holan''s eyes widened as he saw the monster lunging toward him at a shocking speed, but as he faced death, his eyes only glowed with resoluteness as he prepared to fight to the end. The monster showed a vicious expression as he pictured the Sector Duke being torn apart beneath his teeth. Yet suddenly, a broadsword appeared between them. The Blood King''s eyes widened as, the next second, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar appeared. While the monster was so focused on the battle against Cain, he failed to observe the battlefield and how the Undying King could barely resist anymore, allowing the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar the freedom to leave that battlefield and rise into the sky. "?AHHHHHH!" The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar roared as he exploded all his energy and sent an energy blast toward the monster. The monster was shocked to see the man, but the ferocity in his eyes remained since he intended to resist the attack. Yet, at the last second, his eyes widened as a silver force field that embodied the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s willpower fused into the sword strike. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar had been paying attention to the battle between Cain and the monster. While he did not have such a great mastery as the young man when it came to dominion over his Ego Wave, he could still fire that attack. "BOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" That blast sent the Blood King flying away with his chest scorched, and if that was not enough before he could regain control over his body, Cain came flying in and connected a vicious kick to the back of his head! Chapter 693: Dark Blood Rain "?BOOM!" Cain''s kick, delivered with all the power he could muster by maximizing his torque, was aimed directly at the back of the monster''s head. And before that kick at the back of his skull could send the Blood King flying away, Cain made a sharp turn, sending a second kick to the monster''s face, breaking every bone in it. Cain''s kicks not only fractured the Blood King''s skull and pushed the brain from one side to the other but also released a storm of solar spatial energy inside the cranium. Usually, such a brutal attack aimed at a vital point such as the brain would have been fatal, but as a Depravita, his organ began to heal immediately. However, even Depravita''s endurance and regeneration abilities had limits, and the trauma momentarily paralyzed the Blood King''s body, giving Cain the opening he needed. Placing his palms on the monster''s ears, Cain unleashed all his energy in a devastating attack. "Solar Space Storm!" Instead of releasing the energy in the form of a cannon, Cain directed the full force of the solar and spatial energy directly into the Blood King''s head, causing waves of destructive energy to flood the interior of the monster''s skull. "BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!" An explosion resonated inside the Blood King''s head, obliterating his face as torrents of solar space energy burst forth. Cain''s eyes shone with excitement and thrill at the sight of the explosion. However, his moment of victory was short-lived as the monster counterattacked, landing a ferocious blow on his chest that sent him hurtling away. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the Golden Core Sector Duke immediately rushed to Cain''s aid, staring at the monster in shock and awe, unable to understand how it could still operate. The crowd was equally astonished as they observed the aftermath of the battle. The Blood King''s face was obliterated, the front of his skull destroyed, and nearly a third of his brain reduced to a bloody pulp. Cain gritted his teeth, feeling the impact of the blow. He had exhausted the last of his natural energy on that Solar Spatial Storm. Fortunately, the monster''s punch was not at its full strength. The Blood King''s ability to react in such a horrific condition showcased the resilience of a Depravita. Yet, Cain was not discouraged, noting the monster''s energy had dropped below fifteen percent. Once no more energy was left, the monster would be unable to regenerate, and his battle power would decrease significantly. As Cain prepared for the final round, the monster ascended, burning through its energy reserves. Confused by the Blood King''s strategy, Cain watched as the monster reached the highest of the sky. The monster then clasped its hands, and the energy began to fuse with the corrupt miasma, forming a cocoon around its figure and eventually expanding its influence over dozens of thousands of kilometers. Everyone, regardless of their allegiance, watched the sky as a sense of dread filled their hearts. Cain, focusing on the menacing miasma, noticed droplets forming within, and his instincts began to scream. Despite his injuries and depleted energy reserves, he reacted swiftly, shouting with all his might. "WITH ME!" Cain flashed to the ground as he shouted those words, and once he was there, he unleashed the full might of Radiance of Valor, generating a dome of bright golden light. The Godslayer Humans did not understand what was happening. Still, the feeling of danger kept increasing, so without hesitation, every one of them let go of their opponent and flashed toward the dome of golden light. General Casidius and the rest of the Gods couldn''t help but feel that something terrible was about to happen, but before they could do anything, they saw black drops falling from the sky. Cain''s eyes burned with red light as he saw those black drops, pushing his Radiance of Valor to the absolute limit. All the Godslayer Humans saw how the drops of blood were incinerated upon touching the golden light, releasing a dark and macabre essence. The Collapsing Lightning Duke, First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, Angar, and all the great generals gazed at that macabre essence with terror as they could feel an evil force that even they might not be able to resist. The Gods also felt the danger in those drops, but their energy spells were useless as the drops crossed through them as if they were operating in a different plane of nature. Shock and terror soon appeared in the Inferno Daemons as they saw how those drops of water fused with their skin and began to impregnate their bodies. It was not just the low-level soldiers who were affected since even Gods saw their skin and bodies being corrupted by that energy, albeit at a much slower pace. It was not limited to Inferno Daemons since even the Shadow King and Undying King were shocked to see they were also affected by the black rain. "What do you think you are doing!" The Shadow King shouted with rage as he saw the black rain tainting his body, and the next second, he waved the dagger in his right hand, generating a massive arc of shadow energy that reached the enormous storm in the sky. The shadow arc left a massive incision in the miasma clouds, but this one was so massive it did little damage and fixed the next second. Shock appeared in the two Dark Kings, and they looked at each other before immediately flashing away from the battlefield, leaving once again the warriors of the Inferno Daemon Race to their fate. General Casidius'' eyes burned with loathing and disgust as he saw the two Dark Kings flying away. It would be a lie to say he was not tempted to flee, but he could not abandon the millions of warriors beneath him to their fate. The black rain lasted only five seconds, but by then, everyone who was not an Apotheosis Master had their bodies wholly tainted inside and out by the dark rain, and it was then that it happened. "?AHHHHHH!" Chapter 694: Ten minutes (I) "?AHHHHHH!" An Inferno Daemon screamed in terror as his body melted into a black and foul bloody substance, which soon began to rise into the sky. As the soldiers witnessed this horrible scene, more screams emerged as all those whom the black rain had thoroughly corrupted suffered a similar atrocious fate. The Godslayer Humans inside the domain formed by Radiance of Valor couldn''t help but tremble as they witnessed the Inferno Daemons'' horrifying and agonizing fate, whispering thanks to the heavens that the Scarlet King''s bright golden light protected them. General Casidius'' eye twitched as he saw the millions of soldiers who had put their lives in his hands, perishing in such an agonizing way under the spell of someone who was supposed to be an ally! "?YOU BASTARD!" The God shouted with rage at the dark heavens, but before he could move, black blood began to emerge from his mouth and eyes, paralyzing his body and energy. Although the corruption was not enough to melt his existence, it was enough to drain a significant part of his life force, and he was lucky since, thanks to his power, the effect was moderate. Some weaker Apotheosis Masters could do nothing as their bodies, brimming with vitality a second ago, now resembled mummified corpses as they fell to the ground since they no longer had the strength to fly. It took a lot of time to describe, but not even five seconds passed from when the first Inferno Daemon was liquified to when all that corrupted bloody matter and dark blood rose to the sky. All that corrupted substance fused into the storm of dark miasma before this one began to compress, and under the horrified gaze of Gods and Titans, the Blood King''s figure appeared again. The monster''s aura was even stronger than before, with massive wings on his back, and everybody could see how a living armor that seemed to be made of solidified, corrupted blood emerged from his skin. "?Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!" A smile appeared on the monster''s face before he laughed with so much strength that the sky trembled under his horrifying might. The death of millions of Inferno Daemon soldiers and the ocean of blood belonging to Divine Ascension masters and Gods transformed the Blood King into an even more ferocious and evil entity. As a Master of Order, Cain was able to maintain control over his emotions, but even he could not help but feel stunned by the monster''s power. It took all he had to diminish the Blood King''s energy to critical levels, but the creature unleashed a massive spell that drained the lives of millions, healed all the wounds, and returned even stronger. "Ahhhh, Depravitas are extremely gifted in the Concept, and it seems this monster reached a very high mastery of the Concept of Blood, allowing him to trigger that spell. I doubt it can be used freely, and there must be limits, but none of that matters now. Apex''s voice echoed inside Cain''s mind, and he could not help but clench his fists as he heard it. It did not matter if there were limits to that spell, as the Blood King only needed to use it once. The monster did not attack immediately; instead, he simply gazed at all the warriors watching him as if wanting to taste the fear and despair arising in their hearts a little longer. As an entity whose core nature was negative emotions and corrupted physic energy made flesh, tasting the fear and doubt in the hearts of those people was not only pleasant, but it affected his cultivation. That was why he was keen to make it last as much as possible. After, in the monster''s mind, the battle was already over, and victory was his. The soldiers from the Godslayer Humankind gazed at the sky, and they did not know what to do now. The Inferno Daemon Invasion Army was all but destroyed now, yet they were facing a ten times worse monster, and that seemed impossible to kill since not even making his head explode could stop him. "All warriors beneath the Divine Ascension Rank run back to the Crystal Mountains Fortress. No matter what, run as fast as you can and leave this battlefield behind!" Shock appeared in the eyes of the Godslayer Humans as they heard the voice of the Scarlet King. Usually, the high-ranking cultivators would be the ones who escape in the case of a lost battle since they had all sorts of unique abilities at their disposal that allowed them to cross hundreds of kilometers in seconds. Yet, Cain ordered the weaker ones to leave while the stronger seemed to remain behind. The soldiers froze for a second, not knowing what to do, but Cain turned to them coldly before shouting. "Obey my command and leave this battlefield now!" That word was enough for the low-level warriors to spring into action as they began to run to the south, using every little amount of strength they could amass, with those capable of massive spells helping the weaker ones. The monster saw those soldiers escaping, and his smile grew wider as if letting them think they could run before hunting them down was amusing to him. In the monster''s mind, prey would taste better if they had a sliver of hope in their hearts. The Divine Ascension Godslayer Humans saw the weak soldiers running away, and it would be a lie to say they didn''t also feel the urge to flee. The monster would surely hunt them, but perhaps some could escape. However, as they gazed at the Scarlet King standing in the sky facing the Blood King, their hearts hardened, and a resolution appeared in their eyes. Instead of running away and hoping not to be the one hunted by the monster, they decided to stay back and cover the retreat of the millions of soldiers. However, Cain never planned to simply stay behind and face death. "Ten minutes! Buy me ten uninterrupted minutes, and I will gain the power to kill that monster!" Chapter 695: Ten minute (II) The monster in the sky was still alive after having his heart severed, and the inside of his skull destroyed, becoming a near-immortal nightmare in the hearts and minds of the Godslayer Human Divine Ascension Masters. Yet, there was pure and absolute certainty in the Scarlet King''s eyes, as if there was no doubt that if they bought him the ten minutes, he would kill the monster. All fear and hesitation began to vanish as the willpower of the Divine Ascension Masters began to burn with a ferocious light, igniting the eyes of all with mighty flames as they focused on the sky without fear. The previous battles had left their bodies riddled with wounds and depleted their energy, yet they were ready to fight to the end. The monster''s narcissistic smile froze as he saw those he deemed insignificant on the ground no longer gazed at him with terror. Instead, their eyes were full of fighting will as they seemed ready to face him. "?BOOOOMMMM!" Coldness and brutality appeared in the monster''s eyes as a pillar of dark Blood Energy emerged from his body, flooding the sky with darkness before flashing toward the Godslayer Humans, ready to show them the price of their arrogance. "Fight!" The Collapsing Lightning Duke shouted as his willpower exploded, fusing into his dark lightning as he flashed toward the Blood King accompanied by the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the Patriarch of the Aegon Family. Not far behind the trio, nine Titans also flashed toward the monster, all focusing their willpower to ensure their emotions were locked, not giving the monster an opening. They were not alone, as another fifteen Divine Ascension Masters also rushed to join them, determined to win as much time as possible, regardless of the cost. Cain wasted no second as he flashed to the ground and adopted a meditative position before sending the command to the System Spirit. "Apex, do it!" The golden humanoid in the deepest part of Cain''s soul sea clenched his fists as he heard that but did not hesitate before taking control of the Astral Blood Beast''s Soul Core and shattering it to pieces, allowing all its power to flow through the dimension. Cain had been devouring the Astral Blood Beast Soul Core''s energy faster and faster for the past six months. However, even after surpassing his Bone Calamity, he was still far from achieving the quality improvement of his soul force. That wouldn''t have been a problem since Cain was sure the next Tribulation would provide the push he needed, but he no longer had the luxury of time, so he was forced to take extreme measures. The danger of consuming every iota of soul force left in the Astral Blood Beast''s Soul Core was immense, as Cain''s soul sea could crumble. But, since he would die if he did not find a way to defeat the monster, why hesitate? It was time to go big or face death! Immediately after the Astral Blood Beast''s Soul Core was shattered, Cain felt an overwhelming pain, as if someone was trying to open his skull, and waves upon waves of chaotic emotions tried to contaminate his personality. While Cain was using everything he had to assimilate that soul force and protect his mind and ego from the corrupted emotions of the Astral Blood Beast, a massive battle covered the sky. The Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar took the vanguard, clashing head-on with the monster, as they were the only ones whose bodies would not instantly crumble under the strength of this one. The Blood King''s bloodthirsty eyes focused on the duo, using his right arm to face the punch charged with dark light and his left to tackle the sword. The True Titans'' eyes widened as they felt the bones in their arms cracking when they clashed with the monster, as if they were not clashing with a world-ending meteor. Before they could make another move, the Blood King fired a kick that connected with the duo and sent them flying away, vomiting blood. Less than a second after sending the True Titans flying away, the monster turned to the twenty-four Divine Ascension Masters and sent a palm strike forward. That palm strike did not bring physical power but instead generated a shockwave that seemed to clash with the blood of the Divine Ascension Masters, making the weakest ones vomit and sending them crashing to the ground! Luckily, the Titans could resist the power of that palm strike carrying the Concept of Blood and clenched their bloody teeth as they attacked again. A cold sneer appeared on the Blood King as he saw what he considered mere insects marching toward him. Still, suddenly, his eyes narrowed as a shadowy figure materialized behind him, sending a dagger to the back of his head. Angar''s eyes were resolute as he clenched his teeth and pushed his dagger with all his power. Yet, the monster''s wings moved at the last second, acting as a shield! "CLANK!" The sound of metal hitting metal echoed, and shock appeared in Angar''s eyes as he saw how those wings, which seemed so thin and frail, could block his dagger thrust that could pierce through the arms and bodies of Titans as if they were butter. Killing intent appeared in the eyes of the Blood King as he seemed ready to rip Angar''s head off. However, before he could act, a barrage of strikes coming from the Titans reached him. The monster was forced to push the assassin away before using both wings to protect himself from the spells and skills. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion made the sky tremble, and the earth cracked as massive fissures formed in the fabric of space. Yet, the combined might of all those Titans only managed to push the monster a few hundred meters up. The Blood King waved his wings, dispersing the chaotic energy, hoping to see the despair in the warriors as his immaculate figure reappeared. Yet, the Godslayer Humans only showed determination as the Titans charged their new attack, and the Divine Ascension Masters rose from the ground and flashed to the sky. Chapter 696: Ten minutes (III) The battle between the Godslayer Humans and the Blood King grew mightier as both sides were determined to unleash everything they had in this fight. It had been barely over five minutes, and blood had already stained the earth and sky as two Middle Divine Ascension Masters were ripped to pieces by the monster''s claws. However, not even the death of their comrades could extinguish the fighting will in the hearts of the Godslayer Humans as they kept pushing themselves to the limit. The Collapsing Lightning Duke had lost his right eye as the monster''s claws nearly ripped his face off, yet there was nothing but resolution as he charged his right arm with dark lightning, firing at full power toward the monster''s head. Coldness appeared in the Blood King as a burst of dark Blood Energy coated his right arm, allowing this one to move at shocking speed, ripping the left arm off the Collapsing Lightning Duke. The eyes of the Collapsing Lightning Duke widened as he saw his arm being sent flying away under a single swipe of the monster''s claws. "?AHHHHHHH!" However, even as he lost an arm, the Collapsing Lightning Duke only shouted as he redirected his energy to his left leg and kicked the Blood King''s chest, pushing this one back to the sky with all his strength! The hatred and rage in the eyes of the Blood King only increased the more those small insects refused to give up to fear and despair and continued clashing with him. However, his eyes widened as he turned to the figure of the young man on the ground who had not moved in the last five minutes. It was not only the monster that noticed it as the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the fearless Godslayer Humankind Divine Ascension Masters also noticed something changing in Cain, a part of his existence rising to the next level. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The monster roared with rage as his dark Blood Energy reached an overwhelming level. Even with all his power, he felt that he should not allow the young man to finish whatever he was doing and kill him once and for all. However, just as the monster''s killing intent exploded, the determination in the eyes of the Godslayer Humans also rose as they began to use their life force as fuel. Whatever Cain was doing worked, so they would use everything they had to buy until the last second of those ten minutes! "For the Scarlet King!" The Collapsing Lightning Duke shouted as he and the Divine Ascension Masters flashed toward the monster, ready to use their lives as a shield. A fight like Gaia had never seen before since the rise of the Godslayer Humankind Empire was unleashed as the Collapsing Lightning Duke, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, the Patriarch of the Aegon Family, and every single other Divine Ascension Master clashed with the Blood King. The monster kept striking the flies that charged toward him with pure fury, sending them flying away with deep wounds, but they just kept coming back no matter how deep their injuries or if they lost limbs. No matter what the Blood King did to them, the Godslayer Humans would not give up! The monster knew it would only be a matter of minutes before the Godslayer Humans'' life force dried up, but he could also feel how the change in the young man on the ground kept growing closer and closer. As fear and dread appeared in the monster, a flash of madness arose in his eyes as nearly a quarter of his energy gathered in his lungs before this one roared. "ROOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRR!" A blood roar that shattered the sky and sent the Godslayer Humans flying away emerged from the monster''s maws. While that attack burned a significant amount of his energy, it also left the path open, and he did not hesitate for even a second before flashing down like a comet! "?NOOOOO!" The Collapsing Lightning Duke shouted as he saw the monster flash toward Cain, with his claws ready to strike, but there was nothing he could do to stop this one, and it seemed it would be the end. ... ... ... "Don''t forget about us, you fucking monster!" Just as the monster was about to reach striking distance and pictured Cain''s head splitting open under his claws, he heard that shout full of rage and looked to the side, only to see a cannon of energy discharged toward him. "BOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" That energy cannon sent the monster flying away for thousands of meters. As the Blood King regained control over his body, he saw that the responsible for the attack was none other than the Inferno Daemon Gods! General Casidius''s face was pale as he was having a hard time regulating his breath, but there was coldness in his eyes as he focused on the monster, and he was not alone since the other five Gods were the same. The group remained stationary throughout this ordeal, conservatively restoring their energy, ready to act when necessary. They executed their move at precisely the right moment. General Casidius cast a brief glance at Cain before shifting his focus toward the monster and then to his fellow Gods. "For our brothers and sisters! Revenge!" With that battle cry, the six Gods charged toward the monster, determined to afford the young human the time he needed. They did not care what would happen to them after this as long as the foul creature that had slain millions of their comrades was vanquished. "?AHHHHHHHHH!" Upon seeing these Gods dare to interfere with his path, the monster roared in rage and rushed toward them, intent on eradicating all six in one fell swoop. However, just as they were about to collide, the Godslayer Humans managed to rejoin the fray. A scenario that had never before occurred in the history of Aether unfolded as warriors of the Godslayer Humankind and the Inferno Daemon Race united to confront a common foe! Chapter 697: Ten minutes (IV) "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Explosions filled the sky of the Zafiro Sector as Gods and Titans, for the first time in the history of the Godslayer Humankind, were not fighting each other but instead fusing their strength against a single enemy. "?AHHHHHH!" The Collapsing Lightning Duke roared as he sent a spinning kick toward the head of the monster, charging all his power into it. Unfortunately for the True Titan, the Blood King was able to block that kick with a single arm, and then his eyes glowed with killing intent as his right claw was ready to flash forward and impale the man. However, before the Blood King''s claw impaled the Collapsing Lightning Duke, a hand appeared in the monster''s chest. The hand belonged to none other than General Casidius. The God was an Essence Cultivator, and a single move from the monster could kill him, yet he had long ago stopped caring about his life, and by firing his spell at such a close distance, its power was exponentially higher. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion echoed as the God released a point-blank mountain the size of a small city into the monster''s chest. The blast sent the Collapsing Lightning Duke and General Casidius flying away, but they managed to push the monster at least two hundred meters back. For beings of their level, that was insignificant, but those Gods and Titans were burning their life for every centimeter they could put between Cain and the monster. The rage and hatred in the eyes of the monster burned as he could not understand how those ants managed to stop him. And those feelings only grew stronger as he sensed how the change in the young human in the distance grew more intense. However, just as the Collapsing Lightning Duke and General Casidius managed to push him back, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and Angar appeared on his right and left, both men attacking with a sword bursting with sundering space force and assassin shadow energy. Immediately, the monster''s wings moved, blocking the shadow dagger and Space Sword, but at the same time, Sector Duke Holan fired a cannon of sharp golden energy toward his face. Disdain appeared in the Blood King''s eyes as he managed to destroy that energy beam with a single wave of his claw. As soon as he did that, he saw two Inferno Daemon Gods appear before him. He immediately understood that the energy strike''s only goal was to hinder his vision. Before he could do something, the Astral Gods sent a fire and silver punch toward his chest, pushing him another two hundred meters back! The Blood King had just regained control over his body and saw how all those ants once again hurled toward him without any iota of fear and hesitation in their hearts. The more they resisted, the more they overcame their racial hatred for each other and fought together, putting their lives on the line for a single goal, the more hatred the monster would feel. The way the Gods and Titans behaved was something that went against the monster''s view of the world, and he could not accept that they rose above their basic nature. That wrath filled the monster with resolution, as he was determined to prove their way was wrong. As the Gods and Titans flashed toward the monster with everything they had, this one clasped his hand with all his strength as a significant amount of his energy was burned, even more than when he unleashed the Blood Roar. The moment the monster''s palms made contact, they unleashed a massive energy pulse. It did not affect the earth and sky, but as it touched the Titans and Gods, they all felt the blood inside their bodies freeze before an invisible force pushed it, sending them flying away. The monster''s aura diminished immensely after using that attack, but once again, there was a free path to the young human, and this time, no one would be able to interfere with him. Under the shocked and unwilling gazes of the Godslayer Humans and Inferno Daemons, the Blood King flashed toward Cain with immense momentum, immediately appearing before the young man. The monster waved his right fist down with the might of a falling meteorite toward Cain, concentrating all his strength on that attack. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" An explosion that pulverized the ground for dozens of kilometers was unleashed due to the might of that blast. The Gods and Titans expected to see Cain''s body blown to pieces, but what they saw instead was the young man using his left arm to block the monster''s strike! Ten minutes had passed, and Cain had finally woken up! Cain''s eyes were cold as he gazed at the shocked gaze of the monster, but there was something even more important in his mind as he heard the words from the Absolute Life Form System. [Vessel spent 10 M Destiny Force to evolve Genetic Module] [Genetic Module has evolved] [Vessel spent 5 M Destiny Force to trigger Flawless Genetic Enhancement] [Vessel''s genes related to strength had improved by 50%] The coldness in Cain''s eyes burst as he clenched his right fist, and before the monster could overcome the shock, he sent a fist to his chest, sending this one flying into the sky for more than 5000 meters! Shock, awe, and happiness appeared in the eyes of the Titans and Gods as they saw how Cain managed to send the monster flying away a distance over twenty times larger than their combined efforts could. Finally, the Gods and Titans could relax, and they began to fall to the ground since their bodies had already passed the point of exhaustion a long time ago. The only thing that had kept them fighting was their willpower, but now they could rest. Cain stared at the Titans and Gods but did not say a word as he rose to the sky. He would respond to their sacrifices with actions! Chapter 698: 25 Revolution Refinement (I) The monster did not immediately drive back into the fray as he could feel something had changed in the young man. He did not understand how someone''s strength could rise so fast, but while it was impressive, that was still far from being able to truly harm him. Not to mention that while the left arm was able to block his blow, he felt the young man''s bones cracking during the clash. Cain rose to the sky and could see how the monster was analyzing his changes, but he did not care as he also focused on his improvements. [Scanning Vessel... ... Scan of Vessel completed. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Bone Calamity) / Essence Evolution (Water Tribulation) Lineage: Solis Lineage (Maximum Purity) Wave Talent: ??? ... Stats: Strength: 623.2 --> 1494.8 (2204.4) Agility: 387.5 --> 580.2 (810.3) Vitality: 710.5 --> 1173.5 (1865.3) Astral Wave: 455.4 --> 796.6 (1383.0) Essence Wave: 472.6 --> 598.2 (1095.6) Soul Force: ??? ... Astral Blood Saturation: 100% Completion Law Mastery: Law of Space (Extreme Law Fragmentation) Earth Law (Low Law Integration) Water Law (Medium Law Integration) Fire Law (Low Law Integration) Wind Law (Medium Law Integration) ... Note: Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 0.01%. The effect has diminished as the Vessel''s foundation is too strong for the Wave Virus to have an impact. Note: Natural energy has enhanced every aspect of the Vessel''s physical body as well as both Astral Wave and Essence Wave. The current value is marked between (). Once natural energy is depleted, the Vessel''s power will return to base stats.] Cain''s stats were incredible for someone who had yet to reach the Divine Ranks. That was thanks to his extremely potent Bone Calamity and having completed Elemental Manifestation, which infused the power of the four elements into his flesh and blood. His Astral Blood Saturation had already reached 100%, and he was not even at the limit of the Apotheosis Realm. At the same time, his Law Mastery had significantly improved thanks to his Primordial Path. A new stat had appeared since it seemed that now that his soul force had reached the Divine Ascension Realm, the [A.I. Chip Module] could measure soul force. Unfortunately, since Cain had yet to provide a framework for the system, this one could not accurately measure the stat. Cain would need to find a proper framework if he wanted to measure his soul force accurately in the future. Of course, Cain would not be worrying about that now since while his battle power improved significantly, he was still far from being able to defeat the monster, at least if he wanted to survive the fight. Luckily for Cain, the [Genetic Module] was not the only thing that had improved thanks to his enhanced soul force. ''Apex, do it.'' The golden humanoid inside the soul sea immediately reacted and waved his hand, triggering the power of the Absolute Life Form System. [Vessel spent 10 M Destiny Force to evolve Enhancement Module] [Enhancement Module has evolved] [Vessel spent 50 M Destiny Force to obtain a 25 Revolution Flame] [Vessel spent 150 M Destiny Force to obtain a 25 Revolution Refinement] The monster was focusing on Cain, sensing the power of this one through the blood flow and planning the best path to victory, when he saw how a flame with 25 colors suddenly covered the young man. That flame was by far the most majestic and wondrous thing the monster had seen, but it also confused him as he did not understand its power and nature. The Inferno Daemons looking from the ground were just as confused but smiles full of pure bliss and excitement appeared on the faces of the Godslayer Humans. All of them had seen how mighty a 21 Revolution Refinement could be, and this one was dozens of times stronger! "RUMBLE!!!" Suddenly, the sky began to tremble with so much power that it seemed it would break at any second, only for titanic waves of world energy to march into Cain''s body. The density of the world energy was so immense that it adopted a near-liquid form, making it seem as if the Endless Ocean was charging into Cain''s body! "?AHHHHHHH!" The monster roared as he saw the incredible power flowing through Cain''s body. Before, the Blood King was confident he would defeat the human, but now terror assaulted him, and he knew that he needed to stop that transformation. Cain saw the monster flashing toward him with maniacal rage and killing intent, but he only smiled. If he were the one handling the Tribulation Enhancement, even the slightest distraction would mean death, but that was not the case now since the Absolute Life Form System would take care of everything. With a brilliant smile that was the perfect contrast to the monster''s maniacal rage, Cain flashed toward the Blood King as his skin turned red and golden flames covered his body. "BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion shattered space as Cain''s solar spatial fist clashed with the Blood King''s blood punch, making a ferocious smile appear in the former as he felt the young man''s bones crack under the weight of his punch. "BOOOOMMMM!" Yet, before the Blood King could get too happy, Cain sent a left hook to his rib, generating a solar spatial blast in his left lung. A sense of shock appeared in the monster as Cain''s left arm was supposed to be broken after being used as a shield, yet the intensity of the blow made it clear there was nothing wrong with the extremity. Just as the Blood King''s body was about to contort due to the pain, Cain sent a new right hook that landed on his temple and sent him crashing into the ground! "BOOOOMMMM!" The monster immediately rose from the crater, and through the Concept of Blood, he could feel how the bones in Cain''s right arm had healed. The Blood King could not understand how the young man had gained regeneration abilities that could equal his since this one''s body was made of pure flesh and blood, not emotions and psychic energy. Chapter 699 699: 25 Revolution Refinement (II) The monster did not understand that while the core of Tribulation Enhancement was the refinement of body and energy, it also tempered every single cell, meaning any damage they would take was instantly repaired. Of course, Cain would not explain this, and he was ready to take full advantage of his temporary supreme regeneration abilities as he flashed toward the monster with all his power. "?AHHHHHHH!" The Blood King roared with rage and hatred as he attacked the young human, ready to rip him to pieces. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" The Titans and Gods on the ground watched the sky with pure awe and shock as they observed the battle between the young man and the monster. Cain and the Blood King unleashed extremely powerful attacks charged with a ridiculous amount of energy. Yet, that was not the most shocking part, as every time one of them received an attack that broke bones or shattered flesh, they immediately healed and sent an even more powerful counter. A claw strike landed on Cain''s chest, ripping his flesh apart, but the man only smiled as the wounds closed immediately due to the power of world energy revolving through his cells before sending a ferocious kick. The Blood King could not dodge the kick, and the bones on his face cracked, yet they healed immediately thanks to his Depravita Constitution, allowing him to continue fighting without delay. The Collapsing Lightning Duke, General Casidius, and all the other Godslayer Humans and Inferno Daemons could barely believe the level of battle they were witnessing. While they had titles such as Titans and Gods, that was just a way to describe powerful cultivators, and this was the first time the warriors had seen a battle between individuals that could genuinely be described as divine entities. Cain''s eyes glowed with golden light as the Blood King sent a ferocious kick to his waist, and he turned right at the last second, adopting a perfect position to grab the massive leg before beginning to rotate his body faster. The Blood King attempted to break free, but Cain was faster, sending him hurtling toward a massive mountain range. "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" The mountain range was pulverized as soon as the Blood King''s body made contact, but the dust had not even dissipated before the monster emerged and tackled Cain, rising higher and higher into the sky. Cain felt his body nearly split in half due to the monster''s tackle. Still, the world energy immediately fixed any damage, and he made a hammer with his two hands, striking the Blood King''s back and sending this one crashing into the ground once more. The Blood King rose from the ground again, but his eyes widened as he saw Cain falling from the sky with a downward spinning kick. Immediately, he raised his wings, using them to block that strike that carried a massive momentum. His metallic wings were not meant for speed but as a defensive mechanism and could resist attacks from True Titans. Yet they succumbed to that kick''s power, leaving him unprotected from the beams of solar force that blasted into his chest. Cain''s eyes unleashed more and more sun force as he used everything he had, pushing the Blood King deeper and deeper into the ground. Suddenly, the attack stopped as Cain felt his instincts screaming danger and immediately raised his palms. In the next second, a massive cannon of ultra-condensed dark Blood Energy emerged from the crater, with enough power to make a hole in a small star. Cain''s hands glowed with an Essence Wave that vibrated at a unique frequency, preventing the cannon from directly exploding, but it still rose his body dozens of thousands of meters into the sky in less than a second and burned his arms. "?AHHHHHHHHHHH!" Cain roared with strength and managed to redirect that massive cannon of dark Blood Energy away. Immediately, his arms healed, and he was ready to march toward the Blood King again, but suddenly, he froze. A flash of confusion and shock appeared on Cain''s face as he saw how the multicolored flame that covered his entire body suddenly began concentrating on his Rebirth Heart and Evolution Core. The next second, Cain''s Rebirth Heart, already beating hundreds of times per second due to the power of Azure Form, began to pound ten times faster, while the Essence Star at the center of his Evolution Core revolved equally fast. Such intensity would have harmed the Sacred Organs, but the power of the world energy prevented any damage from happening. The monster had just risen from the crater, and a sense of immense shock appeared as he focused on the sky. It was daytime, yet over one hundred thousand stars flooded the sky, each unleashing a unique power that seemed to correlate with a force of the universe, and that was just the beginning. The next moment, a multicolored web materialized in the surroundings, covering everything for hundreds of thousands of kilometers. The Titans and Gods were just as shocked as the Blood King to see that phenomenon. Yet, unlike the monster that had renounced the cultivation systems of the Godslayer Humankind, they could sense the Star Sovereign System in those stars in the sky. At the same time, the multicolored web embodied the Inner Universe System. As they wondered about the purpose of these phenomena, they saw how hundreds of thousands of stars in the sky began to flood Cain''s Rebirth Heart with their starlight while a multicolored essence emerged from the web and flowed into his Evolution Core. Cain''s eyes glowed with enlightenment as the power of those two phenomena began to flood into his Sacred Organs, generating a fundamental change in his talent and foundation. In the starlight, he felt the next step of his Astral Cultivation, how to go beyond a mortal body and harness the powers of the stars. In contrast, in the multicolored web, he felt the endless matrix that formed reality, improving his overall understanding of all Laws. Chapter 700 700: Wrathful even in death When the Blood King saw that, terror appeared in his eyes since that change was even more potent than the one received by the raw world energy. The monster immediately flashed toward Cain, intending to stop it. The Gods and Titans saw how the monster was going to interfere with Cain''s enlightenment, but they could do nothing to stop it. However, their worries were unfounded as the moment the Blood King neared Cain, the intent of that starry sky and multicolored spider web turned toward him. The Blood King''s eyes widened as he felt the loathing and anger in those phenomena. Before he could even react, they unleashed a pulse of energy that sent him crashing into the ground, nearly shattering his body to pieces. The Collapsing Lightning Duke, General Casidius, and everybody else were shocked to see such a ferocious response from those phenomena. While they did not know the exact reason, they were all happy to see that the young man could carry on his enlightenment. The 25 Revolution Flame continued bursting with overwhelming power for another ten seconds, allowing the power of the phenomena to flood the Rebirth Heart and Essence Core before finally turning off. As soon as the flame was extinguished, the 25 Revolution Refinement ended, and the stars in the sky and multicolored spiderwebs began to fade as well. Cain''s eyes kept their enlightenment even as the phenomena faded. His core understanding of his body and the Laws had grown exponentially. While in that state, his mind began to go through all sorts of problems and questions regarding his cultivation, all of which were quickly solved. Before the sense of enlightenment faded, Cain turned his mind to the third phase of the Primordial Path''s Foundation Stage. After Elemental Resonance and Elemental Manifestation came Elemental Balance. Elemental Balance focused on achieving a state of equilibrium where no single element overpowers another, resulting in a stable foundation to keep training the Primordial Path. This balance is crucial for the following stages, preventing elemental conflict within Cain''s body. That phase of the Primordial Path required a supremely granular understanding of the body and absolute mastery over the elemental forces. Luckily for Cain, his insight into his body had always been superb, and his Law Mastery over the Elemental Laws was supreme, so the enlightenment was able to push them to the next level. In a few seconds, the young man completed the third phase of the Foundation Stage! Cain''s eyes finally returned to normal, and as he clenched his fists and felt the power of the elements resonating in a flawless balance inside his body, a smile appeared on his face as he took a deep breath. Having mastered Elemental Resonance, Elemental Manifestation, and Elemental Balance, Cain was able to enter the fourth and final phase of the Primordial Path''s Foundation Stage. The Titans and Gods thought the shock would be over by this point, but now they saw that with every breath Cain took, massive amounts of natural energy would flood into his body. Elemental Awakening. That was the culminating achievement of the Foundation Stage, where Cain''s body resonated with the elements and naturally attracted natural energy without conscious effort. That marked his readiness to undergo the more rigorous transformations of the Ascension Stage. The Blood King was rising from the ground as his body regenerated. That attack from the phenomena would have been deadly to anyone else, and had it not been for his Depravita Constitution, he would have also perished. However, even if he did not perish, he was forced to burn a significant amount of his energy to heal, and by now, he had less than a third left. Despite the weakness and damage, the monster''s eyes were still full of killing intent as he focused on the sky and gazed at the young human standing there proudly. "?AHH...!" The monster just roared again, but he was interrupted as Cain vanished from the sky and appeared next to him before connecting a blow to his ribs that sent him hurtling into the sky without control. Shock appeared in the monster''s eyes at Cain''s teleportation capability, and before he could even respond, the young man once again appeared behind him and struck his back with so much strength that he felt his spine would shatter. Despite the pain, the Blood King was able to react and flood the surroundings with his dark Blood Energy reinforced by the Concept of Blood, sealing space with even more strength. That was enough to seal teleportation but did not stop Cain from distorting space, transforming the dozens of thousands of meters between the two to just a few hundred. Hence, the Blood King could not react before a kick landed on his head, sending him crashing into the ground. The monster was in the midst of healing when Cain appeared above him and began to unleash blow after blow, each of them shattering bones and burning flesh. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" The sky trembled, the earth cracked, and space shattered as Cain destroyed the Blood King''s body, weakening him more and more as his regeneration could not keep up with the damage. It did not take long for Cain to obliterate the Blood King completely, and he could see how this one could no longer regenerate. There was only coldness as Cain stared at the monster''s body riddled with holes. "I only need one more attack, and I will end you. Answer my questions, and I will spare your life." Even as half of his head was destroyed, the monster only stared at Cain with hate, loathing, and killing intent, making it clear what his answer was. ''Did he see through my lie?'' There was no way Cain would have let the monster live, but he needed answers, and since he could not win a clash of willpowers, Gluttony''s Eye would not be useful. "That is a pure Depravita without a true ego. He is purpose is to kill and will not break no matter what you do to him." Chapter 701 701: Consuming the Depravita Apex''s voice was solemn as he uttered those words, and it was clear the System Spirit knew what he was talking about. Cain remained silent for a moment. He had faced all types of enemies in his life, including those who call themselves masters of the underworld, yet he could always make them do what he wanted by breaking their minds or playing with their greed. However, he had to admit that the one beneath his feet was different from all the others. A solemn light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he gazed at the monster. He had the power to trap the Blood King alive, but if this one were to recover his full strength, it would become a hard fight, and who knows what kind of escaping technique a Depravita had. Eventually, Cain focused and began to speak with the system. ''System, how much Destiny Force do I have left?'' [Destiny Force: 204.2 M] Despite spending over 250 million points of Destiny Force in the last few minutes, Cain still had a massive amount left. His feats across Gaia, turning the tables of war, saving billions of lives, forcing the Void King to escape, and finally defeating the Depravita allowed Cain''s destiny to rise to incredible heights. Of course, many points were left from his saga in the Hyperion Continent. Cain had always been wary about consuming his Destiny Force since no one knew when he would need a massive amount, and today was a perfect example of why that was a good idea. After ensuring his Destiny Force was enough to cover any unexpected situation, Cain sent an order to the Absolute Life Form System. ''Enhance the Gluttony Module'' [Enhancing Gluttony Module would cost 10 M Destiny Force. Vessel still wants to do it?] Now that Cain no longer used Apex as an intermediary to go around those failsafes and save time, the system returned to its natural style. ''Do it.'' The next second, Cain felt a heaviness in his soul, but it did not last long, and waves of information appeared in his mind. [Gluttony Module has evolved. Tools: -Grand Sky Fiend Flame: Capable of consuming matter, energy, and spiritual waves. 75% of all the energy and vitality consumed will be channeled into the Vessel. -The Grand Sky Fiend Flame can absorb 100% of the spiritual aspect of an entity by paying 1 M Destiny Force. Vessel will obtain Soul Essence and Will Essence that can be used to feed the Vessel''s soul force and Ego Wave. -Increase the Grand Sky Fiend Flame''s devouring speed by 10% for 24 hours in exchange for five thousand DF. It can be stacked up to 100 times. -Drives the energy, vitality, and spirit forces the Grand Sky Fiend Flame generates directly into the Vessel''s Sacred Organs for a week, enhancing the cultivation base in exchange for one hundred thousand DF. Training speed is 25% slower than if the Vessel takes active control over the energy and vitality. -Grand Demonic Devourer Dimension: A dimension meant to hold food for the Grand Sky Fiend Flame. It can carry anything with an energy level up to the ??? (1 Cultivation Rank above Peak Divine Ascension Rank). To send living entities into it, they must be paralyzed and unable to resist.] Cain could not help but feel a little disappointed seeing that the evolved [Gluttony Module] had no tool to read the enemy''s memories, meaning he would still have to rely on Gluttony''s Eye to obtain knowledge. However, he was pleasantly surprised to see that the module could now devour the spiritual aspect of a target. That was very useful since he no longer had a constant fuel like the Astral Blood Beast Soul Core. After finishing with the enhanced module, Cain turned to the incapacitated Depravita, who kept looking at him with loath and hatred. "Since you will not talk, you can be useful as food." The Depravita''s eyes widened as he heard that, and the next second, Cain''s Ego Wave neutralized him before sending this one into the [Grand Demonic Devourer Dimension]. Immediately once the Depravita entered it, the [Grand Sky Fiend Flame] flooded the monster, consuming his body, energy, and every aspect of his soul. Finally, the Blood King, the Depravita of Blood, the monster that seemed immortal and undefeatable, was eliminated. His entire existence would now become food for the man he hated the most. A radiant smile appeared on Cain''s face as he was able to not only defeat that monster but also reach the highest peak of Aether. However, that smile did not last long as he rose above the crater before looking into the distance. Cain saw all the Godslayer Human Divine Ascension Masters that fought with their lives on the line to give him the time for his soul force to break through. But they were not alone since six Gods of the Inferno Daemon Race were close to them. All those Gods fought against the monster, not due to a sense of loyalty to him but to obtain revenge for the millions of soldiers lost to that black rain. However, at the end of the day, he owed them his life. "Ahhh." Cain could not help but sigh as he tried to figure out what to do with all those Gods. A good act doesn''t erase a bad one, and they were the leaders of an invasion force that killed millions, yet their actions in stopping the monster saved just as much. General Casidius felt the tense atmosphere and knew they might die, but neither he nor the rest of the Gods attempted to escape. They had burned all their energy and a significant amount of their life force, so they would only be making a fool of themselves if they tried to escape from a monster with superb control over the Law of Space. Cain''s figure suddenly appeared above the Gods, his eyes calm and serene as he gazed at the six and went through every war record, learning everything the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army had done to determine what he would do with them. Chapter 702: I fight to protect my home "I will not pretend your help was not valuable because it was. Without it, I would have perished. However, I am not just one man right now, and the faith and trust of many have been placed on my shoulders, and I cannot let them down after all they sacrificed." The Collapsing Lightning Duke and the rest of the Godslayer Humankind Divine Ascension Masters remained silent and did not say a word as they let Cain carry on with the verdict on those Gods. Even if they fought together, that did not mean all was forgiven, not by a long shot. General Casidius stared at Cain and softly nodded, indicating he understood the young man''s words. "The death that arises between two armies is something one expects of war, and every soldier on the battlefield must be ready to face that. You are the invading army, so you are in the wrong. Everybody beneath the Apotheosis Realm of your forces perished, which would have been enough punishment. However, the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army went against the civilians in the neighboring Sectors of the Zafiro Sector. Billions of human civilians vanished, with not even their bodies remaining. That is something that Godslayer Humankind cannot simply forget." Cain''s eyes grew cold as he uttered those words, and space began to tremble as if reflecting the killing intent that arose in his heart. Shame appeared on the Gods'' faces as they heard those words. None of them would shy away from killing other soldiers on the battlefield, but murdering civilians was indeed disgraceful. Although that was an order of the Void King, and they did not want to carry on with it, it was clear that the Scarlet King would not accept such a pathetic excuse. "According to my analysis, it was only one God responsible for those deaths, so I will take that person''s life and let the rest go back to your homes. If you say that the God was already killed, then I will go through the memories of one of you to make sure." A flash of fear appeared in the eyes of the Gods as they heard those words. It was clear that soul searching would kill the target, and they knew the culprit of that crime was present. "I did it." Less than a second after Cain finished speaking, an Abyssal Clan God stepped forward. Half of the man''s face was destroyed, but Cain could recognize him as Zinir, the God with whom he fought in the Golden Core Sector. The God stared at Cain without fear and with resolution. Clearly, he would not beg for mercy and was ready to die. Cain stared at the God, and his eyes narrowed as he nodded and raised his index finger. A sundering force gathered on it with the power to kill a Late Divine Ascension Master. "Wait! He is lying to protect me!" Before Cain could act, General Casidius stepped forward and pushed the Abyssal God behind, standing before Cain. However, Zinir immediately tried to resist and shouted. "What are you doing? I was responsible!" Zinir had just finished speaking before a freezing coldness assaulted all the Gods, and they saw Cain''s eyes losing all emotion. "Do not test the limits of my mercy." Zinir''s entire body froze as he stared at those emotionless eyes, losing the ability to resist General Casidius''s push. After thrusting Zinir back to the rest of the Gods, General Casidius turned to Cain and bowed. "Please forgive him. He is just a fool who is trying to protect me. I acted alone in carrying out the Void King''s command of exterminating the Endless Rain Sector, Kukulkan Sector, and Orion Sector." A complicated expression appeared on the Gods as they heard that. General Casidius had taken the burden of the task alone so they would not be sullied by it, or at least that was what they thought. "However, I did not carry it on my own to spare my brothers and sisters the shame of genocide." Confusion appeared in the Gods as they heard that, and they were not alone since the Titans were also intrigued. Cain''s eyes narrowed, and coldness returned to them. By this point, the Gods had already understood that coldness was a good thing since it meant the Scarlet King was at least open to hearing their words. It was when there was no emotion at all that it made them feel death''s scythe was on their necks. General Casidius stared at the young man before waving his hand and making a small chromatic tube appear, which he sent forward. Cain grabbed the chromatic tube, and when he sent his Ego Wave in, his eyes widened as he stared at the God with shock and confusion. "Why?" General Casidius stood straight, and there was a prideful light in his eyes as he stared at the Scarlet King. "You say we were in the wrong since we were the invading army, and from a certain point of view, you would be right. However, your entire race is a critical danger to my people. If I need to kill billions of you to ensure the safety of my kind, I will gladly swallow those sins so others don''t. Yet, I will never sully my honor with the blood of those who cannot defend themselves. I am a soldier. I fight to protect my home, not to kill civilians." The Scarlet King''s eyes widened as he saw the determination and resolution in the eyes of the God. The man''s willpower was genuinely formidable, to the point that it amazed even a Master of Order like him. The confusion in the eyes of the Gods and Titans only grew as they focused on the chromatic tube and heard the words of General Casidius and the effect they had on the Scarlet King. For a minute, Cain just stared at the God before his eyes glowed, and a domain of Blood Energy emerged from him, covering General Casidius. Chapter 703: Earth Tribulation (I) Cain''s Law of Space reinforced the domain of Blood Energy so no one could see what happened inside. Yet they did not have to wait long as the domain vanished after three seconds. General Casidius was no longer present, but there was a blood stain on the ground where the God had been standing. "With that, the crimes of the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army are paid." The Gods'' eyes widened as they heard Cain''s cold voice and saw the blood from General Casidius splashed across the ground. Although there was no corpse, that blood definitely belonged to the man, as they could feel the soul aura of this one in it. Some Gods could not help but turn toward Cain with rage. Cain felt their killing intent but did not blame them as that was a natural response to someone who killed your friend. "With your permission, Scarlet King, we will retire." God Zinir used all his power to control his sadness and rage as he nodded toward Cain, intending to take the incapacitated Apotheosis Masters that could not rise from the ground and leave. "Wait." However, before Zinir could guide the rest of the Gods, Cain raised his hand, stopping the man, and his energy began to rise. Just as the Titans and Gods were wondering what Cain would do, he raised his hand, and flames with 19 colors began to emerge. It did not take long for 71 of those flames to appear, and immediately, a flash of enlightenment appeared in the eyes of Zinir and the other Gods. 71 were exactly the number of Gods, Divine Ascension Masters, and Apotheosis Masters that remained from the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army. "The damage to your bodies will kill all the Apotheosis Masters and half of the Divine Ascension Masters before you can reach Atlas. Since I said you can return home alive, I will ensure that is the case." Shock appeared in the eyes of the Gods as they heard those words. They had all seen the power of those multicolored fires and could not believe Cain would use that force in them. The next second, Cain''s Ego Wave covered the area, generating a cocoon around the Inferno Daemons present as he sent the flames into each cocoon and triggered the 19 Revolution Refinements. Immediately, giant waves of world energy flooded the area, all pouring into the Inferno Daemons and triggering the evolution of their foundation and talent. The effect was not immensely powerful since it was only a 19 Revolution Refinement. Still, it helped their cells and energy evolve, healing the damage to their bodies and wounded life force. Controlling 71 Tribulation Enhancements was a titanic task, even if they were 19 Revolution Refinements. Nevertheless, Cain''s soul force had grown much stronger, and his control over energy had improved immensely. By pushing his mind to the limit, he was able to carry on with the process without flaws. The mood of the Titans was not so great as they saw the enemy army being healed, but it was something they could accept given all that had happened, so they remained quiet as Cain carried on with the Tribulation Enhancement. It took nearly two hours for Cain to finish the 71 Tribulation Enhancements. His face was pale and exhausted, yet his immense vitality immediately began to heal him. As for the Inferno Daemons, all of them gazed at the Scarlet King with awe and gratitude, especially those who were agonizing and felt how their life force was about to fade at any second before the Tribulation Enhancement. Of course, they were still wounded, and it would require months, if not years, to fully heal, but that was better than before when they would have perished in a matter of hours. Zinir and the rest of the Gods felt extremely conflicted. While the rage and sadness for General Casidius remained, they had to accept they felt gratitude to the Scarlet King as the man was honorable and kept his word no matter what. "I thank you on behalf of my comrades. We will now leave Gaia, Scarlet King." Zinir was once again the one who spoke; this time, the man clasped his hands and bowed toward the young man in the sky. "You have 72 hours to exit Gaia." Cain stared at the God as he set the timeline, and Zinir nodded. The Gods were fast, using spells to carry on the Apotheosis Masters before flashing north at full speed with the rest of the Divine Ascension Masters. There were still people in the Trinity Dark Tower, so they had to stop there, but there was plenty of time since, at full speed, they should return to Atlas in less than two days. The Collapsing Lightning Duke waited until the Gods were far gone before speaking to Cain. "Should we return to the fortress in the Crystal Mountains?" Although the coalition was named the Collapsing Lightning Alliance, the Collapsing Lightning Duke did not fool himself into thinking he was still the force''s leader. The one with the highest authority was the young man standing in the sky. Cain stared at the Collapsing Lightning Duke for a moment before softly shaking his head as he looked at the ground with a solemn expression. "I cannot leave yet. Wait in the distance and take your missing limbs with you. I will heal your wounds once we return, but it will be easier to reattach them than grow them from scratch." Those words confused the Titans, but then the ground trembled as a catastrophic terrestrial force began to arise. As the vibrations grew more and more intense, it became clear to all what was happening. "The Earth Tribulation." The Collapsing Lightning Duke was shocked to feel so much power in a Tribulation that was supposed to test an Apotheosis Master. He did not hesitate and grabbed his missing arm before flashing away along with the rest of the Titans, putting hundreds of kilometers between them and Cain. Chapter 704: Earth Tribulation (II) Cain did not take his eyes from the ground as he felt the strength of the Earth Tribulation growing stronger and stronger. Finally, the land itself began to breathe, and the world''s power began to gather within it. "RUMBLE!" Cracks appeared across the landscape, not randomly, but in intricate patterns that pulsed with the raw energy of the Earth Law, displaying a might that surpassed Cain''s understanding of the Law. Suddenly, an overwhelming gravitational force took control of Cain''s body, exerting an overpowering pull on him, drawing him toward the ground. A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he felt that power, and while he could resist it if he were to use his energy, that would diminish the effect of the Earth Tribulation on him, and that was not something he wanted to happen. "?Boom!" Cain made a small crater as he landed on the ground. Before he could even stand up, the earth began to shake with even more violence. These quakes were not mere natural phenomena but targeted expressions of the Earth Law, seeking to uproot and unsettle, and were powerful enough to affect the mind and senses of someone as strong as the young man. Cain frowned as he attempted to maintain balance and stand firm but it was proving extremely challeging. Suddenly, his eyes widened and he immediately used all his strength to move to the side. "?BOOM!" A small meteorite had just fallen from the sky as if the Earth Tribulation was plucking them from outer space. Cain managed to dodge it in the last second but was far from safe as more began to fall the next second. The gravitational pull was too strong for him to fly and reduced his speed, while the trembling affected his sense of stability. Cain had grown powerful enough to overcome this Tribulation by brute force, but that would be a mistake. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he triggered Earth Attunement, harmonizing his body and soul with the earth. The Titans were gazing at the Earth Tribulation from a distance. They were over five hundred kilometers away from the phenomenon''s periphery. Yet, they could feel the gravitational pull that would paralyze them and how each meteorite had the power to crush their bones. Yet, even more impressive was how Cain began to move around the phenomenon. His body seemed to flow with the earth, moving in perfect synchrony as he dodged the meteorites at the last second, showing flawless agility and dexterity. Cain moved with majestic precision, dodging all the meteorites as he seemed to dance around the Earth Tribulation, and after almost an hour, he stopped moving. He opened his eyes as he felt the world''s power begin to change again, fading from the sky and concentrating on the ground. The next second, the dozens of thousands of meteorites that had fallen from the sky began to melt into the earth as bursts of terrestrial force accumulated underground. Cain focused on the earth, and suddenly, he turned around and sent a fist with all his strength. "?BOOM!" That punch landed on the body of a massive stone figure that had lunged toward Cain, but just as he destroyed this one, dozens more emerged from the ground and attacked the young man with all their power. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw those stone figures. He was able to destroy one of them with a single punch but could feel his arm tremble due to the immense hardness of the humanoid. It would not be easy to destroy them, and the gravitational pull kept hindering his movement, but Cain just took a deep breath and faced the stone figures. "THUMP!" Cain''s heartbeat burst as he triggered Asura Form, pushing his speed and reflexes to the next level, and attacked. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Every explosion was a massive stone figure shattering to pieces under Cain''s punches and kicks, but every time he destroyed one, two more would rise from the ground, making it seem they were endless. Cain''s eyes were sharp and resolute as he kept destroying the monsters, even as the skin on his fists was peeled off and bruises appeared on his legs. Hundreds, thousands, or maybe even hundreds of thousands of stone figures had lunged toward Cain, but every single one was destroyed. Finally, after four hours, no more stone figures emerged from the ground. Yet, before Cain could even take a breath, the terrain shifted. The solid ground transformed into treacherous sands that threatened to engulf Cain, and the gravitational pull became extremely powerful. Cain attempted to force his way out, but it was impossible, and in less than a second, everything but his neck had been submerged beneath the sand. A flash of enlightenment appeared in Cain''s eyes as he reached this point and stopped fighting against the force, allowing it to submerge him. A suffocating pressure assaulted Cain as his body was buried deeper and deeper into the ground. Instead of losing focus and falling into panic, he began to resonate his body with the more subtle aspects of the Law of Earth. The more Cain resonated with them, the weaker the effect of the sands on him, and he reached the point that even as he was hundreds of thousands of meters underground, he felt in complete peace. Cain''s body suddenly stopped submerging deeper into the sand, and he saw how the earth began to split apart with him at the center, forming two massive walls covered in razor-sharp crystals. The gravitational force was still present, making it impossible to fly, so the only way out of this place was to scale through those walls. Cain did not hesitate and touched one of the crystals. Surprise appeared in his eyes as he felt that despite the hardness of his skin, the crystal still managed to make a small cut, but even more meaningful was the negative emotion trying to invade his mind and ego. Chapter 705: Earth Tribulation (III) A smile appeared on Cain''s face as now that his soul force had evolved and he no longer had to endure the Astral Blood Beast''s shattered ego, that pressure was nothing. "RUMBLE!" Yet, Cain''s smile did not last long as he saw how the walls began to move, closing down on him. "Dammit!" Cain shouted as he began to scale the walls, moving faster and faster, ignoring the wounds on his arms and legs and severing all those negative emotions that wanted to break his will. Cain ignored the physical pain and severed the negative emotions, but the more he advanced, the sharper the crystals became and the more power the mental attack gained. He was rising hundreds of meters each second. Still, the power of the Earth Tribulation cloaked the surface in darkness and affected his senses, making it impossible to know just how long it would take to arrive. Cain just kept moving higher and higher as the walls approached one another. He could feel the distance between them diminishing and was also aware of just how strong they were, meaning that there was a chance they could crush him if he did not make it up in time. After five hours of ceaseless scaling, Cain started to feel the edge of the crystals on the other wall on his back. Luckily, at that moment, he saw a flash of light above his head and made the strength of his body explode, jumping up with everything he had. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion echoed as the walls clashed against each other, with so much strength that cracks in space formed around the division line. Cain had managed to reach the surface in the last second, and there was a sense of trepidation in his eyes as he knew he almost ended up encased. His entire body was covered in small cuts, but luckily, his vitality was so immense that the wounds immediately began to heal. Although his wounds healed, scaling that wall left Cain physically and mentally exhausted. Unfortunately, he did not have time to rest as suddenly the power of the Earth Tribulation reached its zenith, and a fantastic scene was displayed. Cain felt how the ground beneath his feet began to tremble with more and more strength before this one suddenly vanished, replaced by the sky. As for the sky above him, it was now the earth! The Titans watching from a distance could barely believe what they saw as, literally, in the area affected by the Earth Tribulation, the earth and sky had switched places. Before Cain could even adjust to the fact that the earth was above his head and the sky beneath his feet, he saw how the power of the Earth Tribulation began to concentrate, and soon, a massive mountain rose from the ground. It was the most majestic mountain Cain had seen in his entire life, the epitome of the Earth Law, carrying a hardness, durability, life, and adaptability that made it seem it would last hundreds of thousands of years. Cain did not have much time to appreciate the mountain as it fell the next second with the momentum of a world-ending meteorite, and its target was no other than the young man. A gravitational force sealed space before the mountain would even arrive, making it impossible to move away. "CRACK!" As the mountain began to fall, massive cracks in space formed since Aether''s Laws could not endure such pressure. Cain''s eyes glowed with a powerful red light as he made his physical power explode to the limit. Although he did not trigger his energy, he did unleash the full might of Radiance of Strength and Radiance of Life. "?AHHHHHHHHH!" With a roar that marked the explosion of his willpower, Cain began to strike toward the falling mountain! "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" The Titans in the distance watched with pure awe and admiration how Cain was shattering the falling mountain with nothing more than his bare fists, showing a simply ridiculous amount of power. "?AHHHHHHHH!" Cain kept shouting with all his strength as he punched with more and more strength, ignoring the pain he felt in his arms and how his bones, which were harder than Adamantium Artifacts, were cracking. He pushed Asura Form to the absolute peak, sending punches as fast as possible. As Cain felt that the mountain would not shatter fast enough and crush his body, he could not help but wish for faster speed or at least more arms. The bones in his hands were breaking and healing at the same time as Cain focused the power of his Radiance of Life on them and just kept punching with everything he had. Blood began to leak from Cain''s eyes, ears, and mouth as the pressure of the mountain started to wreak havoc on his internal organs, but he just clenched his teeth and kept striking up no matter the damage. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" With a final roar, Cain sent a punch with all the power he had left, finally breaking the massive mountain in half! Cain felt he would collapse due to the overwhelming exhaustion but did not lose focus as the sky and earth returned to their places. The next second, terrestrial forces once again exploded, but there was no danger this time as its purpose was to reward Cain for surpassing his Earth Tribulation. A smile appeared on Cain''s bloody mouth as the power of the earth flooded every inch of his body, engraving the power of the Law into his flesh and bones, but most importantly, into his Essence Star. The power of the Law of Earth healed all of Cain''s wounds and reinforced his endurance and vitality even more while improving his mastery and control over the elemental force. Cain couldn''t help but smile as he felt his strength rising again. Before the Earth Tribulation, he was only marginally stronger than the Depravita of Blood at full power. Cain could only defeat the monster so easily since the Blood King had already burned much of his energy and used his trump cards. However, now Cain could easily surpass the monster and would not have a problem making him run away or killing this one if the chance presented itself. Chapter 706: Horus goal (I) Cain''s eyes were sharp as he controlled the 21 Revolution Refinement in the body of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and the True Titan''s eyes were equally focused as he mobilized the gargantuan amount of world energy flooding into his body. Thanks to his enhancement in talent and energy mastery, Cain could already create 21 Revolution Flames and carry on with 21 Revolution Refinements without the help of the Absolute Life Form System. This level of Tribulation Enhancement required Cain''s utmost focus, and there was not a 100% chance of success either. Of course, if a mistake were to happen, Cain was ready to use the [Enhancement Module] to save the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s life. Luckily, there was no need, and after four hours, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar emerged from the red cocoon with a smile full of thrill on his face. Not only was all the damage to his body and vitality gone, but he also felt how his talent and foundation had greatly improved. Smiles appeared on the rest of the Divine Ascension Masters present as they saw the improvement in the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and there was not a single shred of envy in their eyes. There was no reason for that type of feeling since every one of them already enjoyed that gift. Cain healed all present but one, the Collapsing Lightning Duke. The man had already undergone a 21 Revolution Refinement, so another one would not make a difference. However, Cain would not let the person who was instrumental in the delay of the monster remain with such severe wounds, and the next second, he made a 22 Revolution Flame appear. Awe appeared in the eyes of the Divine Ascension Masters as they saw the flame since its power was much greater than the one used on them. The next second, it flooded the Collapsing Lightning Duke in and out, covering every inch of his body and energy pool. An expression of utter bliss appeared on the Collapsing Lightning Duke as he felt the power of the world energy evolving his foundation and talent, while healing his damage. He could barely use his reattached arms before this, but now he felt how the connections between his body and the limb were reinforced, stronger than before. The Titans could feel the might of the world energy, and there was confusion on their faces. Unlike with their Tribulation Enhancement, when Cain pushed himself to the limit and took hours, the process with the Collapsing Lightning Duke was much faster and seemed effortless. It was clear that the Tribulation Enhancement on the Collapsing Lightning Duke was different from the one the other Divine Ascension Masters received, but no one dared to pry into the secrets of the Scarlet King. Cain did not bother to pretend he was the one in charge of the Tribulation Enhancement. His power had already risen to the point that even if people knew he had a secret, they could do nothing about it. ''System, my current Destiny Force?'' [Destiny Force: 219.2M] Although Cain spent more than 20M of Destiny Force to create the 25 Revolution Flame and perform the Tribulation Enhancement, he still had more than the last time he checked. Surviving the Earth Tribulation improved Cain''s destiny, but that was not all. Saving the warriors and earning their devotion also increased the amount of Destiny Force. Helping others also improves one''s destiny. After all, had not Cain earned the devotion and respect of the Titans, he would have faced the monster alone and possibly perished. After twenty minutes, the Collapsing Lightning Duke opened his eyes, and a sharp light full of might appeared. The effect of the 22 Revolution Refinement significantly improved his talent to the point that he felt his domain over the Star Sovereign Divine System reached a whole new level. Cain allowed the Collapsing Lightning Duke to lose himself in his bursting strength for a few seconds before making his aura burst, drawing everybody''s attention. The Divine Ascension Masters all turned toward Cain as he sat on the throne, his eyes calm yet emitting an impressive force that made everybody nervous. Cain''s eyes glowed, and the next second, a mission appeared in the A.I. Chips of the Divine Ascension Masters. "Prepare the troops. In twelve more hours, no Inferno Daemon should be present in Gaia. You will carry out those missions and ensure the safety of the northern Sectors. You have a week." When the Divine Ascension Masters heard those words and saw the mission, they could not help but frown. It was not a problem with receiving commands, but a week was too short, and the idea of failure terrified them. The fear did not arise from receiving a punishment but the fact that they might fall from the Scarlet King''s grace. Being close to the divine monster had already granted them so many benefits that they would do all in their power to stay with him. The Divine Ascension Masters clenched their fists as their eyes burst with willpower. They bowed toward Cain before vanishing, leaving only three people behind. The Collapsing Lightning Duke, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and the Patriarch of the Aegon Family glanced at Cain in silence. The dynamic between the group had gradually changed to the point the trio could only look up at the young man as they wondered what plans he had for them. Cain did not make the group wait for long, and the next second, he waved his hand, making a man appear. The trio immediately recognized the newcomer since it was none other than General Casidius. The God was supposed to be dead, yet it was clear that was not the case. Immediately, frowns appeared on the True Titans. They did not say a word when Cain healed the Inferno Daemons and let them leave, but this man was responsible for the death of billions, and that was something they could not ignore no matter what. Chapter 707: Horus goal (II) Cain saw how the trio immediately turned toward him with sharp gazes and disapproval in their eyes. Instead of getting angry, a smile appeared on his face. He needed people who could talk back to him and not simply follow him blindly out of fear or devotion. However, before the True Titans could start with their accusations, Cain made a chromatic tube appear and sent it to them. The Collapsing Lightning Duke, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and Angar gazed at the tube and couldn''t help but send their Ego Waves into it. Immediately, their eyes widened as they saw billions of humans inside, all in stasis. There was confusion in the eyes of the True Titans as they gazed at Cain before turning toward Casidius. The people in the tube were the civilians that the God was supposed to have killed under the command of the Void King. Obtaining this level of treasure and then capturing billions alive must have been an extremely difficult task, and it would have been much easier to simply kill everybody. However, the trio remembered the God''s words before his supposed death. "I am a soldier. I fight to protect my home, not to kill civilians." "The Void King was determined to kill all the people in the neighboring Sectors. He would have just sent someone else if I refused, so I collected them into my family''s sacred treasure. I could not release them before as that would have revealed my treason to the Dark King." The Collapsing Lightning Duke stared at the God and clasped his hand before performing a slight bow. Even if he was an enemy, he could not help but feel respect for such a warrior who put so much emphasis on honor. However, after that, the Collapsing Lightning Duke couldn''t help but frown as he stared at the God. "I don''t suppose you remained behind to help us against the Inferno Daemon Imperial Army." "Never! I would die before betraying my kind!" Casidius'' eyes grew cold, and a flash of killing intent appeared as just those words infuriated him. The Collapsing Lightning Duke did not take offense and expected such a response from someone who put so much emphasis on honor. That was why he was so confused as to why the Scarlet King would go through this charade, making everybody think the man was dead. Luckily for the trio, Cain did not make them wait. "General Casidius will not go against his race, and I will never ask him to do anything of the sort. However, he will help us go against the true enemy, the true mastermind behind the invasion. He is the one that transformed the Blood King into that monster, and if I am correct, he is also the one who sent that demonic hand to save the Void King." The Collapsing Lightning Duke, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and Angar adopted solemn expressions as they heard those words, and their eyes grew sharp. Before, everybody thought that the one behind the invasion was The Organization, but by this point, it was clear they were just a piece on the chessboard, and the player had been hiding in the shadows this entire time. "The seventh son of the Dark Emperor of the Inferno Daemon Empire, Horus Ekleipsis." Casidius'' eyes were cold as he uttered those words. He did not believe for even a second that Horus did not understand the nature of the Blood King, so it was clear that the Imperial Prince did not care about the safety of his people and was willing to sacrifice them. However, even if he hated the Imperial Prince, that would not have been enough for the God to ally with the Godslayer Humankind to take this one down. However, after a small chat with Cain, everything changed. The Scarlet King could see the rage in the eyes of the True Titans, and the confusion as well, as all sorts of questions appeared in their minds. "You are all wondering if Horus Ekleipsis had the power to create those monsters, why not rally the entire Inferno Daemon Empire and perform a full power attack against Gaia and the Godslayer Humankind." The Collapsing Lightning Duke, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and Angar nodded. The power between both empires was balanced, but those monsters could have broken that equilibrium and granted the power to the Inferno Daemon Empire to wreak havoc on Gaia. If that was the case, and Horus sought to destroy the Godslayer Humankind Empire, why not do it? "First of all, the name of the monster that the Blood King became was Depravita. They are a race whose bodies are made of negative emotions and chaotic psychic energy, with superb talent in the Concepts. Although it might be too early to say it, I think it is not easy for Horus to give birth to one of those monsters, which was why he did not send more." The True Titans were surprised by those words and the level of Cain''s knowledge, while Casidius remained silent since he already heard all this, and it was the reason he chose to side with the Scarlet King. Cain allowed the trio to analyze his words for a few seconds, and once he saw they were focused again, he carried on. "As for why not mobilize the entire Inferno Daemon Empire behind those monsters and attack, I think it is because Horus doesn''t seek the unilateral destruction of the Godslayer Humankind Race. What he is after is war and the effect this one has on people. He wishes to instigate hatred, loathing, rage, vengeance, fear, doubt, all those emotions in the hearts of the trillions of life forms in Gaia and Atlas. I bet he is also the one that sent the command to kill all civilians in the Sectors around the Zafiro Sector, and the Void King was just the intermediary." The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes widened as he considered those words, and as he wondered why someone would do something like that, a flash of enlightenment appeared in his eyes. "A world overwhelmed by those sentiments would be a perfect breeding ground for monsters born of negative emotions and corrupted physical energy." Chapter 708: Infiltrating Atlas The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the Patriarch of the Aegon Family were shocked as they heard those words, and when they turned to the Scarlet King, he softly nodded. "Horus Ekleipsis is not on the side of the Inferno Daemon Race. He is on the side of the Depravita Race." Cain''s voice was cold, and there was a flash of trepidation he could not hide as the implications of those words affected more than just two continents. The interaction with the monster was enough for the Scarlet King to understand the nature of the Depravita Race, and it was clear they would not be willing to share the world. "Should we report this to the Imperial Court..." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar had not even finished his sentence when he realized how ridiculous his words were, and he shook his head with disappointment. He would have to be a fool not to understand by this point that The Organization, or more accurately Horus, had people in Eden who had been blocking support to the north and left them to their luck. "Other than the people in this room, no one will know. It is not a matter of trust, but sometimes knowing too much is dangerous if you don''t have enough strength." Cain''s eyes were sharp as he uttered those words, and the intent behind them made it clear it was not a suggestion but an order. General Casidius, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, Collapsing Lightning Duke, and Angar all nodded as they understood the seriousness of the situation and just how much danger people would get into if they knew about it. Cain nodded as he saw the four warriors understood the type of situation they found themselves in. "I doubt Horus Ekleipsis will march into the Gaia Continent alone. I am sure he is powerful, but if he steps into the territory of the Godslayer Humankind Empire, I will be able to mobilize enough forces to kill him. However, the same can be said the other way around. If I go into the Inferno Daemon Empire to kill the man, he will mobilize the full power of the empire, and I would be lucky to even escape with my life, much less take his." The three True Titans and God frowned and could not help but nod as they knew Cain''s words were true. He was immensely powerful, and his mastery of the Law of Space and assassination skills would allow him to infiltrate the Inferno Daemon Empire. However, killing Horus would be a completely different subject. The moment the True Gods of the empire were mobilized, the Scarlet King would be besieged on all sides, and just escaping would be a titanic task. "Since a direct approach will not be effective, we must adopt a more subtle approach. Everybody in the Inferno Daemon Empire thinks General Casidius is dead, giving us the chance to use his knowledge and infiltrate the Atlas Continent." The Collapsing Lightning Duke and the rest nodded as they heard that. No one would be on the lookout for a dead man, allowing them to use the God''s knowledge and resources. "Angar, you are the best at infiltration and espionage. You will accompany General Casidius back to the Atlas Continent, infiltrate the underworld, and search for clues about the moves that Horus is making." Angar''s face grew solemn as he heard the task, but there was no fear in his eyes as he clasped his hands and nodded. No matter what, they needed to learn Horus'' plans since they involved the entire world''s safety. Cain was pleased to see the determination and solemnity in the man''s eyes, and then his eyes grew cold. "I understand that the mission is dangerous, but I will constantly surveil your A.I. Chip, accessing all its information. If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, I will come immediately. Although killing Horus is beyond my current capabilities, I can reach any point on the Atlas Continent in less than twelve hours and kill all those that stand in my path, even True Gods." General Casidius'' eyes narrowed as he heard those words, and while Cain was not looking at him, it was clear to whom that coldness was directed. The God did not say a word but softly nodded as he understood the hidden message in the Scarlet King''s words. Angar noticed the silent interaction between the duo and only smiled as he felt more relaxed. After all, infiltrating an enemy continent full of people who wanted to kill you was not easy, and the protection of an epic entity like the Scarlet King would come in handy. Cain could see General Casidius''s true nature and knew the man was willing to cooperate since it involved the safety of the Inferno Daemon Empire, but that did not mean he would blindly trust him. After seeing that the God understood his message, Cain waved his hand and brought forth a 21 Revolution Flame. "I need you at your peak for this mission, so take this as an early show of my gratitude." General Casidius took a deep breath as he saw that flame. He already understood its power and knew it might be the key to helping him break through the God Tier and become a True God, reaching a battle power that surpassed the limit of the Peak Divine Ascension Rank. However, he was not a fool and knew just how deep the schemes and plays of the young man were. The Scarlet King drew people toward him with his divine talent and power, and every time they did something good, he would reward them with gifts beyond their dreams. Before they knew it, they would have become addicted to the Scarlet King''s favor, and the idea of losing it was beyond terrifying. "Ahhhh, I cannot refuse. I appreciate it." General Casidius only sighed as he understood the dangers of the mission and bowed to Cain before the Tribulation Enhancement carried on. Chapter 709: Pondering about the Astral Sea Angar and General Casidius left the tower shortly after the Tribulation Enhancement was completed and silently headed into the Atlas Continent. Their time there would surely be full of danger and tribulations. Cain gave the duo various treasures and trump cards so they could survive long enough in case they were discovered, giving him time to go and rescue them. The Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar looked at Cain, expecting also to be assigned important missions. "You two have a single task: Find the Shadow King and Undying King. I doubt the duo has managed to go far in such a short amount of time. Only find them and prevent them from escaping. I will take care of the rest." When the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar heard their mission, they showed complicated expressions. They did not fear clashing with the Dark Kings; actually, with their current power enhanced by Tribulation Enhancement, they were eager to fight. However, while the duo were great at war and fighting, they were not so skilled when it came to investigation and surveillance. After all, not everyone could be proficient in every field like the young monster before them. Cain could see the conflict in the eyes of the duo but immediately calmed their worries. "You don''t have to worry about the investigative aspect of the mission. I am currently receiving information from every A.I. Chip in the alliance. The other Titans and the millions of warriors are mobilizing to ensure the safety and stability of the north, but they are also acting as scouts and information sources. I will go through all that information and guide you. Just follow the leads, and I am sure it will not be long before you find the duo." The Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar were shocked to hear that Cain would go through so much information, as the computational abilities to do something like that were simply incredible. The truth was that it was nothing much since the [A.I. Chip Module] could do all that before Cain''s soul force evolution, and now it was even faster. "Go. I need to secure the safety of Gaia''s north before going to the Prometheus Sector." Although Cain''s voice was calm and serene as he uttered those words, the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar couldn''t help but feel a cold sweat running through their backs. The Scarlet King had led the force that repelled the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army without the help of the Imperial Court, and his power rose beyond the level of True Titans. While the Golden Emperor was strong, the Collapsing Lightning Duke had sparred with the man before, and he was only slightly stronger than him. The duo was sure that if Cain asked, the Imperial Court would grant him the title of Grand Marshal and declare him Hero of the Godslayer Humankind, giving him his own Sector. However, since Cain was stronger than the Golden Emperor, could repel the Inferno Daemon Imperial Army without assistance, and had the devotion of all of Gaia''s north, why would he keep pledging allegiance to the Imperial Court? Wouldn''t it be simpler just to uproot the corrupted Imperial Court that refused to send help and take control over the Godslayer Humankind Empire? Not to mention, there were a lot of people in the Prometheus Sector who were involved during Cain''s ambush at the hands of the Azure Royal Clan, so blood would surely run. The Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar glanced at each other before a flash of disdain appeared in their eyes as they softly nodded. Then they turned toward the Scarlet King, their eyes full of decisiveness and determination. When they found each other at death''s door against the invading army, it was not the Imperial Court that came to save them but the Scarlet King. The man had already risen to a level that stood above all other Godslayer Humans, so why follow an emperor who could not protect his people when there was a king who could sunder all darkness and lead them to a bright future? Cain showed a small smile as he saw the determination in the duo and nodded, indicating them to leave. "Ahhhhh." Once completely alone, Cain could not help but release a long sigh as he felt the weight of all those troubles crashing on his shoulders. He no longer had to worry only about the Dark Races since there were problems within his own empire, and worst of all, he was facing an enemy that liked to hide in the shadows and was capable of creating monsters whose power was like nothing Aether had seen before. He could not help but gaze at the sky, his eyes piercing through the heavens and reaching the Astral Sea, as he wondered with excitement about the types of worlds and planes he could find there. Although there was a long time before Cain''s cultivation surpassed the Divine Ascension Realm and Aether expelled him, that did not mean he could not leave before. A crystal wall covered the world''s outer layer, stopping life forms from leaving. Yet, while durable, someone with the power of a True Titan could harm it and, after enough time, make a hole large enough to leave. There were many reasons why True Gods and True Titans did not follow that path. The main ones being honor, greed, and fear. The honor factor was simple, as many wanted to protect their homes and remained due to a sense of racial duty. As for greed and fear, that was even more simple. Inside Aether, the True Titans and True Gods were high-stage figures worshiped by billions, but they would lose all that once they left. Those people had no idea what type of enemy they would find in the Astral Sea, so most would harvest as many resources as possible and delay their exit until the last minute. Chapter 710: Samsara Arsenal Module (I) Cain was not afraid of the Astral Sea as he had already visited one of the planes that existed there during his dreams. He had already seen the Dream World and was eager to visit it with his actual body since Beelze was currently there. No matter what, he was determined to find the young woman and find out her true nature. As for greed, the Godslayer Humankind no longer offered him any help; if anything, they had become a burden. He honestly doubted he could find more lucky chances in this world, and his talent and foundation would stagnate if he did not leave. A cultivator always needed to visit dangerous places full of treasure and lucky chances if they wanted to improve their talent and rise beyond their limits. No matter how strong Cain''s foundation was, he was not impervious to stagnation. However, even as a Master of Order, Cain could not simply give up on everybody and vanish into the Astral Sea, especially when an existential threat was growing in the Atlas Continent. Too many people in the Gaia Continent and Hyperion Continent were important to him and to whom he had debts of gratitude, so he could not leave yet. ''I will take care of the threat and then decide my next step.'' After making a decision, Cain''s eyes regained their sharpness, and he focused on the Absolute Life Form System. "Show me the [A.I. Chip Module]." Cain had been forced to go from one task to another during the last few days, so he had not been able to assess the modules accurately after their evolution. [Displaying evolved version of the A.I. Chip Module and its tools: A.I. Chip Module: Tools: Atomic Analysis Quantum Data Gathering and Analysis Quantum Virtual Simulation Multidimensional Scan Force Field Quantum Hacking] The names did not surprise Cain, but he had already seen how the new tools could deploy a greater power. After that, he went to the [Enhancement Module]. [Enhancement Module: Tools: Refinement Flame Generator: Uses Destiny Force (DF) to generate Refinement Flames. The more revolutions, the more expensive. - 1 Revolution Flame: 100 DF - 2 Revolution Flame: 200 DF - 3 Revolution Flame: 300 DF - 4 Revolution Flame: 1,000 DF - 5 Revolution Flame: 2,000 DF - 6 Revolution Flame: 3,000 DF - 7 Revolution Flame: 4,000 DF - 8 Revolution Flame: 5,000 DF - 9 Revolution Flame: 10,000 DF - 10 Revolution Flame: 50,000 DF - 11 Revolution Flame: 60,000 DF - 12 Revolution Flame: 70,000 DF - 13 Revolution Flame: 80,000 DF - 14 Revolution Flame: 90,000 DF - 15 Revolution Flame: 100,000 DF - 16 Revolution Flame: 150,000 DF - 17 Revolution Flame: 200,000 DF - 18 Revolution Flame: 250,000 DF - 19 Revolution Flame: 300,000 DF - 20 Revolution Flame: 500,000 DF - 21 Revolution Flame: 1M DF - 22 Revolution Flame: 3M DF - 23 Revolution Flame: 10M DF - 24 Revolution Flame: 20M DF - 25 Revolution Flame: 50M DF -Artifact Enhancer Catalyst: Improves the success rate of Refinement on artifacts and objects to 100%. The cost depends on the type of Revolution Flame used. - 1-3 Revolution Refinement: 500 Destiny Force - 4-9 Revolution Refinement: 10,000 Destiny Force - 10-15 Revolution Refinement: 100,000 Destiny Force - 16-19 Revolution Refinement: 300,000 Destiny Force - 20 Revolution Refinement: 500,000 Destiny Force - 21 Revolution Refinement: 1M Destiny Force - 22 Revolution Refinement: 3M Destiny Force - 23 Revolution Refinement: 10M Destiny Force - 24 Revolution Refinement: 20M Destiny Force - 25 Revolution Refinement: 50M Destiny Force -Body Enhancer Catalyst: Improves the success rate of Refinement on physical bodies to 100%. The cost depends on the type of Revolution Flame used. - 1-3 Revolution Refinement: 2,000 Destiny Force - 4-9 Revolution Refinement: 30,000 Destiny Force - 10-15 Revolution Refinement: 500,000 Destiny Force - 16-19 Revolution Refinement: 1M Destiny Force - 20 Revolution Refinement: 2M Destiny Force - 21 Revolution Refinement: 3M Destiny Force - 22 Revolution Refinement: 10M Destiny Force - 23 Revolution Refinement: 30M Destiny Force - 24 Revolution Refinement: 50M Destiny Force - 25 Revolution Refinement: 150M Destiny Force] Once again, Cain received no surprise as all the information was as expected, but it was good to know just how much the new flames and refinement cost. "Now the Genetic Coder Module" [Genetic Coder Module: Proceeding to display evolved tools: Subatomic Genetic Stimulation: The tool will locate and activate hidden genes, allowing you to awaken a dormant Lineage. You can also increase the purity of bloodlines 1 Tier above the Divine Tier. Subatomic Genetic Suppression: The tool will locate and suppress detrimental genes, allowing the purification and modification of a Lineage. It can work on bloodlines 1 Tier above the Divine Tier. Subatomic Genetic Enhancement: It can work on bloodlines 1 Tier above the Divine Tier. It can deliver a Flawless Enhancement once per genetic evolution if done in the Vessel. Genetic Rewrite: Can override an individual''s genome, converting it into the most basic state of their race, clean of any external or hereditary alteration.] Cain could not help but feel a little disappointed that there was no new tool on the module. Still, that did not mean they were not helpful. After all, thanks to the [Subatomic Genetic Enhancement], Cain could perform a [Flawless Genetic Enhancement] that improved his base strength by 50%, something very useful in the battle against the Blood King. After all that, it was finally time to unlock the next module. This one was special since it was the last of the Absolute Life Form Modules, and Cain was sure it would be impressive. "System, unlock the next module." Cain communicated with the system without wasting a second and unlocked the last module. Like with the [Genetic Coder Module], [Gluttony Module], and [Enhancement Module], he felt a sharp pain in his head along with a sense of great weight on his brain. Yet, this one was much more potent than the previous modules and lasted ten minutes. Finally, Cain managed to regain his focus and heard a message echo inside his mind: [Samsara Arsenal Module Activated] Chapter 711: Samsara Arsenal Module (II) Cain felt those words echoing in his mind with so much power that he was surprised. It was as if the Absolute Life Form System, which always remained objective and impartial, felt a certain excitement and affinity regarding this module. He did not lose too much time with those thoughts and focused on his soul sea as he saw a small black pyramid inside. It was beyond majestic and radiated a force that he could not even start to comprehend. "System." Not wasting time on useless hypotheses, Cain focused on the system for it to explain just what type of module he had obtained. [Samsara Arsenal Module: A supreme treasure meant to provide the Vessel with all he would need on his future path. It has several layers. Currently, only the First Layer is accessible. Tools: Carnage Rebirth Cycle: The Samsara Arsenal will absorb the residual soul and spiritual energy left by all life forms killed by the Vessel to form Soul Automatons. Energy Conservation Cycle: The Samsara Arsenal Module is a closed cycle, so all the energy released in spells or attacks remains inside, eventually fused into the matrix of the dimension. This also prevents the true destruction of Soul Automatons. Samsara Anchor: Creates a portal that allows other life forms to enter the Samsara Arsenal Module''s First Layer without needing the Vessel''s presence. To better understand the Samsara Arsenal Module, please enter the First Layer. Once the Vessel is transported into the First Layer, a Space Core will remain in the main plane of existence, hidden among layers of space. If this one shatters, the Vessel will be forcefully extracted from the dimension, going through several spatial storms that might induce severe harm.] Cain was still grappling with shock as he heard the description of the new module. Just the [Carnage Rebirth Cycle] tool was shocking as it involved universal forces that, even for someone with Cain''s cultivation and understanding of the soul, was incredible. The dimension was so perfectly sealed that no energy would ever disappear. That meant that even if you fight for hours, killing hundreds of Soul Automatons, the dimension would only grow more powerful since it would not lose energy but would gain the one you release. Not to mention that it seemed it had a tool specifically designed to allow someone else to interact with the module. Although Cain could use the [Genetic Coder Module] and [Enhancement Module] to help others, the cost increased as a sort of penalty. Cain took a moment to analyze everything. After a moment, he focused, and the next second, he vanished from the room. Although it might seem there was nothing left, if your mastery over the Law of Space was high enough, you could see a dark core hidden between the dimensions. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he appeared in a dimension with a dark sky and barren ground covered in a faint purple mist. The first thing he did was to go through the [A.I. Chip Module], and a smile appeared on his face as he saw that the [Multidimensional Scan Force Field] tool could inform him of everything happening outside so he would not have to worry about someone coming in and striking the Space Core. Only then did Cain proceed to inspect the dimensions. However, before he could begin, a look of shock and awe appeared in his eyes as he felt it. A massive change occurred within him, not physically but mentally, as he could feel his cognitive abilities improved exponentially. As Cain was trying to understand the origin of that change, the Absolute Life Form System''s voice echoed in his mind. [Soul Enlightenment Mist: Purple mist that covers the First Layer. It will improve the cognitive and computational capabilities of anyone inhaling it. There is a limited amount, but it can be replenished.] Cain''s eyes widened as a smile full of thrill and delight appeared on his face. Although improved cognitive abilities might not sound very useful, that could not be further from the truth. There are two parts to cultivation. The first is understanding the principles of the techniques, and the other is mastering them through practice. The first part of every technique required a lot of time, which was why many cultivators stagnated for hundreds of years without being able to advance. Even Cain, with all his talent, had been forced to spend weeks and months meditating over techniques before being able to fully deploy their power, but the [Soul Enlightenment Mist] would help him with that. It might also push his cognitive abilities to the point where he could meditate on his cultivation and, at the same time, continue his training in Professions like Genetic Coding. Although Cain''s talent as a Genetic Coder might be of the highest Tier in Aether, he simply did not have time to train as the many aspects of his cultivation remained too much of his mental power. Just the purple mist made this dimension unbelievably valuable as it would improve his communication speed and allow him to focus on his Professions, but it was far from everything. His eyes grew sharp as he looked west. Massive metallic pillars rose from the ground for hundreds of thousands of meters, and storm clouds covered the sky. [Death Forest: Home of the Soul Automatons. The deeper you go, the stronger the automatons become.] The Absolute Life Form System echoed inside Cain''s mind, describing that location. Cain softly nodded before gazing to the east, where a massive castle was built. [Samsara Sacrificial Ground: Home of the Samsara Flame.] Cain did not hesitate before walking toward the castle, and his eyes narrowed as he saw no mark of engraving on its walls of any kind. He opened the walls, and just like on the outside, there was nothing meaningful about the castle, making him wonder if someone was trying to hide something or if they just did not bother with aesthetics. However, all those thoughts vanished from Cain''s mind as his eyes were drawn to a bright purple flame. Chapter 712: Death Forest Cain''s eyes widened as he stared at the Samsara Flame. Despite having mastered the Law of Fire to the Law Integration level, he could not comprehend even the most fundamental aspect of that bright purple flame, and its power was clearly in a completely different league from any other flame he had seen before. [Samsara Flame: The core of the Samsara Arsenal Module, it is responsible for creating Soul Automatons and producing Enlightenment Mist. Any sacrifice made to the Samsara Flame will bring forth Fortune. The stronger and more precious the sacrifice, the greater the amount of Fortune you will gain. Fortune will be transformed into Gifts and Merit.] As he heard the words Fortune, Gifts, and Merit, Cain frowned as these terms were foreign to him, and when he asked the system for a specific description, it remained silent. Cain waved his hand and brought forth an artifact, but just as he was about to throw it into the flame, he heard Apex''s voice inside his mind. "Brat, the first sacrifice made to any entity will be special and should obtain additional rewards. I advise you to wait until you have something truly valuable to sacrifice." Apex''s voice caused Cain''s eyes to narrow, and after a moment, he softly nodded. After one last look at the flame, he stored the artifact and left the Samsara Sacrificial Ground, turning his gaze to the Death Forest. Cain flashed toward the forest of dark metallic pillars, and as soon as he set foot in it, his eyes narrowed. "HUUUMMMM!" The Death Pillars began to resonate, unleashing a vibrational force that sought to affect Cain''s senses and limit the range of his Ego Wave. A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he focused on his senses, allowing them to overcome the hindering force, when he noticed two dark figures rising from the Death Pillars. One of them wielded scimitars while the other was enveloped in arcs of lightning. The duo showed no emotions or hesitation as they attacked Cain with murderous intent. "?BOOM!" "CRACK!" A small explosion echoed as the lightning struck Cain''s body before the scimitars did the same. However, the lightning was unable to harm his skin, and the scimitars shattered against his body. Cain''s hand moved extremely fast, and he grabbed the head of the figure with the scimitars with his right hand. His eyes glowed with Sun Force as he turned to the one that cast the spells. Cain''s right hand immediately shattered the head of the dark figure with the scimitars, and his Sun Eyes made a hole in the chest of the second. However, the beam of sun force was so intense that it pierced through the dark figure, landing on one of the dark pillars. An attack of Sun Eyes had the power to make a hole in the chest of Late Divine Ascension Masters, yet when they landed on the dark pillar, they immediately vanished. The Death Pillars seemed able to absorb any form of energy that made contact with them. A flash of surprise appeared on Cain''s face as he saw that, and the shock grew the next second as he saw how the two dark figures he killed melted into a black substance, landed on the ground, and fused back into the Death Pillars. "So these are the Soul Automatons. The power they unleashed was around a Peak Wave Champion. I''m sure stronger ones will be deeper into the forest, but where did they emerge? I haven''t killed anyone since awakening the module." "Brat, you might have awakened the module just today. Yet, that does not mean that in its sealed form, it did not devour the residual soul force and spiritual energy of those you killed." Cain''s eyes widened as he heard Apex''s words, and it became clear that the Samsara Arsenal Module was in a different league than the other modules. He nodded to the System Spirit and walked deeper into the Death Forest. No more Soul Automatons emerged, and Cain concluded that they would not attack a target if the difference in power was simply too great, as such fights would be pointless. After nearly three thousand kilometers, Cain felt a change as the Death Pillars grew larger, and the humming sound that affected his senses became stronger. Less than five seconds after the change, two more figures emerged from the dark pillars. This time, they were a swordsman and an archer. The swordsman was surprisingly fast, appearing behind Cain''s back and thrusting the weapon toward his spine with great power. At the same time, the archer charged its bow with powerful flame and shot it toward Cain, combining the might of a spell and the kinetic force of the projectile. Once again, Cain let the attack land point-blank on his body. He felt some heat on his face where the arrow landed and mild discomfort on his back as the sword attempted but failed to pierce his skin. "?BOOM!" An explosion echoed as Cain turned around and kicked the head of the Sword Soul Automaton, destroying it. Just as he was about to destroy the archer, it melted into the dark pillar. The next second, the broken body of the Sword Soul Automaton melted and fused back into another Death Pillar. After that, no more attacks came as Cain was simply too powerful for the Peak Wave King Soul Automatons. It was not until Cain advanced ten thousand more kilometers that he once again noticed that the dark pillars grew in size and sensory deprivation power. Like before, two Soul Automatons emerged and lunged toward him, but even those at the Peak Apotheosis Realm were not able to harm Cain due to the incredible durability of his flesh. Cain continued advancing, but this time, as he reached the division line, he made a slight pause, and his eyes grew sharp. "Past this point, I should find Soul Automatons with the power of Late Divine Ascension Master, meaning Titans and Gods." Chapter 713: Taking care of the Dark Kings (I) Cain took a deep breath as he focused on the Death Pillars that rose for hundreds of thousands of meters and adjusted his senses to the best of his capabilities before making his Astral Wave and Essence Wave burst. Although he could kill Titans and Gods with a single full-power strike by this point, that didn''t mean enough of them couldn''t overcome his defenses, especially if his senses were affected. He took a step forward, and immediately, a fierce humming sound wave affected his senses to the point that he was blind and deaf for an instant. Pushing his other senses to the limit and relying on his sense of touch to perceive the changes in the wind, Cain turned to the left and sent forward a punch that contained the full might of his Astral Wave. "?BOOM!" An explosion echoed as Cain''s fist shattered the arm of the Soul Automaton that was sending a punch to his head. Without delay, Cain grabbed the Soul Automaton''s neck and positioned it in front of him, using it as a shield against the magma blast fired in his direction. The Magician Soul Automaton showed no reaction at seeing Cain use one of its kind to block the spell and simply prepared another attack. However, the following second, Cain''s figure vanished, and before the automaton could do anything, a fist pierced through its back. Cain''s eyes were cold as he destroyed the Magician Soul Automaton. The next second, both melted and returned to the dark pillar, just like all the others before them. However, the Soul Automatons released two thin streams of purple energy that fused into his body this time. A flash of confusion appeared in Cain''s eyes as he felt the purple energy, but he didn''t have time to focus on it as he perceived more Soul Automatons emerging from the Death Pillars. Coldness and killing intent appeared in Cain''s eyes as he focused on the Soul Automatons, and he flashed toward them without hesitation. ... "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Explosions echoed inside the Death Forest as Cain fought against the Tier 4 Soul Automatons. The weakest had Late Divine Ascension cultivation, but as Cain moved deeper into the forest, he found some at the Peak Divine Ascension. After moving deep into the Death Forest, Cain encountered Soul Automatons with the power of True Titans and True Gods, which forced him to push his martial arts and energy pools to their limit. After almost six hours of fighting, Cain flashed back to the outer layers of the Death Forest. His face was pale, and he was beyond exhausted as the power of the Tier 4 Soul Automatons was genuinely formidable, not to mention they had flawless teamwork and complete disregard for the lives of their companions. Only after returning to the zone with Tier 3 Soul Automatons could Cain relax, and his eyes narrowed as he looked back. "Those Soul Automatons, all their attacks are at vital points, yet they did not chase me when I escaped. While they attack with killing intent, they are also programmed not to chase after opponents who try to escape." Cain softly nodded as he understood the nature of the Death Forest and the Soul Automatons. It was a great battleground that helped you train against opponents who would fight like true enemies, aiming to take your life. Yet when you retreat or try to escape, they do not chase after you. As long as you don''t overestimate your capabilities and do not have a suicidal wish, you will be fine. And that was not all since, other than improved martial arts, Cain obtained something else from this trip. He saw a thin, bright purple halo at the back of his right hand. After destroying 10 Tier 4 Soul Automatons, the bright purple energy inside him seemed to reach a breakthrough and condensed into a thin halo. The more Soul Automatons Cain destroyed, the thicker the halo became, but he did not have an idea of its purpose, and neither the system nor Apex explained it to him. A smile appeared on Cain''s face as he regained his breath and healed his wounds. Even if he did not consider that strange energy, the Death Forest was extremely beneficial for him. Although his martial arts were great, as his body grew stronger and stronger, they started to fall behind, and he could not deploy his full might. However, these hours of nonstop fighting against powerful Soul Automatons helped him in that aspect. There were plenty of wounds on Cain''s body, but none were too deep. His body was immensely resilient, thanks to the Cosmic Tyrant Framework and his Primordial Path training. Just as Cain was trying to decide his next step, his eyes narrowed since he received a message from one of the great generals. He focused, and the next second, he was expelled from the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer, appearing on the highest level of the Titan Tower. "Come." When Cain uttered that word, two figures appeared in the room. They were Sector Duke Holan and Bloodless #1. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he focused on Bloodless #1 and felt the man''s cultivation base had advanced to the Late Divine Ascension Rank. Bloodless #1 did not participate in the fight against the Blood King, but that was not out of fear. After all, that word did not exist in the vocabulary of the new leader of the Blood Sea. It was Cain who commanded this one to remain behind to protect the Golden Core Sector, as it would be irresponsible to leave the Titans Tower unprotected. However, Cain''s focus soon turned to the figure trapped in chains between the duo since it was no other than the Soul King! The Dark King''s brain waves were chaotic, and he was in a deep, comatose state, yet Holan and Bloodless #1 would not take chances with such a scheming figure and used a powerful artifact to neutralize him. Chapter 714 714: Taking care of the Dark Kings (II) Cain looked at the duo, and Sector Duke Holan immediately explained the circumstances behind the capture of the Soul King. "We found him in the Trinity Dark Towers in the Zafiro Sector, my Lord. The Inferno Daemon Gods took all their people, resources, and core pieces of the God Towers but left everything else behind, including this man." "Oh, so they did that." Cain nodded as he understood that Zinir and the other Gods likely wanted to lessen their debt to him, so they left the Soul King for him to do what he pleased with the Dark King. Of course, it also counted that the Gods hated The Organization to the bone by this point and would be happy to see them wounded. With a wave of his hand, Cain removed the chains and brought the unconscious Soul King toward him. His eyes began to glow the next second, and his Essence Wave formed a barrier around the Soul King''s brain. Cain was using Mind Cage, a spell that actually belonged to the Soul King. It generates a force field around the target''s brain, severing the connection between the mind and body, completely paralyzing this one. Although Cain doubted the Soul King could wake up from his coma, it was better to make sure. Sector Duke Holan and Bloodless #1 could sense the soul invasion spell Cain was using, and their awe toward the man only increased as it seemed there was not a single aspect of cultivation this one did not dominate. Just as Cain finished with the Soul King, his eyes narrowed and glowed with killing intent. "Good job. Continue with your missions." Holan and Bloodless #1 just heard that before Cain vanished. The duo then felt his presence outside the Titan Tower, just for this one to vanish again, appearing hundreds of kilometers away. In less than a second, the Scarlet King disappeared from the perception of the two Titans, showing a speed that not even True Titans and True Gods could match. ... The Shadow King and Undying King flashed at full speed, heading to the shore. The duo was currently in the Endless Rain Sector, and their goal was the Endless Ocean. After flying away from the battlefield, fearing becoming prey to the monstrous Blood King, the duo hid in the Endless Rain Sector. After seeing the monster''s power, the Dark Kings were sure it would be the end for the Collapsing Lightning Alliance, so they wanted to wait for new orders from the Void King. Unfortunately for the Shadow King and Undying King, not only did the monster perish, but the Scarlet King''s power rose to simply outrageous levels, and they were afraid to show their faces. Regrouping with the Gods was impossible as they were sure the Inferno Daemons hated them to the bones after they ran away and left them to their luck. Since Atlas was out of the question and the Void King was not answering their calls, the duo''s only option was to regroup with the other Dark Kings in Gaia''s south. Unfortunately, they had barely reached the border of the Endless Rain Sector when the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar discovered them. Although the True Titans did their best to hide their presence, the Shadow King, a master in espionage and assassination, quickly discovered their presence. A battle soon ensued as the Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar against the two Dark Kings, generating massive explosions that shattered space. The last time the Shadow King and Undying King faced the duo, their battle power was around the same, but now they were completely suppressed, and their only path forward was to run away. The Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar were very fast, but the Dark Kings used all kinds of trump cards to improve their speed and hide their presence. A sharp light appeared in the Shadow King and Undying King as they saw the Endless Ocean in the distance. Once inside, they could use the current and chaotic state of the waters to hide their presence completely and vanish from the duo''s radar before returning to Gaia on a distant shore. Yet, just as their goal was in sight, the Dark Kings frowned as they felt the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar stop chasing them. Although it was good, the duo could not help but feel something was wrong. "RUMBLE!!!" The next second, a powerful aura appeared, making the sky tremble and the earth crack. The Dark Kings looked to the origin of that power and saw a young man with white hair looking at them with two yellow emotionless eyes. Cain''s energy pools exploded, each with might equal to a True Titan, and if that was not enough, the natural energy flooded within his body, pushing his physical might and spells to the next level. The Shadow King and Undying King could feel space hardening around them, and the pressure emanating from the Scarlet King only increased as the Elemental Laws began to target them as well. A sharp light appeared in the Shadow King''s eyes as he clasped his hand, making his energy explode before transforming into ten clones that flashed in different directions, each fusing into the shadows and vanishing from sight. Shock and rage appeared in the Undying King as he saw how the Shadow King did not hesitate before using a trump card and escaping, leaving him to his luck. Cain only shook his head as he saw that. If the two Dark Kings had stuck together and fought him with all they had, this would have been a fight, a short one, but a fight nonetheless. However, their energy pools were low after all this running, and now that they separated, their fate was sealed. The Undying King was still processing the shock when his entire body trembled. Two red eyes focused on him, making him feel like an ant. Chapter 715 715: Taking care of Dark Kings (III) The Undying King''s soul burst with willpower, allowing him to overcome the crippling fear from those red eyes, and the next second, he clasped his hand, transforming into a poisonous death miasma that flashed into the distance. The Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar adopted solemn expressions as they felt the corrosive power in that poisonous vapor, and they would not dare to approach it without preparation. Yet, Cain immediately flashed and appeared above the miasma before sending a palm strike forward. That attack spread its destructive power through the fabric of space, encompassing the entire miasma, disintegrating it, and forcing the Undying King to return to his corporeal form. The Undying King coughed mouthfuls of blood as his body crashed into the ground. Despite the massive damage to his internal organs, he did not stop, making a hole in the ground and disappearing beneath the earth. Cain saw how the man tried to use the earth to escape and only shook his head before turning his eyes to his right hand. The interaction with the poisonous miasma lasted less than a second, yet the flesh turned necrotic, and there was even nerve damage. However, that crippling wound vanished under the might of the Radiance of Life in an instant before he flashed into the ground. Unlike the Undying King, who had to excavate through the earth, Cain''s body seemed to fuse with it as if there was no barrier between his flesh and blood and the ground. "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" Explosions echoed beneath the ground, causing massive earthquakes, but this did not last long as two figures emerged the next second. Cain''s eyes were cold as he held the Undying King by the neck, his entire body bursting with power as he sent his energy into the enemy''s meridians to neutralize this one. The Undying King''s eyes showed terror as he felt the Scarlet King''s Essence Wave and Ego Wave flowing into his body, using the power of the Space Law to seal him from the inside out. However, that terror then turned into determination as the man''s energy entered into override, and his entire body began to glow. "BOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" The Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s eyes widened as they saw the Undying King self-destruct, unleashing an explosion of dark necrotic energy charged with the power of the Law of Death. As they pulled back, the duo immediately made their Wave Cloaks burst with power to defend themselves. Worry appeared in the eyes of the True Titans as they saw that explosion. Yet, they immediately relaxed as they witnessed the Scarlet King rising above the blast the next second with minor injuries on his body. "So that is the end of the Undying King." The Collapsing Lightning Duke couldn''t help but utter those words as he saw the massive self-destruction. The Dark King, known for his survival abilities and considered immortal by some, was forced to self-destruct due to his enemy''s overwhelming power. Of course, the Collapsing Lightning Duke did not feel pity for the Undying King and was just surprised by the sudden death of this one. Yet, confusion and shock appeared in his eyes the next second as he saw how Cain dived into the blast of necrotic energy, emerging a few seconds later with a golden amber egg the size of his chest. The Scarlet King did not say a word before his Essence Wave and Ego Wave burst with power, flooding into the amber egg for roughly fifty seconds. The amber egg trembled ferociously the entire time but eventually settled down as the energy inside was sealed. Only then did Cain fly toward the duo and handed them the amber egg. When the True Titans focused on the egg, their eyes widened as they saw a decrepit body inside, the Law of Death''s aura flooding every cell. It did not take long for the True Titans to understand that the old man inside the decrepit egg was the actual body of the Undying King. That massive bulging body that seemed to recover from any damage, no matter how severe, must have been a Battle Puppet. However, that only increased the awe in the eyes of the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, as it became clear that the Undying King''s true gift was puppeteering. In that aspect, the Dark King was beyond any other cultivator in Aether. Regardless of the Undying King''s true nature, the duo soon began to smile since one of the Dark Kings that had terrorized Aether for thousands of years was captured, but the Shadow King was still free. The Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar did not say a word as they saw how Cain concentrated. Soon, a massive amount of solar spatial force began to concentrate in his right arm, only for this one to vanish the next second. "BOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" The True Titans heard an explosion followed by a cry of pain. They turned their eyes to the right and saw Cain appear nearly five hundred kilometers away, his fist blasting the back of the Shadow King. The Shadow King''s eyes widened with pain and shock as he puked a mouthful of blood. He could not understand how the Scarlet King figured out his location so quickly, and that blast caught him off guard, shattering his spine! Before the Shadow King could do anything else, Cain struck the head of this one with both palms, sending vibration waves that generated massive brain trauma. The Shadow King''s damage was so immense that his shadow cloak vanished, revealing his true appearance. What appeared after the cloak vanished was not a man but a beautiful woman with a striking figure. The fact that the Shadow King was not a man but a woman made no difference to Cain, and he carried on, striking the woman''s spine once more, ensuring it was destroyed, before sealing her energy pathways and knocking her out. Chapter 716 716: The hero and the villain Once it was all done, Cain released a deep sigh as he felt a sense of exhaustion assault him. The battle might have seemed easy, but he pushed himself to the absolute limit and faced several dangerous situations. Cain was forced to push his Astral Wave to the limit and fold space around his body to avoid severe wounds by the battle puppet self-destruction. During the attack on the Shadow King, he charged all his energy into his fist, leaving the rest of his body unprotected. Still, soon, a smile appeared on his face, as there were no more dangers in the north of Gaia with the Shadow King and Undying King neutralized. ... Cain was back on the highest floor of the Titan Tower, tending to his wounds as he gazed at the unconscious Shadow King and Undying King. "Apex, were you able to figure out their true identity?" Although the fate of the Dark Kings was already sealed, Cain wanted to know more about them. Unfortunately, Gluttony''s Eyes was still not mighty enough to devour True Titans'' souls, and even if it was, trying to win a clash of willpower against the duo would not be easy. Cain''s willpower was still at the limit of the Second Realm. There was no doubt that his Ego Wave was mightier than any other individual at Mind Over Wave, but he still needed to solidify his willpower and reach Mind Over Matter. Obtaining a soul force at the Divine Ascension Realm allowed Cain the chance to face the Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulation, but that did not mean he would just jump toward it. The power of such a phenomenon was designed to destroy the will and ego of monsters like him, so if he was not prepared, the only thing he would gain from facing the tribulation would be death. Luckily for him, the Absolute Life Form Module had hacked into the Godslayer Humankind Empire''s most secure databases, giving Apex a chance to uncover the Dark Kings'' identities. "The Undying King should be part of the Osirik Family. They were a powerful noble family that was destroyed five thousand years ago after the Imperial Court found out that they kidnapped members of other noble families to make them Battle Puppets. According to the information, all the Osirik Family''s upper echelon was butchered, and their ancestral home burned to ashes. Judging by the Undying King''s age, this man must have been around five years old when that calamity fell, managing to escape through the cracks." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard the Undying King''s past, and he could not help but gaze at this one for a moment. The man saw his entire family destroyed, causing a burning hatred to emerge inside his heart, which he used to grow stronger and pay back all the pain. The Scarlet King could not help but think about the memories of his past life. An overwhelming force also destroyed his entire clan, and he exacted revenge by killing every single man, woman, and child of that empire. "Boy, do you know the difference between a hero and a villain?" Apex''s words drew Cain''s attention back from his introspection. The question the System Spirit posed had many answers, but he remained silent and waited for this one to continue. "The answer is pain. The hero and the villain face pain that reaches into the deepest parts of their souls, leaving a scar that can never fade. The villain seeks to spread that pain to the entire world, flooding everybody''s hearts with it, hoping that it will diminish his own and make him feel better. On the other hand, the hero wants to protect others from those scars, using that pain as fuel to build a better world." The golden humanoid paused at this point, seeing that his words had little to no impact on Cain''s state of mind, something to be expected from a Master of Order. A decisive light appeared in his eyes as he carried on. "There was once an ordinary man who was thrust into a world full of chaos and demons. The pain, treachery, and carnage of the world forced him to become a demon himself, an emotionless killing machine that could set entire worlds ablaze and cause the death of billions with a wave of his hand. That man rose to the highest stages of the chaotic world, becoming a master of death and destruction, yet twisting his mind and ego to the point that he could only see darkness. However, one day, that man had a second chance and chose to trust others, obtaining a family and friends who loved him from the bottom of their hearts. This man who reached the epitome of death and carnage in his past life chose to protect those he loved from that darkness. He led a crusade through the stars to set ablaze all the evil that exists." As Cain heard those words, he could not help but frown since what Apex described was a life whose purpose was to grow stronger in the name of others, a view of the world that did not fit the mentality of a Master of Order, an entity that saw himself as the core of the universe. All sorts of questions appeared in Cain''s mind, as this was the first time that Apex described anything related to the system''s origins. "Was that man the creator of the Absolute Life Form System?" Cain could not help but ask that question. The Absolute Life Form System was his greatest weapon but also his greatest enigma, and he wanted to understand its nature and origin more than anything else in the world. However, as he grew stronger and understood more about cultivation, the more Cain understood just how incredible the Absolute Life Form System was and how weak he was in its presence. The golden humanoid in the deepest part of Cain''s soul sea smiled as he heard the question. Chapter 717: Tier I Rebirth Mark "Maybe. You could ask him if you two ever meet. Although, let me tell you that with your current talent and achievements, he might not even glance in your direction." Cain''s eyes widened. He noticed the mocking tone in Apex''s voice, but he was also sure that this one was not exaggerating. Even if his talent was the highest among Aether''s trillions of life forms, it was still not enough. "Hahaha, ok, let''s not waste more time. The woman''s identity is simpler. She is a whore." Cain''s face twitched as he heard Apex''s words. The atmosphere was solemn a second ago, but all that broke instantly. Although he still had many questions, it was clear that the System Spirit would not give him any answers, so he did not bother to ask. "What do you mean by whore?" "What you would expect. The Shadow King''s name was Veronica, and she was once part of Angar Aegon''s harem. The woman was very good at seduction and ambitious. She slept with many men and played with their feelings, allowing her to steal some of the core techniques and resources of the Aegon Family. They found out and hunted her down. According to the report, she perished, but it seemed she was able to fake her death." "Oh, I see." Cain nodded and immediately lost interest in the Shadow King. The woman''s story did not interest him in the slightest, and he would dispose of her without hesitation. As for informing Angar about it, there was no reason to burden the man with that information, and it was better if he kept thinking this woman had perished long ago. After a moment, a decisive light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he vanished with the two Dark Kings, appearing inside the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer. Cain walked into the Samsara Sacrificial Ground with the two Dark Kings, soon reaching the Samsara Flame. With a wave of his hand, he made the Soul King appear and, the next second threw the trio into the bright purple flame! The Soul King was in a comatose state, so he made no sound. However, the Undying King and Shadow King woke up as agony appeared in their eyes. However, it did not last long, as the bright purple fire consumed the trio in less than a second. A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he saw how the Samsara Flame consumed the three Dark Kings and how pink-purple mist emerged from it, filling the surroundings. However, his focus reached the extreme as he saw how a bright purple energy rose into the ceiling of the sacrificial ground. ''So that is Fortune.'' Cain adopted a solemn expression as he saw how over 80% of the bright purple energy coalesced into a golden force before transforming into an ethereal, luminous orb. Before Cain could even try to comprehend the orb''s nature, the rest of the bright purple energy flashed into his right hand, fusing into the purple halo! A searing pain affected Cain as the bright purple halo on his right hand grew broader, and soon, more lines began to form inside. The pain almost made him want to sever his right arm, but he just clenched his teeth and endured. It lasted over ten minutes before it finally ended, leaving Cain''s entire body soaked in a cold sweat. After a moment and regaining control over his breathing, Cain turned his eyes to the back of his palm, and a sense of shock and awe assaulted him. What was before a simple thin halo became a pentagram made of interlocking lines, creating a star shape with a circle around it. Surrounding the pentagram were multiple bands containing a variety of runic symbols that Cain could not comprehend as the Laws and cosmic forces they embodied were simply too high for him. The most striking part of the pentagram was the detailed eye symbol with concentric circles within the central pentagon of the star. When Cain focused on it, he could not help but feel it looked back. "Congratulations. You have accumulated enough Merit to obtain the Tier I Rebirth Mark. You can now burn 25% of your life force without permanent repercussions. It will heal over time, or you can speed it up using treasures. Continue the hard work to unlock the complete Rebirth Knight Runic Set. The more precious the sacrifice, the better. I also like evil things, so make sure to bring me sinful entities." Cain turned to the Samsara Flame with shock as he heard a voice from it. The message seemed to be preprogrammed, but even then, it could not diminish the might and majesty of the voice. "Hahaha. Well done, brat. See, I told you it was better to wait. By making the trio your first sacrifice, you obtained a Tier I Rebirth Mark." Apex''s voice echoed inside Cain''s mind, and although he was full of questions, he was also ecstatic. Even for someone like Cain, who had overwhelming vitality and regeneration abilities like Radiance of Life, life force was something he was cautious about consuming, especially as his flesh and blood became stronger. Cain doubted there were treasures in Aether that could heal the damage to his life force due to his overwhelming vitality and constitution, but this Rebirth Mark was capable of doing so. Although it was only 25%, it was already an immense help in terms of battle power and survival. As Cain gazed at the rune, he could not help but speculate the power the higher tier would carry, and he could not even imagine what abilities the Rebirth Knight Runic Set could unleash. After overcoming the shock of the mighty rune that was now on his hand, he turned his gaze to the luminous orb that still floated in the ceiling. Cain brought it to him with a wave of his hand, and his eyes narrowed as he focused on this one. "I assume this is the Gift that consumed 80% of the Fortune." Chapter 718: Space-Time Eye Cain stared at the orb for a few seconds before sending his Ego Wave into it. However, as soon as his red force field touched the orb, he immediately tried to pull it back since the luminous orb began to consume its energy like a ravenous beast. If before the infusion of Merit made Cain feel his hand was set ablaze, now he felt his mind split in half due to the luminous orb draining his Ego Wave. It was an excruciating feeling, and the worst part was that it neutralized him, making it impossible to fight back. Luckily for Cain, it lasted only a few seconds, and just as he was regaining his focus, the luminous orb flashed toward his forehead, piercing into his skull! Cain could not help but show terror on his face as he felt the luminous orb piercing his skull and unleashing trillions of microscopic tendrils that connected to his brain. Just as he prepared to take drastic measures, the pain faded, and a wave of confusion assaulted him since now he was seeing from three different angles. With a wave of his hand, Cain conjured a piece of reflective ice. He saw that he now had a third vertical eye on his forehead. Half of it was sky blue, and the other was bright silver, and they were in constant motion. "Congratulations on obtaining the Tier Zero Gift, the Space-Time Eye: It is the treasure of the Supernova Race, offering you insight into the fabric of reality itself and the ability to manipulate the very threads of space-time." Once again, that majestic voice echoed from inside the Samsara Flame, revealing the treasure''s nature and power. Immediately, a sense of delight appeared on Cain''s face as the Space-Time Eye was exactly what he needed. His training as a Primordial exponentially improved his mastery of the Elemental Laws. Yet, Cain lagged in the Law of Space since he had no treasure or bloodline related to this power. Yet, now that was solved! Although Cain had just obtained this third eye, he could feel his affinity to the Laws of Space-Time improving by leaps and bounds. As Cain focused on his third eye, he could perceive spatial dimensions with greater clarity than ever before and even detect the majestic flow of time to some extent. "Was it just luck, or are the Gifts related to the needs of the person?" Cain could not help but ask as he stared at the flame, but it was clear he would not get an answer. After a few seconds, he turned around and left the sacrificial ground, turning his gaze back to the Death Forest before focusing on his Tier I Rebirth Mark. Sacrifices are not the only way to obtain Merit since you can also receive it by defeating Soul Automatons. However, the second path was much more time-consuming, and if Cain''s calculations were correct, he would have needed to fight for over two years before gaining enough Merit to form his Tier I Rebirth Mark. The Death Forest was a training ground and a path for those who could not amass sacrifices. It took a lot of time, but it was better than nothing. Cain smiled as he clenched his fist, and the Space-Time Eye began to glow as he flashed into the Death Forest. He was not aiming for Merit but wanted to test just how strong he had become now that his ability to wield the power of the Law of Space had grown exponentially. ... "?BOOM!" "BOOM" "BOOM" "BOOM" Explosions echoed above the Tier 4 Battlefield of the Death Forest as Cain faced four Soul Automatons with the might of True Titans and another twelve with the strength of Peak Divine Ascension Masters. Cain smiled as he dodged the blow of a Soul Automaton before sending it flying away with a flaming kick. The next second, he raised his left hand, freezing a fireball about to land on his face. Freezing was not the right word since, technically, what Cain did was trap the spell in a time-space stasis field, transforming the centimeter between the fireball and him into thousands of meters and reducing the projectile''s speed. That made it seem as if Cain could freeze the spell with a single move of his hand. Of course, such an ability consumed a massive amount of energy and could only be maintained for a short time. However, that was not a problem since Cain needed less than a second to adjust the vibrations of his Essence Wave before touching the fireball and redirecting it toward another Soul Automaton. "?BOOM!" Just after blasting one Peak Divine Ascension Soul Automaton to pieces, the Space-Time Eye glowed with golden light, and he moved to the side before sending a kick. A True Titan Soul Automaton capable of teleportation appeared just to receive a kick to the neck that shattered its spine. Although Cain''s mastery over the Law of Time was very low, the Space-Time Eye provided a glimpse into the cause-and-effect chains in the temporal realm, offering him the chance to anticipate and counteract all sorts of attacks. That power allowed The Flow to show even greater powers, to the point that he could predict outcomes much sooner, extending his window of response. Cain continued smiling as he improved his martial abilities when suddenly he received a message through his [A.I. Chip Module], and immediately coldness emerged in his eyes. The fact that he was distracted did not mean the Soul Automatons would stop, and they carried on with their attacks. Half attacked with a weapon capable of sundering the fabric of space, while the other half fired spells that could unleash a destructive power superior to the H-bomb. Just as they were about to unleash an onslaught, Cain clasped his hand with all his strength, generating golden space-time shockwaves that sent the Soul Automatons flying away and even managed to affect the spells fired toward him. Immediately, he focused on the outside world, vanishing the next second. Chapter 719: Cowardly Titans Several figures were in the sky above the fortress in the Golden Core Sector. Sector Duke Holan, Bloodless #1, and three other Titans stood on one side, all showing eyes full of loath and disdain. Opposite them were six individuals, five of whom were Titans, and the last was a young man with dark hair and golden pupils. Despite being the weakest of the group, he stood at the center with a dignified smile. This young man was none other than Kamel Goldsoul, the Third Imperial Prince of the Godslayer Humankind Empire and son of the Golden Emperor. "Asher, you coward, how dare you show your face in this place after running away like a coward, leaving the people who depend on you to their luck?" Sector Duke Holan, usually a very peaceful and collected individual, couldn''t help but burst with rage and hatred as he glared at the Titan with silver metallic skin next to the Third Imperial Prince. Holan''s rage was directed at Asher, but his loathing and disdain extended to all the Titans next to the Third Imperial Prince. These were the Sector Dukes who ran away when the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army reached Gaia, abandoning billions of people in their Sectors. Sector Duke Asher maintained a composed expression, showing no concern for the disdain from Holan and the others. "Who do you think you are calling a coward, Holan? My comrades and I went to the capital for help and managed to bring the Third Imperial Prince back with us. Although Lord Kamel is young, he is extremely talented and a master of warfare." "It took a lot of effort to convince the Third Imperial Prince to come with us." "We sacrificed a lot to ensure Lord Kamel could free his time and assist us." "With such a distinguished figure, we will surely overcome the tide and defeat the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army." Kamel remained silent, simply basking in the praises from the Titans. Sector Duke Asher turned to Holan with a wide smile as he saw everything going according to his plan. "Holan, there is enough merit and praise for all of us. We should gather our forces and deliver the final blow to the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army, making our names resonate through Eden." Holan was honestly shocked by the shamelessness of Asher''s statement. Asher fled like a coward when the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army arrived but now wanted to pretend he had contributed to the victory and claim part of the glory when the war was over. "Just how disgusting can your filthy soul be." Holan''s eyes turned cold as he stared at Asher, and killing intent soon emerged. If these five Titans had stayed, the casualties in the war against the Inferno Daemon Invasion Force would have been much lower. Yet, these people showed no remorse and even pretended to come to help in order to take the credit. It wasn''t just Holan who was enraged; Bloodless #1 and the other three Titans also burst with rage and killing intent, ready to lunge at the cowards and tear them to pieces. Sector Duke Asher and the other four cowardly Titans were shocked at the group''s killing intent and sensed danger. They were supposed to be equal in strength, yet Holan and the others seemed much stronger. "Hmph. How can a mere Sector Duke show such hostility towards fellow Titans? I will make sure my father knows about this!" Before Holan could make a move, the Third Imperial Prince stepped forward and shouted, immediately using the name of the Golden Emperor to suppress them. When Holan saw the Third Imperial Prince, he clenched his teeth. He felt nothing but disdain for the young man who went along with this shameless act. Yet, he did not dare to attack the bloodline of the Golden Emperor. Asher smiled smugly, seeing that Holan and the others dared not attack in the presence of Kamel. "Hahaha, brothers, there''s no need to let your feelings get the best of you. Let''s unite our forces to protect the north of Gaia as a single force. There''s more than enough glory to share." The moment Asher finished his sentence, the world began to tremble, and a monstrous killing intent flooded the sky and earth. Holan, Bloodless #1, and the members of the Collapsing Lightning Alliance only felt a powerful aura. Yet, Asher and the other cowardly Titans felt as if they were plunged into rivers of blood, fearing they were in the jaws of a monster ready to tear them apart. The Third Imperial Prince saw Asher and the other Titans turn pale and tremble. He then turned to the source of the aura and saw three eyes glowing with red light, freezing his heart. Cain stood in the sky with emotionless eyes as he gazed at Sector Duke Asher and the other cowardly Titans. He loathed cowards, but what he truly despised from the bottom of his soul were hypocrites. The fact that these five dared to return and demand a role in a war that was already over made him feel sick. When Holan, Bloodless #1, and the other three Titans saw Cain, they immediately formed two rows and adopted a military stance. Despite their might and status, they behaved as regular soldiers in the face of their highest commander. The Third Imperial Prince needed a moment but regained the ability to think. He couldn''t help but clench his fists as he observed Cain''s figure. The young man still remembers how he had laughed from the bottom of his heart when he heard the news that Cain had perished at the hands of the Blood King, but a few weeks ago, news of his return spread across the entire Gaia Continent. The main reason Kamel came with the cowardly Titans was to gain merits, but he also wanted to suppress that young man who dared to embarrass him. However, now he could barely speak in the presence of this one and could not understand how Cain had become so strong in such a short amount of time. Chapter 720: Golden Emperor Incarnation Cain barely glanced at the Third Prince as he exerted even more pressure on the coward Titans. He combined the full might of his Ego Wave with the power of the Law of Space, transforming the sky into a nightmarish ocean before speaking in a voice full of coldness and disdain. "General Holan, why are those five traitors not in chains?" Sector Duke Asher and the other cowardly Titans were shocked and terrorized when they heard how the young man, who could freeze their hearts, branded them traitors. That feeling only grew stronger when they saw how Sector Duke Holan''s eyes glowed with resolute determination and turned toward them with indiscriminate killing intent. "Who do you think you are to brand Titans as traitors? What evidence do you have?" The Third Imperial Prince shouted toward Cain. He was still shocked, but his envy and hatred toward the young man were enough for him to raise his voice. Cain turned toward Kamel, speaking with a voice full of disdain. "I say they are traitors, so they are. It is as simple as that." Those words carried such overwhelming might that shocked all who heard them. It was like a God-King passing down a verdict, and there was nothing people could say against it. Even the Imperial Decrees passed down by the Godslayer Humankind''s Emperor did not carry such tyrannical might. The more Cain shined, the stronger the envy and hatred Kamel felt, leading him to shout again. "My father will punish you for your arrogance!" Cain could only shake his head in disappointment when he heard an Imperial Prince''s words. He then took a deep breath as his strength exploded. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Kamel''s eyes widened as he heard five explosions echo around him, only to witness how Sector Duke Asher and the other four cowardly Titans were blasted away. Less than a second later, Cain appeared before the Third Imperial Prince. Before the prince could even react, Cain grabbed his neck. Kamel felt his neck would shatter at any moment due to the crushing pressure of Cain''s grip, and he could not breathe, much less speak. Although the Third Imperial Prince struggled like a fish out of water and scratched Cain''s arm, he was only an Apotheosis Master and could not break free with such little power. "You have extremely powerful bloodlines running through your veins and a background normal people could not even dream of obtaining. Yet you waste those gifts, performing shameful schemes like this one that would embarrass even the lowest of life forms." Cain could only sigh as he saw how Kamel did not even listen to his words and just kept struggling to break free, having completely lost control over his body. "Ahhh. You are such a waste. It is better to get rid of you now." A flash of killing intent appeared in Cain''s eyes as he prepared to blast Kamel''s head to pieces when, suddenly, the bracelet on the man''s wrist began to glow with powerful golden light. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Golden shockwaves emerged from the bracelet, unleashing an immense repulsive force that sent Holan, Bloodless #1, and the other Titans away. However, Cain managed to resist them as he unleashed the full might of his cultivation. The golden force then covered Kamel''s body, trying to take him away, but Cain unleashed the full might of his physical power, keeping his grip on the man''s neck. The bracelet attempted to take Kamel away for nearly ten seconds before stopping, instead generating a golden figure. Although it was only an energy incarnation, there was a flash of ego and will in its eyes, making it clear he was connected in real time to his origin. Holan, Bloodless #1, and the other Titans were shocked to see the golden figure. Although his appearance was blurry, there was no doubt in the group that it was none other than the Golden Emperor! The group''s first instinct was to kneel in the presence of the Golden Emperor''s Incarnation, but they could not help but glance at each other as they understood against whom the incarnation was clashing. The Titans silently nodded as they stood straight, not saying a word but making clear their stance and with whom they aligned. A sharp light appeared in the golden incarnation as he saw the reaction of Holan and the rest, but he did not lose time with them, instead immediately focusing on Cain, who still had a tight and suffocating grip around Kamel''s neck. Cain''s eyes were calm and serene as he glanced at the golden incarnation. Titles and age mattered little, and he only cared about the individual. The Golden Emperor was supposed to be the shield of the Godslayer Humankind. Yet, he never showed himself during the Inferno Daemon invasion that set the entire north of Gaia ablaze. However, now that his son was in danger, he acted. In Cain''s mind, there was nothing wrong with focusing on your loved ones and ignoring the rest since that was the mentality of a Master of Order. But it also meant that any respect he might have had for the figure of the emperor no longer existed, as he saw the man as nothing more than a True Titan of the Godslayer Humankind. The Golden Emperor could see the indifference and aloofness in the eyes of Cain, and he immediately understood that his status and name meant nothing to the young man. He couldn''t help but clench his fists at this realization since it had been hundreds of years since someone dared to look at him like that, but in the end, he could only sigh. This was only an energy incarnation, and its power only matched a Titan''s. Not to mention that the Golden Emperor felt that even if his actual body was present, he could not forcefully break that grip over Kamel''s neck. "Ahh, Scarlet King, can you let go of my son? I would appreciate it and would not forget." Chapter 721: Levis revenge (I) "Ahh, Scarlet King, can you let go of my son? I would appreciate it and would not forget." Although Holan and the others remained steady and strong in the presence of the Golden Emperor''s Incarnation, they were still shocked to hear those words coming from the emperor of the Godslayer Humankind. Cain''s eyes were peaceful as he stared at the incarnation before turning toward Kamel, not bothering to hide his disdain. "I owe you a favor for your assistance during my time in Eden. However, you only have one favor. Are you sure you want to use it on this?" The Golden Emperor Incarnation''s eyes narrowed as he heard those words, and he could not help but sigh. "He might be my greatest disappointment, but he is my son. I love him and don''t want him to die." Cain stared briefly at the Golden Emperor Incarnation before releasing Kamel''s neck, allowing the man to breathe again. Kamel began to cough as he soothed his neck before slowly raising his eyes and staring at Cain with hatred. "?Boom!" The Third Imperial Prince had barely glanced at Cain before this one gave a slap with so much strength that it shattered part of the bones on his face and sent him crashing into the ground. The Golden Emperor Incarnation could only shake his head as he saw how his son still dared to act like a temperamental child despite facing someone who would not hesitate to kill him. Ultimately, the incarnation glanced at Cain one last time before transforming into golden energy that covered Kamel''s body and brought him away from the Sector. Holan, Bloodless #1, and the other Titans gazed at Cain with awe and admiration as they saw how this one managed to face the Godslayer Humankind Emperor as if it were nothing. The only reason he did not kill Kamel was to repay the favor. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers remained in the fortress, and all they saw was how the Golden Emperor, the man who was supposed to be at the zenith of the Godslayer Humankind, could only lower his head in the face of the Scarlet King. Cain could feel the hundreds of thousands of eyes focusing on him with devotion but did not lose focus and turned toward Holan. "Get the traitors and leave them in the dungeon. Make sure they cannot commit suicide." Sector Duke Holan nodded solemnly as he and the other Titans flashed toward Asher''s group. Although Cain considered sacrificing the group to the Samsara Flame, he doubted the amount of Fortune he could obtain from them would generate a powerful enough Gift or Merit. Besides, he might have better uses for them in the future. Cain remained silent in the sky for a moment as he considered his next step, and then a sharp light appeared in his eyes. ''It is time.'' Without hesitation, Cain sent a message to the Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and the duo responded immediately. "We are finishing with fortifying the border of the demilitarized zone. We will rally the forces and arrive in the Golden Core Sector in forty-five minutes." Cain nodded before vanishing from the sky and returning to the Titan Tower. Just as he was about to enter the [Samsara Module]''s First Layer, a message reached his [A.I. Chip Module]. ''Oh. It has been a while.'' The person who spoke to Cain was someone he knew very well, and with a wave of his hand, the teleportation matrix on the floor glowed as a figure appeared. The one that appeared was a young man with black hair, fiery red eyes, and a muscular body. It was none other than Levi, one of Cain''s first comrades and friends. Levi stared at Cain with a complicated expression as he did not know how to refer to this one. The last time they saw each other, there was a difference in their power, but it was not so much as considering themselves in different leagues. But now Cain had risen to the point of standing above Titans and threatening an Imperial Child''s life in the presence of the Golden Emperor. Cain saw the conflict in the eyes of the young man and just smiled as he walked forward and patted the shoulder of this one. "I am just me." They were simple words but erased the tense atmosphere, allowing Levi to look at Cain as he did when they battled together. He smiled as he patted back, and the duo looked at each other before nodding. "So what brings you here? Although I would like to catch up, I will be leaving soon." Levi adopted a solemn expression as he heard those words and stared at Cain for a moment before speaking again. "You are going to Eden, right, to exact revenge on the Azure Royal Family." Cain did not bother to hide it and nodded. Although his travel to Eden was more than just for revenge, payback was an essential part, and many would die. "I want you to help. Please lend me your power so I can exact my revenge." Levi''s eyes glowed with a silver light as he uttered those words, and it was clear they embodied his soul''s deepest desire. Cain could see Levi''s thirst for revenge and was not surprised. He had long ago learned that Levi practiced the dangerous cultivation technique of the Third Collapsing Lightning Pillar, Kirin Goldfire, to obtain the power to exact his revenge. As for the target of that revenge, he had an idea. "You want to destroy the Hellblazer Family?" There was a time when the Hellblazer Family was nothing short of gods in Cain''s mind. However, he was no longer the young orphan from the Hellblazer Sector, and now he had the power to discuss their destruction as if it were nothing special. Levi''s silver light burst with power and rage as he heard those words. However, he softly shook his head. Chapter 722: Levis revenge (II) "Although my time in the Hellblazer Family was tough, and I loathe lots of people in it, it doesn''t go so far as to blind me and want to kill all of them. There is only one person I need to kill: my father, Caleb Hellblazer." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard that. Caleb Hellblazer was a member of the Hellblazer Family with average talent, who preferred to spend his time relaxing with women and partying rather than cultivating. Still, he was a core figure in the family as he was the eldest son of Duke Hellblazer. Normally, a direct descendant of a Sector Duke would have a high status, but while Levi''s father was Duke Hellblazer''s son, his mother''s identity was clearly not so special. Although Cain never asked, he could see by the way Levi reacted against scions who abused commoners that his mother must have been a normal person. Levi did not say anything else after that and remained silent. He had not made the request before because he did not know Cain''s plans regarding the Godslayer Humankind Empire''s politics. Yet, since Cain did not care about the Golden Emperor, he would not fear offending a Sector Duke. "I can kill Caleb Hellblazer if that is what you want." Cain''s voice was calm, and he showed no emotions. He did not know Caleb Hellblazer, nor did he have a bad or good impression of him, but since his friend wanted to kill him, then that man would die. However, things were not so simple as Levi immediately shook his head. "I know that would be easier, but I cannot accept it. I understand it might be stupid and foolish, but I need to be the one that kills that man. My power is rising higher, and I might not need much to surpass my father, but during the war, I was close to death more times than I could count, so I cannot simply wait since who knows if I will be alive next year." Levi clenched his fists as the silver light in his eyes grew more and more powerful. The desire to exact revenge had nearly become an obsession by this point, and if he wanted to fully get rid of it and rise higher, he would need to do it himself. Cain could not help but frown as he heard that. Killing Caleb was easy, and he could even make it look like an accident, but securing a chance for Levi to do it was much more complicated. "You are a Middle Wave King, and according to the last report I have access to, that man is a Peak Flesh Capability Apotheosis Master. Even if Caleb''s battle power and martial skill are mediocre, your chances of victory are minimal." Levi was talented and hardworking, having developed a battle power that could stretch into the bottom of the Apotheosis Realm, but that was it. The young man knew the fight with Caleb would not be easy, but the silver light in his eyes kept strong. Cain could see the determination in Levi''s eyes. After a moment, he shrugged his shoulders and made a flame with 21 colors appear. "This will help you improve your talent and foundation. With it, you might be able to explode with higher battle power during the battle and defeat Caleb. However, I warn you, since your willpower is still at the First Realm, your chances of surviving the process are not that high." Levi''s eyes glowed with excitement as he saw that flame. He had already heard about them from the commanders as it was supposed to trigger the oceans of world energy that he had seen flooding into the Titan Tower dozens of times. He did not doubt there was immense danger associated with such heavenly powers, but his eyes were resolute. After all, he was already prepared to burn his life in the battle against Caleb, and with this, he might have a chance to come out not only victorious but also alive and well. Cain only smiled as he expected that answer. It was true that the 21 Revolution Refinement would be dangerous since Levi''s will was too weak to mobilize the waves of world energy, and all the weight would rely on him. However, in the worst case, he would simply use the system. Without wasting time, Cain conjured a cocoon of Ego Wave around Levi''s body before unleashing the 21 Revolution Flame on the young man. The multicolored flame covered Levi''s body inside and out, triggering a 21 Revolution Refinement. Levi''s eyes widened as he saw giant waves of world energy flooding into his body, and for a second, he felt he would explode. Luckily, the world energy soon revolved around his flesh and energy pools. He did not remain still, and although he could not help much, he pushed his willpower to the limit to mobilize the world energy. Cain''s eyes glowed with a powerful red light as he pushed himself to the absolute limit to complete the 21 Revolution Refinement. It took several hours and a lot of effort, but he succeeded without using the system, saving millions of Destiny Force. Cain smiled as he turned to Levi and saw how this one remained in a meditative stance even after the Tribulation Enhancement was completed. It was easy to see that the young man had reached enlightenment, which was great news as it would allow him to grow stronger much faster. Not wanting to break it, Cain kept the cocoon around Levi, isolating it from the outside world before teleporting into the sky. He immediately saw thousands of people waiting for him. The Collapsing Lightning Duke, First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, Bloodless #1, and many other Divine Ascension Masters were present, accompanied by five hundred Apotheosis Masters and five thousand Wave Kings. The soldiers were divided into three groups, each standing on a Star Cruiser. Rising above the ships was the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation. Chapter 723: Scarlet Alliance Cain nodded as he surveyed the force. His power was immense and could eliminate anyone who stood in his way, but ruling required more than brute force. To ensure Gaia''s safety, he needed loyal individuals to execute his orders, serving as his agents across the sectors. That was why he chose to travel through the Star Cruisers instead of by his own power, as he would not be marching alone. The 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation didn''t appear in the last clash against the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army and the Blood King because its fuel had run out during the weeks Cain was overcoming the Bone Calamity. Moreover, its power could barely affect True Titans and True Gods, much less a Depravita of Blood. The black pyramid reserves of supreme wave crystals had been replenished and would last for two hours. Although brief, it was sufficient for what Cain needed. With many targets to eliminate, some might use cannon fodder to obstruct his path. Instead of slaughtering millions of soldiers blinded by notions of duty and honor, he would use the formation to neutralize them and focus on those truly deserving of his wrath. "I apologize for the delay. Everyone, board your respective Star Cruisers. We are leaving." The Collapsing Lightning Duke, First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, Bloodless #1, and the rest of the soldiers clasped their hands and bowed toward Cain before flashing into the ship. Shortly after, Sector Duke Holan appeared in the sky and bowed toward Cain. "You summoned me, my Lord." "You are now the Scarlet Alliance''s Guardian of the North." Titles matter due to the prestige of the one who grants them, so receiving a title directly from the Scarlet King shocked Sector Duke Holan, who immediately knelt and bowed. "I will do my utmost to repay this great honor. I will not fail the Scarlet Alliance or you, my Lord!" Cain allowed the man''s dedication, recognizing the importance of ritual and ceremony in maintaining order. Although Holan was not the strongest Titan in the Collapsing Lightning Alliance, his bravery, decisiveness, and respect from all made him an excellent choice. His sharp mind and expertise in logistics and warfare more than qualified him for this role. "I will connect your A.I. Chip directly to mine. As long as we are on the same continent, you will have access to a true artificial intelligence capable of performing one quadrillion operations per second. Its main uses are logistic and information gathering, but feel free to utilize it as you see fit." Holan''s eyes widened as he heard those words and saw a new module appear in his A.I. Chip. He glanced at it for a moment, and its capabilities were above even the mightiest computers of the Goldsaye Humankind Empire. Although Cain could shift the logistics burden to the Absolute Life Form System and Apex, that was no longer feasible for two reasons. First of all, now that the [A.I. Chip Module] evolved, it gained computational abilities above those of a Divine Ascension Master, meaning he could once again use [Virtual Sight] to predict the enemy''s movement. That tool, fused with The Flow and the temporal power of the Space-Time Eye, would push Cain''s counter abilities to the next level. However, that required most of the [A.I. Chip Module]''s computation abilities. He only granted Holan access to ten percent, leaving the rest for his purposes. Secondly, if Cain was going to build a force, it needed to be one that could grow independently and not depend on him for everything. "The cities are rebuilt and secure. You are now responsible for bringing the civilian refugees back to their homes. Ensure they are well established and distribute the resources we confiscated from the cowardly Titans among them. You are also tasked with establishing a new merit and credit system unique to the Scarlet Alliance. We will no longer use the empire''s credit system. Those who perished in the war will have their achievements and merits passed on to their next of kin. If they have none, distribute it among their squad. Use the 21 Revolution Refinement as the top-tier reward to inspire people to participate in this merit system. Also, the territories of those who fled during the war will be distributed among the warriors with the highest merit. The Endless Rain Sector now belongs to the Aegon Family." Cain paused, his eyes resolute. "Finally, once everything is in order, begin recruiting people from the northern sectors into the Scarlet Alliance." This last command stunned Sector Duke Holan. While Cain''s previous measures could be seen as temporary, and even the redistribution of sectors was understandable given their role in their recovery and protection, recruiting people signified preparing for growth beyond the war, no longer subject to the Imperial Court. This was tantamount to seceding from the Godslayer Humankind Empire, establishing a force answerable to no one. Sector Duke Holan''s eyes blazed with resolve as he nodded, understanding the burden and responsibility placed upon him. "I will execute your commands, my Lord. Long live the Scarlet Alliance." Cain nodded, pleased with the man''s determination, before teleporting with Levi into one of the Star Cruisers. As the Star Cruiser and the 81 metallic pyramids departed, Holan glanced into the distance, his eyes alight with a steely resolve. Several sectors in the north had been just far enough from the conflict to avoid involvement, and many might view the moves of the Scarlet Alliance with skepticism. For those, or anyone else unwilling to recognize the Scarlet King as the supreme commander and leader, Holan had only one response in mind. ''First, the refugees. I must ensure everything is executed flawlessly to elevate the might of the Scarlet King, making people see him as a savior, not merely a warrior. Then, I''ll deal with those Sector Dukes.'' With that final thought, Sector Duke Holan began issuing orders to all the great generals, and the north of Gaia once again surged into action as billions of people returned to their homes. However, Gaia''s north wasn''t the only one thrown into turmoil; news of the clash between the Scarlet King and the Golden Emperor rapidly spread. --- End of book 8. A shooting star across the blaze of wa Chapter 724: Hellblazer Duke Book 9: The rise of the Dark Sky --- There was an old man with a long beard at the highest level of a massive Titan Tower, despite being thousands of years old and having a thin body, an overwhelming physical power coursed through his veins. He was Gladius Hellblazer, the Patriarch of the Hellblazer Family and Duke of the Hellblazer Sector. As a man at the peak of Aether, with physical might and a background that very few in Gaia could surpass, very few things could disturb him. Yet, right now, the old man''s fiery red eyes showed trepidation due to a name that had been echoing across all of Gaia for the past few weeks. Cain Luarifer, the Scarlet King. The Hellblazer Duke was not alone. Standing in front of him was a young man with jet-black hair and fiery red eyes. That was none other than Magnus Hellblazer, the rising star of the Hellblazer Family. "That young man vanished years ago, yet he returned in a spectacular way to Gaia, saving the Collapsing Lightning Alliance from a bloody defeat. From then on, he has been displaying abilities and powers that defy reason. Not only was he a master strategist and schemer capable of tricking the Void King, but his battle power grew so fast that he could fight multiple True Titans and come out victorious. At first, I had doubts about his battle power, but the Scarlet Alliance had already spread the news that that man had killed the Shadow King and Undying King." Magnus released a complicated sigh as he heard those words. He had always considered himself a peak talent of the younger generation, and his Late Wave King Rank and even higher battle power allowed him to display that arrogance. However, that was nothing compared to the monster who could kill the Dark Kings of The Organization with his bare hands. "The new Prime Minister is summoning all Sector Dukes who are not on active missions to the capital. It''s clear by now that the Scarlet King will no longer accept the ruling of the Golden Emperor and the Imperial Court. What do you think we should do?" Although it might sound weird for the Hellblazer Duke to choose someone so young to discuss something so important, it was Magnus who would inherit the role of Hellblazer Duke in the future, so there was no one better to consult on a decision so important. Magnus remained silent as he considered their paths. While they should answer the summoning of the Imperial Court, it was clear that something strange was happening in Eden. After all, not only had they released erratic orders, but the Golden Emperor had not shown himself since the start of the Great Cataclysm. "If we answer the summoning of the capital, it would be the same as throwing our weight with the Imperial Court and might clash with the Scarlet King. However, even if we do not do it and try to remain neutral, that doesn''t mean the Scarlet King would not look down on us, not to mention we already have a complicated history." Gladius Hellblazer could not help but frown. "The clash between your man and the Scarlet King in the Blade Mountain''s military expedition." Magnus immediately nodded. "That''s right. One of my men disobeyed my order and constantly antagonized the Scarlet King. I found out he was working for Second Brother. Although I took care of the two, that doesn''t erase the animosity that might have arisen." Although Magnus just confessed to having killed one of his grandsons, Gladius showed no concerns. He had dozens of sons and hundreds of grandsons, many of whom he had never met for more than five minutes. For the Hellblazer Duke, only those who rise above the skulls of others had the right to stand before him since that was how he was raised. You either kill and steal people''s destiny, or others kill you and take it from you. "However, the true problem does not lie with the Scarlet King, but with someone from our clan, Levi Hellblazer, my young half-brother." The Hellblazer Duke could not help but frown as he heard that. He had no recollection of a grandson by the name of Levi. Luckily, Magnus immediately explained everything. "Levi was one of the bastard sons of my father. He forced himself into a young commoner and convinced Levi. As custom, once the pregnancy was discovered, the woman was brought into his harem. She was just a young Wave Warrior, and a few years after Levi was born, she died due to his abuse." Disdain and disgust appeared in Magnus'' eyes as he recounted those details, and it was evident by the way he spoke the word ''father'' that he had no feelings for that man. Gladius frowned. He was aloof to the suffering of others, a common mentality among powerhouses, but even he could not help but feel distaste for such stupid and lascivious behavior. "I once tried to contact that person after learning about his talent. If his loath was directed only to my father, I intended to raise him by my side as a shadow and give him my father''s head in the future. Of course, if I detected that his loath was directed toward the entire Hellblazer Family, I intended to kill him. However, the Ninth Collapsing Lightning Pillar, the Scarlet King''s First Master, frustrated my plans. After that, I just distanced myself and no longer bothered with his path, as he lacked the destiny to become an existential threat to our family. Yet, now that the Scarlet King has returned, Levi might use their friendship to guide the power of the Scarlet Alliance toward us." Once Magnus finished with his words, Gladius'' frown deepened. "The Scarlet King is now at the highest stage of Aether, and his eyes must be aiming at the Astral Sea. Will he really care about a friendship born when he was so weak?" "BEEP. BEEP. BEEP." Gladius had just finished his sentence when the alarms echoed across the Titan Tower. The next second, everything began to tremble, making the duo think the sky was about to break. Despite being the youngest, Magnus was able to recover first, and a smile appeared on his face as he shook his head. "It seems we have our answer." Chapter 725: Nine Void Suns The Hellblazer Sacred City was a massive city with towering buildings and an even mightier Titan Tower that allowed the Hellblazer Duke to face True Titans. Due to this power, the city''s skies had been impregnable to any foreign force for hundreds of years. It was the home of millions of people who saw the Hellblazer Family as a divine force that no one would defy. Yet, today, three massive Star Cruisers and 81 even greater metallic pyramids appeared in the sky, generating a shadow that covered the entire city. People looked up at the sky in confusion, unable to understand who would dare defy the might of the Hellblazer Family. Suddenly, a figure rose from the central Star Cruiser, releasing his energy the next second, causing the sky to tremble and space itself to crack. It was a young man, yet his power enveloped the sky, eclipsing the Start Cruiser and even the 81 media pyramid, causing all those beneath the Divine Ascension Realm to grow pale. Those with high enough cultivation could see he was a young man in a red robe with white hair and three eyes, each glowing with a red light that froze their hearts. Cain stared at the city before raising his index finger, and the next second, everyone saw a massive golden-silver sphere of flame, thousands of meters wide, appear. It was like witnessing an ocean of flame suppressed by the power of the Space Law. Before anyone could react or even speak a word, Cain moved his finger, allowing the golden-silver sphere of fire to descend into the Hellblazer Sacred City! Gladius Hellblazer immediately appeared in the sky above the Titan Tower, shocked by the massive sphere of fire, before turning towards the Scarlet King. The young man did not say a word or make any demands. He just launched an attack that could reduce the city to ashes, killing everybody in it! Initially, the Hellblazer Duke believed that despite his power, someone as young as Cain would still have a soft spot for weak people and be careful around them, something he could take advantage of. That belief was shattered as he met Cain''s gaze, which showed indifference as if he didn''t care about collateral damage. There was a chance Cain was bluffing, but the sphere would land on the city in less than a second, killing everyone. Gladius had no choice but to push the Hellblazer Titan Tower to its limit. The Titan Tower began to glow, and soon, a fiery dome appeared over the city, just in time to shield it from the massive sphere of golden-silver fire. "RUMBLE!" The fire shield immediately began to tremble as it resisted the golden-silver sphere''s power, generating waves of fire that ignited the sky. Gladius Hellblazer''s eyes were sharp and displayed absolute focus as he observed the Hellblazer Shield resisting the golden-silver sphere''s power. He wanted to use this information to better understand Cain''s battle power. After a few seconds, the golden-silver sphere finally lost its power, dispersing into nothing, while the Hellblazer Shield remained steady, making the Sector Duke smile. ''It consumed around 40% of the Titan Tower''s energy pool. He is strong but only equal to a powerful True Titan, nothing more. Those tales about his prowess must have been an exaggeration.'' Just as confidence returned to the Hellblazer Duke''s heart, he saw Cain raise his index finger, immediately summoning a new sphere of golden-silver flame three times larger than the first. Gladius was surprised Cain could generate a new and more powerful sphere so fast but remained vigilant. ''Hmph, he must be bluffing. No matter how great his battle power is, there must be a limit to his energy pool. That second sphere must have drained everything he had.'' Unfortunately for Gladius, Cain did not stop, and after that sphere came a second, then a third, and before he could overcome his shock, nine massive spheres of golden-platinum fire covered the sky. "Do you like it? I call it Nine Void Suns. It is the second dual cultivation technique I have created." Gladius'' eyes widened as he heard that voice coming from behind him, noticing the Scarlet King had vanished from the sky. He turned around to see the young man standing behind him, looking at the nine spheres of fire. "How!?" Cain turned towards the old man and thought for a moment before answering. "First, I generate a matrix of space through my Essence Wave. Then, I trigger the yang properties within my Astral Wave using the Law of Fire, flooding this matrix and giving birth to these Nine Void Suns. They are immediately powerful and demand a lot of energy, but I succeed by using natural energy." The Hellblazer Sector Duke''s eyes twitched as he heard the process by which those spheres of golden-silver fire were formed. However, that was not what he was asking; the man wanted to know how Cain could arrive so silently behind his back. The Hellblazer Shield was still in place, yet Cain managed to pierce it without generating a single ripple in space. Cain saw the shock in the eyes of the Hellblazer Sector Duke. The old man could not understand how much his abilities had improved in the past few weeks, as he had taken advantage of the Enlightenment Mist to fully integrate his knowledge and mastery of the Laws. Of course, Cain would not reveal his secrets, so he simply waved his hand, making the Nine Void Suns move at shocking speed and surrounding the entire Hellblazer Sacred City. "Lower the shield. I am after only one person, but if you get in the way, I will kill you as well." Gladius clenched his fists at those words. Even the Golden Emperor was respectful when speaking to him, but the young man showed no consideration at all. "Ah..." However, in the end, the Sector Duke only nodded before waving his hand, deactivating the Hellblazer Shield. One sphere drained over one-third of the Titan Tower''s energy pool, and these nine were even more potent. Not to mention, Cain could simply kill him and forcefully deactivate the tower. Chapter 726 726: Caleb Hellblazer Cain was happy to see the old man deactivate the Hellblazer shield. He would kill many people in the coming days, but the Hellblazer Duke was not one of them, and there was no need to diminish Gaia''s power without a reason. The Hellblazer Duke didn''t have a real choice, as Cian would not hesitate to attack him if needed, and it was clear who was strongest. However, the world was full of irrational and foolish people who chose to continue fighting due to arrogance and the belief they were superior. "Bring your son, Caleb Hellbalzer. This will not be an execution but a clash between him and Levi, and by what I have learned about your son over the last few days, it is much more than he deserves. Once this ends, as long as you don''t interfere, we will leave the Hellblazer Sector without any more violence." Cain offered no further words as he ascended hundreds of thousands of meters into the sky, accompanied by the Nine Void Suns, where a young man bathed in a golden flame awaited him. Gladius remained still after hearing those words. While he accepted Cain''s command and lowered the Hellblazer Shield, surrendering Caleb to be butchered was entirely different. After all, he was still a Sector Duke and a prideful individual. "It''s acceptable to fight to the end for a just cause, something greater than oneself. However, Caleb is definitely not worth shedding a single drop of blood over, Grandfather. If anything, getting rid of him would be a plus to the family." As Gladius was trying to decide his next step, he heard Magnus''s voice and saw the young man standing beside him with a calm expression. Clearly, the young man had no hesitation in handing over his father to the Scarlet King. Gladius''s eyes glowed with meaningful light as he nodded. He had many sons, and some filled him with pride as they were good warriors and had keen minds, but Caleb was definitely not one of them. It could be said that Caleb''s only commendable achievement was conceiving Magnus, which earned him some goodwill, but now his degenerate behavior brought calamity to the family. "Caleb, come here, now!" The Hellblazer Duke shouted, making his voice echo across the city, yet there was no response. He frowned and unleashed his Ego Wave, immediately finding his son about to ravish a young woman. "You disgusting animal!" The entire city was in a state of emergency, and a massive explosion occurred less than a minute ago. Yet, the only thing on Caleb''s mind was to satisfy his lust. If there was a single shred of hesitation in Gladius''s heart about losing his son, it immediately faded, replaced with pure contempt and loathing. Gladius flashed into Caleb''s home, shattering the ceiling. He grabbed the back of the man''s neck before flashing back into the sky. Not wanting to keep touching his son, he threw him forward. Caleb was a dark-haired and thin man with little muscle mass. Although he was an Apotheosis Master and less than five hundred years old, he looked older due to his constant debauchery. "How dare you touch me, you filthy animal!" He could not see who was responsible for interrupting him and shouted with rage as he turned around. Yet, he immediately froze as he saw his father looking at him with disdain and disgust. "Father, son, what is the meaning of this?" Gladius and Magnus could not help but frown as they heard those words coming from the man, as the idea of being connected by blood to someone like this was disgusting. "Take this. You should at least show some dignity in your last fight." Magnus threw a robe from his space ring to his father before pointing to the sky. Caleb grabbed the robe, and as he followed Magnus''s finger, he saw the Nine Void Suns, making his heart tremble. "The man in golden flames is your son, Levi. One of the bastards you conceived by forcing yourself on a commoner." Caleb''s eyes widened with fear as he heard those words. He turned to Magnus before speaking the first thought that appeared in his mind. "Who?" Magnus''s eyes widened as he saw that even after that description, Caleb had no clue who Levi or his mother were, giving an idea of just how depraved the man was. "Ah, you are really beyond redemption." Magnus sighed as he shook his head, unable to believe someone like this could be his father. "Go to the sky and face that young man. If you win, you might keep your life." Caleb immediately began to shake his head as he heard the Hellblazer Sector Duke''s words, and there was terror in his eyes. "Father, how can you allow this? We should all fight for the honor of the Hellblazer Family until the last man." Gladius''s eyes grew even colder as he heard those words. He could not stand his son''s shamelessness. "How can my blood run throughout the veins of such a coward? Go to the sky and fight, or I will rip your arms off myself and let that young man finish the job!" Caleb was shocked to hear those words. As he looked at his father and son, he saw only disdain and loathing. He was about to speak when he saw a flash of killing intent emerge from the Hellblazer Duke, making it clear that the last threat was not made in vain. He could do nothing but keep trembling as he rose to the sky, where the Nine Void Suns were in place. He glanced at Levi before showing a nervous smile and speaking in a broken voice. "You are... my son, right? There is... no need for this... we... we can fix anything. I am sure... your mother would not want us to fight." Caleb''s entire body was soaked in cold sweat, and he could barely speak properly due to the terror that flooded his heart. Chapter 727 727: Calebs death Levi''s eyes were full of shock, confusion, and doubt as he looked at his father. There was no hesitation when it came to the decision to kill the man, as it was something he had prepared himself for his entire life.e What filled Levi''s heart with confusion and doubt was the pathetic sight of Caleb. This was the man he had used as fuel to push himself harder and harder, taking on dangerous techniques and always striving further. Even now, during the trip to the Hellblazer Sector, Levi had pushed himself beyond his limit, taking full advantage of the 21 Revolution Refinement and the talent it granted to drive his Golden Life Flame Cultivation Technique to the next level, overcoming great dangers. "Is this really the monster that haunted my dreams for so many years?" Levi couldn''t help but question since now that he saw Caleb, the only thing he could see was a small man with a weak will. "He is not special in any way other than in your mind. I would have advised you not to waste your time on him, but I have seen the level of obsession this man generated in your soul, so you need to do this. It will help you escape the shackles that have suppressed your willpower." Cain''s voice was calm and carried a deep sense of wisdom. He had faced a similar situation with his bully from high school. The last time he saw that person, he realized this one was so weak and minuscule that there was no reason to waste a single breath. However, Levi''s condition was different as the hatred ran way deeper. He needed to end the nightmare with his own hands if he wanted to break free from that obsession. Levi''s eyes narrowed as he turned toward Cain. Seeing those eyes full of conviction and resolution that seemed impervious to any sort of doubt or hesitation, he nodded and closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. Caleb was still trembling as he did not dare to even make a move, and that terror reached its peak when Levi opened his eyes, showing pure and unrestrained killing intent. "Face me, father. Let''s end this like men!" Levi''s voice was full of conviction as his entire body began to glow with a golden flame full of life, pushing his vitality and physical power to the next level. Caleb''s reaction, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. As soon as he felt Levi''s aura skyrocketing, he turned around and tried to fly away. All the people in the Hellblazer Sacred City were watching that scene in the sky, and even those ardently supportive of the Hellblazer Clan could not help but shake their heads at Caleb''s shameful and cowardly behavior. Gladius Hellblazer clenched his teeth with rage as he saw how his son acted so disgracefully, and right now, he wanted nothing more than to crush the head of this one and stop the humiliation. Cain saw the man try to run but was not surprised; he expected such a thing, and he simply clenched his fists. "Nine Suns Void Domain." Immediately, the Nine Void Suns began to glow, generating a flaming web surrounding the battlefield and solidifying space inside, making moving at high speed extremely difficult, even for True Titans. Caleb was shocked by the golden-silver fire but was so afraid of Levi that he still crawled toward the flaming web, trying to break through. Yet, he was not even able to reach the web when waves of heat and spatial radiation struck him, scorching all the skin on his body. "?AHHHHH!" The man began to scream like a madman, twisting in the air. Usually, an Apotheosis Master should have the mental fortitude and willpower to resist such pain, but Caleb was simply too pathetic. Finally, the screams ended as Levi''s golden flaming hand grabbed the mouth of this one. Caleb was so terrified that he could not even fight back as Levi sent a destructive blow to his chest, shattering his sternum. "?BOOM!" A horrible agony appeared in the eyes of Caleb as he felt his bones breaking, but Levi just kept striking harder and harder. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Levi unleashed every single shred of hatred in his heart in those punches, breaking more and more bones and destroying Caleb''s internal organs. At the ninth punch, Levi''s power reached its zenith and he struck with so much strength that his fists pierced Caleb''s chest! Gladius and Magnus could not help but shake their heads as they saw that. They were not lamenting Caleb''s death but the man''s pathetic display during the last moments of his life. Levi was a Middle Wave King, and although his cultivation technique and foundation allowed him to display much higher battle power, he was still in the early stages of the Apotheosis Realm. So, Caleb should have been able to at least put up a fight¡ªa short one, but a fight nonetheless. Yet, Caleb did not launch a single blow from the start of the fight. The only thing he managed to do was scream in pain and cry. Such lowly behavior brought shame to the entire Hellblazer Family. Levi''s face was cold as he withdrew his bloody fists from Caleb''s chest, looking directly into his eyes as the light faded. Once the last sign of Caleb''s life force was gone, he simply let go of the man, disposing of him as garbage. Caleb''s body reached the Nine Void Suns Domain''s web and was incinerated until not even an atom of him was left. Cain could see how Levi''s eyes glowed with a silver light that grew increasingly powerful, showing signs of his willpower breaking beyond the Peak Wave King and evolving to the Mind Over Wave Realm. "Good." That was the only thing Cain had to say about Levi as he waved his hand, breaking down the Nine Void Suns into their raw energy and sending it back to his body. Chapter 728 728: Risking it all Levi sighed as he felt an immense weight vanish from his shoulders, and a small smile appeared. He had fulfilled his ultimate goal, the one that helped him survive as a bastard child in the Hellblazer Family. Even more importantly, he kept the promise to the most important person in his life. "I hope you saw this, mother." A flash of sadness appeared in the young man''s eyes as he uttered those last words, but it did not last long as he turned toward the Hellblazer Duke and Magnus. There was a time when the duo was high and mighty, and he could only look up at them, but now he was the one high in the sky, looking down. However, Levi did not allow himself to fall into those negative feelings; he simply turned toward Cain and gave one deep nod before returning to the Star Cruiser. He needed to be alone for the time being. Cain nodded to Levi as he turned toward Gladius Hellblazer. "As I said, now that this is over, we will leave without any more violence. Farewell, Hellblazer Duke." "Wait!" Just as Cain was about to get into the Star Cruiser and the people of the Hellblazer Sacred City thought they could relax, Magnus shouted to him. Gladius was shocked to see Magnus shout toward Cain. Just as he was about to shush him, he saw a flash of determination appear in the young man''s eyes. He could see something was growing inside the young man''s mind, and while it could be dangerous, he chose to trust in his grandson. Cain stopped his movement and turned around, glancing at Magnus. The young man was talented and strong, with a Second Realm Ego Wave and Apotheosis Rank battle power, but while that was impressive for anyone else, it was just normal for Cain''s current standards. After all, he used himself as the basis for expectable achievements. "What do you want?" Although Magnus did not arouse Cain''s interest, that did not mean he would not listen to the young man. Magnus took a deep breath and pushed his focus to the limit. He understood that dealing with a powerful entity was dangerous, especially with one currently in a cold war with the Godslayer Humankind Empire, but this was also a chance he could not miss. "I would like to know the requirements for an organization to join the Scarlet Alliance." Gladius'' eyes widened as he heard those words, and he was not alone since Magnus did not hide his voice, and everybody in the Hellblazer Sacred City could listen to them. The Sector Duke was shocked and in awe at the guts of his grandson. Undoubtedly, there would be a clash between the Goldsayer Humankind Empire''s Imperial Court and the Scarlet Alliance. Most Sector Dukes were aware and wanted nothing more than to be kept out of the fight, maintaining a neutral stance before swearing their allegiance to the winner. Such a posture would limit the dangers they would face, but it would also mean they would gain nothing, and that was fine by them but not for the young man. Magnus saw the chance of jumping into the Scarlet Alliance''s ship before the battle even started, showing sincerity by not hiding his words and making the request out in the open. That was extremely dangerous as it would put the Hellblazer Family in the eye of the storm, yet if the Scarlet Alliance came out on top, their gains would be incredible. Magnus'' eyes were resolute as he clenched his fists, doing all he could to keep his mind calm. He was in immense danger right now since if Cain were to deny them outright, the Imperial Court would punish the Hellblazer Family for their disloyalty, and the Hellblazer Duke would have no choice but to hand him over. Cain glanced at the young man and did not say a word for almost half a minute before finally speaking. "Anyone who wishes to fight under my banners must show added value. You don''t have a True Titan in your ranks, and I doubt you have something that can arouse my interest. I don''t see a reason why I should give you a chance to prove your loyalty and worth." Although the Hellblazer Family was strong and could be useful, that was not enough for Cain to take them in, especially considering their rocky relationship. Magnus'' eyes narrowed, and a smile appeared on his face. It was clear that Cain was not too eager to take them in, but as long as there was a chance, he would find a way. He turned toward the Hellblazer Duke, his eyes glowing with resolution and determination, sure this was the right path forward. On the other hand, Gladius''s eyes were full of doubt and hesitation due to the immense dangers they would face taking that path. He had built so much and did not want to lose it in bet. Cain saw the old man''s hesitation but did not care; he would not waste his time trying to entice an organization whose power did not really matter to him. "Are you really happy being a big fish in a small pond? Realize how weak we are in the face of the true might of the world''s apex! We must risk everything if we want a chance to be reborn and grow bigger!" Magnus saw Cain about to move away and shouted to his grandfather, his eyes burning with willpower. He demanded the man overcome his fears and face reality. Luckily for Magnus, his words seemed to have an effect, and Gladius''s eyes widened as he clenched his fists, and his willpower burst with strength and determination. Hundreds of years of peace had weaned the thirst for power and growth that pushed him in his youth, but after seeing how a single individual nearly destroyed all of them, that flame of ambition was ignited again. The old man turned to Magnus and nodded, showing his determination to carry on the dangerous path that promised a glorious future. Chapter 729: Handing over a Dark King Magnus exhaled, relaxing now that he saw his grandfather would follow him and, therefore, the entire Hellblazer Family on this new dangerous path. With newfound resolve, and turned toward Cain. "Can we have a private talk.?" The young man had proved his sincerity and determination by asking about Cain''s requirements in the open, but the next part involved secrets that it was best not to reveal. Cain observed the duo for a moment and then raised his right index finger into the sky, creating a small tear in space before diving inside. "We can talk in private here." Magnus and Gladius'' eyes widened as they heard the voice coming from inside that tear. It was clear to the duo that the incision in the sky was not a simple cut in the fabric of space but a pocket dimension that Cain managed to create using his power. That ability was not unique since there was the technology behind space rings, but to do it with such ease and without any sort of matrix formation helping him meant that Cain''s mastery over the Law of Space was incredibly high. "His domain over the Law of Space must be well within the Law Integration Realm." Gladius might not follow the Essence Evolution Path of Power, but his cultivation base and soul force allowed him to recognize the might of such power. Although entering the pocket dimension would put the duo to Cain''s mercy, there was not much difference than on the outside. The duo did not waste time and flashed into the tear in space, disappearing inside before it closed, completely isolating the dimension from the outside world. Magnus and Gladius found themselves in a small dimension full of chaotic energy and unstable space. This is something to be expected, as Cain created this pocket dimension in a second and did not really focus on its durability. "What do you want to tell me? No one can hear us or see us here." Cain spoke to the duo, his face calm. He honestly did not believe they could have something that would draw his interest. There was no way the Hellblazer Family could have a treasure he could not get himself, and the [A.I. Chip Module] granted him access to nearly all the information of the empire. Gladius and Magnus looked at each other and nodded, deciding that the young man would take the lead in this exchange. "If you allow us into the Scarlet Alliance and promise to treat us fairly, we will give you a Dark King." Magnus had just finished his sentence when he felt a suffocating cold aura fill the pocket dimension. It was not only him; even Gladius felt his entire body freezing and his energy growing sluggish. The duo saw how Cain''s eyes had turned cold and glowed with a red light that depicted unrestrained brutality and killing intent. "If you are working with The Organization, I suggest you give me all you know now." Cain paused at this point, and then the duo saw rows of sharp teeth appear on his third eye. The nature of the Space-Time Eye changed from the impartial and objective power of the Laws to the ferocious and famished force of Gluttony''s Concept. "If you refuse, I will simply devour your souls. One way or the other, I will get my answers." Magnus could not stop trembling. The power of Gluttony''s Eye made him feel as if the small dimension had turned into the maw of a ravenous beast, ready to close its jaws on them at any second. However, he used all he had to regain focus and speak. "We are not working with The Organization. We would never ally with a force that doesn''t dare to show its face and hides in the dark." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard those words. Magnus did not claim pride and honor in keeping them from The Organization but instead stated they were too weak to throw their weight on them. After a second, seeing honesty in the young man''s eyes, Cain''s Gluttony''s Eye vanished, returning to the normal Space-Time Eye. "A Dark King is indeed a big whale and would gain you my favor. However, each is a True Titan; how could you possibly hand one to me?" Once the horrible power of the Gluttony Concept faded, Magnus could breathe once again. He showed great mental fortitude by recovering very fast. "My grandfather once clashed with a Dark King nearly two hundred years ago. He was forced to escape with severe injuries but managed to take a piece of that man''s body and blood with him." A flash of fear and trepidation appeared in the Hellblazer Duke as he remembered that clash and how close he was to dying. He was able to take a piece of that Dark King''s body with him and immediately sealed it, intending to use it to unleash all kinds of curses if that person ever tried to attack him again. "I am sure there must be someone in the Scarlet Alliance capable of using this flesh and blood to track that Dark King''s location." Magnus was aware of the uses the blood and flesh of a powerful entity would have in the hands of a master, which was why he was so confident in his proposal. Right now, the only thing that saved the Dark Kings from the Scarlet King was their anonymity, and if they were discovered, it would be their end. Cain''s eyes glowed with desire as a smile appeared on his face. He had the Soul Tracker Spell, and while their energy radiation and soul force protected powerful life forms from such spells, if he used flesh and blood as a catalyst, he could find anyone as long as they were on the Gaia Continent. "Give me the blood of the Dark King. If it turns out useful, you will have gained the right to enter the Scarlet Alliance and will be by my side as we march into Eden." Chapter 730: Unbreakable King The Silent Glow Sector was a coastal region, the closest to the Prometheus Sector and Eden. Due to its billions of inhabitants, it was once vibrant with life but was now desolate, and the only thing that remained from those people were stains of blood on the ground. Every city and forest had been leveled under the march of the Blood Chimera Locusts. As for the humans and Wave Beasts living there, they suffered the same fate beneath the maws of those hybrid monsters. Near the Silent Glow Sector border, a desolate poisonous swamp generated a dense toxic fog that covered the earth and sky, a place even Apotheosis Masters could not approach as their blood would melt. However, two figures lived in this desolate area full of death, both possessing powers that could outmatch H-bombs, yet they concealed their auras carefully. One had a vibrant yet chaotic life force. Though humanoid, he looked more like a beast, with the heads of a wolf, tiger, and lion protruding from his chest, draconic wings on his back, and three massive snake-like tails. The other was a man with an extremely muscular build. His body was covered with layers of white exoskeletal material that mimicked the flow and striations of muscle fibers. The exoskeleton was intricate, with swirling patterns suggesting a fusion of organic form and artistic sculpture. His body was hairless, and upon closer inspection, one could see similarities with the Battle Vessel of the Undying King, suggesting a relation between this man and the person the Undying King turned into a puppet. "Chimera King, are you sure this place is safe? You and the Undying King were already spotted here at the start of The Great Cataclysm." "That''s exactly why we''re safe here, Unbreakable King. No one will expect us to return, and the waves of destruction and death should be enough to mask our auras. Besides, no one around could spot something off and inform the Scarlet Alliance." The Unbreakable King frowned deeper upon hearing those two last words. Unlike the Godslayer Humankind Empire''s Imperial Court, which was tactical with them, not actively persecuting for fear of their retaliation, the Scarlet Alliance made it clear they were hunting them and offered a massive amount of wealth in exchange for even the slightest clue. Normally, if a new force dared to act like that with The Organization, the Dark Kings would have destroyed it, leaving no survivors. Yet, the Scarlet Alliance was not only extremely powerful, but they also had the Scarlet King. Although none of the remaining Dark Kings had personally encountered the Scarlet King, they heard the tales of the Shadow King and the Undying King. The duo had revealed everything they knew to the other Dark Kings before they were captured. "Damn it. What is the Void King doing!? He told us he would be absent more than a month ago, and it''s impossible to communicate with him now! He is supposed to be the leader, yet he hides like a coward!" The anxiety and apprehension made the Unbreakable King explode with rage directed toward their fearless leader, who was nowhere to be seen. Usually, any questioning or offense against the Void King, no matter how minor, would be considered a grave crime within The Organization, but the Chimera King could only sigh. "Ahhh, who would have thought that less than a year ago, we were on the verge of occupying Gaia''s north, yet now we can only hide like rats." The Organization, the unique underworld force of Gaia, supposed to equal empires, had been reduced to a mere shadow of itself, with the Blood King, Shadow King, Undying King, and Soul King gone and the Void King nowhere to be seen. The two Dark Kings were at a loss on what to do next, as they had come to rely on the Void King to make such decisions. Right now, the only path forward was to aim at the Astral Sea, as not even the Endless Sea was secure at this point, but it was not so simple. Attempting to rise beyond the Divine Ascension Realm would take them decades, and while forcibly making their way through the Crystal Wall would take only a few weeks, it would draw attention, something they could not afford. "Our safest path is to wait out the storm. We must focus on our cultivation, keeping a low profile until we can finally break through and escape into the Astral Sea." The Unbreakable King frowned as he heard the Chimera King''s plan. Some, like the Shadow King and Undying King, joined The Organization to seek revenge, but others, like him and the Chimera King, did it to gain power. Although they were True Titans and stood at the zenith of Aether, they understood that all that status would fade once they embarked on their new path in the Astral Sea. Although they had no idea what awaited them there, it was clear they would be far from exceptional, so the Dark Kings wanted something that could help them gain an edge, which the Void King promised they would gain upon succeeding during The Great Cataclysm. However, it was clear by now that The Organization had lost its bet, so thinking about enhancing their destiny before marching into the Astral Sea was nothing but a foolish dream at this point. Just as the Unbreakable King was about to agree with the Chimera King, he felt the blood inside his body burn. Shock and dread appeared in his eyes as his instincts began to scream danger, but before he could utter a word or make a move, the poisonous swamp in which they had been hiding exploded. "BOOOOMMMM!" The Dark Kings rose from the blast of gray flaming aura with burns all over their bodies, and shock appeared on their faces as they saw the nine gargantuan spheres of golden-silver fire surrounding them, casting a massive flaming web. "Two for the price of one. I guess I am lucky." Chapter 731: Facing the Chimera King and Unbreakable King (I) The Chimera King and Unbreakable King made their Ego Wave burst, scanning their surroundings. Instantly, they detected a powerful presence, and as they looked up at the sky, they saw a young man with three eyes, white hair, a red robe, and a scarlet mask. Since the Dark Kings were hiding, they not only cloaked their auras but also deployed all sorts of devices that would warn them if anyone came into their proximity. Yet, despite all that effort, Cain managed to evade detection. The Unbreakable King sensed the power of the Soul Tracker acting on his blood at the last second, but it was too late to do anything. Cain touched the scarlet mask, allowing it to vanish since he no longer needed to hide his aura, and glanced at the duo with calm eyes. "If you surrender, I will make it quick." As they heard those words, a sharp light appeared in the eyes of the Chimera King and Unbreakable King, understanding that the Scarlet King did not intend to spare their lives, so they did not waste their time begging. Immediately, the Darak Kings searched for an escape route, but the power of the Nine Void Suns Domain was too great even for True Titans like them. Usually, when faced with an unsurpassable enemy and no route to escape, many would crumble in fear. Still, the Dark Kings'' eyes began to glow with killing intent and determination as they nodded at each other. Cain''s eyes widened, and a flash of surprise appeared as he saw the determination in the duo''s eyes. He had established the Nine Void Suns Domain not just to prevent the Dark Kings from escaping but also to prevent them from self-destruction by restricting their energy flow. Yet, it seemed he did not need to worry about the latter. "Hahahaha. Good. Finally, warriors with the title of Kings who are not complete cowards!" The thrill of battle surged within Cain''s heart as he prepared for combat, his energy and physical power exploding as they gave birth to a flaming gray aura. This flaming gray aura was a formidable and rare energy that combined the relentless power of the sun force with the chaotic might of spatial storms, which Cain named Solar Tempest Essence. This unique blend embodied the destructive potential of solar flares and the unpredictable nature of spatial anomalies. Now that Cain''s mastery and domain over the Law of Space had reached a level as high as his understanding of physical power, he could finally blend both forces. Though far from a flawless fusion, it was the first instance in Aether of a successful combination of Astral Wave and Essence Wave. "BOOOMMMM!" The Chimera King and Unbreakable King adopted solemn expressions as they witnessed the pillar of Astral Wave, Essence Wave, and natural energy emerging from Cain''s body. However, while immense, Cain''s aura was not as overwhelming as expected. "Since I am maximizing the Nine Void Suns Domain, my energy reserves are severely diminished. According to my calculations, I can only use around a third of my battle power." Fortunately for the duo, Cain revealed his condition. A small smile appeared as he saw the killing intent rise in the Dark Kings'' hearts. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Two explosions echoed inside the Nine Void Suns Domain as the Chimera King and Unbreakable King unleashed their Essence Wave and Astral Wave, pushing themselves beyond their limits. The Scarlet King, Chimera King, and Unbreakable King''s energies burst with more and more power until finally reaching their zenith. Not even a second later, the trio unleashed their killing intent as they attacked. Cain flashed forward with a smile, his arms and legs covered in a gray flaming aura. The Unbreakable King generated a thick layer of dark Astral Wave across his fists as he intercepted Cain. The Chimera King, ensuring distance from Cain as he prepared his spell, trusted the Unbreakable King would buy him enough time. "BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion of gray flaming aura and black essence burst in every direction as the fists of Cain, and the Unbreakable King clashed. A grimace of pain appeared on the Unbreakable King''s face as he realized that the gray flaming aura not only enhanced Cain''s strength but also unleashed a scorching heat and tears in space. However, he remained still and refused to pull back. Cain''s eyes widened as he saw the Unbreakable King''s resilience. Even with only a third of his power, his punch would have shattered the fist of a normal Peak Divine Ascension Master, yet, other than minor cuts, the Unbreakable King''s hand did not sustain significant damage. "Hahaha. No wonder you gave yourself the name of Unbreakable King. Sadly, just resisting my punch is far from enough." The Unbreakable King clenched his teeth at Cain''s taunt. Then his eyes widened as he felt the power behind that flaming punch nearly vanish. Immediately after, a second Cain appeared on his right, delivering a punch directly to his temple that sent him flying away. "?BOOM!" An explosion of gray flaming aura enveloped the Unbreakable King as Cain''s punch connected, making the man feel like his skull would crack. He couldn''t understand how Cain managed to create a clone. Cain''s eyes were sharp as he saw the Unbreakable King flying away and then turned to his copy as it shattered. There was no way Cain could generate clones. What he had done was leave a spatial mirror projection on his previous location. It functioned like an avatar formed using the Law of Space, and while Cain could only form weak ones without true power that would last less than a second, they were extremely useful in tricking the enemy. Just as Cain was ready to unleash a barrage on the Unbreakable King, taking advantage of the brain trauma his last punch generated, his eyes narrowed as he looked to the side, only to see giant beasts lunging toward him. Each of these beasts seemed to have the power of a Titan! Chapter 732: Facing the Chimera King and Unbreakable King (II) Cain''s Space-Time Eye immediately saw past the myriad of savage beasts diving toward him and discovered their origin. All those titanic beasts emerged from the Chimera King''s three maws. It was as if the Dark King''s entire body was a reservoir for these beasts, and he would feed them with his Essence Wave before sending them into the fight. "What an interesting spell technique." Cain was surprised by the power and versatility of the Chimera King''s spell but did not lose focus. The flaming gray aura on his fist burst with power as he sent a barrage of punches forward, each unleashing devastating blasts of solar energy, mimicking the sun''s flares. The Chimera King was connected to those beasts, so he could feel how those solar flames instantly covered thousands of meters, clashing with them. Although the endurance of those beasts could not compare with an actual Titan, they were immensely resilient, yet they could not endure those solar flares. These projections carried not only intense heat but also the disruptive power of spatial storms, capable of tearing through physical and magical defenses and shattering the beasts to pieces before burning their remains. Cain continued unleashing those solar flares when his eyes narrowed. His skin turned red as he triggered Asura Form and rotated his entire body, generating massive torque. He channeled all that torque into a kick that landed on the Unbreakable King''s chest. "?BOOM!" More pain appeared in the Unbreakable King''s eyes as he felt his ribs cracking due to that counterattack. He had done his best to hide his presence and lunged toward Cain while this one focused on the beast, yet he was discovered and received what for anyone else would have been a crippling blow. The Chimera King saw how the Scarlet King sent the Unbreakable King flying away, and determination appeared in his eyes as the lion''s head opened its maws so much that a literal ocean of beasts emerged. That was not all since the wolf''s and tiger''s heads emerged from his body as demonic snakes and lunged toward Cain as well, guiding the rest of the horde. Cain''s eyes grew sharp as the power of this second wave of titanic beasts was much stronger than the last one, especially the demonic wolf and tiger snakes that seemed to carry the power of True Titans. The beasts were incredibly fast and lunged toward Cain in less than a second, but before they could surround him, he used his gray flaming aura to generate a spatial rift. Those spatial rifts would have been obstacles for anyone else, but Cain could use this one to move around the battlefield. Cain''s movements were not only fast but also erratic, allowing him to stay one step ahead of the horde. However, the beasts did not seem to understand exhaustion or fear and were ready to die as long as they could bury their fangs in him. Just dodging was not the key, and Cain understood that. He charged more and more Solar Tempest Essence in his hands until the power of the gray flaming aura finally reached its peak. "Solar Dimensional Rupture!" Cain shouted as he clapped both hands with all his strength, generating thousands of minute cuts in space in the form of a spider web covering the entire horde. Those beasts trembled as those cuts generated immense internal damage, but the true power came next as those cuts burst with sun force! "BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion of sun force spread inside the Nine Void Suns Domain. Since the technique used the cuts in space as their gateway to deliver the explosion, the blast occurred inside the beasts'' bodies, blasting them from the inside out! The Chimera King''s face was pale, and blood leaked from his eyes and ears due to the backlash of having all his beasts connected to his energy and mind destroyed at the same time. Before he could overcome the shock and calm his chaotic energy, Cain appeared before him. Cain''s eyes glowed with red light as he pushed his concentration to the limit before simultaneously striking the Chimera King''s Evolution Core and brain, sending his Essence Wave and Ego Wave into this one. The Chimera King''s body trembled as he felt the spatial force and Ego Wave sealing his mind and Evolution Core. It was extremely fast, and the Dark King lost control of his body and energy before he could do anything about it. Cain felt a wave of exhaustion assault him since destroying that horde was not easy, and it truly pushed his mind and energy to the limit to seal the Chimera King''s Evolution Core and brain at the same time. However, Cain did not have time to relax, as the Unbreakable King was still in the battle. The Unbreakable King''s eyes widened as he saw how the Scarlet King neutralized the Chimera King and sent him into a space ring. The battle had started less than a minute ago, and one of them was already done for. "?AHHHHHH!" Instead of succumbing to fear and desperation, the Unbreakable King shouted with rage as he began to burn his life force, extending the thick dark aura that previously only covered his hand all over his body. Due to the sealing force of the Nine Void Suns Domain, there was no way to escape, and it was impossible to self-destruct. Since the only path was to fight, the Dark King was ready to give everything he had to at least leave a wound on the immeasurable enemy. Cain only smiled as he saw the Unbreakable King''s determination and killing intent. He clenched his fists and used what little energy he had left to spread the Solar Tempest Essence across his entire body. "Let''s do this!" "Die!" The Scarlet King and Unbreakable King flashed toward each other, the first with a smile full of fighting will and the other with eyes overflowing with slaughter intent. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Explosion after explosion echoed inside the Nine Void Suns Domain. Chapter 733: Alchemy Sword Royal Family The Azure Royal King looked at the sky with eyes full of trepidation and dread. The last few years had been an emotional rollercoaster for the man, all due to his involvement in the assassination attempt of a young man he had initially seen as nothing more than an ant. Not only did that young man summon a power that allowed a simple Wave Champion to nearly kill him, but he even managed to escape from the Blood King using the Azure Royal''s intercontinental teleportation formation. Although he managed to hide the evidence very well, that young man''s military criminal managed to escape and reveal his involvement to the Collapsing Lightning Duke. For a moment, the Azure Royal King thought it would be his end, but the Imperial Court interfered on his behalf, declaring insufficient evidence to convict him of any crime. The Azure King was shocked and thrilled by such a verdict, but he knew the Collapsing Lightning Duke would not just sit by and accept the Imperial Court ruling. However, once again, good news appeared as he learned the Inferno Daemon Race and The Organization were attacking, and the Imperial Court had left the northern Sector Dukes alone. The Azure King still remembers how hard he laughed as he heard that news. Although the entire Goldsayer Humankind Empire was in turmoil, those were his most peaceful years since he did not care which side won. If the Goldsayer Humankind Empire won, he would be fine, thanks to the bloodline of the Azure Emperor that ran through his veins, and if The Organization won, he would just obey his new masters. However, all that peace faded once he heard the young man who barely escaped from his ambush less than four years ago return with the power to kill Gods! Despite the Azure Lineage running through his veins, the Azure King was only an Early Divine Ascension Master and could not even hold a candle to a God or Titan. Yet, that man who swore revenge could now kill those entities and, even more shocking, face the Blood King head-on! The Azure King''s heart was overwhelmed by terror, but he still expected The Organization to win as they had the Void King. Yet, the Void King fell into the trap of that young man and nearly perished. If that was not enough, he also learned that The Organization and Inferno Daemon Invasion Army unleashed a monster onto the battlefield that could kill True Titans. Yet the young man managed to unleash an even greater power, killing the creature and expelling the Inferno Daemon Gods from Gaia, ending the war! After learning that, the Azure King''s first thought was to escape. He did not care what would happen to the Azure Royal Family once he was gone; the only thing that mattered was to survive. Unfortunately for the Azure King, the same Imperial Court that saved him before now was preventing him from leaving the Azure Royal State. They made up some excuses about the safety of the Prometheus Sector, but the Azure King was smart enough to understand they wanted to use him to see how strong the Scarlet King was. That filled the Azure King with rage, and he attempted to use his status as a descendant of the Azure Emperor to reverse the Imperial Court''s decision. Still, the new Prime Minister did not even bother to hear him and declared that he would be branded a traitor if he took a single step outside of the Azure Royal State. Of course, the Azure King did not care about that brand as long as he survived, but people were keeping an eye on him at all times, and he had not managed to fix his intercontinental teleportation formation, so there was nothing he could do. Over the past few weeks, the stress had been so great that the Azure King''s once youthful appearance turned into that of a middle-aged man. Finally, today was the reckoning day since three massive Star Cruisers and 81 black pyramids appeared above the sky of the Azure Royal State. These massive structures cast a shadow that covered the entire Azure Royal State, but the true threat came from the twenty individuals who emerged from the ship. The force was led by a man covered in arcs of dark plasma and another with three swords floating around his body. There was no way the Azure King would not recognize the Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. Just staring at the duo made the Azure King''s heart grow cold as they could kill him with a single strike. Yet even if the True Titans did not make a move, he would still be lost since any of the other 18 Divine Ascension Masters could easily kill him. Luckily for the Azure King, the same people that the Imperial Court had positioned around the Azure Royal State to ensure he did not escape had risen to the sky to face the massive force. There were fifteen Divine Ascension Masters facing the force of the Scarlet Alliance, and the one that led them had an aura that rivaled that of the Collapsing Lightning Duke. He was a middle-aged man with dark hair and a thin yet muscular body. The man did not wear armor but, instead, a thin suit that perfectly clung to his body. It was as if every aspect of the man was designed for agility, something that would make sense if you focused on the sword on his back and the dagger on his waist that radiated a green poisonous aura that seemed to rot even the fabric of space! The man was accompanied by a young woman who shared similar features, but instead of a sword, she had two daggers. "In the name of the Prime Minister, I demand you to go back to the north. If you refuse, I have the authority to use the full power of the Alchemy Sword Royal Family to take you down!" Chapter 734: Splitting the storm No one could wield the name of an entire Royal Family other than the Royal King himself, and precisely, that was the identity of the man with the poisonous sword and dagger. He was none other than the Alchemy Sword Royal King, a direct descendant of the Seventh Emperor of the Godslayer Humankind, the Alchemy Sword Emperor. The Alchemy Sword Emperor had controlled the Godslayer Humankind Empire before the rise of the current Golden Emperor. He had reached the absolute peak in two aspects of cultivation: his swordsmanship and alchemy, merging the weapon and profession into a battle style unique to him. This supernatural martial style intertwined the refined artistry of swordsmanship with the arcane secrets of alchemy, focusing on the creation and utilization of various toxins and poisons that could be flawlessly deployed through sword skills. As one becomes stronger and rises in the cultivation ranks, their immune system becomes more refined and powerful, making poisons and similar techniques less effective. For thousands of years, many across Aether believed no poison or toxin could generate a lasting impact on those who reached the Peak Divine Ascension Realm. However, the Alchemy Sword Emperor proved otherwise. Despite not being overwhelmingly strong and only able to inflict superficial cuts with his swordsmanship, the poisons the Alchemy Sword Emperor could create with his alchemy could inflict crippling wounds in the bodies of True Titans and True Gods. Even surviving a clash with the Alchemy Sword Emperor meant spending hundreds, if not thousands of years, trying to expel the poison from your body. Otherwise, it would consume your flesh, blood, vitality, and energy until nothing was left. Such a venomous battle style was why, before ascending as Emperor, the man was known as the Venomous Blade Alchemist, feared by all across Aether. Since his departure was less than a thousand years ago, the teachings and inheritance of the Alchemy Sword Emperor were still fresh within the Alchemy Sword Royal Family, making them one of the strongest forces in the entire Godslayer Humankind Empire. Yet, despite understanding the enemy''s immense power, the Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar stared at the Alchemy Sword King without an ounce of fear. The same could be said for the eighteen Divine Ascension Masters behind them. Having faced the Blood King, a monstrous entity with an immortal body, why would they fear a man who would die after his heart was destroyed? "The Scarlet Alliance recognizes no authority other than that of the Scarlet King!" The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s voice echoed across the sky, and the light in the eyes of the Divine Ascension Masters around him burst as it was set ablaze, showing pure determination. A flash of shock and trepidation appeared in the eyes of the Alchemy Sword King and the rest of the Divine Ascension Masters sent by the Imperial Court, as those words could only be interpreted as the Collapsing Lightning Duke rebelling against the Godslayer Humankind Empire. The Alchemy Sword King''s task was to test the determination and power of the Scarlet Alliance, and he initially thought they would be cautious in their actions. Yet, it was clear they had already decided on their path and burned all other bridges. The Collapsing Lightning Duke, First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and every warrior in the force were ready to follow the Scarlet King to the gates of hell and beyond, taking down any enemy that might arise. Sharpness appeared in the eyes of the Alchemy Sword King as a green flame appeared in them, and he unsheathed his sword and dagger. Both were Peak Adamantium Artifacts, and he bound the poison''s essence to the metal through alchemical transmutation, ensuring that its lethal effects could not be easily removed or countered. And that was not all. A toxic ethereal force began to flow through the sword and dagger as the Alchemy Sword King unleashed the full power of his Ego Wave. Although he was an Astral Cultivator who lacked domain over the Laws, he trained under the tutelage of the Alchemy Sword Emperor during his youth and was able to master the Poison Concept! The woman beside him also unsheathed both daggers and readied all her power. She was a Titan but was confident in her chances against the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, as her poison techniques were no less potent than those of the Alchemy Sword King. Seeing that the leaders had drawn their weapons, the thirteen Divine Ascension Masters also let their energy explode. Although outnumbered, they had been sent by the Imperial Court due to their loyalty and were ready to fight! The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes turned cold as he focused on the Alchemy Sword King. He had been commanded to besiege the Azure Royal State and personally did not want to start a fight so soon. However, regardless of their strength, he was prepared to fight if the other party sought to expel them. "Be careful of that woman''s daggers. You have already received a 21 Revolution Refinement, and it is too complicated for our King to heal you again." "I understand. I will focus on defense and create a safe opening before striking." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar nodded to the Sector Duke''s words as he grabbed one of the Space Swords and made his energy explode, generating a ferocious sword force that grew even stronger as the power of his Concept burst through it. Both parties unleashed their power, causing storm clouds to cover the sky due to the immense amount of energy flooding the air. "RUMBLE!" Just as the Collapsing Lightning Duke and Alchemy Sword King were about to charge at each other, a powerful aura appeared in the sky of the Azure Royal State, splitting the storm clouds apart. The warriors on both sides immediately looked to the sky, and what they saw was a young man with a red robe holding the broken bodies of the Chimera King in his left hand and the Unbreakable King in his right. Chapter 735: Defeating the Alchemy Sword King Shock and dread appeared in the eyes of the Alchemy Sword King as he saw the young man holding the bodies of two Dark Kings. He could not believe what he was seeing and, for a moment, thought they might be fakes, but it was impossible to ignore the True Titan aura each of them unleashed. The Alchemy Sword King''s shock only grew stronger once he saw that the Chimera King and Unbreakable King were still alive. Capturing an enemy alive was much harder than killing them, yet the young man not only did that, but there seemed to be no wound on him. ''Is that the power of the Scarlet King!?'' That thought echoed in the mind of every Divine Ascension Master sent by the Imperial Court as they gazed at the young man in the sky who resembled a god. His power was simply something they found hard to comprehend. Cain glanced at the Divine Ascension Masters from the Imperial Court but did not bother with them for too long as he turned toward the Collapsing Lightning Duke and threw the two Dark Kings. "I have sealed their energy, bodies, and minds, but they still might have some tricks. Keep them in prison, and make sure they are constantly watched. They must not escape, nor are they allowed to die." The Collapsing Lightning Duke nodded as he grabbed the Chimera King and Unbreakable King. Although he had no idea why the Scarlet King wanted the Dark Kings to remain alive, he would not question the command. He had already come to understand that every action the young man did, no matter how minuscule or strange, was part of a grander scheme that he did not even bother to comprehend. Although keeping the Dark Kings in his space ring was tempting, the energy radiation they released would destabilize the space inside them. Since Cain had a place to keep them, it was better to use it than to throw away the few top-tier space rings he had available. After taking care of the Chimera King and Unbreakable King, Cain turned his eyes back to the Alchemy Sword King, this time really focusing on the man. When those three eyes focused on him, the Alchemy Sword King felt as if they could see through his flesh and predict every move he might make. It was a suffocating pressure, and he could do nothing but tighten his grip on his sword and dagger. "You are strong, and your abilities would have been of great help in facing the threats that assaulted the north. I saw that you were allocated to face the Blood Chimera Locust and, after the hybrid monsters were taken care of, went into a futile chase of the Dark Kings in the south. The fact that you remained in the south despite the futility of the task and only returned now to the center of Gaia meant you were either a fool who only knows how to follow orders and cannot see the corruption in the Imperial Court or a coward who did not dare face the true threat to Godslayer Humankind." Cain paused at this point, and a cold light appeared in his eyes. "Or a traitor that played along with The Organization and the shadow behind this one." The Alchemy Sword King frowned as he heard those words, and anger appeared in his eyes with the last implication, yet someone else interfered before he could say a word. "How dare you accuse our King of being a traitor!" The woman by the side of the Alchemy Sword King shouted in rage, yet she had barely finished her words when Cain appeared in front of her. Before she could even react, he slapped her with so much strength that her body hurtled through the air and crashed into a mountain ten thousand meters away! The Alchemy Sword King''s eyes widened as the Scarlet King''s speed was simply too great, and the young man could send the Titan flying with a single strike. The Venomous Blade Alchemist Art focused on speed and agility, allowing them to display reaction speed and reflexes beyond their rank. Yet, the duo was not able to react to the Scarlet King despite putting their sole focus on him. That was enough for the Alchemy Sword King to understand what would happen if he clashed with the young man. "Whatever the answer is, I will eventually find out and handle you and your family appropriately. Now leave this place, or else I will immediately brand you as a traitor and kill you on the spot." The Alchemy Sword King trembled as he heard those words. This was the first time in his life that he had felt so close to dying, and there was no doubt in his mind that if he did not leave right now, the young man would attack him, and his chances of survival were minimal. Although it was shameful to run away like a coward, the Alchemy Sword King could only clench his teeth as he turned around and flashed toward the unconscious woman, carrying her away from the Azure Royal State. The thirteen Divine Ascension Masters watched as the Alchemy Sword King left with the unconscious Titan, leaving them alone to face the Scarlet King. Dread filled their hearts, and before they could even make a move, Cain raised his hand and clenched his fists. This simple action generated shocking pressure on all of the Divine Ascension Masters as they felt space itself beginning to crush their bodies. Cain could have easily killed the group after they fell into his spatial seal, but he chose not to take that path. His eyes glowed with a red light, generating a clash of wills. Although all of them were in the Third Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, the fear of death weakened their wills. They failed to resist the Scarlet King''s willpower and, the next second, fell unconscious. Chapter 736: Eliminating the Azure Bloodline (I) Cain waved his hand, sending the incapacitated Divine Ascension Masters to the Collapsing Lightning Duke before finally turning his gaze to the ground and focusing on a single person. All emotion in his eyes began to fade as he allowed the burning rage in his heart that had accumulated for more than three years to explode. The Power of Order allowed Cain to overcome the incident with the revolving sphere of destruction and the child inside, but that didn''t mean those feelings had faded. He remembered every single second of that day and how he was forced to make an impossible choice due to the disgusting experiment of the Azure Royal Family. And those feelings of hatred only grew as that young boy''s sacrifice was for nothing, as the Azure King killed everybody in that city that witnessed the phenomenon. "RUMBLE!!!" The sky began to tremble, and despite the sun being at its peak, a wave of darkness spread from Cain''s body across the heavens, transforming day into night. The destructive power of the Elemental Laws flooded the sky, making it seem as if a Heaven Tribulation was about to fall on the Azure Royal Family. As the Azure King looked at the sky, all the terror and dread accumulating in his mind over the past few months exploded. Under the shocked sight of the Divine Ascension Masters, the middle-aged Azure King aged rapidly, turning into an old man with gray hair in the span of five seconds! Cain opened his palm, and the next second, a shocking force emerged, taking hold of the old Azure King on the ground and lifting him into the sky. The Azure King''s eyes were full of desperation as any will to fight faded at this point. The man who was supposed to be the Royal King of an Imperial Lineage showed his true colors. In the face of weak ones, he was a mighty lion, but when facing someone strong, he was nothing but a coward who didn''t dare raise his arms. The Collapsing Lightning Duke and the rest of the Scarlet Alliance generals gazed at Cain in silence, awe-stricken. Even though the Scarlet King''s eyes showed no emotion, they all understood that was exactly when the young man was truly furious. Cain stared at the Azure King for a moment before waving his left hand, activating the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation, generating a suppressive force field that covered the entire Azure Royal State. While the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation was designed to target only members of the Dark Races, the power of the [A.I. Chip Module] was high enough to change that, allowing it to affect everyone in a designated area regardless of their racial genome. Why not use the Nine Void Suns Domain? First of all, the domain''s power was too overwhelming, and anyone inside beneath the Apotheosis Realm would be incinerated, even if Cain only focused on suppression. And finally, the spell''s range was much smaller than the formation. After the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation covered the Azure Royal State, all the people beneath the Wake King Rank fell unconscious. As for Wave Kings and Apotheosis Masters, they were still awake but could barely move. "Capture anyone with even a drop of blood from the Azure Emperor." The Collapsing Lightning Duke, First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and the other generals were shocked when they heard those words and considered the implications that might arise. No one would say anything if the Scarlet King killed the Azure King, and in fact, they expected that to happen, along with all those involved in the ambush. However, the Azure Emperor was the Fourth Emperor of the Godsalyer Humankind and ruled thousands of years ago. That meant millions had at least one drop of blood from the Azure Emperor. Yet, all the generals nodded as they carried the order, mobilizing the troops they brought, hoping that the Scarlet King''s path would not be a genocide. The Azure King could only watch with tired eyes as more and more people were gathered from across the Azure Royal Center into the front gates of the Azure Castle. It took a few hours, but eventually, two million and three hundred forty-nine individuals were gathered. Some of them did not even have the Azure name due to the connection to the main branch of the family being severed long ago, yet they had the Azure Emperor''s bloodline, so they were brought here. The Collapsing Lightning Duke and the rest of the generals rose to the sky and formed a perimeter around the people with the Azure Bloodline as they saw the Scarlet King approaching with the old Azure King still in his grip. Cain''s eyes still lacked emotion as he diminished the power of the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation, allowing those beneath the Wave King Rank to regain consciousness but still keeping them suppressed. The Wave Kings and Apotheosis Masters had been able to maintain silence since there weren''t many, to begin with. Still, turmoil began to arise as the millions of Wave Champions, Wave Warriors, and ordinary people woke up. "What is happening!?" "What is going on!?" "Someone help us!" "Where are we!?" "Mom, I''m afraid!" The sounds of men, women, and children began to echo as they looked around, seeing themselves corralled like cattle under the gaze of soldiers with cold eyes and merciless aura. "SILENCE!" However, all that noise and turmoil faded immediately once the Scarlet King shouted. Terror and dread assaulted everyone as they turned to the young man with emotionless eyes, who resembled nothing short of a monster. Cain stared at those people before focusing on his [A.I. Chip Module]. The next second, the great generals and every soldier present were surprised to see a message going through the official channel of the Godslayer Humankind Empire. Once they opened it, they saw it was a live broadcast. The Scarlet King had hacked into the Goldsayer Humankind Empire''s network, transmitting what his eyes saw. Chapter 737: Eliminating the Azure Bloodline (II) Cain ensured everyone across the Godslayer Humankind Empire could see what was happening before turning his eyes to the old Azure King. His eyes glowed with red light as he initiated a clash of will that the man immediately lost. "Reveal your connection to the Olympus Project." Under the Scarlet King''s hypnosis, the old Azure King could do nothing but obey. And through the network, everybody in the Goldsayer Humankind Empire could hear it. "I have worked for The Organization for the last two hundred years. I was commanded to capture children and experiment with them to awaken a lost bloodline. All the information was sent to the Chimera King. Under my direct commands, over nineteen million Goldsayer Humankind children were used as lab rats, all of them dying due to the complications of the experiments." Shock, disgust, loathing, and killing intent appeared in the eyes of the Collapsing Lightning Duke, First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, the general, and every soldier in the sky. They were not alone, as the same emotions arose in the hearts of practically every person who saw the broadcast. It was an instinctive response in a race to protect the young and weak, so the idea that those with the bloodline of an Emperor could commit such vile and disgusting acts was inconceivable. Cain had heard about the Olympus Project before. He once found himself involved in one of The Organization''s related experiments, during which he obtained the Genetic Recipe for the Avernus Bloodline. At first, Cain believed it was just a small experiment that involved a few hundred people, but upon obtaining the memories of the Soul King, he found out the truth. The Olympus Project was the pet project of the Chimera King, and the goal was to resurrect an ancient Lineage. The Chimera King found a tiny genetic sample of that Lineage during one of his journeys, but it was too complicated to restore it directly. That was why he divided the bloodline into five weaker ones. The Dark King sought to restore all five to their peak, then he would attempt to fuse them, resurrecting the ancient Lineage. Although Cain was not sure, the number of lives lost in the name of the Olympus Project could be counted in the hundreds of millions, yet even after all those deaths, the Dark King failed to resurrect the ancient Bloodline. Cain wanted nothing more than to crush the Azure King''s brain right now, but he maintained control as he turned his eyes to the millions beneath him that had the Azure Bloodline running through their veins. The people were terrified under that gaze as they could not imagine what would happen to them now. Although there were rules and codes in the Goldsayer Humankind Empire, the most important one was that might makes right! If the Scarlet King were to kill all of them, he could state that it was revenge in the names of all those butchered children, and many people in the Goldsayer Humankind would only shout his actions as righteous. After all, for most, justice and vengeance were the same thing. Cain''s Ego Wave covered the millions as it burst with power. "Anyone involved in the slightest way with the Olympus Project or that knew anything about it yet remained silent, stand before me!" Those words were charged with Cain''s willpower. Despite the terror and knowing what would happen if they walked, there was nothing those people could do as their bodies began to move on their own. New waves of shock assaulted the soldiers of the Scarlet Alliance and all those seeing it through the broadcast. Thousands of people rose from the ground and walked toward Cain. The fact that so many were involved in the experiments, yet it was kept a secret, revealed just how rotten the Azure Royal Family was. "NO! PLEASE! I ONLY SENT THE EQUIPMENT!" "I DID NOT TOUCH THEM! I WAS JUST A CLEANER!" "I DID NOTHING!" Immediately, many of those who began to walk shouted in anguish and sorrow, with tears in their eyes. They might have always fooled themselves with those words and excuses. However, deep down, they knew their involvement, which was why their bodies moved after receiving the command of the Scarlet King. As Cain saw those people begging and crying, he remembered a young child''s face that showed nothing but resolution as he understood that his life was coming to an end. His eyes twitched as his face contorted due to the rage before he clenched his fist. "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" Hundreds of explosions echoed at the same time as all those who were crying and begging had their lower jaws exploded to pieces! Horrifying agony appeared in all those people as the lower part of their faces was destroyed due to the exploding pressure of space, yet they could not stop moving and kept walking toward the Scarlet King, leaving a trail of blood on their path. Silence immediately reigned as no one else dared to scream or beg, terrified of the overwhelming brutality of that young man. Once the silence returned, Cain used the Power of Order to calm his mind, showing an emotionless face as he observed the two thousand four hundred and sixty-nine people who stood before him. Cain surveyed the crowd for a moment before shifting his gaze back to the larger group, once again enveloping them with his Ego Wave. "If you have committed any of the following crimes, step forward." Terror appeared in the eyes of those millions carrying the blood of the Azure Emperor, realizing that the Scarlet King would not stop with only those involved with The Organization. "Murder of innocent civilians and mortals done in the areas of pleasure or to obtain personal benefit." Cain was not a hypocrite. He had killed millions in all sorts of scenarios and would not judge people for those types of actions, which is why he phrased the crime of murder in such a detailed and specific way. Chapter 738: Eliminating the Azure Bloodline (III) The Collapsing Lightning Duke softly nodded as he heard those words. He had killed countless on his path to power, and it was a normal phase in an individual''s cultivation path. However, killing mortals and civilians was entirely different since those were people who chose a peaceful life. As the Sector Duke saw how many rose from the ground and walked toward Cain, he could only sigh, seeing just how low the Azure Bloodline had fallen. More than thirty thousand individuals with the Azure Bloodline walked toward Cain! The reaction of the people watching the broadcast was much worse, as they felt righteous fury. Most of the population chose a normal path of life so they could sympathize with the victims of Azure Bloodline''s members and wanted nothing more than to pay them back with the same coin. Cain remained impervious as he continued listing all sorts of capital crimes, such as rape, torture, kidnapping, and so on. By the time he finished, more than 90% of the main branch of the Azure Bloodline had risen from the ground and walked forward, while those who lived away from the Azure Royal Castle made a lower percentage. Ultimately, barely two million Azure Emperor Bloodline had yet to walk toward Cain, and all the others committed capital crimes punishable by death! Those people beneath his feet were all looking at Cain with eyes full of fear and regret. If they were not too afraid to speak, they would be begging for a second chance, expressing their sorrow and vowing never to do it again. However, Cain did not even bother to hear them out. No matter how remorseful they were, it would not erase their crimes and bring back those who perished due to their filth. Cain glanced at the Azure King for a moment before throwing him toward the group as if the old man was nothing more than a bag full of garbage. "Your souls are beyond redemption; the only path left is to burn in my wrath!" Terror appeared in those people''s eyes, but their bodies and minds were frozen. They could do nothing as Cain''s Essence Wave covered them all before it exploded in power. Under the eyes of every soldier of the Scarlet Alliance and everybody watching through the broadcast, Cain''s Essence Wave ignited into a golden fire that covered hundreds of thousands of criminals. The flames had a scorching power that melted the ground but only lasted five seconds. Once they were gone, there were not even ashes left of all the Azure King and the rest of the criminals. Dread and awe appeared in the generals'' and soldiers'' faces as they saw the Scarlet King''s brutality. Yet, the Collapsing Lightning Pillar and First Collapsing Azure Pillar narrowed their eyes and glanced at each other. It was too fast for anyone else, but the True Titans saw how all those people were teleported before the golden flames incinerated their bodies. While they were curious about the Scarlet King''s plans, the duo remained silent and did not say a word as they understood that everything must be part of some plan. After "killing" the Azure King and the others, Cain turned his eyes back to the other two million people who carry the Azure Emperor Bloodline, his eyes growing cold. Although the coldness terrified those people, the Collapsing Lightning Duke, First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and the rest of the great generals breathed a sigh of relief. If the Scarlet King''s eyes remained emotionless, the fate of those people with the Azure Bloodline could only be one: death. However, as long as the Scarlet King''s eyes showed emotion, even if it was coldness, it meant he would not go overboard. "A father must take responsibility for his children''s sins. I don''t care whether you are a commoner or an Emperor; if your bloodlines can bring forth so much pain and destruction, you are equally guilty!" Cain''s Ego Wave burst as it connected with every single person, flooding into their bodies. "Since the Azure Emperor is not present, the Azure Bloodline will bear the weight of his crimes!" Those words seemed to be a divine verdict, as mighty storm clouds covered the sky, and then an overwhelming force manifested itself, invading the body of every single person present. Mothers hugged their children, and men attempted to protect their families, but they could do nothing in the face of that seemingly omnipotent force. Yet, just as every one of them expected a horrible end, they only felt a heat inside their veins. Although uncomfortable, it was not really painful, and there was no damage. Just as those people looked at each other in confusion, their eyes widened since they witnessed their azure hair fading along with the bloodline inside their veins. Cain remained silent as he connected with every single person and, through the [Genetic Coder Module], began to suppress the Azure Bloodline in their bodies. It cost him millions of Destiny Force, but it was something he needed to do. If he wanted to avoid a civil war and decades of strife, Cain needed to show the Goldsayer Humankind that even an Emperor was not above the rules and could be ostracized as well. Of course, he could have simply killed everyone, but while he was a monster in a sense, killing children was not something he would do. Not to mention that while he wanted to inspire respect, he preferred to be seen as a hero instead of a murderous machine. It took a few minutes, but before long, there was no trace of the Azure Bloodline in any of those people. Many of them felt weak due to the loss of bloodline, but there was no real damage to their bodies or cultivation. "I declare that the Azure Bloodline no longer exists, and the crimes of the Azure Royal Family are paid in full! Anyone that refuses that ruling is contesting my authority and will face the wrath of the Scarlet King!" Chapter 739: Victory is not the end (I) "I declare that the Azure Bloodline no longer exists, and the crimes of the Azure Royal are paid in full! Anyone that refuses that ruling is contesting my authority, the Scarlet King!" A meaningful light appeared in the eyes of the Collapsing Lightning Duke, First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, great generals, and every powerhouse across the Goldsayer Humankind Empire as they heard the words from the Scarlet King. Although for most, going after the Azure Bloodline in those over two million innocent people could be considered unjust punishment, those who understood human nature knew better. All members of the Azure Bloodline that had been connected to the Olympus Project were gone, as well as those who committed capital crimes, but that might not be enough for many who were still full of resentment and hatred toward the Azure Royal Family. While not everybody with the Azure Bloodline was guilty of the crimes of the Azure Royal Family, that did not mean they would not be targeted, and now that the Azure King and all the other powerhouses were gone, there was no one left to protect them. Luckily, now that the Azure Bloodline had faded from their veins, there was no distinguishing characteristic, making it easier for them to keep a low profile and not draw unwanted attention. Of course, if someone were determined, they could find those people, but that would go against the ruling of the Scarlet King. And he was the man who did not hesitate before incinerating over three hundred thousand people alive for all the world to see. An act of extreme brutality and one of great mercy. A leader needed to show the world he was capable of both. Cain allowed a minute for his words to echo across the continent, waving his hand, completely deactivating the 81 Deus Behemoth Heaven Suppression Formation, enabling the people to move on their own. "If you live inside the Azure Royal Castle, you have thirty minutes to take your belongings and leave, as that is now the Scarlet Alliance Headquarters. The rest of you can return to your homes and do as you wish." The people rose from the ground and kept their eyes down. They were still shocked, and there was rage in the hearts of many of them, but they did not dare to show it out of fear. Cain was not surprised by the resentment, as even if the people he killed were guilty, they were still their friends. The fact that he saved their lives and threw a layer of protection did not seem to matter to them, but he did not care. He followed what he believed was the right path, and that was good enough for him. It did not take long for those who lived inside the Azure Royal Castle to evacuate, and by the end of the day, the place had become the center of operations for the Scarlet Alliance. --- Cain sat on the azure throne, and in front of him were the great generals and three others. Specifically Magnus, Gladius, and one of Cain''s old friends, Lurin. Magnus and Gladius remained composed in the face of the True Titans and great generals, but Lurin was not having such an easy time. After all, he was just an Early Wave King and his merits were far from enough to stand on equal terms with those giants. Yet Cain summoned him, so he was here. Cain did not say a word and kept his eyes closed for several minutes, but none of the presented showed the slightest sign of impatience. Finally, after nearly ten minutes, he opened his eyes, and a sharp light appeared in them. "Colonel Sinar, Colonel Hellblazer, step forward." Lurin and Magnus did as told, moving forward until they stood exactly ten meters away from Cain. Although Magnus'' background and status were much greater than Lurin''s, that was before, and both shared an equal rank inside the Scarlet Alliance. While other scions could have seen this as an offense, Magnus was more than happy. After all, he was standing on the same ground as one of the Scarlet King''s oldest friends, meaning his future was full of potential. Cain''s eyes glowed with red light as he focused on the duo. Magnus was able to stand calm, but Lurin was having a hard time remaining relaxed. "I have inspected your capabilities and aptitudes, and therefore, I will now grant you two the roles of Scarlet Ambassadors. You will go to the other 80 States in the Prometheus Sector and speak with their rulers. Guide them into either becoming part of the Scarlet Alliance or leaving the Sector for the next year." Magnus''s eyes sharpened as he heard that command and understood the importance of his role. He was chosen for this role not only due to his diplomatic abilities but also because he was the first force outside the north to side with the Scarlet Alliance, allowing people to get an idea of what would happen if they decided to join them. Lurin, on the other hand, could not help but clench his fists due to the overwhelming responsibility that was being put on his shoulders. Cain saw his old friend''s reaction. To be honest, Lurin was not really the most qualified for the job, as there were others with better credentials, but he wanted to give his friend a chance to shine and prove himself. Of course, that was just a chance, and he would not keep an incompetent in power. "Lieutenant General Gladius and Scarlet General James will escort you during this mission, and you will be evaluated weekly. If any fail to make progress or your work is not up to my standard, Scarlet General James has the authority to relieve you of your duties and put someone else in this position." When the great generals heard those words, many of them softly nodded. It was right to give your friends a chance to prove themselves, but that should never be mistaken for leaving ignorant people in a position of power since that was how empires failed. Chapter 740: Victory is not the end (II) Lurin had a week to prove his abilities, or else Scarlet General James, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, would undoubtedly take the young man''s position of Scarlet Ambassador and hand it to someone else. Shortly after Cain finished, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar stepped forward with a frown. "My King, permission to speak freely." Cain turned to the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and nodded. "Go ahead." "My King, why must we integrate those people into the Scarlet Alliance? They were unwilling to make a move when we needed them the most, facing The Organization and the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar paused at this point, taking a deep breath and controlling his rage. It was clear how he felt about the people in the Prometheus Sector, seeing them as nothing more than cowards. Although it might sound extreme, it was a normal sentiment, especially in the eyes of the warriors present, who risked their lives while those in the capital did not move a finger. "With you leading us, I am sure we have the power to breach into the Silver City and take control of the capital. There is no need to court those cowards." Cain stared at the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar for a second and saw that some great generals silently nodded, agreeing with the man''s words. "With you and the Collapsing Lightning Duke by my side, I could indeed breach into the Silver City. However, the city''s defenses are nothing short of extraordinary, so I will have to use all my power. Before the fight ends, nearly a third of the city would have been blown to pieces." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar clenched his fists as he heard those words. The destruction of the city was not the part that bothered him, but the loss of lives. However, he was a general in the army and understood that one needed to make difficult choices during times of war, so he was still firm in his path. No matter how great the sin or how monstrous the action was, he was willing to bear it since he believed from the bottom of his soul that his cause was just. "I still believe we should carry on." A silver light appeared in the eyes of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar as he stood straight and firm in his decision. "And so would I." To the shock of all, Cain agreed with the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. Soon, confusion appeared in the generals due to the sudden change in the Scarlet King, but they remained silent as it was clear he had yet to finish speaking. "Or at least that is what I would say if we were facing an enemy, but what we are attacking now is our capital. Your mentality is the right one if we only had to think about victory, but that is far from the end." A flash of enlightenment appeared in the eyes of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the other great generals who agreed with his point of view as they began to see things beyond the mere aspect of victory. "Once we take down the Imperial Court, a new one will have to rise to take control over the Goldsayer Humankind Empire, as a vacuum of power and order will only incite death and chaos. However, who would accept the orders and command of a person who just butchered millions of innocent lives for something many would believe is only a personal vendetta?" The Collapsing Lightning Duke remained silent as Cain uttered those words, and he could only shake his head as he saw how the great generals only now realized what would happen after they obtained their victory. While all of them were masters of war and had a great understanding of the battlefield, it was clear that their minds were still limited to the concepts of victory and defeat when things were much more complicated outside of war. The way they won mattered very much since if the Scarlet King just butchered his path to victory, there was no doubt that chaos and strife would plague the Goldsayer Humankind Empire for decades. Cain allowed the great generals to analyze his words before carrying on. "As for the rulers of the 81 States, you call them cowards, but once again, things are not so simple. Every soldier who enters the Imperial Army must be ready to defend their home with all their power in the event of an invasion, and those who refuse to fulfill their duty have no excuse. However, those who did not choose that path were not obliged to fight to the death against the Dark Races. Their sense of racial honor and commitment should have pushed them to do it, but things are not so black and white. What about those who are the sole pillar of their families and clans and whose loved ones would face incredible hardship without them? Is it wrong to prioritize your loved ones and refuse to risk your lives when it is not their duty? War is an ugly thing, and I cannot really blame those who want to stay away from it." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was at a loss for words when he heard that. He had been a soldier his entire life, and it was engraved on his bones that every Goldsayer Human''s duty was to fight the Dark Races and protect the empire above everything else. Yet, he could not fight the words of the Scarlet King, as deep down, he knew they were right. "When all this is over, I will find out the truth and understand those who truly failed Goldsayer Humankind, those who were simply too afraid to lose their loved ones, and those who were just cowards. Until then, I will give all those people a chance to prove their character. I seek to take control of the States and siege the Silver City. That will not only help me reduce the number of casualties but also give us an edge in case we face unpredictable danger." Chapter 741: Back to the Samsara Sacrifical Ground The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar sighed as he took a deep bow. He understood how narrow-minded he had been and that his prejudice had blocked his view of the big picture. That realization was not easy to accept, and many people would refuse to change their beliefs, but the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar had never been someone afraid of chance and retrospection. "I understand. I think the Collapsing Lightning Duke should accompany the Scarlet Ambassadors. My prejudice might affect the negotiations." "No. You will be the one taking that role. You must learn to control your emotions and rise above them, seeing the entire picture." Cain immediately refused the request of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, as this mission was also a training for the man. He wanted the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar to learn how to control his emotions and expand his view of things, as it would help him not only in daily life but also on the battlefield. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar did not say another word as he nodded. He was determined to use this instance to strengthen his mind and broaden his vision of the world. "Go. I want a full report in a month." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, Hellblazer Duke, Magnus, and Lurin bowed toward Cain before leaving the castle. Once that was handled, Cain turned to the rest of the great generals and proceeded to give them their missions. "I have already sent your missions into your A.I. Chips. Focus on fortifying this location and the construction of a true Titan Tower. You must not grow complacent due to my power, as even I could fall to an ambush." As they heard those words, a sharp light appeared in the great generals, and all of them adopted solemn expressions. Although they were in enemy territory, they felt confident due to the aura and overwhelming power of the Scarlet King, but those words brought them back to reality. They all clasped their fists and performed deep bows before exiting the castle, leaving only Cain and the Collapsing Lightning Duke inside. Cain turned to the Collapsing Lightning Duke for a moment as a decisive light appeared in his eyes. "Do you carry with you your most precious belongings?" Although the Collapsing Lightning Duke was slightly confused by that question, he softly nodded toward Cain. "Yes, my King. Is there something you need?" "It''s not that. You will understand in a minute. Go and bring the Chimera King and Unbreakable King here." Cain said nothing else, and the Collapsing Lightning Duke did as told. The man nodded before flashing to the main Star Cruiser, took out the two Dark Kings from the prison, and returned to the castle in less than ten seconds. Cain glanced at the two unconscious Dark Kings and nodded before walking toward the Collapsing Lightning Duke and putting his hand on the shoulder of this one. "Do not resist." The Collapsing Lightning Duke had just heard those words when he felt a force grabbing his body and seeking to teleport him. He had the power to fight back but did not do it, and the next second, he found himself in a dimension with a dark sky and barren ground covered in a faint purple mist. Just as he was about to ask what this place was, the Collapsing Lightning Duke saw hundreds of thousands of unconscious people on the ground in front of him. He immediately recognized them, as they were the old Azure King and criminals from the Azure Bloodline that Cain had supposedly killed. "Accompany me." Cain did not bother to explain the people with the Azure Bloodline and simply began to walk toward the Samsara Sacrificial Ground. The Collapsing Lightning Duke knew that those people had not perished since he saw how they were teleported before the golden flame appeared. While he was curious about what they were doing here, he nodded toward the Scarlet King and followed him. It did not take long for the duo to cross the gates of the Samsara Sacrificial Ground. Immediately, the eyes of the Collapsing Lightning Duke widened as he stared at the Samsara Flame. The True Titan had seen all sorts of phenomena and wonders in his life, but that flame was by far the most majestic of all. "Come on." Cain''s voice woke the man from his stupor, and both continued walking until they were before the Samsara Flame. "This is the Samsara Flame. It is a cosmic force even I don''t fully understand, but any sacrifice made to it will bring forth Fortune. The stronger and more precious the sacrifice, the greater the amount of Fortune you will gain. That Fortune will then transform into a Gift and Merit. Through this power, I obtained my Space-Time Eye and my Tier I Rebirth Mark, which allows me to burn 25% of my life force without permanent repercussions and which will heal with time." The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes widened as he heard those words. Although he had not asked, there was no way he would not have noticed Cain''s third eye and how this one seemed to grant a frankly monstrous power over space. He had also noticed the rune in Cain''s hand, but only now he knew its power, and it was just as shocking. If he had something like that during his fight with the Void King, he would have undoubtedly defeated that Dark King and might even have killed him if the right opportunity presented itself. "You have the power to keep this secret, and most importantly, you have gained my trust. Use the Samsara Flame to strengthen yourself and serve me better in the future." The Collapsing Lightning Duke trembled as he heard those words and immediately knelt on the ground. His eyes burned with gratitude and resolution as he understood this place must be one of Cain''s biggest secrets, yet he opened the gates to him. "I will not fail you!" Chapter 742: A new Tier I Rebirth Mark Cain performed a solemn nod as he indicated for the Collapsing Lightning Duke to stand up. The man had proved his bravery and loyalty multiple times over the last year, and it was through his protection that he survived the Blood Sea''s Civil War, so Cain trusted him with some of his secrets. Of course, the Collapsing Lightning Duke was not the only one who had gained Cain''s trust, but he was one of the few who could keep the secret. After all, even if there were those like Levi or Zarak who would rather die than betray Cain, that did not mean things were so simple if they fell into the hands of an enemy. Cain was sure the Soul King would not have wanted to betray the Void King since that man granted him the power to take revenge on the Umbra Clan. Yet, Cain still obtained access to all the memories of the Dark King and used them to fight against The Organization. "Go. Sacrifice treasures to the Samsara Flame. The more precious the sacrifice, the greater the Fortune. Other than that, I can only tell you it enjoys evil things." A sharp light appeared in the Collapsing Lightning Duke as he began to take several treasures he had accumulated across his life. Many could be counted as normal Divine Treasures, but the last one the man took surprised Cain. It was a black beating heart the size of the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s body, exuding a genuinely evil aura that drew Cain''s attention. "This could be considered my greatest lucky chance. I found it in a parallel dimension created beneath a massive, bloody battlefield. Thanks to meditation on it, I was able to push my battle power beyond the Divine Ascension Realm." Cain heard the description of the Collapsing Lightning Duke, and his eyes narrowed as he inspected the black beating heart with the [A.I. Chip Module]. [Analyzing object... ... It is most likely a Natural Inheritance born out of the corpse of a Peak Divine Ascension Master that perished. His power must have drawn the energy of the battlefield before finally taking that form.] Cain softly nodded as he heard the analysis of the [A.I. Chip Module] and nodded toward the Collapsing Lightning Duke, indicating that this one should continue as his eyes grew sharp. The Collapsing Lightning Duke took a deep breath and sent all those Divine Treasures toward the Samsara Flame. The bright purple flame consumed them one by one, generating streams of bright purple energy to amass in the ceiling and a pink mist to spread through the ground. Cain analyzed the amount of Fortune each sacrifice brought, and his eyes narrowed when he saw how the total amount of bright purple energy nearly doubled once the Collapsing Lightning Duke threw the evil heart into the fire. ''Clearly, quality matters much more than quantity.'' Cain nodded, and before the sacrifice was over, he spoke to the Collapsing Lightning Duke. "Throw in the Unbreakable King as well." The Collapsing Lightning Duke was surprised by those words but did not waste time and immediately grabbed the massive body of the Dark King and sent this one into the Samsara Flame. The Unbreakable King''s eyes opened once he was sent into the flame. Still, his entire body disintegrated the next second, transforming into bright purple energy that fused with the one in the ceiling. The Collapsing Lightning Duke smiled as he saw how sacrificing the Unbreakable King increased the total amount of Fortune by nearly twenty percent. Yet, Cain''s eyes narrowed, and he could not help but frown. ''He obtained nearly a third of what I got for one Dark King. Everybody seems to receive benefits in terms of Fortune during their first sacrifice, yet that amount diminishes when it is something someone else gave you and not obtained for yourself. It could be a mechanism to reward hard work or to prevent strong people from using weak ones as proxies for Gifts. Although the person who performed the sacrifice will obtain the Merit, that is not necessarily the case when it comes to the Gift. If one did not care about the Rebirth Mark, one could take that path to obtain great Gifts, but it was clearly flawed. Cain''s focus turned back to the massive amount of Fortune in the ceiling and saw how roughly 60% of it coalesced into a mass of golden energy before transforming into a majestic artifact. Cain and the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes widened as they gazed at the armor made of dark and metallic ores. It had orbs engraved in it that looked like they contained galaxies or planets, likely representing the armor''s control over cosmic forces. Both were very interested in the armor, but the next second, what remained of the bright purple energy split into two streams; one contained 1%, and the other 99% of the total Fortune left. Cain was surprised to see that 1% of the Merit was sent to him and saw the energy fusing into his Tier I Rebirth Mark, improving the complexity and size of the rune. It lasted just a few seconds, and since it was not much, it was easy to handle the pain, but the Collapsing Lightning Duke was not so lucky. The True Titan clenched his teeth due to the searing pain of having the rune engraved at such a fast speed. Although the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s Fortune was lower than Cain''s, the Gift only consumed 60% of the bright purple energy, so the Merit he obtained was enough to forge the complete rune on his right hand. Cain stared at the rune on the Collapsing Lightning Duke. While it was not as developed as his, it was definitely a Tier I Rebirth Mark. The Collapsing Lightning Duke was soaked in a cold sweat and a little dizzy due to the pain, but a large smile appeared on his face as he saw the Tier I Rebirth Mark and knew it would grant him a truly powerful ability. Chapter 743: Gravity Fall Armor "Congratulations. You have accumulated enough Merit to obtain the Tier I Rebirth Mark. You can now burn 25% of your life force without permanent repercussions. It will heal over time, or you can speed it up using treasures. Continue the hard work to unlock the complete Rebirth Knight Runic Set. The more precious the sacrifice, the better. I also like evil things, so make sure to bring me sinful entities." The same message that appeared to Cain when he obtained his Tier I Rebirth mark echoed once again inside the castle, and the Collapsing Lightning Duke was amazed by the majestic aura and solemnity in the voice. Cain was already over the shock, yet his eyes widened as he saw how the Tier I Rebirth Mark on the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s right hand began to glow, and the voice from the flame emerged again. "The Tier I Rebirth Mark has detected several flaws in your Path of Powers. You can consume the Tier I Rebirth Mark to redo any Physical Realm''s Calamity or Tribulation related to the body or essence aspect of your existence. To redo the tribulation or calamity related to the Physical Realm''s spirit, will, and soul aspect of your existence, you will need a Tier II Rebirth Mark. Good luck. Remember that treasures and skills are important, but nothing is more consequential than your foundation." Once again, the preprogrammed voice echoed inside the room, fading the next second, leaving the duo dumbstruck. The Collapsing Lightning Duke was shocked to hear that the Tier I Rebirth Mark could allow him to perform his Calamities again. After seeing Cain''s Bone Calamity, the Collapsing Lightning Duke understood that his Bone Calamity was flawed and that his foundation was not enough to draw the true power of this one. Although the True Titan was regretful, he could do nothing as he had already gone through the Apotheosis Rank, but it seemed now he had a way. Cain was just as shocked as the Collapsing Lightning Duke. That message had not appeared before, and the reason was that he had managed to bring forth a True Calamity and Tribulations. He was just as ecstatic as the Collapsing Lightning Duke since now he had the means to generate ultimate warriors. The Genetic Coder Module allowed Cain to grant people powerful Lineage that improved their physical power and cultivation speed, while the Enhancement Module helped him refine their talent and foundation. The two modules were great, but he could do nothing if people had flaws in their Paths since he could not revert time. Eventually, those flaws would prevent their Paths of Power from advancing further. Yet, through the Rebirth Marks, Cain''s soldiers could overcome the Calamity and Tribulations again, increasing their potential and improving their battle power, allowing their battle potential to get closer to his. Of course, truly matching Cain would be nearly impossible. He was not only a dual cultivator with supreme abilities like The Flow, but he was also pushing himself beyond the boundary of humans and aiming to become a Primordial. However, if a Peak Divine Ascension Master like the Collapsing Lightning Duke had obtained the benefits of a True Flesh Calamity and Bone Calamity, he could have faced the Depravita of Blood alone. The Collapsing Lightning Duke needed several seconds before regaining control over his emotions. He was extremely thrilled but did not lose focus, turning his eyes toward the armor in the sky. "Engrave your Ego Wave in it." The Collapsing Lightning Duke heard Cain''s voice and did not hesitate before sending his white Ego Wave into it. As soon as the armor detected the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s willpower, it consumed its energy before flashing to him, fusing with his body. Before the Collapsing Lightning Duke could analyze the armor, the voice emerged again from the Samsara Flame. "Congratulations on obtaining the Tier I Gift, the Gravity Fall Armor. It is a revered Natural Inheritance that embodies the profound and elusive power of gravity. Forged from celestial materials that once were part of a star with intense gravitational pull, this armor is not just a protective garment but a conduit for manipulating and mastering gravitational forces." The description of the Gravity Fall Armor made the Collapsing Lightning Duke ecstatic, as it was perfectly tuned to him. As soon as he clenched his fists and coursed his energy through it, the True Titan felt his physical strength and defense grow exponentially higher. He was not even able to unleash the full power of the armor as his energy reserves were not high enough, but the man was sure it would be extremely useful even if he rose to the next Rank. However, that was not all. As the Collapsing Lightning Duke focused on the armor, a set of runes appeared in his mind. They were extremely profound, and as he concentrated on them and attempted to comprehend them, his eyes widened. "There is a set of runes inside the armor. If I comprehend them, I might draw greater power, but that is not all. Training in them can help me improve my mastery over the Gravity Star Power." The Collapsing Lightning Duke said with a smile, and Cain''s eyes widened as he was genuinely impressed. Star Power was the force that Divine Ascension Masters who followed the Star Sovereign Divine System must control. It is a truly powerful yet elusive force, not any less complex than the Laws, so a set of runes that could help you with them was truly valuable. Cain was truly happy, not just because of the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s great luck but also because he felt a little more secure now. Although the prevention of loss of lives was one of his main concerns in assaulting Eden, the other was that he felt something extremely dangerous waiting for him there. The same person who corrupted the Imperial Court must have left a gift for him in Eden, one that, even with his immense power, could endanger his life. Chapter 744: Becoming a Divine Genetic Coder (I) "My King, what should I do next?" The ability to fix the flaws in his Path of Power and the armor that immensely improved his battle power only strengthened the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s loyalty and devotion toward Cain. He immediately turned toward Cain as the Gravity Fall Armor retracted back into his skin, away from prying eyes. Cain stared at the Collapsing Lightning Duke for a moment before analyzing his options and giving a path. "There will be several months before we are required to fight again. Take advantage of the chance, collect several treasures with life force and vitality, and use the Tier I Rebirth Mark to redo your Flesh Calamity." The Collapsing Lightning Duke smiled as he heard those words but immediately adopted a serious expression as he saw the Scarlet King''s solemn gaze. "Do not underestimate the True Flesh Calamity. I nearly went insane with the pain, consuming the vitality of a True Titan and hundreds of thousands of other people just to survive. If you''re not prepared, not only will you waste this lucky chance, but you might very well die." The thrill and excitement in the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s heart were replaced by solemnity as he heard those words. He was shocked to hear just how strenuous a True Flesh Calamity was, and a solemn light appeared in his eyes as he nodded to Cain. "I understand. I will make sure not to waste such a divine lucky chance you granted me, my King." Seeing that the Collapsing Lightning Duke understood the gravity and severity of a True Flesh Calamity, Cain nodded and waved his hand, bringing him out of the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer. After being left alone, Cain''s eyes turned toward the unconscious Chimera King. The reason why the man was still alive and did not become food for the Samsara Flame was because Cain still had a purpose for him. "Ahhh, if your willpower were a little lower, I would not have to go through all this trouble." Cain only sighed as he grabbed the neck of the unconscious Chimera King and went back to where all those millions of people from the Azure Bloodline were left. Once there, he threw the Dark King to the ground and adopted a meditative position before going through the memories of the Soul King as he took a deep breath of the Soul Enlightenment Mist. Immediately, his cognitive and computation abilities rose exponentially, allowing his understanding of the memories and spells in the Soul King''s memories to be much faster. Cain remained like that for five days before finally opening his eyes. Cain focused on one of the unconscious Azure Apotheosis Masters and raised his hand, bringing this one toward him. He grabbed the man''s head as his Essence Wave became a dark blue flame. The Azure Apotheosis Master''s eyes opened as the dark purple flame invaded his soul sea. He expressed utter anguish, but there was nothing he could do, as Cain''s grip was simply too strong. Cain showed no mercy to these people who dared to experiment with children and carried on. He was practicing one of the spells of the Soul King, known as Soul Search. It was much less effective than Gluttony''s Eye since not only was it limited to pure knowledge without emotions or insight, but one could only access a certain amount of memories before the target perished. The only thing that won over Gluttony''s Eye was that Soul Search did not require a clash of wills with the target, and as long as you were more powerful, you could use the spell. After twenty-five seconds, the Azure Apotheosis Realm Master stopped twitching, and the light in his eyes faded. The man''s heart still beat, but his soul was destroyed. Cain showed nothing as he threw the man to the side and grabbed another Apotheosis Master. He carried on like that for nearly an hour before feeling content with his mastery over the Soul Search spell and turning his gaze toward the Chimera King. The only reason the Chimera King was not burning in the Samsara Flame was his knowledge of Genetic Coding. Cain had decided to once again focus on Genetic Coding, and for that, he needed knowledge. No one in Aether had more knowledge in that profession than the Chimera King. Although Soul Search would only give him raw knowledge and not access to the insight and inspiration the Dark King had amassed, he was confident that his talent would make up for it. After all, he had the [Genetic Coder Module] that constantly enhanced his talent. After resting for an hour and making sure he was in peak condition, Cain opened his hand and brought the Chimera King toward him. He ensured the seal on the Dark King''s body and energy were in place before acting the spells. The Chimera King''s eyes opened as the dark purple flame flooded into his brain and soul, but there was nothing he could do as overwhelming agony assaulted him. Since his soul force was much greater than the Azure Apotheosis Masters, the pain lasted much longer. Cain showed even less mercy to the Chimera King. After all, this one was the mastermind of the Olympus Project, so he carried on with the Soul Search. He focused on all the memories related to Genetic Coding and made sure the process was as painful as possible for the Dark King. Finally, after nearly thirty minutes of unbearable agony, the Chimera King''s body stopped twitching, and the man''s soul collapsed, marking the end of his life. Cain smiled and did not care that the Chimera King perished. He had managed to obtain all he needed, and right now, his mind was a trove of Genetic Coder''s knowledge. With it, he could push his ability to the 4 Star Divine Genetic Coder Tier without a problem, able to generate Wave Viruses that could affect the genome of Peak Divine Ascension Masters. Chapter 745: Becoming a Divine Genetic Coder (II) Cain closed his eyes as he began to assimilate all the Genetic Coding knowledge he obtained from the Chimera King. Within the Dark King''s memories were hundreds of years worth of complicated formulas and experiments, but thanks to the Soul Enlightenment Mist augmenting his cognitive abilities and the [Genetic Coder Module] enhancing his talent and insight, all that knowledge was internalized in ten days! Cain opened his eyes with a sense of enlightenment. At this point, his theoretical knowledge and perspicacity regarding Genetic Coding were at the peak of the Divine Tier. Of course, theoretical knowledge was just one side of Genetic Coding, and the other was applied skills. To train as a Divine Genetic Coder, one would need simply colossal wealth as the resources were extravagant, but Cain did not face that problem. He had amassed wondrous amounts of wealth from all the people he had killed, and the Chimera King''s space ring was simply a treasure trove full of materials he could use. Cain waved his hand, and the next second, a Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber appeared before him. This was the same kind that the Genetic Coder Association had as their sacred treasure, but Cain''s was even better since it would not repel him after three attempts. The Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber originally belonged to the Chimera King, who obtained it by performing some shady deals with the underworld forces of the Legion Eldritch Empire. The Chimera King put in a lot of effort, asked for many favors, and paid an amazing amount of wealth in order to obtain it. Cain sent his Ego Wave into the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber, engraving it before filling it with all sorts of liquid and chemical components. Once it was full, Cain began to work, pushing his entire focus on forming a Wave Virus. His eyes burned with red and golden light, pushing his Ego Wave and The Flow with more and more power as he fused the Wave Virus components, ensuring a flawless synergy between them. Finally, after five hours of great effort and focus, the precious component floating inside the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber coalesced into a tiny golden thread. Cain finally relaxed after completing the Wave Virus. A small smile appeared on his face as he analyzed it. The name of the Wave Virus was Divine Greed, a Wave Talent Enhancer Wave Virus capable of greatly enhancing the ability to enlarge your energy pool. The Chimera King took over nine months to learn how to create this Wave Virus, yet Cain was able to do it in less than five hours. It was not that the Chimera King''s talent in Genetic Coding was low. After all, he was the best in Aether, but Cain''s talent was simply too outrageous after the last evolution of his [Genetic Coder Module]. Without hesitation, Cain put the Wave Virus in a capsule before ingesting it. While injecting it would have been faster, his flesh was harder than a Peak Adamantium Artifact, so that was not a choice. Besides, once it reached his stomach, the Wave Virus did not take long to spread into his bloodstream. A burning sensation assaulted Cain''s body, and his internal temperature rose extremely fast. Still, he just kept focused, allowing the Wave Virus to continue altering his genome. Finally, after roughly an hour, the feeling of fever and nausea faded, and a smile appeared on his face as he felt his Astral Wave and Essence Wave growing much faster than before. "System, scan me." [Scanning Vessel... ... Scan of Vessel completed. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Bone Calamity) / Essence Evolution (Earth Tribulation) Lineage: Solis Lineage (Maximum Purity) Wave Talent: ??? ... Stats: Strength: 1494.8 --> 1997.1 (2859.2) Agility: 580.2 --> 879.1 (1197.3) Vitality: 1173.5 --> 1501.2 (2201.7) Astral Wave: 796.6 --> 934.9 (1633.0) Essence Wave: 598.2 --> 921.5 (1600.6) Soul Force: ??? ... Astral Blood Saturation: 100% Completion* Law Mastery: Law of Space (Deep Law Integration) Earth Law (Deep Law Integration) Water Law (Deep Law Integration) Fire Law (Medium Law Integration) Wind Law (Deep Law Integration) ... Note: Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 22.9%. Note: Natural energy has enhanced every aspect of the Vessel''s physical body, including the Astral Wave and Essence Wave. The current value is marked between (). Note*: Vessel''s blood cells are experiencing a strange metamorphosis. After completing their transformation, the blood cells'' energy cores grow more prominent, allowing them to amass much more Astral Wave.] Cain could not help but smile as he saw his stats. The last time he saw them was right before his 25th Revolution Refinement and the final clash with the Depravita of Blood. His body had gained an immense burst in power thanks to Elemental Awakening and completing the Foundation Stage of the Primordial Path, and his talent in the Law of Space obtained an exponential burst thanks to the Space-Time Eye. Those physical improvements were not a surprise, but the fact that his blood cells'' energy core was growing bigger was. Cain had wondered what the next step would be for Astral Blood Saturation after reaching 100%, and it seems that it was the enlargement of the energy core. That would not only improve his Astral Wave but also make things easier during the Divine Ascension Rank. The final good news was that the Divine Greed Wave Virus increased Cain''s Wave Talent by nearly a quarter, improving his ability to draw energy from the world and the speed at which he increased his Astral and Essence Waves. After that, Cain carried on creating Wave Enhancement Wave Viruses, but these were only of the Saint Tier. Normal Divine Ascension Masters would not get an improvement in their cultivation base without several months or years of deep cultivation, so it was better to focus his Wave Viruses on those at the Wave King and Apotheosis Realm. Besides, since they were Saint Wave Viruses, Cain could do dozens at a time. Chapter 746: Purest Azure Bloodline Cain divided his mind into two diferent trains of thought. One focused on his cultivation, and the other on his Genetic Coding. Normally, Cain''s dual cultivation drew his entire focus. Still, thanks to the Soul Enlightenment Mist machining his cognitive abilities exponentially, he split his mind into several diverted trains of thought and multitasking. For an entire week, he focused on creating Saint Wave Viruses. Each time he finished one batch, the next came out faster and better, as his proficiency and dexterity in Genetic Coding kept improving at a shocking rate. By the end of the week, Cain had created more than twenty thousand Saint Wave Viruses, much more than he currently needed. There were only five hundred Apotheosis Masters and five thousand Wave Kings in the Azure Sector. Of course, there were many more in the north, where the bulk of the Scarlet Alliance forces were located, so plenty of people would need them. After finishing the Wave Viruses for his troops and polishing his Genetic Coding skills, Cain chose to rest. The next project was extremely complicated, but there was a chance that it could increase his power, so he needed to be at his peak. Cain rested for five hours, and his eyes grew sharp and cold when he woke up. With a wave of his hand, the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber began to enlarge until it was over fifty meters wide and five hundred meters high! Not wasting a second, Cain turned his eyes toward the hundreds of thousands of Azure Bloodline death row criminals and sent them into the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber. He did not kill them on the spot out of mercy but because he wanted something from them¡ªmore specifically, he wanted the Azure Bloodline. Although the current generation of the Azure Royal Family was pathetic, with only one Divine Ascension Master, the Azure Bloodline was extremely powerful, as the Azure Emperor was once known for his immense physical strength and domain over the forces of endlessness and lightning. Of course, since Cain had already issued the statement that the Azure Bloodline would fade from Aether, he planned to make some aesthetic modifications. Although that could be considered an offense to the Azure Emperor, Cain couldn''t care less about the man''s opinion. The Azure Emperor left for the Astral Sea thousands of years ago and might be dead by now. Even if he were not, Cain would not be afraid of the man''s response. It''s not as if the title of emperor could stop him. Of all the Goldsayer Humankind Emperors, there was only one that Cain still considered worthy of respect and admiration, the First Titan, Adam. That man saved humankind from the dying Old World and led the Godslayer Humankind through thousands of years of hardship and bloodshed. Unlike now, when the title of Goldsayer Humankind Emperor carried endless benefits and very few actual responsibilities, it could be considered a curse back then as it meant having the destiny of an entire race on your shoulders. Cain did not waste too much time on these thoughts as he made sure the hundreds of thousands of Azure Bloodline criminals would remain unconscious, and the next part would be excruciating. It was not out of mercy since it would be easier if he could focus, and it was hard to do that with people screaming in pain as their bodies liquified. Slowly, the hundreds of thousands of death row criminals began to liquefy, their bodies decomposing into liquids of all sorts of colors. The weaker they were, the faster the process, and after an hour, only one person was left alive. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he gazed at the old Azure King, and a flash of wrath crossed his eyes as he waved his hand, lifting the seal on the man''s mind. The next second, the Azure King regained consciousness, and a feeling of utter agony immediately assaulted him. As he saw his body, he realized that his arms and legs were gone, and what remained of him was a bloody torso and head without any skin. "?AHHHHHHH!" The Azure King unleashed a scream of pain and agony just before his heart stopped beating and his brain waves ceased to exist. The last seconds of his life were a bloody nightmare of pain and terror. A short smile appeared on Cain''s face as he saw the Azure King''s expression of agony, but soon he regained his focus. The Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber was now full of liquids of all sorts of colors, representing the different types of tissues and chemical components that those hundreds of thousands left. Cain took a deep breath. Liquefying those people without losing any component was the easiest part. Now, he needed to erase all the filth left behind, purging any element inside the chamber that was not a component of the Azure Bloodline. The liquids inside the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber started boiling, and new components were added to purge the unwanted elements. After two days, the chamber contained nothing but deep blue blood infused with the essence of infinity and lightning. However, much work remained, as the Azure Bloodline was highly diluted. Cain had the potential to bestow a relatively pure Azure Bloodline to thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands, but he aimed for something much more ambitious. After resting for half an hour, Cain''s eyes ignited with renewed focus. He began to condense the rivers of dark blue blood into a much purer form, introducing different components to ensure the stability and purity of the bloodline. As the process continued, genetic materials from the Azure Lineage began to decrease, but their purity and power significantly increased. After three days of intense labor and the use of countless components to maximize the bloodline''s purity and stability within his capabilities, three thick streams of azure blood materialized in front of Cain. These streams radiated a powerful electric force and a sense of boundless growth. Chapter 747 747: Chimera Bloodline Path (I) Cain stared at the three streams of Azure Bloodline left inside the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber. Their purity and strength were the best his current capabilities could achieve, and the bloodlines could enhance the physical might and Wave Talent of Peak Divine Ascension Masters. ''Its power is only one step beneath mine.'' Although Cain quantified it as one step, it was like the difference between a grizzly bear and a dinosaur. It made sense, considering he obtained his bloodline using the Soul Bloodline of a Peak Divine Ascension Master, whose foundation and talent granted him the title of True Titan. On the other hand, these streams of Azure Bloodline were obtained by siphoning people''s bloodlines who failed to truly develop even a fraction of their potential. Of course, any Divine Ascension Masters in Aether would desire such a pure Azure Lineage since it was truly powerful. The only way to obtain one of higher purity would be to take the heart of the Azure Emperor himself and implant it into their own chests. However, that was not enough for Cain, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes. "System, can you combine the power of [Sub-Atomic Genetic Stimulation], [Sub-Atomic Genetic Enhancement], and [Sub-Atomic Genetic Suppression] to enhance the power of the three slivers of Azure Bloodline, allowing its power to experience atavism and return to its origins?" The current [Genetic Coder Module] could act on bloodline 1 Tier above the Divine Tier, and Cain did not believe the Azure Emperor''s bloodline was 2 Tiers above the Divine Tier. [Analyzing feasibility of the Vessel''s request... ... ...] Cain waited in silence for ten seconds until the Absolute Life Form System finally gave him an answer. [Genetic Atavism can be performed on the Azure Bloodline by combining the power of Sub-Atomic Genetic Stimulation, Sub-Atomic Genetic Enhancement, and Sub-Atomic Genetic Suppression tools. Cost: 10M of Destiny Force for each.] A wide smile appeared on Cain''s face as he heard those words. He was just testing his luck, and it seemed he struck gold. Although there were no new tools in the [Genetic Coder Module], that did not mean the power of the current ones could not give birth to something new, in this case, Genetic Atavism. Although 10M of Destiny Force for each strain of Azure Lineage would seem like a lot, after ending the lives of five Dark Kings, forming the Scarlet Alliance, and establishing a foothold in the Prometheus Sector, Cain''s Destiny Force was over 350M, so he did not have a problem with the price. "Do it on all three slivers of the Azure Bloodline." [Performing Genetic Atavism on all three strains of the Azure Bloodline.] The power of the Absolute Life Form System emerged from Cain''s soul and encompassed all three bloodline strains inside the Tier Zero Genetic Chamber. Cain''s eyes glowed with awe as he witnessed the power within each strain of the Azure Bloodline rising exponentially. Within ten minutes, it had become so potent that Cain was confident it could match the bloodline the Azure Emperor possessed before departing for the Astral Sea. "Hahaha, yes! The power of this Azure Lineage doesn''t fall behind my Solis Lineage!" A flash of greed and desire appeared in Cain''s eyes as he focused on the Azure Bloodline. However, what he sought was not simply to integrate this bloodline into his body; his ambitions were much greater. "System, display the information analyzed regarding the Chimera Bloodline Path." [When someone obtains a more potent bloodline than the one they currently possess, the new one will become the main bloodline, expressing its full power, while the weaker one will become a dormant bloodline, still helpful but not expressing its full might. The Chimera Bloodline Path aims to change that. It represents a groundbreaking advancement, theorized by the Chimera King, centered around the manipulation and innovation within the realm of Genetic Coding. Unlike traditional methods that prioritize a single dominant bloodline, this path explores the potential of combining multiple bloodlines, leveraging the diversity of genetic heritage to unlock unprecedented powers and abilities. This sophisticated genetic technique requires an extremely deep understanding of genetic bloodline coding, enabling practitioners to decipher and manipulate the fundamental sequences that dictate bloodline powers. Core Concepts: -Genetic Bloodline Coding Mastery: Practitioners of the Chimera Bloodline Path require an extremely deep understanding of genetic bloodline coding. This mastery enables them to decipher and manipulate the fundamental sequences that dictate bloodline powers. It focuses on the ability to identify potential compatibilities and synergies between different bloodlines. -Bloodline Fusion: The hallmark of the Chimera Bloodline Path is the fusion of multiple bloodlines, creating a hybrid that combines each bloodline''s strengths and abilities without forcing one to become dormant. Successful fusion requires a meticulous assessment of affinity between bloodlines, ensuring that the combined form is stable and potent. Mechanisms and Limitations: -Affinity and Compatibility: Not all bloodlines can be fused. The process requires a detailed analysis of each bloodline''s properties and an understanding of how they might interact. Complementary traits, energies, and potential for synergy determine affinity. -Fusion Process: The fusion of compatible bloodlines involves a complex procedure that realigns and merges the genetic codes. This process might require rare materials and treasures to guarantee stability in the long term and prevent unwanted mutations. ... Note: The Chimera Bloodline Path is an innovative approach to Genetic Coding, but the Chimera King has not brought it to completion, and there are still many flaws in its reasoning. To be functional, it requires a lot of experimentation] A meaningful light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he grasped the description of the Chimera Bloodline Path. Although it was not yet complete and needed much work to function without flaws, Cain saw in it the opportunity to evolve his bloodline. Currently, Cain doubted any bloodline in Aether could surpass his Solis Lineage, so he thought he would be confined to it until leaving for the Astral Sea. However, that might no longer be the case with the Chimera Bloodline Path. Chapter 748 748: Chimera Bloodline Path (II) "System, use the [A.I. Chip Module]''s [Quantum Data Gathering and Analysis] and [Quantum Virtual Simulation] tools to calculate the affinity and compatibility between the Solis Bloodline and Azure Bloodline." Cain immediately commanded the system to analyze the compatibility between his bloodline and the Azure Bloodline. While it wouldn''t be easy, as long as it was possible, he was ready to fuse the bloodlines to obtain an even stronger one. The sole idea of a Lineage that could grant him the ability to express the power of yang and sunlight, along with endlessness and lightning, filled Cain''s heart with thrill and excitement. [Analyzing the compatibility between the Solis Bloodline and Azure Bloodline for potential fusion. ... ... ... Solis Bloodline and Azure Bloodline compatibility: 7.2%] Cain''s smile immediately froze as he saw the compatibility between his Solis Bloodline and the Azure Bloodline. He expected it not to be so high since the bloodlines were born in different races, but with such a low value, there was no way he could fuse them both. If he were to try, he might waste his Solis Bloodline and end up with nothing. According to Cain''s calculation, anything beneath 50% compatibility would be futile, and even then, above 50% did not secure success. The higher the compatibility, the easier it would be to fuse different bloodlines and the stronger the Chimera Bloodline that would arise. Originally, Cain wanted to hand over two strains of the Azure Bloodline to powerful soldiers and keep one for himself, but it seemed now that all would be gone. "Mmm. I could still continue the process with others. Although it would consume a lot of resources and time, it would allow me to prepare my skills when I find a bloodline that could fuse with my Solis Lineage." A meaningful light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he decided not to simply hand over the Azure Bloodline. "System, among the warriors of the Scarlet Alliance, show me the ones with the best chance of success of forming a Chimera Bloodline using the Azure Bloodline." [Analyzing the compatibility between the Scarlet Alliance''s bloodlines in the database and the Azure Bloodline ... ... ...] It didn''t take long for the Absolute Life Form System to give Cain a list of the bloodlines with the best compatibility percentage toward the Azure Bloodline, and a smile appeared on his face as he nodded. "I guess I should really put my full effort into it." Cain focused on the bloodlines he obtained from the Chimera King and used the system to check their compatibility before beginning to work. "System, analyze every step of the process, discover its flaws, and theorize how to fix them. Relay the information to me in real-time." [Task assigned] The fastest way to improve your abilities in the Chimera Bloodline Path was to experiment with it, which required a lot of wealth and bloodlines. However, that was not a problem for Cain, as he was ready to spend everything he had obtained from the Chimera King to improve his skills. Without hesitation, he took two bloodlines with the highest compatibility percentage and sent them into the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber to start the fusing process. ... For the past few weeks, Cain had been tirelessly working on the Chimera Bloodline Path, fusing the different bloodlines in his space ring. Despite the majority of his efforts failing to achieve a true fusion, Cain persisted. Cain''s continued efforts, without regard for the cost, allowed him to improve his abilities exponentially in the Chimera Bloodline Path. His skills were rapidly advancing, and he had reached a level the Chimera King could not even dream of attaining. "Another failure," Cain observed, as yet another attempt to fuse two bloodlines failed. He spent a few minutes analyzing the Absolute Life Form System data, understanding the flaws, and figuring out how to avoid them in future attempts. Just as Cain prepared to start a new bloodline fusion, a message arrived on his [A.I. Chip Module]. Usually, he wouldn''t divert his attention to messages during this intensive training unless they were marked urgent. However, this message was related to the Scarlet Ambassadors'' monthly evaluation report and caught his interest. Cain''s eyes widened as he read the report detailing the destruction of one of the States and the massacre of the Noble Family that had governed it. The Scarlet Ambassadors'' purpose was to establish a successful relationship with the States or at least convince them to leave the Prometheus Sector during the conflict, not to destroy them. While the Scarlet Alliance had more than enough power to take care of the States, that would only push them toward the Imperial Court''s embrace, making the assault on the Silver City much more difficult. Cain immediately went through the full report of the incident and discovered that Lurin had issued the command that led to the destruction of the Golden Roc State. As Cain reviewed the details and every step that led to the obliteration of the Golden Roc State and the death of the Golden Roc Duke, a meaningful light appeared in his eyes, and he softly nodded. After a moment, he reviewed the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s evaluation. He noted that the man not only allowed Lurin to maintain his position but also commended him for a job well done. It appeared that his old friend not only rose to the occasion but shone brightly, displaying truly formidable skills in diplomacy and tactics. "It seems I don''t have to worry about the States," Cain mused with a smile, confident that the mission would be a success. He then turned his attention to a message from the Collapsing Lightning Duke, who had entered secluded cultivation. Since the True Titan took two weeks to prepare the resources, he clearly understood the dangers. With that matter taken care of, Cain was able to dismiss his concerns about the outside world. He took a deep breath of the Soul Enlightenment Mist and resumed his training, focused and undeterred. Chapter 749 749: Diamond Saint Duke There was a massive city on the border of the Prometheus Sector known as Diamond Saint City, the heart of the Diamond Saint State, and it was under the control of the Diamond Saint Dukedom. The current leader was the first son of the Diamond Saint Duke, Kober. Kober had a youthful appearance with dark hair, green eyes, and a lean yet muscular body. At under two hundred years old, he had already become an Early Divine Ascension Master and was progressing toward the Middle Stage. In Aether, anyone who managed to become a Divine Ascension Master before turning three hundred years old could be considered a genius. They had a high chance of reaching the Peak Divine Ascension Rank and possibly rising forward if the correct lucky chance presented itself. Despite Kober''s talent and background, he had a solemn expression, and he could not hide the nervousness and apprehension in his eyes, which were due to the people who were currently marching toward the Diamond Saint State. Although the pressure was immense, Kober''s eyes glowed with silver light as he prepared for the silent clash that would soon happen. "?BOOM!" However, a wave of shock appeared on Kober''s face as he saw how the gates to the throne room were blasted open. Immediately, a cold light appeared in his eyes, as no matter how strong the other side was, if he allowed them to bully him like this, he would be embarrassing his family''s name. "Who do you think...!" Kober could not finish his sentence as the one who appeared was someone he could not disrespect. "Father!?" The one that appeared was a middle-aged man with a very similar appearance to Kober but a much larger and muscular body. The Diamond Saint Duke was considered one of the most influential figures in the south of Gaia, being regarded as the counterpart of the Collapsing Lightning Duke. He was a True Titan and the leader of the Diamond Saint Sector, the southernmost Sector of Gaia. A sharp light appeared in the Diamond Saint Duke''s eyes as he stared at his son, and Kober immediately rose from the throne and performed a deep bow. "Father, why are you here? Is everything in order back home?" Although the north of Gaia had the highest level of destruction and desolation after The Great Cataclysm started due to the war with the Inferno Daemon Race, the south did not have it easier either. The horde of Wave Beasts that emerged from the Endless Ocean killed many and forced the Diamond Saint Duke to mobilize all his troops to establish order. Yet, just as the Diamond Saint Sector was gaining a semblance of stability, the underworld acted like ravenous dogs, attacking every city and population center in the south, with the Dark Kings going on a murderous rampage. Although the Diamond Saint Duke did not fear the Dark Kings or the power of The Organization, unlike in the north of Gaia, where they led an army, their only goal in the south seemed to be to sow chaos, destruction, and death, hiding at first sight of a clash. The Diamond Saint Duke was full of rage, but there was little he could do. He lacked the intelligence network to trap the Dark Kings. While the Imperial Court was surprisingly generous with soldiers, the information their intelligence network provided was useless and sometimes counterproductive. Even a fool would realize there was a problem with the Imperial Court as the Golden Emperor did not show his face, and a new Prime Minister came into power just as The Great Cataclysm started. Although the Diamond Saint Duke wanted to discover what was happening in the capital, his hands were full with the chaos in the south. Kober knew his father was the spiritual leader of the north, and the one that kept the situation from exploding, so seeing him here was shocking. "Hmm, what problem could there be since those cowards now do not dare to come out of their holes? They are dying like flies, so I guess it makes sense that they are hiding, but still, I would really want to get my hands on one of them." Disdain appeared in the Diamond Saint Duke as he uttered those words, and it was clear how much loathing and killing intent he had toward the Dark Kings. Kober''s eyes widened, and a smile appeared on his face as he realized that the situation in Gaia''s south had finally stabilized. But it did not take long for a solemn expression to once again appear on his face as he understood the reason why the Dark Kings were so terrifying. It was the same power that would reach the State anytime now. "The Scarlet King is truly terrifying. Although he is stationed in the Azure Sector, his shadow extends all the way to the south, terrifying the Dark Kings." "He already killed six of them and forced the Void King to run away with severe wounds. If they did not fear him, then they would be stupid." A solemn light appeared in the Diamond Saint Duke''s eyes as he uttered those words, and Kober silently nodded as he understood why his father had rushed from the south toward the State. "I know your skills, my son, which is why I left you in the State despite the erratic situation in the capital. I trusted you could handle it and be my eyes in the capital, but the Scarlet Alliance is something completely different. I assume you heard what happened with the Golden Roc State." Kober smiled a small smile as he heard his father''s encouraging words, but he did not lose focus and immediately nodded. "I heard that the Scarlet Alliance besieged it, and they are currently isolated from the rest of the Prometheus Sector." The Diamond Saint Duke softly shook his head before speaking somberly. "The Golden Roc Duke and most of his family were butchered. It happened so fast that the entire Golden Roc State was isolated before the news could even spread." Chapter 750: Bloodshed Ambassador Kober''s eyes widened as he heard the news. In this age, when a message from an A.I. Chip could take less than a second to reach the other corner of the Sector, stopping such shocking news from spreading was nothing short of incredible. However, that was not the most crucial part. Kober knew the Scarlet King was not a saint, as he broadcasted the slaughter of hundreds of thousands for all the Godlsayer Humankind to see, and without blinking an eye. Yet, he also spared millions and protected them from unjust prosecution, so he was definitely fair. However, butchering the Golden Roc Duke and his family was simply too much, especially since they stated they were going through the States on a diplomatic mission. Since the massacre happened so fast, there was clearly no conversation, and the Scarlet Alliance went to the meeting with a single goal. Kober believed something like that could happen because the Golden Roc Duke was part of the Imperial Army and had remained in the Prometheus Sector during the entirety of the war in the north, which ignited the wrath of the Scarlet Alliance. "Even if the Golden Roc Duke did not march into battle, that was not necessarily his fault. After all, the Imperial Court redirected all forces to the other Sectors, and the man was just following orders. The Scarlet Alliance went too far with this. How can we trust someone that goes into a slaughter during a diplomatic mission." Kober''s face grew cold, but the Diamond Saint Duke shook his head as he sent a file to his son using their A.I. Chips. "Do not be too quick to make judgments, son. Here, look at this." Kober was surprised by the file his father sent him. As he went through it, he saw a detailed target package related to the Golden Roc Duke. There was clear evidence of the many crimes the man had committed throughout his life, many of which disgusted Kober. Still, the intel focused on the last years, detailing clearly how the man did not even bother trying to answer his responsibilities as a general of the Imperial Army, marching to the north. If that was not enough, after learning about the Scarlet Ambassadors going through the Sector and requesting the leader to either ally with them or leave the Prometheus Sector, the Golden Roc General began to mobilize his troops, but not to prepare to fight. They were trying to mobilize the entire Golden Roc State population into their castle, and it seemed they were preparing for a siege. It was easy for Kober to understand that the Golden Roc Duke was ready to use those people as human shields, forcing the Scarlet Alliance to leave them alone unless they were prepared to incur severe collateral casualties. There was no other way to describe the Golden Roc General''s maneuvers as cowardly and disgusting. The Scarlet Alliance realized that, due to their spies and intelligence network, they moved directly toward the Golden Roc State before the Golden Roc Duke could finish the preparations. The last thing in the file was a video, and when Kober opened it, shock and dread appeared in his eyes. The video depicted the final moment of the Golden Roc Duke and how a young man forced him to see how his entire family was massacred in front of his eyes. All those people who were butchered had a long list of crimes that made them worthy of the death penalty, so there was technically no injustice in punishing them. That made it clear just how thorough the Scarlet Alliance was, as they left no soft spot that could be exploited. Only after the will to live in the Golden Roc General faded did the young man send the signal, and his head rolled through the ground. "The one you saw in the video orchestrating the execution is the same one who discovered the plot of the Golden Roc Duke and sent me that file. His name is Lurin Sinar. He is a young man from the north of the Collapsing Lightning Sector and an old friend of the Scarlet King. He most likely obtained the position of Scarlet Ambassador out of favoritism, but by now, it is clear that he had more than enough skills to handle the responsibility. I am not the only one who received this message. I spoke with many of the States'' leaders, and it was also sent to them. There is no message in the file, but it is clearly a message for all of us to understand what will happen if we try to play games with the Scarlet Alliance. Due to his bloodthirsty nature, people have already given him the title of Bloodshed Ambassador. Although he is just a Wave King, if you look down on him, you will surely regret it, son." His father''s voice drew Kober''s attention back to reality, and he nodded solemnly. As for why this file was not sent to him, it was clear that the Bloodshed Ambassador did not see him as the true leader of the Diamond Saint Sector. Although it would be easy to take that as an offense, Kober knew it was the truth. No matter how many concessions or propositions he might accept, his father would have the last word. The Bloodshed Ambassador must have known that if the Diamond Saint Duke received the file, this one would come to the Prometheus Sector in person. "We must be very careful with anything related to the Scar King, as his power and brutality are not something we can bear. Anyway, let''s not make them wait any longer and invite them in." Shock appeared in Kober as he heard that and saw his father sit on the throne, only for four people to appear at the entrance of the throne room. His eyes widened as he understood that the group had arrived a while ago and were simply waiting for the father and son discussion to end. Chapter 751: Nothing can hide from the Scarlet King Kober immediately noticed the imposing aura of the duo at the back and recognized them as the Hellblazer Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. Still, his focus immediately turned to the two young men in the lead with scarlet robes. As the first son of a Sector Duke, Kober liked to be well-informed, so he recognized the young man with dark hair and fiery red eyes as Magnus Hellblazer, the young shooting star of the Hellblazer Family. The other one was the young man he had only seen once before in the video his father shared. However, it was hard to match the bloodthirsty monster who forced open the Golden Roc Duke''s eyes so he could see the death of his family with the young man who walked with a large smile on his face, whose aura seemed to embody absolute serenity. The group walked until they were exactly ten meters away from the throne, and then Lurin and Magnus performed a deep bow toward the Diamond Saint Duke and Kober. "The Scarlet Ambassadors greet the mighty Diamond Saint Duke, the Guardian of the South. We also greet the State Lord." The Diamond Saint Duke could not help but silently nod as he saw the two young men''s perfect display of manners and etiquette. Their behavior was flawless, leaving no room for criticism. The Hellblazer Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar remained silent like statues, only glancing at him. The Diamond Saint Duke did not care about that since he did not expect the Titans to bow in his presence. Thinking of this as a simple meeting would be a mistake the Diamond Saint Duke would not make, as this was his first interaction with the Scarlet Alliance, the force that might very well rule Gaia by the end of the year. The Diamond Saint Duke stood up and clasped his hands before bowing to the two young men. He was not bowing toward the Scarlet Ambassadors but the figure the two represented. Kober understood that and followed his father''s actions, bowing as well. "We are pleased to welcome the Scarlet Ambassadors, the Scarlet King''s Voice, to our home. As you can see, I arrived just recently, so we had no time to prepare a proper feast or welcome party." "There is no need for those pleasantries, Your Highness. After all, we know how busy you have been in Gaia''s south, and we understand that it took all your time to establish order in all that chaos. The fact you came in person to receive us says enough, and I am sure the Scarlet King thinks the same. By the way, I must congratulate you on crushing that underworld cell at the border of your Sector before coming here. It was awe-inspiring how you managed to kill all six Divine Ascension Masters and did not let anyone escape." The Diamond Saint Duke and Magnus shared a small set of pleasantries, yet the silent exchange of information had already begun. The young man made it clear that they understood the Sector Duke''s role in the south of Gaia and had no reprimand toward his behavior during The Great Cataclysm. "It seems that the Scarlet Alliance''s intelligence network is much better than mine to be able to keep the Scarlet King so well informed." A sharp light appeared in the Diamond Saint Duke''s eyes. Magnus described a clash that had happened three days ago. It was a lucky chance, as he had just gone through a mountain that turned out to be the hideout of the underworld Divine Ascension Masters. He killed all of them and did not inform anyone about it, yet the young man knew it. "The men and women in the Scarlet Alliance''s Intelligence Network work hard and are very well prepared, but I am afraid your Highness is mistaking things. It is not the intelligence network that provided information to our King but the other way around. Nothing can hide from the Scarlet King in the Godslayer Humankind Empire, at least not for long. As long as there is a whisper, rumor, or a strange sight in Gaia, he knows it." This time, Lurin spoke, and the young man kept smiling, his face full of serenity. Yet the connotation behind those words made the Diamond Saint Duke narrow his eyes, and Kober felt a shiver go down his spine. Although the idea that someone could hear and see everything that happened in Gaia was ridiculous, the Scarlet King managed to uncover the tracks of four Dark Kings in less than a month, so he may be truly omniscient. The Diamond Saint Duke stared at his son and saw how he began to glance around, seemingly looking for an invisible presence. The man was wise enough to understand that the Scarlet King was not really omniscient, but legends were powerful as they could make a small man project a large shadow. And the Scarlet King already projected a monstrous shadow without the need for rumors and tales. He glanced at the young man, who kept smiling and could not help but silently nod as he saw how this one took advantage of the chance with a few simple words to increase the might of the Scarlet King in his son''s heart. "I am sure Your Highness is aware of our intention, but allow me to clarify things. Soon, a battle will arise as our King marches into the Silver City. During that period, there will be no room for neutrality in the Prometheus Sector, and you are either an ally of the Scarlet Alliance or you will be considered an enemy." Silence did not last long as Magnus spoke the next second with a serious expression. The duo timed their words perfectly, with Magnus taking advantage of the silent shock that Lurin''s words left in the Diamond Saint Duke and Kober. "I know. If I refuse to side with the Scarlet Alliance, we must leave the Prometheus Sector for the next year, am I right?" Chapter 752: Who will be the new Emperor? "Our King has the power to sunder entire sectors, and we have warriors possessing power normal True Titans could not match and that would follow him to the end. However, in the pursuit of peace and prosperity, he prefers alliances with honorable people like Your Highness, as that would make the future transition of power in the Goldsayer Humankind smoother. Of course, our King doesn''t need to force people to side with him. If you choose not to side with us and to leave the Prometheus Sector, there will be no repercussions in the future. In fact, due to your behavior in the past few years, I can guarantee that you will keep your control over the Diamond Saint Sector and will remain there until the day you march into the Astral Sea." Magnus spoke with a smile, his words seemingly friendly, yet the last part made the Diamond Saint Duke''s eyes narrow. The Scarlet King would not attack him in the future if he chose to leave the Prometheus Sector, and would retain his control over his Sector, but he would be stuck in that position until the end of his days in Aether. The role of a Sector Duke fell second only to the Emperor in the Goldsayer Humankind Empire, and the Diamond Saint Dukedom was even more impressive as it was considered the crown jewel of Gaia''s south. Yet, the Diamond Saint Duke was an ambitious man, and he wanted more, he wanted a power that would allow him to course through the Astral Sea and not just survive in it. If there was one person who could grant him that, it would be the man capable of killing True Titans without suffering a wound, the Scarlet King. "What are the Scarlet King''s plans once he rises to the role of Emperor?" A sharp light appeared in Magnus''s eyes as he heard that question, and his smile grew wider. It seemed that the Diamond Saint Duke was interested in joining them, and if they managed to push the man into the Scarlet Alliance, it would be greatly significant for their future. After all, the Diamond Saint Duke was not just the leader of the Diamond Saint State, but the head of the Diamond Saint Sector. If he were to join them, conquering the south of Gaia would be easy, and would face barely any resistance at all. Magnus remained silent for a few moments as he glanced at Lurin. It was a silent exchange and lasted less than a second as they nodded. They had prepared for that question, and after much deliberation, came up with an answer. "Who says it will be the Scarlet King, the one rising to the Emperor Throne?" The Diamond Saint Duke and Kober''s eyes widened while the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the Hellblazer Duke adopted serious expressions, watching the two young men. Silence reigned for a few seconds until the Diamond Saint Duke spoke again. "He doesn''t want to become the Emperor of the Goldsayer Humankind?" "Our King has the power to travel anywhere in the world and visit any sacred ground he would want, even those of the Dark Races. What could the title of Emperor offer him other than a new shackle? After ensuring the order and safety of the Goldsayer Humankind, our King will surely set his eyes beyond the Crystal Wall." Magnus was very careful with his words, not stating anything definitely or making assumptions of what could go through Cain''s mind, only giving an informed guess, one that all present could find no flaw. "Then who will be the Emperor?" The Diamond Saint Duke spoke in a solemn voice. Although he could agree with the Scarlet Alliance taking down the Golden Emperor, the new Prime Minister, and the corrupted Imperial Court, a new Emperor had to be put in place. It was not just custom, but something much more important. In a world where people could unleash more power than an H-bomb with a simple wave of their hands and kill hundreds of millions in a second, you needed a powerful figure that could inspire fear and respect, keeping those wild and arrogant powerhouses in place. Not to mention that a supreme leader was always needed in times of war, as those decisions could not be left to a committee. "A new Emperor will rise, but that will be decided by our King. Although I dare not say what goes through the Scarlet King''s mind, I am willing to bet he already has plans in motion to ensure the new center of power for the Goldsayer Humankind Empire." Magnus once again gave a flawless answer, solving the doubts of the Diamond Saint Duke. It was then time for the Sector Duke to remain silent and pensive until finally, a decisive expression appeared on his face. "I can see the value and purpose of the Scarlet Alliance''s goal, and I will be willing to side with you. However, I require something from the Scarlet King." The Diamond Saint Duke had barely finished his words when a coldness drew his attention, only to see Lurin glancing at him. The young man was still smiling, yet the light in his eyes was the same he showed during the video where the Golden Roc Duke''s family was massacred. Although the young man was just a Wave King, the intensity and nearly fanatic zeal in his eyes managed to affect the will of the Diamond Saint Duke. "That sounds almost like you are demanding something from our King. I am sure I must have heard wrong, right?" After Lurin uttered those words, the Diamond Saint Duke felt a new wave of sharpness directed toward him, this time coming from the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, whose hand had already spread open, ready to summon his weapon. Although the duo''s reaction might look overbearing, they would not allow anyone to think they could demand things from the Scarlet King. In the Scarlet Alliance, the figure of the King was sacred, and any sign of smirchment or disrespect toward him would be met with absolute brutality and killing might. Chapter 753: Convergence in the Azure State The Diamond Saint Duke immediately understood the mistake in his words and shook his head. "Of course not. I would not dare to demand anything from the Scarlet King. It is more a request, as it would ease my heart in case something happens to me in the incoming clash in the Silver City." Lurin''s eyes returned to normal as he heard that, and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar closed his hands. Then, the young man signaled for the Sector Duke to carry on. "I would like to request for the Scarlet King to take my first son, Kober, as his disciple." Kober was shocked to hear his father''s words, and he was not alone since Lurin and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar were also shocked. As for Magnus and Gladius, they showed a sharp light as they saw the guts and wits of the Diamond Saint Duke. If Kober were to become the Scarlet King''s disciple, then the young man would obtain a layer of protection that only a suicidal fool would dare to test and would also improve the Diamond Saint Duke''s status in the Scarlet Alliance. Of course, it was an extremely big request, one that Magnus and Gladius did not dare to make. However, the Diamond Saint Duke was the key to Gaia''s south, and the man was an honorable warrior with the power of an extremely powerful True Titan. Silence reigned as Magnus turned toward Lurin. That request was not something he could approve or deny, which was why he expected the Scarlet King''s old friend to take care of it. Lurin remained silent as he glanced at Kober for a few seconds before turning back to the Diamond Saint Duke. "I can speak to our King and convince him to at least take State Lord Kober as an In-name Disciple. As for whether Lord Kober can display enough talent in the future to improve his status, that will be for the Scarlet King to decide. However, I will warn you. While our King is a master of warfare, strategy, and schemes and might be the most powerful life form in Aether, he is not a patient man and has no tolerance for failure, so I doubt he would be a good teacher." The Diamond Saint Duke smiled as he heard those words. Although an In-name Disciple title was lower than he wanted, it was a start, and he was sure that his son would have the chance to become a true disciple. As for the part about the lack of teaching abilities from the Scarlet King, the Sector Duke already expected that. After all, a strong teacher and a good teacher were very different things. However, that was not a problem since nothing says you only could have one teacher. The Scarlet King''s shadow would be enough to protect his son during the following clash, even if he were to fall. "That is perfect. We are ready to pay our respects to the Scarlet King and formally join the Scarlet Alliance. Until then, we will remain in the State and wait for our King''s command. I will send news to my friends in the other States so your travels are smooth." Lurin and Magnus clasped their hands and bowed to the Diamond Saint Duke as they heard those words. With their current momentum and the words of support from the Diamond Saint Duke, their travel through the rest of the States will be much faster, as it would erase the doubts in the hearts of many. "We appreciate your words, Your Highness. I am sure our King will be happy to see you once he emerges from his cultivation." Both sides paid their respects to the other and once it was over, the Scarlet Ambassadors left along with the Titans, leaving the father and son duo alone. Once the group was out of his perception, the Diamond Saint Duke slumped onto the throne with an expression of utter exhaustion on his face. The exchange was short but the Diamond Saint Duke felt immense pressure with every word that came out of his mouth since they could either pave his way to the highest heavens or send them into a path to hell. "Ahhh, I hope I made the right choice." The Diamond Saint Duke knew he was placing a heavy bet on the Scarlet King, yet his eyes soon became resolute as he used his A.I. Chip to communicate with the rest of the States, informing them about his decision and quietly pushing them into the Scarlet Alliance. --- For the next one and a half months, the Scarlet Ambassadors did not rest as they went from one State to the other, participating in profound and meaningful discussions with all the State Lords. Thanks to the news that the Diamond Saint Duke had joined the Scarlet Alliance and the recommendation of the man to do it as well, many of the State Lords accepted the offer of the Scarlet Ambassadors and decided to join the Scarlet King. Of course, there were also others who did not want to form part of the future clash, but they did not make trouble and silently left the Prometheus Sector. By the time they finished going through all the 80 States, 62 State Lords had decided to join the Scarlet Alliance, while the other 17 had chosen to leave the Prometheus Sector. The last one was the Golden Roc Dukedom, which was destroyed. On the first day of the third month since the Scarlet Alliance appeared in the Prometheus Sector, the State Lords were summoned by the Scarlet King, making a shocking sight appear in the sky of the Azure State. Nearly one hundred powerful individuals appeared in the sky. While there were only 62 State Lords, many were accompanied by even more powerful figures. Like Kober, many State Lords were just proxies, and the true leaders lived in different Sectors but came to the Prometheus Sector for this event. In the sky were also the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, the Hellblazer Duke, and all the great generals that had come to the Prometheus Sector. Chapter 754: Fire Tribulation (I) All eyes were on the Azure Royal Castle as they waited. There were many powerhouses in the sky, none with a cultivation base beneath the Early Divine Ascension Realm, and their eyes were full of curiosity and inquisitiveness as they waited to see the famous Scarlet King. The young man had risen to fame during his time in the Silver City, where he showed divine talent in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power and Genetic Coding. However, he vanished under rumors of an ambush schemed by The Organization. Many believe the young man had perished, yet he returned to Gaia nearly four years later with the power to kill Gods and face Dark Kings. Before the shock of that news could pass, he rose even higher, killing a strange entity that was supposed to be even stronger than a True Titan. However, all those events were just rumors since the last clash with the Depravita of Blood was something only the Inferno Daemon Gods and great generals of the Scarlet Alliance witnessed. Many even doubted those tales, thinking they were just pushing fables around the Scarlet King to improve his image, but there was no way to deny the Dark Kings the young man had displayed. Not to mention, he managed to send flying away a Titan of the Alchemy-Sword Royal Family with a single fist, showing a speed that the Alchemy-Sword King could not even respond to. Clearly, the Scarlet King was powerful, but his true might was something only very few could tell for certain. Just as those powerhouses wondered when the Scarlet King would rise, a sharp feeling of danger assaulted their hearts as they sensed the air grow hot and dry. They immediately turned to the highest sky and saw with shock and awe how the heavens had turned a reddish hue, mirroring the dawn of an inferno. However, that was not all. Facing that sky inferno was a young man with short white hair, golden eyes, and a red robe. A new wave of shock assaulted the powerhouses as they realized that the Scarlet King had appeared in the sky above them, yet only now were they able to perceive his presence. Yet, their attention soon turned back to the reddish heaven as they noticed sparks of ethereal fire begin to dance in the air, coalescing into swirling patterns that hint at the chaotic power soon to be unleashed. It was clear to all that this was no other than the initial sight of Fire Tribulation, yet the power being unleashed was simply too immense. Even those with the cultivation of True Titans like the Diamond Saint Duke could not help but clench their fists, as the destructive might of the Fire Law was too overbearing. Cain did not have time to bother with those powerhouses. He had finished with his experiments, which was why he called them. Yet, the moment he emerged from the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s first layer, the power of the Fire Tribulation immediately appeared. Although it was not ideal, it made sense since while he focused on his Genetic Coder''s training, he had also divided his mind to focus on his Astral and Essence cultivations, and his enhanced Wave Talent improved his cultivation speed significantly. Without delay, Cain spread his willpower, searching for a desolate area. He could not face the power of the Fire Tribulation in the Azure State unless he wanted to turn all the buildings and people in it into ashes. It took a second to find a desolate area near a massive mountain range around one thousand kilometers from the Azure State. The power of a perpetual thunderstorm constantly desolated the place, so no one was present. The Space-Time Eye in Cain''s forehead glowed as he freed himself from the pressure unleashed by the Fire Tribulation and flashed toward the empty mountain range at a shocking speed, twisting space in his path to shorten the distance. The heat in the air burst as if the Fire Tribulation considered chasing Cain an offense. The powerhouses saw how the reddish heaven vanished from the Azure State''s sky. Yet, less than ten seconds later, it appeared in the distance above Cain''s figure, obliterating the thunderstorm in its path before unleashing a pillar of divine flames! "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!" Shock and awe appeared in the eyes of all the powerhouses as they saw the power of the Fire Tribulation, and a sense of fear emerged in the souls of those warriors. Those were not simply flames, as the power of the Law of Fire imbued in them was so immense that it could incinerate flesh and spirit alike. The massive mountain range that extended for thousands of meters was immediately obliterated, and the only thing that remained under the onslaught of that pillar of divine flames was a young man. The ground cracked under the intense heat, and from these fissures, veins of fire spread, encircling Cain in a ring of celestial flame designed to test him. Cain clenched his teeth and fists as he saw his robe incinerated under the power of those flames. However, he did not have time to worry about being naked. The Fire Tribulation''s power was so immense that even with his domain over the Law of Fire and his immensely resilient body, he could barely resist it. Although he had the choice of triggering his Wave Cloaks to diminish the pressure and power of the flames, that would also reduce the tempering power of the Fire Tribulation. Instead of diminishing the power of fire, he increased his regenerating ability by triggering Radiance of Life, making a golden fire course through his veins. Only after taking control of the damage could Cain focus on the tribulation, and his eyes grew cold as he gazed at the sky that kept unleashing pillars of divine fire toward him. The initial phase of the Fire Tribulation was Inferno Baptism, and its intent was to purify, burning away impurities in their body and spirit. Chapter 755: Fire Tribulation (II) Surviving this baptism requires an understanding of the essence of the Law of Fire, harnessing its energy to fortify rather than destroy oneself. Usually, a grasp of the Laws and a robust foundation would suffice to survive such a trial. If an Apotheosis Master had reached an Extreme Law Fragmentation mastery over the Law of Fire, surviving the Fire Tribulation would not have been a problem. Therefore, with his Medium Law Integration mastery, Cain should have faced no challenge at all. However, the flames assailing Cain were unlike the ones that challenged all other Apotheosis Masters in Aether. In them was imbued with a far more profound and potent Law of Fire, showcasing the might of Extreme Law Integration or perhaps even ascending to a realm previously unexplored in Aether. Cain''s eyes radiated red with intense focus as he unleashed the full might of his Ego Wave. He then delved into the Primordial Path''s Fire Integration, channeling his comprehension of the Law of Fire as he began to commune with the divine flames around him. It took merely a moment for him to attune, and then, unencumbered by fear, he began to inhale the divine flames, allowing their formidable power to flow through him. An expression of agony emerged on Cain''s face as he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth due to the overwhelming heat and power inside the fire that now marched through his veins. Yet his concentration never wavered. Despite the divine fire subjecting his body to unbearable temperatures, his profound mastery over the Law of Fire enabled him to circumvent its chaotic and destructive nature, instead channeling its force towards refinement. The powerhouses above the Azure State could not divert their gaze from the ocean of divine fire cascading from the reddish-hued sky surrounding the young man who was channeling them through his veins. Enduring those flames without any protection would be nearly suicidal. Not even a True Titan known for formidable defensive abilities, like the Diamond Saint Duke, would dare to assimilate them into their bodies. None of the powerhouses dared to get closer, not just because they feared the divine flames but also because it might be misconstrued as an attempt to strike the Scarlet King while he faced the Fire Tribulation. They were certain that the great generals of the Scarlet Alliance would attack them with pure killing intent if they dared to take a single step forward. Many even felt a sharpness at their necks as they sensed the gaze of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the three swords floating around him. The pillars of fire continued to descend from the sky for nearly three hours, spreading their destructive and fiery tendrils for hundreds of kilometers. The only entity not incinerated by this onslaught was the young man who kept absorbing those flames. Cain''s eyes were closed as he concentrated on harnessing the flames'' tempering power, ensuring his Radiance of Life would mend the damage. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open as he noticed the pillars of fire from the sky pause momentarily, and the aura within the Fire Tribulation began to change. "KRAAAAA!" Suddenly, something new manifested for all those witnessing the Fire Tribulation as the cry of a majestic bird echoed. While many had faced the Fire Tribulation before, they had never experienced something like this, indicating that the Tribulation Cain had invoked differed from theirs. Cain felt his instincts screaming danger, and he focused on the sky, anticipating the power that was about to be unleashed. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed as he observed his own skin glowing, quickly bursting into flames. The second phase of the True Fire Tribulation engulfed Cain''s body in dark red flames, penetrating not just his exterior but also invading his internal organs. The pain was agonizing, and the destruction so vast that it overwhelmed the power of the Radiance of Life, endangering Cain''s life. However, just as he was about to lose control and blackout, the rune on his right hand began to glow, prompting him to burn his own life force. Cain''s vitality burst with overwhelming power as he consumed his life force, allowing him to withstand the dark red flame. Yet, this was only a temporary solution; at this rate, he would burn 25% of his life in less than half an hour, and continuing to burn his life force beyond that would result in lasting damage that could cripple him. Immediately, Cain pushed his focus to its limits as he sought a method to confront this flame. Panicking would not aid him, so he took several breaths, adopting a meditative stance on the ground, concentrating on the power and intent within the dark red flame. ''It contains overwhelming destructive power that seems to destroy all in its path, but there''s something more. The nature of the flames is profoundly more complex.'' Cain emptied his mind of everything except the dark red flame, ignoring even his dwindling life force. With each passing second, his understanding of the flame deepened until, after ten minutes, he opened his eyes, a sense of enlightenment within them. The Tier I Rebirth Mark ceased glowing, and without burning his life force, Cain''s vitality could not withstand the dark red flame''s destructive power. However, he did not resist the destruction; instead, he allowed the dark red flame to unleash its full potential. Each time the dark red flames obliterated some of his cells, the same power began reconstructing them! The mysteries and power behind this force were incredibly profound and ephemeral. Still, Cain was able to grasp it thanks to not only his mastery over the Law of Fire but also his experience during his True Flesh and Bone Calamities. The second phase of the True Fire Tribulation involved the powers of the cycle of death and rebirth, mimicking the nirvana cycles of the legendary phoenixes. It was an extremely potent force, showcasing one of the highest manifestations of the Fire Law, one that Cain had yet to touch directly but which he could access thanks to the Tribulation. Chapter 756: Fire Tribulation (III) A constant cycle of destruction and reconstruction began inside Cain''s body, improving his strength, resilience, and vitality. However, the most potent effect was on the Evolution Core, as the power of the Fire Tribulation concentrated into the Essence Star, allowing it to break and forge back over and over again, enhancing the stability and size of the structure that would give birth to his Inner World. Cain''s focus had peaked as he felt every change happening in his body. Runes that carried the might of the Law of Fire were engraved directly into his flesh and bones, drastically improving his body''s ability to allow the Essence Wave to course through it. This not only made Cain''s attack faster but also diminished the energy he would have to spend on his spells, which would translate into a drastic improvement in his battle power. For eight hours, Cain did not move a single muscle as the dark red flames kept coursing through his body. Of course, while he did not make a move, that did not mean he was having an easy time, as it took all his focus and effort to draw the reconstructive power in the dark red flame, and a single mistake would be his end. Once the dark red flame finally faded, Cain opened his eyes as scorching shock waves emerged from his body. These waves were so powerful that they ignited the air, setting it ablaze. Cain was exhausted, yet there was a broad smile on his face as he felt how easily energy was now coursing through his flesh and blood, and the strength and speed with which his Essence Star revolved was off the charts. However, his focus immediately returned as he gazed at the sky and saw hundreds of pentagram matrices, each condensing massive amounts of heat and power. If that was not enough to raise his alertness, Cain saw how the divine flames emerging from the veins of fire that spread for hundreds of kilometers began to rise, forming massive walls around him. Before Cain could process all the changes, the energy in one of the pentagram matrices reached its zenith. The next instant, a massive bolt of fire flashed down toward him at a speed that he could barely react to. "?BOOM!" Cain could do nothing but raise his arm to protect himself from the bolt of fire, whose power and momentum were so immense it cracked the ground beneath his feet. Immediately, a sharp light appeared in his eyes since, unlike the flames in the first and second phases, the power of that bolt of flame was solely destructive, with no other intent but to destroy him. Confusion appeared on Cain''s face. While the Tribulations carried an extremely destructive power, if you could channel it right, it would benefit your body and foundation, yet that was clearly not the case for these fire bolts. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" More fire bolts rained down on Cain with speed and power that only allowed him to defend himself. Cain''s knees bent under the onslaught, and he reached the point where he was forced to trigger his Astral and Essence Wave Cloaks to protect himself from the onslaught of the Fire Tribulation. There was no tempering force in those bolts of fire, so it did not matter if he used a shield to protect his body. Yet, that was not the most crucial part since even with the Wave Cloaks and natural energy running through his body, he would not last long under the barrage. Cain''s eyes glowed with red light more intensely as he tried to find a way to overcome this predicament. Suddenly, he noticed the walls of golden flames rising from the veins of fire. At first, Cain thought their only purpose was to stop him from running, but with the speed of the fire bolts, there was no need for that. Now that he focused on them, he detected something. ''They lack an intent.'' All the flames that had presented themselves up to this moment had some sort of intent granted by the Fire Tribulation, but the ones emerging from the fire''s veins were clean, empty of any will or direction. Cain''s eyes narrowed, and the red light in his eyes burst as he focused on the fire veins, pushing his understanding of the Law of Fire to the limit before spreading his Ego Wave, flooding it into those flames. Even if they lacked intent, taking control of them was an extremely difficult task, yet Cain had already decided on this path, and there was no hesitation in his eyes. All the powerhouses were full of awe and terror as they saw the power of the Fire Tribulation. Each of those bolts had the might of a Divine Ascension spell, and hundreds fell every second. Even a True Titan would last barely a few seconds under such a horrible onslaught before their bodies were destroyed, and Cain had already been there for nearly an hour. It was clear that the defenses of the Scarlet King were beyond monstrous, but his Wave Cloaks were starting to weaken, and he would not last much longer. "?AHHHHHHHHH!" Just as those powerhouses wondered what the Scarlet King would do to face that barrage of fire bolts, the young man unleashed a scream full of will before the golden fire that emerged from the veins in the ground began to move. Under the shocked sight of all those Divine Ascension Masters, the golden fire transformed into two gargantuan hands hundreds of thousands of meters long, covering Cain''s body and protecting him from the barrage of fire bolts. The Diamond Giant Duke, States'' powerhouses, and even those like the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the great general could not believe what they were seeing. Those golden flames were the power of the Fire Tribulation, and the Scarlet King was shaping them according to his will. The Scarlet King was using the power of the Fire Tribulation to face the Fire Tribulation. Chapter 757: Fire Tribulation (IV) "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" The fire bolts did not stop raining, and Cain''s eyes burned with red light as he clasped his palms and used all his power to control the golden flames that emerged from the veins created by the Fire Tribulation. It was an extremely taxing task that demanded overwhelming mental fortitude. Fortunately, the Scarlet King''s soul force had evolved to the Divine Ascension Realm and grown even stronger after the Earth Tribulation, or else he would have blacked out long ago due to the pressure his mind was facing. Hours carried on, and the fire bolts did not stop for even a second. Cain''s body could not stop trembling as blood leaked from his eyes, but he maintained his focus with his palm connected. While it was torture and pushed the Scarlet King to the limit, he also obtained immensely beneficial effects. Every second he kept control over the Fire Tribulation''s golden flames, his domain over the Fire Law increased drastically, and his willpower and soul grew stronger. Finally, after ten hours of nonstop barrage, no more explosions were heard. But as Cain focused on the sky, he knew things were far from over. The hundreds of pentagram matrices began to fuse into a single gargantuan matrix that took over the entire reddish sky, and soon, massive amounts of energy started to gather in it. Cain''s eyes widened as he saw the massive matrix, and he could feel that the power of the next attack would be nothing short of cataclysmic. For the first time since the clash with the Depravity of Blood, he once again felt the reaper''s scythe on his neck and knew he was facing a life-and-death threat. "?AHHHH!" However, the only response Cain gave was a roar as his willpower exploded, and the golden fire that emerged from the veins of the earth began to revolve around him, gathering more and more power in them. It did not take long for the Fire Tribulation''s matrix and Cain''s golden flames to reach their zenith. It took less than a second for a gargantuan spear of fire to emerge from the matrix and fall to the ground, carrying the full might of the Fire Tribulation. At the same time, Cain unleashed a massive palm of golden flames to rise from the earth and ascend to the sky. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" "RUMBLE!!!" An explosion shook the earth and sky when the spear of fire and the hand of golden flames clashed. The shock waves at the center of the blast shattered the fabric of space for thousands of meters, but that was not all. The flames from the explosion extended for a shocking distance, reaching all the way to the Azure State despite being more than one thousand kilometers! Shock appeared in the powerhouses when they saw the oceanic waves of fire lunging toward them. While it lost much of its power after coursing such distance, it was still extremely powerful and covered a massive range. While those powers could be fine, the rest of the people in the Azure State would not! "Activate the Titan Tower''s defensive array, now!" The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar shouted as he made his energy explode, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes, ready to sunder those waves of fire no matter what. However, someone was even faster. A figure flashed out of the Azure Royal Castle and immediately appeared outside the Azure State. His entire body was covered in majestic armor that seemed to have celestial bodies engraved on it and exuded a simply shocking power. Before anyone could even figure out the person''s identity, the Astral Wave of this one exploded. "Event Horizon Shield!" The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s voice echoed as a gravitational field emerged from his body, covering the entire Azure State! The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the rest of the powerhouses were shocked and awed by how the Collapsing Lightning Duke was able to generate such a massive gravitational field. Their shock grew even stronger when they saw how that gravitational field could act as a shield, repelling the giant waves of fire and protecting the entire Azure State. For a few seconds, all the people in the Azure State saw a wondrous sight. It was like they were in a crystal dome, with majestic waves of fire covering all around them. Of course, even the slightest crack in the dome would allow the flames to invade and spread their destructive power. Only once the danger passed and the flames vanished did the Collapsing Lightning Duke deactivate his force field and retract his helmet. The man''s face was pale, as extending the gravitational field for hundreds of kilometers was truly exhausting, yet he smiled as he felt his new power and the might he could unleash with the Gravity Fall Armor. While the Collapsing Lightning Duke marveled at his power, all the other powerhouses focused on him. The power the man unleashed was impressive, and even more shocking was to see that his cultivation base had fallen to the Middle Divine Ascension Stage, yet his life force, vitality, and energy pool were greater than ever. It was clear to the powerhouses that the man had gone through some sort of rebirth that allowed him to reforge his cultivation base. As for where that power came from, there was only one answer to the powerhouses, and they turned their eyes back to the epicenter of that massive explosion, where space was still healing. Cain was on the ground, with half of his body scorched by the flame, his face pale. He had survived that last clash, but it took everything he had. Unfortunately, the Fire Tribulation was not over yet, and his eyes narrowed as he saw how the reddish sky began to converge while drawing all the flames that had spread across the ground. It did not take long for all the flames and the power of the reddish storm to coalesce into a singular, sun-like orb that embodies the purest form of Aether''s Fire Law! Chapter 758: Fire Tribulation (V) Shock, awe, terror, and admiration appeared in the eyes of all the powerhouses that witnessed the glorious golden sun in the sky. The power within it was simply formidable, and its nature seemed to embody the quintessence of the Law of Fire, generating forces that even those who follow the Essence Evolution Path of Power could not understand. Some of the powerhouses felt the power of a thousand nuclear explosions happening simultaneously inside that golden sun. In contrast, others remember the first time they felt the warmth of the sunlight on their faces. It was a simple transcendental experience. Cain felt the golden sun''s might clearer than everybody else, as its intent was focused on him. It was an incredible form of power, and the mystery of the Law of Fire seemed to be present in every ember of fire that constituted it. The power of the golden sun was monstrous, yet it did not make Cain feel threatened, and the reason was simple: it was not attacking him. Cain immediately understood the last phase of the Fire Tribulation. The golden sun was the purest form of the Law of Fire that Aether could unleash, and it challenged him to go inside and face its power. The golden sun would not attack him, and if he refused to move forward, the Fire Tribulation would come to an end. Cain had already gained immense benefits from the last three phases. His mastery over the Law of Fire reached an incredible might, with his body and energy experiencing a thorough purifying and tempering and his Essence Star going through many cycles of destruction and reconstruction. And if he went into that golden sun, nothing assured him he would come out alive. A bursting red light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he pushed his Law of Fire''s mastery and Primordial Path''s Fire Integration to the limit before flashing toward the golden sun and piercing it the next second. The Collapsing Lightning Duke, First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and all the other powerhouses saw how Cain went into that massive golden sun that they would not even dare to get close to. Although many were shocked and could not see the Scarlet King''s body, since the Fire Tribulation''s power remained in place, he was still alive. Hours passed, and the powerhouses could do nothing but wait as they gazed at the golden sun. In the fifth hour, their eyes narrowed as they saw how the golden sun was shrinking. It was only a few centimeters, which was insignificant for its massive size, but it proved that something was happening inside. As the hours passed, the rate at which the golden sun shrank down grew faster and faster. By the twenty-ninth hour, there was nothing left of the golden sun, all its power seemingly having been absorbed by the young man in the sky. Cain''s face was absolutely serene, and there was not a single sign of damage or wounds on his body. All the injuries he had received faded after absorbing the power of the golden sun. The moment he opened his eyes, his power flooded the area, and his pupils now glowed with a golden flame. Cain glanced at his body and felt the millions of tiny runes engraved in his flesh and bones. He then gazed at the scorched ground by the power of the Fire Tribulation, and as he waved his hand, the power of the Fire Law was reignited. However, this time, there was no more destruction; instead, a vibrant life force permeated the earth. While the fire was a force of destruction in its most basic state, it was also a power capable of granting life. A wide smile appeared on Cain''s face as he saw his current control over the Law of Fire, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes as he felt a change in his constitution. ''System.'' The Absolute Life Form System immediately understood Cain''s request and began the analysis. [Scanning Vessel... Scan of Vessel completed. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Bone Calamity) / Essence Evolution (Fire Tribulation) Lineage: Solis Lineage?* (Maximum Purity) Wave Talent: ??? ... Stats: Strength: 1997.1 --> 2290.1 (3099.2) Agility: 879.1 --> 950.4 (1235.3) Vitality: 1501.2 --> 1938.2 (2435.7) Astral Wave: 934.9 --> 1022.2 (1681.0) Essence Wave: 921.5 --> 1411.3 (1890.6) Soul Force: ??? ... Astral Blood Saturation: 100% Completion Law Mastery: Law of Space (Deep Law Integration) Earth Law (Deep Law Integration) Water Law (Deep Law Integration) Fire Law (Extreme Law Integration) Wind Law (Deep Law Integration) Note: Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 20.7%. Note: Natural energy has enhanced every aspect of the Vessel''s physical body, including the Astral Wave and Essence Wave. The current value is marked between (). Note*: The engraving of the Fire Law''s runes into the body by the power of the Fire Tribulation generated a genetic change in the Vessel, triggering an evolution of his Lineage. Please grant a name to the new Lineage.] Cain''s eyes widened as he realized that completing all the phases of the Fire Tribulation allowed him to evolve his Lineage. The power of the Law of Fire runes engraved in him generated a change that reached all the way to his genome, which was not really surprising. While the easiest way to obtain a Lineage was through a bloodline, that was not the only way, and that was especially true for those who followed the Essence Evolution Path of Power and engraved the power of the Laws into their bodies. A Lineage is, in essence, a unique constitution, and imbuing the power of the Laws into your flesh and blood could generate such an effect. Since it was not a new bloodline, his Solis Bloodline remained his main bloodline, and the Fire Law synergized with this one, granting Cain a new Lineage that had the best of both powers. A smile appeared on Cain''s face as he named his new Lineage. "Sun Master Lineage" Chapter 759: Prime Minister Minxet [Name recorded ... Lineage: Sun Master.] Cain nodded as he saw the new name, feeling the power of his new Lineage. The best part was that it perfectly synced with his current battle style, so there was no need for any change. After addressing the shocking news of his new Lineage, Cain went through the rest of the information and was pleasantly surprised to see how his strength and vitality improved significantly. ''That is most likely due to the refining power of the Fire Tribulation and the force of my new Lineage.'' Cain was happy with these changes, but the one that truly surprised him was his Essence Wave. His energy pool rose immensely after the Essence Star overcame those cycles of destruction and reconstruction, making his stamina much higher. His Fire Law reached the Extreme Law Integration, and while it was at the bottom of that Tier, it was considered the peak of Aether since no one had ever shown mastery above that level. As for his other Laws, they were still at the Deep Law Integration, which made sense after all. Overcoming that Tier was incredibly difficult, even with divine treasures like the Space-Time Eye. There was also a slight reduction in the effect of his Wave Enhancer Virus, but Cain was not surprised. The stronger his cultivation base and constitution became, the weaker the effect of the Wave Virus would be on him, and the fact that it still was above 20% was excellent news. Cain took a deep breath, and a wave of heat emerged the moment he exhaled. Then his Space-Time Eye glowed as it unleashed its full power, and he vanished. All the powerhouses above the Azure State had been focusing on him, so they saw how he vanished, only to appear above them the next second. Immediately, the Collapsing Lightning Duke, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and the powerhouses from the Scarlet Alliance knelt in the sky, lowering their heads in the presence of the Scarlet King. Cain nodded to the great general, and then his eyes turned toward the nearly one hundred Divine Ascension Masters in the sky that came from all over the States. In the next second, Cain unleashed all his power, generating pillars of Astral Wave and Essence Wave with so much energy that the sky began to tremble, and cracks formed in the space around his figure. Those Divine Ascension Masters had lofty status and commanded great power, yet as they gazed at those eyes glowing with golden flames and the power of space-time, they felt themselves in the presence of an actual divine entity. The difference between their power was too much, and even those like the Diamond Saint Duke felt a crushing pressure. All those people knelt in the sky the next second, lowering their heads before speaking in unison. "We salute the Scarlet King!" Cain remained silent and kept increasing the pressure his body unleashed, making sure it would be engraved in the mind of every one of those Divine Ascension Masters before finally calming his energy. The next second, fifty-two of the sixty-two State Lords received a message through their A.I. Chip. Just as they wondered the purpose of that message, Cain''s voice echoed across the sky. "That is your mission. I need a cordon around the Prometheus Sector. From this day on, no one can get in or out without my authorization." Cain made a pause at this point as coldness flooded his eyes. "I will not tolerate failure." Upon hearing those words, a shiver ran down the backs of all the Divine Ascension Masters. The Scarlet King''s power was already clear to all, and he was a monster in his own league who could kill any of them with a single move. Despite having gone all the way to the Azure State, with many State Lords bringing their family elders, they all nodded and bowed to the Scarlet King before leaving, ready to push themselves to the limit in order to complete that mission. Once they left, only ten State Lords and their companions remained. They all glanced at the Scarlet King with curiosity and tension since it was clear there must be a reason why they were not sent off like the rest. "We must speak in private." That was the only thing the Scarlet King said to the State Lords before turning his eyes toward the Scarlet Alliance''s great generals. "Gabriel, James, with me. The rest, return to your post and stand guard." Once they heard their names, the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar flashed toward Cain while the rest of the great generals bowed before flashing down toward the ground. Not wanting to waste time, Cain led the group to the Azure Royal Castle. In less than ten seconds, they were in the throne room. The State Lords and their companions were surprised to see an old man already waiting there. He seemed very old, with a bald head and many wrinkles. Usually, cultivators would retain their youthful appearance until the last period of their lives, and that was the case with this man. However, what surprised the people was not the old man''s age but his identity. "Prime Minister Minxet, what are you doing here?" The one who spoke was none other than the Diamond Saint Duke, but he expressed the doubt that was in the mind of everybody present. Although the new Prime Minister had not publicly gone against Minxet, everybody knew the old man and his family were trapped inside the Silver City and could not leave. "Hello, Diamond Saint Duke. I am glad to see you again, although I would have liked it to have been under better circumstances." Prime Minister Minxet smiled toward the Diamond Saint Duke before giving a small nod, not saying another word and instead turning toward the Scarlet King. The rest of the people in the room also turned toward the young man who sat on the azure throne. Chapter 760: Eternal Mountain King and Sky-Flame King Cain saw all eyes focused on him, but he shook his head. "I did not rescue him. He left the Silver City on his own and traveled all the way to the Azure State to meet me." The powerhouses were shocked as they heard those words. They were sure that the new Prime Minister had exercised strict vigilance over Minxet and his family. The old man was just a Wind Tribulation Apotheosis Master, so he definitely did not have the brute power to leave the Silver City alone. When Prime Minister Minxet saw the way those people looked at him, he just smiled. "While my battle power might not seem like much, I have spent over two thousand years as a member of the Imperial Court, serving as the Prime Minister for both the Alchemy Sword Emperor and the Golden Emperor. I know the Silver City''s secret passages like the back of my hand and have accumulated many favors and treasures. I could have left the Silver City whenever I wanted; I was just waiting." The Divine Ascension Masters present were shocked to hear those words, and a newfound respect appeared in their hearts as they gazed at the old man. Minxet knew he was in danger in the Silver City but did not lose focus or allow fear to dictate his moves. As for what Minxet was waiting for, that was clear to all. The old man waited for someone with the power to challenge the new Prime Minister and the corrupted Imperial Court, and that man was no other than the Scarlet King. Once again, all eyes focused on him, and the Scarlet King glanced at those people before speaking. "Your remaining behind was not just due to your battle power but, most importantly, your connections with the Silver City. I need two things from you, the first of which is your understanding of the Silver City''s defensive and offensive capabilities. The last time I visited Eden, I was simply a Wave Champion, and my soul force was too weak to perceive its true might. I am not afraid of marching to Eden, but I want to understand what I will face once I am there." Cain''s face was solemn, and he did not dare to underestimate the might of an Empire''s capital. The Deus Behemoth Empire''s Amazon had a portal toward the Astral Bloodline Realm, which was, in reality, the body of Anark, a Primordial whose corpse could compare with a small continent. He was sure that Eden, the capital of the Godslayer Humankind Empire built by the First Titan, did not fall behind in mysteries. After Cain uttered those words, all eyes turned toward two people. One was a middle-aged man with a robust body, measuring nearly four meters in height, with skin that seemed to contain cracks, as if he was made of earth. The other was an old man with a thin body, yet his entire existence radiated a white fire that could burn all things. These were the Eternal Mountain King and Sky-Flame King, the descendants of the Sixth and Fifth Emperors of the Godslayer Humankind. Of the eight Emperor Lineages, these two chose to side with the Scarlet King. Of course, that did not mean the other six were against the Scarlet Alliance. The First and Second Emperors of the Godslayer Humankind did not leave descendants, so there was no Lineage. The fourth Imperial Lineage, the Azure Bloodline, was destroyed. As for the Third Imperial Lineage, the descendants of the Jewel Soul Emperor, and the Seventh Imperial Lineage, the Alchemy Sword Bloodline, they chose to leave the Prometheus Sector. If there were one Lineage opposing Cain, that would be the current Imperial Lineage of the Golden Emperor. The Eternal Mountain King and Sky-Flame King looked at each other and showed a complicated expression. "Is there a problem?" Cain''s voice echoed across the room. While they were only words, he had infused his power into them, making them ring inside the brains of the two Kings. The sound was so strong that they nearly lost balance. While he was willing to accept these people into the Scarlet Alliance as it would make things easier, Cain would not allow any freeloaders, and if they thought they could side with him yet keep secrets, they were surely mistaken. The Eternal Mountain King and Sky-Flame King, Late Divine Ascension Masters, were top-tier even among Titans, thanks to the power of their bloodlines. Yet it was clear how much higher the Scarlet King''s power was. Immediately, the Sky-Flame King took a step forward and performed a bow to Cain before speaking. "Scarlet King, it''s not that we don''t want to share our knowledge. After all, we understood that something like this could happen once we sided with you. But while we have some information about the Silver City, it has been thousands of years since our families controlled Eden." The Sky-Flame King made a pause at this moment before sighing and speaking with a complicated smile. "We are honestly afraid that the information we give you could not only be futile but lead to problems and be used against you." When the rest of the powerhouses heard that, they all softly nodded, understanding the duo''s predicament. The new Prime Minister would find out the Sky-Flame King and Eternal Mountain King sided with the Scarlet King, and that man could use that to set an ambush. Cain could travel into the Silver City, following a path that, according to the Eternal Mountain King and Sky-Flame King, was safe, only to be met with all sorts of destructive formations. If he survived, he would naturally blame the duo for lying, and knowing the nature of the Scarlet King, they were sure the only punishment would be death. "There is no need to worry about that. I can determine the date on which any formation or energy matrix was installed. You just need to tell me what you know from your family records, and I will take care of the rest." Chapter 761: Why take them out? Smiles appeared on the faces of The Eternal Mountain King and Sky-Flame King as they heard that. Since the Scarlet King could determine the date on which a formation was installed, he would know whether it was after or during the era in which their family had control over the Silver City. As for how the young man was capable of that, they had already accepted he had access to all sorts of unique powers, so they just took it as a new one. The duo waved their hands and produced two starry gems without wasting time. These were usually meant to save Saint Techniques, but they could also be used to store other essential information. Cain took the two starry gems and nodded to the two Kings before glancing at the others. While The Eternal Mountain King and Sky-Flame King surely had the most crucial and profound knowledge, the others present should also have some understanding of the Silver City, and he wanted it all, no matter if it was redundant. All the powerhouses had also come prepared for this request, so they all took out starry gems and sent them toward Cain. Once that was over, Cain carried on with the second mission. "The second reason I need all of you is to find a way to diminish the number of collateral damages during the incoming clash. I will be careful during the incursion and try to limit my power to the true enemies, but I don''t believe the new Prime Minister will be so careful." Cain made a small pause at this point as he remembered the figure in the Atlas Continent and the goals this one seemed to search for. "Actually, I think the new Prime Minister would try to ensure that there are many civilian casualties during the fight. That may be even more important than winning the battle against me." A somber expression appeared in the eyes of the powerhouses as they heard those words, and they felt the certainty in the Scarlet King''s voice. They knew that the new Prime Minister was the source of much chaos, and it was evident by now that this one was involved in some way with The Organization. However, the fact that he would go as far as to ensure civilian casualties was shocking and worrying. Taking down the new Prime Minister and Imperial Court was a must, but if they did it in the wrong way, all of the Godslayer Humankind Empire would be drawn into chaos and mayhem for decades. If the faith in a correct system of power fell, warlords would rise, and the underworld would thrive, while the Sector Dukes would begin to clash with each other for a bigger piece of terrain and expand their borders. The Scarlet King was extremely powerful, but he was just one man and could not be in all places at all times. Not to mention that killing is not always the right path to stability and could cause even more chaos. "I want to hear your plans and ideas. No matter if they are flawed. You are all free to express your opinions and plans." Cain was not so narcissistic as to think he was flawless in every aspect. While his power was greater than all present, that did not mean his imagination and intelligence were also grander. Different people have different skills, and a good leader knows how to harness that. "Mmm, we could try to take the people out of the Silver City, but even now, there are still dozens of millions inside after all the people that left during the past few years. Taking even a quarter of them will be nearly impossible as the new Prime Minister has already closed the teleportation formations and sealed the gates. Trying to build new teleportation formations that connect the interior of Eden with the outside is also impossible, as the new Prime Minister already unleashed the space-tampering force field." The Eternal Mountain King spoke with a solemn voice, and his analysis of the situation was very precise, making it clear his wits were just as great as his muscles. "Maybe we could infiltrate the Silver City in silence and slowly take them out. It would take us a few months, but if we all work together and synchronously, we should at least be able to bring half of the civilians out." Another of the powerhouses spoke, and while his plan was clearly flawed in the sense that six million people were still inside the city during the clash, there was no such thing as a flawless plan at the moment. More and more ideas on how to take the people out of the Silver City were displayed, but even the best of them were just able to take two-thirds, leaving millions still in peril. After all the powerhouses had given their opening, a voice echoed across the room. "Why should we take them out of the Silver City?" The one who spoke was none other than Prime Minister Minxet, and all eyes turned toward him, including those of the Scarlet King. Despite being glanced at by so many powerhouses, the old man remained calm and gazed at the Scarlet King, only continuing after the young man signaled. "Indeed, we cannot teleport the millions of civilians out of the Silver City as there is a barrier that prevents teleporting in and out. However, what if we use the teleportation formation not to take them out but instead send them to someone else inside the Silver City? There are structures inside the Silver City, such as the Crafting Association''s Endless Pyramid and the Genetic Coders Association''s Genetic Evolution Cube, capable of holding millions of people and whose defensive capability can withstand the attacks of True Titans. If we transport all the civilians into those structures and ensure their safety during the time the Scarlet King takes down the Imperial Court, we could reduce the number of civilian casualties to virtually zero." Chapter 762: Peak 4 Stars Divine Genetic Coder! The powerhouses, and even Cain, stared at the man with wide eyes as they heard his plan. While all of them were trying to find a path that could take the most number of civilians out of the Silver City, Minxet instead thought of a way to use the city itself to their advantage. It would not be easy and require a lot of work, flawless planning, and strategy, but if they succeeded, they could save all the civilians, something much better than all the other plans being thrown out that would have left millions to perish. The man''s idea was not too complicated or revolutionary in its essence. Still, it was something all of them were unable to come up with, not even the Scarlet King, proving just how different points of view could make a significant difference in a plan. "Good, good. I could not have thought of a better plan myself. We will follow your idea, and I will leave you in charge of it." Cain was extremely satisfied with the old man''s plans, as it would not only save him the trouble of handling millions of refugees from the Silver City but would also allow him to express his full power without the need to contain himself. While the power of his spells and attacks was superior to the True Titan''s Tier and could undoubtedly destroy structures like the Genetic Evolution Cube and Endless Pyramid, that was if he attacked them directly, and he was sure those places would be able to endure the collateral damage unleashed by his power. He smiled as he felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders and stared at the old man for a moment before waving his hand, producing a capsule with a red liquid. "Use it now. It will help you." Prime Minister Minxet was surprised and confused by the Wave Virus but did not hesitate before injecting it into his neck, showing his loyalty and trust in the Scarlet King. That only made Cain''s smile grow wider. An intelligent follower was good, but a smart one who completely trusted you was even better and worthy of cultivation. All the powerhouses turned toward Minxet as he injected the Wave Virus, wondering what effect it would have. Luckily, it did not take long for the change to happen in the man. Prime Minister Minxet showed a painful expression, but soon, a smile appeared as he felt a wave of vitality and youthful strength that he thought was long lost. In less than ten minutes, the old man had turned into a middle-aged one, with a straight back and strong body. There was shock on the Prime Minister''s face and that of the powerhouses. The old man with a foot in the grave was gone, replaced by a middle-aged man with a vibrant life force. Although the Wave Virus had not completely restored Prime Minister Minxet''s lifespan, the powerhouses could feel how vibrant his life force was, and it would not be a problem for the man to live another three hundred years. Immediately, Minxet and the powerhouses turned toward Cain with awe and shock. Wave Viruses capable of extending lifespan were common in the lower ranks, but their effect was usually very feeble in people of a higher rank. For Cain''s Wave Virus to have such an effect, the young man must be a Peak 4 Stars Divine Genetic Coder! Cain kept smiling as he saw the devotion in the eyes of the middle-aged man. "Fulfill this mission without flaws, and I will help you become a Divine Ascension Master." Prime Minister Minxet''s eyes widened as he heard that, and a fervent light appeared in them the next second. If anyone else had made that promise, he would not have believed it, since not even an Emperor had those types of abilities, but the Scarlet King was able to perform miracles. "I will succeed, my King!" The man clasped his hands and performed a deep bow toward Cain, and the moment he rose, his eyes glowed with a powerful golden light full of conviction and determination. "Good. In a month, I will march into the Silver City. You must be ready to act by then." Although a month was definitely a very small window of time to secure the teleportation of millions of people, Minxet only nodded as he glanced at the rest of the powerhouses. He had contacts inside the Silver City, but those would not be enough for such a grand mission, and he needed the help of those Divine Ascension Masters. "You are all now under this command. Follow Minxet''s words as if they were mine." Cain immediately spoke as he saw the middle-aged man staring at those Divine Ascension Masters. They were all of lofty status, but after he spoke, they had only one path: to follow the middle-aged man or face his wrath. All those powerhouses immediately clasped their hands and bowed. They all respected Minxet''s wisdom, so they had no problem working under him. Not to mention that the Scarlet King clearly rewarded those who proved themselves, and they were eager to obtain such majestic rewards. "Now, all but the Diamond Saint Duke and Diamond Saint State Lord, leave." Prime Minister Minxet and the powerhouses glanced at the Diamond Saint Duke and his son as they heard that command, but none of them dared question the Scarlet King''s words, and they all bowed before leaving the Azure Royal Castle. In the end, the only ones that remained in the room were Cain, the Collapsing Lightning Duke, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, the Diamond Saint Duke, and Kober. Cain glanced at the man next to the Diamond Saint Duke with a complicated expression on his face. "So you are the one that is supposed to be my In-name Disciple." Kober felt immense pressure as he heard those words, but he clenched his fists as he stepped forward and kneeled. "In-name Disciple Kober humbly greets you, Master." Chapter 763: Elemental Fury Blade Dance (I) Cain couldn''t help but feel a headache as he stared at Kober. He didn''t have a problem with the man; it was just that being a teacher was something he did not really like or know how to do. However, he understood the value of the Diamond Saint Duke due to his importance in Gaia''s south, and the request was fair, so he did not have a problem with the fact that Lurin placed Kobel as his In-name Disciple. "Well, there''s no need to waste time." Cain waved his hand forward as if it were a blade, making a deep cut in the fabric of space. "Let''s get in." Without more words, Cain entered the cut in space that led to a dimension built between the layers of reality, and the Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar followed him. The Diamond Saint Duke and Kober glanced at each other before nodding and getting in as well. The dimension was empty, without a floor or ceiling, but it was stable enough to endure the energy radiation of the group, which was already impressive. Cain turned toward Kober with a serious expression. "According to what I learned from you, you follow the sword path, am I right?" "?Yes, Master!" Kober immediately nodded. While his father was known for relying on his immensely durable body, he followed a path of his own, relying on a Natural Inheritance in the form of a sword he found during his youth. Cain nodded before turning toward the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. "Hand me over your old sword." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar waved his hand, taking out the old Peak Adamantium Artifact Sword he used in battle before the Scarlet King gave him the three Space Swords. Cain grabbed the sword, and as he felt the durability of this one, he nodded before flooding it with his Astral Wave. "Gabriel. Reinforce the stability of this place with your power." The Collapsing Lightning Duke nodded to the Scarlet King, and the next second, his energy began to flood the surroundings. He used the power of gravity to ensure the endurance and stability of the dimension. "I will now display the Elemental Fury Blade Dance. Pay attention." Kober''s eyes burst with golden light and focus as he heard those words from the Scarlet King, making sure to erase any other thought from his mind. Once Cain made sure Kober was paying attention, he focused on the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. "Attack with all you have. Do not contain yourself." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s eyes burst with a white flame as he unleashed the full power of his Ego Wave, pushing his body and energy to their zenith before flashing forward with his sword blazing with power. Kober''s eyes widened as he saw the charge of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and felt the man carried the power to sunder the heavens. Yet the Scarlet King remained calm in the face of that overwhelming power and raised his sword as the power of wind burst from his body. "First Stance: Gale Edge Stance." Cain had just uttered those words when the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s attack was about to land on him, showing what could only be described as supernatural agility, as swift as a gale. And that was not all, as he immediately countered, unleashing a sharp razor wind from his weapon. "Razor Wind Slash." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s eyes narrowed as he saw that attack and immediately teleported to another sword, dodging the wind blade and attacking Cain''s back. "Whirlwind Parry." That attack carried overwhelming power, yet Cain only twisted the grip on his sword before spinning with his entire body, generating a vortex so powerful that it managed to repel the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar clenched his teeth as he used all his strength to resist being thrust away by the vortex. He then immediately returned to the fray, channeling the full power of the Trinity Space Sword Domain. "Second Stance: Torrent Blade." Just as the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar flashed back toward Cain, the wind faded, and instead, waves of water formed around his sword. The Scarlet King''s sword mirrored the reflective and adaptive properties of water. "Reflective Water Guard." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar attacked with ferocity but could not connect a single strike. Cain created a fluid, shimmering barrier around him, which absorbed and dissipated the energy of sword strikes, reducing their impact and allowing for quick countermeasures. Every time Cain deflected one of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s strikes, the waves of water around his sword seemed to grow stronger, and finally, after thirty seconds of defense, it was time for the counter. "Cascading Wave Strike." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar saw how his sword was deflected down just for the Scarlet King to raise his weapon. As he focused on it, he felt the overwhelming force of water, ready to deliver a sweeping strike that flowed like a torrential wave. Immediately, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar teleported to another sword. Just as he grabbed the handle, he saw Cain had appeared before him and unleashed the strike. Thanks to the force of water, Cain''s moves were fluid, and he could twist and turn even as he fired that immensely powerful strike. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar could only raise his sword, using it as a shield to defend against the torrential wave. Yet it soon overwhelmed his defenses by adapting and enveloping his sword, much like water overcomes obstacles in its path. Luckily for the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, it faded just as the water was about to overwhelm him. A shocked expression appeared on the man. He was trying to regulate his breathing and gazed at the Scarlet King, who remained in his original position. The Scarlet King had not used any ounce of Essence Wave or his domain over the Laws, only depending on his Astral Wave Path of Power. Yet, he completely overwhelmed the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, a man known as one of the strongest True Titans! Chapter 764: Elemental Fury Blade Dance (II) The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar took a deep breath as he regained control over his body and smiled. He did not expect to win, but it seemed he could not even give a proper fight but would not give up. After all, this was also an opportunity for him to grow stronger. There was no better way to push yourself beyond your limit than fighting with a powerful opponent, and the First Collpasilign lighting Pillar doubted there was anyone more powerful in Gaia, or maybe all of Aether, than the Scarlet King. "?BOOM!" The Astral Wave of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar exploded as he focused on the muscles in his arms, increasing his physical strength exponentially. Since technique could not do it, he would try to break through using pure brute force, something he was very good at. Kober saw how, once again, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar flashed toward the Scarlet King, this time carrying the force of a falling meteor. Yet, just as the Space Sword was about to cut Cain''s head, the aura of this one changed again. "Third Stance: Terra Guard Stance." Cain''s entire body seemed to exude the steadfastness of the earth. "Granite Shield Block." The power of his aura seemed to fuse with the air around his sword, transforming it into a wall as hard as granite. No matter how much strength or energy the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s strike carried, Cain stood steady, not moving a single step. The Third Stance seemingly had a single technique and focused solely on protection, yet the defensive power it granted was simply overwhelming. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar kept striking with more and more strength, but it was like clashing with an immovable mountain, and no matter how much power he unleashed, he could not break it. Suddenly, Cain took a step back, putting three hundred meters between the two. This was the first time he performed such an evasive move, only to radiate fire''s destructive and uncontrolled power from every inch of his body. "Fourth Stance: Inferno Fury." The next second, Cain''s sword ignited with fiery energy, and they launched forward in a straight line, resembling a comet. "Blazing Comet Thrust." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s eyes widened as he saw a thrust that embodied the fiery destruction of a comet striking the earth. He immediately used the power of the Trinity Space Sword Domain, teleporting to another of the Space Swords. However, he had barely appeared when Cain made a sharp turn, not losing momentum at all, striking him so fast he could not teleport again. Without any other choice, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar could only use the Space Sword to block the attack. "?BOOM!" On impact, a thermal explosion occurred, sending the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar flying away and making his internal organs tremble. Before the man could recover control over his body, Cain thrust the sword again, generating another Blazing Comet Thrust. "?BOOM!" More explosions echoed as the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was pushed from one side to the other, but the man clenched his teeth and did not give up. He took control of the Trinity Space Sword Domain and positioned the other two Space Swords around Cain. "?AHHHH!" With that roar, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar made his Ego Wave and energy explode. He pushed the power of the Trinity Space Sword Domain to the limit, teleporting to another sword before the next Blazing Comet Thrust, but that was only the start. Kober was shocked by how the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar began to move between the three swords around Cain, teleporting at such a shocking speed that he stood on each of them less than a fraction of a second! "Phoenix Flame Swirl." Just as Kober wondered how the Scarlet King would handle that, he saw how the flames around the man''s sword burst before generating a circular, swirling barrier of fire around him. This fiery vortex not only warded off incoming attacks but could also retaliate with bursts of flame that struck every target around the Scarlet King, sending the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar flying away. Thanks to Cain reducing the speed of the fiery vortex, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was able to pull back without any injuries. Just as he was about to return to the fray, he froze. Cain raised his right hand, signaling the mock battle was over, and sent the sword back toward the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar before turning toward Kober and tossing him the starry gem. "You have one year to master two of the Four Stances. If you succeed, I will take you as a true disciple and teach you the Fifth and Sixth Stances. With those, you could even face a Titan. Winning would be a stretch, but keeping your life would be no problem." Kober''s eyes widened as he heard those words, and he glanced at the starry gem with determination before clasping his hands and bowing. "I will succeed, Master!" Cain smiled as he heard the determination in the man''s voice. At least when it came to resolve, the man did not fall short. "Let''s exit. This place is about to collapse." When they heard those words, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, Diamond Saint Duke, and Kober glanced at the Collapsing Lightning Duke. The man''s face was pale due to the overwhelming pressure generated by keeping the dimension in place. It made sense; after all, this was just a normal dimension that took on explosions of energy that could shatter the fabric of space of Aether. Without wasting time, the group exited the dimension just as it collapsed into nothingness. "Go on and prepare for the incoming clash. Anyone with a cultivation base at the Divine Ascension Master level will participate." The Diamond Saint Duke and Kober adopted solemn expressions as they clasped their hands and bowed toward Cain before leaving the throne room. However, the trio was not alone for long, and a few seconds later, Zarak and Levi appeared. Chapter 765: Chimera Bloodlines (I) "Master." Cain immediately walked toward Zarak and patted the middle-aged man''s shoulder. He would not make the man he took as a Master bow toward him. After all, when Cain was still young and weak, it was Zarak who stood by his side, saving his life during the events of the Atrox Wave Champion''s fight, and it was also the man who was the spearhead for the clash toward the Azure Royal State right before The Great Cataclysm. Zarak smiled as he noticed Cain''s attitude and nodded to the young man, but he still held his hand and bowed toward the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. While his relationship with Cain allowed some liberties, he still had to respect those with a higher status in the Scarlet Alliance. Levi also bowed toward the Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar before turning toward Cain. "You called us. Is there a mission for us?" Although Levi''s emotions were still a bit conflicted due to the events that took place in the sky of the Hellblazer Sacred City, his willpower had stabilized, and his cultivation speed had advanced dramatically in the past few months. He was already making progress toward the Late Wave King Rank. Cain smiled, and a sense of thrill and excitement appeared in his eyes. "Actually, I called you for an opportunity, and this also involves you, James." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was surprised but did not lose time and walked forward, joining the other two as they stared at the Scarlet King, wondering what he had in mind. Cain did not make them wait and waved his hand, bringing out the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber containing the Azure Bloodline''s three strains. However, there were some changes as the color of the lightning arcs that radiated from the strains was not azure but scarlet, in order to hide the true origin of the bloodline. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, Zarak, and Levi were surprised to see the three strains of the bloodline and could feel the power of lightning and endlessness. The trio looked at each other, and it was not hard to figure out where this bloodline came from, but none of them said a word and just stared at Cain. "King, you want to implant this bloodline into our bodies? Although I am grateful, and it is certainly powerful, my current Sundering Force Bloodline doesn''t fall behind, and it works as a catalyst for my sword force." Although obtaining the Azure Emperor would not erase his Sundering Force Bloodline, it would leave this one dormant, weakening its power. Although his body might grow slightly stronger, it was not worth the trade since he did not use lightning or endlessness. Cain''s smile grew wider as he heard that question and shook his head. "I don''t intend to do something so simple as to implant this Scarlet Bloodline into your body, leaving your current one dormant. I have been experimenting with a new field of Genetic Coding." There was pure thrill and excitement in Cain''s voice at the idea of displaying this powerful Genetic Coding technique. "It is called Chimera Bloodline Path. In essence, I will fuse your current bloodline with the Scarlet Bloodline, giving birth to a Chimera Bloodline that will be even stronger." Shock and awe appeared in the eyes of the trio as they heard those words, as the mere notion of fusing bloodlines was something entirely new for them, yet if it could be achieved, then it would be a great lucky chance. However, before they could get too excited, Cain spoke again, this time with a solemn voice. "However, as with anything new, there are some dangers. While I am confident in my abilities, there is the chance of failure. In that case, this Scarlet Bloodline will become your main bloodline, and the one you currently have will not become a dormant bloodline; it will vanish from your bloodstream, and any genetic effect will also fade. If any of you doesn''t want to take the chance, you can tell me." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, Zarak, and Levi remained silent for a moment before a determined light appeared in their eyes. Losing their current bloodlines would lead to all sorts of problems, forcing them to change their battle style and cultivation technique, but they were ready to accept the risk. Cain could see the resolution in the eyes of the trio and smiled as he got his answer. "Good. Levi, you first." Levi nodded, and without hesitation, he jumped into the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber. Although for other people with the Hellblazer Bloodline, losing it or even tampering with it in any way was inconceivable since it embodied their connection to the Hellblazer Family, he could not care less about it. Actually, Levi had severed any connection he had with the Hellblazer Family in his heart the moment he killed his father and no longer bothered with them in any way. For him, Gladius, Magnus, and anyone else from the Hellblazer Family was nothing more than a stranger. Cain took a deep breath as he fused his Ego Wave with the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber and sent all sorts of material into the chamber. The process was extremely complex and demanded his entire focus. The first step was Purification. Before the fusion can occur, any genetic impurities or extraneous elements within both sets of genes are cleansed. This ensures that only the purest essence of each bloodline is carried forward. Cain had already made sure that the Azure Bloodline was flawless, and there were few problems with Levi''s Hellblazer Bloodline, so he only took a few minutes before proceeding to the next step. After the Purification came the Isolation of Genetic Cores. Cain must isolate the core genes responsible for each bloodline''s unique powers and attributes. This involved separating them from the non-essential genetic material, ensuring they remained stable and powerful once the fusion process was completed. Chapter 766: Chimera Bloodlines (II) Cain had already isolated the core genes of the Azure Bloodline, and the process with the Hellblazer Bloodline was not that complicated as he had already performed simulations with the help of the [A.I. Chip Module]. After the Purification and Isolation of Core Genes came the most important one, which could be considered the core of the Chimera Bloodline Path. The Genetic Recombination. It involved the recombination of the isolated core genes. This process required meticulous control, ensuring the fusion enhanced the practitioner''s abilities without overwhelming their biological framework. It was also where the chances of failure could arise, as the new bloodline could consume the previous one, leading to a failure of the fusion and the loss of the old bloodline. Cain''s eyes burst with red light as he pushed his mind to the limit, carefully fusing the core genes, ensuring that the new ones would not override the old ones while keeping his focus on the stability of the new Chimera Bloodline. It took several hours, and Cain''s face became pale as he reached the end due to the overwhelming mental effort. However, a smile appeared on his face as he focused on the chamber and saw the signs of a new bloodline. Levi was in a meditative stance, and his body radiated a red fire covered by scarlet arcs of lightning. The new force carried the destructive and fiery nature of the Hellblazer Bloodline and the electrifying endurance of the Azure Bloodline. This force was clearly much more powerful than the one Levi used before. That already made up the value of the new Lineage, as it would allow him to deploy stronger attacks that demanded less energy, but that was not all. The new bloodline also improved Lev''s physical stats, with around 10% improvement in strength and vitality and nearly 15% in agility! Those enhancements will remain as he grows stronger and advances in the ranks. Levi soon opened his eyes as he jumped out of the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber with a wide smile. He could not help but clench his fists as he felt the power running through his veins. "What is the name of this Lineage?" Since Cain was the artificer of this Lineage, Levi expected the man to have the honor of naming it. Unfortunately, he did not notice how the Collapsing Lightning Duke, First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and Zarak shook their heads, signaling him he was making a mistake. The trio had seen Cain''s growth, as he was a divine talent in every aspect, both in battle and in leadership, but if there were one flaw, that would be his naming style sucked. Sadly for Levi, it was already too late, as Cain was already figuring out the name of the new bloodline. "Its name will be Endless Inferno Edge Bloodline." Levi''s eyes twitched as he heard that name and a strange smile appeared on his face, but he immediately bowed toward Cain to hide it. "Thank you very much for this lucky chance. I will go back to training." Cain saw Levi leave, but he was too tired to focus on the young man and nodded before turning toward Zarak. "Master, it is your turn." Cain''s words drew Zarak''s attention back, and the man adopted a serious expression as he entered the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber. He allowed the [A.I. Chip Module] to identify the core genes, and although it would take longer that way, it would allow him to rest and recover his energies. Once Cain was fully recovered, his eyes burst with red light as he began to work, performing the fusion of Zarak''s Hurricane Bloodline and the Azure Bloodline. It was the second time he carried on with the process, and while it forced his mind to the limit once more, it was more straightforward thanks to past experiences, so Cain did not have a problem fusing the bloodline. After a few hours, a new force emerged from Zarak''s body. Currents coursed through his body, carrying water''s relentless pressure and fluidity with the shocking power of lightning. It was like watching a living typhoon. Zarak emerged from the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber, and his entire body radiated overwhelming power and pressure, capable of making even Early Divine Ascension Masters feel they were at the bottom of the deepest ocean. "You now hold the Scarlet Typhoon Fang Bloodline." Cain spoke with a smile, very proud of the name he gave to Zarak''s new bloodline. Yet, the man stared blankly for a moment before showing a brilliant smile as he clasped his hands toward Cain. "Thank you. I will make sure to deploy its full power from now on." The Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar could not help but nod as they saw the man''s acting skills. After that, Zarak bowed to the duo and left, leaving only the three. Cain only needed to turn toward the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and the man jumped into the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber. Just like with Zarak, Cain used the [A.I. Chip Module] to find the core genes in the Sundering Force Bloodline and used the time to rest. Once his mind and body were at their peak again, Cain continued with the bloodline fusion. Thanks to the help of the [Genetic Coder Module], Cain''s talent was beyond divine, so after the experience gained from the two previous fusions, he could perform this without any flaw and in a record amount of time. Cain knew the fusion was a success as arcs of scarlet lightning containing a seemingly endless severing force began to appear around the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s body. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar emerged from the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber the next second, and there was a radiant smile on his face as he gazed at the arcs of scarlet lightning. They were extremely powerful, capable of enhancing the cutting power of his swords, and he also felt his physical attributes were rapidly growing. Chapter 767: Abyssal Frost Falchion (I) Cain could feel the increase in strength from the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, but his eyes soon grew solemn. The man had become much more powerful and could face even the mightiest of the True Titans in Aether after the 21 Revolution Refinement and his new bloodline, but that might not be enough to face the enemies that will rise in the Silver City. The power of the Godslayer Humankind Empire was not so immense as to threaten Cain after all the power he had gained. After all, if that were the case, they would have long ago invaded Atlas. However, the force behind The Organization would not lose this chance to take him down, and he needed to be prepared. Of all the warriors of the Scarlet Alliance, the only one Cain trusted would help during the assault on the Silver City was the Collapsing Lightning Duke. Even though his cultivation base fell to the Middle Divine Ascension, the man''s battle power seemed to have risen beyond the limit of the True Titan Tier after overcoming his True Flesh Tribulation and mastering the Gravity Fall Armor. The other Divine Ascension Masters were not cowards and would fight to the death in his name, but Cain would not bring them into a battlefield where they would be of no help and, if anything, they would become a burden. Their mission would be to siege the Silver City, making sure no external threat could arise, giving him something less to worry about. ''It would not be enough.'' A determined light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he turned toward the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. "Do you have your treasures with you?" The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was slightly confused by that question. However, the Collapsing Lightning Duke smiled as he understood the meaning behind those words. "I do carry all my treasures with me, King. Is there something you need?" Cain only shook his head when he heard that question. He covered the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar with his Ego Wave before teleporting to the [Samsara Arsenal Module] First Layer. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was shocked to see such a massive dimension, and before he could process all that was happening, he heard Cain''s voice. "Come with me." Cain said nothing else before grabbing the corpse of the Chimera King from the ground and walking toward the Samsara Sacrificial Ground. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was still shocked, but upon hearing Cain''s words and seeing the smile of the Collapsing Lightning Duke, he began to walk, soon reaching a massive castle. The moment the gates were opened, and he saw the purple flame, a sense of shock and awe filled his heart. Cain and the Collapsing Lightning Duke saw the dumbstruck expression on the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar when he saw the Samsara Flame but did not mock him; after all, they had reacted the same way. "That is the Samsara Flame. By sacrificing precious treasures, you can obtain Gifts like my Space-Time Samsara Eye or Gabriel''s Gravity Fall Armor. It can also give you a Rebirth Mark, like the one I currently have in my right hand, which can be used to enhance your battle power or redo your Calamities." The Scarlet King''s words brought the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s attention back to reality, and his eyes widened with shock and desire. He had obviously been curious about the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s enhanced foundation and armor but did not ask, as he knew the Scarlet King would reveal those secrets to him once he grew powerful enough to bear them. Once again, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar turned toward the Samsara Flame, this time not just lost in its majesty but with desire and thrill. "So, I should just hand my treasures to the Samsara Flame?" "Yes. The more valuable and evil, the more Fortune you will get. Here, also use this." Cain answered the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s question before throwing the Chimera King''s corpse at the man. A sharp light appeared in the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s eyes as he heard the word ''evil.'' Without wasting time, he began to take treasures from his space ring. Most of them were weak Divine Ascension Treasures, and there were some that could even be considered Apotheosis Treasures. Cain focused on all the treasures that the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was taking out, and while they were indeed plenty, the Samsara Flame took more emphasis on quality than quantity. He already had an approximate idea of how much Fortune any type of treasure would give and did not know whether or not this would be enough for at least a Tier I Gift. However, his eyes widened as the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar took the last treasure from his space ring, a massive flag. On it, there were thousands or maybe even tens of thousands of howling faces that did not stop moving. Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he focused on the howling faces and understood their true nature. "Those are souls." "Yes. This is the treasure I obtained from an Atrox God I faced nearly one hundred years ago. I was a Titan back then, but the Atrox was only a Middle Divine Ascension Realm Master. Yet, using this Soul Flag, he nearly killed me." A flash of trepidation appeared in the eyes of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar as he uttered those words. Before the clash with the Depravita of Blood, the fight with that Atrox God had been the closest he was to perishing. As Cain focused on the flag, a small smile appeared. This Soul Flag was not as powerful as the gravitational heart that the Collapsing Lightning Duke sacrificed, but it was definitely way more evil, something the Samsara Flame truly enjoyed. As for the souls trapped inside, even with his understanding of the soul he obtained from the Soul King, there was no way to help them, which could be considered mercy. Chapter 768 768: Abyssal Frost Falchion (II) After receiving a nod from the Scarlet King, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar sent the treasures he had toward the Samsara Flame without hesitation, including the Soul Flag and, finally, the corpse of the Chimera King. Cain focused on the amount of Fortune obtained from the corpse of the Chimera King, as he wanted to know the difference between giving a treasure with a soul and one without to the Samsara Flame. Compared to the Unbreakable King that the Collapsing Lightning Duke sacrificed to the Samsara Flame, the Chimera King produced half the Fortune. That meant that a sacrifice without a soul was 50% less valuable. Luckily for the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, the sacrifice of the Soul Flag generated a massive amount of Fortune, showing just how much the Samsara Flame liked to consume evil things. After all the sacrifices, the amount of Fortune that the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar obtained was slightly less than what the Collapsing Lightning Duke received his first time. Next came the most meaningful part, as the Fortune was divided into two streams. One contained around 65% of the Fortune and transformed into a sword that gleamed with an otherworldly light. Its surface was etched with intricate runes that pulsed with a soft, eerie glow. At the center of the sword was a prominent clock-like symbol containing a dark gray star that irradiated an immense amount of energy. The blade was adorned with elaborate details, swirling patterns, and embedded gems or orbs that seemed to hold celestial bodies, emanating an eerie and cold aura. The pupil in Cain''s Space-Time Eye narrowed as he focused on the sword. He could see that the nature of the white aura it unleashed was connected to the power of time, more specifically, the ability to freeze the particles that form matter in the main plane of existence, essentially freezing time. However, before Cain or the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar could understand the sword''s nature, what remained of the Fortune transformed into two beams. The one containing 99% of the Merit flashed toward the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, while Cain obtained the other. Immediately, a wave of pain coursed through every nerve of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and he felt it nowhere else more clearly than on his hand as a rune began to form. He clenched his teeth and endured until all of the Merit had transformed into a pentagram-like rune on the back of his hand. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw that no voice came from the Samsara Flame. However, as he focused on the rune in the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s hand, he saw that it was not fully completed yet. It was close but still lacked a bit. That made sense, considering the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar obtained less Fortune than the Collapsing Lightning Duke. Yet, his Gift consumed more of the bright purple energy, leaving less for Merit. "You are still a little short of completing the Tier I Rebirth Mark, but do not worry; you can obtain more Merit by fighting in the Death Forest. Engrave your Ego Wave in your Gift." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was a little disappointed that his Rebirth Mark was not complete, but he could feel it did not need much more. Without wasting time, he turned toward the eerie sword floating in the sky and sent in his Ego Wave. As soon as the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s white force field touched the sword, it consumed it, making his face grow pale. However, the next second, the sword flashed toward him, reaching into his grip. The trio heard a voice from the Samsara Flame explaining the nature of that ominous sword. "Congratulations on obtaining the Tier I Gift, the Abyssal Frost Falchion. It is a revered Natural Inheritance embodying the unyielding essence of ice and its connection with time. Crafted from a singular core of a dying Ice Star that an Abyssal Time Lord once used to replace his own heart. It flawlessly fuses the powers from the Ice Star and the entity''s demonic soul." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was shocked for a moment due to the majesty of the voice, yet soon his focus returned to the sword that seemed to blend with his arm. As he focused on it, a new wave of shock appeared in his eyes as he looked at the Scarlet King and the Collapsing Lightning Duke. "There is a set of runes inside the Abyssal Frost Falchion. They will help me draw the sword''s unique abilities, and that is not all since it seems I can meditate on them to obtain power over Ice Star Power and Time Star Power!" Cain''s eyes widened as he heard that, and soon, a meaningful light appeared in them. The fact that both the Gravity Fall Armor and Abyssal Frost Falchion had those runic sets engraved inside them meant that high-level Natural Inheritances contained those sorts of powers, offering more than just a weapon but a cultivation path. "That is good. Okay, let''s get out." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s eyes were full of thrill as his entire focus was on the sword, yet the moment he heard Cain''s voice, it was like nothing more mattered, and he followed the young man. The trio did not take long to move close to the Death Forest. "Hone your abilities by facing the Soul Automatons. They are powerful, but as long as you pull back, they will not chase. Killing those who pose a challenge will grant you Merit. Although obtaining Merit like that is much slower than through sacrifices, it should help you, James, complete your Tier I Rebirth Mark in the coming month." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar nodded with a smile as he was eager to test the strength of the Abyssal Frost Falchion, but a solemn expression appeared in the Collapsing Lightning Duke. "My King, would it not be better if we wait for you to become a Divine Ascension Master before marching to Eden?" Chapter 769 769: Ascension Stage As the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s foundation and abilities to perceive cosmic forces increased, so did the attunement of his instincts to danger, and right now, he felt immense danger coming from the Silver City. Although the Collapsing Lightning Duke knew Cain was incredibly powerful, and his mastery over the Law of Space made it nearly impossible for someone to bind him to a single place, his instincts still screamed whenever he focused on the Silver City. Cain stared into the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes and could see their worry but shook his head before sighing. "It is not so simple. Even if my Ego Wave had already risen to the Third Realm and could sunder my soul in two, I would not be able to evolve since I have yet to reach the peak of the Apotheosis Realm." The Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar grew confused as they heard Cain''s words. "My King, you have already completed the Four Tribulations and the Two Calamities, and yours were flawless and able to draw the world''s true power. Your cultivation base should already be reaching into the Divine Ascension Realm." Cain once again shook his head, looking up, his gaze piercing beyond the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer and gazing into the sky of Aether. "I had suspicions after completing my Bone Calamity, but it became clear once I survived the Fire Tribulation. There are more than Four Tribulations and Two Calamities in the Apotheosis Realm." Shock and awe appeared in the eyes of the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar as they heard those words. The Four Tribulations and Two Calamities were an unbreakable truth of Aether''s cultivation civilization, yet it turned out there were more! It was not hard for the duo to figure out why they were kept a secret. To unlock those Hidden Tribulations and Calamities, one needed to undergo the True Four Tribulations and Two Calamities, not the fake ones everybody before Cain considered to be real. "I don''t know its nature, but there is still one more Calamity and at least one more Tribulation that I need to face before reaching the Peak of the Apotheosis Realm. Since I cannot accelerate the process, I can only wait for them to arrive, and I cannot keep waiting to face Horus'' puppet in the Silver City." The faces of the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar were solemn. Something dangerous was clearly brewing in the Silver City, and they could not wait months or maybe even years for Cain to overcome the Hidden Tribulations and Calamities. "We will push ourselves to the limit to be useful, my King." "We will not fail you." White flames burst in the eyes of the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar as they knelt toward Cain before flashing into the Death Forest, ready to push their minds and bodies to the limit, being in perfect condition for the assault into the Silver City. Cain showed a small smile as he saw the determination in the duo, but soon, a solemn light appeared in his eyes. He sat down and began to focus on his cultivation and power. "There is no way to safely improve my cultivation base, and I am still not fully prepared to survive the Ego Eternal Path of Power''s Nine Heaven Ego Destruction Tribulation. My battle skills and spells are also at their zenith, allowing me to deploy the full power of my body, energy, and mastery over the Laws. The only aspect of my existence I can have a chance to improve in this coming month is my Primordial Path. Cain had already achieved the Foundation Stage''s culmination stage, Elemental Awakening. It allowed his body not only to resonate with the elements but to naturally attract and absorb them without conscious effort. That marked the readiness of his flesh and blood to push into the Ascension Stage. The Ascension Stage was a transformative period in the Primordial Path where Cain begins to transcend their human roots, taking his first true step into becoming a Primordial. The stage was also known as Cosmic Resonance. It was characterized by Cain''s ability to not only interact with but also resonate and integrate with the fundamental energies of the universe, going beyond just the world''s natural energy. If the Foundation Stage was hard, then the Ascension Stage was a nightmare. Still, it would allow Cain to harness the power of the cosmos and let his flesh, blood, and spirit transcend into something akin to the Primordials, entities born out of stardust. Cain took a deep breath, and in the next second, he vanished from the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer before appearing in the highest sky of Gaia. His eyes focused on the void beyond the firmament and the endless stars in it. The First Art of the Ascension Stage was Celestial Attunement, which split into Orbital Alignment and Stellar Meditation. Orbital Alignment was Cain''s ability to synchronize his internal energy cycles with that of celestial bodies, such as the orbit of moons and the revolution of stars, to internalize the cosmic rhythm within his flesh and blood. On the other hand, Stellar Meditation focused on Cain''s ability to align his spiritual energy with the pulsations of stars and the flow of celestial currents. Unlike the Foundation Stage, which only focused on the body, the Ascension Stage paid equal importance to the mind and soul. Cain took a deep breath as he emptied his mind of all thoughts other than the stars in the sky. This allowed him to feel their movements and rotation with every particle of his soul and fiber of his body. --- The Prometheus Sector grew eerily quiet in the coming month. As the center of power for the Godslayer Humankind Empire, it was usually full of life, and thousands of people from high backgrounds came and went every day, yet now everybody was trying to keep their distance. Chapter 770 770: The new Prime Minister The reason for such a commotion began with the fact that 52 of the 81 States of the Godslayer Humankind Empire had formed a cordon that limited movement in and out of the Prometheus Sector. No matter how high your background, no one was allowed to get in or out without the authorization of the Scarlet Alliance. This could already be considered a clear sign of treason against the Imperial Court, but the Scarlet Alliance went one step further. Its great generals formed even tighter perimeters around the Silver City, flanking it from the four cardinal directions. They were not alone since the forces of the Diamond Saint Duke and the Hellblazer Family supported the siege of Eden. One of the strongest human True Titans, dozens of Titans, and hundreds of Divine Ascension Masters were besieging the Silver City. Such power could make anyone tremble, and that was just the surface. There was also the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, who had been absent the last month and whose power was rumored to have broken beyond the True Titan Tier. Worst of all, that force was led by the Scarlet King, who seemed to be the strongest Godslayer Human in the Empire''s history! --- There was a massive white castle in the center of Eden, surrounded by nine Titan Towers, assembled in a formation. In one of its most imposing halls, twenty people were yelling at each other. The air was thick with tension, and the scent of fear mingled with the heavy drapes that adorned the walls. The Imperial Court was aware of the monster closing its jaws on their neck, and their reaction was just as deplorable as would be expected from a coalition willing to see the north of their empire burn. A tall man with a thin body wearing a golden robe and adorned with various treasures shouted with rage. "This is preposterous! How does a mere Colonel from the Imperial Army dare form a force that defies the power of the Imperial Court? This is clearly a coup attempt by the Collapsing Lightning Duke, who is using that brat as a puppet to fall back on in case his plot doesn''t work." The man had not finished his words when another thin man with even more ornaments shouted in rage. "Chancellor Varik, it doesn''t matter who is behind this coup. Our wrath must be directed at the Sector Dukes who refuse to answer our summoning. We must send them more messages indicating that it is their duty to come and fight in the name of the Imperial Court." "Indeed, as Minister Taryn says. It''s clear that their loyalties lie not with the Empire but with their own skins. We were merciful, allowing them to rest during the war in the north, yet this is how they repay us. After this is over, we must demand they send every single woman and child from their families into the court to serve as punishment." A fat, bald man shouted in rage, his eyes spouting hatred, yet even as calamity arose, there was also lust in them. "Cowards, all of them. We can only depend on ourselves now. We must rally the forces of the Imperial Army inside Eden against the Scarlet Alliance!" This time, the one who shouted was someone with mighty armor and a sign on his shoulder that marked him as Marshal of the Prometheus Sector, the highest military rank in the capital. However, not only was he very young, but anyone who glanced at him for more than five seconds could see he was someone who had never set foot on a battlefield. "General Carsor, what are you talking about? The forces surrounding the Silver City contain several Titans and a True Titan. The number of soldiers inside the Silver City is pitiful and could not endure more than a minute." Another old man rebuked the young general''s words, and a flash of embarrassment appeared on his face. He did not even know how many soldiers the Silver City had, yet he would not tolerate someone embarrassing him and immediately offered an idea. "What about the people living in the Silver City? We should give a weapon to every man, woman, and child. They are Godslayer Humans and should be able to fight in the name of the Imperial Court, up to the last man." The young man''s words surprised many, not due to their viability but their lack of sense. Even if they gave weapons and armor to every civilian in the Silver City, they were mostly Wave Warriors and Wave Champions without proper training, and a single strike from a True Titan would be enough to take care of them, so they would only be sending people to the slaughterhouse. However, soon, they began to look at each other, and a meaningful light appeared in their eyes. If they enrolled all those people into the army, they could use them as human shields, making the Scarlet Alliance afraid of mobilizing their troops and giving them a chance to regain control. As for the fact they would be using children as shields, that did not matter in the slightest to them. The current Imperial Court was not the same in control of the Empire before The Great Cataclysm. After the new Prime Minister rose to power, he replaced most of the officials in the Imperial Court with people who would not question his command as long as they were well paid. Doing that, the new Prime Minister generated an Imperial Court corrupted to the core that focused only on their personal benefit, not caring what would happen to the empire as long as they could benefit. Just as these people continued to bark orders and futile ideas, whose only purpose was to protect them, the gates of the Imperial Hall opened, showing a young man who walked in with a radiant smile. Immediately, all those corrupted officials clasped their hands and bowed, as they knew they would need to depend on that person if they wanted to survive. "We greet the Prime Minister, Michael Godsoul." Chapter 771: Breaking into the Silver City (I) The new Prime Minister was none other than the Crown Prince of the Godslayer Humankind Empire, Michael Goldsoul. At the start of The Great Cataclysm, the Imperial Court and Prime Minister Minxet naturally sought the guidance and power of the Golden Emperor. In times of danger and chaos, it was expected that an Emperor''s strength and overwhelming power could bring peace and stability to the empire. Unfortunately, the Golden Emperor seemed to have secluded himself into his cultivation abode, and there was no way to reach him, not even to communicate with him through their Ego Waves or A.I. Chip. This brought chaos and problems to the Imperial Court, led by Prime Minister Minxet. While Prime Minister Minxet was an extremely competent individual, he needed the direct support of the Golden Emperor to mobilize all Sector Dukes and even make those arrogant and insufferable Noble Families heed his command. However, that was just the beginning of the plight. Before the day ended, Michael Goldsoul appeared in the Imperial Court Hall with a decree from the Golden Emperor, stating that he was the new Prime Minister and had absolute control of the empire during this time of chaos. Of course, Michael Goldsoul''s sudden appearance with a decree from the Golden Emperor, whom no one could talk to, was suspicious, to say the least. However, he was the Crown Prince, so if the Golden Emperor was going to speak to someone, it made sense for that person to be his favorite son. Prime Minister Minxet felt something was wrong, but there was not much he could do, as he lacked the brute power and connections to face someone like Michael Goldsoul. He quietly stepped down from his position to avoid more chaos and prevent any bloodshed. Despite the way he obtained the role of Prime Minister, Michael Goldsoul had always been a competent individual with impressive talent and battle power. The Imperial Court expected to work with the man to bring back peace and stability to the Godslayer Humankind Empire. However, things did not go that way. During the second day after the start of The Great Cataclysm, Michael Goldsoul changed all the upper echelon of the Imperial Court, replacing those capable people that sought the best for the empire with a bunch of well-connected yet useless and self-serving buffoons that only sought to enrich themselves. Minxet and the old ministers realized there was something very wrong with Michael Goldsoul. Yet, there was nothing they could do as the man began to mobilize the forces and resources of the Imperial Army in such a way that it practically left the north to fend for themselves against the invading army from the Inferno Daemon Race. Of course, there was some criticism, but while Michael Goldsoul appeared not to care, anyone who dared to say a word against him would mysteriously disappear during the night. The new upper echelon of the Imperial Court did not care about any of that, and the only thing on their minds was to keep getting richer under the guidance of the new Prime Minister. Who cared if there was something wrong with Michael Goldsoul or if the entire empire burned under the flames of war as long as they could keep enriching themselves? Of course, the Imperial Court''s priority had changed. Now, they wanted to survive, and the only one who could help them face the monster that was the Scarlet Alliance was Michael Goldsoul, which was why they were so happy to see him. "Prime Minister, we need your guidance. We are facing an unprecedented threat, and traitors all over the empire refuse to answer our summons." One of the ministers immediately shouted after that formal bow, showing very little etiquette and none of the calm that a member of the Imperial Court should possess. Still, Michael Goldsoul only smiled at the man. "There is no need to worry. We don''t need their help to face the Scarlet Alliance. All I need to take down that man is right here." As the minister heard those words from the Crown Prince and saw the man''s eyes focusing on them, a sense of satisfaction appeared in their hearts. They honestly believed that their abilities were so impressive that they could turn the tables by following the Crown Prince. Michael''s smile grew wider as he saw the look on those ministers'' faces, and then his eyes turned to the Marshal of Silver City, General Carsor. "General, you proposed the idea of using the people of the city as soldiers to face the incoming threat, right?" The young general was slightly nervous when he heard that question, but he softly nodded. "Every Godslayer Human is a great warrior. It doesn''t matter their occupation or age." Silence reigned for a moment as the other ministers glanced at the Crown Prince. Although they all thought of using those people as human shields, they knew that the old Prime Minister Minxet would have sent anyone to the dungeons if they offered such a path. However, Michael only smiled as he softly nodded. "You are right. That is a good path, as it would help us fight the incoming threat." A sense of thrill appeared in the ministers'' eyes as they began to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It was clear that the Crown Prince was ready to go to any lengths, meaning they would not have to beat around the bush with their inhumane and shameful tactics. Michael was about to speak again when his eyes narrowed as he focused in the distance. His smile vanished, and a dark and ominous light appeared in his eyes, so dense and dark that it made those pathetic ministers tremble. Just as they wondered what could have incited such a response in the always-calm Prime Minister, they saw with shock and awe how the entire Silver City began to glow. In the following second, massive teleportation formations began to appear, covering every inch of the city. Chapter 772: Breaking into the Silver City (II) Before any of them could do anything to stop them, the teleportation formations took hold of every living soul in the Silver City except for those of the Imperial Castle and teleported them. "What is happening!" General Carsor shouted with a mixture of rage and fear, as he did not understand what was happening. His dread grew stronger as he attempted to communicate with the Imperial Army''s forces stationed in the Silver City, yet none of them responded. Michael Goldsoul''s eyes were cold as he glanced at the fluctuation of space force that enveloped the Silver City. After a moment, his gaze turned toward the Genetic Coder Association, Crafting Association, Alchemy Alliance, and Mercenary Coalition. He could feel how over twelve million people inside the Silver City were transported to those places. He saw how their core structures, like the Endless Pyramid and Genetic Evolution Cube, began to glow as they activated their defensive formations and completely shut down from the outside world. A flash of killing intent appeared in Michael''s eyes as he saw all those civilians who were supposed to perish in the incoming clash vanish. The rage grew stronger as he realized that even the Imperial Army''s forces had teleported to those places. While Michael had left those forces alone, he had put many spies in them to keep a certain level of control, yet none of them informed him about anything. Just as his killing intent was rising to the point of wanting to flash to those structures and shatter them to pieces, he turned to the sky as he saw three figures flashing down from the highest sky, each of them with a momentum and power that made them even more terrifying than meteorites. The one on the left was like a sundering force leaving a white trail of cold energy that seemed capable of freezing the particles of existence, to the point that he froze time on his path! The one on the right was like a dark wave, unleashing a gravitational power that distorted the fabric of space as he fell, twisting light and time around his path. However, it was the one in the middle that unleashed the most shocking aura. It resembled a golden comet that carried the power of spatial storms that could sunder reality and flames that burned with so much intensity that the fabric of space could not endure. It was literally setting the fabric of Aether''s reality ablaze. The three figures flashed down with increasing speed until they finally clashed with an invisible force field that covered all of the Silver City. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" A blast that made the entire Silver City tremble and shattered the sky was triggered as the three figures clashed with the force field. Immediately, the nine Titan Towers built around the Imperial Castle began to glow as they channeled all their energy into the force field, but more and more cracks formed in this one as the trio kept pushing down. That force field, known as the Silver Sky, was supposed to be resilient enough to endure the attack of several True Titans for hours, yet massive cracks were forming around it, and it did not seem it would last another ten seconds. "Prime Minister, you must do something!" one of the ministers shouted in fear. Now that the threat had finally appeared and loomed over them, fear had overwhelmed them, and the only thing on their minds was survival. Michael did not even bother to glance at the man who sobbed in front of him. He stared at the trio that kept pushing down until, finally, they were able to break through. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" Another massive explosion echoed across the Prometheus Sector as the Silver Sky shattered. And before the tremors that shook the earth could stop, the man cloaked in golden fire sent forward a palm strike that fired nine massive spheres of golden fire into the Silver City. "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" The coldness in Michael Goldsoul''s eyes grew even stronger as he saw how those the Nine Void Suns clashed with energy cores spread around the Silver City. Without them, the offensive power of the formation that covered Eden would weaken tremendously. Michael Goldsoul had obviously hidden those energy cores and changed their position the most he could after knowing that the Royal Families sided with the Scarlet Alliance. However, it was easy for Cain to extrapolate their new location with the old information thanks to the use of the [A.I. Chip Module]. After destroying those cores, the trio kept descending. Although it would be faster to directly fly to the Imperial Castle, that would leave them open to all sorts of spells and attacks, so they chose to reach the surface and advance through the alleys and roads, using the buildings to cover themselves as they made their way to the Imperial Court. "They are coming!" "What do we do!" "We must run!" "Where are we going to run!" "Then what should we do!" "It is all your fault. You should have made peace with the Collapsing Lightning Duke!" "You are the one who signed the paper and refused to send soldiers to the north!" Even as death itself was approaching them, these ministers kept shouting at themselves and pushing the blame around. "Enough." As soon as Michael Goldsoul uttered those words, silence reigned. However, it was not that the ministers suddenly found their courage or were able to calm their minds, but they were paralyzed. Terror appeared in the eyes of the twenty ministers as they could not move a single muscle of their bodies. Their minds worked, and their eyes could see, but they could do nothing, and did not understand why it was happening. "For years of gestation inside your bodies. That should be enough." The ministers heard Michael Goldsoul''s words, and then their eyes widened as they felt a horrible pain and something starting to grow inside their stomachs, shattering their inner organs in the process! Chapter 773: Facing the Silver City The moment Cain, the Collapsing Lightning Duke, and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar touched the surface of the Silver City, their perception burst. Their eyes glowed with willpower as they made the energy inside their bodies explode. They all turned their gaze to a single location: the Imperial Castle. Thanks to the efforts of the old Prime Minister Minxet and the State Lords, the entire Silver City had been evacuated, leaving only the people in the Imperial Castle. These were exactly the people that Cain needed to confront as they were the core of the problem with the Godslayer Humankind Empire. Those people needed to be extinguished if the Scarlet King wanted to heal the empire. The trio blasted forward as their energy reached its zenith, each unleashing impressive speed. Cain''s Asura Form, combined with the Law of Wind and the Law of Space, allowed him to attain remarkable speed. The Collapsing Lightning Duke used gravitational forces to bend space for instantaneous movement. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, cloaked in arcs of scarlet lightning, pushed his speed and reflexes to their peak. Less than five seconds into their advance, the trio''s eyes narrowed upon seeing a new force field forming in the Silver City''s sky. This one adopted a rainbow-like color and was full of starlight. They weren''t surprised, as their understanding of the Silver City was comparable to that of an emperor, thanks to the reports from Prime Minister Minxet and the Royal Families. They knew that, just as the Silver Sky worked to prevent people from entering the city, the Rainbow Sky channeled the power of the stars to kill all the enemies who dared set foot in the capital of the Godslayer Humankind Empire. The power of the rainbow-colored sky peaked in a second before beams of starlight fell toward the trio, each capable of immense damage. Cain and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar pushed forward through the streets of the Silver City, but the Collapsing Lightning Duke jumped, rushing toward the falling starlight as his body exploded with power. The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s mastery of gravity allowed him to gather not only his own power but also the energy that permeated the air, concentrating it all into his right hand. "Gravitational Push!" he shouted as he unleashed a palm strike forward, generating what could only be described as a gargantuan gravitational wave that extended for hundreds of kilometers. It faced the falling starlight beams head-on. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion filled the sky of the Silver City as the Gravitational Push destroyed the falling starlight and continued pushing up, reaching the Rainbow Sky and shattering it to pieces. Immediately, the Collapsing Lightning Duke used Gravitational Warp Step to return to Cain and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, continuing their full-speed advance toward the Imperial Castle. However, before the trio could make it even halfway, the streets began to glow, and searing heat soon emerged, setting the air ablaze. Next, pillars of black fire formed around the Silver City, transforming into gargantuan snakes that lunged toward the trio, intending to burn them to ashes. These were the Death God Pillars, one of the strongest offensive formations of the Silver City. Each pillar was created using the corpse of a True God. The Fire Snakes carried extreme heat and resentment, adding a spiritual effect to the attacks. The Fire Snakes were extremely fast, being less than one hundred meters away from the trio in less than a second, lunging simultaneously from every direction, making them impossible to dodge. Cain and the Collapsing Lightning Duke didn''t even glance at the Fire Snakes as the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar had already flashed into the sky to face them. Each snake had the power of a True God Spell, but the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s eyes were calm as his entire body burst with power. His energy flooded into his sword, allowing its power to peak. He waved it, unleashing a wave of white force that extended in all directions. The white force from the Abyssal Frost Falchion struck all the Fire Snakes, stopping their movements, but that was not all, as they began to freeze. This attack combined the power of the Ice Star and time power to unleash a wave of cold so intense it could freeze anything in its path, including the flow of magical particles. Immediately after taking down the Fire Snakes, the body of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar burst with scarlet lightning that seemed to sunder space, allowing him to return to Cain and the Collapsing Lightning Duke. The trio quickly handled the Rainbow Sky and the Death God Pillars, some of the most potent offensive formations inside the Silver City capable of killing True Gods and True Titans. Yet, they did not relax as their instincts warned them of the danger ahead. Just as they were almost 3?4 of the way to the Imperial Castle, the nine Titan Towers surrounding it began to glow with overwhelming energy. All of it fused into a single massive pentagram that formed above the castle. The power around the pentagram was so immense that massive cracks in space formed around it, but that was the least of the trio''s worries. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" The next second, a single concentrated beam of energy was fired, so intense that it sundered the sky, and all its power was directed at the trio. The Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar did not move as the one to face the Nine Titan Towers Eradication Beam was none other than the Scarlet King. Cain pushed his power to the limit as he faced the beam. His eyes were glowing with a mysterious golden and red light, and he flashed forward, appearing in front of the Nine Titan Tower Eradication Beam the next second. Cain did not underestimate the beam, knowing its power could harm him. His hands glowed with Essence Wave as he adjusted the flow to match that of the beam before confronting it. Chapter 774 774: Facing the Golden King (I) Due to the explosive nature of the Nine Titan Towers Eradication Beam, it would explode with overwhelming power once the attack struck its target, unleashing waves of chaotic and destructive energy that could pulverize the body of an Astral True Titan. However, using the Second Level of The Flow, Cain was able to prevent the explosion. Yet this didn''t mean he was out of danger since the beam was pushing him back and threatened to crush his body if he did not act fast. As if carrying the entire world on his shoulders, Cain used all his strength to push the beam upwards, sending it into the sky. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" The Nine Titan Towers Eradication Beam carried so much energy and power that it ascended hundreds of thousands of kilometers. It did not dissipate, reaching the Crystal Wall and blasting against it. The explosion was shocking, damaging the wall that covered Aether and creating massive cracks in space. Cain didn''t linger on this wondrous sight and quickly regrouped with the Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, continuing their rapid advancement toward the Imperial Castle. A sharp light full of killing intent appeared in the trio''s eyes as they saw the Imperial Castle within reach. However, their surprise was palpable when the ceiling of that massive structure was blown to pieces. It didn''t take long for them to understand the situation as dozens of massive creatures emerged from the castle. They varied in form; some were hundreds of meters tall, others wore large robes, and some had wings. Their common trait was their desiccated constitution, which made them seem as if they were decayed corpses. These creatures were not only horrifying but also seemed to possess a massive yet unstable energy pool. They radiated a dark miasma that engulfed the Silver City''s earth and sky, rotting everything in its path. The putrid miasma reached the trio in an instant. While it was extremely dense and powerful, capable of harming Divine Ascension Masters, it was not a challenge for them. The Collapsing Lightning Duke used gravity to push it away; any miasma near the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar froze, and the miasma near Cain was set ablaze. Although the trio could handle the poisonous miasma, it was the least of their worries. A solemn expression appeared on the Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar as they recognized the monsters. The aura they unleashed and the toxic miasma were reminiscent of the Blood King, the Depravita of Blood. The duo had grown immensely powerful since that fight, but at most, they could face the Blood King together to a draw. "They are not like the Depravita of Blood. Although their origin is similar, these are mere automatons. They have powerful bodies but unstable energy, and they lack any control over Concepts." Hearing this analysis from Cain, the Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s confidence returned. The divine talent over Concepts was one of the trump cards of the Depravitas, and without them, they lost much of their battle power. Although the battle would not be easy, there was no fear in the eyes of the Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. Cain''s gaze was just as sharp. His focus was not on the Depravita Automatons but on the young human with black hair and golden eyes in the middle of them. Michael Goldsoul glanced back at Cain, smiling as if looking at an old friend. His eyes were empty of any worry or negative emotions¡ªan odd reaction given the nightmarish monsters surrounding him. "Carve a path for me." Hearing these words, the energy of the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar exploded, and they dashed toward the Depravita Automatons, ready to unleash their full power. "?AHHHHHHHH!" Howling screams emerged from the Depravita Automatons as they turned to the duo. Their eyes lacked intelligence or wisdom, and they acted purely on instincts. Yet, that did not make them any less dangerous. Dozens of Depravita Automatons rushed toward the Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, ready to tear the duo apart. Before they could clash, some of the monsters with angelic or magician appearances fired spheres of dark energy. Sensing these spheres'' power and corruptive force, the duo prepared to counter. Their battle skill and teamwork, honed in the Death Forest, allowed them to coordinate seamlessly without verbal communication. As the spheres were about to hit, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar raised his sword, creating a massive ice barrier. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" The explosions echoed as the spheres collided with the ice barrier. While massive cracks formed, it held strong¡ªa testament to the defensive abilities of the Abyssal Frost Falchion that the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar had mastered. "Gravitational Push!" As the ice barrier was about to crumble, the Collapsing Lightning Duke launched his attack from inside, generating a massive wave of gravitational force that carried hundreds of ice shards capable of tearing apart even Adamantium Artifacts! This combined attack repelled the horde of Depravita Automatons lunging forward. But the duo didn''t stop there; they advanced, unleashing their most powerful attacks. "Time Freeze Slash!" "Grand Gravitational Punch!" A sundering arc of white force capable of freezing energy and movement and a massive palm strike that bent space struck the Depravita Automatons. This divided the horde in half and cleared a path forward for Cain. With confidence surging, Cain seized the opportunity and charged toward Crown Prince Michael Goldsoul, who kept smiling. Sensing the aura of a Late Divine Ascension Master¡ªa cultivation base much higher than previously revealed¡ªCain realized Michael had been hiding his power for a long time. Cain''s eyes glowed as he pushed The Flow, his Space-Time Eye, and Virtual Sight to the limit, ready to confront any attack from the Crown Prince. A gray flaming aura enveloped Cain''s body as he unleashed the full power of his Solar Tempest Essence. Meanwhile, the Crown Prince''s body radiated a golden light that seemed to carry the combined power of weight, sharpness, and hardness. "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Chapter 775 775: Facing the Golden King (II) "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!" A powerful blast echoed, shattering space once Cain''s fists and that of the Crown Prince collided. The King of the Scarlet Alliance unleashed bursts of solar plasma that carried a simply overwhelming heat combined with the power of the Law of Space that allowed that destructive force to slice through any form of energy defense. On the other hand, the new Prime Minister of the Godslayer Humankind Empire first carried the power of the Goldsoul Bloodline, grating an extremely sundering power, a hardness that surpassed even Adamantium Artifacts, and the weight of one thousand mountains. Shock waves upon shock waves of flaming gray aura and golden energy flashed in all directions, making the area around the duo deadly for anyone with a body weaker than a Middle Divine Ascension Astral Cultivator. Ultimately, the explosion burst with power one final time, sending both hurtling away. Cain regained control after one hundred meters, while the Crown Prince was pushed nearly three hundred meters. Although this initial clash demonstrated Cain''s superior battle strength, he did not smile. Although Cain pushed himself to the limit in the last month, he had yet to reach the Primordial Path''s Ascension Stage. However, his battle power had grown immensely since his battle with the Depravita of Blood, thanks to the power of the True Earth and Fire Tribulations and the Space-Time Eye. He was confident he could crush any Peak Divine Ascension Master in Aether without a problem. And despite all that, Michale Goldsoul was able to contend against him. Even if it was just an initial clash and neither had shown their full power, it was clear to Cain that Michael Goldsoul was even stronger than the Depravita of Blood. Unlike Cain''s solemn expression, Michael Goldsoul smiled as he glanced at Cain''s right fist and noticed the small yet deep cuts that reached all the way to the bone. "It seems my humble power was enough to harm the mighty Scarlet King." Cain glanced at his fist as he heard Michael''s words but just pointed at the man''s extremity. "Yours doesn''t look too good either." While the clash left minor cuts in Cain''s hand, the solar plasma had incinerated the flesh and muscles in Michael Goldsoul''s right hand. The power of the Solar Tempest Essence was immensely strong, and the heat it unleashed had reached a whole new level upon the awakening of the Solar Master Lineage. Michael raised his scorched right hand before a dark aura covered it, healing all the damage in less than a second. "Good as new." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw that dark aura. It contained the power of the Depravita Race but was adapted to a human body. Transforming the nature of energy designed to work on a body made of solidified thought and ideas to one made of flesh should have required immense work and incredibly valuable resources. That was enough for Cian to understand that Michael Goldsoul was not a simple puppet from the mastermind in the darkness. "Impressive. But I guess all Dark Kings have their tricks. Is that right, Golden King?" Those words could send waves through the Godslayer Humankind Empire. After all, Michael Goldsoul was not only the Crown Prince but also the head of the Anti-Organization Force, a power whose sole purpose was to oppose The Organization. Yet it turned out he was one of the infamous Ten Dark Kings, ruling that same power he swore to destroy. Michael Goldsoul continued smiling, but his eyes grew sharp as he heard that. His secret identity as a Dark King being uncovered didn''t matter at this point, but the fact that Cain could figure things out was something that should not happen, making his killing intent toward Cain grow even stronger. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Cain and Michael kept eyeing each other, gauging each other''s power as explosions rang around them from the clash between the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar against the Depravita Automatons. The Scarlet King and the Golden King locked eyes for exactly ten seconds before making their energy explode and charging towards each other. One was covered in a flaming gray aura that embodied the raw power of solar forces combined with the chaotic might of spatial storms, while the other was in a golden aura that expressed the power of weight, hardness, and sharpness beyond the limits of the Divine Ascension Realm. "BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Every time the Scarlet King and Golden King clashed, they triggered explosions that shook the earth and sky, generating massive cracks in the fabric of space. Cain had the upper hand in all the clashes, inflicting much more damage to Michael than vice versa. However, no matter the wounds'' seriousness, Michael would use that dark force to cover the damaged zone, which would heal nearly instantly. The enemy''s pseudo-immortality did not deter Cain, as his power kept rising as he continued fighting. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the Collapsing Lightning Duke faced similar challenges against the Depravita Automatons. Aside from their negative sphere attack and corrupting aura, the Depravita Automatons did not have special abilities. Still, no matter how much damage their bodies took, they would heal immediately and continue fighting. It was clear to the Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar that these creatures did not feel pain and had undying bodies without vital points capable of instantly regenerating, but they did not lose focus. They knew they needed to keep destroying them until nothing remained of their energy. For the first time in thousands of years, a battle of epic proportions unfolded in the Silver City, the core of the Godslayer Humankind Empire. Two young men at the core of the clash destroyed space with every move they made, while two impressive warriors kept dozens of monsters from interfering with the fight. The explosions were so intense that no matter where one was in the Prometheus Sector, one could witness the clash that would determine the fate of the Goldsayer Humankind and all of Gaia. Chapter 776 776: Depravitas and the Laws "?BOOM!" The explosions raged with increasing power as the energy of the Scarlet King and the Crown Prince rose. As the golden force managed to surpass his energy and physical defenses, more and more cuts formed on Cain''s body, but his eyes remained impervious, showing nothing as he kept striking with increasing power. On the other hand, Michael Goldsoul was riddled with burning wounds every second, but the dark aura would simply cover the wounded tissues and repair them immediately. Essentially, the battle became a clash between the much more powerful Scarlet King and the constantly regenerating Crown Prince. Cain''s eyes glowed with golden light as he moved to the side. He evaded the Crown Prince''s punch before firing a devastating counter right to the man''s face, sending him flying away. A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he felt the flesh and bones of Michael''s face shattering under his punch. The destroyed tissue took less than a second to heal, but that did not mean it was for nothing. The pain of having his face burned and broken should have been overwhelming, but Michael Goldsoul kept smiling. However, a sharp light appeared in his eyes as he saw that Cain no longer chased him. Although they had unleashed massive amounts of energy, it was not possible for Cain to have drained his energy pool in just ten minutes, so something was odd. "You went through a True Flesh Calamity and True Bone Calamity. That is why your body and cultivation base are so strong despite being only a newly Late Divine Ascension Master." The light in Michael Goldsoul''s eyes grew sharper as he heard those words. It was not a question but an affirmation, and it was exactly right. It had not been Cain who first experienced a True Flesh Calamity and a True Bone Calamity in Gaia, but the Crown Prince of the Godslayer Humankind Empire. "You are perceptive, extremely perceptive." Michael kept smiling, yet his voice was eerily cold as a flash of killing intent appeared in his eyes. Explosions went around him as the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar fought the Depravita Automatons with everything they had, pushing themselves to the absolute limit to prevent them from interfering with Cain''s fight. However, Cain kept staring at the Crown Prince, not losing focus, as he went through the fight with the man. It had been intense, and he had received what could be considered deep wounds, yet never did he feel his life in danger, and he did not believe it was because the Crown Prince did not want to kill him or that his power was simply too high. There was something else happening, another purpose for this fight. Michael Goldsoul showed a flash of trepidation as he saw Cain''s eyes focusing on him and clenched his fists. Just as the Crown Prince was about to open his mouth, surprise appeared on his face as he saw the Scarlet King taking a deep breath. Suddenly, Cain''s Essence Wave began to fade along with the power of the Laws that enhanced his body and spells. "What do you think you are doing?" Immense coldness appeared on Michael Goldsoul''s face as he saw Cain sealing one of his Paths of Power. Anyone would think the man was enraged by the opponent seemingly underestimating him. However, Cain knew that things were more complex. "Depravitas are gifted in the power of Concepts, with even one whose origin was as strange as the Blood King able to deploy spells whose power are several stages above his cultivation base. However, I have noticed something in their kind: the lack of affinity to the Laws." Those words made Michael Goldsoul''s eyes widen, and his smile faded as a monstrous killing intent emerged from his soul. The fact that Cain uttered the word Depravita was enough to make his slaughter intent burst, but the true rage came from the notion about the relationship between the Laws and the Depravita Race. Without a word, the Crown prince flashed forward and began to unleash attacks with overwhelming killing intent, each aiming at a vital point. Cain''s face was calm as he focused on The Flow, dodging all the attacks of the Crown Prince as he kept focusing. "This fight was more than just a test of my battle strength. You are trying to obtain insight into my mastery of the Elemental Laws and Space Law I wield. You need them for something, something very important for your goals." The killing intent in the eyes of the Crown Prince exploded as he attacked with ferocity, disregarding any form of defense and focusing solely on the attack to increase his offensive power. It became harder for Cain to dodge the attacks at this point since he had shut down his Essence Path of Power and Law Mastery. Still, he kept focus, not allowing any distractions as he stared at Michael Goldsoul before a flash of enlightenment appeared in his eyes. "However, it is more than just a lack of affinity. It is as if the Laws of Aether repel you. They abhor the Depravita Race!" Shock and dread appeared in Michael Goldsoul''s eyes as he heard those words and looked at Cain as if he were a monster. "Impossible! How could you come to such a conclusion with so little information!" The man shouted in rage and frustration, but Cain remained silent as he stared at him. He did not talk, not because he did not want to reveal his thought process, but because there was none. Cain had begun to suspect Michael''s motives for such a restrained fighting style, but the notion about the Depravita Race''s connection with the Laws came from somewhere else as if a voice was echoing in his mind, guiding him on the right path. If there were any other circumstances, Cain would have focused on that instinct and silent voice. Even if it had helped now, he would not allow any force to affect his mind and senses since that could easily lead him to danger in the future. However, right now, he would have to trust it as there were not many choices. Chapter 777: Depravita weapon Michael Goldsoul''s face twisted in anger, and a chilling killing intent emerged from his soul, his eyes glowing with a dark flame that seemed to embody pure and absolute destruction. "Burn!" As Michael Goldsoul''s words echoed across the sky, the over thirty Depravita Automatons began to tremble. Soon, a dark flame enveloped them, seemingly immolating them from the inside out. As they burned, the energy in their bodies grew even more unstable, yet their power rose tremendously. A solemn light appeared in the eyes of the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. By pushing themselves to their absolute limit and taking full advantage of their two Natural Inheritances, they had managed to keep the Depravita Automatons at bay. However, now that the Depravita Automations'' power had skyrocketed due to their self-immolation, the duo was on the verge of being overwhelmed. "Ignite your life force." Upon hearing the Scarlet King''s command, the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar faced the monsters with absolute focus and determination. For the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, igniting his life force was not as serious, thanks to his Tier I Rebirth Mark, but the same could not be said for the Collapsing Lightning Duke. Igniting his life force was akin to entering a suicidal march, yet the man did not hesitate for even a second. "?AHHHHHHH!" "?AHHHHHHH!" The duo roared as they began to ignite their life force, pushing their strength, agility, vitality, and energy pool to the next level in exchange for consuming their lifespan. A massive gravitational field emerged from the Collapsing Lightning Duke, drastically reducing the speed of the Depravita Automatons as he fired massive punches with the power of gravitational waves capable of crushing atoms. On the other hand, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar began to slash with his sword faster and faster. Every wound he made was frozen by a layer of white ice that started to consume the energy around it to grow larger. That forced the Depravita Automatons to tear the infected tissues, causing them to burn even more of their energy when regenerating. Michael Goldsoul''s frown deepened as he saw how Cain ordered the duo to ignite their life force, and they did it without question. It was already concerning that the Scarlet King had such talented and powerful individuals working under him. Yet, things became unbearable as he saw that with a few words from the man, they would start suicidal tactics. "You must die no matter what." Michael Goldsoul ignited his life force the next second, making his energy explode, but that was not all. His right arm began to tremble as if something was moving beneath the skin, and the next second, a massive halberd emerged from his palm. It resembled a simple weapon, yet as soon as Michael Goldsoul began to fuel the dark aura he had been using to heal himself through the halberd, it revealed its true appearance. The halberd burst with not only evil power but also vitality as if it were alive. It became a weapon forged of a mixture of flesh and metal, unleashing an aura that seemed capable of making space itself bleed. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw how the Crown Prince ignited his life force to grow stronger and felt immense danger coming from that evil halberd. Since the dark aura now fueled the weapon, there was no more instant regeneration for the Crown Prince, but a single strike from the man could end his life if it pierced one of his vital organs. With a single breath, Cain''s strength also burst. He could not unleash his Laws or Essence Path of Power but triggered Radiance of Life and Radiance of Strength before waving his hand, making three broadswords appear around him. Since he could not access Solar Tempest Essence without his Essence Wave, his body durability and power decreased, and he now could inflict more damage with the Space Swords than with his bare fists. A fiery golden flame enveloped the Space Sword in his hand as he fused the power of his bloodline through it along with the Sundering Concept. Coldness burst from Michael Goldsoul as he observed that Cain continued withholding his Laws. Without hesitation, he flashed forward, his golden aura bursting with overwhelming power as the evil aura of the halberd burst. Suddenly, Cain and Michael Goldsoul vanished, only to reappear the next second, halberd and sword clashing, unleashing an immense blast of energy. Cain''s eyes were cold as he pushed the sword forward with everything he had, slowly moving the halberd back. He was superior in terms of physical strength, even after Michael Goldsoul began to burn his life force. Yet, he also noticed a small cavity in the Space Sword due to the clash with the living weapon. One of the most important aspects of the Space Swords was their durability, surpassing most Adamantium Artifacts. Yet, from the first clash with the evil halberd, it was damaged, demonstrating just how sharp the weapon was. A flash of killing intent appeared in Cain''s eyes as he let go of the sword, instantly teleporting to another one that stood right behind Michael Goldsoul. He channeled the full power of the Trinity Space Sword Domain and the Sundering Concept into the sword in his hand as he slashed down with all his strength. Cain''s skill and slash were executed perfectly, at such speed that the Crown Prince should not have been able to physically react. However, it was not him who moved but the evil halberd. It seemed the weapon did not just possess vitality but also intelligence, moving like a snake and blocking the sword strike! Of course, such a hasty block meant much less power behind the halberd, so Cain''s strike sent Michael Goldsoul flying away, but the man still managed to block what would have been a crippling wound. Now that the Crown Prince was revealing his full power and trump card, it was clear that this would not be a simple fight. Chapter 778: Decisive attack "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Dozens of explosions that could make the world tremble echoed above the Silver City as the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar battled the 34 Depravita Automatons. Each attack from those monsters was charged with a corrupt and evil force, but the Scarlet Alliance masters did not fall behind. They launched forces that surpassed Aether''s Laws'' limits thanks to their Natural Inheritances'' help. However, despite the massive and continuous explosions generated by the fight between the duo and the Depravita Automatons, they were drowned out by the sound of metal clashing. In the highest sky of the Prometheus Sector, barely a few thousand meters beneath the Crystal Wall, the sound of metal echoed, spreading for hundreds of thousands of kilometers. Cain''s Space Swords and Michael''s evil sentient weapon repeatedly clashed, spreading waves of golden flame and sharp dark energy across the sky. The duo was moving at a shocking speed, and their abilities were overwhelming. They showcased battle skills and reaction speeds that average Divine Ascension Masters could not even follow with their eyes, and their powers only kept rising. Cain continuously teleported from one sword to the other while channeling the sundering power of the Trinity Space Sword Domain, but Michael Goldsoul''s ability did not fall behind, and his weapon was even more special than the sacred treasures of the Fenrir Clan. A flash of golden light burst in Cain''s eyes as he dodged to the side, avoiding the evil halberd before slashing with the Space Sword. Michael Goldsoul moved at the last second, stopping the sword from severing his arm, but a deep cut still appeared on his shoulder that reached all the way to the bone. Since the Crown Prince could no longer use the dark aura to heal himself, that wound was severe, but Cain did not come unscathed from that exchange. As he performed his attacks, the evil halberd made a sharp turn on its own, bending like no metal should. While he teleported almost instantly, a small cut still appeared above his rib. The cut was small, but Cain''s eyes widened as it suddenly extended on its own. Dozens of cracks extended from the wound, each very deep, leading to intense loss of blood. Cain''s body was immensely resilient, and the power of the elements had tempered every inch of him, as well as his Astral Wave. His immune system and regeneration ability were surprising, making even the deepest wounds close down immediately, not even giving them time to bleed. Yet a single tiny wound from that weapon generated so much damage, even after he pulled back. ''A single attack that reaches my brain or heart, even if it is just a small cut, could kill me.'' A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he pushed Radiance of Life beyond its limit, forcing the wound to close and flashback into the fray. After the battle with the Depravita of Blood, his power had risen so much that no battle had been able to trigger his survival instincts, but this one did it. Of course, Cain did not want to die, but thanks to all those life-and-death battles that pushed him beyond his limits, he had been able to advance so fast from a very young age. The red light in his eyes burst along with his determination. He would win this fight, take down Michael, and do all that without showing his Laws or Essence Wave Path of Power. Seeing the bravery and focus in Cain''s eyes made Michael''s rage burst as he flashed toward the young man with pure killing intent. When all this began, Michael''s goal had been to tarnish Cain''s reputation, smearing it as a murderer of millions of civilians in Silver City, and then learn as much as he could from his mastery of the Laws. However, now the only purpose was to kill the man; nothing else mattered as he could not let someone who understood so much of the Depravita Race alive. The determination to surpass himself in one and the desire to kill in the other allowed the Scarlet King and the Crown Prince to explode with power and speed. The Space Sword and evil halberd clashed with increasing speed. Cain was able to leave deeper and deeper cuts in the Crown Prince''s body, and this one returned the favor, performing more and more cuts that extended into large wounds the next instant. It did not take long for the battle to reach its zenith as the duo''s momentum spiked. A Space Sword had just clashed with the halberd as Cain let go of its grip and teleported, but that made a smile appear on Michael Goldsoul. Cain had just appeared when the evil halberd hacked toward his neck, carrying the full power of Michael''s force. His move was too evident, showing an opening that the Crown Prince exploited. That attack carried all the power of Michael''s body and energy, and even as Cain used the Space Sword to defend himself, the blade still reached his neck, and immediately, the wound began to extend. Cain pushed the halberd out of his neck as he triggered the full power of his Radiance of Life to the limit, concentrating all his energy on his neck as he focused on stopping the slash so it would not cut his head off, but the blood kept spilling everywhere. However, even as his life was hanging from a thread, a smile appeared. Michael Goldsoul was full of thrills for a moment, but he suddenly felt his heart freeze as he saw that smile. His instincts screamed danger, but before he could do anything, a burst of energy appeared behind his back. "Double Sundering Slash!" Behind the Crown Prince was none other than the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, with a Space Sword in one hand and the Abyssal Frost Falchion in the other. He shouted as his energy exploded and hacked with all his strength toward the Crown Prince''s back! Chapter 779: Black hole (I) One reason Cain used the Space Swords was their power, which went beyond what he could achieve with his bare fists after he sealed his Essence Path of Power and lost access to the Solar Tempest Essence. But there was something else, something much more important. There was no limit to the number of people who could bind their Ego Wave to the Space Swords and use their power to teleport silently toward them. The Crown Prince knew nothing about the uniqueness of the Space Swords, so he was caught off guard by the ferocious attack of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. It was a dangerous bet that put the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar in great danger, and Cain was forced to risk his life to fully draw the man''s attention. Yet they succeeded! The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s attack unleashed all the power he could muster. Thanks to his burning his life force to enhance his strength, the slash could divide a True Titan in half! Despite all that power in both swords, the First Collapsing Lighting Pillar was unable to split the Crown Prince''s body into pieces. However, it was very close, and the Crown Prince could feel his life was on the line. ''I need to recover now!'' That was the only thought in Michael Goldsoul''s mind as he attempted to redirect the dark aura fueling his evil halberd back into the wounds on his back to regenerate the missing tissues and save his life. Unfortunately for the new Prime Minister, before he could do that, Cain attacked from the front, following the path of the deepest wound left by the Abyssal Frost Falchion. "Die!" Cain unleashed all the power he could channel into the next sword strike, even as the wound on his neck kept trying to separate his head from the rest of his body. "?AHHHHH!" A scream of pain emerged from the Crown Prince as the Scarlet King''s sword cut his body diagonally, from the right shoulder to his waist, dividing his body in two! Although having your body split in half was a death sentence for anyone, even Divine Ascension Masters, Cain and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar were not going to take any chances and were ready to destroy the Crown Prince''s heart and brain. Just as their swords were about to land, the dark flame in the eyes of the Crown Prince burst with power, and a howling scream emerged from his mouth. "HOWWWWWWWW!" That was not a simple scream. It generated black shockwaves that sent Cain and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar flying away. The duo was surprised to see that the Crown Prince could unleash such a powerful sound attack capable of pushing even someone as powerful as them. Yet that was just the beginning of their shock, as the next second, that repulsive force became a power that sought to draw them in. Cain''s eyes widened as the force pulled him toward the Crown Prince. Getting closer to the man to destroy his heart and brain should be what he wanted, but his instincts screamed, telling him to push back, and he did it without hesitation. Immediately, the full power of his Essence Wave and Laws came into action, as he could feel that this was an absolute life-and-death situation. The gravitational pull affected his use of teleportation, but by using the Space Sword and the full power of his Space-Time eye, he appeared next to the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was shocked by the sudden gravitational pull, and it was so strong he could not fight back. Luckily, Cain appeared by his side and grabbed him by the shoulder. The Scarlet King did not wait for a second before pulling down with the First Collapsing Lighting Pilar, getting away from the Crown Prince as fast as he could. The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s attention was drawn to the sky by the sudden scream, and he saw how the Scarlet King and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar were flashing down. However, the next second, he saw how all the Depravita Automatons that were still alive trembled before exploding into masses of flaming dark energy that flashed into the sky, fusing into the split body of the Crown Prince. As soon as the Crown Prince''s body fused with that dark energy, it began to twist into a dark sphere that just kept growing. The gravitational pull became much more powerful, drawing the ocean of energy that the fight had flooded into the sky. However, the most potent pull of that gravitational force was in the land beneath the dark sphere. The Collapsing Lightning Duke, a master of gravity, felt the immense power of that growing dark sphere. The next second, he glanced down, seeing how the Silver City was starting to tremble and the buildings rising into the sky! Without hesitation, the Collapsing Lightning Duke flashed like a meteor, crashing into the Silver City with so much power that he shattered the ground beneath his feet and every building around him. He could not care about that sort of damage as the gravitational pull threatened to raise the entire city, including the structures that held over 12 million people! "GRAVITATIONAL ANCHORING!" The Collapsing Lightning Duke roared as he unleashed the full power of his cultivation base and Gravity Fall Armor, burning his life force without restraint as he triggered a spell that covered the entire Silver City! Gravitational Anchoring was a spell that enhanced stability and resistance to forces aimed at displacing the cultivator by locking themselves into a stable point in space. It was meant for one person, but the Collapsing Lightning Duke was using it to cover the entire city, and the backlash was making him feel his body would shatter at any second. There was only determination in the man''s eyes as they burned with white flames since he could not allow the rise of the new Goldsayer Humankind Empire to be sullied by the loss of the Silver City and the millions in it. Chapter 780 780: Black Hole (II) Just as the Collapsing Lightning Duke felt his body would shatter into millions of pieces due to the overwhelming backlash of trying to keep an entire city in a single point of space, a flame with twenty-four colors descended from the sky and enveloped his body. Shocked by the flame, the Collapsing Lightning Duke turned to the sky and saw the Scarlet King pushing down against the immense gravitational force. He held the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar in his right hand and the left one aimed at him. Immediately after the 24 Revolution Flame covered the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s body inside and out, waves of world energy began to flood into his body. A strange omnipotent force handled the process flawlessly, allowing every single one of his cells to participate. A fierce smile appeared on the Collapsing Lightning Duke as he felt how the 24 Revolution Refinement was not only improving his condition but fixing all the damage in his body, including the one to his life force. "?AHHHHHHHHHHH!" Now that there was no need to worry about the damage since every cell in his body was in the process of reconstruction and evolution, he roared and burned everything inside him, pushing his Gravitational Anchoring to the next level. Cain saw how the power of the Collapsing Lightning Duke grew massive enough to keep the Silver City from succumbing to the gravitational pull, making a smile appear on his face. It cost him 120 million of Destiny Force to perform the 24 Revolution Refinement on the Collapsing Lightning Duke, but it was more than worth it if he could help the man save the entire Silver City. Even as those thoughts crossed his mind, Cain did not stop pushing down as fast as he could, resisting the monstrous gravitational pull. He was about to reach the Silver City when he suddenly felt the gravitational force that affected the area vanish. Although the danger seemed to have faded, Cain felt his instincts only scream even more in rage. As he looked over his shoulder and glanced at the sky, he saw something that shocked him to the core. A black hole. That was the only way to describe it. A massive black hole, a fifth of the size of the Silver City, had appeared in the sky! Cain did not even have time to focus on the celestial body when suddenly he felt a gravitational pull that was ten times stronger than before, and it was clear it was only affecting him. It was as if the black hole had channeled the full power of the gravitational force on a single target, making it explosively more powerful. Immediately, Cain thrust the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar into the Silver City just as his body was propelled into the sky at an incomprehensible speed, nearing that massive black hole. There was no way to dodge the gravitational pull as it targeted his existence, but he would not give up and turn around. The gravitational pull was simply too strong to defeat it, and his body would keep rising, but he could delay it. Jets of Solar Tempest Essence emerged from the soles of his feet, propelling his body in the opposite direction of the black hole. His eyes glowed with red and golden light as he unleashed the full power of the Space-Time Eye. He focused on the black hole in the sky as Solar Tempest Essence gathered in his fists. "Solar Flare Blitz" Cain shouted as he unleashed a flurry of punches. Each strike released a burst of solar plasma that reached the black hole, but the celestial body seemed impervious and devoured them. It looked like there was nothing Cain could do, but his Space-Time Eye showed him the principles behind its power. Even if it looked like a black hole, a celestial body capable of swallowing a sun, it was still a spell, and it had to work on principles that he could exploit. The threat of death allowed his mind and senses to work at a speed that he had never achieved before, and suddenly, a flash of enlightenment appeared in his eyes as he altered the power of space in his attack. "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" Cain''s strikes began to explode on the surface of the black hole, and it could not devour them, making the celestial body tremble. He found a way to overcome what seemed to be a planet killer, yet that did not stop the gravitational pull, and before he could do real damage, his body vanished inside the black hole! The Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar flashed into the sky when they saw the Scarlet King being drawn by the black hole. It was incredibly dangerous to get near such a thing, but the duo was not afraid. Yet, before they could do anything, Cain was devoured by the celestial body. There was a sense of loss in the eyes of the duo as they saw the Scarlet King being devoured by the black hole. The young man was the promise of the Godslayer Humankind, the most majestic entity to have been born in Gaia, yet his tale finished like that. They could not believe it, leaving them blank and unsure of what to do next. "ATTACK FROM THE OUTSIDE. FAST!" Suddenly, the duo heard those words through their A.I. Chips. It was the voice of the Scarlet King, and they saw how the black hole began to tremble. Cain was still alive and was trying to break the black hole from inside! "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Immediately, two pillars of energy appeared above the Silver City. The Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar made their energy explode as they flashed toward the black hole. They were not alone, since pillars of energy appeared all across the Prometheus Sector. More figures flashed toward the black hole in the sky upon hearing the command of the Scarlet King through their A.I. Chips. Chapter 781 781: Black hole (III) Cain''s situation was horrible, and his life was in extreme danger, to say the least. The interior of the black hole was a dimension where the Laws of Space were twisted to the point that moving forward or back was impossible, affecting all his senses and making just staying conscious incredibly hard. However, his mind and senses were not the only ones affected. The monstrous gravitational pressure struck every single cell of his body, causing blood to leak from his eyes and ears. It was only a matter of minutes before his internal organs succumbed to the pressure, and he perished. Cain''s normal eyes were useless, but fortunately, his Space-Time Eye revealed fine and blurry lines, which were the matrix keeping this dimension in place. These were the same lines he had struck before with his Solar Flare Blitz. While his attacks from the outside were insufficient to break it, he planned to attack from within. Just moving made Cain feel his arms would shatter, but he did not hesitate and began to burn his life force, finally taking advantage of the Tier I Rebirth Mark. The new power allowed him to strike forward, and his barrage hit the spell''s internal structure. Unfortunately, Cain alone could not break the black hole before the gravitational preserve shattered his body to pieces. Luckily, the Scarlet King was not alone. This place generated such a powerful gravitational force that not even his Ego Wave could escape. However, Cain had access to a force that seemed to match the level of this spell, and that was his [A.I. Chip Module]. The force field of this module extended beyond the black hole''s range, reaching the people outside and allowing him to communicate with them. Barely a second after Cain sent the message, he felt the black hole tremble with even more power. Those outside could not find the energy thread that kept the dimension in place, but they didn''t have to. Cain''s attacks stopped the black hole from devouring any more energy. The only thing the spell could do now was attempt to destroy Cain before his attacks, and those from outside could shatter the dimension. Cain''s eyes glowed with an almost maniacal light. The power of his Ego Wave had never risen so strongly as now as he kept pushing harder and harder, each time faster, generating explosions of solar plasma and space storms that made the black hole tremble with more and more power. "Why don''t you just die!" Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard the voice of the Crown Prince. This place should not be able to transmit sound waves, yet he still heard the man''s voice, which meant it reached directly into his mind. He glanced around, and while he could not see anything, there was definitely something here. However, Cain just kept striking forward, making the dimension tremble with more and more intensity. It did not matter if the Crown Prince was still alive. He only needed to break this place before it broke his body and soul. "I said, why don''t you just die!" The voice sounded even louder, full of rage and hatred. The next thing Cain felt was an invisible force striking him, heading into his soul. Cain used everything he had to keep his body from crumbling and striking. A direct blow would have shattered him, but everything was different when it came to a soul invasion spell. A small smile appeared on Cain''s face as he felt an invading force trying to reach into his soul. He did not resist, allowing direct access to his soul sea. The next second, Cain saw a deformed soul appear in his soul dimension. Its silhouette resembled Michael Goldsoul, yet there was a dark aura around it, twisting his figure to the point that the left half of his body was mutated, showing a horrifying sight. Cain was honestly surprised to see that Michael Goldsoul''s spirit form was so twisted and dark. It was not just a matter of the man being evil. For his soul to look like that, something must have happened to him, most likely at a very young age. Michael Goldsoul''s soul was also shocked, but his shock was due to how easily he reached Cain''s soul sea. "Hahahaha. Die!" However, the shock did not last long, and soon a horrible smile appeared on his mutated soul. The Crown Prince was ready to wreak havoc in Cain''s soul sea. Unfortunately for the Crown Prince, it was at that exact moment that a massive golden hand appeared around the mutated soul and began to close in. If reaching Cain''s soul sea shocked him, realizing there was such a thing inside truly terrified the man. The Crown Prince could not do anything before the hand closed on him, and the next second, the only thing left was a sphere with golden threading encasing a dark mass of soul force. Cain smiled as he saw how Apex flawlessly sealed Michael Goldsoul''s soul. His smile grew even wider as he felt how the pressure and stability of the dimension weakened tremendously. ''His soul must have worked as the core of the dimension!'' Cain unleashed more and more power in his punches as he struck the spell with everything he had, and soon he saw it. "CRACK!" Over fifty figures struck the black hole with all their power, unleashing blasts of destruction that would have leveled a Sector in seconds when suddenly they saw cracks forming around it. "?BOOMMMMMMMM!" The massive black hole shattered the next second, releasing a shock wave that pushed the powerful away. The shock wave''s power was not strong, so the powerhouses regained control, and their eyes soon turned to the young man in the middle of the blast. He was bloody, and there was not a single inch of his body that was not in a horrible condition, yet his figure filled the hearts of everybody with awe. The Scarlet King had been trapped inside a black hole and survived, breaking it from the inside out! Chapter 782 782: Speaking with the Golden Emperor Cain''s eyes glowed as he took a deep breath, unleashing the full power of his Ego Wave to generate a blast of Radiance of Life throughout his internal organs. That was not all; he also channeled the power of his Sun Master Lineage. The Law of Fire''s power within it could be used to heal, and while it was not as potent as Radiance of Life, he needed all the recovery he could muster. The powerhouses were still in awe at the sight of the Scarlet King shattering the black hole from within and were now shocked to witness how those wounds that would have crippled even the strongest among them were healing at a speed visible to the naked eye. It didn''t take long for the heat emanating from Cain''s body to incinerate the blood on his skin, and soon, those ghastly wounds closed. After a lot of effort, Cain was finally able to stabilize his body, but suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and he looked into the distance with coldness. Then, with the power of the Space-Time Eye at its peak, he vanished. "?BOOM!" "CRACK!" All the powerhouses were surprised by the sudden teleportation of the Scarlet King, and the next thing they saw was him appearing thousands of meters away, generating a massive explosion that shattered space. Cain buried his hand in that crack in the fabric of space and, the next second brought something out. It was a massive, bloody halberd emitting an evil and ghostly aura as it tried to break free from the Scarlet King''s grip. Cain''s eyes were cold as he stared at the weapon. This was not something created by the Godslayer Humankind or any of the other five Sacred Races. Nor was it a revered Natural Inheritance like the Gravity Fall Armor. ''It must be some kind of weapon of the Depravita Race. A living weapon with life and ego.'' The powers of this halberd were so potent that they allowed the Crown Prince to jump a level in battle power, and it nearly cut off his head. Everything else in Michael Goldsoul, such as his space ring and armor, shattered after he triggered the black hole spell, but not this weapon. "You are trying to return to your true master?" The evil halberd struggled with more and more power as it heard Cain''s words. However, while capable of incredible power in the hands of a great warrior, it could not break free on its own. Cain''s eyes remained cold as he began to use his Ego Wave and Essence Wave to seal the weapon. He could not wield the evil halberd as it would never obey him and could even contaminate his mind and body. However, that didn''t mean he couldn''t find other uses for it. After a few minutes, the evil halberd finally ceased its struggle as Cain finished the seal. He didn''t immediately send it to a space ring, wary of the weapon potentially transferring information to someone in the Atlas Continent. ''Maybe he even wanted me to obtain it.'' A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he considered this scenario. It might sound paranoid, but he would have done it if given the chance. However, soon, a smile appeared on his face as his eyes glowed, and the weapon vanished. ''Let''s see if you can spy on me from there.'' Cain''s smile grew cold as he sent the evil halberd into the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer, a dimension ruled by the Absolute Life Form System, located in his soul sea. Nothing could pry, and even if someone did, they would have to face Apex, who could easily crush them. It was only at this point that Cain felt a massive pressure to lift from his shoulders. The march to Silver City had been more dangerous than anticipated, and he had almost perished more than once but succeeded in not only defeating the new Prime Minister but also saving all the millions of civilians. As for the new Imperial Court, Cain knew he needn''t worry about them since those Depravita Automatons had to come from somewhere. However, while the most demanding part was over, there was still work to be done. Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he returned with the other powerhouses, his voice solemn. "Return to your positions. Keep the perimeter around Silver City. The civilians must remain in the Genetic Coder Association, Crafting Association, Alchemy Alliance, and Mercenary Coalition''s headquarters." The powerhouses were confused by Cain''s command. The Prime Minister and the monsters he summoned were defeated, so they didn''t see the point in maintaining the perimeter. Of course, none of them refused. While confused, they knew there was a reason for anything the Scarlet King did, so they bowed and flashed away without hesitation. Cain ensured the perimeter around Silver City was back in place before glancing at the Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. The trio descended to Silver City without a word and soon appeared above the broken Imperial Castle. "Wait here." The Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar nodded towards Cain as they began to survey the area, ensuring no one could interfere. Cain''s Space-Time Eye began to glow, and he raised his hand, forming a blade with it before swinging it down. This generated an arc of sundering force that flashed into the ground, severing it, and all the space and energy seals and cloaking matrices in its path. After that, Cain flashed down and quickly reached a massive underground cave covered by two monumental gates, each depicting a human figure. One figure seemed to be raising a world, while the other tore another world to pieces. These were the Titan Gates, and beyond them lay the unique cultivation abode of the Emperor of the Godslayer Humankind. Cain glanced at the gates for a moment and had to admit they were exquisite, but he wasn''t really in the mood to appreciate art now, so he just walked forward and placed his hands against the gates. Chapter 783 783: The tale of a father and son When Cain placed his hands against the Titan Gates, they began to glow, emitting a monstrous repulsion force trying to send him flying away. An ordinary Titan would not have been able to resist, and even True Titans could barely stand, but the Scarlet King remained firm as he began to push forward. The Titan Gates were incredibly heavy and resisted Cain''s force, as only the Godslayer Humankind Emperor had access to the Emperor Abode. Of course, that did not deter the Scarlet King, and soon, the full might of his energy pools exploded as he unleashed every ounce of physical strength in his body, continuing to push. The energy matrices within the Titan Gates kept glowing as they unleashed more and more power, trying to stop Cain, but they were not succeeding, and the overload was starting to affect them. Cain was very tired and wanted nothing more than to rest after the battle with the Crown Prince, but he knew he needed to do this. If the Godslayer Humankind Empire was going to take a step forward and heal the wounds left by the Crown Prince and the corrupted Imperial Court, he had to confront the Golden Emperor. "Krikkkkkkkkk!" After ten seconds, the sound of gates moving against their will began to echo across the underground cave, and Cain began to give his first step forward, slowly pushing them apart. Cain clenched his teeth as every step he took felt like moving an entire Sector. The weight was simply overwhelming, and the gates constantly tried to push him back, but he did not stop. Step by step, he was slowly pushing the Titan Gates apart. The gap in the Titan Gates slowly grew large enough for Cain to see the interior of the Emperor''s Abode. At that point, the energy matrices in the gates exploded with power, almost sending Cain flying away. "?AHHHHHH!" However, the Scarlet King just roared as he propelled himself forward with even more strength until, finally, the energy matrices burst due to the overwhelming force, and the Titan Gates gave in, no longer resisting. Cain showed a small smile as he felt the Titan Gates finally stopped pulling back and managed to open them wide, allowing him to see the abode''s interior. "Hello, Scarlet King. I am happy we will see each other again." That voice belonged to none other than the Golden Emperor, and as soon as Cain focused on the origin, his eyes widened. "Ahhhh, are you in pain?" There were many things Cain thought he would feel once he saw the Golden Emperor, yet the only thing in his heart was pity. It might sound odd for the Scarlet King to feel like that, but one would understand once they saw the figure of the Golden Emperor inside the Emperor''s Abode. The man who had ruled the Godslayer Humankind Empire for centuries was in a meditative position. Black roots extended through his body, piercing beneath the sky and returning to the surface. There were thick black roots that emerged from inside the Golden Emperor''s legs, keeping him planted in the ground. The Golden Emperor showed a small smile, albeit twisted, as parts of the black roots had already pierced half of his face. "It was painful at first, but I have already gotten used to it. Allow me to express once again my gratitude for sparing my foolish son''s life." Cain sighed even more as he remembered how awkward his first encounter with the Golden Emperor had been. He walked forward until he was less than five meters from the man and began examining the black roots that went through his body. The same aura he felt in the Depravita Automaton and the evil halberd permeated the black roots. Cain already knew the true mastermind behind the chaos that assailed the Godslayer Humankind Empire. After seeing the state of the Crown Prince''s soul, he also knew that the Golden Emperor had no involvement in what happened there. "Explain to me." It was time for the Golden Emperor to sigh as he heard those words, and a flash of sadness and utter disappointment appeared in his eyes. "It began the day that the entire world began to tremble. In the morning, Michael had asked me to help him with a serious problem with his cultivation, so we came here to the Emperor''s Abode." The Golden Emperor paused at that point before continuing. "The moment the gates closed, he attacked me, displaying a power even higher than a True Titan. He shut down all communication and sealed the place, so I could not communicate with the outside world and ask for help." A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he heard the Golden Emperor describe the fight, making it sound like an utterly one-sided clash. While Michael was certainly incredibly powerful, the Golden Emperor did not obtain that title through luck. Cain did not say a word as he understood what happened but did not blame the man. After all, what father would attack with killing intent at his own son? The Golden Emperor could tell that Cain knew he was not telling everything and appreciated the young man not calling him out, performing a small bow before carrying on. "I was defeated, and he placed this thing on me, making it impossible for me to break free. At that point, I still had a hand to play since even if my Ego Wave and A.I. Chip could not reach the exterior, that did not mean there was no way to communicate. I prepared to blow myself up. As an Emperor, all sorts of devices are connected to my life force. Once I die, they will activate and warn the Imperial Court and Sector Dukes. Even if it meant dying, I was ready, as I could not allow such a threat to roam around the empire freely." At this point, sadness and shame appeared in the eyes of the Golden Emperor. "However, just as I was about to proceed, Michael showed me something." Chapter 784 784: The death of the Golden Emperor (I) The Golden Emperor took a deep breath, but he could not hide the sense of impotence and embarrassment on his face. "Michael had infiltrated two of The Organization''s Dark Kings into the Silver City, the Mirage King and Doppelganger King. Now, only those two were able to hide from my sight, but they were currently guarding my family..." The Golden Emperor paused at this point, clenching his teeth with despair, impotence, and rage in his eyes clear, revealing just how much that situation had affected him. "If I had killed myself and triggered the warning signal across the Sectors, Michael promised that he would have made those two kill my entire family before taking over the empire by force. I understand that I was selfish, prioritizing the safety of my blood over that of the rest of the empire, but I could not bear the thought of them all perishing. Even a few months ago, when I was able to connect to the outside world after you triggered Kamel''s sacred treasures, I did not dare to share the truth." The Golden Emperor looked at Cain for a moment, his face filled with fear as he posed the next question. "Michael is dead, right?" Cain nodded, observing tears fall from the Golden Emperor''s eyes. "I wonder, where did I go wrong? I was not the best father, but he was my greatest achievement, always excelling in everything. Where did I fail?" The Golden Emperor''s voice was full of sadness. Even after all Michael did, he still loved his firstborn, and knowing his demise was like a blade to the heart, even more painful than the black roots piercing through his body. Cain could see the despair in the eyes of the Golden Emperor. "It was not your fault. Someone tampered with Michael''s soul, likely when he was still in the womb of his mother." After seeing the state of Michael''s soul, Cain was sure that someone interfered with him before his birth. It should have been a power similar to that which brought Beelze to life, a power beyond his current realm of comprehension. The Golden Emperor''s eyes widened as he heard those words, and a monstrous rage soon emerged, so intense that he clenched every part of his body, causing the black roots to tear his flesh, making him bleed. Cain was not surprised by that rage; after all, what kind of father wouldn''t feel rage if they knew someone tampered with the soul of their unborn child? After the initial burst of anger, only more sadness and impotence appeared in the Golden Emperor''s eyes as he realized he was unable to protect his son. Eventually, the duo looked at each other silently as they waited. Cain nodded to pass judgment on the Golden Emperor. The man had responsibilities, and his inaction put the entire Godslayer Humankind Empire in danger. The Crown Prince wreaked havoc, which caused deaths all over the sectors, especially in the north, where millions perished during the war due to the lack of reinforcements. "Ahhh. When choosing between billions you don''t know and a few you love with all your heart, it''s impossible to say how a man would act in that situation." Silence reigned for a few moments inside the room as Cain and the Golden Emperor looked at each other. "I absolve you of your crimes. The Golden Bloodline will bear no guilt, but you will not become a Royal Bloodline. Your children will be free except for Kamel, who will be sentenced to the Feather Prison and spend the rest of his life there." A smile full of gratitude appeared on the Golden Emperor''s face as he heard Cain''s words. His inability to fulfill his responsibilities as an Emperor and the actions of the Crown Prince were more than enough to condemn the entire bloodline, killing his direct family. Just stripping them of their Royal Bloodline Title was an immense display of mercy. As for Kamel going to the Feather Prison, the Golden Emperor knew that Cain did that to ease his mind. He knew just how disappointing his third son could be, and there was no doubt this one would eventually offend someone and end up dead. The Feather Prison was an extremely secure place, and while those inside could never leave, it was not a bad place, and there was no degradation to their person. He would live a mundane and boring life there. Considering that the other choice was death, it was an excellent alternative. After that, Cain''s eyes grew cold, yet there was a light of mercy in them as he stared at the Golden Emperor. "Are you ready?" The Golden Emperor''s eyes grew resolute, without a single shred of hesitation or fear. Cain nodded to the man as his right hand began to glow with Solar Tempest Essence. The energy inside grew more powerful as the heat reached an overwhelming level, to the point that even the fabric of space was starting to melt around it. The black root had not simply crossed through every corner of the Golden Emperor''s body. It had already fused with several of his internal organs, including his heart and brain. It was impossible to remove the black root without killing the Golden Emperor. Even Cain, with all his abilities and the power of the Absolute Life Form System, could not save the man. He would make it quick to prevent the man from feeling any more pain. Once the Solar Tempest Essence in his hand had reached its zenith, Cain''s eyes began to glow with red and golden light. His hand flashed forward the next second, grabbing the Golden Emperor''s face before setting it ablaze. Even as his entire head was incinerated by a fire hotter than the surface of the Old World''s sun, the Golden Emperor''s eyes remained resolute. He would not show fear or pain in this last moment of his life, committed to keep his Imperial Honor in death. Chapter 785 785: The death of the Golden Emperor (II) Cain''s eyes glowed with focus as he incinerated the Golden Emperor''s head, then extended his gray flaming aura across the rest of the man''s body. He made sure to burn every cell of the man but also focused on minimizing the destruction of the black root to the minimum. It took Cain less than ten seconds to burn every inch of the Golden Emperor''s body, leaving a massive black root in place. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he stepped back, just in time to avoid the black root that lashed toward him. Like the evil halberd, this thing was alive, and now that the Golden Emperor was gone, it began to search for a new host it could consume. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" The black roots swirled around the cultivation abode as they reached toward Cain. Having consumed so much of the Golden Emperor, it had become very powerful, enough to overwhelm an ordinary Titan without a problem. However, even exhausted, Cain''s power was much higher than that. His energy burst as he flashed forward, grabbed the black root, and forcefully ripped it from the ground before slamming it against the ceiling. The black root seemed to feel no pain. Even as it was smashed with so much power that it could have shattered a Divine Ascension Master''s body, it did not stop struggling, sending hundreds of tendrils to pierce Cain''s body. "Clack!" "Clack!" "Clack!" However, the moment the tendrils crashed into Cain''s body, metal hitting metal echoed. The black root''s tendrils were unable to pierce through Cain''s flesh! Of course, Cain did not become careless; after all, it could still enter through an open wound or another orifice, and once inside his body, it would be very hard to fight back. Without wasting time, his Space-Time Eye began to glow, and the Solar Tempest Essence began to flow into the black root. Cain''s focus reached its limit as he started sealing the black root''s energy channels. He then flowed in his Essence Wave, searching for the will of this thing that seemed to be spread all around its body and began to strike it with ferocity. Despite its power and endurance, the black root lacked a proper will and soul, so even Cain''s Second Realm Ego Wave could easily paralyze its thoughts. After fully sealing the energy and mind of the black root, Cain''s eyes glowed, and he made it disappear, sending it to the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer, the only place he was sure it could not break free from and where no one could interact with it. While Cain was dealing with the black root, something else happened in Silver City. "Ding-Dong!" The sound of bells echoed across the entire Silver City. They did not come from actual bells but from a secret formation connected to the life force of the Goldslayer Humankind Emperor. The ringing of the bells meant only one thing. The Golden Emperor was dead. The Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar knew this was a possibility when Cain descended into the Imperial Abode but still showed complicated expressions on their faces as they looked at each other. They knew about Horus and were smart enough to deduce that he was responsible for the chaos in the Goldslayer Humankind Empire, using Michael Goldsoul as a proxy. The duo had met the Golden Emperor many times and could say they had established a good relationship. The Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar admired the man''s resolve, immense power, and incredible military feats. The Golden Emperor was a great man but, unfortunately, fell to the schemes of his first son, and now he was dead. --- The sound of bells rang not only in Silver City, as there were such formations all across the Sectors. After all, the death of an Emperor was an extremely important event. Usually, such news would have sent the Godslayer Humankind Empire into chaos, but fortunately, things have not gone that route now. All the Sector Dukes had been preparing for such an event, and the masses were also prepared after seeing the fall of the Azure Emperor Bloodline. Thanks to his subtlety and gradual approach, Cain avoided chaos. While there was still some instability in the Godslayer Humankind Empire, as soon as a new center of government and power was established, everything would be in order again. --- The bells rang for an entire minute across Silver City, and the next second, a figure flashed from the crevice built beneath the Imperial Castle. Cain glanced at the Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar as he flashed into the sky, and the duo immediately followed him. It did not take them long to reach over one hundred thousand meters above the ground, and they stood there as dozens of figures flashed toward them. Cain observed dozens of powerhouses appear in the sky, all looking at him with complicated expressions. He remained silent, waiting until the old Prime Minister Minxet finally appeared. "Minxet, come forward." As soon as he heard his name, the man moved forward until he stood before Cain and performed a deep bow. "My King." "I now declare you the new Prime Minister of the Godslayer Humankind Empire and one of the Six Chief Counselors of the Scarlet Alliance." When Minxet heard those words, a sharp light appeared in his eyes. The fact that he had recovered his old position was not really a surprise, as he was the most apt for the job and had proved that to the Scarlet King by saving the millions inside Silver City, including the members of the Imperial Army. However, the last part about the Chief Counselor of the Scarlet Alliance had many meanings. The Scarlet Alliance was built, in essence, to take down the corrupted Imperial Court and should no longer exist now that the battle was over. If the Scarlet Alliance remained, it meant that Cain would not be taking the role of Emperor of the Godslayer Humankind Empire. Chapter 786 786: Scarlet Emblem "I humbly accept this honor, my King. I will not fail you." Regardless of the thoughts and questions going through his mind, Minxet kneeled in the sky and lowered his head. All the other powerhouses remained silent as they saw that, and it was clear that when it came to the core structure and governance of the Godslayer Humankind Empire, the Scarlet King would have the final word. Cain nodded to Minxet before making him rise. Then his eyes gazed at all the other powerhouses present, and immense pressure began to emanate from his body and soul. "Rumble!" The powerhouses were surprised that Cain could easily unleash enough energy to make the sky tremble after all those battles. All felt a suffocating aura, making it clear how immense the difference between their power was. "The responsible for the calamities that befell the Godslayer Humankind is none other than the Crown Prince, Michael Goldsoul, and Minister Varin. Both schemed together with The Organization, and ambushed the Golden Emperor in his Imperial Abode." Cain''s words caused frowns and confusion among all the powerhouses. It was clear to all that the Crown Prince was responsible for the havoc on the empire, and there were definitely other parties involved, but Minister Varin was nothing but a small ant, inconsequential, and could never achieve something like that. Yet the Scarlet King was clearly not asking for feedback, and they all silently listened. "The Golden Emperor fought bravely, but the duo surprised him. He was then afflicted by a powerful curse and forced to lock himself to contain it, as the curse could kill everyone in an entire Sector if set free. He resisted bravely and with honor up to the last moment when I mercifully ended his life and the curse." Cain paused at this point, and his eyes began to lose all emotion, making the hearts and souls of those who glanced at him grow cold and tremble with fear. "The Golden Emperor was a great man, and any disparagement of his name will be considered an affront against me!" Silence reigned as Cain uttered those words. The powerhouses understood that Cain was manufacturing history to keep the name of the Golden Emperor clean and save him from dishonor. All the powerhouses silently nodded, and many even smiled as they were happy; after all, many had known the man and did not want to see the Golden Emperor''s name tarnished. Cain still had a soft spot for fathers who did their best for their children, so he was willing to let the man keep his honor. Besides, it was not like he could reveal Horus'' name here. After making sure that everyone understood the severity of his words, coldness appeared in his eyes. "However, even if the Golden Emperor was a hero, his son did a horrible thing to the empire. Due to Michael Goldsoul''s crimes, the Golden Emperor Bloodline will lose its Royal Status, and Kamel Goldsoul will be sent to the Feather Prison, where he will spend the rest of his life. That will be the punishment for the Goldsoul Family. As for Minister Varin, since he doesn''t have family or any living loved ones, may his name be stricken from the empire''s records, and we will make it as if he never existed. That is my decree. Anyone that questions will be questioning my authority!" Those words echoed across the sky and reached the earth. There would be no more discussion about punishment for the Goldsoul Family, and everything would end with the loss of their Royal Status. "Your words are law, my King. I will make sure everything is handled according to your desires." Prime Minister Minxet bowed toward Cain, and his eyes were resolute as he was ready to work. Cain nodded and glanced at all the powerhouses waiting for his words, their eyes full of wonder and excitement as they waited for the name of the new Goldslayer Humankind Emperor. Someone else had to if the Scarlet King would not rise to that position. "The crowning ceremony for the new Emperor and the bestowal of gifts and rewards will take place soon. However, before all those formalities and rituals, the Silver City must be restored to its splendor, with a direct communication network of all the Sectors, and the civilians must be returned to their homes. Prime Minister Minxet. You will be in charge of that. I expect everything to be in order in less than ten days." When Cain finished his words, he sent a small scarlet emblem toward the middle-aged man, who caught it with confusion. It was a simple piece of Adamantium Metal painted scarlet with what seemed to be an Ego Mark. "That is the Scarlet Emblem. Anyone with it can say they are speaking on my behalf. Going against them is like going against me." The powerhouses'' eyes were filled with shock and awe as they heard those words. That piece of metal that had no value before became an astonishing treasure that would make you immortal in the Godslayer Humankind Empire; after all, only a suicidal fool would go against the Scarlet King. Prime Minister Minxet''s face showed a broad smile as he held the emblem tightly. With it, he could work unrestrained across the entire Gaia Continent, and no one would dare to oppose him, making his job much more efficient. Of course, the man did not lose focus, and he stored the emblem before bowing. "I will make sure everything is ready before the ten-day limit, my King." After that, Cain waved his hand, sending all the powerhouses away, leaving only him, the Collapsing Lightning Duke, and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar in the sky. Cain took a deep breath as he exhaled while hundreds of questions and worries weighed on his shoulder. He could not help but look up at the Crystal Wall and imagine the Astral Sea. How much freedom could he obtain if he just went there? Chapter 787 787: Humanity Scarlet Shield and Sword After a few seconds, Cain shook his head. He did not want all these responsibilities, but there was no one else who could bear them, and there were too many people that he cared about, so he could not leave them to their luck. Cain turned to the Collapsing Lightning Duke and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. His eyes moved between them for a moment before finally settling on the older one. "Gabriel, you will become the new Godslayer Humankind Emperor." The Collapsing Lightning Duke was shocked and awed by those words, and he felt an immense sense of honor. At the same time, a complicated expression appeared on his face. Being the Goldslayer Humankind Emperor would carve his name for all ages, and it was the highest honor and virtue a human could attain, but taking that role meant he would have to step away from the side of the Scarlet King. After all, the Godslayer Humankind Emperor could not go around engaging in fights and dangerous missions, sometimes away from all sight. Just as the man was about to speak, Cain''s eyes grew sharp. "I know you are reluctant, and losing your power will affect me, but it must be done. I need to know that even if I fade or cannot be present, there will be someone who can protect Gaia and the empire. You will become the Humanity Scarlet Shield, the ever-present protection of the Godslayer Humankind Race. Your power will be known to all, acting as a deterrent." The Collapsing Lightning Duke felt the immense pressure and responsibility of those words. However, his eyes soon began to glow resolutely, and a scarlet flame appeared. Cain''s eyes widened for a moment as he saw the scarlet flame. The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s willpower had always been white, yet it changed to scarlet, showing the immense resolve and devotion in his heart. The man did not utter words, but Cain did not need them, as looking into his eyes was enough to know. The Scarlet King then turned toward the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. "James, you will become Humanity''s Scarlet Sword. You will fade from the public eye, not showing your face again. I will do my best to strip away your information from the records to the point your existence will fade from memories. You will become the sword of humanity, preparing yourself in the darkness for the time to strike. When you appear, it is when there is an enemy that must die as it threatens the entire Godslayer Humankind Empire." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar could not hide his shock at the task the Scarlet King had given him. He would be the counterpart of the Collapsing Lightning Duke, yet he would not receive any praise or honor. It would be a harsh mission that entails immense loneliness. The responsibility itself was massive and could shatter the will of most men, yet the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s eyes began to glow with scarlet flames the next second. He was ready to face the burden of becoming the Scarlet Sword of Humanity, honing his sword in the darkness just to show up when the threat required it. "Use these days until the crowning ceremony to finish your business. After that, Gabriel, you will ascend to the throne, and James will fade from the Godslayer Humankind Empire." The Collapsing Lightning Duke and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar bowed toward Cain as they descended to the ground. Once Cain was alone, his eyes began to wander around, trying to figure out his next move as a flash of killing intent appeared in his eyes. ''I should end them once and for all.'' After that thought appeared in his mind, Cain spoke to the Spirit System. "Apex, given that the Mirage King and Doppelganger King were present at the beginning of The Great Cataclysm in the Silver City, could you use that to triangulate their current location?" Since Cain already knew their location nearly four years ago, he wanted to follow their steps from that point to this day. They surely left the Silver City years ago. Still, if he could pinpoint the day they left and then analyze any new person that appeared in any other Sector during that window of time, and so on, he would eventually obtain the location of the duo. It was a titanic task that required the calculation of millions, if not billions, of variables, but the current [A.I. Chip Module] should be able to do it with the correct guidance. "I can do it, but I will have to use the full power of the [A.I. Chip Module], leaving only a small percentage free for the Scarlet Interface to continue being of use." Without the [A.I. Chip Module], Cain would lose access to Virtual Sight and many other functions, but that would be worth it if he could find the Dark Kings. Besides, Cain did not prepare to fight in the coming days, at least not in the traditional way. "Do it, please." "Ok." Cain was sure that now that Apex was handling the mission, it was only a matter of days before he could get the location of the Mirage King and Doppelganger King. He just needed to know where the Dark Kings were, and then he would crush them like the insects they were. With that taken care of, Cain turned his eyes toward the Silver City. Most buildings were wrecked due to the clash between Michael''s black hole and the Collapsing Lightning Duke''s Gravitational Anchoring. However, three massive towers were soaring thousands of meters without a single scratch. The Three Towers of Adam. Those towers might be one of the few treasures that could still be useful for Cain, but not all three. His Law Mastery had already reached a level above the highest tier of the Tower of Laws, and his understanding of Stellar Synthesis, one of the core principles behind the Star Sovereign Divine System, was higher than what the Tower of Stars could display. Chapter 788: Devouring willpowers (I) However, the central tower, the one that had a colossal beating heart at its peak, was the one Cain could use. That was the Tower of Concepts, with the Emperor Heart at its peak, and where he could face the Ego Wave of ancient Gods vanquished by the First Titan. Cain did not hesitate before flashing into the Tower of Concepts. He placed his hand on it and vanished the next moment. As he opened his eyes again, Cain was shocked to find himself in a starry void. And that was far from all, as he had transformed into a dark yin-yang red sun with his humanoid body at the core. The first time Cain entered one of the Three Towers of Adam, he was too weak to realize what was happening. Now, he understood that he had fused with the Tower of Concepts, and his existence had transformed into his Alter-Ego, the Sun Seed. "A HUMAN DOESN''T NEED HIS BODY TO DESTROY THE DIVINE. USE YOUR WILL TO KILL THE GODS!" A solemn voice full of might echoed across the dimension. It was incredibly majestic but couldn''t affect Cain, a Master of Order. Besides, despite the grandeur of that voice, it couldn''t compare with the one that came from the Samsara Flame. Cain wasted no time on useless thoughts as he saw a massive golden force field appear. He immediately knew it was another willpower, an Ego Wave sealed in this place, full of rage and hatred. The golden force field, lacking a face or emitting any sound, unleashed immense killing intent as it focused on Cain and surged toward him, immediately surrounding the Sun Seed. Cain chose not to attack, instead focusing on defending himself. The golden force field attempted to constrict the Sun Seed, unleashing sharp intent. However, it caused no damage other than a slight annoyance and minor pain. ''It must be the Ego Wave of a Peak Apotheosis Realm Master. At most, it reached the Peak of the Second Realm, and calling it the Ego Wave of a God is a wide exaggeration.'' Myths and legends often have some grandeur around them, and it was clear that the Three Towers of Adam were no exception. Although Cain''s Ego Wave was also at the Second Realm, his willpower was much more potent as he continuously tempered it, and his soul force had already reached the Divine Ascension Rank. Flames emerged from the Sun Seed with a single intent, incinerating the golden force field. Of course, the golden field was not truly destroyed, and Cain was sure it would be reconstructed by the power of the Tower of Concepts to be useful for those who used it in the future. Shortly after Cain destroyed the golden force field, a gray one emerged in the dimension, unleashing an even more powerful aura. It immediately surrounded the Sun Seed, and this time, Cain did not feel sharpness but an immense weight being placed on him. Even now, the Sun Seed could still quickly destroy the gray force field, but Cain chose not to do so. The goal of this place is to face other Ego Waves, but the fact that he must do it in the form of his Alter-Ego should have a meaning. "Instead of simply overwhelming it with brute force, I should try fighting using my Empyrean Sun Visualization Technique and Concepts." The Sun Seed began to glow for a second before unleashing a barrage of flaming arcs of energy. They consumed much less energy than the previous blast of flame he unleashed, yet their power was much greater since he had infused them with the power of the Sundering Concept. A third black force field appeared one minute after the Sun Seed destroyed the gray one, and just like the others, it surrounded the Sun Seed. This willpower unleashed a different intent than the others, and instead of trying to crush the Sun Seed, it seemed to want to devour it. Cain could see how small streams of fire were being taken out of the Sun Seed by the black willpower. "Oh, so you want to eat me. Let''s see if you like it." As soon as Cain uttered those words, immense power emerged from the Sun Seed, manifesting as an overwhelming gravitational force capable of affecting the immaterial. It immediately stopped the streams of fire from leaving the Sun Seed, and the next second, it began to consume the black willpower. By far, Cain had the most mastery over the Gluttony Concept. Even if his Alter-Ego was not inclined to the power or intent of gluttony, the [Gluttony Module] gave him access to a treasure that could work as a guide. The black willpower froze for a moment as it realized it was being devoured. Unlike its slow devouring process, the Sun Seed consumed whole chunks of it at a breathtaking speed. Cain only smiled as he saw how the Sun Seed could consume all the black willpower in a matter of seconds. Suddenly, shock and awe appeared in his eyes as he felt how that immense amount of power began to course through his Alter-Ego. ''What would happen if I truly assimilated the willpower of another?'' Cain had devoured the soul force of other life forms and used the Gluttony Eye to consume their ego and souls to obtain their memories, but this was different. If he consumed the willpower of others in this form, he might have found a way to improve the power of his Ego Wave without the need to evolve to the Third Realm. However, before Cain could finish that thought, he felt the power of the Tower of Concepts was trying to take back the black willpower. It made sense that it wanted it since if Cain consumed it, it would lose it. Determination appeared in Cain''s eyes as he began to push the Gluttony Concept to the limit, trying to assimilate as much of the black willpower as possible before the Tower of Concepts could take it back. Chapter 789: Devouring willpowers (II) In the end, the power of the Tower of Concepts reclaimed most of the black force field, but Cain displayed an ecstatic smile as he consumed 5% of it. The Scarlet King''s ecstasy intensified as he observed the Sun Seed grow slightly larger and more powerful. Enhancing his Sun Seed meant improving his Ego Wave since the Alter-Ego was the core of his Ego Eternal Path of Power. At this moment, any improvement was immensely important, as Cain needed to prepare himself for the Nine Heaven Ego Destruction Tribulation. Before this lucky encounter, Cain thought the only way he could improve his chances of surviving the Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulation was to enhance his soul force. However, that path was extremely complicated since continuing to strengthen his soul force before evolving his cultivation base was nearly impossible. With a smile, Cain waited for the next force field to appear. This one was blue and significantly larger than the previous ones. Its power seemed to have reached the lower threshold of the Third Realm, being able to act beyond the energy aspect of existence, affecting matter. The opponent''s strength only excited Cain. The more power and energy that willpower carried, the more he could consume and grow stronger. The blue force field soon surrounded the Sun Seed and unleashed an oceanic intent. Cain felt as if he had been dripped into the bottom of a massive ocean, crushed by darkness. The sensation of drowning attempted to break his concentration and plunge him into despair. This Ego Wave''s power was similar to Zarak''s, yet much darker and evil. However, despite its power, it could not break Cain''s will or focus, and he immediately pushed the Concept of Gluttony to its limit. The mighty blue force field could do nothing against the devouring force of the Sun Seed. The blue willpower began to disappear inside the Sun Seed at a shocking speed. Cain knew that time was of the essence. As the Sun Seed consumed the blue force field, he immediately focused on assimilating its energy. That way, he could devour more of the willpower before the Tower of Concepts could reclaim it. After a few minutes, the blue force field was gone, as the Sun Seed had devoured all of it. While the Tower of Concepts managed to recover most of the willpower, since Cain was faster this time, he was able to consume nearly 8%. This was much more than what he obtained from the black force field, and since this one was stronger and had more energy, the benefits were also much more significant. The Sun Seed glowed as it grew more prominent, and Cain''s eyes were filled with thrill and desire as he awaited the next willpower to challenge him. This was no longer a trial but a feast, and he was ready to devour it until there was nothing more left to consume. Hours passed as Cain faced more and more Ego Waves, each more potent than the previous and with more energy for him to assimilate. After two hours and facing over 30 Ego Waves, the Sun Seed had nearly doubled in size. This growth in size did not mean an improvement in mastery over Concepts. Still, it meant a much larger energy pool related to Ego Wave, which would allow him to express his Ego Eternal Path of Power abilities, like the Radiance of Life and Radiance of Strength, for a longer period of time. Cain had just consumed a green force field and was waiting for the next to appear. However, things changed, and the Ego Wave did not manifest itself as a mere force field. Instead, Cain saw a massive three-headed demonic entity the size of a mountain appear before him, each head unleashing a different intent and power. It seemed that Cain had finally come to face a true Alter-Ego, which was more than mere amalgamations of willpower; this one was able to unleash a powerful might and the power of the Concepts. Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he focused on the gargantuan golden humanoid Alter Ego. He was determined to devour it just as he did the others, but first, he needed to shatter it to pieces. "?BOOM!" Flames erupted from the Sun Seed as its power exploded, unleashing waves of fiery energy charged with the might of the Sundering Concept. "?AHHHHHH!" The massive three-headed Alter-Ego unleashed a roar full of rage. Then, the eyes of two of its heads glowed before this one launched an enormous punch charged with a powerful gravitational force that seemed to seal the space around it. Cain was surprised by the space-sealing effect. His mastery over the Law of Space was high, so he knew that the power the Alter-Ego used was not it. ''The power of Concept is truly unfathomable.'' This thought crossed Cain''s mind, but he kept focus. He could have handled the punch in many ways, but he chose the most straightforward approach, channeling the power of the Sun Seed into a massive arc of red fire that surged forward. "?BOOM!" A massive blast echoed across the dimension as the fist and arc of fire clashed, propelling the Sun Seed and the gargantuan humanoid back. However, it was not an equal clash, as the Sun Seed was pushed back thousands of meters while the gargantuan humanoid was only a few hundred. Even if Cain''s Ego Wave had reached a point where no other Second Realm willpower had matched before, he was still facing a Third Realm Alter-Ego capable of channeling strikingly powerful Concepts. A solemn expression appeared on Cain''s face as he assessed the outcome of the clash. Fighting against the gargantuan humanoid was possible and would help him improve his abilities. Still, if he wanted to consume its essence, he needed much more than just being able to fight. Of course, the gargantuan humanoid with three heads would not wait for Cain and began to attack with all its power again, the eyes of two of its heads glowing again. Chapter 790: Concept of Power "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" Explosions echoed across the starry void as the Sun Seed and the gargantuan three-headed giant continued clashing over and over again. Cain''s eyes were cold as he sent arcs of fiery energy that contained the power of the Sundering Concept. The opponent''s attacks continued unleashing gravitational force, seeming to make everything around him, including his own body, too heavy to dodge, forcing a direct clash. Unfortunately, although his Sun Seed had grown stronger, the gargantuan humanoid was more powerful, and no matter how much effort he put in, he always ended up losing. It made sense after all; his Sun Seed was just at the Second Realm, while the humanoid was the Alter-Ego of a Third Realm Ego Wave. The only thing he was achieving was buying time, and if things carried on like this, he would lose and be expelled from this layer of the Tower of Concepts. Although facing the gargantuan humanoid felt like an impossible fight, Cain did not lose focus or allow anxiety to overcome him. He was trying to analyze the enemy''s moves and strength, attempting to figure out the key behind its power. The eyes of two of the heads glowed again as the entity sent a new fist. This time, Cain did not dodge or counterattack, allowing the full power of that blow to strike him. "BOOM!" The punch sent the Sun Seed flying away, and cracks appeared on its form. Yet a sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he smiled. He took the blow head-on because he wanted a clear sense of its powers, and now he finally understood the key behind those strikes. "That thing is fusing the power of two Concepts!" Fusing Concepts might sound obvious, but it was far from the truth. Until now, Cain had approached Concepts the same way he approached Laws, and trying to fuse them was an arrogant belief. After all, Laws were the core rules of the universe, each with a flawless purpose. Trying to fuse two was like asking gravity and fire to become one. Even when Cain used spells that seemed to do that effect, he was just fusing their abilities and effects and was not even close to combining the essence of two Laws. However, that is the beauty of Concept. They might be much harder to master and absorb, and training them was an uphill battle, but despite all their power, at their core, they were ideas, and ideas tended to merge and evolve into something more significant. The gargantuan three-headed humanoid sent a new punch toward the Sun Seed, once again generating a gravitational force that froze him in place. Still, Cain''s eyes only glowed with resolve as he prepared a new arc of flaming energy carrying the power of the Sundering Concept. However, something different happened this time in the arc. A dark golden glow appeared in it, significantly increasing its power. "BOOM!" A massive explosion echoed across the starry void, sending the Sun Seed and the three-headed gargantuan humanoid flying away. Yet Cain still smiled, since, unlike before, when he was pushed through thousands of meters while the humanoid only a few hundred, this time they ended up in a draw! The three-headed gargantuan humanoid froze for a second as it stared at the Sun Seed in confusion at that new power. However, it did not wait long as it continued to strike forward. Cain did not show fear as he received the punches head-on, unleashing arcs of red flames that contained the power of the Sundering Concept, which was enhanced by channeling the power of the Radiance of Life into its essence. "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" Explosions filled the starry void, and while Cain managed to push things to a stalemate, he was not satisfied. The Scarlet King wanted to increase the power of his Sun Seed''s attack. To do that, he needed to go beyond channeling the Radiance of Power. To unlock the true power of the ability, Cain needed to go beyond its current form and interact with the Concept that allowed such an ability to exist. That was an arduous task, but luckily for him, the battle pushed his mind and focus to the limit. Every second, he was coming a little closer to the origin, and the power of his sundering arcs of fire grew stronger until a sense of enlightenment finally appeared in his eyes. "Power!" As soon as that word echoed inside Cain''s mind, the flaming energy emerging from the Sun Seed he was charging into an arc faded. Instead, it merged into a single point before releasing it as a beam of immense power. The beam''s path was incredibly fast and powerful, yet it still perfectly followed Cain''s command. It displayed controlled destruction, leaving a trail of sundered space and managing to cut in half the punch that was coming toward him! The gargantuan humanoid was shocked by the damage to its hand and trembled back as it grabbed its mangled arm. Cain''s eyes widened as he saw the level of destruction he was able to unleash after channeling the essence of Radiance of Strength, the Concept of Power, into an attack that embodied the Sundering Concept. However, he did not lose focus and immediately used the power of the Concept of Gluttony to pull the severed fists into the Sun Seed, hastily assimilating its energy before the power of the Tower of Concepts could take it away. The three-headed humanoid seemed shocked to see its fists being consumed by the Sun Seed, and rage immediately emerged in its eyes as the lost hand regenerated. Being an Alter-Ego, an entity made of psychic energy, it made sense it could heal instantly, just like the Sun Seed could. Of course, that required the consumption of energy. The gargantuan humanoid lunged forward, this time the eyes of the middle head and left head glowing. They increased the weight and momentum of their strike, resulting in an attack that combined heavy impact with explosive speed. Chapter 791: Concept of Life Cain''s eyes widened as he felt the punch of the gargantuan humanoid become a world-ending meteorite attempting to burst him to pieces. While there was only a chance in one of the Concepts, the outcome was a completely different ability. Yet soon, coldness and hunger appeared in the eyes of the Scarlet King. He found a way to improve his ability and strengthen the Sun Seed and would fully utilize it. For him, the three-headed gargantuan humanoid was nothing more than food. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Explosion after explosion echoed across the starry void. The blows from the gargantuan humanoid were faster and stronger but could no longer increase the weight of the Sun Seed, allowing it to move across the battlefield. Cain constantly dodged the blows while firing Solar Rupture Beams, cutting pieces of flesh from the three-headed gargantuan humanoid and devouring it. The enemy attempted to use meteoric fists and weight punches, but none worked. Gradually, the three-headed Alter-Ego became weaker as the Sun Seed kept growing more powerful. It didn''t take long for the gargantuan humanoid to lose so much energy that it could no longer regenerate the missing pieces. The Sun Seed just kept cutting it to pieces and devouring it until there was nothing left. Cain''s face was pure ecstasy. Although the Tower of Concepts took back most of the three-headed gargantuan humanoid, he still managed to assimilate roughly 17% of it. Given this was a very powerful Third Realm Alter Ego, the Sun Seed gained immensely high energy and strength, allowing it to grow nearly a third in size! Cain smiled as he waited for the next Alter-Ego to appear, yet a solemn expression appeared on his face. The new Alter-Ego manifested as a massive dragon, its scales shimmering with the dark hues of the deepest oceans and the shadowy essence of the void, a fusion of aquatic grace and draconic majesty, with wings that spanned like dark storm clouds and eyes that glowed with the depth of the abyss. As Cain focused on it and attempted to understand the core concepts that generated such a monstrous entity, he felt the overwhelming power of natural disasters combined with the inevitable fate that awaits all living beings. The Scarlet King couldn''t help but wonder what sort of person would generate an Alter-Ego like that. They would need to see themselves from the bottom of their souls as a power of indiscriminate death and destruction, crushing everything equally without regard for age or race. The Alter-Ego had barely appeared when it focused its cold eyes on the Sun Seed. Waving its majestic wings, it summoned a colossal wave, a wall of water infused with the essence of death, leaving a trail of silence in its wake. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he felt in that wave not only physical power capable of utter devastation but also the ability to drain the life force of anything caught in its path. Immediately, he channeled the power of the Sun Seed, generating a Solar Rupture Beam that divided the wall of water in half. However, before he could relax, the two halves of the wave fused behind him and lunged toward the Sun Seed once more. Immediately, Cain fired another Solar Rupture Beam, once again dividing the wave, but this time, it just fused back above him before falling with overwhelming power. The Sun Seed continued to split the wave in half whenever it came close to avoid it from overwhelming him, but the wall of water would fuse back in a different position and continue striking. Cain clenched his teeth as he saw the attack''s power and turned toward the Alter-Ego. The creature kept waving its wings, continuously channeling energy into the ability while controlling it, ensuring it left no opening for the Sun Seed. ''It controls only two Concepts, yet the power it can unleash is much greater than the three-headed gargantuan humanoid, and its abilities are much more refined. When it comes to Concepts, more doesn''t mean better.'' A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he kept controlling the Sun Seed to fight the waves, but if things carried on like this, it was just a matter of time before he was defeated after all the Solar Rupture Beam consumed a lot of energy. It was fine if he could replenish it, but if not, then he would drain his energy pool in minutes at this rate. ''I need an ability that can exert a wide range and take care of this wave of death.'' Cain knew the answer to his problem, but he needed more than that to win. The Sundering Concept and the Concept of Power were very strong, but he needed something else, and his mind went to the Gluttony Concept and Radiance of Life. A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he took a deep breath. The next second, the Sun Seed began to glow with a bright golden light as it generated a massive devouring force that started to draw pieces of the wave of death that continuously attempted to drown him. Pain appeared in Cain''s eyes as the Sun Seed consumed that wave of death, as its energy was extremely harmful. However, the power of life allowed him to stabilize the damage. The healing force input neutralized the damage caused by the rotting energy. Though the devouring did not improve his energy pool, it slowly consumed pieces of the dark wave. The draconic Alter-Ego saw how the Sun Seed kept firing Solar Rupture Beams to stop the dark wave from engulfing it while devouring pieces. However, it only showed a cold smile since it only delayed its end; after all, it could not keep using the Solar Rupture Beam for long. Cain could see the smile on the dragon but did not lose focus and carried on, pushing the power of the Gluttony Concept forward as he attempted to summon the core of Radiance of Life, the Concept of Life. Chapter 792: Handleless blade The Sun Seed kept growing weaker, and while it consumed a large amount of the dark wave, the draconic Alter-Ego only replenished it before continuing the relentless onslaught. Just as it seemed the battle was over and the Sun Seed was about to drain all its energy, Cain''s eyes glowed with enlightenment as he truly managed to fuse the powers of the Gluttony Concept and the Concept of Life into a new ability. The Sun Seed stopped firing its Solar Rupture Beams, and the dark wave did not wait before lunging forward, surrounding the fiery sphere, ready to destroy it. However, just as the draconic Alter-Ego smiled with coldness and cruelty, waiting to see its dark wave crush the radiant sphere, an immense fiery maelstrom emerged from the Sun Seed! Shock and awe appeared in the eyes of the draconic Alter-Ego as it saw a swirling vortex of golden light and red flames emerge from the Sun Seed, taking control over the dark waves. The Sun Seed''s maelstrom not only consumed energy from the dark wave but also redistributed it, mirroring the cyclical nature of life and the universe''s insatiable appetite for balance. The maelstrom''s centrifugal force divided the dark wave into its core components, consuming the beneficial ones while burning the dangerous ones. However, even those harmful components that could not be consumed and were incinerated were not lost, as their flaming power was added to the fiery maelstrom, enhancing the ability''s destructive and devouring might. The draconic Alter-Ego attempted to pull back the dark wave away from the fiery maelstroms, but the devouring power was too strong. It could do nothing to stop the Sun Seed from consuming the dark waters until the last drop. The Sun Seed glowed with energy as it recovered all its losses during the clash, and the maelstrom now had a simply overwhelming force that acted on the energy of the dimension. Rage and hatred appeared in the eyes of the draconic Alter-Ego as it saw the Sun Seed keep growing stronger before roaring. "ROAR!" With a roar, the draconic Alter-Ego created a swirling vortex of dark water around the Sun Seed that slowly began to shrink around the fiery sphere. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he focused on the vortex of dark water, feeling the power of flood and death in them. It had yet to reach the Sun Seed, and he had already felt an overwhelming force that attempted to disorient and disintegrate him. "Celestial Gluttony Maelstrom!" Cain shouted the name of his new ability as the vortex of dark water summoned by the draconic Alter-Ego clashed with the Sun Seed''s fiery maelstrom. The two abilities clashed against each other with overwhelming power. The dark water vortex tried to plunge the Sun Seed into an oceanic grave. On the other hand, the Celestial Gluttony Maelstrom sought to consume the dark water, using parts of it to nourish the Sun Seed and the rest to enhance the fiery maelstrom. "RUMBLE!" The starry void trembled as the two forces clashed for several hours. Eventually, the Celestial Gluttony Maelstrom emerged victorious as the Sun Seed consumed the dark water vortex. While both abilities were incredibly powerful, one focused on refinement and strengthening, while the other could only destroy. It was clear who would win in a battle of stamina. Shock appeared in the draconic Alter-Ego as it saw its most powerful attack being devoured, and the next second, dread emerged in its eyes as the Sun Seed flashed toward it like a meteor! The entity was about to wave its wings to send an attack when the Sun Seed channeled nearly all the energy it gained from the dark water vortex into a Solar Rupture Beam. The attack was too fast, and the draconic Alter-Ego could only watch in shock as the beam cut its wings. As an entity made of psychic energy, the draconic Alter-Ego could regenerate the wings, but before it had time, the Sun Seed had already crashed into its chest, and it could only watch in horror as the fiery golden maelstrom began to consume its body! Cain pushed the power of the Sun Seed''s Celestial Gluttony Maelstrom to the limit, making sure the draconic Alter-Ego could not get free and devouring as much of its essence as he could. Now that he had combined the might of the Gluttony Concept and the Concept of Life, his devouring speed was much faster, so he could assimilate much more of the Alter-Ego before the power of the Tower of Concepts took it away. The Sun Seed grew nearly fifty percent after devouring over a third of the draconic Alter-Ego, making Cain smile. His eyes glowed with even more devouring desire as if an insatiable hunger had risen in his heart. With hunger in his eyes, Cain waited for the next Alter-Ego, but confusion appeared on his face as he saw it. What appeared after that imposing draconic Alter-Ego was a thin blade. It had no handle and did not exude any impressive power or aura, confusing Cain. However, his eyes widened as he saw the thin, handleless blade tremble, making his instincts scream like crazy. Before he could do anything, an invisible force cut the Sun Seed in half! The next second, Cain found himself in a white room with his original body, still trying to collect his thoughts and calm his heart. "That attack was so pure that there was no energy leakage until the last second. It seemed to have only a single Concept, yet it was pushed to the extreme. What formidable ability!" Cain had to admit that the power of that handleless blade Alter-Ego was too much for him to contend with. He would have liked to return to the first level of the Tower of Concepts and fight those force fields again to devour them, but from now on, he would be starting in that level with the handleless blade. "Well, that''s it. Still, I did gain immense benefits." Chapter 793: Time Laws Cain smiled as he focused on his soul sea and glanced at the Sun Seed, which was much larger and more powerful than before. Now that the amount of his Ego Wave had increased and he had learned to harness the power of the Concepts of Power and Life, he could trigger the Radiance of Life and Radiance of Strength for a much longer period of time and with greater strength. As for Solar Rupture Beam and Celestial Gluttony Maelstrom, he still had access to those abilities, but according to Cain''s estimate, they could only unleash power that matched a True Titan. That was already incredibly high for an Ego Wave with Second Realm willpower, but it would not be helpful to Cain since his battle power had already risen beyond the True Titan Tier a long time ago. Of course, that would change once Cain evolved his willpower to the Third Realm, but the skill would remain dormant until then. With a thought, Cain emerged from the Tower of Concept, his body spotless and the light in his eyes stronger than ever. "Mmm, I intended to stay there for several days, but I only stayed for less than two days." Usually, those who use the Tower of Concept focus on their abilities and use the Ego Wave of the Gods as a battling partner, but Cain''s approach was much more overbearing, which was why he was also much faster. After some consideration, Cain turned his eyes toward the Tower of Laws. The tower could not help him at all with the Elemental Laws or the Space Law, but it could be useful for the Time Law, at least moderately. Although he did not really employ the Law in his battle style or abilities, it was always good to have some mastery over it. Not to mention that his Space-Time Eye gave him great talent in that aspect, and it would be a shame to let it go to waste. Cain went to the Tower of Laws and placed his hand on it, vanishing the next second before appearing in a white room. His eyes narrowed as he felt different this time. Unlike with the Tower of Concepts and Tower of Stars, his body and soul did not fuse with the structure. There were no words, but Cain knew what he needed to do. "Time Laws." As soon as he uttered those words, the Tower of Laws sent him to a new dimension. It was a void full of chaotic gray storms that coursed at a shocking speed. Once again, the Tower of Laws differed from the other two as there were no imposing voices, but Cain did not care and surveyed the surroundings. He was at the center of the storm, and his Space-Time Eye allowed him to feel the power of the Law of Time in them. Time was in disarray in this place, constantly changing its flow, and some zones seemed to be able to paralyze his mind while others carried the power to accelerate his age hastily. Navigating through these time storms was dangerous and could provoke great damage if one were not careful, but Cain was not afraid. The Space-Time Eye would show him any hazard, and he began to meditate. --- Lately, humans had been a little tense due to the sudden waves of news that had spread across the Empire due to the bells that marked the end of the Golden Emperor''s life. However, from the Sector Dukes to the City Lords, they had already received orders from the new system of government deployed in the Silver City, making the initial wave of chaos and mayhem die down before it could even start. A small child was walking down the streets of a city, and his eyes narrowed as he saw how people carried on with their everyday lives, not succumbing to panic. Actually, the sense of order and stability was even stronger than before the upheaval that assaulted the Silver City. The boy showed nothing as he saw the state of the city, but there was intent behind his eyes, full of disappointment to see such peace. However, no one of the people present could detect it. He suddenly made a sharp turn and entered an alley away from prying eyes. At that point, the child felt a hand reach the back of his head, shocking him to the core. ''How?'' The thought crossed the boy''s mind, as he could not believe someone could manage to sneak up on him, and his shock only grew stronger as, the next second, an overwhelming space force took over his body, and he vanished. The boy then found himself thousands of meters above the sky of a deserted mountain range, and before he could even react, he was sent hurtling down. "BOOOOMMMM!" A massive crater appeared where the boy crashed, and it should have killed him immediately, blasting his body to pieces, yet he was fine, and there was not a single wound on his body. He immediately rose from the ground with pure rage in his eyes as he surveyed the surroundings. "Who dares to..." The boy''s voice was mighty and full of rage, yet as soon as he saw the figure in the sky, his entire body began to tremble with fear. His eyes widened as there was a sense of confusion and terror that paralyzed his body. The one in the sky was a young man with white hair and three eyes, donning a red robe. "Scarlet King." Those words came from the boy''s mouth, filled with despair and hopelessness. Any other person he would dare to fight, but facing the Scarlet King was the same as facing the flow of time. It was a lost battle from the start. Cain''s eyes were cold yet calm as he stared at the small boy, his aura covering every corner of the surrounding area, making it impossible to escape or hide. "So you are the Doppelganger King." Chapter 794: Doppelganger King Cain glanced at the small boy, who was looking at him with terror, but he felt no sympathy. The Doppelganger King was one of the last remnants of The Organization, and there was only one fate for those individuals. "If you don''t resist and give access to all your knowledge, I will make it painless. Otherwise, I will go through your soul and find what I need, making it excruciatingly painful." The Doppelganger King had lived for thousands of years, and thanks to his position as one of the Dark Kings of The Organization, even Sector Dukes did not dare to utter his name lightly. He had grown more than accustomed to the respect and fear in the eyes of anyone who gazed at him upon learning his true identity. Yet now, the only things he saw in the eyes of the Scarlet King were coldness and boredom, as if even speaking to him was loathsome. Although the man knew the tales of the Scarlet King and had seen records of his overwhelming power, the rage in his heart overcame his rational mind, and his Essence Wave began to rise as his form changed. The body of the young boy began to fade, and his figure changed over and over again, from a young woman to an old man, even becoming all sorts of domestic animals. Changing forms was not a complicated task, and there were many spells capable of such power. However, they all left flaws, and those with high enough power could see them. Yet, every time the Doppelganger King changed, every cell of his new body carried on the process, and it reached the point that even Cain had to admit the ability was nothing short of flawless. In the end, the Doppelganger King adopted his true, horrible form. He resembled a burned corpse with rotten skin that seemed to fall off at any second. Given this appearance, it was no wonder he worked so hard to become others. "?BOOM!" A blast of Essence Wave emerged from the Dark King as he stared at Cain, but the young man only shook his head. "The Shadow King was the spymaster of The Organization, but she always came second to you regarding disguises and infiltration tactics. However, when it comes to battle power and fighting skill, you came last of all the Dark King, even beneath the Mirage King." The Doppelganger King only showed coldness and killing intent as he heard the Scarlet King''s disparagement, and he seemed determined to fight. "Ahh, you are so weak that you cannot even tell my true body from a space-time afterimage." This time, Cain''s voice did not come from the figure in the sky but from behind the Doppelganger King, making the terror in the eyes of this one explode. Before the Dark King could even make a move, a hand grabbed the back of his head and blasted him into the ground. "BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" Cain slammed the Doppelganger King''s head into the ground with so much strength that it generated a kinetic explosion, leveling the area around them and pulverizing the mountain range near them. The Doppelganger King''s brain trembled inside his skull as cracks formed around this one. The Scarlet King''s hand was too strong and heavy, and that was far from the worst part. A current of Essence Wave charged with the power of space-time, and a simply immense Ego Wave began to charge into his body and soul sea. The power of the Scarlet King paralyzed the energy inside the Doppelganger King, so the man could not even kill himself. More and more fear appeared in the Doppelganger King as he felt his body and mind shutting down, and before long, the light in his eyes faded. He was still conscious, but there was only darkness around him, as Cain had severed his senses and body. Being trapped in a dark prison, unable to see, hear, listen, or even feel anything. There was only darkness and loneliness. It was a horrible experience and just about to get worse for the Doppelganger King. After ensuring the seal on the Doppelganger King was complete, Cain began to focus on his Space-Time Eye. Before long, a gray force covered his right hand. Around that force, everything seemed to move faster, at first just a little bit, but as Cain funneled more energy, the effect grew stronger. Eventually, after consuming nearly a third of his energy pool, the gray force''s effect grew dozens of times more potent. Of course, it was not really speeding up the flow of time, as Cain was still far from reaching that realm. However, if applied to a warrior''s body, it could allow them to move much faster and have the same effect on the mind. Cain put his hand on the Doppelganger King''s head and infused the power of the gray force into this one''s brain. The Doppelganger King''s body began to twitch as his speed of thought accelerated. Every second in that dark prison void of feeling became a minute, and the gray force would last several days. "A year in that dark prison should be enough to break him." Cain did not show anything as he uttered those words and sent the Doppelganger King into the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer. He wanted the knowledge inside the Dark King but did not want to kill him to obtain it. That''s why he planned to break his will and then try to hypnotize him. It would not be easy, but it was worth the shot. "After I kill the Doppelganger King, I would have reduced the number of Dark Kings to only two, the Void King and the Mirage King." A complicated smile appeared on Cain''s face as he uttered those words. There was a time when the Dark Kings were the epitome of darkness and danger in the world for him, and just facing one of them was equal to an epic saga worthy of legends. Yet, now, the only thing he needed to do to kill them was find them. Chapter 795: The new Godslayer Humankind Emperor (I) "The more powerful I become, the stronger the enemies that arise. It is as if those bastards were waiting for me to appear." Cain sighed as he uttered those words, feeling a heaache just thinking about it. Of course, it wasn''t really like that, and the truth was that those enemies, like Horus, had been present way before his rise. But it was only now, as he became powerful, that his scope of understanding widened enough to locate the truly dangerous entities lurking in Aether''s shadows. "Apex, is there any news of the Mirage King?" The Spirit System''s mission was to find the Doppelganger King and Mirage King. Using the [A.I. Chip Module] to sift through billions of hours of recordings and then through the hundreds of millions of people moving through the Sectors, Apex was able to find the Doppelganger King. However, things were more complicated with the Mirage King. The man''s last known location was in the southern Sectors, where he appeared six months ago. Unfortunately for Apex, after the news of The Organization''s defeat in the north, the Mirage King stepped up his game. He used his illusions to twist light around him, making him invisible to even recording devices. Apex still had some methods to track the Dark King as long as this one remained in a populated area, such as analyzing the people''s rumors and gossip. It was much harder and required more time, but it would eventually give him the location of the Mirage King¡ªor at least that was what he originally thought. "That person seems to have completely secluded himself. He might be hidden in some cave, away from any intelligent life, most likely trying to cultivate beyond the Peak of the Divine Ascension Realm to escape into the Astral Sea. Unless he interacts with other people, I am afraid we will not find him." Cain frowned before finally sighing. He knew he could not have done a better job than Apex. It had been more than six months since his last sighting, and by now, the Mirage King could be hiding in any cave or swamp in Gaia. Although Cain would have wanted to take care of all the Dark Kings in Gaia before the crowning ceremony started, he would not waste his time going through every forest and mountain range, searching with his Ego Wave for the Mirage King. "Hmph, I guess you got lucky." Cain sneered before shrugging his shoulders, no longer bothering with the Mirage King. If the man showed his presence, the Scarlet King would track and kill him, but until then, this one could hide in a cave in fear. After that, Cain rose to the sky, and his eyes turned toward the Prometheus Sector. It was already time for the rise of the new Goldsayer Humankind Emperor, which was not the only significant event he needed to supervise. Cain''s energy began to rise as the Space-Time Eye glowed. Long-range teleportation works by generating a wormhole between two points in space. Usually, that would require the help of teleportation formations to act as catalysts and anchoring points. However, Cain''s domain over the Law of Space allowed him to perform Inter-Sector Teleportation without using teleportation formations. The energy emanating from Cain''s body and soul grew higher until he suddenly vanished. "?BOOM!" An explosion appeared the next instant in his location, as space shattered due to the backlash of such powerful teleportation, but the cracks began to fade immediately. A regular True Titan would need a few minutes to cross an entire Sector, but they could not keep that speed for long. At a sustainable speed, a True Titan with great speed could cross a Sector every 10 to 15 minutes. There were five Sectors between Cain''s current location and the Prometheus Sector, and when he crossed, he reached the sky above the Silver City in less than 10 seconds! The Silver City did not look anywhere close to that pile of broken buildings and energy formations left after the clash between Cain and Michael Goldsoul. It was clear that Prime Minister Minxet did an outstanding job with the reconstruction, fixing the buildings and pushing the city back to its previous glorious might. The moment Cain appeared in the sky, the space around him burst to pieces due to the sudden crash into the fabric of space. His body also received a strong ricochet effect, and he felt a metallic taste in his mouth. However, despite draining much of his energy and affecting his body, Cain still smiled, as such speed was terrific. "After I open my Inner World, my domain over the Laws and the power I can express through them will skyrocket. At that point, I might be able to reach any Sector in Gaia instantly." Cain''s smile widened as that thought crossed his mind, yet the next second, a sense of disappointment and boredom invaded him. Aether was growing too small for him, and the feeling of being stuck grew stronger the more power he gained. Once again, the weight of responsibility came crashing down on him, making Cain sigh. Until he finished with Horus, he could not leave for the Astral Sea. Although for some, being a figure that people bowed and worshiped sounded like a dream come true, there was nothing worse for Cain than being a big fish in a small swamp. He needed to reach for a higher plane, full of danger and possibility, a place that could challenge him and where he could push his talent and foundation to the next step. Cain did not lose himself in those thoughts for long. The next second, his eyes glowed with a powerful red light as he sent a signal through his [A.I. Chip Module]. Ten seconds later, the bells across the Silver City began to ring. The last time they echoed was to mark the end of the Golden Emperor, and now they marked the rise of the new one. Chapter 796: The new Godslayer Humankind Emperor (II) The Silver City was already packed with people from all over the Gaia Continent, all influential figures with extraordinary powers who had come for the crowning ceremony and to pay their respects to the new Emperor of the Godslayer Humankind Empire. Immediately, everyone began to make their way to the massive Imperial Castle, where the crowning ceremony would occur. Of course, only a few distinguished people with extremely high status would enter the Imperial Castle, but from the youngest child to the elders, everyone wanted to be as close as they could to the castle. After all, it was a significant event that was taking place today. Cain could see how the people moved. His eyes grew sharp as he took a deep breath, and slowly, his aura began to grow more powerful. The Scarlet King usually kept it hidden, even during battles, to confuse the enemy and avoid their perception whenever possible. However, today was different, as it was important for him to show his might to the empire and the sense of order and stability he wanted to enforce. The might of his physical strength, vitality, energy pools, and Laws began to permeate the air, making the sky tremble and keep growing higher. It didn''t take long for a sky-blue and golden glow to emerge from his figure as his eyes blazed with a red light that seemed endless, revealing willpower that seemed even more massive than the Endless Ocean. Next, a red robe covered his body made of embers of the Fire Law, with the word "King" engraved on the back. Finally, his red mask appeared above his face, showing only his three eyes. For this event, he would not only be Cain Laurifer. He was the Scarlet King, Supreme Leader of the Scarlet Alliance, and the strongest human in the world. Only after those preparations were over did Cain teleport into the Imperial Castle. The hall of the Imperial Castle, where the crowning ceremony would take place, was massive, and the word majestic did not do it justice. Its walls were adorned with the banners and crests of the empire''s former Emperors, each a testament to centuries of history and allegiance. Of course, the Fourth Goldsayer Humankind Emperor, the Azure Emperor''s emblem, was taken away. It was odd to see an empty spot, but none of them said a word and just pretended it never existed. High, stained-glass windows cast a kaleidoscope of light upon the gathered assembly, illuminating faces awash with anticipation and the intricate mosaic floor below, which tells the empire''s history in vibrant, colored tiles. The air is heavy with the scent of incense and the sound of a ceremonial choir, their voices echoing off the stone in a solemn hymn. At the heart of the hall, a magnificent throne stood firm, carved from dark wood and inlaid with gold and precious stones, awaiting the new master of the Godslayer Humankind Empire. All the people in the hall stood straight as they gazed forward, their eyes full of resolution and determination. At the head were the strongest and most honorable heroes of the Godslayer Humankind Empire, including the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, the Diamond Saint Duke, the Golden Core Duke, and many others. Ahead of those heroes were two more people: a middle-aged man with a weak cultivation base yet an imposing aura and a man with physical might that seemed to rival the heavens, donning majestic armor and a scarlet cape. The duo were the Prime Minister and future Emperor of the Godslayer Humankind Empire, Minxet and the Collapsing Lightning Duke. Even they, who were second to none in the new government system of the Godslayer Humankind Empire, stood straight and with a dignified expression. All eyes focused ahead, and while it might seem like they were focusing on the throne, their true focus was on the podium above it. Such a structure would not usually make sense; after all, the throne was meant to signify the power of the Emperor, and no one should be above him, but in the Goldsayer Humankind Empire, there was one even higher. On the podium was a beautiful young woman with red hair. She remained standing as well, and while she did her best, she could not help but feel nervous. It wasn''t that the powerhouses were trying to pressure Shura since none of them would dare do such a thing. However, it was a tremendous pressure to be under the gaze of such powerhouses and heroes, yet this was her place as the partner of the man everyone was waiting for. "Rumble!" The next second, a figure appeared on the podium, a man with a red mask. His mere presence made the entire castle tremble as his aura washed over all those who gazed upon him, making them feel as if they were in the presence of a cosmic force rather than a person. Immediately, everyone in the hall, including the future Emperor, kneeled and bowed as they shouted in unison. "Eternal glory to the Scarlet King!!!" As Cain heard those words, his eyes began to glow. He unleashed the full might of his Ego Wave, releasing a majestic and monstrous red force field. The force field immediately covered the Imperial Castle. Still, it did not end there; it extended into the entire Silver City before expanding into the distance and rising into the sky. None of the people in the hall dared to raise their heads, but they could see how the red force field expanded at a stunning speed, and soon shock and awe appeared in their souls when they saw how, even after going beyond 10 thousand kilometers in length, it kept growing larger! The size of the Ego Eternal Path of Power''s force field could be compared with the amount of energy this one contained. Cain was still at the Second Realm, yet the red force field grew until it was 50 thousand kilometers in diameter, meaning his Ego Wave contained the same energy as a Late Divine Ascension Master''s Third Realm Ego Wave! Chapter 797: Collapsing Lightning Emperor The amount of energy contained inside the Scarlet King''s Ego Wave was simply outrageous, proving that the young man was in the realm of his own, even in terms of willpower. Just the size of the force field was already impressive enough, but as the powerhouse focused on the powers engraved inside, they felt the ethereal might of the Concept so clearly that it affected their bodies. They first experienced an overwhelming sense of strength coursing through their veins. It was akin to standing atop a towering mountain, gazing down upon the world with a newfound perspective of dominion and capability. There was a rush, an exhilarating sense of potential that beckoned one to push beyond limits, to shape and influence the world around them. Just as the Concept of Power was about to overwhelm their mind, making them do something reckless, a profound sense of connection and vitality surged inside their soul and hearts. It''s the feeling of the first breath of spring air, full of promise and renewal, or the intricate dance of ecosystems where every creature plays a part. It imbued a deep appreciation for the cycles of birth, growth, decay, and rebirth in the powerhouses, revealing the intricate web of existence that binds all living things. The force was so pure and intense that some nearly felt in a trance. The Concept of Life made smiles appear on the people across the entire Silver City, but something new emerged just as they were about to lose themselves in it. It was a strange and ravenous force that evoked an insatiable hunger and desire, not just for food but for experiences, knowledge, power, or whatever one craves most. It''s like standing before a never-ending feast, where each indulgence only heightens the appetite for more. A flash of dread appeared in the eyes of many as they feared losing themselves in the Concept of Gluttony, becoming mad beasts that only knew how to follow their desires. Luckily for them, something else appeared. The new force instilled a sense of both destruction and liberation. It''s the sensation of breaking chains that bind, whether physical, emotional, or conceptual. The new Concept feels like witnessing the raw power of a thunderstorm, capable of tearing down old structures to make way for new growth. It carried a purpose: to push beyond any limit and never lose yourself in mediocrity, rising higher and higher and sundering everything that attempts to stop their rise. After allowing the power of his Concepts to touch the mind of every person in the Silver City, Cain retracted his Ego Wave, containing all that power inside his brain. He then waved his hand, signaling for everybody to rise. "Today marks the rise of a new age for the Godslayer Humankind." Cain''s words echoed across the hall, and all the powerhouses and influential figures immediately turned to the Collapsing Lightning Duke. The Collapsing Lightning Duke''s eyes glowed with resolution as he felt those eyes and understood the responsibility being placed on his shoulders. With steady steps, he walked toward the Imperial Throne and sat on it. Prime Minister Minxet strode forward the next second, taking a scarlet crown and placing it on the head of the Collapsing Lightning Duke. "Under the gaze of our ancestors and the Scarlet King, I present you with the Imperial Crown. May you carry it with honor." Prime Minister Minxet then turned to the people in the room and spoke with a booming voice. "Hail the Collapsing Lightning Emperor!" All powerhouses present kneeled once more as they shouted in unison. "Hail the Collapsing Lightning Emperor!" "Hail the Collapsing Lightning Emperor!" "Hail the Collapsing Lightning Emperor!" The words echoed repeatedly as the powerhouses shouted with even more strength. Even if the Scarlet King''s figure was higher than the Godslayer Humankind Emperor, this was an Imperial Coronation, and it was their duty to shout. Cain remained silent as he saw the shouting before sitting alongside Shura, taking the young woman''s hands and glancing at her tenderly. Shura smiled, full of love, as she glanced at Cain. Although the time the duo spent together was very short, instead of growing resentful, she learned to treasure these small moments. The shouting lasted for an entire minute until finally, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor raised his hand, making the end of it, and signaled for the people in the hall to rise. "I, Gabriel Lucerus, bear this honor fully aware of the responsibility put on my shoulders. I will become the shield that defends humankind from this day until my last moment in Aether!" The Collapsing Lightning Duke, now the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, shouted, his voice echoing across the Silver City with such might that it resembled a decree from a divine being. The new Emperor of the Godslayer Humankind Empire then sat on the throne, his aura and life force blending with it. From now on, the Imperial Authority across the many facilities and core formations of the Godslayer Humankind Empire was bound to the Collapsing Lightning Emperor. "Prime Minister Minxet. Step forward." As soon as Prime Minister Minxet heard those words, he walked a few steps until he stood exactly ten meters ahead of the new Emperor, at which point he performed a deep bow. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor signaled for Prime Minister Minxet to stand straight before speaking in a solemn voice. "As the Scarlet King''s Will in the Godslayer Humankind Empire, I commend your hard labor in areas of peace and prosperity. Your work during the recovery of Silver City was beyond flawless, and our Lord has chosen to reward you directly." Prime Minister Minxet''s eyes narrowed as he heard those words. He turned toward the Scarlet King, who opened his hand, revealing a majestic flame with 21 colors! The moment the powerhouses saw that flame, their eyes filled with awe and also desire. It was already known through the empire that the Scarlet King had a way to reforge your talent and foundation, using flames. Chapter 798 798: Rewards Prime Minister Minxet''s entire body trembled with awe and excitement, but he stood firm and did not lose himself as he bowed to the Scarlet King. "I live to serve the Scarlet King and the Godslayer Humankind Empire." Cain glanced at the man and nodded before generating a cocoon with his Ego Wave around this one and releasing the 21 Revolution Flame. Prime Minister Minxet did not waste time, adopting a meditative position inside the red cocoon as the flames covered his body inside and out, triggering a flood of world energy. Now that Cain''s Ego Wave had grown much stronger and more massive, his speed of thought and willpower were much greater than before, so the 21 Revolution Refinement not only went without a problem but was extremely fast. All eyes focused on the translucent red cocoon, and they could feel Prime Minister Minxet''s foundation growing much more powerful. Every second that passed, their desire grew stronger, as they wanted that lucky chance for themselves, and the only one who could grant it was the Scarlet King. Once the 21 Revolution Refinement was over, Prime Minister Minxet opened his eyes, and awe and wonder appeared in them. He had grown even younger, but that was the least important thing, as he could feel his cultivation base vibrating and full of power and strength. With enough time and resources, reaching the Peak Apotheosis Realm and becoming a Divine Ascension Realm would not be a problem, improving his lifespan to more than ten thousand years! A man could have many ambitions, but all of them were reduced to two at the end: strength and life. And the Prime Minister now had both within reach! Despite the shock and thrill, Prime Minister Minxet did not lose focus. His eyes sharpened as he bowed again toward the Scarlet King and then walked forward, standing next to the Collapsing Lightning Emperor. Silence reigned for a few seconds until Prime Minister Minxet took a parchment from his space ring. "Jonas Kerlon, Leader of the Mercenary Coalition, step forward." When Prime Minister Minxet uttered his name, a man slowly walked toward the throne. He measured nearly three meters in height and had a massive physique, with a cultivation at the Late Divine Ascension Realm, a Titan. Jonas was an unruly yet charismatic and strong powerhouse who worked in the Imperial Army for hundreds of years before becoming independent. He did not take the Noble Path but instead formed his own organization, the Mercenary Coalition. Although Jonas usually only obeyed his own rules and did not care about anyone, this time, he acted with extreme elegance. He did not dare to break his stance and had to keep decorum in a place like this. He stood fifteen meters away from the throne before performing a deep bow. "Jonas Kerlon humbly greets the Scarlet King and your Majesty, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor." Cain did not move or speak on this occasion since there were rewards that did not need his interference. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor made a sign, signaling Jonas to stand straight before speaking. "Jonas Kerlon, your role in saving the civilians of the Silver City and capturing the loyal yet misguided Imperial Force in the city is worthy of praise. You are now given control over the Azure Royal State to use as you please, as well as all the riches and titles that come with it." Jonas smiled, full of gratitude, as he bowed once more. A Royal State carried massive wealth and very few responsibilities, so it was perfect for someone like him. With those riches, the Mercenary Coalition could grow mightier, and he could push his cultivation to the Peak Divine Ascension Realm. "I humbly accept this great reward. Eternal glory to the Scarlet King and the Godslayer Humankind Empire." Jonas stood up before returning to his seat, and then Prime Minister Minxet opened the parchment once more. "Oran Sky-Flame, Sky Flame King, step forward." Like that, more and more names were being uttered, giving all sorts of rewards to the people that stepped forward, some small, others greater, and there were times Cain himself handed the reward. Finally, Prime Minister Minxet uttered the last name on the list. "Gladius Hellblazer, Hellblazer Sector Duke, step forward." The Hellblazer Duke walked forward until he was fifteen meters away from the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and bowed. "Gladius Hellblazer humbly greets the Scarlet King and your Majesty, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor." Silence reigned after the Hellblazer Duke bowed, and since the Emperor did not speak, he did not dare stand straight. Seconds passed, and he started to grow nervous until finally, the Scarlet King''s voice appeared. "Stand." The Hellblazer Duke did as told and glanced at the Scarlet King with both expectation and fear. The Hellblazer Family''s past was tumultuous, to say the least, and while they made no obvious flaw during The Great Cataclysm, they also did not help much when the entire continent was in danger. "Hellblazer Duke, your inactivity during The Great Cataclysm is a great irresponsibility. However, you saw reason, and your family was of help during the diplomatic process that led to Prometheus''s control before the Silver City''s invasion." The Scarlet King''s voice reigned before a defining silence, all of them waiting to know what would happen with the Hellblazer Family. "You will retain your titles, domains, and honor. However, from now on, until the end of your days, the Hellblazer Family will become the Shadow of the Chief Counselor Minxet. You are his weapon and shield, protecting him from enemies and killing those he commands." While becoming a Shadow might sound like a punishment to some, many of the powerhouses present could not help but envy the Hellblazer Duke. Gladius, on the other hand, smiled. It was clear how much value the Scarlet King gave him to Prime Minister Minxet. After all, this man was the only person to have the Scarlet Emblem. Being the guardian of such an entity carried all sorts of benefits. Chapter 799 799: Punishment "The Hellblazer Family humbly accepts this mission, my King. We will prove ourselves worthy of your confidence." Gladius bowed to the Scarlet King and the Collapsing Lightning Emperor before turning toward Prime Minister Minxet, his voice solemn and full of might. "The Hellblazer Family will follow Prime Minister Minxet to the end. We will never fail you!" Prime Minister Minxet nodded to the Hellblazer Duke, pleased with having such a powerful family now under his control. Not only was the Hellblazer Duke a mighty Titan, but they also had geniuses like Magnus Hellblazer, who could grow into a master diplomat and warrior. These were exactly the type of people he needed by his side. "We will speak later. Return to your seat, Duke Hellblazer." Gladius Hellblazer bowed toward Prime Minister Minxet once more, then did as he was told and calmly walked back to his seat. Finally, all rewards and honors had been granted at this point, with those who sided with the Scarlet Alliance and the Scarlet King rising to new heights. But it was not the end. Prime Minister Minxet stored the golden scroll before taking a new one, this time black. The next second, a somber and cold atmosphere spread across the area. "In the name of the Scarlet King and the Godslayer Humankind Empire, we summon the Alchemy-Sword King." A solemn expression appeared on everyone present as they heard that name. The Alchemy-Sword Royal Family had been one of the enforcers of the previous Imperial Court, keeping a cold watch over the Prometheus Sector. Honestly, before The Great Cataclysm, everybody had a good impression of the Alchemy-Sword King, as the man was honorable, and his reputation was impeccable. But he failed, and now it was time to pay. The hall''s gates opened, showing the Alchemy-Sword King, accompanied by two guards. Of course, those guards were just for show, as there was no way they could contain someone like the Alchemy-Sword King. There was no need to worry about revolt; after all, the man had come to this place out of his own volition. The Scarlet King had given a list of names of people who would receive their punishment during the ceremony, and Prime Minister Minxet made sure to contact all of them. They could either hand themselves over or be hunted down like dogs, and everybody chose the first. Despite his current condition, the Alchemy-Sword King stood straight, his handsome face dignified as he walked forward until he was thirty meters away from the throne. As soon as he stood there, a massive power fell on his shoulder, so strong that it forced him to kneel. "Alchemy-Sword King, how do you declare yourself!?" The Alchemy-Sword King could not move under the Scarlet King''s crushing pressure, but he used all his strength before glancing at the man on the podium. His eyes were unwavering. "I am guilty. It was all my fault, and I alone deserve the punishment." A complicated expression appeared on the faces of the people seeing this scene. Clearly, the Alchemy-Sword King made severe mistakes, but they could see how they were to happen. As the grandson of the Alchemy-Sword Emperor, he was taught there was nothing more grand than the Imperial Ruling, so even as the Imperial Court commanded by the Crown Prince did all sorts of strange things, he obeyed. In essence, the man was simply too loyal. Unfortunately, blind loyalty was not an excuse for the mistakes he made. "Hmph! Can you bear the crimes of the Alchemy-Sword Royal Family just yourself? Your blind reliance on custom and tradition produced a lot of damage and endangered the entire empire. If not for Prime Minister Minxet speaking on your behalf, I would have erased your bloodline just like I did with the Azure Royal Lineage!" The Alchemy-Sword King trembled as he heard those words since not even his life would be enough to repent if his Royal Bloodline were to follow the Azure Bloodline into oblivion. He glanced at Prime Minister Minxet, but the middle-aged man did not look back. Prime Minister Minxet had served under the Alchemy-Sword Emperor and had known the Alchemy-Sword King from his youth. That was why he spoke on his behalf, but that could only be done in private. In the open, he would do nothing that could be considered going against the Scarlet King''s words, such as showing sympathy for a criminal. "I will spare your Royal Bloodline, but that doesn''t mean you can go unpunished. You have committed a great offense and must be punished accordingly!" The Scarlet King''s voice was thunderous and cold, but those on good terms with the Alchemy-Sword King silently smiled. It was already known that as long as emotions were present, the Scarlet King''s rage had not reached the extreme, so whatever punishment he received would not be too severe. "Since you endangered the empire, you will pay by protecting it. From now on, every member of the Alchemy-Sword Royal Family who reaches the Late Divine Ascension Realm will spend the rest of his days in Aether protecting the border between Gaia and Atlas. You will only be free of this task after ascending into the Astral Sea or death!" The punishment was highly restrictive and would affect the entire Alchemy-Sword Royal Family, but the Alchemy-Sword King only bowed his head. Right now, the only one that would have to endure the punishment would be him and his partner. Everybody else in the family would remain free and in control of their domains. Prime Minister Minxet smiled as he heard that since it was already an extremely light sentence. He immediately hid it, showing an aloof expression before signaling the guards to take the Alchemy-Sword King out. "In the name of the Scarlet King and the Godslayer Humankind Empire, we summon the Imperial Marshal, Zander Colden." The gates opened again, revealing a bulky man with a massive frame. He was Zander Colden, an Imperial Marshal and a State Lord, one of the few who chose to flee during the clash between the Scarlet Alliance and the corrupted Imperial Court. Chapter 800 800: Marching into the Astral Sea (I) The Imperial Marshal showed a calm expression, and while he seemed dignified, there was no fear in his eyes. He had done nothing wrong; after all, the fact that he did not mobilize his troops was not a mistake since he never received the order. Of course, it was his responsibility to watch over the safety of the northern Sectors, but after witnessing the punishment of the Alchemy-Sword King, the man was sure he would just be put back on duty. Once Zander reached thirty meters from the Collapsing Light Emperor, he stopped, yet no power forced him to his knees, making the man think his punishment would be even lighter. Yet, when he looked at the podium, he saw two emotionless eyes that froze his soul. "I..." Before the Imperial Marshal could finish his sentence, a force took control of his body and began raising him into the air just to start compressing him the next second. "AHHHHHH!" Zander screamed in agony as his bones shattered, but there was nothing he could do, and the Scarlet King''s hand just kept growing tighter. The entire hall watched in horror as the massive man, a Titan, was compressed into a ball of bloody meat less than five centimeters in diameter. And if that was not enough, the Scarlet King brought the ball toward him, his mask open, showing his mouth that he used to consume the ball of meat! Only silence reigned as the powerhouses saw that horrible sight. They had seen the Scarlet King''s appreciation for those who sided with him, his mercy for the misguided who failed but had their heart in the right place, and his brutality toward those who thought they could shy away from their responsibilities. He did not utter a word during the entire process, but that sight was engraved in the powerhouses'' minds. After that, the Scarlet King grabbed Shura''s hand and vanished from the hall. He had already fulfilled his purpose, and the Collapsing Light Emperor and Prime Minister Minxet could handle the rest of the sentences. "General Iru Halon." Prime Minister Minxet did not lose time and followed along, uttering names. They needed to finish this to continue with their other responsibilities. --- Cain and Shura appeared in a small bedroom, and the duo did not waste time as they began to enjoy their time together. It was important to unwind from time to time, and Cain had not rested a single moment since the fight with the Crown Prince. It was only after two days that Cain finally left the chamber, leaving Shura resting in their bed with a smile. He teleported to a small underground chamber where Prime Minister Minxet, the Collapsing Light Emperor, and the First Collapsing Light Pillar were waiting for him. The trio was not alone since there was also an old man with an aura full of decay around his body. Cain immediately glanced at the old man and could feel the feeble life force of this one. That was shocking, considering he was a Peak Divine Ascension Master. It was not hard for Cain to see that the old man had used a technique that consumed vitality to enhance cultivation speed, and those were the side effects. Although he reached the Peak Divine Ascension Realm, his life was already reaching its last stretch. "I greet you, Scarlet King." The old man bowed to Cain before standing straight, silent. "As you requested, my King. I found a Peak Divine Ascension Master ready to march into the Astral Sea without hesitation." Cain nodded as he heard Prime Minister Minxet''s words and then turned to the old man. "I will help you restore your life force and push your cultivation beyond the Divine Ascension Realm. However, for all your loved ones and people who know you, you would have died. Are you sure?" "Haha, I will die regardless, so what do I have to lose? How could I pass up the chance to reach beyond the Divine Ascension Realm and see what lies in the Astral Sea?" Cain could see the resolution in the old Peak Divine Ascension Master''s eyes and nodded. He then waved his hand, causing the Tier Zero Bio-Genetic Chamber to appear. Within it was a humanoid puppet resembling a mannequin due to its lack of discernible features. "Jump into the chamber." The old Peak Divine Ascension Master was a little confused by the chamber but was confident that someone like the Scarlet King would not play games with an old man with one foot in the grave like him, so he jumped into the Tier Zero Bio-Genetic Chamber. Cain did not waste time and began to work, mapping the genome of the old Peak Divine Ascension Master, and once he had everything, he began implanting a perfect replica in the humanoid puppet. Prime Minister Minxet, the Collapsing Light Emperor, and the First Collapsing Light Pillar watched with awe as the puppet changed, and their eyes widened as they realized just how flawless of a copy it was. The only difference they could detect between the puppet and the old Peak Divine Ascension Master was their soul waves. Although it seemed terrific, it was not complicated with Cain''s current Genetic Coding abilities. After he finished, he took the puppet out of the chamber and handed it to Prime Minister Minxet. "Put the Corpse Puppet in his cultivation abode. Make sure his family and friends think he just died during cultivation. I want everybody to believe this person perished after his life force faded, and no one must be looking for any sign of his presence." Prime Minister Minxet''s eyes narrowed as he heard that. Although he was a little confused by everything happening here, he did not ask questions. If the Scarlet King wanted him to know, he would inform him; if not, he would just carry out his order without flaw or hesitation. "Yes, my King." After storing the Corpse Puppet in his space ring, Prime Minister Minxet vanished from the underground room, leaving only the trio. Chapter 801: Marching into the Astral Sea (II) After Prime Minister Minxet left, Cain turned his attention to the Collapsing Lightning Emperor. "This will take several days. You should return to the surface. Minxet will handle the political and logistic aspects of the empire, but you need to be visible and continue to improve your power. It would be wise to start collecting treasures so you can generate a new Tier I Rebirth Mark." The Collapsing Lightning Emperor''s eyes sharpened at the mention of the Rebirth Mark. He had already reforged his Flesh Calamity, but there was still the Bone Calamity to address. According to the Scarlet King''s wisdom and insight, a Hidden Calamity would be unlocked after going through the two True Calamities. Now that he was the Emperor, his reach was immensely high, and the Collapsing Lightning Emperor was confident that obtaining evil treasures from across the entire Gaia Continent would not be too complicated. "I will, my King." The Collapsing Lightning Emperor bowed towards Cain before exchanging a meaningful glance with the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and leaving the room. Cain then focused on the Tier Zero Bio-Genetic Chamber, diligently working. He acted on the old Peak Divine Ascension Master''s genome, fixing genetic flaws generated due to feeble life force. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar remained focused on the old man, unable to hide his awe as he saw how the feeble vitality and life force began to grow stronger. In just a few hours, the old Peak Divine Ascension Master transformed from a frail old man on the brink of death to an elder with many years ahead. The old Peak Divine Ascension Master was just as shocked as the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, feeling the vitality coursing through his veins. Yet, things were far from over as a force lifted him from the Tier Zero Bio-Genetic Chamber and wrapped him in a red cocoon. "I managed to restore some of your life force and vitality, giving you another two hundred years of lifespan, but that is too feeble for your body and Sacred Organs to endure the pressure of a cultivation breakthrough." Cain conjured a 22 Revolution Flame the next moment. Although most of his time inside the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer was focused on Genetic Coding, he also made some advancements in Tribulation Enhancement. He released it inside the red cocoon, allowing it to flood the old Peak Divine Ascension Master''s body inside and out, triggering a response from the world''s energy. His eyes sharpened as he pushed his willpower to the limit. While Cain could create a 22 Revolution Flame, his success percentage for a 22 Revolution Refinement was less than 100%, so he needed to push himself to the limit unless he wanted to spend a fortune in Destiny Force. It would have been easier just doing a 21 Revolution Refinement, but that would not have been enough to push the old Peak Divine Ascension Master''s foundation to the breakthrough point. "Focus on circulating the energy across your body as fast as possible, and do not let it stagnate. Assimilate as much as you can as fast as you can." The old Peak Divine Ascension Master saw the seriousness in the Scarlet King''s eyes, and his eyes burst with flaming willpower as he prepared to push himself beyond his limits, clinging to this lucky chance with all his strength. Soon, waves upon waves of world energy flooded the room, all charging into the old Peak Divine Ascension Master, making him feel he would explode at any moment. Thanks to Cain''s powerful Ego Wave and the old Peak Divine Ascension Master''s willpower, the 22 Revolution Refinement carried on without flaw. The old Peak Divine Ascension Master marveled at the power coursing through his body, feeling the purity and intensity of his Astral Wave stronger than ever. A wide smile full of delight appeared on his face as he felt the power needed to break beyond the Divine Ascension Realm, opening a path to the stars. "Go back into the Tier Zero Bio-Genetic Chamber." The voice of the Scarlet King snapped the old Peak Divine Ascension Master out of his daze. He did not dare refuse, owing everything to the man, not to mention if he did not comply, the old man was sure he would never see the light of day again. After the old Peak Divine Ascension Master re-entered the chamber, Cain turned to the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and the man did the same. Cain''s eyes glowed with red light as he continued his work. There was an absolute focus on his face as he analyzed the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s genome, ensuring a perfect copy down to the most minute detail before turning his gaze to the old Peak Divine Ascension Master. --- It had already been three weeks since the rise of the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, and the Silver City was full of vitality, with many powerful individuals still present. They were all going about their daily lives when, suddenly, the world began to tremble. "RUMBLE!" All powerhouses turned to the sky as they felt an immense power emerging from it, seemingly targeting someone inside the Silver City. This was not an unknown event, as those powerhouses that had lived for thousands of years had seen it many times before. A human warrior had broken beyond the Divine Ascension Realm! It did not take long for a beam of light to descend from the sky, and soon, everybody saw a valiant young figure rising into the sky. "The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar!" One of the powerhouses could not contain his shock as he shouted, seeing that the person inside the beam of light that was being sent into the Astral Sea was none other than the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. Their shock was caused by the fact that the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was simply too young. Even though he had reached the Peak Divine Ascension Realm, he should have honed his abilities for a bit more time in the safety of Aether, just like all other powerhouses did before their ascension. Many were confused by this choice, but there was no way to dispute that it was indeed the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. Not only was his appearance the same, but his aura and energy field were identical. Chapter 802: Samsara Flames will As the powerhouses observed the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar ascending into the Astral Sea, many of their eyes filled with wonder as they readied themselves to send their Ego Waves in, trying to glimpse the cosmic powers beyond the Crystal Wall. However, before they could do so, a massive red force field rose from the Silver City, forming a wall around the beam of light that carried the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. This willpower belonged to none other than the Scarlet King, and it seemed to be shielding the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s ascension from prying eyes. The Scarlet King''s Ego Wave was formidable and unique, but it was still a Second Realm willpower, so those Titans could push through. Of course, none of them did that since even if they could break through the red force field, the Scarlet King would manifest his real body the next second and kill that person with a wave of his hand. The powerhouses could only watch from a distance as the Crystal Wall opened up, and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was sent through. The sky closed the next second, and the power of the world faded as well, as the individual that surpassed the Divine Ascension Realm had already been sent into the Astral Sea. The massive red force field connected to the sky also faded, and a voice echoed across the entire Silver City at that moment. "The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar has risen into the Astral Sea. May his journey be one full of adventures and lucky chances." The speaker was Prime Minister Minxet, who used the formation inside Silver City to spread his voice across the earth and sky. "In three days, a feast will take place in the Imperial Castle, and all the friends and battle comrades of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar are invited." Cain heard Prime Minister Minxet''s words from the underground room, and a smile appeared on his face. The Scarlet King had not told the man to do that, but he did it on his own, making the passage of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar more subtle and taking the chance to dispel any rumors about his sudden ascension. "Hahaha, good, good. It is great to have a loyal and competent subordinate." "Prime Minister Minxet is truly wise. You made a great choice, my King, in putting him in charge of logistics and government." The one who agreed with Cain''s words was none other than the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. The person sent into the Astral Sea was obviously the old Peak Divine Ascension Master, whom Cain helped regain his lifespan and reforge his foundation. "With Minxet and Gabriel handling the politics, logistics, and military, the empire will be fine, taking a weight off my shoulder." Cain smiled as he felt he could relax a little, passing some of the responsibilities to his warriors. He then placed his hand on the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s shoulder, and the duo vanished from the room, appearing the next second in the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer. The duo silently entered the Samsara Sacrificial Ground and headed to the Samsara Flame. Cain waved his hand, making the Doppelganger King appear, along with the Crown prince''s evil halberd and the black root that caused the Golden Emperor''s death. The Doppelganger King''s eyes were void of light. He was still alive, but the time inside that prison of darkness and sensory deprivation broke his mind. It was just a week for Cain, but the Dark King felt like a year. Cain had already hypnotized the man and obtained all the information he could get from him, so it was time to give him another use, and that was as a Sacrifice. Although Cain would have liked to use the evil halberd and black root, they were simply impossible to use as they rejected his existence. Their only purpose now was as a sacrifice to the Samsara Flame, and since they seemed to embody evil, he was sure the Samsara Flame would like them. Cain first sent the Doppelganger King into the Samsara Flame, and this one was consumed immediately by the power of the flame, generating a massive amount of Fortune. Then Cain sent the black root and evil halberd in. There was expectation in his eyes, as he expected to see a massive amount of bright golden rising into the sky. However, what happened next was more than he could ever expect, shocking him and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. The Samsara Flame, a cosmic force beyond the duo''s understanding, suddenly froze before exploding with an aura full of rage and hatred. That rage was so potent that it froze Cain and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. The duo were some of the top masters of Aether, yet in front of the rage and hatred coming from the Samsara Flame, they felt no different than an ant. Luckily for the duo, the pressure did not last long. The Samsara Flame''s rage retracted the next second, consuming the evil halberd and black root and generating a simply astonishing amount of Fortune. Cain was shocked to see that the amount of Fortune generated was nearly three times the one he obtained from the first time he performed a sacrifice, and back then, he had the First Time Bonus. However, his focus soon turned back to the Samsara Flame as an imposing voice emerged from this one, and this time, he felt a wisp of willpower. For the first time since he had come to this place, Cain felt a wisp of the will from the flame. It seemed to connect him to an entity that was at an unimaginable distance. It was so pure and majestic that the duo nearly fell to their knees and began to bow. "How dare those corrupted entities stand in the same place as my flame! Burn all of them, and I will give you treasures you cannot even imagine. I want their entire existence erased from this plane of existence!" Chapter 803: Codex of Infinite Pathways (I) Cain was shocked to see just how much rage and hatred the creator of the Samsara Flame harbored toward the Depraved Race. However, this also made him smile. The Depravita Race seemed to come from a plane or world that was countless times more advanced than Aether, so he was happy to see that while they were powerful, they also had very strong enemies that wanted to see them burn. The intent did not vanish as it seemed to focus on Cain, causing a strange light to appear in the young man''s eyes. It was as if someone was watching him from the other side of the flame, but the distance was so great they could only hear their voices, like two people shouting from hundreds of miles apart in a street covered by thick fog. "Choose, young man. Do you follow the Path of the Warrior, charging alone into the most dangerous situations, rising and depending only on your power, or the Lord''s Path, guiding the world and its people, using their power as yours?" Cain''s eyes widened as he heard those words. It seemed that the intent inside the Samsara Flame would help him with the Gift instead of just relying on luck. He knew this was a critical question, so he did not take it lightly and put a lot of thought into the answer. Finally, after a minute, a sharp and decisive light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he spoke. "I follow the Lord''s Path." Although Cain liked to rely on his own strength and had always paid extreme attention to his talent and cultivation, he had increasingly come to rely on the people around him, and they did not disappoint him. Even during the fight for Silver City, when he was captured inside the Crown Prince''s black hole, he would have perished if not for the dozens of powerhouses striking from the outside. The more his warriors grew powerful and nurtured, the more benefits Cain received, and every time they proved he was doing the right thing by keeping them by his side. Of course, he would not disregard his own power but would use this opportunity to improve his warriors, who had put their faith in him and gained his trust. The will inside the Samsara Flame remained silent for a moment before a small laugh emerged. "Hahaha, good. I like that. Some say that your own power will never fail you, but the right people will never disappoint you." Cain could not help but smile as he heard the approving tone in that voice. The person on the other side must be a hegemon among hegemonies, and he was glad to see someone like that would approve his path. The next second, a massive amount of Fortune in the ceiling began to condense, and before long, a book appeared. It was small, with a size not different than an encyclopedia, yet a sense of utter awe assaulted the hearts of Cain and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar as they watched it. The book''s cover was adorned with intricate designs that move and change, and just focusing on them evoked powers that stood on a much higher realm than the duo could currently comprehend. "That is the Codex of Infinite Pathways. It could be classified as a Tier Zero Treasure, but its power and realm is much higher. It adapts to the reality in which it is currently located and taps into the Laws and primordial forces to fill its pages. You will understand its power after using it. There is still a lot of Fortune left. Do you want all of it to become Merit or wish for another Gift?" Those words drew Cain''s attention back, and a smile appeared as he turned toward the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. "I would like a treasure for my man. Something he can use to hide his presence and identity in the future." The intent turned toward the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, making the man feel stiff. The presence was simply too overwhelming. Luckily, the will soon took its intent away, and part of the Fortune in the ceiling transformed into a new treasure. Soon, a black cloak appeared on the ceiling. It resembled a shifting, almost translucent garment that reflected the surrounding environment and seemed to flicker in and out of existence, as elusive as the shadows it commands. "This is the Nihility Veil. It can be considered a Tier I Treasure. It will hide the presence of your body and soul and can also change your soul aura and even the aspect of your attacks, so even when you show yourself, people will have a hard time realizing your true identity." Cain and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar gazed at the cloak with awe and smiles. It was the perfect treasure for the man who would become the Scarlet Sword of Humanity. With it, his identity would still be a mystery even if the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar appeared in the future. "Well, that is all for now. We will speak again, young man, once you open the Second Layer. Until then, good luck, and remember to burn as much of those corrupted things in the Samsara Flame." The Scarlet King could feel how the will in the Samsara Flame vanished. While he was full of questions, he knew an entity like that would not pay too much attention to someone like him unless he truly proved himself. However, he did not have much time for those thoughts since there was still a lot of Fortune in the ceiling, which flashed the next second into his right hand, fusing into the Tier I Rebirth Mark. "Thump!" The Rebirth Mark seemed to echo like a heartbeat just before the runic formation began to extend and grow larger. It was so painful that Cain could not stand straight and fell to his knees onto the ground as the runic lines began to expand into his forearm. Chapter 804: Codex of Infinite Pathways (II) The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar could see the agony in Cain''s eyes, but he could do nothing. He had also experienced the pain of the Rebirth Mark radically growing, and it was not a joke. Cain clenched his fists so hard that his palms began to bleed. He just kept enduring the pain until, finally, the runic lines stopped expanding, allowing him to relax. Cold sweat covered his entire body, but a smile appeared on his face as he gazed at the runic lines wrapping his whole forearm. "Congratulations. You have accumulated enough Merit to evolve your Tier I Rebirth Mark into a Tier II Rebirth Mark. You can now burn 50% of your life force without permanent repercussions. It will heal over time, or you can speed it up using treasures. Continue the hard work to unlock the complete Rebirth Knight Runic Set. The more precious the sacrifice, the better. I also like evil things, so make sure to bring me sinful entities." The voice from the Samsara Flame emerged, but there was no will this time, just a preprogrammed message. Cain was not surprised as he was sure he would only interact with that entity again once he reached the Second Layer of the [Samsara Arsenal Module]. He stood up before glancing at the Codex of Infinite Pathways and the Nihility Veil. There was no hesitation on Cain''s face as he sent his Ego Wave into The Codex of Infinite Pathways. He expected the treasure to absorb the energy of his willpower, just like all others, but something else happened. Shock appeared in Cain''s eyes as the Codex of Infinite Pathways bound his Ego Wave for a moment. Before he could do anything, it seemed to harmonize with his willpower, and it started to read his memories! No matter the treasure''s origin or its value, Cain would never allow anything to search through his memories. After all, he had too many secrets, such as being a Reincarnator, the Absolute Life Form System, and Apex. However, just as he was about to take drastic action, Cain realized that the Codex of Infinite Pathways just went through the memories related to his common knowledge of the world. And even if he wanted to do something, it was so fast that before he could react, the Codex of Infinite Pathways cut its connection with his memories. The next second, the Codex of Infinite Pathways began to vibrate and released shockwaves of multicolored power that seemed to fuse with the Laws of the universe, making shock and awe appear in Cain and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. They remembered how the entity inside the Samsara Flame told them that the Codex of Infinite Pathways would adapt to the reality in which it found itself, using the Laws and cosmic force to fill its pages. Honestly, the duo believed this was hyperbole, as the notion that something like that could happen was simply absurd, yet it occurred right before their eyes. The next second, The Codex of Infinite Pathways opened, showing pages not made of paper but of a material that seems to shift between states of matter and energy. That was already amazing enough, but then it began seemingly drawing power from the multicolored web to which it was connected, and letters started appearing on its pages that glow with a majestic inner light. It became clear to Cain and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar that the core concepts and principles of the Codex of Infinite Pathways were in a realm far beyond their understanding. After its pages were filled, the Codex of Infinite Pathways flashed toward Cain, appearing in his grip the next second. The young man glanced at the book with wonder and awe, but while he was full of curiosity, he did not open it inside the sacrificial ground. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar could not take his eyes off the codex, but as he felt the gaze of the Scarlet King, he nodded and turned his focus to the Nihility Veil. This treasure acted like the others, and once it bound with the man''s willpower, it fused with his body. "My King, this veil is an absolute treasure of cloaking powers. The best thing is that it doesn''t demand insight or understanding, only energy." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar could not be happier. He did not really focus on powers related to cloaking and was not very talented in them, so if the treasures demanded understanding, like the Gravity Fall Armor or his Abyssal Frost Falchion, he would have a hard time using it. Cain nodded, and then the duo performed a small bow to the Samsara Flame. Even if the entity''s will had faded, being respectful was always a good idea, especially when talking about an entity in a realm you could not even comprehend. After that, the Scarlet King and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar left the Sacrificial Ground, reaching the middle of the First Layer before turning their eyes to the Codex of Infinite Pathways. Cain focused on the Codex of Infinite Pathways, and his eyes grew sharp. Although he was still slightly disturbed by the codex reading his mind, he did not hesitate and sent his Ego Wave into it. The next second, the Codex of Infinite Pathways flew out of his hand, rising into the air before a voice echoed inside his mind. [Solve the puzzles and face the challenges.] A flash of surprise appeared on Cain''s face as he heard a voice similar to the Absolute Life Form System''s robotic nature. He then saw all sorts of puzzles and theoretical challenges appear in front of his eyes. They seemed like games at first, but if you focused on them, you could see all sorts of insights regarding different aspects of cultivation and even professions. "James, try to send your Ego Wave into the Codex of Infinite Pathways." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar did not hesitate. He was also curious about the codex and sent his Ego Wave toward it. Chapter 805: Codex of Infinite Pathways (III) "Oh, my King, it presented all sorts of puzzles and theoretical challenges." Cain smiled as he heard that. It seemed that multiple people could use the Codex of Infinite Pathways simultaneously without drawbacks. "As expected from a treasure of the Lord''s Path. Let''s carry on and put all our efforts into them." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar nodded, and he and the Scarlet King adopted meditative positions on the ground as they went through the puzzles and challenges of The Codex of Infinite Pathways. They were very complicated, and each trial had different degrees of success. The Scarlet King took nearly five hours to finish, and a virtual screen appeared before his eyes the next second. [Talent degree: Essence Evolution Path of Power: S+ Astral Evolution Path of Power: S+ Ego Eternal Path of Power: S Genetic Coding: S+ Tribulation Enhancement: S+ Wave Crafting: B+ Runic Master: B Alchemy Master: B] Cain was honestly shocked by the screen that appeared the next second. He had suspicions, but now it was clear; those puzzles and challenges were to measure his talent in the different Paths of Power and Professions. He then turned to the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and a screen appeared above the man. [Talent degree: Essence Evolution Path of Power: C Astral Evolution Path of Power: A Ego Eternal Path of Power: A+ Genetic Coding: C+ Tribulation Enhancement: C+ Wave Crafting: C+ Runic Master: C+ Alchemy Master: C+] Cain was ecstatic as he realized that the codex also showed the degree of talent of the people around him who took the test. The talents of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar were much less than his, with many C+, but the man did not take the path of Professions or show any interest in them. While the talents in the Astral Evolution Path of Power and Ego Eternal Path of Power were just A and A+, that did not mean they could not improve. After all, with the Tier I Rebirth Mark, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar could redo his Flesh Calamity and Bone Calamity, pushing his talent forward. While the talent screen might not seem like much, it was an excellent tool. On a personal level, it allowed people to focus on their talents and not waste time on things they had little chance of success. It was better to be excellent in one aspect than average in many. It was also a perfect tool for a Lord, allowing Cain to see those with great talent and fully exploit their abilities. Cain''s smile was full of thrill as he knew that the Talent Test was just the start. As he focused once more on the codex, all sorts of information flooded his mind. He could see hundreds of cultivation paths, each extremely detailed, and there were even descriptions of the True Tribulations and True Calamities. Those were forces that, until Cain, were unknown to the public eye. That was amazing, but what Cain saw next filled his heart with shock. The Codex of Infinite Pathways described cultivation techniques that allowed the cultivation base and Profession to work in synergy! One of the most important reasons people left their Profession to the side was that they chose to focus on their cultivation base. After all, no matter how good you were in a Profession, a powerful cultivation base would give you strength and a life span, which are goals that all people pursue one way or the other. However, there were actually cultivation techniques that fused the advancement of your Profession with your cultivation base! A Profession did not need to take away time from your cultivation, and they could work flawlessly in synergy; people in Aether just thought they had to choose one or the other because their understanding of cultivation was too shallow! Of course, those who followed this type of cultivation techniques and paths did not excel in battle power. Yet, it was still an excellent choice for those who wanted to dedicate themselves solely to their Professions. "?Hahahahaha!" Cain could not help but start laughing. This Codex of Infinite Pathways was simply incredible, as it would help him and all the people who stood by his side. With it, they would no longer be limited by Aether''s shallow cultivation civilization, allowing them to grow in power immensely fast! The Scarlet King and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar immersed themselves in the knowledge contained in the Codex of Infinite Pathways. Cain focused on the descriptions of the True Calamities and True Tribulations, and as he had guessed, there was indeed a Hidden Calamity and Hidden Tribulations. He focused on them, trying to understand them as best as possible to improve his chances of survival and take full advantage of them. The Codex of Infinite Pathways was even more helpful for the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. Although Aether''s cultivation civilization was shallow, it still presented a thorough and pretty good analysis of the Ranks before the Divine Ascension Realm. However, once you reach the Divine Ascension Realm, everything changes. The knowledge in Aether was pitifully low, to the point that they did not even know the Rank after the Divine Ascension Realm and how to prepare themselves for it. Luckily, the Codex of Infinite Pathways contained all the information he could want, including the names of the Ranks. Cain only removed his mind from the Codex of Infinite Pathways after five hours. He then stood up and glanced at the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, who was still in deep meditation, reviewing the knowledge inside the codex. The Scarlet King did not disturb the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and silently exited the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer, appearing in the underground room. Without wasting time, he teleported, appearing in front of the Imperial Abode the next second. He sent a message through his [A.I. Chip Module], and after almost a minute, the gates opened up, revealing the Collapsing Lightning Emperor on the other side. "My King." The Collapsing Lightning Emperor had been cultivating inside. He politely bowed toward Cain, who calmly entered before extending his hand. The next second, a massive amount of energy gathered in the Imperial Abode''s center before a strange portal appeared. "That is a portal to the Samsara Dimension." Chapter 806: Hidden Calamity (I) The Collapsing Lightning Emperor''s eyes widened, and a feeling of thrill filled his heart as he heard those words. The Samsara Dimension was known to him as the realm containing the Samsara Flame. That dimension was nothing short of a cultivation haven, with the pink mist capable of exponentially increasing his cognitive abilities and cultivation speed. It also contained a battleground with an endless supply of Soul Automatons, where even he could safely push himself beyond his limits. The Samsara Dimension was even better than the Imperial Abode. Still, since entry and exit were solely through the Scarlet King, using it had all sorts of limits and inconveniences. However, if a portal that provided direct access appeared, it would fix all that. Cain''s eyes were sharp as he stared at the portal. He had created it using the [Samsara Anchor] tool, which cost him 150 million of his Destiny Force. Although he had gained a massive amount in the past months due to his overwhelming influence and effect on Gaia, this still drained nearly 20% of his total Destiny Force. However, it was necessary for his plans to work, as he couldn''t constantly send everyone in and out. The Scarlet King then turned toward the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, pointed at him, and sent a small beam of purple energy that coalesced into his left hand, forming a small pentagon. "You now control this Samsara Portal and decide who gets in and out. It''s your mission to protect this portal. You cannot let anyone damage it." The Collapsing Lightning Emperor''s eyes grew sharp as he glanced at the pentagon in his hand and understood its value and importance. Determination appeared on his face as he performed a solemn bow. "I will kill anyone that even thinks of harming the Samsara Portal, my King." Cain saw the resolution in the eyes of the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and nodded before turning his gaze to the Silver City. His eyes glowed with red light as he found the person he sought. Prime Minister Minxet was at his desk, and there was nothing in front of him; he was just sitting still. If anyone thought the man was wasting his time, they did not know him at all. There were dozens of virtual screens that only Prime Minister Minxet could see, each depicting some important event related to the Godslayer Humankind Empire. Although he had already reforged the Imperial Court, putting competent people in charge, he still did not feel confident delegating many essential tasks. "Minxet." Suddenly, the Scarlet King''s voice echoed inside Minxet''s head. He immediately stood up, pushed the virtual screens away, and performed a bow, even though he was alone. "My King." "Search for 300 Wave Crafters, 300 Genetic Coders, 300 Runic Masters, and 300 Alchemy Masters. Their talent and abilities are important, but their character and loyalty are even more important. Tell them I will impart a course for them, but if they choose to enroll, they could spend decades away from their homes with zero contact with the outside world." Now that Cain had the Codex of Infinite Pathways, he was determined to use it, taking full advantage of the masters in Gaia. Although he would have also liked to create Tribulation Enhancement Masters, it was not so simple. He had already made a guide for Tribulation Enhancement and told Minxet to spread it across the Empire, but no genius had emerged, and it was not practical to search for one among the trillions of life forms in Gaia. "A direct tutelage from you, my King!?" Prime Minister Minxet could not believe the words he had just heard. A direct tutorship from the Scarlet King was something even powerhouses in Aether could only dream of, yet it was about to happen. "Yes. Also, search for the 10,000 most talented and powerful warriors across the Empire and offer them the same chance. Remember, it''s important they are strong, but even more important that they are loyal and ready to accept severing any contact with the outside world." Minxet''s eyes grew sharp the next second. If the Scarlet King spoke only about professions, it was one thing, but if he also sought ten thousand mighty warriors, it very well meant he was building a new force. In Prime Minister Minxet''s mind, the Scarlet King''s importance and significance to the Godslayer Humankind Empire was much greater than the Emperor''s, as anything he sought was for the improvement and growth of the Godslayer Humankind Civilization. "I will immediately address the task, my King. In five days, I will have all the masters and warriors you require." Cain nodded as he was satisfied with Minxet''s timeline when suddenly a sharp light appeared in his eyes. "The Collapsing Lightning Emperor will handle those people and guide them to the cultivation ground. You must also establish a supply line so we can satisfy all the masters'' and warriors'' needs for materials and cultivation resources." "Yes, my King." The Collapsing Lightning Emperor had heard the conversation between the Scarlet King and Prime Minister Minxet and was slightly confused. Although he would carry out any order that the Scarlet King gave him, he did not have the ability to train all those people. Cain did not speak and simply guided the Collapsing Lightning Emperor into the portal. The duo crossed it and found themselves in the center of the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer the next second. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor''s eyes immediately went to the majestic book floating in the sky. It was the first time he saw it, but he could feel the power of the Codex of Infinite Pathways. "Is there anyone else but the two of us in this place?" The Scarlet King''s words woke the Collapsing Lightning Emperor from his trance. When he saw the sharpness in those fiery red eyes, he immediately pushed his perception to the limit but found nothing. His eyes glowed with red flames as he unleashed his Ego Wave, and a sharp light appeared in them as he turned to the side. "I detect a subtle presence, my King, but I cannot tell where it is or if it is even a person." A smile appeared in Cain''s eyes as he heard that. The duo was not alone, as the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar was close to them. The man was in a trance during the training, and the Nihility Veil managed to hide him even from the Ego Wave of someone as strong as the Collapsing Lightning Emperor. Of course, things would be much different if the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar moved or used his energy. "Don''t worry. Just focus on the Codex of Infinite Pathways, send your Ego Wave, and solve the puzzles and theoretical challenges to the best of your abilities." The Collapsing Lightning Emperor was curious about the presence, but the book was much more interesting, and he did not hesitate before sending his Ego Wave in. Just as Cain told him, there were all sorts of puzzles and challenges, and he pushed his focus to the peak as he tackled them. Cain sat on the ground and meditated for a few hours until a virtual screen appeared above the Collapsing Lightning Emperor. [Talent degree: Essence Evolution Path of Power: C- Astral Evolution Path of Power: S- Ego Eternal Path of Power: A- Genetic Coding: C Tribulation Enhancement: C Wave Crafting: B- Runic Master: C Alchemy Master: B-] A wide smile appeared on Cain''s face as he saw the talent degree chart. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor''s talent in the Astral Evolution Path of Power was greater than that of the First Collapsing Lightning, most likely due to this one''s experiencing a True Flesh Calamity and a 24 Revolution Refinement. However, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor''s talent in the Ego Eternal Path of Power was weaker, most likely because he did not really focus on Concepts. Luckily, that was easier to fix, especially with the help of the Codex of Infinite Pathways. After finishing the puzzles and theoretical challenges, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor saw the screen displaying his talents, but his focus immediately turned to the codex. The ocean of knowledge left him full of awe and wonder, making his eyes glow with thrill and excitement as a smile appeared on his face. He immediately found the answer to so many questions that had blocked his cultivation path, all so clear and well-defined that even a child could understand them. "Amazing." That was the only way the Collapsing Lightning Emperor could describe the ocean of information inside the codex. Cain smiled but suddenly frowned as a flash of pain assaulted him. He took a deep breath as he regained control. "You will handle the people that will come here. Guide them through the use of the codex." Cain did not even wait for the Collapsing Lightning Emperor to respond before leaving the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer, appearing in the Silver City before immediately teleporting into the sky. His power and energy exploded as he focused on the distance and triggered Inter-Sector Teleportation. Chapter 807: Hidden Calamity (II) Cain went through several Inter-Sector Teleportations before finally reaching the Collapsing Lightning State. "?BOOM!" Space around him shattered due to the ricochet effect on the fabric of space, and the backlash of the teleportation made his internal organs tremble for a moment, but Cain''s eyes were sharp as he gazed at the massive mountain in front of him. "Blade Mountain. It has been a long time since that mission." Cain smiled as he remembered those days. It had been less than a decade, but it felt like hundreds of years had passed. After the opening of Blade Mountain''s Natural Inheritance, the place''s energy flow weakened tremendously, and you could barely notice the presence of Wave Champion Beasts now. Although it had been several years, Cain spent months in this place, where he obtained his Sonic Blade Fusion Technique and began to take his first steps beyond a mere soldier and toward the realm of powerhouses. That was why he chose it to face the Hidden Calamity. Cain would be absent for an extended period of time but was not worried. After all, he had already restored order to the Godslayer Humankind Empire and ensured its power and foundation. If they could not endure a few months without him, then the empire would be nothing but a joke and unworthy of being one of the six greater powers of Aether. A new flash of pain assaulted Cain, making him clench his teeth. He could not endure much longer, so he flashed down, fusing with the earth as he began to dive, going thousands upon thousands of meters underground. Only after going several hundred kilometers underground did Cain stop, waving his hand and creating an enormous underground cave. He then took out nine Battle Puppets from his space ring and placed them all around the cave. Cain obtained those Battle Puppets from slayed enemies, and while they could not threaten him, they could face Titans and Gods. Things did not end there as Cain''s Space-Time Eye began to glow, and he channeled his Ego Wave, creating all sorts of runic seals around the cave. They would hide his presence, and the only way to see through them would be to deploy an understanding of the Laws of Space superior to Cain''s. Although Cain did not have the habit of bragging about his achievements, he knew that when it came to the Law of Space, he might be the greatest master in all of Aether, so he was sure about the cloaking power of the seal. The Hidden Calamity would leave Cain in a dangerous state, and it would also be hazardous for the people around him. That was why he chose a desolate place, which he found familiar, empty, and where he could not harm anyone. After ensuring everything was in order, and no one could disturb him, Cain adopted a meditative position on the ground. He closed his eyes, no longer suppressing his Astral Rebirth cultivation, allowing the Hidden Calamity to explode with all its power. The next second, Cain''s Astral Rebirth Path of Power burst with strength, but it was not his Astral Wave or physical body that bore the brunt of the Hidden Calamity, but something else. Cain''s entire body trembled as his Ego Wave flooded the underground cave. The Hidden Calamity was the Mind Calamity, and what would be destroyed and reconstructed was not his flesh or bones but his Ego Wave, the core manifestation of Cain''s willpower and self-awareness. Thanks to the Codex of Infinite Pathways, Cain had learned all he needed about the Mind Calamity. Unlike the True Flesh Calamity and True Bone Calamity, which required massive amounts of vitality, the Mind Calamity did not require an outside force as the world and stars would give you all you needed. ''First step. Dissolution of the Mind.'' Just as that thought crossed Cain''s mind, his deepest fears, doubts, and insecurities began to flourish with overwhelming power. As a Master of Order, Cain''s willpower instinctively attempted to shut those negative emotions down, but he had to stop that process. He needed the dark and negative emotions to flourish with as much power as possible. The emotions became increasingly potent, and Cain could not help but start to tremble. The Dissolution of the Mind was characterized by intense psychological turmoil, as it forced the cultivator to confront aspects of themselves they may have ignored or suppressed. Fear began to arise in Cain''s heart. He dreaded what would happen if the danger looming in the darkness was simply too great and managed to overwhelm Gaia, killing everybody who trusted him. However, another fear also arose, as he dreaded that remaining in Aether much longer would harm his talent and foundation, breaking his glorious path, which might lead him to resent all the people he stayed to protect. More and more of those emotions and negative thoughts arose in Cain''s mind and soul, making the fear, dread, and apprehension reach their zenith and keep growing. It was a torturous process, but it worked as the overwhelming psychological pressure began destabilizing the red force field. The psychological torment continued for several weeks until finally the pressure and instability became so powerful that they triggered the dissolution of the red force field. Usually, it would only take a few days, but Cain''s Ego Wave was too massive after devouring all those God''s Ego Waves in the Tower of Concepts. As soon as the Ego Wave dissolution occurred, Cain''s entire body trembled, and he lost the ability to think. The Ego Wave was the quintessential manifestation of Cain''s willpower and personality, the essence of his memories and thoughts. With it dissolved, he could not think, much less control his body. According to the Codex of Infinite Pathways, this was a critical point in the Mind Tribulation and the most dangerous part. If the cultivator''s willpower were not strong enough, they would be unable to advance to the next part, and their Ego Wave would slowly dissipate, leading to their deaths! Chapter 808: Hidden Calamity (III) Some Astral Cultivators would face an even worse fate, as they would not die; their bodies carried on without the willpower to control them, transforming them into killing machines that would destroy everything around them and would continue to slaughter until there was nothing left. That was the main reason Cain did not want to do this in a populated area, much less in Silver City. After all, if he went crazy, who could stop him? Cain remained unmoving for several minutes. Yet, before the Ego Wave could dissipate, a dot of light emerged at the deepest part of his eyes, one that embodied pure willpower without any rational thought. "?AHHHHHHH!" Along with that roar, Cain''s Astral Rebirth Heart began to beat faster and faster, glowing with overwhelming power as it interacted with the Laws of the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. All the Wave Beasts in Blade Mountain looked to the sky in awe and wonder. They saw how the stars began to shine with such intensity that they were visible even during the day. While the beasts were lost in their trance, invisible starlight streams descended, crossing hundreds of kilometers of earth and rock before reaching Cain''s dissolved Ego Wave. The second step of the Mind Tribulation was known as Starlight Infusion. It involved fusing the power of Astral Starlight, the energy that Astral Divine Ascension Cultivators used to reforge their bodies in the Star Sovereign Divine System. Astral Starlight was commonly known to be a power only Divine Ascension Masters could channel. Yet, Cain had already proved that to be a mistake when he summoned it by triggering a 25 Revolution Refinement, and he was doing it again during the Mind Calamity. More and more Astral Starlight began to fuse into the dissolved red force field. The more starlight that could be ingrained into the Ego Wave, the better, as it would improve the warriors'' power. Usually, it would take a few weeks, with geniuses taking over a month, but Cain''s case was special. The abnormal size of his Ego Wave meant that the amount of Astral Starlight he could engrave was much greater. More and more starlight fused into his willpower until finally, after nearly three months, nothing more could be contained. After the starlight saturated the Ego Wave, the Rebirth Heart inside Cain''s body pulsed with strength again. However, it was not just strength that it carried since it revealed a rhythm that began to resonate with the dissolved red force field. The red force field began to tremble, and as if following the melody of Cain''s heartbeat, it began to reassemble. It was a slow process, but after a few days, Cain''s eyes began to glow with a sharper light until finally, he managed to regain his ability to think. There was confusion in Cain''s eyes, and he felt his mind extremely heavy as his willpower had yet to reform completely. Gazing at his Ego Wave and noticing the massive amount of starlight inside it, a sense of focus and direction appeared in his eyes, and he carried on with the last step of the Mind Tribulation. Starlight Conduits Formation. The goal of the Astral Starlight was not just to flood the Ego Wave. Cain needed to integrate the starlight into his willpower and forge the Starlight Mind Conduits. Pushing his focus to the absolute limit, Cain began to condense the Astral Starlight into channels designed to hold and direct the flow of the Astral Wave. The Starlight Mind Conduits would allow Cain to contain and channel Astral Wave not just with his body but also his willpower, exponentially increasing his mental defense and his energy pool. However, one could say that the most critical effect of the Mind Calamity was the help it would grant during the Divine Ascension Realm. Now that Cain had fused Astral Starlight into his willpower, he would develop a more intuitive connection with the Laws of the Star Sovereign Divine System, improving his talent and cultivation speed even further. The Codex of Infinite Pathways described how to build robust and powerful Starlight Mind Conduits, so Cain did not lose time and flawlessly blended them with the Ego Wave while it was reconstructed. The Starlight Conduits Formation took less time than the previous steps, and after a few days, Cain finished it and completed the reconstruction of his Ego Wave. As soon as he did that, a sense of immense hunger assailed him, not for food but for energy, as if his energy pool was drained and needed to be replenished. The next second, Cain waved his hand, taking several supreme wave crystals and consuming their energy. A sharp light appeared in his eyes as he saw how the spider web that filled his Ego Wave began to fill with dark purple energy, and his reserves of Astral Wave began to rise higher and higher. Even with the supreme wave crystals, it took several hours for Cain to fully restore his energy pool to the limit. He then sent his Ego Wave back into his brain, and in the next second, his body burst with an overwhelming amount of power. The immense amount of Astral Wave flowing through his body was overwhelmingly high, and it began to nurture every muscle fiber and bone cell. Cain''s body kept growing more powerful, and his strength, vitality, and speed rose to a higher level. "RUMBLE!" The gargantuan underground cave began to shatter due to the overwhelming power that Cain unleashed, and the shock waves emanating from his body sent the Battle Puppets flying away. Cain could not help but smile as everything around him was shattering to pieces due to the intoxicating feeling of strength that flowed through his body. "?Hahahaha!" Cain only laughed as he waved his hand, sending the Battle Puppets back into his space ring and leaving the underground cave. He appeared thousands of kilometers above the sky the next second, releasing waves upon waves of energy into the sky. ''System.'' The Absolute Life Form System immediately understood Cain''s request and began the analysis. Chapter 809: New framework: Neo-Demon [Scanning Vessel... Scan of Vessel completed. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Mind Calamity) / Essence Evolution (Fire Tribulation) Lineage: Sun Master Lineage Wave Talent: ??? ... Stats: Strength: 2290.1 --> 2775.6 (3502.2) Agility: 950.4 --> 1180.1 (1535.1) Vitality: 1938.2 --> 2363.6 (3105.2) Astral Wave: 1022.2 --> 1905.3 (2601.7) Essence Wave: 1411.3 --> 1538.3 (1999.6) Soul Force: ??? ... Astral Blood Saturation: 100% Completion Law Mastery: Law of Space (Deep Law Integration) Earth Law (Deep Law Integration) Water Law (Deep Law Integration) Fire Law (Extreme Law Integration) Wind Law (Deep Law Integration) Note: Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 16.7%. Note: Natural energy has enhanced every aspect of the Vessel''s physical body, including the Astral Wave and Essence Wave. The current value is marked between ().] Cain couldn''t help but smile as he saw those numbers. His Astral Wave had grown immensely, and his body was now even more formidable. A sharp light appeared in his eyes as he interacted with the system again. "System, show me the base stats of a Divine Ascension Master in Aether?" [Analyzing Task .... .... Base Stats for an Astral Early Divine Ascension Master vary according to their cultivation technique. However, their strongest physical stats usually never surpass 1500 points, and their energy pool varies between 800 and 1500 points.] "Hahahaha. I have yet to reach the Divine Ascension Realm, and each of my stats is higher than that, even my speed, which is my weakest. I am simply too amazing!" Cain would usually not succumb to those emotions of pride and arrogance, even if there was room for such a thing. However, the previous ordeal had left his mind in a sensitive state, so his emotions were explosive. "Mmm, those numbers are simply too high and becoming cumbersome. I found some knowledge about a race that you could use as the standard framework for your stats in the Codex of Infinite Pathways. It was supposed to be a powerful race reaching the Divine Realm upon maturity." Cain heard Apex''s voice echo inside his mind, and a flash of confusion appeared in his eyes. He did not remember seeing that information in the codex. Yet again, there was simply too much knowledge in the codex, and he only focused on the information that was useful to him. "A race that reached the Divine Ascension Realm upon maturity. Interesting." Although such a powerful race might sound shocking, Cain was already aware of beings of incredible power upon birth, such as the Primordial Race. "It would indeed be a good idea for me to change the standard framework, as the numbers now are simply too high. However, will it work? After all, I dual cultivate and train my willpower, which also needs to be measured." "That is no problem. Each member of this race also cultivates Laws, body, and mind simultaneously." "Really? All three paths simultaneously?" Cain was shocked, and a meaningful light appeared in his eyes as he imagined that race. Then, a sharp light appeared in his eyes as he nodded. "Do it." As soon as Cain said that, Apex went into action, feeding the system the information. The next second, the virtual screen appeared in his sight once more. [Changing standard framework from Godslayer Human to Neo-Demon. ... ... ... Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Mind Calamity) / Essence Evolution (Fire Tribulation) Lineage: Sun Master Lineage Wave Talent: Low Emperor Neo-Demon ... Stats: Strength: 1.3 (1.6) Agility: 0.4 (0.5) Vitality: 1.1 (1.4) Astral Wave: 1.0 (1.3) Essence Wave: 0.8 (1.1) Soul Force: 1.3 Ego Wave: 0.9 ... Astral Blood Saturation: 100% Completion Law Mastery: Law of Space (Deep Law Integration) Earth Law (Deep Law Integration) Water Law (Deep Law Integration) Fire Law (Extreme Law Integration) Wind Law (Deep Law Integration) Note: Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 16.7%. Note: Natural energy has enhanced every aspect of the Vessel''s physical body, including the Astral Wave and Essence Wave. The current value is marked between ().] Cain''s previous smile, full of bravado and pride, froze as he saw those stats. He was bragging about his majestic talent and stats, and he barely rose above 1 point with the new standard framework. "Hahahaha, well done, brat. Look at you; nearly all your stats equal that of an adult Neo-Demon while still in the Apotheosis Realm. Of course, that is just a standard Neo-Demon, but it is still very impressive." Apex''s words echoed inside Cain''s mind, and while they sounded like a compliment, how could Cain not notice the mocking tone. He looked at the stats again and knew that the Absolute Life Form System would not lie to him. Although his skills and Laws would allow him to display power much higher than his base stats, based only on the raw data, he could barely clash with one or two Neo-Demons that had just entered adulthood before being overwhelmed. Cain was considered the zenith of the Aether Continent, so seeing those stats was a heavy blow to his ego. However, soon his eyes began to glow with red light as the Power of Order restored his emotional control. "Neo-Demon Race. Mmm, interesting." A defiant light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he felt a new goal to overcome. After getting over the blow to his pride, he focused on his stats, and a smile appeared. Now that the Absolute Life Form System has used the new framework, it can measure not only his Soul Force but also his Ego Wave. It could also once again measure his Wave Talent, which, in essence, meant his cultivation speed and how far he could advance if he did not keep improving. Although he had no idea what Low Emperor Neo-Demon was, it would still help him keep an idea of his improvement in the future. After taking care of everything, Cain took a deep breath before exhaling, allowing himself to accommodate his new power. Only then did he open his channels and go through his messages. Immediately, a sharp and solemn light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he saw a message. It was urgent and did not come from Gaia but from Atlas. Luckily, it had only arrived less than two days ago. He immediately opened it and saw two words. Dark Sky. Chapter 810: Dark Sky For the children of the Godslayer Humankind, Atlas was nothing short of hell. It was a place filled with monsters that would rip them and their families to pieces if they ever crossed into Gaia. However, if you were actually to see and experience life in the Inferno Daemon Empire, you would realize that Inferno Daemons were no different than Godslayer Humans. There were definitely evil individuals who could butcher without remorse, but those were the exceptions, and there was no shortage of them in Gaia. Most Inferno Daemons were just ordinary people going about their daily lives, caring for their families, and full of dreams. They indeed had tendencies like the barbaric nature of those of the Abyssal Clan and the scheming one from those of the Hell Clan, but it was no different than humans'' greedy nature. It was just an aspect of their personality, nothing more and nothing less, and did not dictate what type of person they would grow up to be. The Inferno Daemon Empire had experienced an age of prosperity and improvement during the past hundreds of years under the Dark Emperor. The man was a very powerful True God and a renowned Alchemy Master, with his potions and drugs saving many heroes of the empire from losing their cultivation or certain death. But it was not just the Dark Emperor who excelled, as his Seventh Son was just as impressive. Horus Ekleipsis had been a supreme genius from a very young age, reaching the Divine Ascension Realm before turning 100. Horus'' fame reached its peak during The Great Cataclysm. He was fast and decisive, mobilizing over half of the Imperial Army and all the True Gods in a very short time, protecting all the coastal cities in Atlas and saving billions of lives. Having the Imperial Army and over 80% of the True Gods in the Inferno Daemon Empire protecting the coastal cities would have left an opening for the monsters in the south. Yet, Horus once again proved his might as he established an alliance with a rogue human organization that clashed with the humans just as they prepared to march into Atlas. The last part was not how things went down, but it was easy to trick people when they wanted to believe the lie. Anyway, the last years were peaceful and quiet for the Inferno Daemon Empire, but everything good had to end. --- There was a massive man nearly four meters tall with a muscular, towering body. He was a middle-aged Abyssal Demon man with a very handsome face, black eyes, and irises. His power was overwhelming, yet his eyes were full of fear and worry as he gazed at the dark fog that spread through the earth and sky before him. This unknown force manifested a week ago, covering the 11 Sectors in hours! No one saw where it came from, but before the Inferno Daemon Empire could even react, they lost all communication with the billions of lives in it. Not even the Divine Ascension Masters in those Sectors were able to escape the dark fog, and no one heard from them again. The loss of 11 Sectors was shocking enough news for the Inferno Daemon Empire, but things did not end there. Before the day ended, a horde with millions of monsters resembling wicked insects emerged from the other Sectors. The Insect Army killed countless people in a ferocious rampage across the Sectors on the periphery of the Dark Fog. Of course, the Inferno Daemon Emperor and the Imperial Court would not simply stand such carnage in their domain, so they immediately sent the Imperial Army to clash with those monsters. But after the initial charge, those creatures immediately returned to the dark, toxic fog, dragging all the corpses of the slain with them. The Imperial Army did not dare hastily enter the dark, toxic fog. People beneath the Apotheosis Realm could not resist inside, and even Divine Ascension Masters felt their strength diminish. They did not want to make a mistake, as they were not even aware of the enemy''s nature yet. The Dark Emperor was not a coward, but neither was he a fool. He ordered the evacuation of the Sectors around the Dark Fog before preparing a well-coordinated charge, the one leading it no other than the Hero of the Inferno Daemon Race, Horus Ekleipsis. Horus led a force with five True Gods, fifty Gods, three hundred Divine Ascension Masters, and fifty thousand Apotheosis Masters into the Dark Fog. That was over half of the might of not just the Imperial Force but the entire Inferno Daemon Race. The Hero of the Inferno Daemon Race marched into the dark, toxic fog, leading that army and releasing a charge on those insect monsters. At first, everything went great, with the number of deaths among the insects rising higher and higher and the army coming closer and closer to what seemed to be the headquarters of the invading force. However, just as it seemed that the Inferno Daemon Army would turn out victorious and eradicate the enemy force, all communication was severed. --- The man gazed at the black poisonous fog and clenched his fists. It had already been over four hours since they lost contact with the Inferno Daemon Army, and it took all in his power not to march into the Dark Fog. Suddenly, humanoid figures approached the border, drawing the man''s attention. "Emperor, behind us!" "Careful!" Immediately, two Inferno Daemons flashed forward, positioning themselves in front of the man of the Abyssal Clan. Of course, he was not any member of the Abyssal Clan but the Emperor of the Inferno Daemon Empire. The Dark Emperor was not rash, and his eyes were sharp as he gazed at the humanoid figures approaching the border of the dark fog. He was tall, but these were even taller, with the one taking the lead nearing seven meters in height. The entity had a humanoid body with dark metallic skin, and golden patterns seemed to cover his body. He gazed at the Dark Emperor with emotionless eyes before throwing something forward. The Dark Emperor''s eyes turned to the object that rolled around, and his eyes widened as he saw his son''s head, Horus. Immediately, a sense of overwhelming rage and wrath filled his heart, and he flashed forward before any of his guards could do anything. A flaming dark Astral Wave covered his fists as he appeared before the monster and sent a massive punch, shattering the space in his path. "BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" Due to the immense power of the fist, a massive explosion echoed the next second, yet the Dark Emperor''s eyes were full of disbelief as he saw the entity catch his fist with his naked hand. "Your time has ended. This world now belongs to the Dark Sky." The entity''s voice was eerily cold as he gazed directly into the eyes of the Dark Emperor before unleashing a single punch that sent the leader of the Inferno Daemon Race flying away while puking blood. --- End of book 9. The Rise of Dark Sky Chapter 811: The plight of the Inferno Daemon Empire (I) Book 10: The War Against Dark Sky --- The following days marked the beginning of a living nightmare for the Inferno Daemon Race as the Dark Sky unleashed a cruel and bloody campaign across Atlas. The Insect Army emerged as an unlimited, relentless, and indefatigable killing machine. Millions of them surged from the border of the Dark Fog, butchering every single life form in their path before retreating with their corpses, leaving not even a single drop of their blood behind. Thanks to the Dark Emperor''s rapid actions, most of the civilians had already been evacuated from the Sectors near the Dark Fog. However, since there were no more Inferno Daemons to kill, the Insect Army turned their gaze to the Wave Beasts, killing every single one of them that did not run fast enough. Given the critical state of his empire, the Dark Emperor could not care about the fate of the Wace Beasts and instead focused on fortifying their defenses around the border of the Dark Fog. He had already tasted the strength of the Dark Sky, and if they wanted to face them, the only way was through the enhancement provided by God Towers. The Humanoids of Dark Sky possessed overwhelming physical might, capable of severely injuring the Dark Emperor with a single blow. Yet, their actions appeared confined to within the Dark Fog, and the Dark Emperor would take advantage of that weakness. It took merely a couple of days for the Insect Army to exterminate all life forms near the border of the Dark Fog and retreat with the corpses. Initially, the Dark Emperor and the Inferno Daemon Imperial Court had no idea why the Dark Sky targeted the Wave Beasts or what happened to the billions of Inferno Daemons they captured. However, they had a pretty good idea of what happened to all those people and beasts once they observed the Dark Fog expanding. The Dark Emperor and the Inferno Daemon Imperial Court realized that the billions of people enveloped by the Dark Fog, along with those killed by the Insect Army, were likely used as fuel for this malevolent phenomenon. The Dark Fog was toxic to ordinary people, but more importantly, once it expanded and covered fortifications, it allowed the Humanoids of Dark Sky to act. Those Gods Tower that were supposed to resist the onslaught of Titans lasted less than a minute under the power of the masters of Dark Sky. In just two weeks, the Inferno Daemon Empire lost nearly 40% of Atlas to Dark Sky! The Dark Fog had already covered all of Atlas'' north, and there was not a single sign of life inside other than the Insect Army. ... "Dammit!" The Dark Emperor struck the table, showing a virtual map of Atlas, revealing the Dark Fog, which covered over 30 Sectors. Despite the strength of his fists, the table was able to endure, yet an expression of pain appeared the next second as he clutched his chest. "Emperor, please, don''t overexert yourself. You are still far from fully healing." The Dark Emperor was not alone; the Imperial Court and the top masters and generals of the Inferno Daemon Empire accompanied him in the war room of the Imperial Castle. Although some True Gods and Gods of the Inferno Daemon were unruly and did not readily follow orders, they could not afford to be childish now that their entire race was on the brink of extinction. It''s said that crises unite people, and while Dark Sky had killed nearly a third of Atlas''s population, it united all the Inferno Daemons under a single cause: survival. The Dark Emperor was furious, but he knew he could not let his emotions take control. Last time, his rage nearly caused him to blindly attack one of the Humanoids of the Dark Sky and almost cost him his life. That foolish behavior led to his current state: too wounded to enter the battlefield when most needed. The Dark Emperor breathed deeply, calming his heart, and his eyes glowed with a dark flame. He focused on the map, his expression solemn. "We cannot allow them to continue expanding the Dark Fog as we are no match for the Humanoids of Dark Sky with our current military power. Our only real path is to kill the Insect Army and stop their carnage across Atlas, stopping the energy supply and the growth of the Dark Fog." A solemn light appeared in everyone''s eyes, recognizing the Dark Emperor was absolutely right. They needed to stop the Dark Fog at any cost but faced a serious problem: troops. The military power of the Inferno Daemon Empire had diminished incredibly over the past two weeks. Horus''s charge into the Dark Fog resulted in the death of the entire army, leaving them with too little manpower. "What are our current forces?" the Dark Emperor ventured, asking the question everyone dreaded. Rasputin, an old member of the Hell Clan and the Prime Minister of the Inferno Daemon Empire, answered with a cold voice. "Excluding you, we currently have 4 True Gods, 54 Gods, less than five hundred Divine Ascension Masters, and around ten thousand Apotheosis Masters." The old man did not show any honorific, but no one cared as they were all used to the eccentric nature of the old Divine Asecion Master who had served as Prime Minister for over 6000 years. Though those numbers might sound like a massive force, it was pathetic for an empire with trillions of citizens. "Would it be enough to siege the Dark Fog and face the Insect Army?" the Dark Emperor inquired, fully aware of the desperate need for help from allies like the Legio Eldritch Empire and Atrox Immortus Empire to survive this ordeal. "It will be tight, but if we use all our forces, we might manage to siege the Dark Fog. However, most of those forces are located in the Moonless Sector and Amabar Sector." Rasputin''s voice was solemn, especially as he mentioned those two Sectors. The Dark Emperor clenched his fists. Dark Sky was by far the greatest threat the Inferno Daemon Empire faced, but the Moonless and Amabar Sectors were critical, bordering the Gaia Continent and the Godslayer Humankind Empire. Chapter 812: The plight of the Inferno Daemon Empire (II) "According to my knowledge of the Gaia Continent, the Godslayer Humankind Empire has also gone through a massive upheaval of cataclysmic proportions, with the Golden Emperor perishing and the entire Imperial Court destroyed. Even if their overall power exceeds ours, they surely lack control over the Sector and Titans." The speaker was a massive Abyssal Demon, towering and exuding a crushing aura. His name was Bloom, and he was one of the few True Gods still alive in the Inferno Daemon Race. "Hmph, the current Godslayer Humankind Empire is nothing short of a flawless and well-oiled machine. No single shred of chaos can be witnessed in its domain, and the current Imperial Court has complete authority over the Imperial Army and the Sectors. My counterpart, Mixet, is a wise bastard, and the current Emperor, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, is known and respected by all the Titans in Gaia. Mobilizing their entire empire''s force would be a walk in the park for those two if the Godslayer Humankind decided to attack us. If you want to give your opinion, it''s fine, but do not spout notions as fact that could lead us to the wrong decision!" Rasputin sneered and mercilessly rebuked the True God, not caring about the difference in power. "Will they really attack us at this point? If we fall, Dark Sky will go after them. It would be a shallow victory and only force them to face this new enemy. Could we try to reach some sort of agreement with them?" The Dark Emperor''s voice was solemn as he posed that question. Although he did not like the idea of being used as a shield, if that were what it took for the Godslayer Humankind Empire not to attack them and avoid the genocide of his race, he would bear the shame. "Ah, Mixet and the Collapsing Lightning Emperor have always been practical and wise, so I would normally say yes, but things are more complicated. After all, we just launched a war of invasion less than a year ago, siding with The Organization and killing billions of civilians." A flash of shame appeared on the faces of Rasputin, the Dark Emperor, and many others. Killing soldiers was one thing, and they would feel no regret about that, but targeting the weak and elderly was downright disgusting and shameful. Unless it were due to some personal vendetta, Inferno Daemon soldiers would never attack civilians, especially not in such ridiculous numbers. However, that happened due to the insistence of the Void King of The Organization, and Horus commanded the Gods in Gaia to carry out that order. Of course, no one would begin to blame a dead man now, especially knowing the pain that the Dark Emperor felt at the death of his most beloved son. "Besides, it''s not like they would be hopeless against this new enemy like us. After all, they have someone capable of facing the Humanoids of Dark Sky." Silence reigned after Rasputin uttered those words until finally, the Dark Emperor voiced the thought in everyone''s mind. "The Scarlet King." That was a name that had resonated with so much strength in Gaia that it reached the Atlas Continent. He was a young man not even thirty years old, yet capable of rallying the entire continent behind his might, destroying the old Imperial Court and ushering in a new one in the course of a few weeks, and placing his right-hand man on the Imperial Throne. "Is that man really so powerful as to be able to face the Humanoids of Dark Sky?" Once again, the True God Bloom spoke, but this time, he did not dare assert anything; he merely asked a question. Prime Minister Rasputin did not say a word and instead turned his eyes toward one of the Abyssal Clan Gods present. Soon, all eyes were on the man, as he was one of the few who had truly witnessed the might of that person. The focus was on Zinir, a God who was part of the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army and had returned after their clash. He and his group were heavily questioned, but after Prime Minister Rasputin verified their honesty, he allowed them to rejoin the army. Zinir sighed under everyone''s gaze. His emotions toward the Scarlet King were extremely conflicted. As a warrior, he respected strength, and the man was extremely honorable, but the Scarlet King still killed his friend, General Casidius. "The Scarlet King is an extremely powerful dual cultivation master, capable of overwhelming a monster that could take on three True Titans and dozens of Late Divine Ascension Masters. I have seen his power with my own eyes. It''s not just his body that is more durable than even Peak Adamantium Armor, but he can also wield a domain over Laws to a degree I have never seen before." Zinir paused, glancing at the people in the room before continuing. "Back then, the Scarlet King had just completed his Bone Calamity and had yet to take on the Earth Calamity. Now, I am sure he is even more powerful. If there is someone capable of facing the Humanoid of Dark Sky, it is him." "They have their own monster capable of fighting Dark Sky''s Humanoids and a reason to hate us. If I were them, I would just push the full power of their army into our territory, kill all of us, and then use Atlas as the main battlefield against Dark Sky, saving their people from the fate that befell ours." Prime Minister Rasputin''s words spread a heavy and dark atmosphere around the room. The old man was clearly someone who always saw the worst possible scenario, but his analysis had no flaw. The next second, a flash of dread and nervousness assaulted the Dark Emperor''s mind as he turned to his computer ring, and a voice echoed in his mind. "A message from the border. The Godslayer Humankind Empire has just made contact with our forces in the south." Chapter 813: Facing a Humanoid of Dark Sky (I) Terror and anxiety immediately flooded the room. Although the Dark Emperor only mentioned making contact, they immediately assumed that the Godslayer Humankind Empire had sent their military power to the border and begun their attack. With Dark Sky overtaking the north and the Godslayer Humankind Empire under the lead of the supreme monster, the Scarlet King, marching from the south, what fate awaited the Inferno Daemon Race but complete genocide, their race going extinct and culture vanishing in the sand of time? "It is not an attack. The empire sent a diplomatic envoy." Before panic and dread could take hold, Prime Minister Razputin clarified the message the Dark Emperor had just received. "An envoy? They want to enter diplomatic talks now?" True God Bloom expressed shock and surprise at this unexpected move by the Goldsayre Humankind Empire. Although he was relieved they would not attack, he found it odd they would take such an approach. He was not alone, as many in the room couldn''t help but think that the new Godslayer Humankind Empire was no longer the fierce and formidable force of the past. However, those thoughts were dispelled as Prime Minister Razputin relayed the actual message. "Under the command of the Scarlet King, the Godslayer Humankind Imperial Army will deconstruct their fortresses on the border of the demilitarized zone, and we must do the same. They also promise to attack us until the Dark Sky is dealt with. We have an hour to decide. If we refuse, the Scarlet King will march into Atlas and kill anyone he considers an enemy." A complex expression appeared on all the generals and masters as they heard that. During this crisis, the Godslayer Humankind Empire offered a gesture of peace and a promise of non-aggression. However, refusal meant the Scarlet King would practically butcher them before going after Dark Sky. "What will we do?" Bloom had just finished his sentence when he realized the futility of his question. "What can we do? We can only accept their offer and hope they are not tricking us. If we refuse, we are as good as dead. But if we accept, we might be able to endure long enough for Intercontinental Teleportation to work again and ask for the help of the Atrox Immortus and Legio Eldritch Empires." Prime Minister Razputin spoke, but in the end, he turned toward the Dark Emperor since he was the only one with the authority to decide. "Ah, yes, we accept." The Dark Emperor couldn''t help but sigh, realizing just how powerless his situation was. He was practically receiving mercy from the enemy he had faced all his life. If he dared refuse, they would just kill him and use his continent as a battlefield. After the Dark Emperor accepted the deal, the warriors of the Godslayer Humankind began to dismantle the fortresses on the border of the demilitarized zone, pulling back their troops as they saw the Inferno Daemon soldiers doing the same. Although this order shocked the Godslayer Humankind Imperial Force, potentially putting the empire in great danger, it was a command the Scarlet King gave. Thanks to Cain''s current fame reaching an almost divine level, even if they were not very happy, they accepted it, trusting the Scarlet King would always look out for the Godslayer Humankind. On the other hand, the Inferno Daemon Imperial Army was ecstatic by this arrangement. Now, not having to look to the south, they could channel their forces north, besieging the Dark Force and facing the Insect Army. It was fundamental to stop the devouring spread of the Insect Army, or else the Dark Fog would continue obtaining fuel, allowing it to expand, and nothing could resist its presence due to the Humanoids of Dark Sky. ... What followed was a cruel and bloody siege that extended for six States, from coast to coast, dividing Atlas in half, as the Inferno Daemons Army faced the Insect Army, engaging in an endless battle. The creatures in the Insect Army were not particularly strong, but they lacked any sense of fear and would not hesitate to lose hundreds as long as they could kill at least one Inferno Daemon and bring their corpse into the Dark Fog. Hundreds of millions of monsters from the Insect Army died every day under the sword, fists, and spells of the Inferno Daemon Army, but it seemed not to matter to those creatures. They kept fighting harder and harder, careless of the casualties, and no matter how many perished, more would appear to replace the dead. True God Bloom unleashed palm strikes on one of the main battlefields, each attack equal to an H-bomb, erasing hundreds of thousands of insects, but more simply appeared. Bloom was a seasoned soldier and had fought in great wars, but he had faced the Insect Army for over a week now, personally killing hundreds of millions. Yet, they kept appearing, bringing a sense of exhaustion that reached his soul. "?BOOM!" A massive explosion echoed across the earth and sky as Bloom unleashed another powerful attack. Suddenly, his eyes widened as the Dark Fog began to tremble, expanding at a shocking speed, enveloping him and the rest of his warriors within its range. "Run now!" Bloom shouted to his men as he moved back at full speed. But just as he was about to exit the Dark Fog, a figure descended from the sky, diving into his body and pushing him to the ground while he spat blood. Before True God Bloom could react, a massive humanoid pinned him to the ground and began to grasp his head. Terror filled the eyes of the Inferno Daemon as he couldn''t break free and felt his skull about to shatter under the grip. The Humanoid of Dark Sky said nothing, simply continuing to exert pressure, his eyes peaceful as if the death of the True God was no different than killing an ant. "?BOOM!" Just as Bloom''s skull was about to shatter, a figure appeared, delivering a ferocious kick right in the face of the Humanoid of Dark Sky, sending it flying away. Chapter 814: Facing a Humanoid of Dark Sky (II) True God Bloom was shocked to witness someone dispatching the Humanoid of Dark Sky with a mere kick. His gaze swiftly switched towards the towering figure, a mysterious warrior clad in dark metallic armor, beside him. "Who..." "Run." Before True God Bloom could complete his sentence, he heard the man''s dark and solemn voice as the figure grabbed his shoulder and propelled him through the air. Then, the man launched a punch enveloped in white flames in the other direction! The blow, radiant with white flames, collided with the Humanoid of Dark Sky, returning to the fray merely a second after receiving a ferocious kick to the face. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" True God Bloom was hurled through the air, but his gaze remained fixed on the clash, witnessing an incredible scene as the fists of the man with white flames and the Humanoid of Dark Sky collided, generating overwhelmingly destructive waves. Waves upon waves of white flames burst in one direction while kinetic energy that could shatter the fabric of space covered the other half of the explosion. Although True God Bloom was not a coward and wished to help in the fight against the Humanoid of Dark Sky, he refrained from rejoining the fray, understanding he would only burden the man in white flames. He pushed his speed to the limit and left the Dark Fog as soon as possible. The man in white flames paid no attention to the Inferno Daemon True God, focusing solely on the humanoid creature with black metallic skin and emotionless golden energy eyes. The flames emanating from the man grew stronger and hotter as his body unleashed more physical power. Meanwhile, the Humanoid of Dark Sky continually pushed forward, using the full might of its giant body to overpower the enemy. Neither side gained the upper hand, and finally, the explosion pushed them three hundred meters back. A flash of killing intent appeared in the eyes of the man in armor and the Humanoid of Dark Sky as they sized each other up, trying to discern the key to their opponent''s power. "So you are one of the Humanoids of Dark Sky. I can''t feel a single iota of energy in your body, nor the power of the Laws. Does your power come solely from the strength of your flesh and blood?" The warrior, cloaked in armor and bathed in white flame, spoke inquisitively, his blue eyes full of curiosity as he gazed at the completely new life form. The Humanoid of Dark Sky remained silent for a few moments before speaking. "You are unlike the rest of the ants in this place. Your physical power is not something that can be achieved following the weak cultivation culture of this world. You have earned the right to state your name in my presence." Those words, incredibly narcissistic and egotistic, seemed not to stem from arrogance in the Humanoid of Dark Sky. Its behavior was borne not out of a sense of superiority but from a core belief, viewing the armored man and all others as inferior beings, much like how humans view mice. Their perception of the people in Aether was akin to how humans view insects, with no remorse for crushing an anthill to build their house, believing deeply in their right to do so. A sharp light appeared in the eyes of the man in black armor, and he took a deep breath before speaking. "You can call me White. What is..." Before White could inquire about the name of the Humanoid of Dark Sky, the entity surged forward full of killing intent at an overwhelming speed. ''He already has my name, and since he intends to kill me, there is no reason for me to learn his.'' White quickly understood the Humanoid of Dark Sky''s train of thought and found the entity''s nature terrifying. There was no way to reason with them, as they did not care about their words or thoughts and were not motivated by emotions. It was the first time White fought an enemy with such a pure and absolute mentality. Nevertheless, his gaze remained undeterred as his white flames burst with even more power and the physical strength he could unleash increased as he dashed forward. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" True God Bloom watched in awe from outside the Dark Fog. The battle was close enough to the border for the Inferno Daemon to observe, but he could hardly believe what he saw. The speed and strength that the Humanoid of Dark Sky and White exhibited were simply too much. Yet, it wasn''t just their brute power that was on a completely different level. Their movements showcased martial skills as if they could foresee the future, executing the perfect move at the perfect time. "Can beings really be... this strong?" "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion echoed as the Humanoid of Dark Sky landed a direct blow to White''s chest, leaving a deep indentation in the armor and sending the man flying. Yet, as the Humanoid pursued, a blast of flame erupted from White''s feet. The jet of white flames from White''s soles allowed him to dodge the Humanoid of Dark Sky''s lunge before charging forward, grabbing the entity''s head, and slamming it into the ground. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!" White''s blue eyes blazed with killing intent as the flames from his hand exploded, releasing a torrent of white flames that rose into the sky like a pillar, challenging the heavens. True God Bloom gazed at the pillar of white flame with awe and fear. The fire burned with so much power and intensity that he felt a wave of heat strike his face even from a distance. He was sure his body wouldn''t last more than a couple of seconds under its blazing power before being reduced to ashes. ''Did that man manage to kill one of the Humanoids?'' As this thought crossed Bloom''s mind, another blast was heard, and he saw White being flung away. His gaze returned to the pillar of flames, where he saw the Humanoid of Dark Sky emerging. That overwhelming burst of white flame released directly into his face left barely a few burn wounds on the Humanoid. His eyes showed not even the slightest sign of pain or weakness, only killing intent as he looked up at the sky. Chapter 815: Facing a Humanoid of Dark Sky (III) True God Bloom''s eyes were filled with disbelief as he observed the Humanoid of Dark Sky emerging unscathed from the pillar of white flames. That fire burned with such potency that it managed to melt the fabric of space, yet it could only leave the entity with a few insignificant burn wounds. Despite not unleashing a single shred of energy, Law, or other cosmic power, the Humanoid''s defensive capabilities were simply beyond the comprehension of the Inferno Daemon True God. ''Monster.'' That was the only word the great general and True God of the Inferno Daemon Empire, who had lived for thousands of years, could use to describe the Humanoid of Dark Sky. White quickly regained control over his body a mere second after being blasted away. A sharp light gleamed in his eyes as he noted the minimal effect of the explosion, a fire that burned hotter than the suns of the Old World. ''I unleashed the full might of my Astral Wave and flames in that blast, triggering point black on his face, yet it barely managed to harm him.'' Suddenly, a sharp light appeared in White''s eyes as he felt a trickle of blood leak from the corner of his mouth, indicating that the blow had damaged his internal organs. It was not severe, but it was clear that the Humanoid of Dark Sky had done much more damage with that blow than he had with the torrent of flame. White took a deep breath as the flames engulfing his body intensified. He began to unleash an even greater power than before, drawing the energy that flooded the earth and sky into his flesh and blood, pushing his already incredible physical might to escalate further. For the first time since the battle began, a flicker of solemnity appeared in the Humanoid of Dark Sky''s eyes as he witnessed his opponent surge in strength. The burst did not come from the Laws or the Essence Wave Path of Power, but a different system of power that baffled him. "?BOOM!" An explosion echoed across the sky as a blast of flames erupted from White''s body, propelling him forward with such overwhelming acceleration that he left a human-shaped silhouette in the fabric of space. White reappeared in front of the Humanoid of Dark Sky at such incredible speed that the entity couldn''t dodge and was forced to brace for the next blow. "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" Once White connected his blow, a massive explosion resonated inside the Dark Fog, sending the Humanoid of Dark Sky hurtling into the sky. White''s energy surged again, propelling him forward at astonishing speed and acceleration. Before the Humanoid of Dark Sky could regain control, White reappeared in front of him and delivered another powerful blow. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" White relentlessly assaulted the Humanoid of Dark Sky with incredible acceleration and potent strikes, so fast that he could only defend. However, despite the ferocity of White''s assault, victory did not seem to appear anytime soon. Despite enduring numerous blows, the Humanoid of Dark Sky showed no signs of significant damage; his overwhelmingly formidable defensive abilities were capable of enduring the relentless barrage from the White''s flaming strikes. Recognizing the limited impact of his attacks, White knew he couldn''t continue this strategy. The energy consumed with each sprint and strike was too great, and he risked depletion before breaching his opponent''s defenses. A meaningful light appeared in White''s eyes as he adjusted his tactics, aiming to push the Humanoid of Dark Sky to the edge of the Dark Fog. He was curious to see how the entity would react once forced out of the dark and toxic confines of the evil phenomenon. Even as the Humanoid of Dark Sky''s trajectory changed, being pushed toward the boundary of the Dark Fog, his eyes remained devoid of fear, meeting White''s gaze with unyielding killing intent and an eerie calm. White''s sense of apprehension grew upon witnessing those serene, intent-filled eyes. His instincts screamed a warning as he was about to deliver the blow that would eject the Humanoid of Dark Sky from the Dark Fog. The strength with which his instincts were screaming told White he was in incredible and lethal danger, so he immediately halted his attack, twisting his body mid-air to raise his arms in defense. "?BAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOO!" A sonic boom, powerful enough to make the sky tremble and tear through the fabric of space, echoed. The source was a black whip, and White reacted just in time to evade a direct hit to the back of his head. Though he avoided brain trauma, the blow''s immense power sent him crashing to the ground. True God Bloom''s ears bled from the sonic boom, but he kept his gaze fixed on the battle. Shock and terror arose in his eyes as he noticed another Humanoid of Dark Sky with a more feminine silhouette had appeared. Her body was almost half the size of the first Humanoid, and her limbs were exceptionally slender. After sending White flying with that blow, she dashed forward and intercepted the male Humanoid of Dark Sky, halting his momentum and preventing his exit from the Dark Fog. The male and female Humanoids of Dark Sky nodded to each other, their gaze shifting to the armored man rising from a newly created crater. White''s blue eyes turned cold as he faced the female Humanoid of Dark Sky. Her incredible speed was evident; had he not reacted in time, her strike would have landed directly on the back of his head, breaking his skull and potentially causing severe or even fatal damage. The male and female Humanoids of Dark Sky remained silent. Still, they began strategically positioning themselves, with the male in front and the female behind, effectively blocking any escape from the Dark Fog for White. White''s flames flared to life once more. He recognized that the Humanoids of Dark Sky had no intention of dialogue and viewed him as nothing more than an insect to be exterminated. Chapter 816: Escaping from the Humanoids of Dark Sky (I) "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOO!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOO!" Kinetic explosions, blasts of flames, and sonic booms echoed across the Dark Fog as White clashed with the female and male Humanoids of Dark Sky. Despite being only able to provoke minimal damage to the male Humanoid of Dark Sky, White had the upper hand in the fight and could overcome his opening with his speed. However, now that he had to face the female and male Humanoids of Dark Sky simultaneously, he found himself gradually overwhelmed by the duo''s combined power and flawless teamwork. "?BOOM!" A kinetic blast and flames exploded as White and the male Humanoid of Dark Sky collided fists. An instant later, White''s eyes widened in shock as the female appeared beside him. Before he could react, a blow struck the right side of his chest. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" A deafening sonic boom resonated through the Dark Fog as the blow sent White flying, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. The male and female of Dark Sky worked in perfect synergy, covering each other''s weak spots and enhancing their own strength, constantly generating openings for the other to unleash their attacks. White clenched his teeth as blood appeared in his mouth. The strike was not only extremely painful but had shaken his internal organs. However, White had no time to dwell on the pain as a black figure flashed after him. The female Humanoid of Dark Sky was simply too fast, appearing in front of White before this one could regain control over his body and landed a point-blank strike on his chest. White crashed into the ground and nearly puked a mouthful of blood, but despite all the damage, a meaningful light appeared in his eyes. After almost five minutes of fighting, he realized the secret behind the devastating power of the female''s slender arms. ''She never touched me.'' Her limbs mimicked an actual whip, moving incredibly fast to generate a sonic boom millimeter away from his body. She was not hitting him but instead generating sonic explosions that did the damage. It required supreme flexibility and relaxation in muscles and even bones. It was an incredibly challenging feat but allowed her to perform a hitless blow with devastating effects on White''s internal organs. Despite the damage, White''s eyes burned with resolve. Inertia should have buried him into the ground, yet somehow, he managed to use the earth as a springboard, launching back towards the female Humanoid of Dark Sky. The female Humanoid of Dark Sky flashed after White, intending to continue her barrage, sure that the two previous blows would have paralyzed the enemy''s body, which was why she was caught off guard by White''s tenacity and resilience, being able to jump back into the fray. White''s eyes were filled with killing intent, and his flames burned with even more power than the one he had used against the male Humanoid of Dark Sky. He aimed to strike the female with all his might, suspecting her defenses might not be as formidable as her speed. Surprised by White''s counterattack, the female Humanoid of Dark Sky couldn''t evade in time. However, she did not lose her composure and serenity even as that blow of flames capable of releasing a temperature hotter than the Old World''s sun was about to reach her face was about to reach her face, Just as White''s punch was centimeters away from blasting into the chest of the female, the male Humanoid of Dark Sky intervened. He hugged the female before twisting his body to absorb the flaming blow with his back. "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" An explosive fireball lit the sky as White''s fist connected with the male Humanoid of Dark Sky''s back, propelling him away. Rage appeared in White''s eyes as he saw the male Humanoid of Dark Sky interfere with his attack. He chased after this one, landing blow after blow on his back, each one a combination of fire hotter than the sun and physical power that surpassed an H-bomb explosion. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" After ten consecutive blows, White clasped both hands, forming a fiery hammer, and stroked the male Humanoid of Dark Sky down, sending it crashing into the ground. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Despite the massive explosion that ended his onslaught, White''s expression remained grave, as he was sure things were far from over. His suspicion was confirmed when he saw the male Humanoid emerge from the ground with minimal wounds and the intact female Humanoid in his embrace. Not even a second after that, the Humanoids of Dark Sky launched another assault on White. However, this time, White didn''t charge head-on but veered to the left, attempting to escape the Dark Fog. Their killing intent surged at the sight of White trying to flee. They recognized his power and were determined to eliminate him. The female Humanoid of Dark Sky, faster than White, appeared before him and blocked his escape route. With a burst of killing intent, White clashed with her whip-like limb. While the female Humanoid of Dark Sky''s striking power was overwhelming, she faltered in direct combat, allowing White''s flaming punch to send her spinning. However, this also halted White''s momentum, giving the male Humanoid of Dark Sky enough time to catch him from behind. White managed to turn around and block the uppercut in the nick of time, preventing a jaw strike but still being launched skyward uncontrollably. As White struggled to regain control, the female Humanoid struck his back, intensifying his pain, forcing a mouthful of blood, and plunging him deeper into the Dark Fog. Despite the immense pain, White clenched his teeth, striving to control his descent. He eyed the exit from the Dark Fog while the two Humanoids seemed determined to keep him trapped. White clenched his fists, his flames bursting with power, though a hint of apprehension crossed his face as his Astral Wave dwindled. Unlike the monstrous Humanoids of Dark Sky, he relied on his energy to amplify his strength in combat. "BOOM!" "BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!" "BOOM!" Fire blasts, kinetic explosions, and sonic booms resonated within the Dark Fog as the trio''s battle raged. One fought desperately to escape the Dark Fog, while the other two resolved to make this place his grave. Chapter 817: Escaping from the Humanoids of Dark Sky (II) "BOOM!" "BAAAAAOOOOOOO!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" The battle inside the Dark Fog continued as the kinetic blasts, sonic booms, and fiery explosions became increasingly powerful. White and the female and male Humanoids of Dark Sky fought with absolute ferocity and killing intent. The armored man, bathed in scorching hot flames, was doing his best to reach the border. However, the Humanoids of Dark Sky were determined to keep him inside the Dark Fog, making this place his grave. "?BAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOO!" Another massive sonic boom echoed as the female Humanoid of Dark Sky struck White''s chest, sending him crashing into the ground. The male Humanoid dived before the man could rise, slamming into his chest with more strength than a meteorite. "?AHHHHH!" White couldn''t help but unleash a scream of pain along with a mouthful of blood. Despite the damage, his eyes grew cold, and he clenched his teeth, twisting his body to the side. He pushed the male Humanoid of Dark Sky off his chest and sent a fire kick, propelling the enemy into the sky. Just as White pushed the male Humanoid of Dark Sky away, his eyes widened as he saw the female appear behind him. He could not move in time, receiving a ferocious strike on his back. "?BAAAAAAOOOOOOO!" A massive sonic boom exploded less than a millimeter away from White''s back, and he felt the blast make his internal organs tremble before being fired away, rolling around the ground for thousands of meters before finally being able to regain control over his body. The man immediately rose to the sky and, without hesitation, flashed once more toward the exit of the Dark Fog. His blue eyes showed signs of worry as the power of his white flames grew weaker due to the low quantity of Astral Wave left in his body. Before White could make even half of the way out of the Dark Fog, the female and male Humanoids of Dark Sky intercepted him again, deploying flawless teamwork. Slowly but surely, the entities were draining the armored man''s energy and wounding him more and more. True God Bloom was watching everything from outside the Dark Fog, and he couldn''t help but clench his fists with rage and impotence. White was nothing short of a monster with battle power that defied reason, but he couldn''t keep up alone with the male and female Humanoids of Dark Sky. If things carried on like that, this new hero of the Inferno Daemon Race would perish just when they needed him the most. A flash of bravery and determination appeared in the Inferno Daemon True God as he prepared to dive into the Dark Fog. There wasn''t a shred of doubt in Bloom''s mind that he would die, but he might just maybe buy White the chance he needed to escape. When it came to the survival of his race, there was no hesitation in the True God''s soul to give his life! However, just as True God Bloom was about to charge into the Dark Fog, White''s power exploded as a simply overwhelming amount of energy and flames emerged from his body. "His life force!" True God Bloom immediately found the reason for such a burst of power. He could feel a massive amount of White''s life force suddenly set ablaze, pushing the man''s strength to the next level. The male and female Humanoids of Dark Sky were surprised that White would consume such a massive amount of his life force so fast, and the armored man did not lose his chance. White sent a ferocious hook to the male Humanoid''s face, pushing this one to the side and leaving an open path to the female Humanoid. The female Humanoid of Dark Sky immediately attempted to put distance between them, but they were too close, and White managed to appear in front of her. White charged his right fist with all the energy and strength he could muster, covering it entirely with his Astral Wave before striking the female Humanoid of Dark Sky in her chest. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion of fire emerged as soon as White''s fist landed point-blank in the chest of the female Humanoid of Dark Sky, sending her flying away while spewing chromatic blood. White felt his blow seriously damaged the female Humanoid of Dark Sky, but although he was full of killing intent, this burst of power would not last long, so he turned around and flew away. The male Humanoid of Dark Sky attempted to chase after White, but while his defenses were nothing short of incredible, he was unable to keep up with the speed of the armored man and could only watch as he exited the Dark Fog. White finally exited the Dark Fog and immediately turned around, gazing at the Humanoids of Dark Sky from the edge of the toxic mist. They would only need to step a few meters out to continue their fight, yet the male Humanoid of Dark Sky immediately stopped chasing after the armored man once he left the Dark Fog, observing him from within. A few seconds later, the female Humanoid of Dark Sky emerged from the crater and joined the male, gazing at White coldly while cleaning the blood from her mouth. A tense atmosphere appeared over Atlas as White and the Humanoids of Dark Sky glanced at each other from different sides of the Dark Fog. Their eyes were pure with killing intent, yet none would cross the border. The male and female Humanoids of Dark Sky stared at White for a moment before turning around without saying a single word and flashing deep into the Dark Fog, vanishing from sight. White did not remove his eyes from the male and female Humanoids of Dark Sky until the duo vanished. Only then was he able to relax, immediately focusing his power on calming his burning life force. He then turned toward True God Bloom, who looked at him with awe and admiration, and an approving light appeared in his eyes. Chapter 818: Zero (I) White had noticed how the Inferno Daemon True God was about to dash into the Dark Fog, ready to sacrifice his life to provide him with an opportunity. Although it would have been futile since the female Humanoid would have killed him immediately, it still instilled in White a very good impression of the man. The next second, the helmet retracted, revealing his face. True God Bloom saw the face of a young and handsome member of the Abyssal Clan, yet the ancient aura made it clear that, unlike his appearance, White must be thousands of years old. Furthermore, it was also shocking for the True God to see that the man actually had albinism, with white skin instead of the jet black typical of Abyssal Clan members. "Go to the Emperor and the Imperial Court. Tell them I will march into the capital to see them after stabilizing my life force and healing my wounds." --- "Those were Master White''s words before he flew into the distance. I did not dare to follow him, and after securing things at the border of the Dark Fog, I made my way back to the capital." True God Bloom was in the war room of the Imperial Castle of the Inferno Daemon Empire, relating all he saw during the fight. He did not leave out a single detail, and his eyes filled with awe and amazement as he described White''s fight with the female and male Humanoids of Dark Sky. Prime Minister Razputin and the Dark Emperor could not help but frown as they heard those words. A new and powerful master appearing in the Inferno Daemon Empire in their time of need was terrific news. Still, all great powerhouses had a long history behind them, and their name echoed across the continent. Yet it seemed that White was thousands of years old, and no one knew about him until yesterday. The Prime Minister and Emperor were naturally suspicious of such a tale. They couldn''t help but think that maybe someone was trying to implant a hero into their race in their time of need, tricking them and taking advantage of their desperation. As for who would have such power and want to become the hero of a race in danger of extinction, the duo could only come up with one answer. Just as Prime Minister Razputin and the Dark Emperor glanced at each other with a meaningful light, a powerful aura covered the sky above the capital of the Inferno Daemon Empire. The Dark Emperor looked up, and although there was a ceiling in his path, it could not stop his gaze from reaching into the sky. He observed a man in dark armor standing solemnly, wisps of white fire burning with the might of a sun''s core revolving around his figure. The Dark Emperor was not the only one who noticed him, but to be fair, White was not exactly hiding his presence; after all, his aura was so strong that practically everyone in the capital could feel it. The True Gods, generals, and members of the Imperial Court gazed at the sky for a moment before turning to the Dark Emperor, wondering how the leader of the Inferno Daemon Empire would handle the sudden arrival of someone clearly much more powerful than him. "Bloom, is that man and the person you saw the same?" True God Bloom was surprised by Prime Minister Razputin''s question. The armor and blue eyes were the same, and in the True God''s mind, there was no reason for someone to be faking it. Still, he was not careless and pushed his perception to the limit, sensing White''s aura, life force, and even soul waves. It was not hard to perceive all those things since the armored man practically projected every aspect of his existence into the aura that covered the city. "Yes, Prime Minister. I am sure the man in the sky is the same one I saw battling the Humanoids of Dark Sky." Prime Minister Razputin nodded as he heard the analysis of the True God and spoke solemnly. "Let him in." The Dark Emperor glanced at the old man before nodding and deactivating the force field covering the city and Imperial Castle. White used force teleportation, crudely shattering the fabric of space before appearing inside the castle. His eyes scanned the room before falling on the Dark Emperor, showing pure coldness. "So, you were the one in charge of the empire when half of the continent fell to those creatures." When the Dark Emperor heard those words full of coldness and condemnation, he could not help but frown and clench his fists with rage. The rest of the people in the room also frowned, even True God Bloom, who had nothing but respect for White. The Dark Emperor had done everything in his power to keep the monsters at bay, losing his son in the process, so they got angry as they heard someone reprimanding him. Before any of the generals or Gods could say a word, the Dark Emperor raised his hand, stopping them. Although enraged, he felt immense shame and regret for failing to protect Atlas, so he accepted the insult. However, not everything remained silent as Prime Minister Razputin spoke in a cold voice as well. "We have indeed failed to protect the empire, and for that, we deserve nothing but humiliation. However, where were you when the Dark Fog first appeared, and those monsters began to butcher our people?" Prime Minister Razputin''s voice was cold and reprimanding, yet there was a meaningful light in the old man''s eyes as he discreetly probed for information behind the armored man''s identity. Only then did White turn to Prime Minister Razputin, his eyes narrowed as he saw the silver skin and third eye of the man depicting him as a member of the Nether Clan. "I did not recognize you at first, but who would have thought that after all these years, you would still be the same irritating old man." Chapter 819: Zero (II) Shock and confusion appeared in the eyes of those present as those words seemed to imply that Prime Minister Razputin and White knew each other. White''s helmet faded the next second, revealing an albino Abyssal Demon with blue eyes. Prime Minister Razputin''s eyes narrowed as he stared at the man for a few seconds, and suddenly, a flash of surprise appeared in his eyes. "Zero Mint!" The name Zero Mint confused the people in the room. They looked at each other, trying to see if someone knew who it was, but not even the Dark Emperor seemed to know him. White, or Zero to be more precise, glanced at the confused people in the room but showed no concern and instead focused on the Dark Emperor once more. "I have never cared about the title of Emperor, and you can keep it if you want, but I will be taking control over the empire''s forces now. I don''t see you as someone capable of leading our people during this crisis." As the Inferno Demons heard the man''s words, a new wave of shock appeared. Zero practically demanded that the Dark Emperor step down as the supreme leader of the empire so that he could take control. "Who do you think you are!?" Although the Dark Emperor could accept the blame for his failure to protect the Inferno Daemon Empire, that did not mean he would just hand it over to someone who appeared out of nowhere. "Zero Mint, one of the most ferocious and talented masters of the Inferno Daemon Race." Prime Minister Razputin answered the Dark Emperor''s question, and the man was not over. He stared at Zero before continuing to speak. "He was one of the strongest warriors of the Inferno Daemon Empire. However, Zero was also extremely reclusive and antisocial to the point that some people barely knew his name despite being the strongest True God that the Abyssal Clan ever produced. One thousand and five hundred years ago, it would have been easy for him to take the role of Emperor, but he could not stand the presence of other people and declined the role, allowing the rise of Harold Arnkon, the Time Emperor. He vanished soon after, and everybody assumed he had silently risen to the Astral Sea." Unlike Zero Mint, Harold Arnkon was a name everyone knew. He was the Emperor of the Inferno Daemon Empire before the rise of the Dark Emperor. The generals and Gods in the room turned toward Zero Mint, and a flash of shock appeared in their eyes. It seemed this man was a supreme master of the Inferno Daemon Empire over one thousand and five hundred years ago. However, the same person who spoke, Prime Minister Razputin, gazed at the man with a sharp light. The man''s attitude, appearance, and even white flaming battle style matched Zero Mint, but his eyes were full of distrust and suspicion. "How could you still be in Aether? You were a Late Divine Ascension Master one thousand and five hundred years ago. Even if you stopped cultivating, due to your talent, your energy would have gradually risen to the point that you broke through and were expelled from Aether." When the Dark Emperor and the rest of the Inferno Daemons heard the words of Prime Minister Razputin, they all turned toward Zero with eyes full of suspicion. Although they would love to blindly believe that a forgotten hero had appeared just in time to save them in their time of need, the world was not a fairy tale. Zero frowned, and annoyance and irritation appeared in his eyes as he gazed at Prime Minister Razputin. "Why are you people always so annoying and bothersome? I detest these interactions." Zaro paused at this point, and his rage only increased as he looked at the people around him. "I am here not because I want to but because you need me. You need me to save you. I am the only one who possibly can." The annoyance and rage in Zero''s eyes were clear to everybody, depicting a person with terrible interpersonal skills and who might very well have some mental and psychological problems. He took a deep breath, focusing on calming his mind and emotions before speaking again. "The technique I practiced required solitude, allowing me to cultivate at a breakneck speed and with a strong foundation. At the time of my disappearance, I was trying to push my cultivation technique to the next level before rising to the Astral Sea, but I made a mistake. My mind and energy entered a state of imbalance, and I practically lost my sense of self, pushing my body and soul into a state of stagnation. It took me over one thousand years to regain my thoughts and hundreds more to regain the balance and power of my energy." Zero''s eyes flashed with dread and terror as he spoke those words, and the Gods in the room could sympathize. After all, losing one''s mind was a truly trying experience. "Although it was dangerous and nearly caused my soul to dissipate, I returned even stronger than before. I did not intend to see any of you or reveal myself, and I planned to cultivate away from everybody silently." A small smile appeared on Zero Mint''s face as he remembered that solitude. "I was happy being away from everybody, but then that Dark Fog appeared, covering my secret cultivation abode. Only then did I emerge from my seclusion and see the chaos that spread across Atlas." Many of the Inferno Daemons in the room softly nodded as what Zero told them made sense, and even the Dark Emperor could not help but think maybe the man was who he said to be. However, Prime Minister Razputin''s eyes were still doubtful. It was true that no sane person would go to all this trouble to become the hero of a race in danger of extinction, but there was one man in Gaia who did all sorts of crazy and unbelievable things, and he would not put it past him to play this game. However, just as Prime Minister Razputin was thinking of that man, a message arrived on his communicator ring, along with that of the Dark Emperor, making shock and concern appear on their faces. "The Scarlet King appeared on the border between Gaia and Atlas." A solemn aura appeared on the faces of the Inferno Daemons in the room when they heard those words come from the Dark Emperor''s mouth, all but one. "Who the hell is the Scarlet King?" Zero glanced around the room, eyes full of doubt as he stared at the rest of the Inferno Daemons. Chapter 820: Space Tribulation (I) Zero, Prime Minister Razputin, the Dark Emperor, and the four remaining True Gods of the Inferno Daemon Empire used the imperial teleportation formations that covered Atlas and quickly reached the Moonless Sector, the closest Sector to the border between Atlas and Gaia. After learning that the Scarlet King had appeared on the border, the group had no choice but to march. Even though Dark Sky was a monumental threat, they could not ignore it if human forces were amassed on the border of Atlas. Of course, their goal was not to fight, as the group knew they had no chance in their current state against the Godslayer Humankind Empire. Their goal was to understand what was happening and ensure the armistice was still in place. Zero was not really invited, but after learning about the tales and legends of the Scarlet King, he chose to tag along. It was not like the Dark Emperor or Prime Minister could say no to him since he was stronger than all. It did not take long for the Inferno Daemon group to reach the border, and immediately, a solemn expression appeared on their faces as they saw a massive coalition of Godslayer Humans. The Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin could not help but feel a wave of fear assault their hearts as they saw the group. The Godslayer Humankind party consisted of only 30 individuals, yet they could feel the aura of nine True Titans and nineteen Titans. That alone was a force that could destroy the current Inferno Daemon Empire, and that was not the most shocking part. The Inferno Daemon Empire''s intelligence was not weak, and they had a list of all the Titans and True Titans of Gaia, yet most of the faces in the group were new. Nearly half of the True Titans and almost all of the Titans were unknown figures, meaning they advanced just recently. That was a heavy blow for the Inferno Daemons since while their numbers waned, those of the Godslayer Humankind rose. As for the last two individuals, they were a middle-aged Apotheosis Master with a vibrant life force and an Early Divine Ascension Master. Prime Minister Razputin''s eyes narrowed as he focused on the Apotheosis Master, and a flash of shock appeared in them as he realized this middle-aged man was Minxet, his counterpart in the Godslayer Humankind Empire. Even if they were enemies and members of opposing armies, Razputin had nothing but respect for Minxet due to the man''s great capabilities. Of course, that did not mean Razputin did not want the Prime Minister of the Godslayer Humankind dead, and he was sure time would do his bidding. Still, now that he stared at Minxet, he felt a vibrant life force and a solid foundation that would have no problem reaching the Divine Ascension Realm and extending his lifespan thousands of years. Reversing the state of an old man in the twilight of his life to one full of potential and vitality should be impossible, yet it happened, and Prime Minister Razputin knew there was only one person to blame: the Scarlet King. The Dark Emperor did not focus on Minxet but instead on the Early Divine Ascension Master with a scarlet crown and cape donning armor that was nothing short of majestic and awe-inspiring. It was clear to Inferno Daemon that this was the current Emperor of the Godslayer Humankind, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor. Usually, the drop in someone''s cultivation was indicative of debilitating wounds, something that could cripple their cultivation path. Yet, the Dark Emperor felt the purity and potency of the Collapsing Lightning Emperor''s vitality and energy. Somehow, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor''s cultivation fell back to the Early Divine Ascension Realm, yet his power grew even higher. As the Dark Emperor focused on the man, it was like gazing upon a gravitational phenomenon capable of crushing atoms. Although the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, True Titans, and Titans of the Godslayer Humankind were impressive, the figure the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin were truly seeking was the Scarlet King, who was spotted in this place. "Is that the Scarlet King?" The Inferno Daemons heard Zero''s words and followed the man''s eyes. At first, they saw nothing, but as they focused, soon a figure began to appear, covered by layers upon layers of distorted space and flowing energy. A solemn and powerful pressure flooded the hearts and souls of the Inferno Daemons as they looked at the young man adopting a meditative stance in the sky, his eyes closed, and his aura growing more and more powerful. His strength was so immense that he generated an overwhelmingly spatial force capable of twisting the sky. It was the first time any of the Inferno Daemon present had gazed upon the Scarlet King, and the man''s power was truly otherworldly. Everybody who saw him felt defeated, as they could not pose any challenge. Despite the shock and awe, Prime Minister Razputin and the Dark Emperor glanced at each other. This did not seem to be the start of an invasion, but then why would the Scarlet King and all these human powerhouses appear? "We are not here to fight, as our King has forbidden clashes with the Inferno Daemon Empire unless provoked. Our only goal is to gaze upon the incoming Hidden Tribulation and see the Scarlet King rise even stronger." The Inferno Daemon''s eyes were confused as they heard Prime Minister Minxet''s words since Hidden Tribulation was foreign to them. Still, the middle-aged man offered no more words as he and the human powerhouses began to pull back. The Inferno Daemon''s confusion only grew as they saw the Godslayer Humans move back several kilometers. However, their confusion did not last long, as the next second, they all felt their instincts screaming in danger. All of them looked to the sky above the Scarlet King and saw space begin to warp and distort, creating a visual spectacle where the stars and the moon appeared to dance and swirl. Chapter 821: Space Tribulation (II) The moon and stars dancing across the sky were an extremely beautiful phenomenon, yet it filled the Inferno Daemons with a sense of immense terror. In that marvelous phenomenon, they felt a power that could crush their bodies and break their souls. The Inferno Daemons did the same as the Godslayers Humans, moving back into the Atlas Continent. Even Zero was not exempt, and the group only stopped running after their instincts stopped screaming. The powerhouses of the Godslayer Humankind and those of the Inferno Daemon Empire could not help but gaze at the phenomenon that covered hundreds of kilometers of the sky and continued expanding until it practically spread across every corner of the border between the Atlas Continent and Gaia Continent. "CRACK!" As the phenomenon reached its peak, massive cracks began to spread across the sky, so enormous that they seemed capable of swallowing entire cities. The next second, they unleashed an explosion of space power that fell with overwhelming strength. The Scarlet King raised his eyes just as the force fell but did not move, allowing it to clash directly with his body and send him crashing into the ground. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!" The Dark Emperor and True Gods watched with awe and shock as spatial shockwaves leveled the entire border, slamming the Scarlet King into the ground. The group was powerful, but they were sure that if they had taken that blast head-on, they would have been riddled with deep wounds. Yet the next second, they saw the Scarlet King rising from the ground without a single wound on his body. On the other hand, the powerhouses of the Godslayer Humankind showed nothing, as if they expected that the Scarlet King could face the power that could kill Titans without a single wound. Cain had noticed the group of the Inferno Daemon Empire arrived but did not pay them attention. His eyes solely focused on the power of the world flooding the sky. That last blast marked the start of the Hidden Tribulation. Thanks to the Codex of Infinite Pathways, Cain was fully aware of the phenomenon he would be facing now. It was time for him to face the Space Tribulation, and the first phase would be the Labyrinth of Voids. There was only peace and serenity in Cain''s eyes as the space force around him grew so thick that it became a white fog, soon starting to form a strange and marvelous construct. Cain did not move; instead, he marveled at the sight of the walls of spatial energy forming around his body. It did not take long before a shifting labyrinth of pure spatial energy formed. It was so massive that it covered the entire border between the continents, with ten levels that extended hundreds of kilometers into the sky. He pushed his perception to the limit and found that the pathways fold and unfold in three-dimensional space, and navigating this maze requires an intuitive understanding of spatial laws. ''The goal is to find stability within chaos, using spatial awareness to progress.'' The words of the Codex of Infinite Pathways echoed inside Cain''s mind as the power of his Space-Time Eye exploded to the limit. He began to advance through the walls of spatial energy, moving as fast as he could. The Dark Emperor was full of awe and shock as he gazed at that gargantuan and majestic construct appearing on the border between the continents, but his focus soon turned to the man inside. He saw how the Scarlet King made all sorts of weird turns, sometimes seemingly going back on his path, yet the young man kept advancing. Although the Dark Emperor was powerful, he followed the Astral Rebirth Path of Power, so his understanding of the Laws was nil. He turned to one of the True Gods who followed the Essence Evolution Path of Power, yet this one''s eyes were equally full of wonder, making it clear this display of Law power was beyond his understanding. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion drew the Dark Emperor''s attention back to the labyrinth, and his eyes widened as he saw how the lowest level had collapsed, leaving nothing more than a chaotic space storm. That level of destruction was enough to ice the blood of the Dark Emperor, as he was sure he would not have survived if inside that blast. Luckily for the Scarlet King, he had already advanced to the second level of the Labyrinth of Voids, but there was no time to relax. The space inside the second level began to grow chaotic, and it would not be long before it exploded. Cain did not want to find out whether his body would endure the blast, so he pushed his power and perception to the absolute limit as he advanced. "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" Another explosion echoed across the border as the second level of the Labyrinth of Voids collapsed, but Cain was already on the third one. His eyes were sharp as his perception of space kept advancing along with his speed. "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" The third, fourth, and fifth levels of the Labyrinth of Voids collapsed, but Cain had managed to stay one step ahead the entire time. However, just as he reached the sixth level, the power of the Space Tribulation flooded the area and exploded once more. Cain''s eyes narrowed as his instincts warned him of the incoming danger. The second phase of the Hidden Tribulation did not wait for him to finish the first phase, and they would fuse their powers! Soon, areas of intense gravity or complete weightlessness, simulating the experience of being near a black hole or in the vacuum of space, began to appear in the corridors, making the already problematic advance much more difficult. ''The second phase of the Space Tribulation, Gravity Anomalies. To survive, I must constantly adjust my gravitational field and move through these areas unscathed.'' Cain''s Space-Time Eye reached its zenith as he flashed forward, dodging the tiny black holes and void areas in his path. Chapter 822: Space Tribulation (III) Silence echoed as neither the Godslayer Humans nor the Inferno Daemons dared utter a word. Their eyes were fixed on the young man who moved through the labyrinth full of infinite paths they could not even comprehend, always one step ahead of the massive explosions. "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" Explosion after explosion echoed beneath Cain''s feet until he finally crossed the tenth level, exiting the Labyrinth of Voids. He had survived the first and second phases of the Space Tribulation, but things were far from over. Before Cain could have a moment to relax, all the spatial chaotic energy left from the destruction of the ten levels of the Labyrinth of Voids began to rise and fuse into the sky. "CRACK!" The sky above the area affected by the Space Tribulation began to crack like glass, and the next second, it shattered. Shock and awe appeared in the eyes of the powerhouses of the Godslayer Humankind and Inferno Daemon Empire as dozens of figures appeared from the shattered sky. Although there were some differences and unique characteristics, they were all copies of the Scarlet King. Cain glanced at those copies, and his eyes narrowed as he went through each one, trying to understand its uniqueness, powers, and weaknesses. ''The third phase is the Mirror Dimension. I will encounter mirror versions of myself, each representing a potential path their life could have taken.'' Cain understood that this phase would test his self-understanding and ability to reconcile with the infinite possibilities that the Law of Space embodies. There was no need to fight, as he could take the pacifist approach, speaking with each of them and slowly and gradually converging with them. However, he was not interested in that approach, as fighting and destroying them all would be much better and easier, proving his path was the best. A torrent of gray aura exploded from Cain''s body as he flashed into the sky. When the Mirror Avatars felt Cain''s fighting would, their eyes burst with killing intent as they dived down. Cain''s Essence Wave burst with more and more power as he focused on those Mirror Avatars. He sealed his Astral Rebirth path of Power and even his Elemental Laws, as he was ready to rely only on the Space Law to face them. According to the Codex of Infinite Pathways, this was the most dangerous path, but it was also the one that yielded the best results. "BOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion occurred as Cain clashed with the dozens of Mirror Avatars, and a majestic and fierce battle began to unfold in the sky. Some of the Mirror Avatars only used Astral Wave, others only Essence Wave, and there were even those that practiced dual cultivation, but that was not all since there were even avatars that used the powers of the True Avernus Bloodline to a higher degree than Cain previously did, showing assassination skills that were nothing short of incredible. Every blow and strike by Cain carried a torrent of space energy, with his fists shattering the fabric of space or using his hand as a blade and cutting space in half. Although his attacks were terrific, the Mirror Avatars were also immensely powerful, and they started to leave deep wounds on his body. Cain clenched his teeth as one of the Mirror Avatars almost pierced his chest, leaving a deep injury, but he did not lose the chance and slashed with his open palm forward, cutting the avatar in two. The next second, this one shattered into thousands of pieces that flooded into his body, fusing with his flesh and Essence Star. According to the knee engraved in the Codex of Infinite Pathways, if he killed the Mirror Avatar using the power of the Law of Space, the Space Tribulation would reward him by infusing their essence into his flesh and Essence Star. After feeling the improvement his Space Law gained by killing that Mirror Avatar, a sense of absolute hunger appeared in Cain''s eyes. He showed a fierce smile and began to strike with even more strength. The battle carried on for nearly an hour in the sky, with Cain receiving more and more wounds, but the Mirror Avatars shattered one after another, and more and more space runes were engraved inside his body and Sacred Organ. "?BOOM!" Finally, the last Mirror Avatar exploded, marking the end of the third phase of the Space Tribulation. Cain was having trouble regulating his breath, and there were deep wounds all over his body, but his eyes glowed with a sense of utter thrill as he felt how his Space Law had made a huge advance. However, he did not dare lose focus, as there was one more phase left in the Space Tribulation, and the danger of this one was gargantuan. The power of the Space Tribulation that covered the sky began to grow higher and higher, and then, under the shocked gaze of all the powerhouses from both sides, layers of the sky started to separate themselves from the heavens, forming cocoons around Cain''s body. Cain did not fight or attempt to run from the layers of the sky, as it would be futile; after all, you cannot run faster than space. Instead, he took a deep breath, pushed his focus to the limit, and tackled the last phase of the Space Tribulation. ''Convergence of Realms.'' According to the Codex of Infinite Pathways, the Convergence of Realms was the climax of the Space Tribulation. Cain must face a convergence of multiple realms or dimensions, each with its own set of rules and realities. The challenge lies in unifying these disparate elements into a coherent whole, demonstrating mastery over the Law of Space to restore balance and harmony. He would have surpassed the Hidden Tribulation and become even more powerful if he succeeded. If he failed, he would die. The powerhouses of the Godslayer Humankind Empire and Inferno Daemon Empire watched with solemn gazes at the rainbow-colored cocoon forming at the border between the continents, whose power impregnated the earth and sky. Chapter 823: Space Tribulation (IV) The rainbow-colored cocoon was one of the most beautiful and amazing phenomena the powerhouses of the Godslayer Humankind Empire and Inferno Daemon Empire had seen in their lives. They could feel in it a manifestation of the Law that was simply leagues ahead of the Law Integration level. However, while it was powerful and majestic, it also filled all present with a sense of terror as the power of the Law of Space was simply terrifying. The power of the Space Tribulation was so immense that even the rocks at the border were changing, adapting to its power and becoming practically treasures for anyone focusing on the Laws. Those were just the side effects, as the power in the rainbow-colored cocoon that embodied the convergence of multiple realms or dimensions was simply outrageous. In the minds of the Inferno Daemons, no one could survive standing near such a phenomenon, yet there was someone at its core facing the full power of the phenomenon. The Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin could not help but gaze at the rainbow-colored cocoon with complicated emotions. Usually, they would have hoped the Scarlet King would die inside the phenomenon. After all, he was the supreme leader of the enemy empire and a life form whose power defied logic. However, everything changed after the arrival of Dark Sky, and right now, they needed all the masters of Aether, including those belonging to a race with whom they had fought for thousands of years. Hours carried on, and no one uttered a single word on either side as they watched the rainbow-colored cocoon made of multiple dimensions. Suddenly, the eyes of the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and Dark Emperor narrowed as they saw the cocoon begin to tremble. The duo''s soul force was the strongest, so they detected it first. However, it did not take long for the rest of the powerhouses to notice the changes in the rainbow-colored cocoon. It was minor at first, but as the hours passed, the power inside the rainbow-colored cocoon began to calm down, and a sense of harmony rose from its core. ?FUSE!" After nine hours inside the rainbow-colored cocoon without saying a single word, the voice of the Scarlet King emerged from the core, and the myriad of dimensions that formed the cocoon reached a flawless harmony, becoming a single layer that fused with the main plane of existence in Aether. The powerhouses from the Godslayer Humankind Empire and Inferno Daemon Empire saw with awe and wonder how the cocoon fused with the fabric of space, vanishing from sight and revealing the impressive and flawless figure of the Scarlet King. Cain''s eyes glowed with a sense of formidable power and strength, especially his Space-Time Eye, which seemed to have grown even more potent. Although being inside that cocoon formed by myriad dimensions in a state of chaos was dangerous, it was also a massive lucky chance, as waves of raw space energy flooded his flesh and blood every second. Most people would face a severe ordeal resisting those raw energies, but Cain was different. He trained in the Celestial Tyrant Framework, which used the Law of Space to improve his flesh and blood. Since he lacked the Natural Inheritance of the Fenrir Clan, he had been stuck at the Third Level and could not push forward, but the Space Tribulation helped him to advance even further. He was sure his body finally reached the peak of the Third Level, and he was ready to advance to the Fourth Level. Unfortunately, without the demonic head, he could not do so; that would have to wait. ''System!'' Cain could not wait and immediately shouted an order to the Absolute Life Form System. [Scanning Vessel. ... ... Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Mind Calamity) / Essence Evolution (Space Tribulation) Lineage: Sun Master Lineage Wave Talent: Low Emperor Neo-Demon ... Stats: Strength: 1.3-->1.5 (1.9) Agility: 0.4-->0.5 (0.7) Vitality: 1.1-->1.5 (1.8) Astral Wave: 1.0-->1.1 (1.4) Essence Wave: 0.8-->1.0 (1.3) Soul Force: 1.3-->1.4 Ego Wave: 0.9-->1.0 ... Astral Blood Saturation: 100% Completion Law Mastery: Law of Space (Extreme Law Integration) Earth Law (Deep Law Integration) Water Law (Deep Law Integration) Fire Law (Extreme Law Integration) Wind Law (Deep Law Integration) Note: Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 14.4%. Note: Natural energy has enhanced every aspect of the Vessel''s physical body, including the Astral Wave and Essence Wave. The current value is marked between ().] Cain''s smile widened as he saw the improvement in his stats. It had been less than a month since he overcame the Mind Calamity, yet his vitality and strength obtained a massive boost. The physical improvement was due to him pushing the Cosmic Tyrant Framework to the limit of the Third Level. He was ecstatic to see that his Essence Wave rose by over twenty percent, and even his Astral Wave improved. The second must have increased due to the enhancement of his Ego Wave, which rose due to the Mirage Dimension phase. While killing those dozens of Mirror Avatars flooded his body and Essence Star with Law Runes, its essence was a test to his mind. It was just that Cain''s Ego Wave was so powerful that he barely perceived it. The increase in his Soul Force had to do with the improvement in every other aspect of his existence. His body, energy, willpower, and Laws all had an effect on his soul, and as they grew stronger, they nurtured the soul. That had to do with the Realms of Cultivation. According to the Codex of Infinite Pathways, the First Realm is the Physical Realm, and that embodies all cultivation journeys from the Wave Warrior Rank to the Apotheosis Rank. The Physical Realm is where cultivators focus on strengthening their physical body and mastering their internal energy, either their Astral Wave, Essence Wave, or both. A cultivator must indirectly improve their soul force by improving their body, energy, and willpower. Chapter 824: The Scarlet King vs the Humanoids of Dark Sky (I) Physical Realm cultivators must also achieve a harmonious balance and immense strength in both body and internal energy, creating a solid foundation capable of harnessing the power of the soul and advancing to the Soul Realm. In Aether, the First Rank of the Soul Realm is the Divine Ascension Realm, where cultivators harness the power of their soul and fuse it into their Sacred Organ, allowing their cultivation to express a power that goes beyond the limits of the flesh, reaching a whole new realm. The Essence Evolution Path of Power uses the soul to form an Inner World. On the other hand, the Astral Rebirth Path of Power fuses their soul into their Rebirth Heart, transforming the Sacred Organ into a tool capable of stealing the power of the stars. Cain had made sure to engrave all that knowledge in his mind. For someone like him, who cultivated Essence Wave and Astral Wave, it was imperative to have a clear route forward. He needed a path capable of synergy between his two Paths of Power, fusing physical might and the Laws. After finishing analyzing his own body, Cain turned his eyes to the surroundings. A sharp light appeared in his Space-Time Eye, and he was able to detect how the power of the Law of Space had fully integrated with the earth and sky of this area. The Codex of Infinite Pathways described how something like this could happen to the terrain if the power of the Space Tribulation were high enough. This place had become a haven for those who train in the Law of Space, as they would get twice the results with half the effort. It was even better than the grotto Cain used in the Deus Behemoth Empire, and this one covered the entire border. Of course, it was not just training that was easier in this place. Cain focused, and the Space-Time Eye exploded with power as he calmly raised his arm and waved his hand. The powerhouses of the Godslayer Humankind Empire and Inferno Daemon Empire were still in a trance at the majestic sight of the phenomenon covering the sky and earth and the man standing in the middle of it when suddenly they saw how this one waved his hand. It was a simple motion, yet the next second, the sky began to split apart, and everybody saw with utter shock how a portal appeared above the Scarlet King. A portal connected two points in space, similar to teleportation, but multiple people could use the first without a problem, making it much more valuable. It was impressive to see the Scarlet King form a portal with such ease, relying only on his power and nothing more. The powerhouses'' shock grew as they saw a massive dark fog covering the earth and sky on the other side of the portal. A solemn light appeared in the Godslayer Humankind powerhouses as they gazed at the Dark Fog. They had already heard of it and the entities inside, but it was the first time they saw it with their own eyes, and even the Collapsing Lightning Emperor could not help but clench his fists due to the phenomenon''s sinister and evil aura. "Alchemy-Sword King. Protect the area, and do not let anyone touch even a single rock." Cain''s voice was cold and stern, and immediately, one of the True Titans stepped forward and performed a deep bow. "I will, my King." The Alchemy-Sword King''s eyes were resolute. He had spent the last months on the border after his sentence, considering his flaws, and it seemed that his mind and will had grown even more powerful, proving he had indeed learned from his past mistakes. Cain could see the resolution in the man''s eyes and was sure he would keep this place safe. After the power of the Law Tribulation fused into the earth and sky, even a simple rock became a treasure, and he could not allow anyone to disturb this place as he would need it. Without saying another word, Cain flashed up, crossed through the portal, and appeared before the Dark Fog. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor''s eyes were sharp as he flashed into the portal, and soon, all the Godslayer Humankind powerhouses followed him without hesitation. There was only resolution and fighting will in the eyes of those warriors, as they were ready to follow the Scarlet King to the gates of hell. The Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin were shocked to see the group going through the portal, reaching the core of the Inferno Daemon Empire, and just as they wondered what their next step should be, Zero moved alone, going through the portal. When the duo saw Zero''s behavior, they immediately glanced at each other. Previously, they had considered that man might have been an impostor and that the one behind everything was the Scarlet King. However, they ultimately discarded the idea after all they had seen today. First, according to the knowledge the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin had, only three people could display Zero''s battle power: the Scarlet King, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. Obviously, the Scarlet King was not supplanting Zero, as they just saw the man going through the Space Tribulation. They also saw the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, who was constantly unleashing his aura and soul waves. As for the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, that man had already left for the Astral Sea, which meant he could not be Zero either. Ultimately, the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin had to accept that the man who appeared out of nowhere was really Zero Mint, the old legend from one thousand and five hundred years ago. After they accepted that, a smile appeared on their faces. Even if Zero Mint was a socially awkward person, to say the least, he was a powerful warrior, and that was exactly what they needed. Without further delay, the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin led the True Gods through the portal. Chapter 825: The Scarlet King vs the Humanoids of Dark Sky (II) Thousands of Inferno Daemon Empire warriors fought around the Dark Fog''s border, using all their strength to fight the Insect Army and stop their advance. Although the number of monsters seemed endless, those Inferno Daemons kept fighting with all they had, as they understood that if those monsters were allowed to harvest more food, then the Dark Fog would grow, and their race would cease to exist. Suddenly, a portal appeared in the sky, confusing all the warriors of the Inferno Daemon Empire, and their shock only grew stronger as they saw a young man step through it, followed by over two dozen entities with extremely powerful auras a second later. A sense of hopelessness invaded the Inferno Daemon warriors'' hearts as they saw those Godslayer Humankind powerhouses appear in the sky. They were barely hanging on a thread as they faced the endless Insect Army, and now dozens of Titans had appeared. "Is the universe set on annihilating our race?" One of the Inferno Daemon warriors could not help but exclaim those words, and all his comrades shared their despair. Cain could see all those emotions in the Inferno Daemons'' faces, but his eyes were emotionless as he raised his hand, and the Space-Time Eye began to glow. "RUMBLE!" The next second, the earth and sky trembled as a massive wave of gravitational pressure crashed into the battlefield on the border of the Dark Fog. Some Inferno Daemons could not help but close their eyes as they felt a power that could crush their bodies in that wave. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Hundreds of explosions echoed at the same time across the border of the Dark Fog, but none of the Inferno Daemons was harmed. As they opened their eyes, they saw that the ones being destroyed were none other than the monsters of the Insect Armies. All of them were crushed into the ground, leaving nothing but a mass of blood and meat. As Cain killed thousands of monsters of the Insect Army, Zero and the rest of the Inferno Daemon powerhouses appeared, and all of them turned to the young man with gratitude but also confusion. Cain glanced at the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin but did not say a word to them, instead turning to the Collapsing Lightning Emperor. "Keep everybody outside." The Collapsing Lightning Emperor could not help but frown as he heard that order indicating he could not enter the Dark Fog, but he soon bowed. Although he would like to accompany the Scarlet King, he would obey. After that, Cain calmly descended to the ground and calmly walked towards the Dark Fog. All the Inferno Daemons moved out of his path on their own, their eyes filled with fear, awe, and gratitude. Cain did not take long to enter the Dark Fog, and immediately, a sharp light appeared in his eyes. His spatial awareness and perception were at their peak, and the moment he entered the Dark Fog, it was as if he had entered a completely different world. The presence of Aether''s Laws and energy were being twisted and corrupted. ''The corruption is improving the strength of the Laws and origin energy, but it doesn''t fit life forms like the Sacred Races or even Wave Beasts. If nothing is done to stop it, the damage could be irreversible in a few years, and Atlas would be uninhabitable.'' Cain continued analyzing the Dark Fog until suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and he focused on the distance. Soon, he saw two figures walking toward him, one nearly eight meters tall with larger forearms and the other half the size with a slender body. A sharp light appeared in the powerhouses from the Godslayer Humankind Empire and Inferno Daemon Empire as they gazed at the Humanoids of Dark Sky. Not a single iota of energy emanated from their bodies. Still, even from a distance, all the Godslayer Humans and Inferno Daemons could feel their instincts screaming in danger due to the duo''s power. True God Bloom could not help but clench his fists as he gazed at the female and male Humanoids of Dark Sky and then turned toward Prime Minister Razputin. The old man from the Nether Fiend Clan narrowed his eyes as he sensed the intent in the True God before nodding, and immediately Bloom shouted toward the Scarlet King. "Those are the same that attacked Master Zero. The tall one''s defenses are immensely strong, while the agility of the female is outlandish, and she uses sonic booms as a weapon." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard those words from the True God, and while he did not take his eyes off the Humanoids of Dark Sky, he nodded, indicating he understood the message. Just like Cain did not take his eyes off them, the female and male Humanoids of Dark Sky were also laser-focused on the young man. "Cain Laurifer, the Scarlet King. We have been waiting for you." The male Humanoid of Dark Sky spoke in an eerily cold voice, his eyes full of killing intent as he clenched his fist. "Careful. That man is the Singularity of this world." The female Humanoid of Dark Sky''s voice was calm, yet there was a flash of caution in her eyes. The male Humanoid took a deep breath and nodded. Cain''s eyes narrowed as the duo seemed to know him, even calling him Singularity. Although unsure what they meant, he did not lose focus or even ask, only calmly walking forward. The female and male Humanoids of Dark Sky glanced at each other and nodded before walking forward. "RUMBLE!" The trio was simply walking, yet the power they began to unleash made the earth crack beneath their feet and the sky tremble. Cain''s eyes glowed with red and golden light as his Astral Wave and Essence Wave exploded, pushing his power to a new level! The female and male Humanoids of Dark Sky did not possess energy of any kind, yet as they clench their fists and tensed their muscles, the physical strength they unleashed grew even higher! Just as the Scarlet King and the female and male Humanoids of Dark Sky were one thousand meters apart, they vanished. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Chapter 826: The Scarlet King vs the Humanoids of Dark Sky (III) Pure awe appeared in the eyes of the powerhouses of the Godslayer Humankind Empire and Inferno Daemon Empire as they witnessed the first clash between the Scarlet King and the Humanoids of Dark Sky. Cain used his forearms to block the male Humanoid''s fists, and his right hand caught the female Humanoid''s left arm. The Humanoids of Dark Sky were shocked to see how the young man managed to block the male''s fists and, even more impressively, catch the female''s arm. Before the Humanoids of Dark Sky could react, Cain drew the female toward him with all his strength before striking her face with his elbow. The blow sent the female flying away, allowing him to turn his focus on the male Humanoid. Cain clenched his fist and gathered a massive amount of energy in it before striking the chest of the male Humanoid of Dark Sky. "BOOOOOMMMMMMM!" An explosion occurred as Cain''s blow landed on the chest of the male Humanoid of Dark Sky and sent this one flying away, but there was no smile on his face as he felt his attack failed to break through the defenses. Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he immediately turned around and raised both arms, concentrating his energy on them to form a shield. Now that his Ego Wave was several times larger than before, thanks to the devouring frenzy in the Tower of Concepts, Cain''s cognitive abilities and energy mastery had once again improved to the point he could flawlessly and instantly mobilize, explode, and redirect his Astral Wave and Essence Wave. Once again, he could deploy a monstrous level domain over the Four Basic Wave Arts. "BAAAAAAAOOOOOOOO!" The female Humanoid of Dark Sky recovered nearly instantly from the blow, and she attacked with such speed that even the Scarlet King could only block it. She triggered a sonic boom right before the energy shield, shattering it and pushing Cain back nearly three hundred meters. Cain felt his arms trembling for a moment after the blow. Still, he immediately regained control over his body and flashed toward the female Humanoid of Dark Sky, his fists burning with a combination of Astral and Essence Waves. The female Humanoid of Dark Sky attempted to move back, and while her speed was greater than Cain''s, it was as if space shrank for the young man, making him faster. She immediately struck with both arms, moving at a shocking speed, but Cain''s eyes glowed with golden light, pushed The Flow to the limit as he predicted the patterns of the attack, and found an opening. The shock in the female Humanoid of Dark Sky only grew stronger as she saw how the young man managed to find his way through the whip-like arms, grabbing her neck before slamming her into the ground. "BOOOOMMM!" The earth shattered beneath them as Cain bashed the female Humanoid of Dark Sky with all his strength, his eyes cold as he gathered his energy into his left fist and was ready to punch her head with all his strength, his eyes full of killing intent and devoid of any mercy. However, his eyes narrowed just as Cain was ready to bash her skull. He redirected his energy from his fist to his entire arm and used it as a shield from the blow coming toward his head. "BOOOMMMM!" The punch sent Cain flying away nearly three hundred meters; the attacker was none other than the male Humanoid of Dark Sky. He had struck this one with all his strength but bought him less than a second before the male rejoined the fight. Cain felt his arm tremble for a moment. Even though the male Humanoid of Dark Sky''s forte was defense, that did not mean he lacked strength. Luckily, he could avoid any real damage by condensing all his energy in his arm. The female Humanoid immediately stood up, her eyes cold as she glanced at Cain. Even in that rage, there was a sense of serenity in her eyes, showing emotional control that was nothing short of absolute, making her incredibly dangerous. The male and female Humanoids of Dark Sky glanced at each other for a few seconds. While they remained silent, it was clear they were exchanging some information, most likely speaking telepathically. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw how the duo communicated, yet there was no sign of Ego Wave or any other energy connecting their minds, so it was clear they did not share their thoughts the same way the members of the Sacred Races did. Just as the Scarlet King was trying to assess their method of communication, the female and male Humanoids of Dark Sky nodded and then charged forward, attacking from the right and left. Cain''s eyes burst with focus as he saw the duo attacking. Even after proving he was stronger and faster, it was clear they would not give up, and their killing intent was as clear as ever in their eyes. Just as the female and male Humanoids of Dark Sky were about to reach him, Cain''s eyes glowed, and a massive amount of energy gathered in them. "Sun Beam!" The energy beam of golden scorching energy emerged from Cain''s three eyes, blasting into the chest of the male Humanoid of Dark Sky. While it failed to leave deep wounds, it pushed him away. That allowed Cain to focus on the female Humanoid of Dark Sky, and his killing intent burst as his energy concentrated into his fists. However, as Cain was about to clash with the woman, he detected a presence. The ground behind him shattered to pieces in the next instant, and a massive figure emerged. It was another male Humanoid of Dark Sky, but this one''s arms were simply enormous. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" A massive kinetic explosion echoed inside the Dark Fog as the new Humanoid of Dark Sky connected a direct blow to Cain''s back, sending him hurtling through the ground and pushing him deeper into the Dark Fog. Chapter 827: The Scarlet King vs the Humanoids of Dark Sky (IV) Cain was sent hurtling through the ground for nearly five hundred meters before finally regaining control of his body, immediately adopting a battle stance as he glanced at the new Humanoid of Dark Sky. This one was just as tall as the male Humanoid focused on defense, but it had much larger arms and a broader chest, depicting new waves of muscle fibers, seemingly the origin of his supernatural strength. Suddenly, Cain''s body trembled, and he could not help but eject a mouthful of blood, and an expression of pain appeared on his face. His eyes narrowed as he cleaned the blood from his mouth. The powerhouses of the Godslayer Humankind and Inferno Daemon Empire could not help but clench their fists as they saw the blood leaking from the Scarlet King''s mouth. He was by far the strongest entity in Gaia and Atlas, maybe even the strongest in all Aether, yet it took only three of the Humanoids of Dark Sky to severely wound him. ''Thanks to the Cosmic Tyrant Framework, any damage done to my body is spread across the dimension in which I am located. I managed to direct most of my energy to my back before the blow arrived, improving my defenses even more, yet I still received an internal wound.'' Cain was also surprised by the strength of that blow, but he did not lose focus. His eyes were sharp as he saw how the three Humanoids of Dark Sky stood side by side, seemingly speaking amongst each other before slowly walking toward him. ''Speed Humanoid. Defense Humanoid. Strength Humanoid.'' Since the trio did not want to share their names, Cain would designate them himself. Immediately, he took a deep breath as bright golden and dark golden flames burst through his body, improving his vitality, regeneration abilities, strength, and defenses. Next, his heart burst with power the next second, and his skin turned red. Now that his willpower was at the Divine Ascension Realm, at least in terms of quantity, he could push Radiance of Life and Radiance of Strength to the limit without worrying about depleting his Ego Wave. As for Asura Form, he had long ago been able to push it to the peak of the Third Gear without backlash. Cain''s eyes burst with killing intent as his internal injuries vanished and his body grew more and more powerful. Without a word, he flashed forward at a shocking speed, twisting space in his path to shrink the distance he needed to move through. The three Humanoids of Dark Sky also exploded with killing intent as they blasted forward, breaking the ground beneath their feet. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion echoed inside the Dark Fog as Cain''s right fist clashed with the punch of the Strength Humanoid, and he used his left arm to block the blow from the Defense Humanoid. The ground beneath Cain shattered for dozens of kilometers, but he was able to stand his ground. Clashing with the Strength Humanoid and Defense Humanoid proved just how much strength his body could unleash. However, not even a second later, the Speed Humanoid appeared between the two males and used her whip-like arms to strike Cain''s chest. "BAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOO!" Cain clenched his teeth as that sonic boom sent him flying away and made his internal organs tremble. He had been forced to direct his energy into his fists, leaving little for the rest of his body, so the damage was significant. Even in that condition, Cain immediately regained control, his eyes sharp as he saw the Defense Humanoid flashing toward him. With The Flow, it was easy for Cain to dodge the blow to his face before connecting a hook in the male Humanoid of Dark Sky, blasting this one away. Cain had just pushed the Defense Humanoid away when the Strength Humanoid''s fist appeared in front of his face. As if that was not enough, the Speed Humanoid was attacking from the sidelines, aiming at his ribs. ''They used the Defense Humanoids as a shield, blocking my sight so that they could attack simultaneously from two different directions.'' Even if Cain understood their tactic, that did not mean he could counter it. Immediately, he raised both arms and channeled most of his energy into them, focusing on defending against the Strength Humanoid. "BOOOOOOMMMMMM!" "BAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOO!" The first sonic boom arrived at the same time, making Cain feel his arms would shatter and his ribs would collapse as he was sent flying away. Cain''s body hurtled through the air, but he forced himself to regain control as he twisted to the side, dodging the dive from the Defense Humanoid of Dark Sky just in time. He adopted a battle stance in the sky and saw the three Humanoids of Dark Sky flash toward him once more. The powerhouses of the Godslayer Humankind and Inferno Daemon Race frowned as they saw how the fight continued. The Scarlet King could face two of them simultaneously without a problem and come out on top, but once a third was added, he found himself in a dangerous situation. It was not just their individual power but their teamwork that made them dangerous, as their combined battle power was more than the sum of its parts. This was clear from the way in which they covered each other''s weaknesses and enhanced their strengths. Minutes began to pass as the Scarlet King faced the three Humanoids of Dark Sky, and more and more wounds appeared on his body. Although the Radiance of Life healed all the damage, he was slowly losing ground, and it did not seem like victory could be achieved. That sight generated an ominous atmosphere over the powerhouses of the Inferno Daemon Empire and Godslayer Humankind Empire. If even the Scarlet King could not face the monsters, what chance could they have? Cain dodged the blow from the Strength Humanoid and one of the Speed Humanoid''s whips, but the Defense Humanoid managed to tackle him. The Defense Humanoid''s shoulder clashed point-blank with his chest, sending him flying into the sky while he puked blood once more. The three Humanoids of Dark Sky were ready to flash into the sky and continue their onslaught when suddenly the Scarlet King glanced at them with eyes devoid of emotion, causing them to freeze in their march. Chapter 828: The Scarlet King vs the Humanoids of Dark Sky (V) A flash of shock appeared in the eyes of the Humanoids of Dark Sky, but not due to the Scarlet King''s overwhelming brutality. Although it was impressive, they were shocked by the young man''s ability to make them hesitate with just his gaze. They were supposed to be absolute warriors, and their enemies were nothing but ants, yet one of them, who was not even 25 years old, managed to freeze their hearts. Cain did not care about the train of thought of the Humanoids of Dark Sky, his eyes still devoid of emotions as he opened his mouth. "I guess I have to go all out." As soon as he uttered those words, Cain''s Astral Wave and Essence Wave began to fuse, generating a gray flaming aura. He unleashed his Solar Tempest Essence, which was even stronger than the one he generated before, as his mastery over the two energies had risen much higher. A sharp light appeared in the eyes of the Humanoids of Dark Sky as they saw this new form of energy. It was much more potent than the Astral Wave and Essence Wave, capable of seemingly enhancing the body while at the same time acting as a conduit for the Laws. Although the three Humanoids of Dark Sky felt the aura of the Scarlet King rising, they also saw how this new energy burned much faster than pure Astral Wave and Essence Wave. The improvement in battle power would not be enough to turn the tables, and the Scarlet King would exhaust himself faster. However, in the next second, they saw how massive amounts of that gray flaming force had emerged from Cain''s body. They began to form nine massive orbs of red energy, each radiating immense heat and light, capable of causing vast destruction. These spheres were majestic creations that embodied the powers of the Astral Rebirth Path of Power and Essence Path of Power. They depicted a bloodline with an extremely fiery nature and a simply sublime mastery over the Laws of Space and Fire. The powerhouses of the Goldsayre Humankind Empire could not help but frown as they saw these massive spheres. They had seen the Nine Void Suns Technique from the Scarlet King, and it was undoubtedly majestic and capable of immense destruction and sealing power. However, this technique was primarily effective against great numbers and weaker enemies and would not be much used against entities like the Humanoids of Dark Sky. However, just as the powerhouses wondered what the Scarlet King was thinking, a sense of pure awe appeared in their eyes as they saw those gargantuan spheres of fire beginning to compress. They were growing smaller and smaller, yet the amount of energy in them remained the same. They compressed, growing even purer and stronger. Cain''s eyes glowed with focus as he pushed his understanding of the Laws of Space and Fire to the limit. He compressed the Nine Void Suns by effectively ''folding'' the space around each sun to condense its size and used the Law of Fire to maintain them stable, avoiding diminishing their power. The three Humanoids of Dark Sky saw all that but did not interrupt it. Of course, they did not do that out of courtesy but because they did not want to be hasty and receive those spheres of fire point blank. Besides, the Scarlet King was infusing them with more and more energy, and they were glad to see the man wasting his energy like that. Finally, the nine gargantuan Nine Void Suns, each the size of a small city, were reduced to spheres no more than five centimeters in radius. Each sphere contained a massive amount of energy and was much faster and easier to handle. The three Humanoids of Dark Sky glanced at each other and figured out how to handle those spheres. The Nive Void Suns were powerful and fast, and each could unleash an explosion of epic proportions. Yet, once they were taken care of, the Scarlet King would have lost most of his energy and could no longer fight. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw the Humanoids of Dark Sky figuring out the best strategy to handle his Nine Void Suns, and a cold smile appeared on his face. He gazed at the nine spheres of red fiery energy, and while they were undoubtedly powerful, he would not have wasted so much strength just to make mere bombs. ''I have theorized this path before, but only after the improvements brought by the Mind Calamity and Space Tribulation did I feel confident in executing it.'' Just as the Humanoids of Dark Sky discussed the best path forward, a sense of shock appeared in their eyes as they saw how the Nine Void Suns began to fuse into the body of the Scarlet King! Although the Humanoids of Dark Sky did not use energy or the Laws, that did not mean they did not understand them and could not believe what they were seeing. To control each of those spheres, one required a simply monstrous level of energy control, and to fuse them into your flesh was even more complex. Each of those spheres was a construct that embodied an extremely high display of the Law of Fire and Law of Space, so trying to fuse it with your flesh should be nearly impossible due to the difference in nature. However, they did not see how deeply the Fire Tribulation and Space Tribulation had engraved Law Runes into every single cell of Cain''s body, allowing the fusing between the Nine Void Suns and his flesh and blood. "BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!" An explosion of fiery red energy burst from Cain''s body, generating a pillar of flames that covered his figure and rose for hundreds of thousands of kilometers, clashing with the Crystal Wall! The explosion did not last long as all the flames began converging back into the Scarlet King''s body, revealing his figure again. He had six Void Suns fused in Cain''s wrists, elbows, and shoulders. Two others into the soles of his feet, and the last Void Sun appeared above his Space-Time Eye, resembling a gem engraved in his forehead! Chapter 829: The Scarlet King vs the Humanoids of Dark Sky (VI) Cain resembled a divine entity, with Solar Tempest Essence flowing through his body and the Nine Void Suns fused into his flesh. The three Humanoids of Dark Sky immediately pushed their guard to the limit as they felt the immense increase in power in the Scarlet King and saw the Void Suns in the soles of the man''s feet glowing. "?BOOM!" "CRACK!" Just as the trio prepared to fight, they heard a blast and the fabric of space shattering before a massive explosion occurred in the middle of them. They saw how the Strength Humanoid was sent flying away while puking black blood. The Defense and Speed Humanoids of Dark Sky turned to the middle of their formation and saw the Scarlet King there, the Void Sun on his right wrist glowing. They could barely believe the speed the man had achieved, so fast they were unable to respond. Despite the shock, the Defense and Speed Humanoid of Dark Sky immediately moved, trying to attack, but the Scarlet King was faster. Once again, the Void Sun on his feet glowed, but this time, it was only in the right one. Instead of releasing a jet of flames that propelled his body forward, Cain kept his body fixed and used the burst of power from the Void Sun to generate a ferocious kick toward the Speed Humanoid of Dark Sky. The kick''s torque was so immense that it sent the Speed Humanoid of Dark Sky flying as well. Cain did not stop the rotation, allowing him to face the Defense Humanoid of Dark Sky directly, and the Void Sun on his left shoulder glowed as he caught the enemy''s fist. "?BOOM!" An explosion occurred when the Humanoid of Dark Sky''s fist clashed with the open palm, but to his shock, he felt as if he had just struck a continent, his strength incapable of doing any damage. If that was not bad enough, the next second, the Scarlet King tightened his grip, refusing to let his hand go free. A flash of dread appeared in the Defense Humanoid of Dark Sky as he saw how the Void Suns in the Scarlet King''s right shoulder, elbow, and wrist began to glow simultaneously, unleashing massive power. "Solar Strike Cascade!" "?BOOM!" The Scarlet King sent a ferocious and extremely fast punch toward the chest of the Defense Humanoid of Dark Sky, but the sound of the explosion was very soft. Yet all the powerhouses from the Godslayer Humankind Empire and Inferno Daemon Empire saw how the entire body of the Defense Humanoid of Dark Sky trembled nonstop before he unleashed a mouthful of blood and pieces of internal organs. Although it seemed like the fist had little strength due to the soft blast, the truth was that Cain used his Solar Tempest Essence to redirect the entire power of the blow into the Defense Humanoid of Dark Sky''s chest cavity! For the Humanoid of Dark Sky, it felt like the Scarlet King had directly struck his internal organs with a massive hammer. The damage was nothing short of massive, and the Scarlet King kept a tight grip on his fists, not letting him go. A flash of hope and awe appeared in the eyes of the powerhouses of the Godslayer Humankind Empire and Inferno Daemon Empire as they saw that blow since they saw in it the strength to overcome the calamity that was Dark Sky. Yet, just as the powerhouses'' hopes were rising, they saw how the Scarlet King''s right arm trembled before a jet of blood emerged from the shoulder, elbow, and wrist. The Nine Void Suns'' power was beyond monstrous, but the Scarlet King''s body seemed unable to endure it. The Defense Humanoid of Dark Sky also saw the backlash of the blow, and a smile appeared on his face, but it immediately froze as he saw the eyes of the Scarlet King glowing with red light yet devoid of emotion. Cain unleashed an aura full of brutality as the Void Suns in his right shoulder, elbow, and wrist glowed once more. He then sent a second blow toward the Defense Humanoid of Dark Sky''s chest. "Solar Strike Cascade!" "?BOOM!" Another soft explosion echoed across the Dark Fog as the Defense Humanoid of Dark Sky trembled without control while spewing mouthfuls of blood and pieces of internal organs. The damage was so massive that the light in the Humanoid''s eyes was fading away. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw the feeble state of the Defense Humanoid''s life force, but he was not unscathed as that second Solar Strike Cascade shattered the bones in his shoulder, elbow, and wrist. If not for his Radiance of Life and Radiance of Strength, his right arm would have burst to pieces long ago. The arm was virtually useless even with those abilities activated at full power. The Nine Void Suns'' Battle Form was nothing short of majestic, but the pressure it generated in his body was too much for him to bear without severe consequences. A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he clenched his bloodied right fist, seemingly ready to sacrifice his right arm to end the Defense Humanoid of Dark Sky. However, just as he was about to do that, his instincts screamed. Without hesitation, Cain let go of the Defense Humanoid of Dark Sky''s fist and sent him flying away with a ferocious kick before the Void Suns in both of his feet glowed, and he propelled his body at a shocking speed out of the Dark Fog. The powerhouses of the Godslayer Humankind Empire and Inferno Daemon Empire were surprised to see the Scarlet King flashing out of the Dark Fog at such immense speed. Even if the technique he used had a severe backlash, he had only wounded his right arm, and the rest of his body seemed to be fine. However, the next second, the powerhouses turned their gaze to the sky of the Dark Fog, and their eyes widened as they saw a gargantuan silhouette diving into the battlefield. "RUMBLE!!!" The next second, the figure clashed with the battlefield, and it was as if meteors had fallen to the ground, with so much power that it was a miracle the entire sector did not collapse. Chapter 830: Divided, we will be slaughtered Cain made it out of the Dark Fog just in time, and his eyes widened as he saw the gargantuan figure that had just crashed into the battlefield. It was hundreds of meters tall, and the physical power it unleashed was so massive that the fabric of space around him shattered with a single move of his body. The newcomer was also a Humanoid of Dark Sky, and his massive eyes gazed at Cain with coldness and killing intent. Despite the physical power that the gigantic Humanoid unleashed, Cain''s eyes only unleashed a sense of pure brutality and not even an ounce of fear. Although that dive had the power to kill him, Cain could see that massive size also came with drawbacks, and one of them was simply awful agility. It did not matter how strong the gigantic Humanoid of Dark Sky was if it could not touch him. The gigantic Humanoid of Dark Sky focused on the Scarlet King for a few seconds before turning to the side, grabbing the unconscious Defense Humanoid, and walking deeper into the Dark Fog. The Speed Humanoid and Strength Humanoid did not remain behind, giving one sharp glance at the Scarlet King before leaving. Only after the gigantic Humanoid of Dark Sky vanished from his sight did Cain allow his body to relax, and waves of pain and exhaustion immediately assaulted him. Despite the tiredness, he could not relax yet, so he took a deep breath, controlling the energy of the Nine Void Suns. Slowly, Cain took out the Nine Void Suns from his body, and the next second, he aimed his hand forward and shot them into the Dark Fog. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Nine massive explosions echoed inside the Dark Fog, illuminating the realm of darkness and mystery and killing everything in their range. Cain did not believe such obvious attacks could harm the Humanoids of Dark Sky, but they would definitely take care of many of the Insect Army waves coming toward him, sparing him the bothersome task of killing those mindless drones. After taking care of the Nine Void Suns, Cain focused all his power on the Radiance of Life, focusing on the Concept of Life, as he sought to fix his wounds and stabilize his condition. While the damage to his right arm was the most obvious, the truth was that every joint and muscle in his body was damaged. The Nine Void Suns Battle Form was nothing short of a majestic technique, able to deploy the full spectrum of Cain''s talent in Astral Wave, Essence Wave, Lineage Power, and Laws. However, his physical body had yet to reach the point where it could endure such stress. Cain knew that he would need a much stronger foundation if he wanted to truly use this ability in a battle and not as a last-resort trump card. Unfortunately, that was more complex than just rising to the Divine Ascension Realm. After all, once he entered into contact with the Inner Universe and Star Sovereign Divine Systems, his Astral Wave, Essence Wave, Lineage Power, and Laws would strengthen, improving the power of the Nine Void Suns. If he wanted to fully use the ability, he would need an improvement in power that went from the core of his essence and stood outside the realms of the Paths of Power. ''Even if I were to reach the Fourth Level of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework, it might not be enough. I must rise to the Primordial Path''s Ascension Realm to achieve a powerful enough foundation.'' Cain had spent a lot of time meditating over the Ascension Stage, focusing on Orbital Alignment to synchronize his body''s internal energy with the celestial bodies and Stellar Meditation to temper his mind and spirit, but it was hard to break through. The Foundation Stage was easy for Cain, and he could advance at a simply monstrous speed, so he initially thought that the Ascension Stage would be the same, but it was clear that would not be the case. It made sense; while the Foundation Stage was powerful, it was a phase of the Primordial Path that could be considered in the Physical Realm, while the Ascension Stage should be in the Soul Realm. Given that the Ascension Stage would grant him a Primordial''s Soul Realm foundation, it was no wonder it was so hard to achieve. As all those thoughts crossed Cain''s mind, his right arm finally improved. There was still internal damage, but from the outside, it looked flawless. Cain raised his arm and clenched his fists before a solemn and profound light appeared in his eyes. "Divided, we will be slaughtered." The powerhouses of the Godslayer Humankind Empire and Inferno Daemon Empire were shocked by those words. They had been silent all this time, wondering what conclusion the Scarlet King would reach after facing the Humanoids of Dark Sky, and it was not one that made them happy. "Are you suggesting our empires fuse their strength?" The one who broke the solemn and somber atmosphere was Zero Mint, the only person in the group who did not seem to see the problem with the idea of working side by side. Even if they were facing a cataclysmic threat, the Godslayer Humankind Empire and Inferno Daemon Empire had been enemies for thousands of years, killing each other, and there was too much bad blood. Not attacking the Inferno Daemon Empire when they faced the Dark Sky was one thing, but helping them fight this new threat was too much for the powerhouses of the Godslayer Humankind, especially after the last invasion war. Although they had all seen the power of Dark Sky and understood the logic behind joining their forces, logic was one thing and emotions another. "Together, we could fight, but we will lose and die." However, the Scarlet King''s prediction shocked them once more. It seemed that even working together, they would fail. Then, what path was there besides extinction? Chapter 831: Ouroboros Protocol Cain could see his words'' devastating effect on the powerhouses of the Godslayer Humankind Empire and Inferno Daemon Empire. Still, he would not lie to them and tell them everything would be alright when he knew the danger they were facing could end both continents. The Humanoids of Dark Sky were simply too powerful, and he could barely take on three of them simultaneously, risking his life. And who knew how many of them there were in reality? Not to mention their Insect Army, which seemed endless, and they flooded the border nonstop in search of food. If that was not enough, he still did not understand the true nature of the Dark Fog, its origin, or how it was growing. However, Cain would also not simply speak to break their spirit, and he had a way to handle this apocalyptic threat. "Luckily, there are more than just two Sacred Races in Aether." As they heard those words, a flash of will and hope appeared in the eyes of the Inferno Daemons and Godslayer Humankind powerhouses. Four other Sacred Races existed, each with millions of mighty warriors and dozens of True Titans and True Gods capable of formidable might. "Ahhh, by the time we can connect with the other empires, Atlas will be under the control of Dark Sky." Prime Minister Razputin uttered those pessimistic words. Although they were extremely negative and harsh, the man was just being honest. After all, at the speed at which the Dark Fog advanced, the Inferno Daemon Empire would cease to exist before The Great Cataclysm ended. Cain stared at the Nether Fiend, and a small smile appeared. He was actually happy to see the nature of the man since it was always good to have someone with a pessimistic view of things, as it could help you prepare for the worst. And it was true that if they waited for the effect of The Great Cataclysm on the Endless Ocean to fade, the Dark Fog would have completely engulfed Atlas. "Who says I am planning to wait for The Great Cataclysm to be over?" When they heard those words, the powerhouses were in shock. The Great Cataclysm prevented the use of Intercontinental Teleportation Formations, and trying to fly across the Endless Ocean was not practical, as it would take years. Suddenly, the Dark Emperor experienced a flash of enlightenment. He looked back to the border and remembered the effect that the Space Tribulation had on the earth and sky. "That place." Cain stared at the Dark Emperor and softly nodded. It was clear that no one who managed to become the Emperor of a Sacred Race was simple. "That is right. I went through my Space Tribulation at the border because I plan to use the earth and sky as the core of a formation capable of circumventing the spatial anomalies in the Endless Ocean." As they heard those words, the Inferno Daemon powerhouses felt shock and awe. It seemed that no matter how grand or small the Scarlet King''s decision was, everything he did was part of a much grander and complicated scheme. The Godslayer Humankind powerhouses, on the other hand, were already used to the nature of their King, and nothing with him was left to chance. "Would you let us use it?" Once again, Prime Minister Razputin spoke, the old man''s face solemn yet downcast. It was a fair question; after all, they were enemies, and helping them bring warriors of the Legion Eldritch Race and Atrox Immortus Race into Atlas would put Gaia in danger. Even if the other party was set on facing Dark Sky, it was not a decision the powerhouses and people of the Godslayer Humankind Empire would accept easily, even if it came from the Scarlet King. Cain stared at the old man from the Nether Clan, his eyes sharp. He saw that he was not only pessimistic but also able to ask hard questions despite fear of the answer. He also noticed the solemn gaze of the Godslayer Humankind powerhouses as they waited to see how he would act. He needed to be careful. Even if he wanted to help the Inferno Daemon Race to face Dark Sky, he could not afford to alienate the Godslayer Humankind, which was the core of his power. After all, he was powerful, but definitely not powerful enough to face Dark Sky alone. "Prime Minister Minxet, is the Ouroboros Protocol ready to be implemented?" "Yes, my King. Everything is in place." Prime Minister Minxet took a step forward and nodded to the Scarlet King. "Good. Add a video of my battle with the Humanoids of Dark Sky as well. Show all of it." Cain''s eyes were sharp as he issued that command and sent the video to the middle-aged man''s A.I. Chip. Prime Minister Minxet did not hesitate before focusing on his A.I. Chip and began to send commands and orders. Confusion appeared on the faces of the Godslayer Humankind powerhouses as they heard about the Ouroboros Protocol, but it did not last long as soon all of them received a message on their A.I. Chips. Shock appeared on the faces of the Godslayer Humankind powerhouses, and soon, those of the Inferno Daemon Empire understood the reason. While the message was only directed to the Godslayer Humankind Empire members since it moved through Atlas, it was intercepted, but that was fine. The Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin saw the message, their eyes immediately going to the first row of letters. [During the invasion of the Inferno Daemon Empire, the Void King, a Godslayer Human and leader of Gaia''s underground forces, commanded the extermination of all civilians in the border Sectors. Everyone came to believe the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army carried the command. This event came to be known as the Inferno Massacre. Due to critical ongoing missions, the Scarlet King and Imperial Court chose to keep that story. However, it is false. The God in charge of the extermination refused to carry out the order, and instead of simply watching from the sidelines, he used an artifact to keep all the people hidden from sight. All these people will now be returned to their homes with their families.] Chapter 832: Conditions and demands Shock appeared in the eyes of the members of the Inferno Daemon Empire, along with signs of relief and smiles, as it seemed that General Casidius''s bravery and honor prevented one of the greatest disgraces of their empire. The message showed the faces of every single one of the billion-plus lives that were saved, detailing all that happened with extreme emphasis on the role of The Organization, a Godslayer Human force in the war of the north, and highlighting the honorable role of General Casidius, the God of the enemy army. That was just the beginning. In the archive, there was also a video file depicting the battle against the Depravita of Blood. Great emphasis was placed on the moment when General Casidius guided the Gods and Divine Ascension Masters of the Inferno Daemon Empire against the Blood King, using their lives to buy time for Cain. It depicted every single second of the battle, especially as the Titans and Gods fought together, all to face the horrible monster that was the Depravita of Blood. People could see that despite the hatred between both sides when facing an existential threat, Gods and Titans could fight side by side and obtain victory. Next came pictures and videos of the massacre of the Inferno Daemon''s civilians by the jaws of the Insect Army. It was highly explicit, so bloody that some people might not endure it, giving a clear show of what would happen to anyone who faced those things, regardless of their race. People would know that Dark Sky did not care if you were an Inferno Daemon or Godslayer Human, and they would kill you in a bloody way. Finally, it showed the Scarlet King''s battle against the Humanoids of Dark Sky. It was inspiring to see Cain fighting and how he managed to crush three Humanoids of Dark Sky, but it showed how he was forced to run once the fourth arrived. After the powerhouses of the Godslayer Humankind Empire experienced the full extent of the Ouroboros Protocol Archive, a complicated expression appeared on their faces, and they could not help but sigh. The hatred and animosity that burned in their hearts after hundreds or even thousands of years of fighting were still there, but their rational minds understood that the Inferno Daemon Race were not monsters, just people on the opposite side. The force they needed to truly fear and face was the power that seemed to have come from an unknown dimension and sought to change the foundational state of their world, Dark Sky. They could not let the battle reach into Gaia unless they wanted their children and elders to become food for the Insect Army. Cain remained silent as he allowed all the powerhouses to assimilate the content of the Ouroboros Protocol Archive. He had been planning for this procedure for a long time. Initially, it was to pit Atlas and Gaia against the schemes of Horus and the Depravita Race. However, all of a sudden, this new alien force, Dark Sky, arrived, killed Horus and the schemes of the Depravita Race, and became the latest existential threat of Aether. Of course, Cain knew that things were much more complicated thanks to his spies in Atlas, but that was a problem for another day. Cain analyzed the expressions on the faces of the Godslayer Humankind powerhouses and could see that the files had an effect, so he carried on. "We will help you face the Dark Sky in Atlas to stop the advance of the Dark Fog and give you access to the Bridge of Hope. This will allow you to reach the Atrox Immortus Empire and Legio Eldritch Empire and request help from your allies, bringing them here." The Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin could not help but smile as they heard those words. Although a device that could connect to Kronos and Oceanus, homes of the Atrox Immortus Race and Legio Eldritch Race, seemed like magic, the man with whom they were speaking seemed capable of making miracles come true. However, before they could get too happy about it, Cain carried on. "There will be several conditions and demands. I will have access to the computer ring of anyone in Atlas to monitor their movements, as I have to be careful of anyone going rogue in this time of crisis. I will also mark the battlefield''s dividing line between both sides." The Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin''s faces were deep with frowns. Access to their computer ring would show the Scarlet King everything they did at all times, something not many people would be happy about. The part about dividing the battlefield was easier to accept, as even if they were fighting Dark Sky together, it was still too soon to mix both armies. "You will also have to give me access to your treasures. I need a myriad of different resources for the Bridge of Hope, and it would not be fair for me and the Godslayer Humankind Empire to pay for it alone." The Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin''s eyes twitched as they heard that. It did make sense, but they were sure their treasuries would be ransacked. However, no matter how hurt they were, they had no choice but to accept. "Anything else?" Prime Minister Razputin said, trying his best to hide how unpleasant it felt to be at the mercy of a 25-year-old young man. "Yes. I want every single evil treasure you and your kind have. And I will also claim all the corpses we obtain from Dark Sky, including those from the Insect Army and any Humanoid." Strange expressions appeared on the faces of the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin as they heard that demand, but after a moment, they nodded since they had no problem handing over the corpses. As for evil treasures, there were not many, and none of the generals and powerhouses in the empire used them, so it was fine as well. Chapter 833: Infinite Horizon The border between the Atlas Continent and Gaia Continent, once a place of countless skirmishes between the Godslayer Humankind Empire and Inferno Daemon Empire, had transformed into something completely new and vibrating with life. Once full of death, the land had metamorphosed by the Space Tribulation and now had hundreds of Wave Crafters and Runic Masters giving orders to thousands of Wave Kings. These Wave Crafters and Runic Masters were working in perfect synchrony as they built massive metallic portals and filled the earth with incredibly complex and beautiful runes. That was not all, as millions of Godslayer Humans marched into this land and used the massive Inter Sector Portal built in the sky that led them directly into the most critical battlefield of all Aether. Through the same portal, hundreds of Inferno Daemons arrived as well, all of them bringing massive amounts of resources for the Wave Crafters and Rune Masters to use, along with thousands of treasures that depicted an evil and corrupted aura along with space rings holding millions of corpses from the Insect Army. The land that was once the core of the battles between the Inferno Daemon Empire and Godslayer Humankind Empire now saw the two forces working together in pursuit of a single goal. Defeat Dark Sky. This place was canonized Infinite Horizon, the land where the Bridge of Hope would come to exist and sought to unite all Aether. There was a massive red force field that covered every corner of Infinite Horizon, and that belonged to none other than the master of the Godslayer Humankind, leader of the Bridge of Hope Project, and the strongest life form in all of Gaia and Atlas, the Scarlet King. Cain''s eyes were sharp as he gazed at the Infinite Horizon, mainly focusing on the hundreds of Wave Crafters and Rune Masters. The abilities these people were showing were ridiculously high for the standard of Aether, as their domain over the Profession was on a whole new level. These people were the geniuses who had been training for the last half-year in the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer. At first, the masters were disappointed, realizing they would not obtain direct tutelage from the Scarlet King, but all their worries vanished as they felt the power of the Soul Enlightenment Mist and the endless knowledge in the Codex of Infinite Pathways. Thanks to the Soul Enlightenment Mist enhancing their cognitive abilities and the Codex of Infinite Pathways showing them how to improve their Profession and use it to enhance their cultivation base, they began to advance at a shocking speed. After learning about Dark Sky, Cain ordered the Rune Masters and Wave Crafters to find a way to help him connect to the Hyperion, Kronos, Oceanus, and Typhon Continents. After days of deliberation and discussion, they came up with an answer. Cain''s eyes focused on the portals and runes, marveling at their majestic power. These portals were designed as towering gate structures, akin to massive archways, crafted from materials that resonate strongly with spatial energies. Each portal is imbued with core crystals that act as focal points for spatial manipulation. The surface of each gate portal was intricately inscribed with powerful runes, each carefully chosen for its properties of space manipulation and energy stabilization. These runes were not static; they could change configuration based on the requirements of the teleportation process. That alone was majestic enough, but Cain''s eyes could see that each portal had deep channels carved into the earth, lined with runes that draw spatial energies from the Infinite Horizon''s core and the surrounding environment. These channels act like roots, absorbing energy and directing it upwards into the portal, essentially drawing the power of the Space Tribulation that had been infused into the earth. Of course, it was not just the earth that was being drained. Above each portal, rune-enhanced receivers capture spatial energies from the sky, drawing down celestial spatial forces to synergize with the terrestrial energies. It took full advantage of the power of space force engraved in the sky of Infinite Horizon. Cain''s focus reached its limit as he attempted to decipher the mysteries and powers behind the Wave Artifacts and Runic Formation before a smile appeared on his face. ''I can barely understand 20% of the principles behind the Artifacts and less than 10% of the core power behind the runes. I am definitely not suited for those two paths.'' Luckily for Cain, he did not need to understand the intricacies between the Wave Artifact and Runic Formation. Their purpose was to enhance the power he could express through the Law of Space. Cain would use the Bridge of Hope to generate a conduit into the other continents, diminishing the millions of kilometers between the Infinite Horizon and Gaia to mere meters. Of course, building the path was one part and stabilizing it another, but the Bridge of Hope would also take care of that. It was a gargantuan project, and it was practically impossible to build it with the resources of a single continent. Luckily, by using Atlas and Gaia''s resources, they succeeded. Of course, one thing was to connect to the other continents and another to bring people here to fight against Dark Sky. Of course, treaties and alliances were put in place, but words and actions were very different. Cain already had a path to handle anyone too afraid to march onto the battlefield. It would not be easy, and some people might get angry with him, but they would have to fight at the end of the day. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed as he looked back and detected a presence. The person hid very well, and no one but Cain could perceive him. A mantle of darkness covered his figure, and his aura and eyes clearly showed that he was an extremely powerful assassin. Not wanting to waste time, Cain flashed forward and put his hand over the individual''s shoulder before vanishing from the Infinite Horizon''s sky. Chapter 834: Horus and Dark Sky (I) The figure''s eyes widened as he observed the massive dimension filled with pink mist, pillars of death in the distance, and an enormous castle at one end. However, his gaze quickly shifted to the majestic book in the center of the dimension, surrounded by thousands of people in meditation. "Let''s go. You will have time to gaze at this place once we finish." The Scarlet King''s words drew the figure''s attention back to reality. He nodded as they headed into the Samsara Sacrificial Ground. Inside, they opened the gates, and a new wave of shock washed over the man as he beheld the majestic purple flame at the center of the room. It was by far the most amazing and beautiful thing he had ever seen. The beauty of the cosmic forces that governed the Star Sovereign System could not compare. Fortunately, he was prepared and quickly regained focus, turning to the two other individuals present. One of them was the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, which was unsurprising considering he was the right hand of the Scarlet King. But the second was none other than Zero Mint, the hero of the Inferno Daemon Race! Anyone else would be shocked to see the antisocial Zero Mint in this place, but not the man shrouded in darkness. "James, is that you?" Zero Mint nodded at these words, and the next second, a black cloak enveloped his figure, changing his appearance, energy radiation, and even soul aura to that of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. "It has been a long time, Angar. I hope your time in Atlas was not too difficult." The shroud of darkness covering the figure vanished the next second, revealing a handsome man with white hair and a muscular body. He was none other than Angar Aegon, the master assassin and spy that Cain had sent into the Atlas Continent. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor, First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and Angar looked at each other with broad smiles. They were the three figures that sided with the Scarlet King at the start of his journey, becoming his trident in the Godslayer Humankind and his most trusted warriors. One had become the Scarlet Shield and Emperor of the Godslayer Humankind, always present and displaying his power to the world. The other was the Scarlet Sword, always hidden or adopting different identities, forbidden from showing his true appearance. Finally, the master assassin and spy who had spent the last year on a continent full of people who would want to kill him and spying on someone who could manipulate The Organization from the shadows. Although the trio had many things to say to each other, this was not the time or place to do so. "Angar, share all you learned in the Atlas Continent and your surveillance of Horus. Including the events that led to the apparition of the Dark Fog and Dark Sky." The Collapsing Lightning Emperor and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar immediately adopted solemn expressions as they focused on the master assassin. Other than their power, everything about Dark Sky was an enigma. Their goal seemed to be conquering Aether, but even that did not make much sense. It was clear that Dark Sky came from a place with a cultivation civilization much more advanced than Aether, so they did not understand what they were seeking and doubted that they were after resources. Angar also adopted a solemn expression as he carried on. "As soon as General Casidius and I reached Atlas, we swiftly took control of a Tier Zero Dark Faction. That gave us the manpower to carry on our surveillance operation, and we began to silently and carefully monitor the movements of Horus Ekleipsis and all the people with whom he came into contact. At first, we obtained nothing, and even after the defeat of the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army and the obliteration of The Organization, the man showed nothing. He exhibited no intent of revenge or mobilization of forces to strike the Godslayer Humankind Empire, seemingly diving all his focus into the internal affairs of the Inferno Daemon Empire. Horus seemed determined to revitalize the north of the Empire, which was most heavily damaged by The Great Cataclysm. He filled the place with people and all sorts of essential formations. The man was set on revitalizing the area, implementing programs that led the bulk of the Empire''s civilian population into the north. General Casidius and I found that behavior extremely odd, but there was nothing wrong with it, and no matter how hard we looked, we could find no problem. However, things slowly grew weird when Horus dictated the creation of massive cemeteries in the north of the Inferno Daemon Empire to commemorate all the soldiers lost at the hands of the Godslayer Humankind during the last war." As they heard those words, a sharp light appeared in the eyes of the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and First Collapsing Lighting Pillar. Unlike the Godslayer Humankind Empire, which buried the dead into the earth, making them return to the world, the Inferno Daemon Empire preferred cremation, allowing their energy and ashes to disperse across the sky and winds. The fact that Horus painted the Godsalyer Humankind as the evil force that butchered the Inferno Daemons was clearly propaganda. He started the war, and his Depravita of Blood killed most Inferno Daemons. They knew the man was a master manipulator and hypocrite, so they did not waste time and instead focused on the goal behind that charade. As they analyzed the information, Angar noticed the sharp light in the Scarlet Shield and Sword of Humanity and nodded. "It was odd, especially since they were empty gravestones whose only purpose was to bring people to lament and express their grief and rage. Five cemeteries in five sectors were built in the north of Atlas, and while their individual locations did not have much significance, they formed a massive pentagram. It was exactly in the core of this pentagram that the first signs of the Dark Fog emerged." Chapter 835: Horus and Dark Sky (II) Shock and awe appeared in the eyes of the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar when they heard those words. Just like the Scarlet King, there was nothing that Horus Ekleipsis did without a deeper motive, and they would be foolish not to heed this information and see the connection between that man and Dark Sky. However, if Horus Ekleipsis did bring Dark Sky into the Atlas Continent, why did the Humanoids kill him? "Is it possible that the head the Humanoids of Dark Sky threw to the Dark Emperor when they first appeared was a falsification?" The Collapsing Lightning Emperor spoke in a solemn voice. Horus could have faked his death to trick the people and continue working in the shadows. "Nothing is impossible, but by using the contacts of General Casidius, we learned that the Inferno Daemon Empire did all sorts of tests on Horus'' head, trying to verify its authenticity. Of course, they did this not because they thought Horus was faking his death but because they wanted to make sure he was not being kept as a hostage, and Dark Sky just gave them a false corpse. Ultimately, the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin concluded that the head was genuine and belonged to Horus Ekleipsis. I don''t know whether the man is truly dead, but all evidence suggests he perished. There is a chance that Horus and Dark Sky belong to the same force, and he has indeed managed to fake his death. Or maybe the upper echelons of Dark Sky were unhappy with Horus and decided to kill him after arriving in Atlas. There are other possibilities, such as the power behind Horus and Dark Sky being different. Maybe Dark Sky hijacked Horus'' portal and arrived in Aether, and since Horus was no longer useful to them, they killed him. We can not discard this possibility since the Humanoids of Dark Sky and the Blood King were too different. Ultimately, I can only say we have too little information to make a definitive assessment." The Collapsing Lightning Emperor and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar performed a solemn nod as they heard Angar''s analysis. "At the first sign of the Dark Fog, I contacted the Scarlet King, who met with General Casidius and me a few days later in our hideout in Atlas." After Angar finished his words, the entire group turned toward the Scarlet King, and the young man nodded before speaking. "I met with them, and we began to discuss. I needed to test Dark Sky, and also seek a way to infiltrate the Inferno Daemon Empire, and luckily for us, General Casidius had one. Zero Mint was a real person who had cultivated a very dangerous technique. However, unlike what the Inferno Daemon Imperial Court heard, he did not survive his cultivation deviation, and his soul dissipated. Zero Mint''s corpse was found by General Casidius when the Inferno Daemon was very young and could be considered his greatest lucky chance. Using the treasures he found in the corpse, the Inferno Daemon was able to carve his path. General Casidius was respectful toward his elders from a young age, so although he used Zero Mint''s belongings, he was always careful with the corpse. Of course, appearance would not have been enough. Luckily, Zero Mint kept a journal of his everyday life with extreme detail in his computer ring, which I was able to use to learn about the man''s experiences and mimic his personality." The Collapsing Lightning Emperor, Angar, and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar only nodded as they heard those words. The part about the journal did not surprise them as anyone who had lived for hundreds of thousands of years was bound to have some quirks, and they were not the exception. "I used the knowledge and skills I took from the Doppelganger King to adopt the form of Zero Mint and fight the Humanoids of Dark Sky. My goal was to test their strength and generate an impression in the Inferno Daemons present, enhancing Zero Mint''s figure to that of a hero. I only used my Astral Rebirth Path of Power and control over natural energy to maintain my disguise. I initially expected that would be enough to face several Humanoids, but their power was too immense, and two pushed me to the limit. After that, I left the battlefield with the excuse that I needed to heal my life force and sent James to the Inferno Daemon Imperial Castle under the guise of Zero Mint. His treasure, the Nihility Veil, could mimic my representation of Zero Mint without a problem. Then I experienced the Space Tribulation with Gabriel present, so any idea that Zero Mint could be any of us faded, cementing the man''s identity and granting a hero to the Inferno Daemon Race." The plan of the Scarlet King filled the trio with awe and admiration as it would allow him to keep an eye on the Inferno Daemon Race and all the powerhouses that might arrive from the Atrox Immortus Race and Legio Eldritch Race. However, there was one fundamental problem with Zero Mint''s identity. Although the power that Cain revealed as Zero Mint only displayed his Astral Wave and natural energy, not touching his Laws or Ego Eternal Path of Power, it was still too immense. "My King, although the Nihility Veil allowed me to express an aura and power that mimics yours, I would not be able to show such power in a real battle." Cain nodded as he heard the words of the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. His power was great, and even though the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar had grown more potent after undergoing his True Flesh Calamity and obtaining a 22 Revolution Refinement, he was still not quite there. Of course, Cain could have shown a much weaker power when presenting Zero Mint, but he needed overwhelming battle strength to become the hero of the Inferno Daemon Race''s Gods and True Gods. Chapter 836 836: Deathbringer (I) "I understand, but don''t worry, I have already thought of everything beforehand." The Scarlet King''s eyes were sharp as he turned to the Collapsing Lightning Emperor. "First of all, Gabriel, you will take the Nihility Veil and assume the identity of Zero Mint, using the treasure''s power to disguise your gravity and lightning power as white flame skills. You have already completed your True Flesh Calamity and True Bone Calamity, and with your 24 Revolution Refinement, your power should be near what I unleashed that time. As for your absence on the battlefield, we will say you are in deep cultivation, trying to obtain a breakthrough. As long as we are fast, we can avoid raising suspicions." The Collapsing Lightning Emperor clasped his hand and nodded to the Scarlet King, his eyes sharp as he was ready to take on this mission. Although his cultivation base fell to the Early Divine Ascension Realm, his power was immense after using the Tier I Rebirth Mark to redo his Flesh Calamity and Bone Calamity. His power also grew immense after using the Codex of Infinite Pathways to learn and draw the strength of Concepts. Cain then turned his focus to the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. "James, you will use this time to redo your Bone Calamity. By the time you finish and take back the role of Zero Mint, I will make a grand gesture and reward you with a sword that will be your Abyssal Frost Falchion in disguise. From then on, you will be the only Zero Mint." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar immediately nodded, and the next second, it removed the Nihility Veil and sent it toward the Collapsing Lightning Emperor. Gabriel immediately sent his Ego Wave into the treasure, honed it, and adopted the appearance of Zero Mint. "Gabriel, you should return to the battlefield. The Prime Minister of the Inferno Daemon Empire is paranoid, so it is better if we do not give him reason to doubt. I will share a module through our A.I. Chips, which you can use to act as Zero Mint and answer any questions they might ask you about your past." "Yes, my King." The Collapsing Lightning Emperor nodded, and the next second, Cain placed a hand on his shoulder and sent him out of the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer. After that, he turned back to Angar. "Did you bring all your treasures?" "Yes, my King." Although the master assassin was a little surprised by the Scarlet King''s command, he did not hesitate. Luckily, he did not have to search for them, as, like most people, he had them all in his space ring. "Sacrifice all you have in the Samsara Flame. The more valuable and evil, the better." Angar nodded and began sending treasure after treasure into the Samsara Flame. Cain and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar glanced from the sidelines, and it did not take long for shock to appear in their eyes at the sheer number of treasures the man was sending into the purple flames. There were dozens, many of them extremely valuable and a good amount evil. It was not too hard for the duo to figure out where all those treasures came from; after all, Angar would definitely take all the belongings of the people he killed. Once Angar finally stopped sending treasure into the bright purple flames, it generated a massive amount of purple mist that flooded the area. That made Cain very happy since the Soul Enlightenment Mist had been running low due to the thousands of people consuming it daily. However, Cain''s focus soon turned to the ceiling, where a bright purple energy had gathered. The amount of Fortune Angar obtained with his First Sacrifice was awe-inspiring. Silence appeared in the trio as they gazed at the majestic amount of Fortune, wondering what would emerge from it. Suddenly, it trembled, and a massive quantity of bright purple energy transformed into golden energy that divided into two massive spheres. Cain was surprised to see the apparition of two Gifts, but it made sense considering the amount of Fortune. The next second, he saw how they materialized. One sphere took the form of two intricate red glyphs that glowed with a highly potent and deadly aura. As for the other sphere, it became a lightweight and streamlined suit designed to maximize the wearer''s speed and flexibility. The armor was made from a rare, dark material that blends into shadows and nightscapes, featuring minimalistic but highly functional design elements. The two Gifts unleashed a potent aura; to Cain''s surprise, he could feel a connection between them. "?AHHHHHHHH!" A scream drew back his attention. He saw Angar kneeling on the ground as a massive amount of Merit fused into his right hand, generating the Rebirth Mark. Cain and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar could see the agony on the man''s face, but there was not much they could do as the rapid growth of the Rebirth Mark had that effect. Angar obtained so much Merit that he almost obtained a full Tier II Rebirth Mark. Angar''s entire body was soaked in cold sweat after the Merit finally stopped flowing into his hand and the Rebirth Mark stopped growing. "Congratulations. You have accumulated enough Merit to obtain the Tier I Rebirth Mark. You can now burn 25% of your life force without permanent repercussions. It will heal over time, or you can speed it up using treasures. Continue the hard work to unlock the complete Rebirth Knight Runic Set. The more precious the sacrifice, the better. I also like evil things, so make sure to bring me sinful entities." The next second, the man''s attention was drawn to the Samsara Flame as he heard that majestic voice appear. Immediately, a sense of awe and wonder appeared in his eyes as he turned back to the rune, as the ability was simply miraculous. "The Tier I Rebirth Mark has detected several flaws in your Path of Powers. You can consume the Tier I Rebirth Mark to redo any Physical Realm''s Calamity or Tribulation related to the body or essence aspect of your existence. To redo the tribulation or calamity related to the Physical Realm''s spirit, will, and soul aspect of your existence, you will need a Tier II Rebirth Mark. Good luck. Remember that treasures and skills are important, but nothing is more consequential than your foundation." Chapter 837 837: Deathbringer (II) The next second, Angar''s eyes lit up as he finally understood how the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and First Collapsing Lightning Pillar were able to improve the flaws in their Paths of Power. Like all powerhouses, Angar sought ways to become stronger. He had come to believe that only the Astral Sea held the answers, but that was not true, at least not anymore, thanks to the power and secrets of the Scarlet King. The man couldn''t contain his thrill as he saw the key to all his goals in that flame. "Send your Ego Wave into your Gifts to mark them. They are impressive, better than any Natural Inheritance we could find in Aether." Cain''s voice drew Angar''s attention back to the ceiling, and without hesitation, he sent his Ego Wave into the glyphs and the armor. Immediately, they devoured the energy of his Ego Wave before flashing into his body. The glyphs fused into his hands, becoming strange and majestic runic formations that covered his fingers and forearms, not interfering with the Tier I Rebirth Mark. As for the armor, it perfectly acclimated to his body, and the next second, dark wings emerged from the armor. Just as the trio wondered about the nature of the treasures, they heard the voice coming from the Samsara Flame. "Congratulations on obtaining the Tier I Gifts, the Deathbringer Dark Winged Armor and Deathbringer Rune. The Deathbringer Rune is a High Divine Tier Rune designed specifically for high-level assassination. This rune embodies the essence of lethality and precision. It is capable of disrupting the life force of any target, and any injury caused by the bearer, even a minor scratch, rapidly expands and becomes far more severe. The Deathbringer Dark Winged Armor is a revered Artifact Inheritance that complements the Deathbringer Rune, tailored explicitly for assassins who prioritize speed and defense in executing high-risk missions. This specialized armor enhances the wearer''s agility and survivability, allowing for swift, decisive actions in dangerous environments. The armor''s capabilities are significantly enhanced when used in conjunction with the Deathbringer Rune. The rune''s lethal properties are amplified, making every strike potentially deadly, while the armor provides the necessary defense to escape retaliation." Angar''s face froze as the description of the treasures was simply a dream. They were perfect for an assassin, and he could even see inside the Deathbringer Dark Winged Armor a set of runes that he could use to train, drawing the full power of the armor and improving his mastery over Star Power, which helped him improve his assassination skills. "?Hahahahaha!" The man was so thrilled that he could not help but unleash a bursting laughter. Cain did not pay too much attention as he could imagine the thrill of obtaining exactly what you needed. Instead, he turned toward the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and handed him a space ring. "It contains several evil treasures obtained from the Inferno Daemon Empire, along with resources full of immense vitality and life force. The evil treasures should be enough to help you build a new Tier I Rebirth Mark you can use to redo your Bone Calamity." The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar caught the space ring, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes. He could feel the weight of this gift and was set to repay it by pushing himself to the limit and growing powerful enough to adopt Zero Mint''s identity. After seeing the resolution in the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, Cain turned his focus back to Angar, who still laughed like a child. "Enough laughter!" Angar immediately became focused as he turned to the Scarlet King, his eyes full of gratitude and devotion to the man who allowed him to obtain such precious gifts. "I will now perform a 22 Revolution Refinement. Then you will consume the Tier I Rebirth Mark to undergo a new Flesh Calamity." "?Yes, my King!" Angar immediately nodded without hesitation, accepting the Scarlet King''s command. He was already loyal to the man, and now he saw the rewards, so there was no way he would start to hesitate. Cain nodded and created a cocoon of Ego Wave around Angar before releasing a 22 Refinement Flame. Now that he had surpassed the Space Tribulation, his energy control was much more potent, so performing the Tribulation Enhancement was not as hard. Of course, if a problem were to arise, he would use his Destiny Force. Cain still had to put all his focus on it, but with Angar using his will to reveal and assimilate the world''s energy, everything went smoothly. Cain smiled as he saw the improvements in Angar, and then his eyes turned toward the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. Now, the man donned majestic dark armor with overlapping plates that mimicked the tough, scale-like skin of abyssal creatures, providing both flexibility and comprehensive protection. He also had a Tier I Rebirth Mark on his right hand. Even if you only wanted to obtain the Tier I Rebirth Mark, the Fortune would still split into a Gift and Merit, but Cain was happy. After all, armor would help the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar survive the incoming fights with the Humanoids of Dark Sky. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar had not said a word as he did not want to distract the Scarlet King during the Tribulation Enhancement, but he explained now that it was over. "This is the Abyssal Indomitable Armor, a Tier One Gift and a Natural Inheritance. It doesn''t have abilities, but if I master its rune sets, I could develop a certain level of resistance to any type of energy and even Laws." Cain was surprised. It lacked maneuverability or offensive improvement, but the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar had the Abyssal Frost Falchion for those things. "Good, you two go out and carry on your missions. Do not be complacent even if you have the vitality required to survive the True Calamities." Angar and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar nodded as Cain sent them out of the [Samsara Arsenal Module]. Chapter 838 838: Tier III Rebirth Mark (I) Once Cain was alone, he turned his focus back to the Samsara Flame and waved his hand, sending a stream of evil treasures. The number of evil treasures that the Inferno Daemon Empire handed was astonishingly high, so plenty remained, even after providing enough for the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar to obtain a Tier I Rebirth Mark and Gift. A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he sent more and more evil treasures and saw the Samsara Flame burning with increasing power. It took him nearly a minute to send all the treasures, and a small smile appeared on his face as he saw the massive amount of Fortune that gathered in the ceiling. Although Cain''s willpower was immense, he could not help but grow nervous as he gazed at the Fortune, wondering what type of treasures he would obtain. Now more than ever, he needed something that could help improve his strength as he faced enemies that were too powerful and numerous. The bright purple energy in the ceiling remained static for a few seconds before nearly eighty percent transformed into golden energy, the one used to generate Gifts. However, instead of forming something new, the golden energy flashed toward Cain''s forehead and fused into his Space-Time Eye. A sharp sense of pain assaulted Cain''s mind and soul, and he nearly blacked out. Luckily, the pain faded the next second, and as he regained focus, a sense of utter and absolute awe appeared in his eyes. "So beautiful." That was the first thought that crossed Cain''s mind as he looked around him, his eyes seeing a plethora of wavelengths. It was as if a fog had covered his sight all his life, but now his eyes could see the entire electromagnetic spectrum and the wonder of the Law of Space. "Congratulations on evolving your Tier Zero Gift, the Space-Time Eye, to the Collapsing Space-Time Eye. Your talent and ability to manipulate the Laws of Space-Time will be exponentially enhanced. The Collapsing Space-Time Eye is the limit you can attain with the powers of the First Layer. You will need the Supernova Bloodline to evolve your Space-Time Eye to the next level. Good luck." Those words drew Cain''s attention back to reality, and immediately, he conjured an ice mirror to see his Space-Time Eye. A sense of awe appeared on his face as he saw the majestic glow of the Space-Time Eye. At its core, there was a small red dot resembling a star collapsing under its own gravitational force. Cain showed a broad smile as he gazed at the Collapsing Space-Time Eye. It was so majestic that he could have kept looking at it the entire day. Unfortunately, he did not have that luxury, and soon, focus returned to his face. "With this, I will not have to take extreme measures to make the Bridge of Hope work!" Even with the help of the Artifacts and Runic Formations that drew the space power embedded into the earth and sky of Infinite Horizon, connecting to the other continent would have been challenging. Cain was confident in his capabilities but was also sure he would have needed to burn his life force. Even if the Tier II Rebirth Mark allowed him to burn 50% of his life force without backlash, he would have still needed a long time to recover. However, with the Collapsing Space-Time Eye, Cain might have the power and domain over the Law of Space to connect to the continents without sacrificing his life force. With a renewed spirit and eyes full of hope, Cain waved his hand, pretending to start a new wave of sacrifices, but this time, there were no treasures but corpses. Cain would not go around killing Godslayer Humans or even Inferno Daemons in a time like this. The corpses belonged to none other than the Insect Army. While Wave King''s level corpses comprise the bulk of the stream, there were also plenty as powerful as Apotheosis Masters and a good amount of Divine Ascension levels corpses. A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he focused on the Samsara Flame, trying to see how it would react to the Insect Army''s corpses. He knew that the master of the Samsara Flame hated the Depravita Race, so maybe he could get some clues. Cain was still full of questions about the relationship between Horus and the Dark Sky. He needed answers if he wanted to respond to the hidden threat and prepare for the upcoming fight. However, the Samsara Flame did not react to the corpses. Of course, that did not mean that the Dark Sky and Depravita Race were not connected since the Insect Army could only be foot soldiers, no different than a mercenary force. They could be working for the Depravita Race but not be part of it. Ultimately, Cain still had too little information and needed to learn more. ''If I sent one of the Humanoids of Dark Sky into the Samsara Flame, I could be sure.'' Coldness appeared in Cain''s eyes as that thought crossed his mind, but trying to take one of the Humanoids of Dark Sky out of the Dark Fog was already hard enough, much less incapacitate them and bring them into the [Samsara Module]''s First Layer. As all those thoughts and analyses crossed Cain''s mind, he continued sending more and more of the Insect Army''s corpses into the Samsara Flame. Despite sending hundreds at a time and the flame consuming them instantly, it still took him nearly ten minutes to finish with all the corpses. It was a surprising amount, and it was just from the first week of the war against Dark Sky. The Fortune that had been amassed nearly covered the entire ceiling of the Samsara Sacrificial Ground. Although for the Samsara Flame, quality was much more important than quantity, there were still over a million corpses. If just half of that Fortune would be used to form a single Gift, the power of this one would be phenomenal, but Cain knew that things would not be so simple. Chapter 839 839: Tier III Rebirth Mark (II) Cain showed a small smile as he watched dozens of golden streams emerge from the sea of Fortune, filling the ceiling. Each stream took the form of a golden sphere, and under the power of the Samsara Flame, they adopted a solid form. Swords, maces, staves, necklaces, even leaves, orbs, rings, and mirrors began to appear in the ceiling. Each of them was a Gift that Cain could take out of the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer and give to a warrior. The Collapsing Space-Time Eye grew sharp as Cain used it to perceive the amount of energy and the powers inside each of these treasures. None could compare with the Gravity Fall Armor, Abyssal Frost Falchion, Abyssal Indomitable Armor, Deathbringer Dark Winged Armor, or Deathbringer Rune. That meant none of those treasures were Tier I Gifts, but they were still very powerful and unleashed unique power and control over all cosmic forces and Laws. Almost 20% of them had a powerful aura and could help improve the battle power of True Titans and True Gods. The rest were much weaker, and some did not seem helpful for fighting. Those that could be used as weapons might allow a master at the Divine Ascension Realm to jump a level in battle power. "Since I used millions of corpses to generate Fortune, the Samsara Flame would give dozens of Gifts. I guess it is pretty fair." Although Cain would not have hesitated to exchange all of them for a single new Tier Zero Treasure or a handful of Tier I Treasures, this sea of weaker Treasures would be incredibly useful for his plans. Before Cain could continue thinking of his schemes and projects, what was left of the Fortune in the ceiling of the Samsara Sacrificial Ground transformed into Merit and it flashed into his right hand. Cain immediately fell to the ground as an unbearable pain appeared on his face. The runic lines of the Rebirth Mark extended through his arms, making him feel as if magma moved through his veins. Although the Fortune had given him dozens of Gifts he could not use, the amount of Merit he obtained was immense and went to no one else but him. The pain was horrible but bearable, so Cain just clenched his teeth and persisted. However, once the runes crossed his shoulder, reached his chest, and spread into his heart, a new wave of pain assaulted Cain, one so intense that he fell to the ground and began to twitch without control. The runic lines seemed to encompass his heart, fusing the runes into the organ. Luckily for Cain, the part was fast, and after a few seconds, the pain faded. Cain''s breathing was rough as he lay on the ground. Although he was happy with the power of the Rebirth Mark, the pain was certainly not something he liked. The Samsara Flame spoke as he recovered his focus and stood up. "Congratulations. You have accumulated enough Merit to evolve your Tier II Rebirth Mark into a Tier III Rebirth Mark. You can now burn 60% of your life force without permanent repercussions. It will heal over time, or you can speed it up using treasures. Your Tier III Rebirth Mark also gives you a Pseudo-Immortal Body. Your body can now use your energy pool to regenerate tissues, including that of internal organs such as lungs, liver, or kidneys, and even missing arms will regrow in time. Do not be careless, as the Pseudo-Immortal Body cannot regenerate your brain, heart, and energy cores. Continue the hard work to unlock the complete Rebirth Knight Runic Set. The more precious the sacrifice, the better. I also like evil things, so make sure to bring me sinful entities." Cain was ecstatic to learn he could burn another 10% of his life force without permanent repercussions, and when he heard the information about the Pseudo-Immortal Body, he became ecstatic. He already had superb regeneration abilities thanks to the Radiance of Life and the Concept of Life, but this was something totally new. He could now use his own energy to regenerate his internal organs and missing limbs, no longer needing to waste precious treasures. "If a Tier III Rebirth Mark is so powerful, what kind of abilities and gifts would the Rebirth Knight Runic Set bestow on me?" Cain could not help but grow excited, thinking that he might obtain regeneration abilities that could equal or even surpass the Depravita of Blood in the future, someone who could fight even after having his brain and skull shattered to pieces. It took a moment, but Cain was able to overcome the shock and thrill and turn his eyes back to the dozens of Gifts on the ceiling. "Apex, please record all the information about these treasures and then send it to Minxet. Tell him it is time to implement the Second Phase of the Ouroboros Protocol." "Fine. Go ahead." Cain nodded as he heard the voice of the System Spirit and his Ego Wave into the ceiling of the Samsara Sacrificial Ground, channeling his energy into all those treasures. Immediately after Cain engraved the treasures with his Ego Wave, the voice from the Samsara Flame began to echo across the castle, and dozens of messages appeared simultaneously. "Congratulations on obtaining the Tier II Thunder Clap Mace..." "Congratulations on obtaining the Tier II Eclipse Cloak..." "Congratulations on obtaining the Tier II Mystic Sage Staff..." "Congratulations on obtaining the Tier II Dragon''s Breath Ring..." "Congratulations on obtaining the Tier III Leaf of the Sundering Tree..." "Congratulations on obtaining the Tier III Shield of Ultimate Reflection..." "Congratulations on obtaining the Tier III Windwalker Boots..." "Congratulations on obtaining the Tier III Flame Blade..." Dozens of messages, each with a detailed description of the Gifts, emerged from the Samsara Flame, and Apex made sure to engrave all the knowledge and take a picture of the treasure before sending the information to Prime Minister Minxet along with the signal to start the Second Phase of the Ouroboros Protocol. Chapter 840 840: Back to the Dark Fog Millions of Godslayer Humans were amassed in central Atlas, unleashing a barrage of attacks and spells, fighting with immense ferocity. Many were part of the Godslayer Human Imperial Army, and no small number of them had dreams of dominating the middle sectors of the Inferno Daemon Race''s territories, embroiled in a glorious fight against the enemy in the north. However, they were not fighting against the Inferno Daemon Race but alongside them. They might have found the situation humorous or tragic if not for the intense fight occupying their thoughts. The Diamond Saint Duke was also on the front lines of the battle against Dark Sky, with his son, Kober, by his side. As one of the strongest True Titans of Gia, the Duke''s battle power and military tactics were impressive. His skin resembled diamonds, and he utilized his formidable power and defenses to handle dozens of Divine Ascension-level insects, crushing them to pieces as he kept the vanguard firm. Kober was also on the front lines of the battle. The man displayed majestic swordplay, his sword constantly conjuring various earth shields that easily blocked the onslaught of the Insect Army while simultaneously unleashing waves of scorching and explosive flames that obliterated his enemies. After several days of intense training and meditation, Kober decided to specialize in the Inferno Fury Stance and Terra Guard Stance of the Elemental Fury Blade Dance, and he fully immersed himself in them. His hard work paid off, and despite being an Early Divine Ascension Master, his battle power approached the Late Stage, partly due to the 21 Revolution Refinement he obtained during the crowning ceremony. Diamond Saint Duke, Kober, and the rest of the Godslayer Human warriors fought with all their might, but their eyes showed clear signs of exhaustion, as the Insect Army was unlike anything they had faced before. These creatures seemed endless, and no matter how many they killed, more would appear to take their place. Fighting an enemy who showed no fear, weariness, or concern for their lives was surprisingly tiresome. No matter how long they fought, the Diamond Saint Duke and the rest of the warriors of the Godslayer Human Empire did not feel they were making any advance in this war. Just as the warriors were about to change guards, allowing a second wave of soldiers to fight while they rested, a strange force flashed toward them. Their eyes widened as they felt this mysterious energy wave coming from behind them at an unbelievable speed. Before anyone could react, the energy wave passed through their bodies and did not harm them. Just as they were about to wonder about its purpose, streams of blood sprayed everywhere as hundreds of thousands of insects were cut to pieces. Pure and utter shock appeared in the eyes of all the warriors as they witnessed this. The same energy waves that had passed through their bodies had bisected the Insect Army''s monsters. This was not only a display of absolute power but also control over cosmic forces and Laws that defied their understanding. The warriors knew who had launched that attack since only one person could do something like that. They saw a man with white hair, a red robe, and flaming golden eyes as they turned around. Immediately, the warriors'' attention turned to the third eye in the forehead of the Scarlet King, feeling in it a sense of absolute wonder and power. It was even more intense for those who followed the Essence Evolution Path of Power, as they could perceive the wonder of Laws that seemed to stand beyond the might of Aether in that majestic eye. Cain glanced at the soldiers and nodded before focusing on Kober for a moment. "Good job. Keep working." Kober clenched his fists as he heard those words, and a sense of determination and focus ignited in his soul. He was determined to master the two stances and obtain the complete Elemental Fury Blade Dance Technique. Before the young man or anyone else could utter a word, the Scarlet King flashed into the Dark Fog. None of the soldiers of the Godslayer Human Empire, not even the True Titans, dared to enter the Dark Fog since it contained the Humanoids of Dark Sky. For others, entering the Dark Fog might be considered suicide, but that was not the case for the Scarlet King. The Diamond Saint Duke and the other warriors soon lost sight of the Scarlet King as he entered deep into the Dark Fog. "BOOM!" "BOOOOOOOMMMMMM!" "BAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOO!" "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!" Explosions, kinetic blasts, and sonic booms echoed inside the Dark Fog. They were so loud that they managed to reach the ears of the warriors on the border. The intensity of the explosions grew by the second. Even though they could not see it, the explosions and the trembling of the earth and sky gave the warriors of the Godslayer Human Empire an idea of the level of battle taking place inside. Only after an hour the explosions ceased, and then they saw the Scarlet King emerge from the Dark Fog. He was covered in wounds, some so severe that they could see holes piercing through his chest. The Diamond Saint Duke, known for his formidable defenses and survival skills, could not hide his shock since those wounds were simply too horrific. There was even a hole in his chest where his right lung was supposed to be. Anyone else would have collapsed after receiving such horrific wounds. Yet, not only was the Scarlet King still conscious and standing in the sky, but the warriors could see how his internal organs were beginning to grow back! Some of the soldiers could not help but kneel on the ground, and it seemed like they were about to start praying as they witnessed these seemingly divine abilities. Cain''s eyes were sharp, and his focus was intense, so he did not pay attention to any of the soldiers and focused on the analysis of the Absolute Life Form System. Chapter 841 841: Analyzing the Dark Fog [Focusing all power of the A.I. Chip Module on task: -Using the date obtained to analyze the core essence and principles of the Dark Fog ... ... ...] Cain didn''t venture into the Dark Fog merely to fight against the Humanoids of Dark Sky. Although he wanted to test the limits of his body and the power of his Collapsing Space-Time Eye, it wasn''t the time to recklessly incur injuries. The reason he ventured deep into the Dark Fog was to analyze its essence, power, and principles. Fighting at the border and stemming the march of the Insect Army would only slow the growth of the Dark Fog but wouldn''t stop it, nor would it bring them closer to victory against Dark Sky. It was clear that they needed to address the Dark Fog directly, but it was not so simple. Its ethereal essence made it extremely difficult to handle. Even with the explosions from the battles between Cain and the Humanoids of Dark Sky, the phenomenon took no damage, nor did its density or amount diminish. Though it manifested as a physical fog, its nature was much more complicated than that. Cain had entered the Dark Fog twice before, once as Zero Mint and another time when he revealed his Nine Void Suns Battle Form. As Zero Mint, he was forced to hide his power and nearly fell fighting two Humanoids. The last time, he was compelled to use the full power of the Absolute Life Form System to assist him during the fight and trigger Virtual Sight. Thus, no matter how much he wanted to analyze the Dark Fog, he couldn''t risk his life doing so. Luckily, now that he had a Pseudo-Immortal Body and the Collapsing Space-Time Eye, Cain could face the Humanoids of Dark Sky and analyze the Dark Fog. That''s why he ventured deep into the evil phenomena, where he could perceive the essence of the Dark Fog most purely. He fought for nearly an hour against the Humanoids of Dark Sky as the [A.I. Chip Module] continued its analysis. It was not easy, and he received deep wounds, but Cain knew the importance of countering the Dark Fog. To fight something, you need to understand it. [Analysis completed. ... The Dark Fog subtly distorts and rewrites the fundamental Laws that govern Aether. Minor changes in gravity, space-time distortions, and the fundamental properties of matter and energy occur. The world''s origin energy, like the Life Wave, no longer exists inside the Dark Fog, and the new energy that has arisen is toxic for normal people. New Laws are emerging in the area covered by the Dark Fog. They are still developing and might take thousands of years to fully form, but once they are in place, the Atlas Continent will no longer be considered a part of Aether.] A dark and solemn expression appeared on Cain''s face as he heard those words. He had already come to a similar conclusion when he first perceived the Laws and energy of the Dark Fog using the Space-Time Eye, but things were even worse than he expected. Changes to the Laws and origin energy of Aether were one thing, but the creation of new Laws that benefited Dark Sky made things a hundred times worse, and it also told Cain what they were after. ''They do not seek to invade, plunder resources, or enslave us. They want to change the entire world into something suitable for them, altering the core essence of Aether and transforming it into a replica of their home.'' It became clearer to Cain more than ever that the war with Dark Sky was a war for the world. There would be no compromise or frontiers that would allow both sides to live together. One side would destroy the other and continue fighting until that happened. ''Ways to counter the Dark Fog?'' [Analyzing ... ... ...] Although the Absolute Life Form System had never let him down, Cain couldn''t help but grow nervous as he saw those dots. It was fundamental that they found a way to counter the Dark Fog, or else, no matter how hard they fought, they would eventually lose. The Insect Army seemed endless, and facing the Humanoids of Dark Sky was not a viable plan. They needed to regain their territory, push the Dark Fog back, find its origin, and destroy it. [... ... ... According to the analyzed data, Titan and God''s Towers could be modified to unleash an energy pulse that could push the Dark Fog back. However, this process will not reverse the damage to the origin energy or alter the Laws. Transferring all the information and schematics of the alteration to the Vessel.] A wide smile appeared on Cain''s face as he heard that and felt a wave of knowledge reaching his mind. Fixing the damage would have been ideal, but he was satisfied with repelling the Dark Fog, allowing them to finally regain terrain. Of course, it would be challenging since even if they could modify the Titan and God''s Tower, they would have to enter the Dark Fog to activate them, which would mean fighting the Humanoids of Dark Sky. Cain alone would not be enough, and he needed powerful warriors who could at least survive fighting inside the Dark Fog. ''The Second Phase of the Ouroboros Protocol would do the trick.'' A flash of confidence appeared in Cain''s eyes, and just as he was about to contact Minxet to inquire how things were going, he turned to one of the corpses of the Insect Army. Cain''s eyes glowed with a sharp light. Wave Kings could not enter the Dark Fog due to the toxic and poisonous nature of this one, which affected even Divine Ascension Masters, but these insects did not seem to have a problem with it. He now understood that the energy was not poisonous, but it was not meant for the consumption of the Sacred Races of Aether, yet these insects did not seem to have a problem with it. ''A virus.'' Chapter 842 842: Ouroboros System (I) ''?A Virus?'' The profession in which Cain had advanced more than anything, and the one he had practiced the longest, was none other than Genetic Coding, the essence of which was manipulating the building blocks of life. Through Wave Viruses, one could gain bloodlines and enhance their Wave Talent, but that was just the mainstream path on which Genetic Coders focused. A myriad of abilities could be attained through the modification of one''s genome by taking inspiration from other species, such as fish and even trees. For example, people could breathe underwater or even have more bizarre capabilities like undergoing photosynthesis. The only limits to a Wave Virus''s capabilities were the Genetic Coder''s skills, knowledge, and inventiveness. Of course, most Genetic Coders would never waste their time on such procedures since people would always prefer to focus on their cultivation base since the benefits obtained through that were much higher and permanent. However, Cain had an idea as he observed the drones of the Insect Army. They could not only resist the corrosive nature of the origin energy created by the Dark Fog but also thrived in it. ''System, is it possible to create a Wave Virus capable of mimicking the ability to utilize the origin energy inside the Dark Fog, like those creatures?'' [Analyzing task... ... Please procure a living creature to analyze its genome.] Cain''s eyes glowed as he immediately flashed into the Dark Fog and emerged with the body of a massive humanoid from the Insect Army the next second. The creature roared, but in the next moment, Cain''s eyes glowed, and it lost consciousness. Its energy and mind were sealed, making sure it could not kill itself. The power of the Absolute Life Form System flooded into the insect''s body, and its genetic sequence was easily mapped through the [A.I. Chip Module]''s tools. Of course, trying to find the desired ability in that sea of genes would be nearly impossible as you would not even know where to begin looking for it. Even with Cain''s talent and abilities, finding the ability would take years of experimentation. Luckily, the Absolute Life Form System had already analyzed the core essence of the Dark Fog, so using that information made the task much easier. Cain waited silently for a few minutes before the voice of the Absolute Life Form System emerged once more. [Genetic sequence in charge of the body''s adaptability to the Dark Fog''s origin energy isolated. Does the Vessel want to use the system''s resources to synthesize a Wave Virus?] "No, focus on the modification of the Titan and God''s Tower. Send me the genetic sequence." [Sending genetic sequence.] A wave of information appeared in Cain''s mind the next second. It was highly complicated and too much for a normal Divine Genetic Coder, but his talent as a Genetic Coder was beyond divine, and he was confident in his success. That way, the Absolute Life Form System could focus on the modification of the Titan Tower, something for which he had zero talent. A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he smiled. No matter how strong the enemy was, he just needed a path and would go through it, no matter how complicated and perilous it might be. "Minxet, is everything ready to carry on with the Second Phase of the Ouroboros Protocol?" Cain sent a message through his [A.I. Chip Module], and the next second, the voice of Prime Minister Minxet emerged. "Yes, my King. The warehouse is complete with the treasures you handed over. There are also several starry gems with cultivation knowledge you engraved." "Good. You will be in charge of the Ouroboros Point System. I will not tolerate any discrimination. Everything will be an absolute and impartial meritocracy regarding the battle against Dark Sky." "?Yes, my King!" Cain nodded as he heard the voice of Prime Minister Minxet, full of resolution and determination. He then focused on the [A.I. Chip Module] and sent the message. Millions of warriors from the Inferno Daemon Race and Godslayer Humankind Empire were a few thousand meters away from the battlefield on the border of the Dark Fog. Since the fight against the Insect Army was endless and did not stop marching out of the fog day or night, the warriors divided into two groups, one fighting while the other rested. Whether they were Wave Kings, Divine Ascension Masters, members of the Inferno Daemon Race, or Godslayer Humankind, they were exhausted as this fight seemed pointless. Fighting the Insect Army was utterly frustrating, as their numbers did not seem to decrease no matter how many they killed. Even though they delayed them, the Dark Fog kept expanding, and if they dared to step even one foot inside the evil phenomenon, there were monsters capable of killing True Titans waiting for them. With such a desperate fight, it was no wonder that the soldiers began to question the purpose of their fight. That sentiment was especially strong in the hearts of the True Titans and True Gods and practically anyone who had the power to reach the next level and rise into the Astral Sea. What was the point of remaining on this sinking boat that was Aether when they could aim for the stars? Of course, their sense of duty and honor kept many in place, but if the battle continued like this, without the slightest sign of victory and only needless fighting, who knows what could happen? Even the strongest of hearts were susceptible to weariness, which could lead to despair. Just as the warriors were rising from their rest as it was nearing their time to relieve those on the front lines, they saw a message appear on their A.I. Chips and computer rings: [Welcome to the Ouroboros System, created by the Scarlet King for all who fight Dark Sky. From now on, every enemy you kill and every military maneuver you perform that serves the purpose of facing Dark Sky will be rewarded with Ouroboros Points.] Chapter 843 843: Ouroboros System (II) Curiosity appeared in the eyes of the Godslayer Humans and Inferno Daemons as they continued going through the message. [-Point Allocation: Enemy Kills: Points are awarded based on the number of enemies killed. The points could vary depending on the type or strength of the enemy. For example, regular enemies might be worth 1 point, elite enemies 5 points, and boss enemies 10 points. Strength Multiplier: Additional points could be awarded based on the enemy''s cultivation strength. For example, killing a Divine Ascension Insect could multiply the points earned by a factor relevant to their strength. Military Tactics: Any action that promotes battle power and helps the military force to clash with better skills against the enemy will also be rewarded. -Rewards: Immediate Rewards: Certain rewards, like treasures or equipment, can be exchanged immediately with the points earned. A list with all immediately available rewards and their worth is available. You can exchange points at any moment at the Ouroboros Headquarters located on Infinite Horizon. Delayed Rewards: Some more significant or impactful rewards, such as Revolution Refinement, require the Scarlet King''s presence. These rewards would be queued for delivery and performed at a specific time. A list of all delayed rewards and their worth is available. -Implementation Details: A scoreboard that tracks the amount of Ouroboros Points everybody has will be active. Every month, the Scarlet King will give the person at the top of the list the chance to obtain a unique treasure. No one can receive the Top Score Reward twice. If the same person appears in that spot, the reward will go to the second best. In case of death on the battlefield, all your points will be transferred to your chosen person. The Ouroboros System will measure all points using the A.I. of the Scarlet King, so there is no need to worry about any form of bias. ... "United against Dark Sky. One against the Dark Fog. Kill the insect that dared to step on our land, and I will make you more powerful than you could ever imagine." -Scarlet King.] As they saw the message, the Godslayer humans and Inferno demons were filled with confusion and excitement. Anything related to the Scarlet King was bound to be amazing, and immediately, all of them headed to the list of rewards. A sense of utter awe and amazement appeared in the eyes of every single soldier, no matter if they were Wave Kings or Peak Divine Ascension Masters. Some weapons could improve the battle power of True Titans and True Gods. While those were the minority, the rest could improve Divine Ascension Masters and were even better than Adamantium Wave Artifacts. There were also various cultivation resources that could help the soldiers improve their power and obtain unique abilities. Not to mention that part of the rewards was the mystic Revolution Refinement of the Scarlet King, which not only could heal any wounds or damage on the body or soul but would exponentially improve your foundation and talent. It displayed not just weapons, treasures, and Tribulation Enhancement but also starry gems that provided knowledge and insight into the Inner Universe System and Star Sovereign System beyond the Divine Ascension Realm. That information was supposed to be knowledge one could only obtain after reaching the Astral Sea due to the weak cultivation civilization of Aether, but that no longer seemed to be the case. Silence reigned for a moment in the Godslayer Humankind camp. The soldiers were still trying to process that information when suddenly, a voice echoed. "Hahahahaha. Let''s fight and get rich!" The one that shouted was none other than the Diamond Saint Duke, his face glowing with a giant smile as he flashed into the battlefield full of utter excitement. The Scarlet King could give you all sorts of wonders and gifts, completely transforming you, something that was very clear upon seeing the Collapsing Lightning Emperor. The man had regressed to the Early Divine Ascension Realm, yet his power was higher than any True Titan. While the other Sector Dukes were envious, there was little they could do as gaining the favor of the Scarlet King now was extremely hard. However, through the Ouroboros System, you didn''t need to win the favor of the Scarlet King. Points were the only things you needed; if you got to the top, who knows what kind of treasures you would obtain. Understanding all that, how could the Diamond Saint Duke not flash into the battlefield? And he was not alone since the rest of the soldiers immediately marched into the fight with a drastic change in their demeanor. Before, the battle against the Insect Army seemed futile since they gained nothing and only delayed things, but now they would obtain points for every kill, and all sorts of treasures would be achievable. The Godslayer Humankind soldiers that were fighting were surprised to see their comrades who came to replace them so eagerly, and it was only once they retired and activated their A.I. Chips that they saw the information about the Ouroboros System. Immediately, a sense of shock appeared in the soldiers'' eyes, and for the first time since the war started, they began to count the hours until they could return to the battlefield. --- The mood in the Inferno Daemon camp was not as exciting as that of the Godslayer Humankind. Although they all received the same message and had access to the same rewards, they could not help but wonder whether they would truly obtain them. After all, they were the enemy race with whom the Godslayer Humankind had fought for millennia, so how could their supreme leader hand them treasures like that? Although that was a very pessimistic view, the truth was that the Inferno Daemons were already at their breaking point. After all, Dark Sky had exterminated over half of their population, and they had lost control over their homeland, so it was clear that their mood would not be good. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!" Chapter 844 844: The Scarlet King is manipulating us? "BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!" Just as those pessimistic thoughts were about to overcome the soldiers of the Inferno Daemon Race, a massive explosion of flames echoed in the distance, drawing the attention of everybody. Zero Mint had just unleashed a devastating attack from inside the Dark Fog. That was very dangerous, as the Humanoids of Dark Sky could appear anytime. However, it allowed him to release an extremely powerful attack without worrying about collateral damage. Of course, Zero did not remain in the Dark Fog, emerging the next second and gazing at the Inferno Daemons before shouting with all his strength. "What the hell are you waiting for? Let''s fight and take all the rewards for our kind. You all fear the system might be rigged against us, but look at the scoreboard." Zero Mint''s eyes were full of anger and annoyance seeing the terrified and stubborn attitude of the Inferno Daemon, and it seemed he would begin to attack them if they continued like that. Of course, Zero Mint''s identity was taken by the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, and his personality was clearly not so antisocial, but he had to play the role he was given. The Inferno Daemons'' eyes immediately glowed as they heard that and opened their Ouroboros System, looking at the scoreboard where the names of every warrior fighting against Dark Sky appeared. A second ago, the one at the top was the Diamond Saint Duke, but now he had just been replaced by Zero Mint! Since everyone could see everyone else''s Ouroboros Points, it was impossible to cheat or incline the balance in one direction without people noticing. The soldiers began to think that maybe things were indeed real and they could benefit from this system just like humans. "Warriors of the Inferno Daemon Empire. Hear my words!" A new powerful voice echoed across the sky. Although it was not as strong as Zero Mint''s, it was undoubtedly more majestic and belonged to no other than the Dark Emperor. "If there''s one thing we can be certain of in this world, it''s that the Scarlet King will keep his word. That man sees himself above everybody and would disdain to play tricks with people so weak as us. I assure you, if you get the points, you can obtain the rewards!" Light began to glow in the eyes of the Inferno Daemons as they saw the image of their powerful Dark Emperor in the sky, showing immense power after having healed from his wounds. "Now, let''s fight! We must take the first spot on the scoreboard of the Ouroboros System and prove the might of the Inferno Daemon Race!" "YES!" "LET''S FIGHT!" "FOR THE FIRST SPOT!" The Inferno Daemons, who were on the brink of despair a second ago, began to roar with a sense of purpose for the first time in months, and their hearts burned with battle spirit as they flashed into the border of the Dark Fog, fighting with all they had. The Dark Emperor could not help but clench his fists as he saw the sense of meaning and will in the eyes of his soldiers. "That young man is the most dangerous entity I have seen in my entire life. He just implemented a system that plays on the greed of the soldiers and, at the same time, infuses them with purpose. And that scoreboard, what an ingenious way to transform our hatred between the Godslayer Humankind and Inferno Daemon into a game of simple and pure competition." Suddenly, a voice startled the Dark Emperor, and he looked to the side only to see the old Prime Minister Razputin. The old man saw the thrill and determination on the Inferno Daemons as they charged into the battlefield like hungry beasts. A small smile appeared, but he immediately shook his head, returning to his stoic and somber expression. "The Scarlet King is manipulating us?" Prime Minister Razputin turned to the Dark Emperor, who was still confused, and answer the question. "Of course, he is manipulating us, but he is doing it so blatantly and upfront that there is nothing we can complain about. He is giving us all we could ask for and bringing a sense of stability and hope to the hearts of the people who should hate him. That man will continue empowering and protecting us, becoming the beacon and spiritual leader we unconsciously rely on, to the point that it will come the day our people would rather die than betray him or even stand against him. In a few months, how many Inferno Daemon soldiers would begin to see him as the true leader and master of this war? How many civilians would worship him since, in their hearts, the Scarlet King is the shield that keeps the monsters at bay." The shock in the eyes of the Dark Emperor only rose as he heard that analysis, and suddenly, a flash of dread appeared in his eyes as he glanced at the computer ring on Prime Minister Razputin''s finger. All computer rings constantly sent information to the Scarlet King, so he might be listening to their conversation. Prime Minister Razputin saw the dread in the eyes of the Dark Emperor and shook his head. "There is no way we could hide our thoughts from that person, and I am sure he will be happy to see someone so rational in our race. Besides, if he saves us from extinction, I would gladly kiss his feet and take him as a leader." "A human as the leader of the Inferno Daemon Race!?" The Dark Emperor could not help but shout in shock at that notion since it was something that should be impossible. "So what if he is a human? Are we not fighting alongside humans? Not to mention that he might be a human, but his children do not necessarily have to be one, do they?" Prime Minister Razputin''s voice had a special meaning as he uttered those last words, and he glanced at the computer ring with a strange smile. Chapter 845 845: Dark Fog Immunity (I) "Hahaha, that old man does have some interesting ideas." Cain paid close attention to the response of the warriors on the frontlines as he implemented the Ouroboros System, and the conversation between Prime Minister Razputin and the Dark Emperor certainly caught his attention. The primary purpose of the Ouroboros System was to motivate the warriors on the frontlines. Still, it was true that he was also aiming for the favor and gratitude of the Inferno Daemons, as that would make the future of the war easier. "Children, huh?" Cain could not deny that the idea of descendants from other races would also make things easier. Of course, people would not follow a drag, but anyone born of his blood would have a mighty Lineage, not to mention that they would inherit some of his Primordial qualities. However, things were more complex as Cain would not spread his seeds so easily, and even as a Master of Order, a child would be an extremely dangerous spot and not something he could allow himself in a war. He shook his head, disregarding those thoughts, and instead turned to the scoreboard showing the Ouroboros Points of everybody fighting against Dark Sky. The numbers were advancing at a shocking rate, and if they kept it up by the end of the week, all the immediate rewards would vanish from the warehouses, but that was not a problem. After all, Cain could obtain more by sending the Insect Army corpses into the Samsara Flame. Ultimately, he would give back the Gifts as rewards through the Ouroboros System and keep the Merit, improving his Rebirth Mark, so there was only a net gain for him. Of course, the delayed rewards, such as the Revolution Refinement, did require Cain to act, but he made sure to keep the number of points for that extremely high and put some checks in place so the number of people who would take it would not become so high that he could not manage it. The only point in the Ouroboros System that would require actual effort on his side would be the Top Score Reward since that would ideally be a Tier I Gift, and those were challenging to obtain. ''Luckily, this month''s Top Score Winner will be the Collapsing Lightning Emperor disguised as Zero Mint, and I would just be giving the Abyssal Frost Falchion in disguise.'' The Ouroboros System''s point was completely objective, and not even Cain had access to alter the numbers, but he was sure that the Collapsing Lightning Emperor would win, as the man''s power was the highest, and he could enter the Dark Fog to fight and unleash attacks without care for collateral damage. Cain took a deep exhale as he felt a great weight lift off his shoulders. Everything was in order, and he felt he had just taken the first step beyond the battle of attrition, carving a path to victory. There was still a lot to do, but everything was moving forward. Not wanting to waste any more time, he adopted a meditative position in the sky of the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer, inhaling the Soul Enlightenment Mist as he focused on the genetic sequence from the Insect Army. The Scarlet King''s forces would grow stronger, but they would have to enter the Dark Fog if he wanted to step onto the path of victory. The Humanoids of Dark Sky were the most immediate threat, and if they wanted to improve their chances of survival, it would be ideal if the Dark Fog''s origin energy no longer weakened them. Cain''s focus reached its peak as he began to work, emptying his mind of everything else except the genetic sequence. He was trying to transform it into a Wave Virus that would help Godslayer Humans, Inferno Daemons, and all the other Sacred Races gain immunity to the origin energy inside the Dark Fog. Only after a week did Cain allow his mind to break its concentration and relax. He had yet to succeed, but there was no problem, as it would be a while before they went into the Dark Fog. As he rested, he silently left the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer and headed into the Ouroboros Headquarters. Everything was in order, and soldiers of the Inferno Daemon Race and Godslayer Humankind constantly came in and out as they exchanged their points for rewards. Prime Minister Minxet did a great job supervising everything, and the people in charge did not show any bias and adhered to the rules. Cain nodded as he saw everything in order. He then headed into a small room full of space rings. He took them with him before returning to the [Samsara Arsenal Module] and entering the Samsara Sacrificial Ground. Those space rings were full of corpses from the Insect Army, and the amount was nearly five times higher than the previous week, showing just how motivated the warriors of the Inferno Daemon Race and Godslayer Humankind were. Immediately, Cain sent the millions of corpses into the Samsara Flame, generating a stream of Soul Enlightenment Mist to cover the First Layer, but much more importantly, produce a massive amount of Fortune that flooded the ceiling of the sacrificial ground. Over 95% of the Fortune transformed into golden spheres, giving birth to dozens of Tier II Gifts and hundreds of Tier III Gifts. That would be enough to satisfy all the rewards for the Ouroboros System for next week. Cain was pleased to see so many Gifts, but the next second, he adopted a solemn expression and took a deep breath as the rest of the Fortune transformed into Merit, which fused into the Rebirth Mark. Waves of pain assaulted Cain, but he just clenched his teeth and endured as the runic lines of the Rebirth Mark expanded across his chest, reaching into his left shoulder. It took a while for all that Merit to be consumed by his Rebirth Mark. ''All that Merit and it did not advance to the next Tier. Tier IV is not easy to attain.'' Chapter 846 846: Dark Fog Immunity (II) Cain came to that conclusion and did not waste time figuring out how much Merit he would need to improve since the Rebirth Mark was beyond his current realm of understanding. He unleashed his Ego Wave and flooded all the treasures in the ceiling, obtaining a detailed description to add them to the Ouroboros System''s rewards. Cain spent the next three weeks focusing solely on the Wave Virus. He would only break his concentration to rest once a week when it was time to send the corpses of the Insect Army into the Samsara Flame, obtaining Gifts for the Ouroboros System and Merit for his Rebirth Mark. Thanks to the sea of Merit he obtained through those weekly sacrifices, the Rebirth Mark had significantly advanced, now covering his entire right arm and chest and crossing into his left forearm. Cain felt he was getting closer to the breakthrough, and his heart was full of excitement. Not only had his strength risen immensely over the last few weeks, but the thousands of treasures he had poured into the Goldsayer Humankind and Inferno Daemon soldiers proved a chain effect as their power skyrocketed. That was not the only good news. After a month of hard work, Cain had finally completed the Dark Fog Immunity Wave Virus! With it, the soldiers of the Sacred Races would no longer be weakened by the mutated origin energy, so by the time it came to push the battle into the Dark Fog, their chances of survival would rise exponentially. Of course, developing the Wave Virus recipe and making it were two very different things. If Cain were the only one working on it, it would be years before he made enough for the soldiers currently fighting on the border of the Dark Fog, not to mention the millions that would arrive through the Bridge of Hope. Luckily for Cain, he was not alone, and three hundred Genetic Coders had been training in the [Samsara Arsenal Module] for the past year. He waved his hand, and the next second, five figures appeared in front of him. These people were the best Genetic Coders in the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer, and most likely, they were the best of all Aether after obtaining the guidance of the Codex of Infinite Pathways. The group had been training when they suddenly appeared in the sky. Once they saw the Scarlet King, they immediately bowed, their eyes full of awe and devotion. "From now on, you five will lead the effort into creating the Dark Fog Immunity Wave Virus. All Genetic Coders must focus on this task and this task alone, as it involves the war against the Dark Sky. I need three hundred million Wave Virus capable of action on the genome of Wave Kings, ten million for Apotheosis Masters, and ten thousand for Divine Ascension Masters. I have already secured all the resources you might need for this task. I understand it is a lot, but time is of the essence." A sharp and solemn light appeared in the eyes of the Genetic Coders. The task was undoubtedly difficult and would require them to work day and night nonstop, burning their minds in the process. However, there was only determination in their hearts and souls, as no matter the task given, they would not fail the man who opened their eyes to the true wonders of Genetic Coding. "We will not fail you!" All five Genetic Coders shouted in unison, their eyes burning with determination as they stared at the Scarlet King. Cain nodded before waving his hand, sending the formula for the Dark Fog Immunity Wave Virus to all of them and returning them to the ground so they could begin to work. With that in order, he was ready to leave the dimension but noticed the eyes of a figure gazing at him. "Mmmm" Cain stared at the man for a few seconds before waving his hand and teleporting him in front of him. The man was not a Godslayer Human but a member of the Inferno Daemon Race; to be more exact, he was General Casidius. After obtaining their reports on the Dark Fog and Horus, Cain offered the Inferno Daemon General the chance to enter the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer so he could cultivate using the Codex of Infinite Pathways and train in the Death Forest. Given his race''s danger, General Casidius was more than happy to find a path to improve his strength, so he accepted the Scarlet King''s offer. "You want to go into the battlefield already?" "Please, Scarlet King, allow me to leave. I have already improved my power to the True God''s realm, and I assure you I will be able to kill myself before revealing any secrets." General Casidius''s eyes were full of determination as he uttered those words. This place was a cultivation heaven, and he would have been happy spending decades here, but he could not wait any longer to enter the battlefield. Cain stared at the man momentarily before a sharp light appeared in his eyes. "I can let you leave, but I will place a seal in your mind. If someone tries to obtain information from you about my secrets, it will detonate and destroy your soul." The only people who could come and leave the [Samsara Arsenal Module] without restrictions were people Cain trusted deeply and whose power allowed them to keep the secret. "Yes, I accept!" There was no hesitation in General Casidius''s eyes as he accepted. The Scarlet King had already done a lot for his race, and he would rather die than reveal any of his secrets, so he had no problem with the seal. Cain nodded and put his hand on the man''s head before using his soul knowledge to generate a seal using the Space Law that encapsulated General Casidius''s soul sea. It would trigger if anyone tried to search the memories of the Inferno Daemon, first trying to protect the man, and if that did not work, would kill him. No matter how much he liked the Inferno Daemon, Cain needed to be careful. It did not take long, and once they were over, Cain placed his hand over General Casidius''s shoulder, and both left the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer. Chapter 847 847: World Treasures The border of the Dark Fog, which extended from one end of Atlas to the other, dividing the continent in two, had been a cruel and desperate battlefield since the emergence of Dark Sky. However, over the past month, everything changed as the spirit of the warriors from the Goldsayer Humankind and the Inferno Daemon Race rose immensely. It did not matter that the Insect Army was endless, as now every kill had meaning since they could see their points rising in real time. Of course, deaths still occurred among the soldiers occasionally, but they became less frequent as treasures flooded the battlefield, improving their power. Today, the mood was particularly good, as it was finally time for the Top Score Winner to be declared. There was an annoyed expression on the faces of the Godslayer Humans. At the same time, the members of the Inferno Daemon Race were all smiles since the one who obtained the Top Score on this month''s Ouroboros Ranking was none other than the ancient master, Zero Mint! A few thousand meters from the battlefield, a small gathering was waiting under the command of the Scarlet King. Zero Mint was at the center and was accompanied by a small delegation from the Inferno Daemon Empire that included the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin. Although no one got close to Zero Mint and his group, there were Divine Ascension Masters from both sides watching from a distance as they wanted to know what type of treasure could be considered unique under the eyes of the Scarlet King. The group did not have to wait long. The Scarlet King appeared in the sky the next second, and he was not alone; by his side was a member of the Hell Clan. "Casidius!?" The Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin were shocked to see the Inferno Daemon General appear alongside the Scarlet King. After the message arrived depicting how General Casidius had disobeyed the Void King''s order and put all those civilians into a safe location, they wondered what could have happened to the man. According to the original story, the Scarlet King was supposed to have killed General Casidius to punish him for those crimes, but everybody knew it was all a ruse. Although they were curious, most people did not dare to question the Scarlet King and some preferred ignorance because they did not want a reason to hate their savior. "Dark Emperor, Prime Minister Razputin. I apologize for my long absence, but I had an important mission that required the utmost secrecy." General Casidius clasped his hands and performed a deep bow toward the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin. Although a general of the Imperial Army faking his own death was a severe crime, the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin were just happy that the man had returned. The duo was smart enough to understand there was some hidden deal between the Scarlet King and General Casidius, but they threw those thoughts to the back of their minds. "I am happy you are back. We will talk later. In the meantime, join the battlefield." The Dark Emperor smiled as he nodded to General Casidius and sent him into the battlefield, something the Inferno Daemon was more than happy to do, and he immediately flashed toward the Dark Fog''s border. "BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" General Casidius'' speed surprised the Inferno Daemons, but what came next shocked them as the man unleashed a spell, triggering the fall of a massive meteorite! "Amazing!" Prime Minister Razputin could not help but utter those words as he saw that General Casidius had managed to unleash the battle power of a True God¡ªan extremely powerful one. Immediately, the old man from the Nether Clan turned to the Scarlet King, as it was clear that General Casidius had obtained that power thanks to his time with that man. The Dark Emperor and the rest of the upper echelon of the Inferno Daemon all came to the same conclusion, and while they were confused by the actions of the Scarlet King, they were also utterly thrilled. The number of high-level warriors in the Inferno Daemon Empire was incredibly low, and the addition of a new True God was worth more than twenty Divine Ascension Masters. Cain could feel the admiration and gratitude in the Inferno Daemons'' eyes. He did not show anything on his face, but his aura spread across the sky, making him resemble a divine entity deserving of worship. It was always good to strike while the iron was hot, so Cain did not waste the opportunity as he turned toward Zero Mint and appeared before the man. "Zero Mint, so you are the first winner of the Ouroboros Ranking. If you accompany me, I will lead you to a place that contains several World Treasures." A sense of awe and wonder appeared in the eyes of all those who heard those words. A month ago, the term World Treasure would have meant nothing to the people of Aether, but among the rewards you could obtain through the Ouroboros System were all types of knowledge, including the ranking system for treasures. The most basic rank for treasure was Holy Treasures, usually born in Natural Inheritance. These are treasures that people beneath the Soul Realm would use, and they grow alongside cultivation, adapting their energy requirements to the user''s cultivation base. They are powerful, and the strongest ones usually have cultivation techniques for the Physical Realm engraved in them. Next came the Saint Treasures. They could be born through Natural Inheritance or also could be built, but the current Wave Crafting skills of Aether could not make one, at least not a real one. Saint Treasures are powerful artifacts designed to boost the powers of cultivators at the Divine Ascension and Divine Transformation Ranks. Unlike Holy Weapons, Saint Treasures do not evolve but offer substantial enhancements to either power or specific abilities, allowing even True Gods and True Titans to rise in battle strength. Most Tier II Gifts obtained through the Samsara Flame are Saint Treasures. Even the weakest Saint Treasure could compare to the best Adamantine Artifact. And finally, there are World Treasures. Just one of these treasures could be considered the greatest fortune of a Divine Ascension Master. Chapter 848 848: Aiming for a Pseudo Immortal Body World Treasures are among the highest echelons of artifacts, possessing extraordinary powers that allow their wielders to traverse worlds unobstructed. Embedded with Divine Runes, these treasures not only confer immense power but also serve as cultivation aids in the Soul Realm. The Divine Runes engraved in these treasures contain profound insights into the Laws of the universe and cultivation techniques, providing invaluable guidance and power enhancements to those in the Divine Ranks. The Godslayer Humankind was already familiarized with World Treasures, as these were the armors and weapons used by the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar during their march into the Silver City, and their power was beyond monstrous, allowing the duo to rise to a level that left the True Titan Tier in the dust. "Great, let''s do it!" Zero Mint''s eyes glowed with utter thrill. He showed a wide and nearly maniacal smile as he shouted those words. Although all members of the upper echelon of the Inferno Daemon Empire were thrilled at the idea of a World Treasure appearing among their kind, they could not help but shake their heads at the lack of manners of Zero Mint. Cain did not waste words as he placed his hand over Zero Mint''s shoulder, and they vanished from sight. He and Zero Mint appeared the next second in the sky of the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer. Immediately, Zero Mint''s maniacal smile vanished, replaced by a dignified expression proper for a leader of billions. Since they were in the [Samsara Arsenal Module], the Collapsing Lightning Emperor no longer had to fake the appearance of a maniacal and antisocial expert. Cain and the Collapsing Lightning Emperor did not have to wait long before two individuals appeared, one donned in dark-winged armor and the other in tyrannical abyssal armor. The First Collapsing Lightning Pillar and the Patriarch of the Aegon Family had grown much more powerful this past month as they managed to take advantage of their Rebirth Mark to redo their Calamities. The change in the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar felt especially potent as the man managed to redo his Flesh Calamity and Bone Calamity, and now he could access the Mind Calamity. Cain smiled as he felt the power of the duo. He then glanced at the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, who immediately took out the Nihility Veil and sent it to the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. The dark veil covered the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar''s body, changing his appearance, energy radiation, and soul aura. It even transformed the appearance of his Abyssal Indomitable Armor and Abyssal Frost Falchion. "Zero Mint and Angar will accompany me back to the battlefield." Angar and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar nodded, and their eyes glowed with determination and battle will as they were ready to join the battlefield against Dark Sky. "It will be odd if we return to Atlas so soon with a World Treasure, so wait here for now. Gabriel, accompany me." The duo nodded, adopted meditative positions in the air, and trained with the Soul Enlightenment Mist while Cain and the Collapsing Lightning Emperor flashed into the Samsara Sacrificial Ground. It did not take long for Cain and the Collapsing Lightning Emperor to appear before the Samsara Flame. "Gabriel, you will remain here for the next two weeks and be in charge of the sacrifices. Due to the immense amount of Insect Army corpses that arrive each day, that should be enough time to help you develop a Tier III Rebirth Mark and obtain a Pseudo Immortal Body, like mine." A sharp light full of desire appeared in the Collapsing Lightning Emperor as he heard those words. He was present when Cain flashed into the battlefield and got deep into the Dark Fog before starting a battle with the Humanoids of Dark Sky away from everybody''s sight, only to return one hour later. The image of the Scarlet King with a massive hole in his chest and missing a lung was still clear in the Collapsing Lightning Emperor''s mind, and he still could not get over the shock that the man was able to heal those wounds that would throw anyone else into a coma so easily. A body like that would allow him to enter the Dark Fog and really clash with the Humanoids of Dark Sky. "?Yes, my King!" Cain nodded as he saw the determination in the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and then sent a space ring to him. "In it are the Insect Army''s corpses from last week. I kept them for you." The Collapsing Lightning Emperor caught the space ring and performed a solemn bow before turning to the Samsara Flame and sending in all the corpses. There were millions, so it took some time, but by the end, there was a sea of Fortune covering the ceiling of the Samsara Sacrificial Ground. Like with Cain''s sacrifices, most of the Fortune transformed into golden spheres that gave birth to dozens of Tier II and hundreds of Tier III Treasures. Luckily for the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, nearly 20% of the Fortune remained as Merit and flashed into his right hand, fusing into the Rebirth Mark. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor did not have time to be happy about the massive amount of Merit as waves of pain began to assault him. The runic lines in his right hand immediately formed the Tier I Rebirth Mark and began to expand into his forearms. No matter how many times the Collapsing Lightning Emperor went through the creation of the Rebirth Mark, he could never get used to the pain of the runic lines growing immensely fast, as it genuinely felt like magma was running beneath your skin. "Congratulations. You have accumulated enough Merit to obtain the Tier I Rebirth Mark. You can now burn 25% of your life force without permanent repercussions. It will heal over time, or you can speed it up using treasures. Continue the hard work to unlock the complete Rebirth Knight Runic Set. The more precious the sacrifice, the better. I also like evil things, so make sure to bring me sinful entities." Luckily for the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, the procedure did not take too long, and the massive amount of Merit allowed him to finish his Tier I Rebirth mark and was pretty close to Tier II. Chapter 849 849: Cold fire and Deathbringer The Dark Emperor, Prime Minister Razputin, and the upper echelon of the Inferno Daemon Empire were waiting in silence. While they did their best to hide it, they couldn''t conceal the worry in their eyes. Although they had developed a certain level of trust in the Scarlet King, they couldn''t help but dread that something could go wrong, as Zero Mint''s personality and habits did not sit well with ordinary people. Usually, the man did not have to worry due to his power, but the Scarlet King was much more powerful and not someone who would accept any disrespect. Luckily for the Inferno Daemon upper echelon, they did not have to worry for long as after almost an hour, the Scarlet King returned with Zero Mint, and they could see the man now held an impressive demonic sword. The blade was central in the composition, with intricate, dark designs running along its length and culminating in a point. Around the blade, cold flames in shades of blue and white danced and twisted, creating an almost otherworldly effect as they drained the heat of the surroundings. That sword was by far the most impressive and mythical weapon any member of the Inferno Daemon Race had seen in their entire lives. Although they could not accurately describe its power, there was no doubt in the mind of anyone seeing it that it was a World Treasure. Just as the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin were about to ask Zero Mint about the weapon, the man released a maniacal smile, ignoring everybody as he flashed into the battlefield. Zero Mint entered the Dark Fog before waving the weapon, releasing an ocean of cold white flames that flooded the battlefield, freezing the bodies and souls of thousands of drones from the Insect Army in a second! Although Zero Mint''s behavior left much to be desired, the sight of such a majestic attack left everybody in shock and awe, as the weapon''s power was simply tremendous. All the Inferno Daemons who saw that attack, whether they were mighty True Gods or Wave Kings, felt a sense of hope emerging in their hearts. They saw a warrior of their own race unleash an attack with tremendous power and felt that maybe their race could not only survive but rise even stronger than before! The Godslayer Humans who saw that attack were also surprised by Zero Mint''s incredibly powerful display. While they were glad to see a new powerful addition to the battle against Dark Sky, many of them could not help but show complicated expressions. Seeing the rise of such a powerful master in the other camp would naturally raise some envy on the Godslayer Human side. After all, they had no one who could compare with Zero Mint''s power. Of course, the Scarlet King was much stronger, but calling him part of the Godslayer Human''s force did not feel right, as his power, might, and fame had raised his identity to a much higher stage. Cain noticed the look in the eyes of the Godslayer Humankind soldiers. He wanted to support and propel the drive of the Inferno Daemon Race, which was why he made General Casidius'' integration into the battle force so public and why he would help "Zero Mint" obtain a World Treasure. However, while he would not show bias against the Inferno Daemon Race, he must also not show favoritism, as that could affect his stance in the heart of the Godslayer Humankind. It would not cause a problem now, but if he was not careful, it could grow and affect the cohesion in the future. Luckily, Cain had already figured out that something like this could happen, which was why he would return with a hero of the Godslayer Human Empire. This master helped protect the north, fought The Organization, and participated in the decisive battle against the Depravita of Blood. "Hmph, too flashy!" Just as people were getting over the shock of Zero Mint''s attack, they heard those words and turned to the sky, only to see a figure standing next to the Scarlet King. He wore sleek and formidable armor consisting of overlapping black plates with sharp, angular edges, which gave the impression of a dark knight. Mechanical wing-like structures extend from the back of the armor, and one just needed to glance at them to feel their power. The soldiers of both camps were shocked to see the man''s appearance, as they had not perceived him before, which could only mean he could hide from the perception of True Gods and True Titans. Although those in the Inferno Daemon camp wondered who that person was, many of the Godslayer Humankind Empire began to glance at each other as they seemed to remember that voice, and finally, one of them spoke. "Could you be the Aegon Family Patriarch?" One of the Divine Ascension Masters who had fought in the north of Gaia uttered those words, and the man in black armor turned to this one before softly nodding as the helmet retracted showing his face. "It is good that people still remember my voice after my long absence. Now allow me to show you the power of the Godslayer Humankind!" Angar shouted those words as his aura began to rise, and two daggers appeared in his hands. These were Saint Treasures, and their only power was sharpness and durability, but that was all he needed. The next second, runic lines appeared on his hands and gauntlets, unleashing a dark and lethal aura. The metallic wings on the Deathbringer Dark Winged Armor began to vibrate, and in the next second, Angar vanished and appeared inside the Dark Fog, right in the middle of a squad of drones from the Insect Army. All the drones of the Insect Army turned to Angar, and even if the man was powerful, they did not hesitate to attack with all their power, yet just as they took a step forward, their bodies split into pieces. There was pure awe and shock in the eyes of the soldiers who witnessed such a display of assassination skills, as they did not even see how the man killed all those drones. Chapter 850 850: Grandmaster Aurelius and Grandmaster Artimes The only ones who could see the attack were the True Gods and True Titans, but they were just as shocked as everyone else. Angar had performed a small cut on all those drones, and in the next second, those minimal wounds expanded, bisecting the insects. Angar stood valiantly amidst thousands of insect corpses, ensuring his aura and power were clear for all to see. It was his mission to improve the morale of the Godslayer Humankind camp until the Collapsing Lightning Emperor could show up. The man''s eyes suddenly grew sharp, and his wings vibrated before he flashed back to the border, leaving the Dark Fog. Angar''s instincts and perception of danger were supreme as an assassin, and he felt several powerful entities watching him from inside the fog. He understood just how strong the Humanoids of the Dark Fog were, and while he did not fear a one-on-one battle thanks to his World Treasure and True Flesh Calamity, they usually fought in groups, and he could not take that risk, at least not until the Scarlet King allowed him to do so. Not wanting to diminish his imposing aura, Angar showed his face once more before glancing at the warriors of the Godslayer Humankind camp. "Everybody, let''s show the might of the Godslayer Humankind spirit!" Those words made the thrill and battle will in the hearts of the Godslayer Humans explode as they all showed smiles and prepared to fight against the Insect Army. "What the hell are you waiting for? Do you want to be left behind? Keep killing!" Zero Mint also shouted to the Inferno Daemons, and while his words were not as refined and poetic as those of Angar, they were enough to fill the hearts of all those warriors with fighting will and slaughter intent. Cain smiled as he saw that everything was in order. Both camps had their spiritual leaders, people whose power would provide the rest a goal and would keep propelling them forward. "Keep fighting hard. Angar will not participate in the Ouroboros Ranking as I already granted him a World Treasure, so work hard to obtain the Top Score Reward of this month." The eyes of the True Titans and True Gods glowed as they heard those words coming from the Scarlet King. None of them could keep up with the killing speed of the Patriarch of the Aegon Family, but they had a chance if he did not participate in the Ouroboros Ranking. After fueling the greed in the hearts of the True Titans and True Gods, Cain nodded and turned around, teleporting back to Infinite Horizon. Cain gazed at the massive Wave Artifacts and Runic Formation in Infinite Horizon. While his understanding of those Professions was not high enough to understand the principles behind the construction, the Collapsing Space-Time Eye showed him that they were near completion. A solemn expression appeared as he adopted a meditative position in the sky and began to perceive the power of space that flooded Infinite Horizon. The Wave Artifacts and Runic Formations would make it easier, but in the end, it would be up to him to connect to the other continents, and he needed to be in peak condition for when the time came. Days carried on, and Cain''s harmonization with the Laws and cosmic power that covered Infinite Horizon grew more and more powerful until he finally opened his eyes and glanced down. He saw two old men staring at him with large smiles, and with a wave of his hand, he teleported them before him. "Grandmaster Aurelius, Grandmaster Artimes." Grandmaster Aurelius and Grandmaster Artimes were the top masters of Wave Crafting and Runic Crafting of Gaia. A few months ago, that was not impressive in Cain''s eyes since their creations could not really help him at all. However, after gaining access to the Codex of Infinite Pathways and spending months inside the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer, the duo''s capabilities rose to a whole new level that even Cain had to admit was impressive. "Your Majesty." "My King." The two old men bowed deeply to the Scarlet King, their eyes full of admiration and devotion to the man who had shown them the true path of Wave and Runic crafting. "Is everything ready?" "Yes, my King. The gates are completed, and the runes are fully integrated. You can use them to enhance your power and connect to the other continents." "Once you form a conduit, the Bridge of Hope will keep the route stable, allowing the passage of hundreds of thousands of people each day without a problem, regardless of their power and energy radiation." Cain could not help but smile as he heard those words. The Bridge of Hope was nothing short of a gargantuan project and required titanic effort, but they finished surprisingly fast. He glanced at the duo, and a meaningful light appeared in his eyes. "Are you comfortable with the people who worked by your side during this project?" Grandmaster Aurelius and Grandmaster Artimes were slightly confused by that question but immediately nodded. While they and the rest of the Wave Crafters and Runic Masters did the fine and delicate part of the job, thousands of Wave Kings helped them with the manual work, and without them, they could not have succeeded so fast. "Good, then all of them will accompany you into the Samsara Dimension. You have another mission requiring just as much effort as this one." Grandmaster Aurelius and Grandmaster Artimes had been working day and night, pushing themselves to the limit in this project, yet they were asked to begin a new project. However, the only emotion in the eyes of the duo was thrill and excitement. Their current cultivation techniques allowed them to improve their cultivation base through their Professions. Just the Bridge of Hope permitted their cultivation to advance immensely, and a new project would push them even further. While it would definitely be exhausting, they were eager to do it. Chapter 851 851: Activating the Bridge of Hope "We serve the Scarlet King." "Your word is our command." Grandmaster Aurelius and Grandmaster Artimes immediately bowed to Cain as they expressed their determination. Cain nodded and sent the duo all the information about the Anti-Dark Fog Towers. As soon as Grandmasters Aurelius and Artimes saw the wave of information, their eyes widened with utter shock. The principles and blueprints behind these new towers were incredibly complex, and they couldn''t help but look at the Scarlet King with reverence, wondering just how he managed to create them. Of course, it was not Cain who created the blueprints for the Anti-Dark Fog Towers, but he would not go around revealing the powers of the Absolute Life Form System. Once it was over, he waved his hand and generated a portal back to the Silver City. Cain could take people in and out of the [Samsara Arsenal Module], but he had to be in contact with them. It would be fine if it were just a few people, but sending thousands would take hours. However, hundreds of people could enter the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer every second through the Samsara Portals. Not to mention that only those who enter through a portal could leave through it. If Cain were to build a Samsara Portal in Amazon, the Deus Behemoth Empire''s capital, the people that went through the Deus Behemoth''s portal could only come out through the same one. They could not use the Silver City''s Samsara Portal to exit the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer. Cain had attempted to figure out the reason behind such checks and restrictions, and it seemed it had to do with the spatial coordinates engraved into every person who used a Samsara Portal. Ultimately, his understanding of the Law of Space is not high enough. After all, even if he is the greatest master of Aether in that aspect, the Laws behind the [Samsara Arsenal Module] are incomprehensible to him. Not wanting to waste any more time, Cain waved his hand, commencing their departure. Grandmasters Aurelius and Artimes performed a deep bow toward Cain before they, along with everybody involved in creating the Bridge of Hope, went through the portal. Now that he was alone, Cain descended to the core of the Bridge of Hope. There were two massive portals covered in runes that extended into the earth and sky, one to the east and the other to the west. Cain took a deep breath as he harmonized with the power of space and the Laws in Infinite Horizon. He let go of everything else and emptied his mind as he harmonized with the powers around him, pushing himself to his zenith. While he closed his left and right eyes, Cain''s Collapsing Space-Time Eye remained open, and its light and energy kept rising higher and higher. "RUMBLE!" After seven days of deep meditation, Cain''s entire body began to tremble, as did the fabric of space around him, generating all sorts of strange phenomena that covered the Bridge of Hope. Infinite Horizon was filled with people all day due to the Ouroboros System Headquarters. Of course, that was built at the border, but still, people could see the wandering light and phenomena flooding the earth and sky, and at the core of all this was a young man with a red robe and three eyes. Cain''s aura kept rising higher until it finally reached its zenith, and then all his eyes opened as he released his power and energy into the West Portal. An ocean of energy and space force headed into the West Portal, so immensely powerful that it made it seem it would shatter the sky and earth due to its power. That amount of force would have been more than enough to connect to any distant location in any part of Atlas and Gaia, but it would have been hard enough to reach other continents, even if there was no spatial disturbance. However, once that energy fused into the West Portal, it began to glow with the light of the sun, and the runic lines that covered the earth and sky of Infinite Horizon burst with power as they channeled the space force. The runic lines began to glow with more and more intensity as an ocean of energy flooded the West Portal, concentrating all of it in its core and then continuing to spin faster and faster until it finally released all of it. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" It was like a cannon of rainbow-colored energy, so pure and majestic that it left anyone who watched it in awe. It represented a superb display of the Law of Space, displaying a level of power that could only be described as transcendental. Unfortunately, Cain did not have time to get lost in the majesty of the Law of Space. All his power and focus were on pushing the majestic multicolored beam forward and making sure it would not stop, no matter what. Although the rainbow-colored beam faded from sight after a few seconds, thanks to Cain''s connection with the West Portal, he could see it flashing through the Endless Ocean at a monstrous speed. There were times when some oceanic Wave Beast would rise and appear in the rainbow beam''s path, but they were instantly incinerated. Cain clenched his teeth and fist as he kept pushing the beam forward. His entire body trembled, and blood began to leak from the corner of his Collapsing Space-Time Eye due to the immense pressure he was putting on it. Just as Cain reached his limit and was ready to trigger the Tier III Rebirth Mark to burn his life force for more power, he saw it. In his eyes appeared a massive battlefield, a zone marked by conflict for thousands of years. The endless destruction affected the earth and sky. Such a sight would have disturbed others, but it made Cain smile as that was the border between the Kronos and Hyperion Continents. The Bridge of Hope was a success! Chapter 852 852: 50% the speed of light The news that the Bridge of Hope was activated spread like wildfire among the Godslayer Humankind and Inferno Daemon camps, making their already rising spirits burn even more intensely. The Bridge of Hope''s West Portal allowed them to contact the Atrox Immortus Race and Deus Behemoth Race, which added two powerful armies with millions of Wave Kings and Apotheosis Masters, thousands of Divine Ascension Masters, and hundreds of Titans and Gods. Such a massive force could mean that they would finally break the stalemate and take a step not just to limit the impact of the Dark Fog but also to fight back against Dark Sky. Silence reigned the next day as Cain vanished, and no one dared to get near the Bridge of Hope since it was a heavily restricted area. Many wondered when the gates would be used and what the next move of the Scarlet King would be, and among them was Prime Minister Razputin. The old man from the Nether Clan was also very excited about the Bridge of Hope, but unlike all the others who only worried about when it would come into use, he had to think about what would happen when he reached Kronos. There were treaties that would oblige the Atrox Immortus Empire to assist them in the war against Dark Sky. Still, things were never so simple, especially on a battlefield where they were fighting side by side with members of the Godslayer Humankind. ''Luckily, I have the Ouroboros System as a trump card to play with them. Most of the Atrox Immortus Empire members care deeply about honor, so I can use that and their greed to my advantage. As for those who would try to create problems with my cause, I will play with their fears.'' Prime Minister Razputin was a pessimist, always expecting the worst scenario, which was why he was also so well-prepared. As the man was going over the details of his plans, his eyes narrowed as he gazed into the sky and saw that the Scarlet King had arrived and he was not alone. Next to the Scarlet King was a figure with majestic cosmic armor whose body seemed to radiate an extremely powerful vital force and a gravitational might capable of shattering reality. Of course, the one accompanying the Scarlet King was none other than the Collapsing Lightning Emperor. The man bowed to the Scarlet King before flashing to the battlefield, and the first attack he released was a gravitational wave that destroyed thousands of drones from the Insect Army. Awe and smiles appeared on the faces of all the Godslayer Humankind soldiers who watched that attack as the power that the Collapsing Lightning Emperor displayed did not fall short of the strength Zero Mint could unleash with his weapon. Zero Mint''s eyes narrowed as he saw that attack, and his entire body radiated fighting spirit as he continued attacking with his swords, unleashing more powerful attacks. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor responded in the same fashion, unleashing gravitational pulses that shattered all. The clash between the two figures exploded the fighting spirit in both camps, allowing them to push themselves even harder. As Cain gazed at the Godslayer Humankind camp and Inferno Daemon camp, all fighting with a single goal, challenging each other yet not revealing any animosity, a strange sensation appeared in his heart and mind, and he began to smile. However, it did not last long as the aloof and calm expression proper of a Master of Order soon returned to Cain''s face. He glanced around the zone, and soon, his eyes focused on Prime Minister Razputin and the Dark Emperor. The Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin immediately nodded as they saw Cain''s gaze and flashed toward him. Both were needed if they wanted the Atrox Immortus Race to take them seriously. Otherwise, endless charades and delays could begin, and no one wanted that. Once the duo was next to him, Cain covered all three with his power and teleported back to Infinite Horizon, appearing right above the Bridge of Hope. A powerful force field covered the zone, one so strong that even True Titans and True Gods would find it hard to breach. Even if Cain had not detected any form of rebellion or betrayal, he would not be careless. After all, what kind of joke would it be if he left through the West Portal to go for reinforcements only to remain stuck in the Hyperion Continent? Cain waved his hand, generating a small gap in the force field that immediately closed once he and the duo from the Inferno Daemon Race went through. The Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin were filled with utter and absolute awe as they gazed at the West Portal. Seeing it up close was completely different, and its majesty could not be described in words. Prime Minister Razputin followed the Essence Evolution Path of Power. While his mastery over the Laws was nothing impressive, he could still feel how the fundamental principles and forces that governed this place seemed to be one level above those in the rest of Aether. Cain allowed the duo to gaze at the portal briefly before speaking, guiding them on what would happen next. "Once we go through the West Portal, our bodies will move forward at roughly 50% of the speed of light." As soon as they heard those words, all the awe in the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister''s hearts was replaced by dread. Moving at 50% of the speed of light would mean they would travel at roughly 150,000 kilometers per second. Moving at such speed could push all the blood to their heads, and that was if their bodies did not shatter first. "There is no need to fear. We will be inside a space-time nullity bubble. It would be as if the world was moving around us instead of us around the world. Even for me, it''s hard to explain, but if you remain inside the bubble and do not forcibly try to exit it, you will be fine." The Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin were still a little nervous, but they could not back down now, so they clasped their hands and bowed to the Scarlet King, indicating their readiness. Cain nodded, and then the trio reached the West Gate, stepping into it and vanishing from Infinite Horizon. Chapter 853 853: Atrox Immortus Emperor There was no natural border between the Kronos Continent and the Hyperion Continent, only a current of the Endless Sea that divided the two continents and stretched for thousands of kilometers. This current was known as the Sea of End, and its sky-blue crystalline waters had turned black after centuries of bloodshed, energy radiation, killing intent, and resentment from the clashes between the Atrox Immortus Race and Deus Behemoth Race. The Sea of End usually saw cruel and bloody fights, yet there was only silence today. To the south of the Sea of End stood ten figures, each unleashing a fantastic bloodline power and a cultivation base that placed them at the peak of the Divine Ascension Realm. These were none other than the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines, led by Eon, the Emperor of the Deus Behemoth Empire. To the north of the Sea of End was a group just as powerful as the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines. They were known as the Ten Swords of the Atrox Immortus Empire, led by the Emperor of the Atrox Immortus Race, Ishmael. The Emperor of the Atrox Immortus Race was nearly two and a half meters tall, with a lean yet muscular constitution. His body was covered in obsidian blade armor, typical of the Atrox Race, but this set was far from ordinary, as every blade seemed to embody the power of the Laws. The only parts of the Emperor''s body not covered by armor were his blue eyes, which showed a sense of determination and brutality that could make even the strongest hearts tremble. The Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines and the Ten Swords were the maximum powerhouses of the Deus Behemoth Race and Atrox Immortus Race, respectively. Invading the enemy empire would not be a problem if one side could destroy the other. However, despite being a mere three thousand kilometers apart, neither side projected killing intent toward the other. This was due to a phenomenon that had appeared in the sky above the Sea of End. It had emerged a day ago and sent shockwaves across the Kronos and Hyperion Continents. Above the Sea of End was a gargantuan rainbow-colored portal. Not only was it extremely powerful, but most importantly, the Laws governing its existence were so advanced that none of the powerhouses from the Deus Behemoth Race or Atrox Immortus Race could comprehend them. The only known fact was that an unknown force had connected a portal to their continent through the Endless Ocean, ignoring the chaotic state of the fabric of space. Such a feat required either immense power or extremely advanced technology. Either way, whoever was behind this rainbow-colored portal was dangerous, and the question that flooded the minds of both sides was whether they were friend or foe. As the rainbow portal began to tremble, the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines and the Ten Swords raised their guard, their eyes sharpening as they focused on the emerging figures. The next second, two individuals appeared: one a member of the Abyssal Clan with impressive armor and the other an old man from the Nether Clan. The Atrox Immortus Empire members smiled as they saw that the ones who emerged from the rainbow portal were the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin, leaders of the Inferno Daemon Empire. Although the Atrox Immortus did not understand how the Inferno Daemon Empire had obtained this portal, they were delighted to see their allies in control of it. On the other hand, the expressions of the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines could not have been worse, especially for the Patriarchs of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan. Kabuto and Zuko looked at each other, their eyes filled with worry and apprehension. Cain had returned to Gaia to help his family and friends face the invasion of the Inferno Daemon Empire, and the sight of the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin made them fear that something had gone terribly wrong. However, before any side could utter a word or make a move, the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin stepped to the sides and adopted a solemn, respectful, and even submissive stance toward the figure appearing next. The one who came was a young man with white hair, flaming golden eyes, a red robe, and an aura that seemed to rival the heavens and earth. His third eye glowed with power as majestic as that of the portal, and the power of the Law of Space seemed to bend to his will. "Cain!" Lord Kabuto could not help but shout as he saw Cain appear. While he was delighted to see the young man had grown so immensely powerful, he was confused as he saw the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin accompanying him. Cain turned to the Patriarch of the Ten Great Bloodlines'' voice and focused on Lord Kabuto before clasping his hands and performing a deep bow. "I have returned, father." After that, he turned toward Lord Zanginis and, still clasping his hands, made a slight bow. "I am glad to see you well, Uncle." Even if Cain had grown immensely powerful, capable of subduing entire continents with his strength, he did not forget those who stood by his side when he was weak and young. Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis never abandoned him, even when they were forced to choose between him and the other Ten Great Bloodlines; they chose him without hesitation. After performing that reverence toward Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis, Cain turned his eyes toward the Ten Swords of the Atrox Immortus Race. Despite their strength and thousands of years of battle, the Atrox Immortus could not help but tremble as they felt like space was pressuring them. Without a word or a warning, and so fast that none of them could react, Cain appeared in front of the Ten Swords and moved like lightning as he grabbed the Atrox Immortus Emperor by the neck and flashed into the sky. There was pure shock and awe in the eyes of the Atrox Immortus Emperor as the speed and strength of the young man were simply too high, managing to grab him before he could make a single move. He was an Essence Cultivator, and being close to an Astral Cultivation could mean the end, but he did not let fear, doubt, or despair crush his heart. "?AHHHHH!" With that single roar of defiance, the Atrox Immortus Emperor conjured a tornado of golden lightning in his right hand. He blasted it straight into the young man''s face without hesitation. "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion echoed across the sky as waves of incredibly destructive and sharp energy spread everywhere. The Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines and the Ten Swords gazed at the sky with shock and apprehension. None dared to make a move out of fear that the other side would take advantage of that, and they waited in silence. Clearly, the young man was immensely powerful, but he received a devastating blow straight to his face and was not using his Wave Cloak. Once the energy faded, they saw how Cain still had a firm grip on the Emperor''s neck, yet half of his face was destroyed! Cain''s left eye, along with the flesh, muscles, and bones, were destroyed, leaving him a gory sight, yet the young man showed nothing as he stared at the Atrox Immortus Emperor. "That was not very nice." As Cain uttered those words, a scene that left everybody in utter shock appeared. The bones, muscles, and flesh began to regrow at a shocking speed, and even the left eye returned. In less than ten seconds, that horrible wound faded as if nothing had ever happened. The Atrox Immortus Emperor felt utter disbelief as he saw how his point-blank attack had done nothing. He then glanced at the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin, and a sense of contentment appeared in his eyes before determination emerged. "Never surrender!" The Atrox Immortus Emperor shouted those words as he grabbed Cain''s right hand that held his neck, and then his entire body began to glow as he put his energy into overdrive, ready to self-destruct and take the young man with him. Even if the other side could survive, it would harm him and give his people a chance. A sense of shock and awe appeared in Cain''s eyes as he saw that the man was ready to self-destruct, showing not even a single shred of hesitation, ready to burn everything for what he believed was right. Suddenly, a smile appeared on Cain''s face as he made his Astral Wave and Essence Wave explode, generating flawless Solar Tempest Essence before striking the Atrox Immortus Emperor''s Evolution Core, not harming it but stopping the overload of this one. It took immense effort and pushed himself to the absolute limit, but Cain managed to stop the self-destruction of the Atrox Immortus Emperor. He then let go of the man''s neck and stared at the man with a wide smile. Chapter 854 854: The Scarlet King vs the Ten Swords (I) Ishmael''s eyes were full of confusion as he did not understand what was happening. The young man was so powerful that he not only managed to overwhelm him but even interrupted his self-destruction, something much more challenging than just killing him. Cain''s smile did not fade, but his power exploded the next second. His Solar Tempest Essence erupted, and his skin turned red as a bright and dark golden fire covered his body. His eyes glowed with red and golden light as he pushed his Ego Wave and The Flow to the maximum. That was his current maximum state without delving into the dangerous Nine Void Suns Battle form. Ishmael and the rest of the Ten Swords were shocked by the massive power that Cain unleashed, as the pillar of energy that emerged from him was like a torrent that threatened to sunder the Crystal Wall. "What are you all waiting for? Are you going to let your Emperor fight alone? If you manage to defeat me, I and my forces will not disturb your empire for one hundred years." Cain glanced at the rest of the Ten Swords as he uttered those words full of contempt. The True God Atroxs were taken aback for a moment before determination and killing intent appeared in their eyes as they flashed to the sky. The power of the Ten Swords of the Atrox Immortus Empire power was supposed to be capable of facing any military force of any continent, yet it took all they had to stand in front of the young man. Cain''s smile widened as he saw the determination and bravery in the eyes of the True God Atroxs, and he raised his hand, signaling for them to make the first move. It was a challenge, and fighting ten against one was nothing short of an embarrassment, but the Ten Swords of the Atrox Immortus Empire did not delude themselves into thinking they could face the man in a one-on-one battle. The Atrox Immortus Emperor took a deep breath as his eyes glowed with a white light. His Ego Wave calmed his mind and connected him with the rest of the True Gods, enabling them to share a telepathic link as they prepared a battle plan. The Deus Behemoth Emperor and the rest of the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines did not understand what was happening. Cain''s power was already monstrous, but why did he stop Ishmael from self-destructing only to challenge all Ten Swords of the Atrox Immortus Empire simultaneously? Eon could not help but clench his fists as he saw how Cain remained calm in the sky as the Ten Swords planned a battle strategy. He was worried that maybe Cain had grown too confident in his power, and fighting all ten True Gods at the same time was bound to be extremely dangerous. Just as the Deus Behemoth Emperor was about to step forward, trying to intervene, he froze, and his heart grew cold. He was not alone since all the Patriarchs of the Great Bloodlines, except for Lord Kabuto and Lord Zuko, felt a crushing pressure and coldness. The origin was none other than Cain, whose smile had vanished. His eyes turned emotionless as he glanced at the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines. "Anyone who dares to interfere is challenging my authority, the Scarlet King!" Cain''s voice was eerily cold, and it was perfectly clear to all that he was not playing games and what would happen if anyone dared to challenge the might of his name. Only after seeing that the Patriarchs understood the message did Cain''s eyes return to normal, and he smiled again as he glanced at the Ten Swords, silently waiting. Ishmael and the rest of the Swords felt immense pressure behind the smile, and their souls and minds were full of confusion as they did not understand the young man, but one thing was clear: he wanted to fight all of them without help. Whether it was confidence or arrogance, they would take this chance to unleash all they had. The True Gods quickly formed a circle around Cain, with four in the close circle and six more behind them. Interestingly, the four closest to Cain were the Essence Evolution True Gods and were in pairs. Since they would have the first strike, they prepared to unleash their most powerful spells from the closest distance. Cain continued smiling, but that did not mean he was taking them lightly. The golden light in his eyes reached its peak as he took a deep breath and prepared for the incoming attack. Ishmael was accompanied by an Atrox woman covered in strange metallic bandages, and their auras seemed to achieve flawless synergy. As for the other duo, they were a massive man nearly four meters tall with volcanic skin and streams of magma surrounding his body, while the woman by his side wore white robes that covered her entire figure, unleashing a powerful aura that seemed to carry on the power of time. Although the harmonization between their powers was not as high as Ishmael and the water True God, it was by no means weak. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Ten explosions echoed above the Sea of End as all Ten Swords of the Atrox Immortus Race made their energy explode, generating ten pillars of energy. They were monstrous and powerful, yet they could barely equal the aura of the pillar of Solar Tempest Essence. "FIGHT!" The cry of war from Ishmael filled the hearts of the True Gods with determination, and the battle started, with the Essence Cultivators firing their most powerful combination spells. "Golden Lightning Dragon!" Ishmael roared as he unleashed a massive cannon of golden lightning forward, which seemed to express the unyielding nature of the Law of Gold with the volatile and destructive power of the Law of Lightning. It was immensely powerful, but the spell lacked integrity. Luckily, the woman behind him unleashed her spell the next moment. "Siphoning Maelstrom!" A massive maelstrom revolved around the golden lightning cannon, channeling all its energy, stopping its dispersion, and making the attack almost twice as powerful! Chapter 855 855: The Scarlet King vs the Ten Swords (II) "Earth-Fire Destruction Volcano!" As Ishmael and his partner fired that attack, the other two Essence Evolution True Gods unleashed their spell. The man with volcanic skin conjured a volcano in the sky using his Laws and energy. "Withering!" The spells seemed extremely powerful but also required a long time to charge. Yet, the True God in the white dress used her Law of Time to accelerate the charge, allowing the volcano to erupt into a torrent of magma and destruction that also carried the withering power of time. The withering magma blast and siphon of golden lightning approached Cain at a shocking speed from the left and right, but his mind was peaceful as he analyzed his next step. ''I could make my energy explode and defend. I could also attempt to use the Law of Space to sunder the energy radiation around me and try to teleport away. However, I need to go to the extreme for them to understand what they will face.'' Cain''s speed of thought was countless times faster than that of a normal person, and he made a decision in less than a nanosecond. His eyes glowed with powerful golden light as he relaxed every muscle in his body and harmonized his spirit with the flow of the world. He then extended his arms as the energy in his palms began to vibrate, achieving a unique state that seemed to resonate with the power in those spells. The withering magma blast and siphon of golden lightning finally reached Cain, but instead of the explosive might they should have unleashed, the spells froze when they made contact with his palms. Pure and utter shock appeared in Ishmael and the other three True Gods as they saw their spells fail to act, but things were far from over as Cain seemed to grab the blast of withering magma and siphon of golden lightning before rotating his body. Cain used The Flow to harmonize with the energy flow of both spells before rotating his body with them, severing the control of the True Gods over their spells before redirecting them. Ishmael and the woman by his side saw the withering magma blast coming toward them, while the volcano man and his partner saw a siphon of golden lightning about to reach them. They were still trying to overcome the shock, and the counter came too fast, so the True Gods could not respond. "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" Luckily for them, before each of the spells could connect, they took a sharp turn, flashing into the sky, exploding into the Crystal Wall, and filling the heavens with their energy radiation, turning it into a beautiful sight. Cain''s face turned pale for a moment. While redirecting the spells was not taxing, changing their direction once they left his hands was incredibly complicated and required a monstrous effort. It would have been easier just to let them take the attack head-on, but he could not injure such powerful warriors. Ishmael was shocked, and the confusion in his eyes grew more powerful as he did not understand what was happening or why the young man had saved them from that blast. He could not allow himself to hesitate, and his eyes grew sharp. "Change formation. Battle Plan C!" As soon as the Ten Swords heard those words, they nodded. The Essence Cultivation broke their couple''s stance since there was no point in firing powerful spells if the young man could send them back, and all True Gods mixed among each other as they flashed toward the young man full of battle will. A man and a woman immediately flashed toward Cain. One was covered in beautiful light so radiant that it affected his sight, while the other was wrapped in shadows that seemed to vanish from existence. Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he detected daggers coming to his heart and the back of his neck. He acted extremely fast, grabbing the wrists of the man and woman and pushing the daggers away from his body before sending them flying away. Just as he took care of the duo, he turned to the side and saw a massive, nearly four-meter-tall Atrox in blue armor flashing toward him with a sword covered in ice. The man''s technique was superb, as he could feel the sword''s sharpness and the ice on his face. In a second, eighty percent of his Solar Essence Tempest gathered in his left palm, which he used to block the sword! "BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion of ice and sharp force spread everywhere, and the Atrox True God could not hide his shock as he saw how a naked palm blocked his sword. Before he could react, Cain''s right palm touched his chest before a massive energy pulse sent him flying away. The man felt extremely nauseous after the energy pulse, but he remained physically unharmed and unable to control his body. Just as Cain managed to send that massive swordsman Atrox flying away, another Atrox, even larger, waved an enormous hammer in his direction. In a second, the Atrox True God was able to channel all that power into his weapon. Cain had already sent the swordsman flying away, and the hammer was already reaching him, so dodging or evading was impossible, but that did not mean he was out of options. The massive Atrox saw how his hammer was barely a few centimeters away from Cain''s back. Still, space acted erratically, and moving his weapon through those few centimeters was like pushing it through dozens of kilometers of mud. By the time his hammer finally connected, it had lost most of its impulse, and if that was not enough, Cain had redirected all his energy into his back. The blow that could have leveled a massive city with millions of people barely pushed Cain a few meters forward. Cain immediately turned his body and kicked the hammer, making it crash into the body of the Atrox, hitting the man with his own weapon and pushing him away. Chapter 856 856: The Scarlet King vs the Ten Swords (III) Cain had taken care of the man just in time to face the attack from the last two Astral True Gods of the Atrox Immortus Race''s True Gods. One was a woman who had transformed into a massive werewolf with bloody fur and lunged toward him with her maws open, while the other was a man who fired a spear-sized arrow carrying the power of wind and sound, making it fast and hard to intercept. The golden light in Cain''s eyes exploded as he pushed the Flow to the peak. With expertise, he managed to grab the arrow without letting it lose momentum, rotating it around his body and redirecting it toward the werewolf True God. Cain broke the arrow''s head, allowing only the shaft to hit, but it was still powerful enough to push back the werewolf True God. Not wasting even a second, Cain turned toward the archer True God, and a massive amount of energy gathered in his palm as he launched a palm strike. The archer''s eyes narrowed as he saw the palm strike, and the next second, an invisible force struck his body, sending him flying away. Silence reigned for a second as everyone saw how Cain managed to withstand the onslaught of the six Astral True Gods from the Ten Swords and sent them flying away. If that was not enough, it was evident that Cain was restraining himself to avoid causing severe damage. "Keep fighting. We must demonstrate the might of our race!" Ishmael could see doubt and hesitation rising in the warriors'' souls, so he shouted with all his power, making them understand that their goal was not victory or to kill the young man but to prove that the Atrox Immortus Race had powerful masters. "Avoid the Sacred Organs, but attack with everything you have. Do not contain yourself!" Trying to kill an opponent who was avoiding harm was not something the True Gods of the Atrox Immortus Race felt comfortable with, so they were all relieved to see Ishmael''s command, and the last shred of hesitation vanished as they returned to the fray. Cain showed a small smile as he heard the words of the Atrox Immortus Emperor, and his eyes glowed with golden light as he prepared to face the spells and melee attacks coming his way. "BOOM!" "BOOOOOOMMMMMM!" "BOOOOMMMM!" More and more explosions filled the sky as Cain faced the Ten Swords of the Atrox Immortus Race, overwhelming them with his power. The Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin watched the battle from the rainbow portal. The Dark Emperor''s expression was strange, as he did not quite understand the point of this battle. Prime Minister Razputin noticed the confusion on the Dark Emperor''s face and looked at the sky before speaking. "Tell me, how strong is the Scarlet King?" The Dark Emperor was surprised by the sudden question, but as he noticed the sharp light in Prime Minister Razputin, he answered with seriousness. "His body, energy control, Laws, and abilities are beyond comprehension. He is so powerful that trying to measure his battle strength and classify him in a rank or tier is currently impossible by Aether''s standards." Prime Minister Razputin softly nodded as he heard that, agreeing with the assessment. "Now tell me, who is stronger, the Scarlet King or Dark Sky?" A sharp light appeared in the Dark Emperor''s eyes as he gazed at the fight in the sky and took a moment to respond. "Individually, I am willing to bet that the Scarlet King could defeat any Humanoid of Dark Sky in a one-on-one battle, even the giant one that appeared a few months ago. However, the full power of Dark Sky is too much for him alone to handle, and they can kill him." Once again, Prime Minister Razputin nodded. He remained silent for a few seconds before speaking again. "Then if Dark Sky is so powerful, what chance does the Atrox Immortus Empire have of surviving a clash with them if its strongest warriors are so easily overwhelmed by the Scarlet King." A flash of enlightenment appeared in the Dark Emperor''s eyes as he heard those words, and everything became clear to him the next second. "We have faced Dark Sky and understood just how monstrous they are. Not even in our wildest nightmares could we imagine such a powerful enemy, and words might not be enough to convince Ishmael and the Atrox Immortus Empire''s upper echelon of the danger we face. However, we must only show them that even the Scarlet King cannot face the full power of Dark Sky, and they would comprehend." No one who becomes an Emperor is a simple man, and the Dark Emperor could understand everything after that small explanation. "That is right. The Scarlet King is paving the way for us. We can use this fight to make them understand that there are monsters and forces in Aether whose power we cannot even comprehend, and one of them is determined to consume all life and take this world as their own. If they cannot face the Scarlet King or even wound him, then against Dark Sky, they will be nothing but ants." Prime Minister Razputin remained composed and showed nothing. After all, he could not be smiling as a human beat the crap out of their allies, but inside he was beyond delighted. After this fight and seeing the power of the Scarlet King, he was 100% sure he could convince the powerhouses of the Atrox Immortus Race to accompany them to the battlefield against Dark Sky. The fight between Cain and the Ten Swords of the Atrox Immortus Empire carried on for another thirty minutes before finally Ishmael shouted. "Pull back, now!" The True Gods immediately stopped their attacks when they heard the Emperor''s voice and returned, assembling around Ishmael. The Ten Swords of the Atrox Immortus Empire were all hurt and exhausted, but other than some minor wounds, they were perfectly fine. All of them knew that the lack of severe injuries was due to the mercy of their opponent. Chapter 857 857: The Darkness (I) On the other hand, while they avoided the head, heart, and Evolution Core, they attacked with all they had, yet Cain had not a single wound on his body. The young man was also exhausted, but while some attacks had managed to touch him, his Pseudo-Immortal Body and Radiance of Life ensured that those wounds would heal instantly. Cain stared at the Ten Swords before his eyes glowed with red light, and he opened his mouth. The next second, the sky trembled before energy streams began to surge toward the young man under the power of the Gluttony Concept. He could still not express proper battle power through his Concepts, but using them to recover his energy was easy. Ishmael couldn''t help but show a defeated smile as he saw how the young man began to devour the energy in the earth and sky. At this rate, Cain would regain his energy pool in minutes, while they would need hours to recover, making the difference between their powers painfully obvious. "What do you seek, young man?" Cain only smiled as he heard that question and stopped devouring the energy before answering. "To make you more powerful." Shock appeared in the eyes of the Atrox Immortus Emperor and the True Gods, and they were not alone, as the same feeling appeared in the Patriarch of the Deus Behemoth Race. Those words were enough to consider Cain a traitor to the Light Races, casting a dark shadow over the alliance between the Godslayer Humankind Empire and the Deus Behemoth Empire. Cain noticed the sharp light in the eyes of the Patriarch of the Deus Behemoth Empire but remained calm. Before anyone could say something, he raised his hand and began to conjure massive spheres of red flaming energy that contained streams of his Ego Wave. Cain was very tired and did not have enough energy to form true Void Suns, but the ones he was conjuring only needed to act as a vigilance tool and did not require true battle power. After the nine massive spheres appeared, he waved his hands, spreading them across the Sea of End. "From this day on, I forbid any form of aggression between the Deus Behemoth Empire and Atrox Immortus Empire. Defying this decree will be considered a direct challenge to the Scarlet King!" The Nine Void Suns burst with energy that flooded the sky and ocean, covering the Sea of End and everything around it. Divine Ascension Masters could still cross the radiation, but the seed of Cain''s Ego Wave in the fiery sphere would detect them. The Deus Behemoth Race and Atrox Immortus Race have battled for thousands of years, and no one really thought something would make them stop, yet right now, the words of a 26-year-old man seem to have forced a cease-fire. Cain''s eyes were sharp as he allowed his aura to flood the sky for a moment before relaxing and turning toward the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin. Immediately, the duo from the Inferno Daemon Empire clasped their hands and bowed toward Cain before flying toward Ishmael and the Ten Swords of the Atrox Immortus Race. The Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin could see the doubt and discontent in the eyes of the Atrox Immortus Emperor and True Gods. "I know you doubt our intentions and might even think we have sold ourselves to the Godslayer Humankind, but please hear our words. We are willing to accompany you back to Evernight and answer all your questions there." Ishmael''s eyes narrowed as he stared at the duo, and after contemplating everything, he nodded. "If I don''t hear from you in two days, I will be furious and have to go and look for you." Before the group could leave, Cain''s cold voice echoed across the sky, and the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin only bowed, but it was clear that those words were not meant for the Inferno Daemon duo but for the masters of the Atrox Immortus Race. Ishmael glanced at the Scarlet King one last time before guiding the Ten Swords and the duo of the Inferno Daemon Race away. It was only after they left that Cain turned his eyes to the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines, and the light in their eyes clearly showed that some were not very happy with him, but he did not lose focus or grow nervous. "You have questions, and I have all the answers. We should go to Amazon to have a proper conversation." Eon stared at Cain for a moment before finally nodding. It was too early to make decisions or pass judgment before understanding the whole picture. Cain and the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines flew toward the nearest Inter-Sector Teleportation Matrix. Cain was no longer in Infinite Horizon and could not channel its power to connect to any point of the nearby continents. Luckily, the teleportation formation led them near the Bahamut Sector, and after that, it was only a matter of flying a few minutes before appearing in the flying city that was Amazon. Normally, entering the capital of an empire was extremely dangerous since it was full of formations and could empower the opponent, but Cain was not afraid. Cain had already survived the Silver City, and he was much stronger. Not to mention that, unlike the Crown Prince, Eon cared about his people and would not do anything so risky as to start a battle that could kill them all. Once they reached Amazon, Eon guided the group into a massive castle. It was not made of metal but rocks, fitting perfectly with the harmony of the flying city. The group immediately headed into an enormous hall with a round table and ten chairs, seemingly used to discuss matters between the Ten Great Bloodlines. As soon as they entered the room, all the Patriarchs turned toward Cain, and none took a seat. They were all full of doubt and questions as they focused on the young man, and even Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis were no exception. Chapter 858 858: The Darkness (II) Cain''s previous statement could be considered a betrayal of the Deus Behemoth Empire. Even if the two old men appreciated him very much, if they had to choose between the young man and their race, the answer was evident no matter how painful it would be. Luckily for the group, Cain did not make them wait and immediately sent a message to their computer rings of all the present. Eon and the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines glanced at each other before focusing on their computer rings and seeing a video file. None hesitated and opened it, and they immediately saw a dark fog covering the north of Atlas, rapidly extending across the Sectors and carrying an Insect Army that killed everything in its path. "The Darkness!" Although they were all shocked, one of the Patriarchs was utterly terrified, and a sense of absolute dread filled his soul as he shouted. The one that shouted was Lord Kabuto, the Patriarch of the Solis Clan and the man blessed with the gift of prophecy. The old man could not help but tremble, for that Dark Fog was the same darkness he had seen in his vision that threatened to engulf the entire Deus Behemoth Race! Cian''s eyes narrowed as he heard those words coming from Lord Kabuto. There was no way he would have forgotten about the prophecy that connected his path and that of the Patriarch of the Solis Clan, but he had honestly never paid too much attention or importance to it. It was not that he doubted the man''s word, but prophecies were unreliable, and one never knew how they would present themselves. Not to mention that according to Lord Kabuto''s vision, it would appear in Kronos and extend to the Deus Behemoth Empire, yet it had clearly not been the case and instead appeared in Atlas. That was why Cain never connected the Dark Fog and Dark Sky to Lord Kabuto''s vision, yet it seemed he was wrong. Lord Zanginius was also shocked by Lord Kabuto''s reaction. He was aware of the prophecy, which was why he was surprised and shocked, and immediately, a sense of dread assaulted him. According to that vision, the darkness would consume the entire Deus Behemoth Empire, and it seemed that this Dark Fog could do such a thing. Unlike the Patriarch of the Zanginis Clan, the rest of the people in the room had no idea what Lord Kabuto was talking about, but they could see the terror in the man''s eyes. Before they could ask any questions, the old man focused once more on the computer ring and kept watching the video. The rest of the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines remained silent and chose to ask their questions after finishing the video. They saw how the Dark Fog raced across the Atlas Continent, causing countless deaths. Even if they were part of the Dark Races, seeing women, elders, and children die was not something the Patriarchs would find pleasant. The Dark Fog and the Insect Army continued their rampage until the Seventh Prince of the Inferno Daemon Empire rallied the troops, achieving a certain balance before leading the forces to the north to find the origin of their power. They were a massive power with millions of warriors and several True Gods, and they cut through the Insect Army like a hot knife through butter. However, as the army seemed to have reached its goal, silence echoed across the empire. The following picture in the video was that of a Humanoid of Dark Sky throwing Horus''s severed head. When the Dark Emperor attacked blindly in rage, a Humanoid nearly killed the man. "Your time has ended. This world now belongs to the Dark Sky." Those words echoed in the minds of all the Patriarchs present, and there was a sense of aloofness in them that made it clear just how little the Humanoids of Dark Sky thought of the Inferno Daemon Race or, for that matter, any other race in Aether. The video continued showing the futile clash between the weakened Inferno Daemon Empire''s forces against Dark Sky, and it was evident they had not a single chance until finally, a master in dark armor who manipulated white flames appeared. The man was monstrously powerful, achieving a battle might that rose beyond the True Titan Tier. He was able to face one of the Humanoids of Dark Sky and gradually started to suppress them. "That is Zero Mint. An ancient master of the Inferno Daemon Race that had been absent for the last 1500 years. He is weird, to say the least, but his power is great even by my standards." Eon and the rest of the Patriarchs heard Cain''s words and were surprised to see such a powerful master of the Inferno Daemon Race appear out of nowhere. The man was stronger than any of them; however, after the second Humanoids of Dark Sky appeared, he was forced to flee. A somber expression appeared on all the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines as they saw how even someone as powerful as Zero Mint, who could defeat any of them, was forced to escape. The video did not stop as it carried on, showing Cain overcoming a Tribulation that was utterly foreign to any of them and seemingly carrying the power of the Law of Space. Although that confused the Patriarchs and filled them with questions, they did not have time to ask since the video next showed how Cain opened a portal into Atlas and flashed into the Dark Fog, before fighting the Humanoids of Dark Sky. The Patriarchs had seen Cain''s battle before, but he had been containing himself against the Ten Swords of the Atrox Immortus Empire. However, against the Humanoids of Dark Sky, the young man showed his true brutal and murderous nature, delivering attacks and skills whose only purpose was to kill, and there was not even the slightest sign of mercy. Chapter 859 859: What if we refuse to fight? The awe in the hearts of the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines kept rising as Cain unleashed a battle power that was simply incredible. It reached its peak as they saw the Nine Void Suns Battle Form and how the young man''s power skyrocketed, almost taking the life of one of the Humanoids of Dark Sky before he was forced to flee due to the arrival of a gargantuan figure. Although the video perfectly showed Cain''s power, it also revealed how wounded he was after the battle against the Humanoids of Dark Sky, making the cost of fighting those things clear. "Divided, we will be slaughtered. Together, we could fight, but we will lose and die." The words of Cain to the powerhouses of the Godslayer Humankind Empire and the Inferno Daemon Empire echoed in the mind of the Patriarch of the Ten Great Bloodlines of the Deus Behemoth Empire. "Luckily, there are more than just two Sacred Races in Aether." After those words, the video showed the Dark Fog battlefield, which extended across the entire Atlas Continent for hundreds of thousands of kilometers. It depicted the Godslayer Humankind camp and Inferno Daemon camp fighting against the Insect Army to slow down the growth of the Dark Fog. The video depicted two armies fighting against the endless waves of the Insect Army, and it was clear that there was no sense of victory in their hearts, and despair was slowly crawling into the soldiers'' hearts. However, suddenly, everything changed, and the warriors began to march into the battlefield full of thrill and determination. Such a sudden and drastic change in the mood confused the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines, and their confusion only grew as they saw how the warriors in both camps attained all sorts of treasures and weapons, raising their strength. It would be one thing if it were just the Godslayer Humankind Camp, but the Inferno Daemon camp also obtained the treasures and power-ups. The final part of the video file showed Cain appearing with a True God of the Inferno Daemon Race before leaving with Zero Mint, only to return an hour later with the man now holding a sword that slaughtered thousands of drones of the Insect Army with a single wave. It also showed the power of Angar and his armor and runes, along with the might of the Collapsing Lightning Emperor that rose beyond the Tier of True Titan. Silence reigned in the room as the Emperor and Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines of the Deus Behemoth Empire glanced at Cain, all sorts of thoughts in their minds. Finally, Eon''s voice broke the silence. "Did you give those treasures to the members of the Inferno Daemon Race?" Eon''s voice was solemn. It would make sense for Cain to hand over treasures to the Godslayer Humankind, which they would gladly see as it meant an ally growing stronger. However, things would be different if those treasures reached the Inferno Daemon camp. After all, the Inferno Daemon Empire was an ally of their enemies, the Atrox Immortus Race, and those treasures made them much more powerful. Right now, despite their military force being a third of that of the Deus Behemoth Race, the Inferno Daemon Race was not really weaker, thanks to the massive influx of treasures and the presence of an expert like Zero Mint. Cain stared at the Deus Behemoth Emperor, his voice calm yet sharp as he answered the question. "I did not give them anything. They earned it with their own effort as anyone willing to face Dark Sky by my side could." After uttering those words, Cain waved his hand, and the computer rings of all the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines glowed. [Welcome to the Ouroboros System, created by the Scarlet King for all who fight Dark Sky. From now on, every enemy you kill and every military maneuver you perform that serves the purpose of facing Dark Sky will be rewarded with Ouroboros Points.] The True Titans were surprised when they heard those words, and they then focused on the module that appeared in their computer rings. They saw all the information about the Ouroboros System, including the point allocation, how to earn points, the scoreboard, and the Ouroboros Ranking. Then their eyes went to the rewards, and immediately, they were stunned. The amount of treasures was too massive, enough for everyone who worked hard to get some. It became clear to all why those soldiers of the Godslayer Humankind camp and Inferno Daemon camp suddenly became so energetic and from where their treasures emerged. Eon frowned from time to time as he analyzed all the information, and it became crystal clear to him what Cain''s purpose was by connecting the Sea of End to Infinite Horizon. "What will happen if we refuse to assist you in the fight against Dark Sky?" Some Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines could not help but frown as they heard those words. It was clear to all how dangerous Dark Sky was, and they did not believe the force would be satisfied with just Atlas and Gaia. The dissent was especially clear in Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis, as in their eyes, Dark Sky was the darkness that would swallow all of Hyperion''s Continent, so they needed to fight it no matter what. However, the Patriarchs remained silent out of respect for the Emperor and waited to see his interaction with the Scarlet King. Cain glanced at the man, and slowly, his eyes began to lose all light, showing nothing but absolute brutality and indifference. Eon felt immense pressure as he gazed at those empty eyes but stood firm and did not falter. "If you wish to forget all the pacts between the Deus Behemoth Empire and Godslayer Humankind Empire, that''s fine. I will not force anyone who is too cowardly to fight. However, Dark Sky is a threat to the world, so you must pay tribute to the war effort, which is not optional. I want all your evil treasures and all the criminals in your prisons." Chapter 860 860: The Deus Behemoth Empires decision (I) Eon''s brow furrowed as he heard those words. He was a bit confused by the tribute as he had no idea why Cain would want evil treasures. As for the prisoners, that was easier to understand, given what had happened to the millions of criminals of the underworld forces during the Scarlet Inquisition. It wasn''t irrational to demand a tribute, as it was true that Dark Sky posed a threat to the entire world. A sharp light appeared in Eon''s eyes as he seemed to consider every aspect of the future war and the Dues Behemoth Empire''s path. "What would happen if we don''t march, but the Atrox Immortus Empire does enter the battlefield?" "I will enhance the power of anyone who fights by my side. The Atrox Immortus Empire will gain full access to all the benefits of the Ouroboros System. If they have the power, they might even obtain World Treasures such as Zero Mint''s sword or the Collapsing Lightning Emperor''s armor." Cain had just finished his sentence when the Patriarch of the Kraken Clan stepped forward and shouted in rage. "Traitor, how can you be willing to arm our enemies after all that the Deus Behemoth Empire has done for you!?" The Patriarch of the Kraken Clan was about to continue shouting when Cain''s eyes focused on him, making him feel like he was in the maws of a monster. The pressure was so immense that the man nearly crumbled to the ground. Cain focused on the Patriarch of the Kraken Clan for a moment before turning his gaze around the room. "The Deus Behemoth Empire did provide immense help to me. But who was the one who uncovered the secrets between two of your Ten Great Bloodlines and a Dark King of The Organization? Who discovered the secret dungeon of the Umbra Clan and saved people from all your families? Who led the charge and erased the Dark Factions, setting the underworld ablaze and filling your empire''s chest with their treasures?" Cain''s words echoed across the room, and none of the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines could rebuke them as he was right. The Deus Behemoth Empire had done a lot for Cain, but his service more than paid for all that. After laying out that line of thought, Cain glanced at Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis; the coldness in his eyes vanished, and a small smile appeared. "Of course, there are debts that are more than just transactional. Out of gratitude for certain individuals, I will ensure that the Atrox Immortus Empire does not attack your territories as long as I am in Aether. Before leaving, I will issue a decree to ensure that the Godslayer Humankind Empire continues protecting your empire." Smiles appeared on the faces of the Patriarchs of the Solis Clan and Zanginis Clan as they heard those words. Even if the Deus Behemoth Empire would refuse to fight and take the coward''s path, Cain would still protect them. The rest of the Patriarchs were also pleased with that news, and the Patriarch of the Kraken Clan could only lower his head. If anything, the one that was lacking gratitude was the Deus Behemoth Empire for not supporting its ally. Unlike the other Patriarchs, Eon could not help but frown, and his eyes soon grew sharp. "So, around one thousand and five hundred to two thousand years of protection?" The Patriarchs frowned when they heard those words and were confused. Cain did not declare a deadline and say he would pass down a decree, and there was no such thing as a time limit. However, it did not take long for the rest to understand what Eon was referring to. Due to the nearly divine image that Cain projected, all powerhouses from the Godslayer Humankind Empire would push themselves to the limit to honor his words. However, what would happen once all the powerhouses that knew the Scarlet King ascended to the Astral Sea, and a new Godslayer Humankind Emperor rose? Maybe the next Godslayer Humankind Emperor would still respect and honor the words of the Scarlet King and keep protecting the Deus Behemoth Empire, but the subsequent definitely would not. After all, why would that Godslayer Humankind Emperor protect an empire that refused to help them in a battle that threatened the entire world for the words of someone he never met? Cain stared at Eon and then nodded. The might of his voice and words had a limit, especially if all those who sided with him vanished from the world. However, after two thousand years, all the people he cared about in Aether would have ascended or perished, so why would he bother with the descendants of those too cowardly to fight while the rest risked their lives day and night? "Ahhh. So we either respect our treaties and answer the call of honor to fight alongside the Godslayer Humankind Empire against Dark Sky, risking our lives. Or we cower and remain hidden while the Atrox Immortus Race grows stronger." Eon could not help but sigh. Two thousand years was a lot of time, enough for him and most of his descendants to rise to the Astral Sea, but he would be dooming future generations. "Kabuto, I assume your previous outburst was due to one of your visions?" The Patriarchs were surprised by the sudden turn from the Deus Behemoth Emperor. Their eyes turned toward the Patriarch of the Solis Clan as they remembered the outburst this one manifested when he first saw the video of the Dark Fog. Lord Kabuto did not leave them waiting and carried on. "That is true. Years ago, I experienced a horrible vision of darkness consuming the entire Deus Behemoth Empire. It was a force that none could stop and killed everything in its path." The Patriarch of the Solis Clan paused, turning toward Cain with a radiant smile. "However, when everything seemed lost, a red light manifested, clashing against the darkness and saving us all." Chapter 861 861: The Deus Behemoth Empires decision (II) Eon and the other Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines'' eyes widened as they heard those words. Although visions and prophecies were not something they felt confident in relying upon, it was no secret that the Patriarch of the Solis Clan had the gift of clairvoyance, and his visions always came true, one way or another. It was clear to everyone that the darkness Lord Kabuto saw engulfing the Deus Behemoth Empire was none other than the Dark Fog of Dark Sky, and the red light that would clash against it was the young man standing before them in a red robe, whose eyes glowed like a blood sea. Eon glanced around the room, observing how all the Patriarchs analyzed the information before he unleashed his aura and drew everybody''s attention. "There are only two paths left for us. The Dues Behemoth Empire can fight with all its power against this darkness that threatens to engulf our world, or we can remain hidden, cowardly in Hyperion, too afraid to fight and hoping that the threat is eliminated. Those who think that refusing to participate in this battle will prevent the death of their young ones are mistaken." The Deus Behemoth Emperor paused at this point, and after seeing that he had everyone''s attention, he continued. "If the Scarlet King fails, Dark Sky will reach the Hyperion Continent and kill all of us. If he wins while we hide, we will enjoy safety for thousands of years, but we will have doomed the Deus Behemoth Race. That sneaky bastard Ishamel practically lives for honor, so I assure you he will send the full power of the Atrox Immortus Race into the battlefield, and they will grow monstrously powerful thanks to the Ouroboros System." As soon as he finished those words, Eon''s eyes began to glow with a sharp and monstrous fighting will. "The Vulcano Clan is neither cowardly nor is it the Imperial Army. We will march toward Atlas and fight against the darkness that threatens to engulf the entire world!" The Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines were surprised by these words. Eon seemed against the war from the start, yet he was the first to declare his determination, and his previous words closed all exits for the Patriarchs. They could not use excuses to protect their clans or people, and if they did not want to fight, they had to admit they were too afraid to march onto the battlefield. Cain only smiled as he saw the fighting will in the eyes of the Deus Behemoth Emperor. The man was certainly not simple, taking the role of the opposition to the battle effort, allowing Cain to dissipate all doubts and shattering all excuses before declaring his intent to fight. He did not even give them time to discuss and force them to decide here and now. ''Anyone that becomes an Emperor is not simple.'' Less than a second after the Deus Behemoth Emperor declared his intent to join the war against Dark Sky, two more voices echoed simultaneously. "The Solis Clan will follow the Sun Avatar into hades if needed!" "The Zanginis Clan will march into the averno if it is the desire of the Scarlet King!" The two old men shouted, full of fighting will and spirit, without doubt, or hesitation in their minds and souls. "The Kraken Clan will fight against Dark Sky." Cain turned to the side and was a little surprised to see that the fourth person to declare his intention was the Patriarch of the Kraken Clan, but he just nodded and did not make things harder for the man. "The Fenrir Clan will sunder the darkness!" "The Ursa Clan is afraid of nothing. We will march to war!" "The Arctic Clan will stand by the side of our allies during this battle!" "The Gravitas Clan will use all its power to destroy those threatening our world!" "The Aeolus Clan is prepared to fight for the righteous cause!" Now that four of the Ten Great Bloodlines had already committed to the war effort, the others had no choice, and they immediately declared their will to fight, trying not to be the last. "The Umbra Clan will use all it has in this fight!" The last one to speak was the Patriarch of the Umbra Clan. He was a Middle Divine Ascension Master, very weak for a Patriarch, considering that all the others were True Titans, but he was all that was left of the upper echelon of the Umbra Clan after the purge. Cain smiled and was genuinely delighted with how things had gone. Everything was resolved smoothly, and he had secured the full power of the Deus Behemoth Empire in less than a day. He hoped things had gone as smoothly for the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin. "Great. As long as you fight against Dark Sky, I will use all my power to help you grow stronger. I still need all the evil treasures from the Deus Behemoth Empire, but since you will fight, I will exchange them for Revolution Refinements." The eyes of Eon and the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines glowed as they heard those words. Revolution Refinement was already known across the Deus Behemoth Empire since all the Scarlet Inquisitors obtained that power and had grown immensely powerful, with some Scarlet Inquisitors becoming True Titans! Evil treasures were not very popular, and there was a stigma around them, so if they could use them to obtain miraculous power like Revolution Refinements, they were more than happy to do so. "Gather as much evil treasure as you can. Based on the treasures'' power and amount, I will decide how strong the Revolution Refinement will be." Cain could see the eagerness in the eyes of Eon and the Patriarchs and was sure he would get enough evil treasures to obtain at least two more World Treasures from the Samsara Flames. As for the criminals, there was no need to go to that extreme if the people would fight by his side. Chapter 862 862: Cosmic Tyrant Frameworks Fourth Level (I) "I will stay for the following week in the Hyperion Continent, so if you have any inquiries or doubts, you can summon me. After that, I will march to Kronos to ensure everything is in order with the Atrox Immortus Empire. I expect the armies to be ready to march through the Bridge of Hope toward Gaia in a month." Cian paused at this point, his eyes growing cold. "Be sure that no matter how many of your forces march into Atlas, none of the Sacred Races will use that as a chance to attack your domain. I will slaughter any force or organization attacking a race fighting Dark Sky." Eon and the Patriarchs smiled when they heard that, as it meant that they could freely march into Atlas without concern for the Atrox Immortus Race planning something in Hyperion while they were away. Of course, Cain''s word also meant that if any of them were to try to move into Kronos, he would kill them. "We understand. A month is enough to ready our armies to march through the Bridge of Hope and into Atlas." "Good!" Cain nodded, and a meaningful light appeared in his eyes as he continued. "I would also like to extend an invitation to all your best Wave Crafters, Alchemy Masters, Rune Masters, and Genetic Coders. I can bring them to a special place where they will have access to the most advanced cultivation techniques and knowledge regarding their professions. However, if they accept, they will lose contact with the outside world until the fight with Dark Sky ends. This is an invitation, and it is not obligatory. I can accept up to three hundred masters of each profession. They must understand that they might not return to their families for hundreds or even thousands of years." Eon''s eyes narrowed as he heard that. He did not doubt that it would be a divine opportunity that the Scarlet King was offering to those masters, but losing all contact with the outside world was hard, especially if you didn''t know how long it would last. "I will contact the masters and geniuses of those professions and relay your message. I will have a list of those willing to follow you soon." Cain nodded and then smiled before turning toward Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis. "Father, uncle, wait for me in the Solis Clan Sacred Home. Gather as much treasure as possible in the meantime; the stronger and eviler, the better." Lord Zanginis and Lord Kabuto were a little confused by the request, but they were sure it was bound to be something exciting, so they smiled and nodded. The rest of the Patriarchs could only look at the duo with envy. It was clear that the Scarlet King would help them grow stronger since they were his favorites, and none of them would be so lucky. After that, Cain turned to the Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan and Xena Fenrir. Cain waved his hand, and three floating swords emerged from his space ring the following second. Those were the Space Swords. They had been of great use before, but Cain had much better weapons now, and it was time to return them as he wanted something much more precious. The weapons flew toward the Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan, and as the woman glanced at the Space Swords, she saw not a single crack on them. Even more impressive was that the energy matrices had been improved, and the treasure was even stronger than the last time she saw them. Although the Space Swords had received a lot of damage, especially during the last fight against the Crown Prince and evil halberd, Cain had made sure the masters in the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer fixed them. Xena stared at Cain briefly as she stored the swords in her space ring and nodded. "It is back in the Sacred Home of my clan." "Then let''s go." Cain appeared next to the Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan the next second and put his hand over her shoulder before the Collapsing Space-Time Eye glowed, and a monstrous space force emerged from his body. "CRACK!" A flash of awe appeared in the eyes of the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines as they saw the cracks in space with humanoid forms left behind due to the immensely powerful teleportation that Cain triggered. "There is no time to lose. We all have our tasks and must prepare our armies." "Yes, Emperor!" All the Patriarchs nodded, and their eyes were sharp, ready to mobilize the full strength of their armies. --- Xena''s eyes widened the next moment as she was on Amazon a moment ago, and the next moment, she appeared in the Sacred Home of the Fenrir Clan. Her clan''s home was over five sectors away from the capital, yet she arrived in less than a second! However, before she could get over the shock, her entire body began to tremble as her face grew pale. She felt a recoil that almost made her spit blood. Teleportation was not simply disappearing and appearing somewhere else. You would open a wormhole between two points and use it to travel an immense amount of distance, ignoring most obstacles in the path. This teleportation was so massive and powerful that it took a toll on Xena''s body. "Oh, sorry about that. I had already gotten used to the backlash, but I guess you are too frail." Xena looked to the side and saw Cain. As the one that triggered the teleportation, the recoil would have been even more brutal on him, yet he seemed perfectly fine. However, what shocked her most was the massive control over space the young man could unleash. It was miles ahead of hers despite her bloodline. "I will wait for you here." Cain said nothing else and glanced at the woman. Xena stared at the young man for a moment and nodded, then vanished from the sky and returned with a space ring a minute later. Chapter 863 863: Cosmic Tyrant Frameworks Fourth Level (II) Immediately, Cain''s eyes began to glow. Very few treasures in Aether could still raise his interest, but that demonic head was definitely one of them. "When will we get it back?" Xena''s question drew Cain''s attention back to reality. Although their initial arrangement stipulated only a year, Cain was now so powerful that if he chose to keep the Natural Inheritance, there was nothing Xena or the Fenrir Clan could do about it. Of course, Cain could not act so overwhelmingly and bully one of the Ten Great Bloodlines of the Deus Behemoth Empire, especially since they were about to follow him into war. "I am currently at the peak of the Third Level of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework. Once I reach the Fourth Level and stabilize my power, I will return it and even provide guidance on breakthrough." Xena''s eyes immediately glowed, and a beautiful smile appeared as she heard that. The Fourth Level of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework was incredibly complex, and none of the members of the Fenrir Clan even had an idea of how to approach it, but the young man before her was a divine genius. If Cain could offer guidance, she would not mind handing over the Natural Inheritance for one hundred years. "Then I will pray for your success." The Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan smiled as she performed a short bow. "Until we meet again." "CRACK!" Cain nodded to the woman before summoning the power of the Collapsing Space-Time Eye and teleporting a massive distance, leaving a silhouette in the space fabric the next second. The woman saw Cain vanish and felt awe in her heart as she saw that power. It did not take long for her eyes to regain focus as she flashed into the Fenrir Clan Sacred Home, and soon, the entire city began to mobilize as the warriors heard the call to war. Cain appeared in the Bahamut Sector the next moment, and he took a deep breath as the power of the Collapsing Space-Time Eye glowed once more, and he performed an Inter-Sector Teleportation, appearing in the sky above the Solis Clan Sacred Home. Cain''s face was pale this time, and there was a flash of exhaustion on him. The Inter-Sector Teleportation''s backlash might not be high enough to harm him, but it consumed massive energy, and performing three in a row was highly taxing. Although the Solis Clan Sacred Home had several defensive formations and a multitude of powerhouses, none could detect Cain''s presence as his power and manipulation of the Laws were simply too high. ''It will be around a day until Father and Uncle have finished their preparations and collected the treasures.'' Cain was not just going to waste his time, and the next second, he focused and teleported into the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer, leaving a core covered by a layer of space that he could use to teleport back. Once he appeared in the sky of the First Layer, Cain adopted a meditative position and summoned the massive demonic skull covered in majestic golden runes. He then took a deep breath, allowing the Soul Enlightenment Mist to fill his lungs and soul sea. Since Cain would focus on the runes and decipher the path to the Fourth Level of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework, he would use the mind''s cognitive enhancing properties of the pink mist. Cain''s Ego Wave flooded into the Natural Inheritance, allowing his mind to synchronize with the golden runes and forget about everything else. Thanks to the help of the Soul Enlightenment Mist, it was easy for Cain to fully immerse himself in the runes of the Natural Inheritance. ''The essence of the first three levels of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework is to utilize the Law of Space to fortify the body''s internal and external structure, making it dense and resilient on a molecular level. Then I will align my molecular structure with the spatial fabric, achieving a sublime synergy with the Law of Space, allowing my body to disperse the energy from any attack I receive across the spatial dimensions I have tuned to.'' Cain went through every step of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework again and again in his mind, figuring out the slightest details and principles of this framework, not relying on instincts or his gifts, but meticulous calculation and analysis. This Cosmic Tyrant Framework''s Natural Inheritance required Cain to find the knowledge and principles of the Fourth Level before he could start to practice it. It was highly complicated and something no member of the Fenrir Clan had been able to achieve despite having the demonic skull for hundreds of years. Cain''s Collapsing Space-Time Eye glowed with increasing power as he pushed his understanding of the Law of Space to the peak, trying to figure out the key behind the Fourth Level. Hours passed, and Cain felt he was getting closer and closer to figuring out the principles of the Fourth Level of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework, but something stopped him. It felt as if he was seeing a piece of the puzzle, but there were missing pieces covered by a dark fog. After almost ten hours of meditation, Cain finally opened his eyes, and he could not help but frown as the mysteries of the Fourth Level still eluded him. ''I feel that even if my dominion over the Law of Space were to rise to the next tier, I would still not be able to see the Fourth Level. There is something I am missing, but what?'' Up to this point, the Cosmic Tyrant Framework had operated under the rules of the Law of Space, and as long as your domain over the force of space was high enough, you could carry on, but that doesn''t seem to be the case for the Fourth Level. A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he focused on the demonic skull, no longer trying to decipher the principles in its runes but seeing it from an archaeological point of view. Chapter 864 864: Cosmic Tyrant Frameworks Fourth Level (III) "This skull was found inside the Astral Bloodline Realm. Everyone in the Fenrir Clan thinks its humanoid form is just a coincidence. After all, there has never been a member of the Deus Behemoth Empire that entered the dimension with these characteristics. However, I know that the Astral Bloodline Realm is, in reality, the corpse of Anark, the Primordial, a life form that must be above the Soul Realm. This skull could very well be the head of an ancient and powerful entity that the Primordial devoured thousands or maybe even millions of years ago. A Natural Inheritance is born once the energy of a place for a certain amount of time washes an object, structure, or even a body. The space properties of the Natural Inheritance must be related to the power that this demonic entity had when alive, but the Fourth Level seems different. I can feel there are other forces that dictate its principles." Cain fell into deep contemplation as he attempted to figure out the missing pieces. There were myriad powers and cosmic forces inside Anark''s body, and he could not comprehend even a fraction of them. However, four powers flooded every piece of the Primordial''s corpse and were the purest of all. The same forces must be implemented into the foundation of someone who takes the Primordial Path. Cain took a deep breath as he infused his Ego Wave into the demonic skull once more, perceiving the power and principles behind the golden runes. However, this time, instead of just looking at the runes through the lens of the Law of Space, he also added all four Elemental Laws. Less than a minute after performing that part, Cain''s eyes glowed with utter thrill and excitement. Using the Law of Space and the Elemental Laws to decipher the mysteries behind the golden runes, he felt the path to the Fourth Level of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework finally open for him! Not allowing the focus and inspiration to vanish, Cain''s eyes burned with red light as he pushed himself to the limit, taking as much Soul Enlightenment Mist as possible and pushing his mind into the Fourth Level. Hours passed as Cain pushed his mind and soul harder and harder, using everything he had on the technique and erasing any unnecessary thought from his mind. Finally, after thirty hours of training, pushing his mind, soul, and Laws to the limit, a sense of enlightenment emerged in Cain''s eyes, and a smile appeared on his face. "I see it!" Cain had uncovered the secret and principles behind the Fourth Level of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework, and he could finally start cultivating it! Of course, the fact that he had access to the information only meant that he was able to cultivate it. Truly stepping into the Fourth Level was something completely different. "The process is beyond complicated. I will need to rearrange the atomic composition of my muscles and bones using the Law of Space, and for this new framework to be stable, I will need to add the power of the Law of Fire, Law of Water, Law of Earth, and Law of Wind. Any mistake could lead to a catastrophic chain reaction that could waste away my body and do horrible damage to my life force." The dangers of the Fourth Level of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework were immense, but even so, Cain was determined to train it as the power he would gain was simply incredible. "Just reaching the Fourth Level will manage to push my body to that level. My bones, muscles, tendons, and internal organs will become as durable and resilient as a pseudo World Treasure, and reaching the peak will make it even harder than the Gravity Fall Armor of Gabriel." Cain''s eyes burned with determination and decisiveness as he understood how significant it would be to achieve a body so resilient and powerful. "If I complete my Rebirth Mark and obtain a body at the Peak Fourth Level Cosmic Tyrant Framework, I might be strong enough to explode deep inside Atlas and still be able to escape with my life." Dark Sky was riddled with mysteries, and no one was more important than its origin, something Cain believed he could find in the north of Atlas. However, reaching that area was impossible right now, as before entering fifty thousand kilometers into the Dark Fog, the Humanoids of Dark Sky had already surrounded him. Cain took a deep breath as he focused once more on the demonic head''s golden runes, making sure the details on the advance to the Cosmic Tyrant Framework''s Fourth Level were clear in his mind. "I will have to use the power of the Law of Space to rearrange the atomic composition of my flesh and then integrate the power of the Elemental Laws into my body. For that last part, I can use the elemental power of the world or treasures. Using the power of the world is too slow. Taking the first step into the Fourth Level would take me decades if I take that path. However, the level of the treasures that would have the elemental energy I require is incredibly high." The elemental force Cain needed to assimilate into his body was extremely high, and not every treasure would have it. According to his understanding of the empire''s powers and treasures, there would only be a few dozen of those treasures in each of the Sacred Races, and he would need thousands. Luckily, after the battle with Dark Sky, those types of treasures began to rise exponentially as the Samsara Flame handed hundreds of them over in the form of Tier 3 Gifts every week. Although the Ouroboros System''s Treasury lost hundreds of treasures every week due to the point system, the amount that flooded into it was higher. Cain was confident that by the time he returned to Infinite Horizon in a month, he would have enough to push his body into the Fourth Level. Chapter 865 865: New World Treasures (I) Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis were in the sky of the Solis Clan Sacred Home, their eyes filled with excitement and thrill as they gazed at their space rings brimming with all types of treasures. Suddenly, their eyes narrowed as they saw Cain appear in the sky. None of them had even sensed his arrival, and they only smiled as they realized just how strong the young man had become. The first time he appeared in the Deus Behemoth Continent, he was merely a Peak Wave Champion, yet now Cain had become so powerful that he could take on the Ten Swords of the Atrox Immortus Empire head-on and overwhelm them. Cain did not waste time, appearing in front of the duo before placing a hand on each of their shoulders, and the trio disappeared the next second. Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis were shocked to find themselves in the sky of a massive dimension. Their attention was immediately drawn to the pink mist, and as they breathed, they felt their minds achieve a sense of clarity and focus that could only be described as enlightenment. Then their eyes turned to the massive pillar of death in the distance, majestic and terrifying, before turning to the enormous castle that seemed to contain a powerful and otherworldly aura. As they looked down, they saw thousands of people in deep meditation, all around a book, and it took only a single glance for them to be mesmerized by its majesty. "That is the Codex of Infinite Pathways. In it, you two will find all the knowledge you might require for the Warlock System, including the next steps in your cultivation and the principles that guide its power." Shock and awe appeared in the eyes of Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis as they heard those words and turned to Cain. The Warlock System was even less developed than the Star Sovereign System since only the Deus Behemoth Race trained in it. Knowledge about the Divine System was scarce, but luckily, the path through the Divine Ascension Realm was not too complicated. Anything beyond that was shrouded in absolute mysteries, and no one knew how to proceed properly. Yet it seemed that that book had all the answers their ancestors had sought for thousands of years. "Can we share what we learn?" Lord Zanginis asked that question. His voice was solemn and respectful. It was clear that access to this information was very valuable, and while Cain would grant them access to it, that did not mean everyone would have the same privilege. Cain stared at the duo for a moment before giving them an answer. "The Codex of Infinite Pathways contains several cultivation techniques and the principles you can follow to the Warlock Divine System. If you can fully internalize and understand them, you can share that knowledge with your clans. However, I will not allow that knowledge to be passed freely to others." Cain paused, and seeing that the two old men silently nodded in agreement with his words, he continued. "I will allow you to engrave that knowledge into starry gems, which can be placed in the Ouroboros System as rewards. Since you will be engraving them, I will list them at a very low cost." Starry gems with knowledge of the Inner Universe and Star Sovereign Divine System were already common in the Ouroboros System. It was easy for Cain to internalize that knowledge and engrave it into starry gems. However, Cain did not understand the Warlock Divine System, so he needed someone to carry out that process for him. The two old men were perfect as they were a few of the people Cain would allow free access to the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer. Lord Kabuto and Zanginis immediately smiled and nodded as they heard Cain''s proposal. They were more than happy with putting those starry gems as rewards as both men understood just how important the fight against Dark Sky was. "Let''s go to the Samsara Sacrificial Ground. You can focus on the Codex of Infinite Pathways later." "Yes." "Okay." Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis nodded and followed Cain into the massive castle. As they opened the gates, a new wave of shock washed over the men as they beheld the majestic purple flame. It was the most beautiful thing the two old men had ever seen. It seemed ancient beyond time yet also full of vital life as if it could never be extinguished. When the trio entered the sacrificial ground, a flash of purple energy flashed toward them and fused into Cain''s right hand. Cain frowned for a moment as the Merit fused into his Rebirth Mark. He would obtain a percentage of the Merit gained by anyone who performed a sacrifice. Usually, it was so small that he barely felt it, but this time, it was substantial. He had not been present the last couple of weeks as the Collapsing Lightning Emperor performed the sacrifices, and the Merit had remained in the ceiling of the sacrificial ground, waiting for his arrival. "Don''t worry. You will understand in time. Let''s go." Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis were full of questions, but they nodded to Cain and advanced until they were right before the Samsara Flame. "Father, send all your treasures into the flame." Lord Kabuto did not hesitate to send the treasure into the Samsara Flame. As a Patriarch of one of the Ten Great Bloodlines, the man had access to great treasures and was able to collect plenty of them, and not a small number were full of an evil aura. Pink mist emerged from the Samsara Flame as it consumed more and more treasure, and bright purple energy flooded the ceiling. Cain softly nodded as he saw how much Fortune was amassing in the ceiling. Thanks to the bonification for First Sacrifice, the amount that Lord Kabuto could generate was not much smaller than Angar. Soon, a massive amount of that Fortune transformed into a gigantic bright golden sphere that took solid form the next second, making an impressive golden flaming bow appear. Before anyone could pay too much focus to the bow, the rest of the Fortune transformed into Merit and flashed toward Lord Kabuto''s right hand. "Motherfu...!" The old man shouted as the pain that assailed him was overwhelming, and he almost felt the desire to cut his right hand. Chapter 866 866: New World Treasures (II) Lord Zanginis was surprised by the expression of agony on Lord Kabuto''s face and immediately turned toward Cain, who raised his right hand, displaying an impressive tattoo glowing with majestic and mystical power. "The pain is horrible, but Father will be fine." Cain''s words immediately calmed the mind of the Patriarch of the Zanginis Clan, and the duo waited in silence as Lord Kabuto could not stop twitching, grabbing his right hand and clenching his teeth with all his strength. The rune lines formed an entire pentagram on the back of his right hand, and then it began to extend through his forearm before ceasing to grow. Lord Kabuto''s face was pale, his entire body soaked in cold sweat, and he could not control his breathing. It had been one of the most agonizing experiences of his life. Confused by the rune that appeared on his hand, he was about to ask Cain about it, but then a majestic voice emerged from the Samsara Flame: "Congratulations. You have accumulated enough Merit to obtain the Tier I Rebirth Mark. You can now burn 25% of your life force without permanent repercussions. It will heal over time, or you can speed it up using treasures. Continue the hard work to unlock the complete Rebirth Knight Runic Set. The more precious the sacrifice, the better. I also like evil things, so make sure to bring me sinful entities." A sense of awe and wonder appeared in Lord Kabuto''s eyes as he focused again on the rune, realizing just how special it was. "The Tier I Rebirth Mark has detected several flaws in your Path of Powers. You can consume the Tier I Rebirth Mark to redo any Physical Realm''s Calamity or Tribulation related to the body or essence aspect of your existence. To redo the tribulation or calamity related to the Physical Realm''s spirit, will, and soul aspect of your existence, you will need a Tier II Rebirth Mark. Good luck. Remember that treasures and skills are important, but nothing is more consequential than your foundation." A new wave of shock assaulted Lord Kabuto as he heard those words, although he did not quite understand what they meant. "There are two types of Tribulations and Calamities in Aether: the False Calamities and False Tribulations, which most warriors experience. Surviving them will allow you to enter the Divine Ascension Realm, and you might have a small chance to evolve into the Divine Transformation Realm, but that will be your limit. True Calamities and True Tribulations are much more dangerous, but the refinement your body and cultivation would obtain is several times stronger. And if you manage to survive them, you can gain access to the Hidden Calamities and Tribulations. All that is explained in detail in the Codex of Infinite Pathways. I advise you to redo your Flesh Calamity before our march into Atlas. It is dangerous, and you must not take it lightly, but as long as you have enough treasures with vitality, you should succeed." Cain saw the doubts in the two old men and went ahead, explaining everything. Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis were already extremely powerful True Titans. If they managed to redo their Flesh Calamity and take advantage of powerful treasures, they would become a cornerstone in the fight against Dark Sky. Lord Kabuto''s eyes glowed with excitement and thrill as he heard those words. Being able to burn his life force safely was amazing, but going through a True Flesh Calamity would help fix his foundation, granting him greater battle power and improving his future cultivation path. "You should engrave your Ego Wave into the treasures in the sky. I assure you, you will be happy." Cain''s words drew Lord Kabuto''s attention back to the majestic bow in the sky. It was crafted from rare wood that glowed with celestial light and contained divine energy. The bowstring appeared to be made from the mane of a mythical beast, and even someone with a Solis Bloodline could not compare. Lord Kabuto did not hesitate before sending his Ego Wave into the weapon, which immediately began to absorb the energy inside it, flashing into the hand of the old man, where it began to glow with a gentle aura of pale blue light, illuminating the area. Just as Lord Kabuto, Cain, and Lord Zanginis were wondering about the nature of the treasures, a voice emerged from the Samsara Flame: "Congratulations on obtaining the Tier I Gift, the Celestial Qilin Bow. It is a Natural Inheritance specifically suited for a Warlock as it harnesses the power of the Soul Bloodline. The Celestial Qilin Bow is attuned to bloodline energies. The gemstones in it are selected based on their affinity to amplify and resonate with the warlock''s unique bloodline traits, enhancing the connection between the bow and its wielder." Lord Kabuto''s heart went through wave after wave of shock as the power of this treasure was simply amazing, and as he focused on it, a sense of wonder appeared in his eyes with a wide smile. "There is a set of ancient runes engraved inside the weapon, specifically designed to interact with bloodline forces. These runes are capable of drawing out and amplifying the intrinsic powers of the Warlock''s bloodline. It can help me improve the power of the bow and also train my bloodline!" Cain expected that after all the World Treasures he had seen so far contained these sorts of runic sets that can help you train and improve your abilities. However, Lord Zanginis'' eyes widened as he heard about such incredible might and immediately turned toward the flames, his eyes burning with desire. "Go ahead and send your treasures." Cain would not make the old man wait, so he gave the go-ahead, and the Patriarch of the Zanginis Clan did not wait a second before sending all his treasures into the Samsara Flame. The amount of treasures that Lord Zanginis was able to collect did not fall below those of Lord Kabuto, so the amount of Fortune he obtained was immense. Chapter 867 867: New World Treasures (III) All those sacrifices filled the ceiling of the Sasmara Sacrificial Ground with a massive amount of Fortune, pulsing with power and all sorts of mystical and majestic forces that were too complex for the trio to understand. A large piece of the Fortune transformed into a bright golden energy sphere and, the next second, majestic armor appeared in the ceiling. The armor was composed of overlapping scales that shimmered with deep, iridescent crimson and black hues, and the helmet was designed to resemble the head of a snake. Just by looking at the armor and feeling its power, Lord Zanginis was sure it was a treasure of incredible power, and through it, his strength would rise to a whole new level. However, before the old man could get too excited, the rest of the Fortune transformed into Merit and flashed into his right hand. "Holy...." The eyes of Lord Zanginis widened as the rune lines moving beneath his skin felt like scorching hot metal. It was extremely painful, and the old man had nearly forgotten since the last time he was in so much agony. "It hurts like a bitch, doesn''t it." Lord Kabuto joked from the side as it was now time for Lord Zanginis to go through the pain. Although it was torturous, there was no threat, so the old man just mocked his old friend. After a few minutes of pain, Lord Zanginis overcame the shocking agony. The only thing left was a majestic rune on the back of the old man''s right hand, which glowed with simply overwhelming power. "Congratulations. You have accumulated enough Merit to obtain the Tier I Rebirth Mark. You can now burn 25% of your life force without permanent repercussions. It will heal over time, or you can speed it up using treasures. Continue the hard work to unlock the complete Rebirth Knight Runic Set. The more precious the sacrifice, the better. I also like evil things, so make sure to bring me sinful entities." The same message about the flaws in his cultivation and how to fix them also appeared for Lord Zanginis, but the old man barely heard them as his eyes focused on the armor in the ceiling. After turning to Cain and seeing that the young man signaled it was fine, Lord Zanginis immediately flooded the armor with his Ego Wave. The treasure consumed the energy, and the moment it was branded, it immediately flew toward the old man and fused with his body. The armor covered Lord Zanginis from head to toe, and a visor mimicking the vertical pupils of a serpent appeared on the helmet, enhancing the man''s intimidating presence. As soon as the armor covered his body, the Patriarch of the Zanginis Clan felt a seemingly endless flow of power running through his veins. "Congratulations on obtaining the Tier I Gift, the Continent Devourer World Snake Armor. It is an excellent treasure for melee warriors that not only amplifies the warrior''s innate bloodline powers but also provides enhanced combat capabilities. It will grant you overwhelming defenses and stamina that might never run out thanks to the devouring force of the armor." Lord Zanginis could not help but show a wide smile as he heard the words of the majestic voice coming from the Samsara Flame. The armor was nothing short of amazing, and as he focused on it and saw a set of runes glowing with bloody energy, the awe in his heart grew even stronger. "The runes in the armor will teach me how to properly employ my bloodline power and the correct use of blood force. It will also teach me how to use my Soul Bloodline to devour the energies from my surroundings and infuse them directly into my bloodstream!" Cain nodded, and it seemed that the Continent Devourer World Snake Armor was not any less powerful than the Gravity Fall Armor and perfectly adapted to the power of the Patriarch of the Zanginis Clan. "I will now perform a 22 Revolution Refinement on each of you. It will help improve your talent and foundation, making training with the Codex of Infinite Pathways much easier." Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis could not help but smile and thank their lucky stars. Who would have thought that helping that young man five years ago would have brought back so much luck and so soon? The two elders did not say a word or delay things as they adopted a meditative position on the ground of the Samsara Sacrificial Ground and adjusted their minds, ready to take on the power of the Tribulation Enhancement. Cain took a deep breath as he covered Lord Kabuto with his Ego Wave, forming a cocoon before releasing inside a flame with 22 colors. The next second the flame covered every corner of the old man''s body, inside and out, and triggered the 22 Revolution Refinement. Cain''s mastery over Tribulation Enhancement had advanced immensely over the last years, and he could even perform 23 Revolution Refinements. However, those were too difficult, and the chances of success were less than 50%, so he would not risk losing millions of Destiny Force if there was no need for it. An ocean of world energy began to flood into Lord Kabuto''s body, and immediately the man began to revolve it faster and faster, aiding the assimilation and preventing any stagnation that might lead to him blowing away. It took less than an hour, and by the time they ended, Lord Kabuto showed a radiant smile. Not only did he feel his foundation and talent improving greatly, but the hidden wounds from using his Soul Bloodline to grant Cain the Solis Bloodline had finally faded entirely, and he could express the full power of his cultivation. Not wanting to waste time, Cain just nodded to Lord Kabuto before turning his gaze to the Patriarch of the Zanginis Clan and performing the Tribulation Enhancement on the man. Just like before, the 22 Revolution Refinement went without a problem, and the old man''s talent and foundation experienced a massive improvement. Chapter 868 868: Public safety After obtaining their Gifts and Rebirth Marks, Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis went to the Codex of Infinite Pathways and began training. Cain gazed at the duo before focusing and exiting the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer, appearing in the sky above the Solis Clan Sacred Home. A meaningful light appeared in his eyes as he focused, and the next second, he began to access the networks of the Deus Behemoth Empire. Although Cain''s connection to the empire''s network and the computer rings of the Imperial Army had been severed, he had left a little backdoor for future access. It was not easy to access without anyone noticing, but the current [A.I. Chip Module]''s capabilities were more than enough. Cain was not trying to spy on the Eon or the Patriarchs, so after ensuring everything was in order, he focused on the real goal. The Scarlet Inquisition had practically burned the underworld to ashes, killing or capturing everything involved, but power hates a vacuum. Some people would definitely want to take advantage of the void left by the Dark Faction and take control of the underworld. Cain was after the names and identities of the new players in the underworld. Cain wanted to erase any potential threat to the Deus Behemoth Empire''s safety, diminishing Eon and the rest of the Patriarchs'' worries so they could solely focus on the war against Dark Sky. The A.I. Chip Module''s computational power was immense, and it could quickly go through every piece of footage and database, analyzing the information, searching for patterns, and making quantum deductions. Cain''s eyes narrowed, and a sense of surprise appeared on his face as he saw that while new forces had indeed appeared in the underworld, they were very weak and could not establish any sort of foothold, making their impact on the Deus Behemoth Empire and its people minimal. Cain began to analyze the information, and it seemed that the reason for such a feeble presence in the underworld was internal politics and a careful distribution of the Imperial Army''s forces by the Prime Minister. "Impressive organization and logistic abilities." That was not all that Cain found out. It turned out that legends and tales about his feats had been circulating the Deus Behemoth Empire for the last few years without end. Someone was raising his figure in the hearts of ordinary people, and if he had to guess, it would be the same person who took care of the underworld. "His name is Wanton. Mmm, what an interesting fellow." Although Cain had some idea behind the Prime Minister''s goal, he did not waste too much time on it and began to focus on the information about the criminals. The fact that the underworld was weak did not mean it did not exist, and there were targets for Cain. He was no longer the young man who needed the help of a massive army, as with his power, he could reach every corner of the Hyperion Continent in a matter of minutes. Cain went through all the information, and his eyes grew cold as he turned to the north. Then he stepped forward, shattering the fabric of space and teleporting far away, appearing the next second above a gigantic castle. Inside that massive castle was a Deus Behemoth that resembled a white rhinoceros with flaming scales on his arms. The man was a Middle Divine Ascension Master who went by the name of Hirul. Hirul was one of the most important figures in his Sector and had gained the title of Duke. There were high hopes for him to reach the Late Divine Ascension Realm and become a Titan. However, very few knew that he was also trying to form his own organization, attempting to take control of the light and darkness of the Sector. Just as the Middle Divine Ascension Master walked down the hall with a large smile, thinking of his future, a figure appeared in front of him, causing his eyes to widen. The figure had a red mask and eyes glowing with a red light. "Scarlet!" That was the first thought that assaulted Hirul''s mind, as there was nothing that the people of the underworld feared more than the Scarlet Inquisition. Before the Deus Behemoth could utter a word, Cain grabbed him by the neck and teleported into the sky, away from everybody''s sight. Hirul was terrified, but even in that terror, he was ready to fight back. However, the difference in power was simply too high, and Cain just had to focus on the man before making him fall into his hypnosis. After ensuring Hirul was completely under control, Cain let go of the man and spoke. "Tell me everything you know about the underworld, your connections, and your crimes." "I am in control of the Koral Force, and we..." Cain learned everything, making sure to record it. After Hirul was done, he sealed the man''s mind and energy before throwing him into the Samsara Arsenal Module''s First Layer. While the main goal was to improve the safety of the Dues Behemoth Empire, there was no way Cain would lose the chance of apprehending evil people whom he could use as sacrifices for the Samsara Flame. Not wasting a second, he turned his gaze to the south and teleported again. --- Eon was organizing his army when suddenly a message arrived on his computer ring. He would usually not bother with it since he was so busy, but the sender was none other than Cain, so he immediately opened it. [Hirul Osmar. Leader of the Dark Faction Koral Force. Crimes: Murder, theft, blackmail... Sentence: Death. -See attachment for evidence] The Deus Behemoth Emperor did not know whether to laugh or cry as he saw that message. Usually, someone acting as a vigilante and killing people in his domain would be punished if found out, but Cain practically sent him a message detailing everything. In the end, Eon just shook his head. He could not bother with the fate of those criminals, and if Cain wanted to take care of them, that was fine by him. Chapter 869 869: Back to Kronos The following week, Cain spent his time going from one corner of the Deus Behemoth Empire to the other, taking care of anyone with connections to the underworld and those trying to establish a new Dark Faction. Cain was merciless; even those whose crimes were not enough to warrant the death penalty were sent into the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer and marked for sacrifices. He could not leave anyone alive who dared threaten the stability of the Deus Behemoth Empire while most of its forces moved into Atlas. These were times of war, and Cain would rather kill millions of evil people than allow them to take advantage of the weak and fragile while the warriors were out. After finishing with the underworld, Cain left Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis in the Solis Sacred Homes before flying to the Sea of End. Everything had already been handled in Hyperion, and he just needed to wait until all the armies were ready to march through the Bridge of Hope. Moving hundreds of millions of soldiers was a logistical nightmare even with all the tools available to the Deus Behemoth Empire, but three weeks would be more than enough. In the meantime, Cain would remain in the home of the Atrox Immortus Empire. It did not take long for Cain to reach the Sea of End, and his eyes narrowed as he gazed into the border of Kronos. He could perceive several powerhouses waiting in silence, hidden in the darkness. None of them dared to approach the Sea of End or the radiance of the Nine Void Suns, and it seemed that their goal was to stand guard. "Not bad, but far from enough." Anyone else would have a hard time just perceiving the group of masters surveilling the periphery of Kronos, much less pass through them unnoticed. But Cain was a master assassin, and his domain over the Law of Space was powerful enough to move through layers of space that none of those Atroxs could perceive. Once Cain entered the Atrox Immortus Empire, he did not go to Evernight. He had no interest in the empire''s capital, as the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin would take care of that. The duo had already communicated with him that everything was in order, and while they did not give him details, he was sure the Atrox Immortus Empire''s army would march through the Bridge of Hope by the end of the month. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he found the location of the person he was looking for, and the next second, he teleported. ... On the throne sat a man with a dark mask, a white robe, and a cold aura. He was currently inside a volcano, and his face showed a wave of exhaustion, as it was clear he had all sorts of problems. "It has been a long time, Dark Mask." Suddenly, the man''s eyes widened as he heard a voice behind him, shocked to realize that someone had managed to enter his headquarters and appear behind him. Immediately, wings and a tail of ice emerged from his figure as he turned around, ready to fight, but he froze as he saw the figure of a young man with a red mask. "Leader!" The man shouted with shock and awe. It had been years since he had seen the figure with the red mask. That was the same person who had given him a new identity and allowed him to obtain his revenge. Cain stared at Dark Mask and softly nodded as he saw that the man had already become a Water Tribulation Master. It was shockingly fast progress, considering he had been a Wave King less than a decade ago. All sorts of thoughts appeared in Dark Mask''s mind as he stared at the young man, and he seemed to want to say something but could not find the words. A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he saw the turmoil in Dark Mask''s mind, and the next second, his mask faded, showing his true human appearance. "It seems that you have already heard the tales of the Scarlet King coming from the Deus Behemoth Empire and connected the dots." Dark Mask could not help but clench his fists as he stared at Cain. He had heard the tales and figured out everything. After all, the man was not stupid. Even if Dark Mask was part of the underworld, his sense of duty and racial honor did not allow him to follow a member of the Godslayer Humankind. But if he refused, there was no way he could survive a fight with the young man who was supposed to be as strong as a Titan. "There is no need to feel conflicted. I and your race are not enemies, at least not anymore." Cain could see the conflict through in Dark Mask''s mind and chose to help the man, but his words only made more doubts appear in Atrox''s eyes. "Oh, it seems that you don''t know it yet. I guess it is normal. Ishmael is being cautious since, unlike the Deus Behemoth Empire, they still have a rat infestation." Dark Mask frowned as he did not understand what was happening, but then Cain appeared before him and put a finger on his head. The Leader of Dark Hand''s eyes widened as he saw massive darkness flooding Atlas, killing trillions of members of the Inferno Daemon Race. Then, an army began to clash with this darkness, a military power composed of Godslayer Humankind and Inferno Daemons! Seeing both sides fighting together was beyond shocking, but what came next left him in utter awe as he saw the Ten Swords, the strongest warriors of the Atrox Immortus Empire, fighting against Cain and being overwhelmed. "As you see, we are no longer enemies. Soon, the Atrox Immortus Empire forces will march through the Bridge of Hope into Atlas, and all of us will fight together." Cain took his finger from Dark Mask''s forehead the next second and saw how the man stared at him for a few seconds before clasping his hand and performing a deep bow. "Dark Mask humbly greets Leader!" Chapter 870 870: Silent World (I) Cain showed a small smile as he nodded to the man. Dark Mask had been a faithful servant during his stay in Kronos, and even if it was a transactional relationship, he preferred the man to help him out of his true volition rather than to force him. Of course, if Dark Mask had refused after seeing the Dark Sky, Cain would have simply hypnotized him and obtained all the information he wanted. The real problem would have been what to do with the man after receiving the information, but luckily, he did not have to make that decision. "Tell me, what is the current state of Dark Hand?" As soon as Dark Mask heard that, he sighed deeply before explaining. "We have received severe wounds, and the number of our warriors is at an all-time low. Things went into a downward spiral after the event with Blood Path''s laboratory. Blood Path was furious due to the loss of its Divine Ascension Master and its laboratory and began attacking all the Tier 1 Dark Factions involved. Silent World would have protected us, but they were also very dissatisfied since the mission was a complete failure and left us to our fates. Ghoul, Blue Hawk, and Janiro perished. As for Death Tide, he helped me survive an ambush a few months ago and is currently in a coma." Cain''s eyes immediately narrowed, and the light in his eyes began to fade. These warriors joined his side several years ago because they had no other path, and some had even tried to kill him, so as a Master of Order, he should not care in the slightest if they perished. Even if they worked hard and fought on Cain''s side, he should not care. But a sense of rage arose in his heart that ignited a murderous wrath that he found hard to contain. "Bring me to Death Tide." Dark Mask froze for a moment as those emotionless eyes full of brutality were too much to handle. Still, he immediately shook his head and nodded, bringing Cain to a small room in the headquarters of Dark Hand, where an Atrox was floating inside a Recovery Capsule. There were all sorts of wounds on Death Tide''s body, and there was a piece of his skull that had been shattered, proving just how dangerous his last battle was. "I have used all the power of Dark Hand to help him, but the most I can do is to stabilize his condition." Cain nodded to Dark Mask''s words, and the next second, his eyes glowed as he covered Death Tide''s body with his Ego Wave and took the man out of the Recovery Capsule before flooding his body with bright golden flames. Dark Mask''s eyes widened as he saw how those bright golden flames began to heal the wounds in Death Tide''s body that even the treasures of a Tier 1 Dark Faction could not do. It was not hard to fix the broken bones and regenerate the tissues of Death Tide using Radiance of Life, but the damage to the man was too severe for only the bright golden flame. However, Cain did not waste time and generated a red cocoon around Death Tide before sending in a flame with 20 colors. Dark Mask could not hide his shock as he saw that flame with 20 colors. The man saw the giant waves of world energy that flooded the area, and the next second, he felt Death Tide''s vitality and brainwaves growing stronger. "Explain to me what is happening with the underworld." Cain could perform a 20 Revolution Refinement and speak with Dark Mask without a problem. "Yes, Leader! The Tier 0 Dark Factions are acting weird, and they seem to be preparing for something great. Silent World''s upper echelon had ignored me for years, only demanding their tribute, yet now they command I must march into their headquarters to have a meeting. I am not the only one since the leaders of all Tier 1 Dark Factions are summoned, and if we do not attend, we will be branded as traitors." It was easy to see the hatred and loathing in Dark Mask''s eyes as he recounted the order directive from Silent World. The Tier 0 Dark Faction left him to his luck as the forces of Blood Path were attacking him, but he still had to pay tribute to them, and now they demanded his attendance at a meeting, and if he refused, he would be branded a traitor. Silent World practically left him to die, yet now Dark Mask had to act like a good dog and attend their meeting. If not, they would brand Dark Hand as a traitorous Dark Faction, making him and the entire organization a target for the underworld. What kind of joke was that? Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw how hasty that meeting was, and it was not hard for him to get an idea of just what type of things Silent World wanted to discuss with its Tier 1 Dark Factions. He was sure Blood Path and God''s Doom would also have those sorts of meetings. "I guess they gave you a meeting point." "Yes. I must be at the border of the Platinum Sector, at the entrance of the Endless Caves. Someone was supposed to be waiting for me there." Dark Mask paused at this point and stared at the Scarlet King for a moment before speaking. "Should I attend?" Although the idea of attending the meeting with those hypocritical bastards from Silent World sickened the Atrox, he was willing to comply with Cain''s command. "There is no need. Give me the direction, and then gather the forces of Dark Hand and lay low for the next few weeks. I will tell you when to emerge." Cain''s voice was serene, but Dark Mask could perceive a monstrous coldness. While not attending the meeting would mean Silent World would mark him as a traitor, something told him he would not have to worry about any of that. Chapter 871 871: Silent World (II) An old man in red blazing blade armor was waiting on a hill. His gaze was sharp as he focused on the entrance of a massive mine. As he checked the hour and saw no one in the surroundings, a cold light appeared in his eyes. "Hmph, Dark Mask, you dare to refuse our summon. A dog that doesn''t obey the orders of his master should be put down." The old Atrox sneered as he stood up and prepared to leave. He did not care that Dark Mask would not arrive and was happy since it meant he could track the man, kill him, and take all the wealth of the Tier 1 Dark Faction. Yet the moment the old Atrox turned around and prepared to march into Dark Hand''s headquarters, his eyes widened. Pure shock appeared on his face as he saw a man with a red mask standing less than a meter before him. This person had somehow sneaked behind him without the old Atrox detecting anything. That was enough to tell the old man that this person was extremely powerful and dangerous, but a name echoed in his mind as he focused on the mask. "Scarlet King..." Before the old Atrox could finish his sentence, Cain''s eyes glowed, and the man lost all control over his body and mind. The old man was a Peak Apotheosis Master, so there was no way someone like him could resist the willpower of Cain. Cain''s eyes were emotionless as he took control of the man''s mind. "Tell me everything you know about Silent World, starting with where the meeting would occur." --- There was a massive mountain range in the Kronos Continent that formed a circle, resembling the shape of a crown, and there was a poisonous mist all around it that not even Apotheosis Masters could endure. Or at least that was what ordinary people would see, when in reality, everything was an illusion, and the poisonous mist was just a way to keep folks away. There was a massive shrine in the center of this crown-shaped mountain range that had been used by one of the strongest and most evil organizations of Kronos for thousands of years. It was normally empty as this organization rarely gathered, but now there were hundreds of people in it, none with cultivation beneath the Apotheosis Realm. All of them had an evil and dangerous aura, making it clear their identities were not normal, yet they all adopted respectful stances as they gazed at the massive platform in front of them. At the head of the shrine were seven figures, all of them Divine Ascension Masters. In the center was an old man who resembled a desiccated corpse, yet his power was the greatest of all. That man was none other than the Leader of Silent World, a demonic figure that had terrorized Kronos for millennia and that went by the name of Silence. Silence''s eyes glowed with a dark and ominous light that prepared all the present for his words, his eyes exuding a monstrous darkness. He did not move his lips, but his voice echoed across the shrine, making the Tier 1 Dark Faction''s leaders tense. "Warriors of Silent World, our time has arrived. Soon, the Imperial Army and most of the greatest powerhouses of the empire will march out of Atlas, leaving the Sectors in an extremely weakened state that is ripe for the picking." As the leaders of the Tier 1 Dark Factions heard those words, shock appeared in their eyes, and soon, evil greed emerged from their hearts. They did not understand why the powerhouses would leave, but it did not matter to them. All they could think of was using this opportunity to steal as much as possible. As Silence saw the greed in those men and women, an ugly smile appeared on his desiccated body, and his aura began to rise higher and higher. "We will strike as soon as the forces exit Kronos, and in a week, we will have control of the Endless Sector!" Shock and awe appeared in the eyes of the leaders of the Tier 1 Dark Factions as they heard the plan of Silence. Taking control of an entire Sector was incredibly ambitious, especially one as wealthy as the Endless Sector. The six Divine Ascension Masters next to Silence only smiled as they saw the amazement in the Apotheosis Masters, and they were all extremely prideful of their goals, as it was something no Dark Faction had ever managed to accomplish. Silent World would make history! "You are all so predictable." Just as the spirits and hopes of the warriors of Silent World reached their zenith, a voice echoed across the shrine, and the next second, they saw a figure standing behind Silence. He was a man with a red mask and red robe, his aura so pure that it flooded the entire place. "You!" One of the Divine Ascension Masters of Silent World shouted in shock as he saw that man with the red mask. He was Zaman, the Early Divine Ascension Master who participated during the incursion and whose mission was frustrated by the Scarlet King. Cain did not even glance at the man. The first time they saw each other, the man might have been a giant, but he was nothing but an ant now. Instead, he focused on the one called Silence and felt how the man''s energy began to rise. "So small." That was the only thing Cain said as the Collapsing Space-Time Eye glowed, unleashing a crushing pressure that pushed everybody to the ground. In a single move, he neutralized the Tier 0 Dark Faction that had been terrorizing Kronos for millennia. Silence''s eyes were filled with terror, as he had never experienced a power so immense like this before. He could only move his eyes, and as he gazed at the man in the red mask, he felt himself in the presence of a divine monster. Chapter 872 872: Cleaning Kronos (I) Cain''s eyes were empty as he grabbed Silence and lifted the man from the ground. The power of his Collapsing Space-Time Eye had knocked everybody down but the God. However, the leader of the Silent World would rather be unconscious right now, as the brutality in the man''s eyes terrified him. "I have never understood your kind. Why waste your time stealing treasures and playing around in Aether when there is an entire universe beyond the Crystal Wall? What could you obtain from these people you terrorize besides some resources that could barely make a difference in your cultivations?" As Cain uttered those words, the brutality and loathing in his empty eyes only grew more powerful, and he began to clench Silence''s throat with so much strength that the bones of the man''s spine began to crack. "You and your kind are so small, yet you dare to look down on others, terrorizing normal people who live their daily lives and betraying those who have served you faithfully for hundreds of years!" A bursting red light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he continued exerting pressure on Silence''s neck, and the sounds of bones cracking echoed with more and more strength, making the old God''s terror only increase as he suffocated. Suddenly, shock appeared on Cain''s face as he let go of the God. For a moment, a myriad of emotions assaulted his heart, something that would be normal in anyone else but not in him, a Master of Order. "Apex!?" The first thought that appeared in Cain''s mind was a problem with his mind and soul, so he asked the one whose domain on that aspect was the greatest he had seen in all Aether. "There is nothing wrong with your soul sea, consciousness, or willpower, and there is no power acting on them in any way. Everything that is happening originates within yourself." Apex knew what Cain was after and gave him a clear answer, but this only increased the young man''s confusion. ''Why the sudden change?'' Cain could not help but frown, and an annoyed expression appeared on his face. He was in a war against a ruthless enemy that wanted to kill every man, woman, and child in Aether, and he did not have the luxury of feeling right now. This was the worst possible time for the Power of Order to start failing. However, even if Cain wanted to fix it, he would not even know where to start. After all, the Power of Order was still strange to him, and he only managed to attain it in a state of utter distress that nearly broke his mind and soul. ''Ahhh, whatever. I will pay closer attention from now on.'' Cain shook his head, and his eyes regained focus as he grabbed Silence once more and sent his willpower into the mind of the decrepit old God. Silence was already terrified, so it was not hard for Cain to put the man in compulsion. "Tell me everything you know about the underworld. Start with all your knowledge about God''s Doom and Blood Path." --- Inside Evernight, in the Imperial Castle of the Atrox Immortus Empire, stood the Ten Swords, and they were not alone. Accompanying them were several high-ranking officials of the Imperial Court. The Atrox Immortus Emperor, Ishmael, and the Prime Minister led the group through a holographic projection of Atlas. Ishmael and the Prime Minister analyzed the distribution of the empire''s forces, determining how many would march to Atlas. The ones that remained behind also had to be redistributed to ensure the safety of the empire and its people. The Atrox Immortus Empire had decided to march into Atlas, fight side by side with the Inferno Daemon Empire, and participate in the Ouroboros System, but there were many things they needed to handle before that. The Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin were also in the room, but the group was silent. Although they were invited to participate, it was not so they could share their thoughts but so Ishmael could keep an eye on them. The members of the Abyssal and Nether Clans were fine with it and did not mind resting for some time since they had spent every single day back in Atlas fighting and planning. However, all of a sudden, their eyes widened. A message had just arrived through their computer rings, and as they saw it, the duo did not know whether to laugh or cry. Prime Minister Razputin understood he needed to share this message with Ishmael, but the man would not take it well. "Maybe you should..." Just as the old man from the Nether Clan was about to suggest that the Dark Emperor take the lead, the man closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. Prime Minister Razputin''s eyes twitched as he saw that behavior and was ready to curse at the Dark Emperor. Still, in the end, he simply shook his head and rose from his seat, approaching Ishmael and the rest of the upper echelon of the Atrox Immortus Empire. "Your Highness Ishmael, I have a message from the Scarlet King." As soon as Ishmael and the rest of the Atroxs heard those words, they stopped what they were doing, and all turned to Prime Minister Razputin. The Scarlet King was a hegemon of incredible power. While he seemed like a kind individual who did not enjoy hurting others, the tales of the Scarlet Inquisition had reached the Atrox Immortus Empire. They had heard about the disappearance of hundreds of millions of criminals, so any word he said had to be taken with the utmost care. Even for someone like Prime Minister Razputin, it was not easy to keep focus under the gaze of so many powerhouses, but he took a deep breath as he shared the message that had just arrived on his computer ring. "The Scarlet King has just captured Silence and destroyed Silent World''s upper echelon and all the Tier 1 Dark Faction Leaders associated with it." Chapter 873 873: Cleaning Kronos (II) Silence reigned in the room, and the upper echelon of the Atrox Immortus Empire was in utter shock, unable to believe what they had just heard. Silent World was one of the three Tier 0 Dark Factions that ruled Kronos'' underworld, and it had been a thorn in the side of the Imperial Court for thousands of years. Although they had captured many Divine Ascension Masters, no matter how hard they tried, they could never catch Silence, and the man would constantly reforge his organization. Yet, the Scarlet King had seemingly taken care of Silence and the Tier 0 Dark Faction in a day. Ishmael was the first to regain his focus, and he immediately frowned as a flash of realization appeared in his eyes. "When did the Scarlet King arrive in Kronos!?" A sharp light appeared in the eyes of the rest of the upper echelon of the Atrox Immortus Empire as they heard Ishmael''s question, and coldness emerged as they focused on Prime Minister Razputin. Prime Minister Razputin could not help but show a complicated smile as he saw how they looked at him, but he did not blame them. After all, an empire''s borders were sacred, and someone just barging through them could be considered a great act of disrespect. "I don''t know. The Scarlet King doesn''t consult me regarding these things or inform me about his plans. Up until a few minutes ago, I had no idea he was in Kronos, and I honestly believe he would have spent all his time in Hyperion." At this point, Prime Minister Razputin made a small pause and took a deep breath, his face growing sharp. He stared back at the upper echelon of the Atrox Immortus Empire with resolution and not a single ounce of fear. "Despite all that, I can only say to you that the Scarlet King can do anything he wants, whenever he wants it, as he doesn''t feel that anyone has the right to give him permission or negate his freedom in any way. Other than the Dark Fog, there is no place in Aether he cannot reach; other than the Humanoids of Dark Sky, no one can challenge him." Ishmael and the rest of the upper echelon of the Atrox Immortus Empire were shocked by the admiration and esteem present in the eyes of Prime Minister Razputin as he spoke of the Scarlet King. This was not the first time they interacted with the old man from the Nether Clan, and they knew that winning his respect was something even emperors would have a hard time achieving. After the initial shock upon realizing that the Scarlet King had infiltrated Kronos, Ishmael regained a cold head and stared at Prime Minister Razputin before speaking. "Did the Scarlet King really uproot Silent World and capture Silence?" Prime Minister Razputin only smiled as he waved his hand, and the next second, a file with a video reached the computer ring of everybody present. As soon as they opened it, they saw the Scarlet King grabbing the neck of a decrepit old man and a room full of unconscious people. A file with the identity of each of those people was also in the message, and it was beyond evident that this was the headquarters of Silent World. Ishmael glanced at the file. He did not believe the Scarlet King would lie or try to falsify information since someone so powerful would gain nothing with those tricks. However, that did not erase his confusion. "What does the Scarlet King want from us?" A feat like that would obviously deserve a reward, but what could the Atrox Immortus Empire give to a man whose power had already broken every boundary and measure in Aether? "The Scarlet King needs access to every network and piece of knowledge from the Atrox Immortus Empire. He will use that information to track Blood Path and God''s Doom. Once all Tier 0 Dark Factions in Kronos are erased, you must hand every single evil treasure in your empire''s possession." "Evil treasures?" Ishmael and the rest of the upper echelon of the Atrox Immortus Empire could not help but glance at each other as they heard the request of the Scarlet King. Taking down all three Tier 0 Dark Factions of Kronos was a monumental feat that deserved endless glory and would be enough to mark one as a hero. Yet, it seemed that the Scarlet King only wanted evil treasures. "Is that really all that the Scarlet King wants? He would not ask for something once we reach Atlas?" Prime Minister Razputin could not help but smile as he saw the expression on the faces of the upper echelon of the Atrox Immortus Empire. It was something he had seen many times in the past in the mirror as he wondered just what type of goal the Scarlet King pursued. "The Scarlet King is a master schemer, and his plots and plans involve entire continents; that is a fact. However, he would not waste time trying to trick us with such meaningless games. As for asking more of you in Atlas, that is even less possible since there is no reason due to the Ouroboros System. You have still not quite figured out just how incredible the thrill of seeing your Ouroboros Points rising is, and I assure you that no one would need to tell you to fight harder." Ishmael''s eyes narrowed as he heard those words. He glanced at Prime Minister Razputin for a moment before looking at the rest of the upper echelon of the Atrox Immortus Empire. "Tell the Scarlet King we agree with all his conditions. I will now send you a coding key to the empire''s networks, which you can pass down." Although it was extremely odd, there were only gains for them, and it would make their march into Atlas much smoother. "I will make sure to relay the message." Prime Minister Razputin smiled, glad to be able to help the Scarlet King and improve the safety of the Atrox Immortus Empire. Chapter 874 874: Cleaning Kronos (III) Cain smiled as he saw the coding key reach his [A.I. Chip Module], which would grant him access to the networks of the Atrox Immortus Empire. He could have still gained access without the authorization of the Atrox Immortus Emperor, but that would have involved a lot of wasted time in hacking. Not to mention that they might detect him, and he did not want to generate distrust in the upper echelon of the empire. Not wanting to waste more time, Cain used the Absolute Life Form System to analyze all the information going through the network. That, plus everything he obtained from Silence, would give him an idea of how to reach the upper echelon of Blood Path and God''s Doom. As he waited, Cain sent the bodies of Silence and the upper echelon to the Samsara Arsenal Module''s First Layer. The Leaders of the Tier 1 Dark Factions were all Apotheosis Masters, and they would not be worth much as a sacrifice, so he covered everyone with his Ego Wave and sent them to the [Grand Demonic Devourer Dimension]. All these Atroxs who thought they could take advantage of the weak and old while the warriors were marching into war would be devoured by the [Grand Sky Fiend Flame], providing energy and vitality for Cain. "Four Early Divine Ascension Masters, two Middle Divine Ascension Masters, and a God. That will be a good sacrifice. I also obtained a good amount of wealth." Cain was satisfied with his job, but soon, his eyes grew sharp once more as the Absolute Life Form System provided him with information about a member of the upper echelon of another Tier 0 Dark Faction. He teleported, leaving Silent World''s shrine and the entire Sector. The next second, Cain appeared on top of a small city. There was nothing significant about this place, and the strongest warrior present was a Wave Champion. It was a small place with a few thousand people and would never catch anyone''s attention, yet it was also the home of one of the Divine Ascension Masters of God''s Doom. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw an old man tending a garden, and he could not help but shake his head. "What is the point of all these games? Playing around and hiding all the time while you try to amass wealth and avoid the authorities." Cain no longer bothered trying to understand the thoughts of the people of the underworld and simply teleported, appearing right in front of the gardener. The old man''s eyes widened as he saw a man in a red mask appear right in front of him. Immediately, the aura of a frail and weak person faded, and a monstrous amount of power began to rise from his body. However, before he could make a move or draw any attention, Cain''s eyes burst with red light and triggered a clash of willpower. The old man, who went by the moniker Plague, was an Early Divine Ascension Master who specialized in poisons. He had terrorized countless cities and caused hundreds of millions of deaths. Yet, he could not withstand even a second under the pressure of the Scarlet King''s willpower and fell unconscious. Cain grabbed the man and teleported into the sky before anyone could glance in their direction and notice anything. "Tell me everything you know about God''s Doom and Blood Path. Focus on information that can help me find their upper echelon." Plague remained silent for a moment before opening his mouth and telling Cain everything he knew. Once he had obtained all the information, Cain returned Plague to where he found him. The Early Divine Ascension Master remained frozen for a moment before retaking his old man persona and continuing his mundane life. If a member of the upper echelon of God''s Doom were to disappear, it could alert the others, and that would only make Cain''s work harder. He had already hacked Plague''s computer ring and implanted the idea that he should not leave the city. Of course, a hypnosis like that would eventually wear off, but Cain was confident in completing his mission before that happened. For the next few days, Cain went from one Sector to the other, tracking all the upper echelon of God''s Doom and anyone related to them. Just like with Plague, Cain hypnotized them and obtained all their knowledge before allowing them to return to what they were doing and implanting the idea they should remain put. After five days of hard work, Cain finally stood above a God Tower. It belonged to one of the Sector Dukes of the Atrox Immortus Empire, a man named Filisto, who was also Pestilence, the Leader of the Tier 0 Dark Faction God''s Doom. Although Pestilence was inside a God Tower, it was nothing special, and it would be easy for Cain to reach the man. He was not acting right now because Filisto was a Sector Duke who had served in the Imperial Army with the current Atrox Immortus Emperor. In pursuit of transparency, Cain communicated the information to Prime Minister Razputin so he could pass it on to Ishmael, wondering how they should handle it. Like with everything Cain did, there was also a hidden purpose in relating the message, as he wanted to see the type of person Ishmael was and whether or not he would negate irrefutable evidence to protect an old friendship. Cain did not have to wait long; less than three minutes after sending the message, Prime Minister Razputin communicated back the Atrox Immortus Emperor''s message. [The Atrox Immortus Emperor declared that anyone with ties to the Tier 0 Dark Factions no longer deserves to be part of the Atrox Immortus Race.] A small smile appeared on Cain''s face as he nodded, glad to see the strength of character in the Atrox Immortus Emperor. However, his smile did not last long as he turned toward the God Tower, and his Collapsing Space-Time Eye began to burst with energy and power as he teleported. Chapter 875 875: Danger in Kronos Less than five minutes after receiving clearance from the Atrox Immortus Emperor, Cain was already back in the sky above the God Tower, his right hand holding the throat of a massive Atrox nearly three meters tall. Pestilence attempted to fight back and break free of Cain''s grip, but there was nothing a mere God could do other than struggle. The man even tried to use his computer ring to ask for help, but he realized in horror that no one was receiving his calls. "No one will help a Tier 0 Dark Faction''s Leader." Pure terror appeared in Pestilence''s eyes as he realized that his secret identity had been revealed, but it did not last long. The next second, Cain''s eyes glowed with red light, generating a clash of willpower with the God. Pestilence''s entire body trembled for a second before his eyes lost their light as he fell into a state of utter compulsion and could not control anything he did or thought. "Give me all your knowledge about the underworld, especially anything you might know about Blood Path." As he uttered those words, Cain''s eyes flashed with endless killing intent. Although Silent World failed to protect Dark Hand, Blood Path killed Ghoul, Blue Hawk, and Janiro. Pestilence could not oppose any resistance and began to share all he knew. Luckily for Cain, the man was extremely paranoid, worried that the other Dark Factions might attack him, so he gathered a lot of information about them. A cold smile appeared on Cain''s face as the information Pestilence handed over, plus the one he already gathered, would be enough to catch almost all of Blood Path''s upper echelon and anyone related to it. The Collapsing Space-Time Eye glowed as threads of energy invaded Pestilence''s mind and body, sealing him completely before Cain threw the God into the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer. Before going after Blood Path, Cain retraced his steps and captured the upper echelon of God''s Doom. Now that he had caught Pestilence, there was no reason to leave them free. Since Cain already knew their location and no one had moved due to his compulsion, he finished in less than a day, and it was finally time to go after Blood Path. Cain went from one Sector to another, capturing members of the upper echelon of Blood Path, but this time, he was much more brutal as he also tracked all the Tier 1 Dark Factions''s Leaders connected to Blood Path. He would annihilate anyone related to the attacks on Dark Hand. Of course, Cain did not go on a rampage, as that would have alerted the rest of Blood Path. While he had the location of the upper echelon, he had no idea where the Blood God was. So he just tracked down the people, obtained the knowledge in their minds, and marked them before going to the next one. It took Cain a week to hypnotize and mark every member of Blood Path''s upper echelon and all the Tier 1 Dark Factions related to them. However, he could not help but frown as he realized that not even the Divine Ascension Master of Blood Hand knew where Blood God was, and that was not all since they did not have a way to communicate with the man. It is not uncommon for the leader of a Tier 0 Dark Faction to conceal their identities and whereabouts. However, the situation becomes strange when no one can be contacted. A clear channel is essential for the smooth functioning of the Dark Faction, and its absence could potentially lead to its downfall. Around six years ago, around the time that Cain reached Kronos for the first time, all contact with Blood God ceased. The man just left a cryptic message stating that they needed to remain strong and that he would come back stronger than ever. Cain had much more important things to worry about than a Tier 0 Dark Faction''s Leader going missing, but he could not help but feel this was important. "Apex, help me with this. Let''s go through all the information we obtained from the underworld and the one from the Atrox Immortus Empire''s networks. We need to track down the Blood God." "Fine, let''s do it." The golden humanoid in the deepest corner of Cain''s soul sea nodded, and the duo carried on, using the [A.I. Chip Module]''s abilities and their own perspicacity to track down the whereabouts of the Blood God. As they reviewed the information, Cain visited several locations where Blood God had been seen, gathering more information about the Tier 0 Dark Faction''s Leader until he finally found a lead in the Crystal Sector. That was the more northern Sector of the Atrox Immortus Empire. Like most coastal Sectors, it had been ravaged by the hordes of Oceanic Wave Beasts but was already in reconstruction. Cain stood in the sky of the Crystal Sector for a moment before diving into the shore of the Endless Ocean. Even though billions of Wave Beasts had marched into the landmass and butchered under the Atrox Immortus Empire''s blades, countless were still living inside the water, making any travel perilous for most warriors. Of course, Cain did not have that problem and could easily hide his aura from the Wave Beasts. After diving nearly ten thousand kilometers where the water pressure could crush even Divine Ascension Master, he saw an underwater cave that seemed to lead to the underground of the Atrox Immortus Empire. There were all sorts of natural constructions like that on a continent, and they should not be important. Still, Cain''s eyes narrowed, and a solemn expression appeared as he focused on the underwater cave and felt his instincts warning him of danger. Lately, due to his immense power, nothing in Aether could make him feel in danger other than Dark Sky. Yet, this seemingly plain underwater cave triggered a response of his instincts. Cain clenched his fists and ensured his energy was ready to explode before swimming to the cave. Chapter 876 876: The Depravita Race in Kronos! Cain''s eyes were sharp as he swam into the underwater cave. He had advanced less than one hundred meters when the feeling of danger increased exponentially, making him stop and raise his guard. Immediately, Cain adopted a battle position, ready to strike anything that would come closer. Nothing showed up, but the feeling of danger did not fade, making Cain''s awareness reach an all-time high. He stood unmoving, pushing his perception to the limit, relying on his Ego Wave, dominion over space, and the [Multidimensional Scan Force Field] to inspect the surroundings, but nothing appeared. After enough time and seeing that no one appeared, Cain glanced at the path forward and saw how light faded, and even he could only see darkness. The next second, he turned to the exit and every instinct he had told him to leave. Usually, Cain would listen to his instincts, as they had saved his life countless times, but now it was different. There was something off, and a flash of resolution appeared in Cain''s eyes after a moment as he continued marching forward, going deeper into the underwater cave. It did not take long for Cain''s surroundings to become completely dark, and he could not even see his hands. If that was not enough, his Ego Wave was not correctly working, and his domain over space was only powerful enough to stop him from going in circles. Luckily for Cain, while this place''s sensory deprivation was formidable, it could not hinder the power of the Absolute Life Form Sistem, and the [Multidimensional Scan Force Field] showed him everything. The more Cain advanced, the more his instincts screamed for him to turn around and escape from this place, never to come back and forget its existence entirely. Anyone else would have fallen to those screams, but Cain was unlike anyone else in Aether. He was the Scarlet King, and his power was paramount in Aether, so no matter how powerful and dangerous the person, things, or phenomena that were waiting for him at the end of this underwater cave, he was sure to at least be able to escape alive. Cain continued advancing for nearly thirty minutes, and even if he had been moving at a moderate speed, he would have still reached the middle of the Crystal Sector. With every meter he drove, his instincts screamed louder, and doubts and hesitations seemingly arose from his subconscious. A quiet voice whispered in his mind that this was too dangerous. There were too many people relying on him, and he could not take this risk. It was so subtle that it initially fooled Cain, who thought it might just be his consciousness trying to guide him to safety. However, by this point, he had already begun to feel something was wrong with how his instincts worked. There was no way that someone could be so dangerous as to trigger his instincts for half an hour and yet no one appear in his sight this entire time, so it had to be something else. ''I bet it is this place. Someone transformed this underwater cave into a unique natural formation capable of affecting the mind of anyone who dared to go through this path. This power, I have felt before.'' Cain''s eyes turned cold, as these types of emotional forces were characteristic of the Depravita Race! ''Right around when I was in Kronos, and the Blood God vanished, Horus had arrived with the Royal Family of the Inferno Daemon Empire.'' Back then, Cain had not given it too much importance. After all, he knew nothing about the Seven Sons of the Dark Emperor, but things have changed. Horus Ekleipsis did nothing without a purpose, and his short trip to the Atrox Immortus Empire was no different. Whatever Horus'' purpose back then was, it must be connected to this place. That was all the motivation Cain needed to find out what was at the end of this underwater cave, and he carried on. The voices in his mind shouted louder and louder while his instincts practically screamed with all their strength, both urging Cain to leave this place. But he did not do such a thing and continued until his eyes finally narrowed, and he stopped his advance. ''There is something a few meters ahead of me. It feels like a parallel dimension, but not quite.'' Cain took a deep breath and analyzed the dimension before him with his Collapsing Space-Time Eye and the Multidimensional Scan Force Field. He did not dare to touch it or use his Ego Wave out of fear of altering the person who created it. It took a few minutes for Cain to deduce the nature of the phenomenon in front of him. ''It is a secondary dimension. Although it takes the same dimensions as the primary plane of existence as its foundation, it is like an entirely different place. Even I would not have noticed it without my Collapsing Space-Time Eye and Absolute Life Form System.'' Cain stood in the periphery of the dimensional barrier for a few minutes as he analyzed its structure. While he was set on figuring out what was happening, the Depravita Race was one of the few things in Aether that could put his life in real danger. ''I think I can enter without being detected if I fold a dimension cocoon around myself by mimicking the fabric of the dimensional barrier. However, trying to leave will be extremely dangerous once I am inside as the dimension barrier will behave as a form of cage.'' A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he was ready to face whatever might be on the other side. "Worst-case scenario, I could use that. It will be dangerous, but it should work since this place is technically in the main plane of existence. Let''s hope I am not pushed to such an extreme measure." Cain summoned his red mask, and began manipulating the fabric of space around himself, mimicking the dimensional barrier. Chapter 877 877: Nightmarish underwater city It took the full power of his Collapsing Space-Time Eye and mastery over the Law of Space to make the cocoon, and after making sure everything was ready, Cain moved through the dimensional barrier. The next second, the Scarlet King''s presence vanished from Aether. Cain could not help but frown, as unlike the underwater cave, there was light inside the parallel dimension. His eyes immediately adapted to the light, and the next second, a sense of shock and awe assaulted him as he saw a massive underwater city. The parallel dimension was roughly a thousand meters wide from the outside, but the city it contained was the size of a Sector. However, that was the least of Cain''s worries, as this place was nothing short of nightmarish and could break the sanity of a weak mind. The buildings were colossal, towering structures that seemed to defy the laws of physics. They twisted and bent at impossible angles, with strange walls covered in eyes that constantly moved, surveying the surroundings. Strange dark runes carved in necrotic and disgusting blood, with maggots rising from them, were present in the walls. There were even upside-down buildings that rose from the ceiling of the dimension, making the entire place a giant maze. Strange, luminescent fungi and plants grew around the walls, casting an eerie glow that illuminated the city with an unnatural light. The air was thick with decay, making Cain feel nauseous. Everything in this place seemed to test Cain''s mind and willpower. It was so strange and bizarre that it affected his mind and sense of order, generating a strange feeling in his heart. He felt from the bottom of his soul that this place was wrong and should not exist. It was as if his entire existence demanded that he destroy the dimension and the nightmarish city in it. Cain immediately regained focus, and without losing a second, he pushed his power to the limit to continue hiding his existence. This place was extremely dangerous, and he did not dare underestimate its danger. Trying to figure out the ups and downs in this city was impossible, but Cain could detect powerful energy waves in the distance, most likely the center of this dimension. ''That is where I will find my answers.'' Cain''s eyes were sharp as he calmly moved forward, not daring to make contact with the buildings. He used all his power to hide his presence from the eyes, even staying away from the glowing plants and fungus. Navigating this place was extremely hard, as even Cain''s domain over the Law of Space was not much help. The fabric of space in this underwater city was so twisted that it resembled nothing like Aether''s primary plane of existence. Luckily, the [Multidimensional Scan Force Field] could still help Cain navigate this place. His focus was at an all-time high as he navigated through the dimension, and the closer he moved to the center, the clearer he felt the energy waves. It was a force that did not exist in Aether, or at least Cain had not felt it until the Depravita of Blood. After fifty minutes of moving, he finally saw it. In the central square of this massive underwater city was an immense, monolithic structure, a temple, but one that could only rise from the nightmares of a disturbed and crippled mind. The temple was covered in strange carvings that Cain could not decipher, and tentacles and eyes emerged from its walls. Cain''s eyes immediately went to the temple''s peak, and he saw how streams of dark energy were being channeled, reaching the center of the structure. From it, an oppressive aura of malevolence emanated, one so horrible that he had difficulty not losing focus. A strange dark red light emerged from the temple, and its radiation seemed to affect the fabric of space-time. It was the reason why this place was so twisted and chaotic, to the point that people from Aether could not survive in it. Just as Cain was about to march closer to the temple, his eyes widened, and he immediately took cover, only to see a massive aquatic creature roaming around the structure. It was thousands of meters long, with tentacles and yet a humanoid form, and calling it a monster would be falling short. But its horror and the sense of disgust that it generated were not the critical part. Cain felt a nature similar to the Depravita of Blood in the creature, although its strength was weaker and its energy purity was much lower. Calling the thing a Depravita would be a gross exaggeration, and it was most likely a life form trapped in the dimension and affected by the radiation from that temple. Cain surveyed the terrain around the temple and saw roughly dozens of these gargantuan creatures, all of the same power. As he looked at their interactions, it was clear they were not friendly. ''Most likely, all the weak ones were already devoured, leaving only the powerful.'' The cannibalistic nature of these creatures was interesting, but Cain kept focus. He made sure none were in his path before using his full power to hide his figure and presence and flashing toward the temple as fast as he could. Cain was very fast, and while those beasts were not weaker than True Titans, they lacked any wisdom or intelligence, so they detected nothing, allowing him to reach the temple. He went through one of the countless open gates and immediately was received by grotesque corridors. The walls of the temple''s corridors were covered by layers of flesh and adorned with intricate carvings depicting scenes of nightmarish horror. If that was not horrendous enough, one could feel the flesh moving occasionally, making it seem that this was a living thing instead of a structure. Not daring to touch the wall out of fear they might react to his body, Cain continued floating in the water, carefully moving toward the center of the temple. Chapter 878 878: Blood Gods fate If the city''s structure resembled a maze, then the temple pushed the geometry of its chaotic architecture to the next level. There were countless connections between the corridors; some seemingly going in a straight direction only to lead you to the beginning, while others seemed like an exit and were actually the path to the center. It was not the power of space that made this place a nightmarish maze but the power of absolute distortion and corruption, one so intense that it could even affect the fabric of reality. There was no doubt in Cain''s mind that without the [Multidimensional Scan Force Field], he would be lost in this temple, as his domain over the Law of Space was not very useful in this place. Cain had to move back, as for a strange reason, that was the only way to advance. It took him several hours, but finally, a vast, vaulted chamber appeared in his sight. The engravings in this place were much more explicit than in the corridors, depicting all sorts of cosmic horrors swallowing entire worlds and spreading their darkness across the cosmos. Such pictures would normally be considered hyperbole since there was no way an individual could devour a planet. Still, for some reason, Cain felt those engravings told a story, a very real one. Although these carvings were impressive and shocked his mind, Cain''s eyes immediately went to the center of the vault, where he saw a scene to which the word "nightmarish" could not do justice. There were four figures, all of them covered in dark robes and tentacles coming from their bodies and faces. Their auras were as malevolent as possible, not falling behind that of the Depravita of Blood. One was in each cardinal direction, and in the middle was a person floating with his arms extended. He seemed to be a member of the Atrox Race, but his entire figure was full of deformities. "That is the Blood God." Despite all the deformations in the floating figure, Cain was able to identify the man in the center of the room as none other than the Blood God, the Leader of the Tier 1 Dark Faction, Blood Path. All the negative and chaotic evil energy that the temple was summoning was being channeled into the Blood God, and it was from his body that the dark red radiation waves emerged. The Blood God''s eyes were completely black as a dark liquid emerged from every orifice of his body, and although he had a heartbeat, it did not seem he was really alive. If he were still conscious, even in the slightest way, every second of his existence would be nothing short of a horrible nightmare. The monstrous priests chanted those strange words as they seemed to carry out some sort of ritual involving the dark, ominous energy and the Blood God. Each of them chanted one part of the ritual''s incantation. "From the void beyond the stars, Where chaos reigns and darkness bars, I call upon thee, ancient one, To rise again, thy will be done." "By blood and bone, by flesh and soul, I offer up this mortal toll, To open wide the gates of night, And bring thee forth into the light." "Thy name is spoken, dread and dire, A beacon in the cosmic mire, Come forth, arise, O ancient king, And let thy dark dominion ring." "Through shadowed realms and starless skies, Across the void, thy form shall rise, A nightmare made flesh, a god reborn, To herald in the endless morn." Cain could not help but feel discomfort as he heard the guttural voice of the dark priests, and his eyes soon turned to the ceiling, gazing upon the dark energy. ''That dark energy seems to exude hatred, envy, greed, and all sorts of negative and dark emotions.'' It was not hard for Cain to detect the nature of the energy now that he was so close. As for how they channel it, it was most likely through those chants, but he could not be sure. After that, his focus turned to the figure in which all that native energy was being channeled. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he gazed at the Blood God. He did not care about the man''s horrific fate, as he was sure it was his poor decisions that led him to be used like this. The only thing he cared about was the changes going on inside his body. ''There seems to be a feedback loop inside the Blood God''s body. All the energy being channeled inside him is purified, entering a cycle that generates even more energy. The radiation is due to the man not containing any of the massive negative energy pool. But what is the purpose of all that?'' Although the underwater city and dimension were impressive feats of incredible might, Cain did not think this would be their sole goal, and there must be something else. Unfortunately, no matter how hard Cain focused, the principles and techniques being displayed in this place were not only of an extremely high realm but followed power that he was not familiar with and that did not quite fit the nature of Aether. No matter how hard or for how much he looked at it, he would gain nothing without close inspection, but of course, that would be challenging. ''It is essential for these dark priests, which is very bad for us. I need to find a way to get it, as it could have some of the answers I seek. And if obtaining it is not possible, I must destroy it." No matter how useful it could be, the entity was dangerous, and its effect in this underwater city was proof enough. If this twisted power were to impregnate the rest of Kronos, it would raise a complete pandemonium. Cain could not afford to fight on two fronts right now, with the Depravita Race in Kronos and Dark Sky in Atlas, so he needed to fix this. Chapter 879 879: Fighting Depravitas (I) ''If I want to capture the mutated Blood God and still be able to escape this dimension alive, I need a place that can hold it. Those dark priests will attack me with everything they have, and I will not be able to fight against them if I have to divide my focus to keep the Blood God secure.'' Cain immediately discarded his space rings since none of them could hold a source of energy as immense as the mutated Blood God. Naturally, his mind went to the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer, but after some consideration, he refused the idea. Although the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer was a stable enough dimension capable of containing that much energy without a problem, it was also full of people and one of his most precious resources in the war against Dark Sky. The Scarlet King could not allow any damage or corruption to befall the [Samsara Arsenal Module], as without it, he would have a hard time supplying his forces in the war. A meaningful light appeared in Cain''s eyes as another dimension came to mind, which should also be able to contain the mutated Blood God. ''Its power limit is the peak of the Divine Transformation Realm, and the energy of the Blood God is not above that. Even if the dimension crumbled or was corrupted, I could always destroy it and build a new one. It would cost me greatly, consuming an immense amount of my Destiny Force, but I can accept that risk.'' Cain devised a plan, and if he could not hold the mutated Blood God in that dimension until he left this place, he would use all his power to destroy the man. One way or another, he would deprive these monsters of their most precious tool. ''I have one chance. The dark priests are powerful, but the chant and ritual seem to demand their entire focus, and most likely, they did not think anyone could have reached this place, making them lower their guard.'' Cain circulated all the power in his body, energy pool, and soul, making it rise with increasing force inside him without alerting the dark priests. Only once everything inside him had peaked did he open his eyes and act. "From the void beyond the stars, Where chaos reigns and darkness bars, I call upon thee, ancient one, To rise again..." The dark priests were in the middle of their chants, the same ones they had been chanting for years, not stopping for a single second, but now they froze as they saw a masked figure suddenly appear in front of the mutated Blood God. Before any of the four dark priests could react or make a move, the man''s power exploded, and he filled the body and soul of the mutated Blood God with countless seals of space-force and energy, only for the Atrox to vanish the next second. Seeing the masked man appear all of a sudden was surprising enough, but the fact that this one managed to make the mutated Blood God disappear shocked the dark priests to the core of their rotten and dark souls. "Grraaargh!!!" All the dark priests roared at the same time, making the sound of dying animals, their bodies expanding the next second, showing disgusting yet extremely powerful bodies. Two obtained slender constitutions, one with long arms that ended with sharp claws, the other covered in chains. The other two dark priests became grotesque and corpulent monstrosities, one resembling a humanoid rabid dog, while the other an obese entity full of pestilence. Each rose over ten meters in height as their robes shattered, and the next second, they flashed toward Cain with a speed and momentum that no True Titan could match. Cain could feel the immense power of the dark priests, not only physically but also the power of the Concepts running through their flesh and blood. However, no matter how hard he wanted to face them, he could not stop trembling as the [Grand Demonic Devourer Dimension] tried to stabilize after the Blood God was sent inside. The only thing Cain could do was raise his arm and make his energy explode to enhance his defensive ability before the monstrous priests unleashed their attacks on him. The first to arrive in front of Cain were the two slim dark priests, one slashing with his claws at his chest while the other struck with his chains. Cain''s eyes widened as those claws surpassed his defenses, leaving large and deep wounds in his body, and everything around them began to decay. If that was not enough, the chain attack crashed into his body like a wave, and as soon as they made contact with his flesh, a sense of utter terror invaded his mind. Attacks that flawlessly blended the abominable physical power and force of the Concept to an instinctive level could only be deployed by a Depraivta! The attacks from the Depravita of Fear and Depravita of Decay were already wreaking havoc inside Cain''s body and mind. Still, he did not have time to determine how much damage they made as the two massive dark priests arrived the next second behind him and attacked with pure hatred and ferocity. Both massive fists reached Cain''s back at the same time. The dark priest, who resembled a putrid glutton, unleashed a punch with monstrous strength that rotted and infected anything it touched. As for the one resembling a rabid dog, he did not unleash a debilitating effect on his attack, but his strength reached a whole new level as his wrath exploded in the last second before landing the strike, making Cain''s bones crack. Those attacks were just the beginning, and barrage upon barrage of strikes began to fall on Cain. Luckily for him, he had a Pseudo-Immortal Body, but even that amazing ability had a limit. The only thing Cain could do was to endure, hoping his body would not collapse before his [Grand Demonic Devourer Dimension] stabilized. Chapter 880 880: Fightning Depravitas (II) Cain clenched his teeth as his eyes couldn''t stop shaking due to the [Grand Demonic Devouring Dimension]''s non stop trembling affecting his soul sea. He raised his arms to protect his head and heart as the four Depravitas laid hell on him. Every single attack they unleashed on Cain''s body had a devastating effect, with the Depravita of Disease and the Depravita of Decay riddling every cell with necrotic and deadly energy. At the same time, the Depravita of Fear''s power constantly weakened his defenses, making it hard to focus. Finally, the Depravita of Wrath attacked like a madman, yet every punch was as powerful as one of the blows from a Humanoid of Dark Sky. ''Dammit, dammit, dammit!'' Cain couldn''t help but curse in his mind. He knew that the mutated Blood God would affect the [Grand Demonic Devouring Dimension], but he didn''t think it would be so strong as to prevent him from fighting back. As he was hammered by the four Depravitas, the state of the [Grand Demonic Devourer Dimension] appeared in Cain''s mind. He saw the massive dimension with the mystical [Grand Sky Fiend Flame] inside and the Blood God floating above. The mutated entity transformed into a perpetual energy machine through the ritual of the dark Depravita priest. Now, ocean-level waves of that corrupted and strange radiation were unleashed, flooding the entire [Grand Demonic Devourer Dimension]. The [Grand Sky Fiend Flame] devoured as much radiation as possible. Still, it was not fast enough, and the energy started accumulating in the dimension, reaching a level beyond its limits. As if that wasn''t bad enough, the radiation emanating from the mutated Blood God seemed harmful to the [Grand Sky Fiend Flame]. While it consumed a lot, it could not transform any of it into energy or vitality for Cain and was actually growing smaller. Cain saw how the [Grand Sky Fiend Flame] grew weaker and cracks formed in the Grand Demonic Devourer Dimension. He couldn''t help but curse his luck as it seemed he had made a mistake and underestimated just how powerful the energy emanating from the mutated Blood God was. ''Dammit. Fine then. Let''s do it!'' As he prepared to use his trump card, determination and rage appeared in Cain''s eyes. It would be dangerous, and he didn''t want to use it, but if nothing changed, the four Depravitas might kill him. However, just as Cain was ready to trigger it, something happened in his [Grand Demonic Devourer Dimension]. The radiation emanating from the mutated Blood God reduced the [Grand Sky Fiend Flame] to a mere ember. Yet, instead of dissipating and fading out of existence, it transformed into a dark flame and exploded with power! The dark flame devoured all the radiation emanating from the mutated Blood God, stopping the oceanic waves of energy that threatened to shatter the [Grand Demonic Devourer Dimension], stopping the tremors that affected Cain''s soul sea and his ability to think. Yet, that was just the start since the next second, a gargantuan amount of dark force emerged from the dark flame and began to flood Cain''s flesh, blood, energy pools, and even his soul sea. This energy flawlessly blended with his Astral Wave, Essence Wave, vitality, and even the spiritual aspect of his existence as his soul force and Ego Wave. Cain''s eyes widened as a sense of disbelief appeared on his face. He saw how the dark force immediately reached his energy pools, and the wounds on his body healed instantly thanks to his Pseudo-Immortal Body''s ability to use vitality and energy to regenerate wounded tissues. He felt an utter shock in his heart as he marveled at the sudden change in his [Grand Sky Fiend Flame], and while he was full of doubts and questions, all that could wait. "?AHHHHHH!" A cold and fierce smile appeared on Cain''s face as he roared, and his power exploded, the energy wave sending the four Depravitas flying away. A gray flaming aura emanated from his body as he unleashed the full power of the Solar Tempest Essence, not worrying about the energy depletion as the dark force running through his body regenerated it immediately. "Grraaargh!" "Return the key!" The Depravita of Wrath roared in rage, while the Depravita of Fear shouted with pure hatred in his eyes. Despite their monstrous appearance, the four Depravitas were not mindless creatures, and they could feel the immense amount of energy that was practically overflowing Cain''s body, so they were careful. "Key?" Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard that term used to refer to the mutated Blood God. Although he wanted to obtain more information from these creatures, it was clear they would not just hand it over, so he just smiled and clenched his fists as the feeling of power and energy kept growing stronger. "Make me." As he uttered those words, Cain''s energy rose to an even higher level, and his entire body brimmed with killing intent and hatred toward these monsters. The Depravita of Wrath saw that, and his eyes narrowed before suddenly vanishing, only to appear right behind Cain the next second, having used Negative Teleportation. Despite its ferocious appearance, the man did not lack battle skills. Pure rage and hatred appeared in the Depravita of Wrath''s eyes as he used those emotions to enhance his power. Just as the blow was about to land on the back of his head, Cain moved to the side and turned around, his eyes lacking emotion. It was not the first time he had faced their kind, and the same trick would not work twice on him. The Depravita of Wrath was shocked to see those eyes, and before he could make a move, a ferocious left hook landed on his head. That blow felt like an H-bomb exploding right in his face, but it was just the beginning as Cain continued with a right hook the next second and ended with an uppercut that sent the monster into the room''s ceiling, shattering the walls! Chapter 881 881: Fightning Depravitas (III) "RUMBLE!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" The entire temple began to tremble as multiple explosions echoed inside, startling the dozens of corrupted aquatic monsters. Those creatures lacked true wisdom and had very low intelligence. Still, they knew not to get close to the structure from where the corrupting radiation emerged, so they were startled when they saw it shaking, and the walls started to crack as if a massive battle were happening inside. "BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!" Suddenly, a massive explosion occurred as the top of the temple shattered to pieces, and three figures emerged from it. One of them was a young man less than two meters tall, yet each of his hands held the neck of a massive figure of over ten meters in height. Cain''s eyes were empty of emotion, yet there was pure brutality in his soul as he thrust the Depravita of Fear like a rocket toward one of the nearby buildings before turning toward the Depravita of Decay. He tightened his grip over the monster''s neck, making the bones in the tacker shatter, before starting to unleash punch after punch on this one, each more powerful than even the most potent attack of a True Titan. "BOOOMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOMMMM!" "BOOOMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOMMMM!" Each punch triggered a massive explosion as Cain attacked without any shred of mercy, and the strength behind his punches only increased as he felt the flesh and bones of the Depravita of Decay shatter beneath his onslaught. Killing a Depravita was extremely hard but not impossible, and Cian decided to destroy everything and everyone in this underwater city. Suddenly, Cain''s eyes narrowed, and without hesitation, he threw the Depravita of Decay like a ball toward the Depravita of Disease. The only ones left by that point were Cain and the Depravita of Wrath. The monster lunged with all his power, sending a fist, which Cain countered with his own. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion occurred as Cain''s right fist connected with that of the Depravita of Wrath, and the next second, the arm of the monster shattered under the pressure. Cain did not give the Depravita a second to act before flashing forward and connecting another punch, sending the Depravita of Wrath flying away with half of his face destroyed. Now that Cain used all his power and did not contain himself in the slightest, burning his energy without restraint as the dark flame would continuously send him more, his battle power skyrocketed. However, Cain could not help but frown as he saw how, even after all the damage he was doing to them, the Depravitas continued their endless regeneration and attacked him with overwhelming ferocity. Even now, the Depravita of Fear that Cain sent flying away a moment ago immediately flew back to the fray and did not seem to have any damage. And the monster was not alone since the Depravita of Disease, Depravita of Decay, and even the Depravita of Wrath he just blasted a second ago attacked again. "Hmph!" Cain sneered before his energy exploded, and his Solar Tempest Essence emerged from his body and generated nine massive spheres of red flaming energy. Immediately, Cain took control over the Nine Void Suns and fused them into his body, three for each arm, one for each foot, and the final one above his forehead. "BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" An explosion of energy emanated from Cain''s body, and the heat his flesh unleashed was so intense it generated a small vacuum in the underwater city as he burned all the liquid near him. "ZNNNN!" The Depravitas were shocked by Cain''s sudden burst in power, and before they could even assess his strength, he flashed to the side, blasting a hole through the Depravita of Disease! "BOOOMMMM!" Before the Depravita of Disease could recover, the Void Sun on Cain''s forehead glowed, and the next second, a cannon of supercompacted and scorching solar energy emerged, blasting the monster. Cain''s eyes were cold as he unleashed that attack, seeing how he split the Depravita of Disease in half and incinerated over half of his body. Not giving the rest of the monsters even a second to overcome their shock, the Void Suns in his feet burst with power, driving his body at an immense speed toward the Depravita of Wrath. Immediately, the Void Suns on Cain''s right shoulder, elbow, and wrist glowed as he used his body momentum to connect a full-power blow to the chest of the Depravita of Wrath. "BOOOOOOM!" The punch generated a massive blast and carried so much energy that it left a massive hole in the chest of the Depravita of Wrath before this one was blasted away. Not even a second after battling the Depravita of Wrath, Cain flashed toward the Depravita of Decay. He connected a downward kick, shattering the top of the monster''s skull, before sending a second full-power kick that almost cut the Depravita of Fear''s neck. "BOOM!" "BOOM!" Cain dispatched the two Depravitas, making them shatter many buildings in their paths. Of course, he did not come unscathed due to the backlash of the Nine Void Sun Battle Form. His right arm was riddled with severe wounds, with broken bones and muscles; there were cracks on his skull around the Void Suns used to discharge that energy cannon, and many small yet deep wounds appeared on his feet. Luckily for Cain, the massive amount of vitality the dark flame was charging into his body allowed him to recover from all that damage. However, before he could get too happy, the four Depravitas began to rise from the broken buildings'' debris, making his eyes narrow. A Depravita had a body made of negative emotions and chaotic psychic force, so they had a true immortal body and could heal as long as they had enough energy. Even if their brains and hearts were destroyed, they would recover, but every time they healed, their energy diminished. However, Cain could feel that the energy of these four Depravitas had not diminished in the slightest since the battle started. Chapter 882 882: Using the trump card "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOOM!" Cain pinned down the Depravita of Disease against a building and unleashed a barrage of punches, each triggering a massive explosion that incinerated large pieces of the monster''s body. The Void Suns in his arms glowed with a majestic light as they increased his strength, charging his attack with fiery and destructive energy. Suddenly, Cain''s eyes narrowed as he moved to the side, dodging a blow from the Depravita of Wrath that had attacked from behind. He turned around, grabbed the monster by the neck, and rose to the sky of the underwater city. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion echoed across the underwater city as Cain destroyed the Depravita of Wrath''s head with a single blow. Jets of blood emerged from his right arm due to the backlash of the Void Suns on the flesh, blood, and bones around them, but luckily, the stream of dark force coming from the [Grand Demonic Devouring Dimension] immediately healed the damage. However, before Cain could get too happy, he saw how the Depravita of Wrath''s head began to regenerate. A flash of coldness appeared in his eyes as he saw how even that wound was not enough. The Void Sun in his forehead glowed, and a beam of sun force bisected the monster''s body! Cain then grabbed both sides and threw them in different directions, using them as projectiles against the Depravita of Fear and Depravita of Decay marching toward him. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Two explosions echoed as the pieces of the Depravita of Wrath clashed with the Depravita of Decay and Depravita of Fear, pushing them back. Cain did not move, glancing at the pieces of the Depravita of Wrath, focusing on how they reacted to such massive damage. He already had an idea of the strength of these four Depravitas. They were around the same level as the Depravita of Blood regarding physical might, but their domain over the Concepts was much lower. It did not feel like something that was born from them but instead forcefully risen, severely limiting its power. Considering that Cain was much stronger than when he faced the Depravita of Blood, he should have been able to handle these monsters, but there was a problem. ''How?'' Cain could not help but ask himself as he saw how the pieces of the Depravita of Wrath transformed into a mass of dark miasma before fusing, and the next second, the complete body appeared without a single wound. After that, Cain turned to the side and saw how the Depravita of Disease, whom he had destroyed to the point of only a few pieces of flesh and blood, was also regenerating. The regeneration of the Depravitas did not make sense, as their energy did not diminish at all, and something could not come out of nothing. Suddenly, a flash of realization appeared in Cain''s eyes as he turned to the shattered temple. ''Where did the stream of negative emotions and psychic energy go?'' Cain had been so embroiled in surviving the onslaught from the four Depravitas that he almost forgot about the stream of negative emotions and chaotic psychic force funneled into the mutated Blood God. It was nowhere to be seen, but now that Cain was searching for it, he could detect how the stream of that energy dispersed into the underwater city and was channeled by the four Depravitas. That was the key to their regenerations, as they did not need to spend their energy and could simply use the one that soaked the entire dimension. That meant that as long as the battle occurred in the underwater city, Cain would face virtually immortal enemies. And if that was not bad enough news, he saw how the waves of radiation emerging from the mutated Blood God in his [Grand Demonic Devouring Dimension] were beginning to decrease. The mutated Blood God had been releasing all that excess energy that had not been able to assimilate properly, flooding the entire [Grand Demonic Devouring Dimension] with that dark radiation. Of course, once that is over, the entity will continue to unleash radiation from the cycles of refined negative emotions and chaotic psychic force inside its body, but that will be far from enough to allow his Pseudo Immortal Body to continue this endless regeneration. Without relying on his Pseudo Immortal Body, Cain could not keep his Nine Void Suns Battle Form in place, and without this one, he would not be able to dominate the four Depravitas. ''I need to act fast, or else I will be in extreme danger!'' A flash of urgency appeared in Cain''s eyes as he came to that conclusion. He flashed up at full speed without hesitating, immediately reaching the dimensional barrier. Cain had already obtained the Blood God and discovered the Depravitas'' presence in Kronos, so there was no more reason to stay in the underwater city. And if the four Depravitas wanted to fight him, he was ready to wait for them on the outside. The six Void Suns in Cain''s arms glowed as he released a double strike unto the dimensional barrier. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!" A smile formed on Cain''s face as he saw cracks form in the dimensional barrier, but it froze the next second as he saw how the damage extended across the entire barrier. It took him a second, but he realized that all the damage done to the dimensional barrier would be equally distributed across every inch of it. To make a hole, even the tiniest one, you must destroy the entire barrier! Cain knew that exiting the dimension would not be easy once he entered, but he did not believe the barrier would be so powerful, as this was a level that Aether could not equal. Even the Crystal Wall did not show this might. ''It would take me an hour of uninterrupted attack to do enough damage to shatter the entire barrier, but I will not have that.'' Cain frowned as he took his eyes from the dimensional barrier and looked down, seeing how the four Depravitas marched toward him, full of killing intent. ''It will be dangerous, but I would rather use it now that I am full of energy and power, and the dark force is keeping my Pseudo Immortal Body at its zenith.'' From this point on, every minute that Cain fought would reduce his chances of survival. A sharp light full of determination appeared in his eyes as he triggered the trump card. The Depravita of Wrath, Depravita of Disease, Depravita of Fear, and Depravita of Decay marched toward Cain with smiles full of killing intent. They were smart to understand that they had the advantage, and no matter how strong the enemy was, he would be exhausted first. However, just as they were ready to return to the fray and clash with Cain, a feeling of incredible danger assaulted all of them. They froze as they looked up, not to the ceiling of the dimension but pushing their perception to the real world. ... The people of the Crystal Sector had no idea of the type of battle that was taking place in an underwater city built beneath their home and contained in a parallel dimension. They were living their lives when suddenly, whether they were mortal or Divine Ascension Masters, all of them turned to the sky. Every single person in the Sector felt shock, awe, and amazement as they saw a mesmerizing aurora-like phenomenon blanket the sky, shimmering with colors that defy description. The phenomenon''s majesty was incredible, but even more impressive was the fact that as people focused on the aura, they could see reflections of themselves. Some saw their younger selves while others saw their older versions, and there were even manifestations of paths that were never taken. It was like glancing at the flow of time and seeing the myriad of chances and opportunities in it. However, just as people marveled at the majesty of the aurora that covered the sky, this one froze for a second before an intent full of rage and destruction emerged. It was as if it suddenly became a force whose only purpose was annihilation, shaking the hearts of all the Atroxs gazing at it. The next second, the massive time aurora began to revolve as its power grew more potent and more ferocious, forming what seemed to be a cataclysmic storm that contained the power of the flow of time. Once all that power reached its zenith, it came crashing down like a tornado in a mountain range, immediately transforming everything around it into sand as if millions of years passed in a second. Luckily, that place was uninhabited, and people only watched from a distance as the tornado kept piercing through the ground at a shocking speed, growing deeper and deeper. It obliterated anything in its path and would keep diving until it found its target. As for what the target of this force was, that was the parallel dimension built by the Depravita Race. Chapter 883 883: Time Tribulation (I) Ordinary people in the Crystal Sector were in total shock, and even Divine Ascension Realm powerhouses were at a loss on what to do as they had never seen something like this before. It resembled a Tribulation from the world but did not involve any of the four Elemental Laws, and its power was simply too overwhelming and full of rage. A teleportation formation glowed in the strongest God Tower in the Crystal Sector, and the next second, Ishmael and the Ten Swords appeared, along with the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin. When the Atrox Immortus Emperor heard the news about the massive phenomenon covering the sky, he was terrified as he remembered that Dark Sky also appeared with a cosmic force. He did not want Kronos to suffer the same fate as Atlas, with trillions perishing. "What is that!?" That was the only thing Ishmael could say as he saw the tornado burying deeper and deeper into the ground. While none of the Ten Swords of the Atrox Immortus Empire could give him an answer, a sharp light appeared in the eyes of the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin. The duo from the Inferno Daemon Empire looked at each other and nodded softly before Prime Minister Minxet turned toward Ishmael. "That is the Time Tribulation. One of the Hidden Tribulations of the Essence Evolution Path of Power." Ishmael''s eyes widened as he heard those words and turned toward the duo. He had never heard of the Time Tribulation before, but he was aware that those who were part of the Ouroboros System had access to cultivation knowledge that surpassed his. Finding out that the phenomenon was part of the Tribulation of the world calmed the Atrox Immortus Emperor considerably, as it meant it was not connected to Dark Sky, but it still left him with a question. "Why?" Ishmael would have to be a fool not to realize that the origin of the Time Tribulation was the Scarlet King, but he did not understand why the man would trigger such a phenomenon in the middle of a Sector in Kronos. "BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" Just as the Atrox Immortus Emperor was trying to make sense of the situation, a massive explosion echoed from inside that massive hole in the middle of the Crystal Sector, carrying so much strength that it triggered an earthquake that affected the entire Sector. Ishmael and the Ten Swords wanted to see what was happening inside that massive hole, but the power of the Time Tribulation was too immense. None dared to get near it, or they would risk suffering the same fate as those mountains, turning to dust under the power of time. ... No one in Kronos could see how that massive tornado, carrying the power of the Time Tribulation, had just crashed with the dimensional barrier that contained the underwater city. Cain looked to the sky with a smile as he dodged the four Depravitas attacks. The creatures were on a crazy rampage as they felt the power of the Time Tribulation descending on them, and it seemed they wanted to finish things fast, but they would not be so lucky. While fighting against the four Depravitas put an immense toll on Cain''s body, just dodging their attacks was much easier, and he could see how the power of the Time Tribulation had already covered the entire dimensional barrier, leaving no escape for the monsters. ''So much hatred and killing intent. It seems that I was right.'' Cain could feel the destruction intent in the Time Tribulation''s power that covered the dimensional barrier, confirming his hypothesis that the power of Aether truly loathe those who attempted to change its Laws and origin force. "CRACK!" Crystal cracking echoed across the underwater city as small fissures appeared around the dimensional barrier. Through them, the power of the Time Tribulation began to flood in! Cain could not help but open his eyes in shock as he saw the effect of the Time Tribulation''s force in the underwater city. The power of time behaved like a flame, burning everything it touched. ''They are opposite forces, following principles that do not allow both to exist in the same plane.'' That was the only way Cain could describe the relationship between the power of the Time Tribulation and the underwater city since even the buildings started burning. It was a majestic sight to see the underwater city being incinerated by the power of the Time Tribulation, slowly making its way into the dark temple that seemed to be the core of this dimension. However, there was something even more critical for Cain as he could feel the change in the four Depravitas. "?BOOOM!" Taking advantage of the Depravitas'' shock at the sight of the Time Tribulation burning the underwater city, Cain flashed forward. He connected a full-power punch in the chest of the Depravita of Wrath. All the Void Suns in his right arm were glowing, allowing that blow to carry immeasurable power. It burst open the chest of the Depravita of Wrath, sending this one flying away. The damage to the Depravita was immense, but this one forced himself to regain control over his body before he could touch the Time Tribulation power, and the next second, his wound began to heal. Cain saw how the Depravita of Wrath''s chest regenerated, but a smile still appeared on his face as he felt the monster''s energy pool decrease significantly. It seemed that the Time Tribulation was not only shattering the dimension but also cutting the connection to the endless stream of negative emotions and chaotic psychic energy. "Good, very, very good. Let''s continue!" A cold smile appeared on Cain''s face as he clenched his fists and glanced at the Depravitas. Now that they no longer had an unlimited energy supply, he could truly harm them. The Depravitas took their eyes away from the Time Tribulation force and focused on Cain as he uttered those words, their eyes full of overwhelming hatred and killing intent toward the person who ruined their plans. "Grraaargh!" With that roar, the Depravitas marched toward Cain with the intent to kill him before the Time Tribulation would finish with the dimension, and the young man''s smile only widened as he flashed toward them as well. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Explosions echoed inside the underwater city as Cain and the four Depravitas fought with everything they had, as the burning power of the Time Tribulation reduced their battlefield more and more. The Depravitas'' bodies shattered under Cain''s attack. Still, they kept regenerating while the young man''s flesh and bones broke under the pressure of the Nine Void Suns Battle Form. Yet, the Pseudo Immortal Body immediately fixed all the damage using the dark force from the [Grand Demonic Devourer Dimension]. Less and less dark force emerged from the dark flame, and it was only a matter of minutes before the Pseudo Immortal Body would run out of energy. However, seeing that the Depravitas were having trouble regenerating, it seemed they would run out first. "BOOOOOMMMM!" Cain had just sent the Depravita of Disease flying away with a palm strike that left a massive hole in the monster''s stomach when he saw how the Depravitas surrounded himself, each taking a cardinal point before their energy began to burn with immense power. ''They want to take me down with them?'' The power of the Time Tribulation had already consumed over two-thirds of the underwater city, and there was not much energy left in the Depravitas, so Cain came to that conclusion, and by the manic light in the monsters'' eyes, it seemed he was right. "Grraaargh!" With a roar of hatred, the four Depravitas made their energy burn before flashing toward Cain, full of killing intent. A cold light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he saw the Depravitas nearing from every direction. He extended his arm and made the energy in the Nine Void Suns explode, generating an explosion of red burning energy! "AHHHHHHHH!" The Depravitas screamed in agony as the waves of red fiery energy crashed directly into their bodies, burning them and pushing them away from Cain. If that was not bad enough for the monsters, the explosion of the Nine Void Suns was so immensely powerful that it sent them crashing into the waves of Time Tribulation''s force. As soon as the sky-blue force made contact with their bodies, it began to destroy them under the power of the flow of time. The Depravita of Wrath was in excruciating pain as the flames and the power of time consumed his flesh. Even with his insane regeneration power, it was approaching the limit, and things only got worse as the next second, Cain appeared in front of him. Cain sent a piercing blow, burying his fists into the Depravita of Wrath''s chest before flooding the body of this one with sealing energy and the power of space. He acted extremely fast, and once he completed the sealing, he sent the monster into the [Samsara Arsenal Module]. Not wasting time, Cain turned to the Depravita of Disease, Depravita of Fear, and Depravita of Decay, flashing to the monster before the power of the Time Tribulation could destroy them. Chapter 884 884: Time Tribulation (II) Cain''s face lit up with a triumphant smile as he managed to ensnare all four Depravitas just before they met their end. In the heat of battle, he unleashed his full force, not holding back an ounce of his killing intent. Yet, he was not blind to the opportunity to capture them, a strategic move that would greatly help in the future. The capture of these four Depravitas was a significant step in Cain''s investigation. Unlike the Blood Depravita, whose resilience and mastery over the Concepts rendered him impervious to soul searching and mind reading, these four were vulnerable. It was a challenging task, but Cain''s growth since his encounter with the Depravita of Blood had bolstered his confidence in his chances of success. In the worst-case scenario, if he failed to access their memories, these four Depravitas would serve as a potent sacrifice for the Samsara Flame. The last time he made a sacrifice related to the Depravita Race, he was rewarded with the Codex of Infinite Pathways. This thought filled Cain with a thrilling sense of anticipation, wondering what kind of Gift he might obtain this time. Yet, all these musings had to be set aside, for Cain was still in grave peril. He had triumphed over the four Depravitas, but the force of the Time Tribulation encroached on him while simultaneously eradicating the underwater city. "The hatred and killing intent are immense. There is no intent for tempering or challenge." While the destructive nature of the Time Tribulation made him happy as it destroyed the underwater city, now that it was his time to face it, he was not so excited. Cain moved back slowly as the force of the Time Tribulation kept advancing until he stood in the center of the underwater city, right above the dark temple where the Depravitas had been working over the Blood God. A spark of unwavering determination ignited in Cain''s eyes as his fighting spirit surged. ''The stronger the Tribulation, the more I will gain. I just need to confront it with all my might!'' Cain prepared to fight using all his power as the Time Tribulation approached him, yet the sky-blue force froze just as it was about to engulf. "What?" Confusion appeared in Cain''s eyes as the sky-blue force from the Time Tribulation consumed everything but him. He had faced the Tribulations many times before, yet this was the first time he could detect a semblance of true wisdom. The sky-blue force did not remain frozen for long. Once it consumed the entire underwater city, including every building, aquatic monster, and dark temple, it burst outward, channeling all its power into the dimensional barrier and attacking it from the inside and outside at the same time. "BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" Cracks covered every inch of the dimensional barrier, so it could not endure such a cataclysmic force and shattered, generating a massive explosion due to the true size of the dimension appearing in the landmass. "RUMBLEEEEE!" The entire Crystal Sector trembled even more than before, but luckily, all the cities had activated their emergency protocols, so anyone too weak to face the earthquakes had already taken shelter. Ishmael, the Ten Swords, along with the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin, had not taken their eyes from the Time Force tornado that pierced into the ground. They now saw how this one returned into the aurora sky, leaving behind a massive hole dozens of thousands of kilometers deep. That was not all, as the killing intent and thirst for destruction that the Time Tribulation had shown before vanished. What was left was an emotionless force that sought to challenge the one who summoned it. It would still kill that person if they were too weak, but there was no bias, and it carried a divine tempering force that could push the challenger to the next level. Ishmael''s eyes narrowed as he glanced at the aurora sky and then turned to the gargantuan hole. He was ready to flash forward when a figure rose from the underground, a man in a red robe with fiery eyes and covered in blood. The destruction of the parallel dimension badly wounded Cain. Luckily, there was one last burst of dark force that helped his Pseudo-Immortal Body fully regenerate, but that was it. While the mutated Blood God kept unleashing dark radiation, it was not as massive as at the beginning and could not keep fighting without care for his energy or wounds. "It allowed me to face those four Depravitas and left me in peak condition to face the Time Tribulation, so it did more than enough," Cain smiled and was happy with how things went as he turned to the aurora that covered the sky, that seemed ready to unleash all its power on him. However, that was not the sole consequence awaiting Cain on the surface. Ishmael and the upper echelon of the Atrox Immortus Empire stared at him with piercing eyes. It was evident they were displeased with his clandestine maneuvers in Kronos and the jeopardy he had put the Crystal Sector in by triggering these phenomena. Instead of wasting time explaining everything that happened, Cain waved his hand and sent everybody a video detailing his movements in search of the Blood God, how he found clues that led him to the underwater dimension, as well as the parallel dimension with the underwater city and Depravitas. Ishmael and the Ten Swords focused on their computer ring, and as they watched the video, their eyes widened with dread and trepidation. A complicated expression soon appeared on all their faces as they could not believe that something like this was happening in their empire, yet they knew nothing about it. In the end, the Atrox Immortus Emperor and the upper echelon of the empire could not help but turn to Cain, their eyes projecting a myriad of emotions, as they could not help but feel weird noting that their empire avoided a catastrophe due to the help of a man whose race they considered one of their greatest enemies. Cain saw how the Atrox turned toward him but did not have time to care about them as it was time to face the Time Tribulation. He adopted a battle stance as he made his Essence Wave explode with power while the Radiance of Strength and Radiance of Life overflowed his flesh. While using his Solar Tempest Essence and the full power of his dual cultivation would have made things easier, that would diminish the tempering effect that the Time Tribulation would have on him. The Law of Time was mighty and useful, and Cain wanted to take this chance to improve his mastery. After all, he had the Collapsing Space-Time Eye, and up until now, he had primarily focused on the space aspect. As if sensing that Cain was ready, the power of the aurora in the sky burst, and the next second, a massive sky-blue wave of temporal power descended from the sky like a tsunami. That was the first phase of the Time Tribulation, the Temporal Disruption Wave. The sky-blue wave moved extremely fast, and just as Cain saw it falling, it was already on him. Immediately, he was assaulted by waves of temporal distortion that disrupted his perception of time. Images containing the past, present, and future assaulted Cain''s mind, making him feel lost amidst the chaotic fluctuation of time. However, his Collapsing Space-Time Eye soon burst with power as he pushed the full power of his Essence Evolution Path of Power, focusing on the temporal distortion, deciphering its principles, and anchoring his mind to the present. Cain did not move a muscle or throw a punch, but he was in a ferocious internal battle, using everything he had to keep his mind in the present and prevent it from losing itself in the chaotic flow of time. He remained steady for nearly three hours as he fought against the temporal distortion until his mind finally rose above it, marking his success. "I feel how my domain over the Time Law improved itself. Unlike others, I don''t need to truly learn them. I just need to exploit the potential that my Collapsing Space-Time Eye already grants." There was pure ecstasy in Cain''s face as he felt himself improve, but he did not dare to lose focus as the aurora in the sky burst with power again, marking the start of the second phase of the Time Tribulation. Streams of sky-blue energy emerged from the aurora, and they soon began to coalesce, forming humanoid figures strikingly similar to Cain but all different in a certain way. "Temporal Echo Assault." That was the name of the second phase of the Time Tribulation, and Cain knew that he would now have to face those echoes, each representing a potential outcome or decision. Cain clenched his fists as the Collapsing Space-Time Eye burst with power, and he did not wait for the echoes to make the first move as he flashed toward them, ready to kill. Chapter 885 885: Time Tribulation (III) Cain''s attacks were immensely powerful as he clashed with the temporal echoes. All those entities brought to life by the Time Tribulation were not only extremely powerful, but they could tap into the flow of time and use that to predict his movements. Luckily, he could use The Flow, the Collapsing Space-Time Eye, and Virtual Sight to counter that foretelling skill. However, it was not only the time echoes'' ability to gaze into the flow of time that made them extremely dangerous but also their teamwork, as they seemed to share one single mind, all of them displaying nothing short of flawless coordination. Despite all that, every time Cain clashed with one of the temporal echoes, his smile grew wider. There was more than raw force in his punches, and he took a piece of temporal echoes through the Gluttony Concept, slowly stealing their time essence and engraving it into his body in the form of Law Runes. Ishmael, the Ten Swords, the Dark Emperor, Prime Minister Razputin, and everybody with a high enough cultivation to gaze into the aurora without falling unconscious were watching the battle between Cain and the temporal echoes. It was a truly majestic sight, and they could feel how the wonders of the Law of Time manifested at an impossibly high level, which not even Essence Evolution Divine Ascension Masters could understand. The battle between Cain and the temporal echoes lasted for five hours. While he was full of wounds and blood leaked from the corners of his mouth, Cain smiled. Now, his body was overflowed with time essence, obtained from the one he stole from the echoes and the one the Time Tribulation gave him as a reward for his victory. Cain clenched his fists as his Collapsing Space-Time Eye glowed with a majestic light. No part of his body benefited more from the Time Tribulation tempering than the third eye, as the improvement in Cain''s mastery over the Time Law would allow it to express its full potential. Unfortunately, Cain did not have time to get too happy as the aurora''s power rose again. It was time for the third phase of the Time Tribulation. ''Chrono-Warp Barrage.'' Those words echoed inside Cain''s mind as he remembered the description of the phenomenon in the Codex of Infinite Pathways and prepared himself as another wave of temporal force descended from the sky and surrounded him. "?BOOM!" The next second, a sky-blue explosion occurred next to Cain, and while the blast''s power was not strong enough to severely harm his body, raw power was not the essence behind these attacks but something much more complex to handle. ''Whattttt isssss thiiiiiiiis?'' Cain''s thoughts were in complete disarray as the explosion seemed to push his entire existence into a state of extreme time dilation to the point that even his thoughts were affected. Cain''s body and mind could not resist the power of the time dilation, but his Collapsing Space-Time Eye remained impervious and began to resist, pushing the rest of his existence back to the correct time flow. "?BOOM!" Unfortunately, before the Collapsing Space-Time Eye could fully counter the power of the time dilation, another sky-blue explosion was triggered, engulfing Cain in its power. Cain''s eyes grew bloodshot, and blood leaked from every orifice in his head. It was not that the second blast carried more raw power, but it pushed his mind and body into a state of extreme time compression. Pushing Cain''s body and mind from a state of extreme time dilation to extreme time compression carried a devastating effect on his blood vessels and nerves, triggering a disastrous backlash. The time compression was so intense that Cain could not even form coherent thoughts as he could not put his ideas in order, but once again, the Collapsing Space-Time Eye acted, trying to push his body and mind to the correct time flow. Cain felt how his mind was already starting to work correctly again when a new sky-blue explosion appeared, engulfing his body and pushing him back to extreme time dilation, generating a new severe backlash that threatened to break every single blood vessel. There was no reason for the effect of this explosion to be so catastrophic as Cain could use treasures or even his Astral Wave to reinforce his body and protect his mind. However, that path would diminish the tempering level that the Time Tribulation would grant him, and Cain would always choose the most profitable path, no matter how dangerous it could be. It was easier to adapt to being in a state of time dilation for the second time. Instead of wasting his effort trying to find a logical way out of this state, Cain focused all his power on the Collapsing Space-Time Eye, acting at an instinctive level as he attempted to push his body back to the right time flow. Cain''s mind and body were already approaching their goal when a new sky-blue explosion appeared, sending him back to extreme time compression. But while he released a mouthful of blood, a sharp light appeared in his eyes. ''The damage is diminishing.'' This time, the damage caused by the backlash was much weaker as his mind and body were already approaching the correct time flow when he was pushed to extreme time compression. For Cain, it was all about improving since no matter how small the progress, it meant he was advancing, and that was all that mattered! The sky-blue explosions carried on for several hours, pushing Cain from extreme time dilation to extreme time compression over and over again, wreaking havoc on his entire organs. However, every time, he moved closer and closer to success. He could maintain a serene expression during the last twenty minutes of the Chrono-Warp Barrage. Cain''s domain over the Law of Time grew high enough that he managed to return his body and mind to their natural time flow before the next explosion could appear. The sky-blue waves that had unleashed all those explosions did not simply vanish once the Chrono-Warp Barrage ended, as it changed its nature into a force full of life before flowing into Cain''s body. Cain''s eyes widened as he saw the reaction of the Time Tribulation. According to the Codex of Infinite Pathways, the sky-blue wave would fuse back into the aurora and not in him. ''Is it because I managed to not only survive but surpass the third phase, or is it something else?'' Although some questions arose in his mind, Cain was more than happy to see this event as it would improve his body and mind''s ability to attune to the Law of Time, making it much easier for him to decipher its mysteries. Once every ounce of the sky-blue wave merged into Cain''s body, the aurora in the sky burst forth once more, and this time, it was much more significant than before. Cain immediately turned to the sky, and his eyes widened in shock and awe. He had read about this phenomenon in the Codex of Infinite Pathways, but it was still shocking to see how the sky split apart as a massive rift appeared. The rift in time was gargantuan, covering nearly half of the Crystal Sector! ''Temporal Rift Implosion.'' In Cain''s mind echoed the name of the last phase of the Time Tribulation. The goal was to stabilize and close it before it would explode with overwhelming power, unleashing an ocean of destructive time energy, all of which would target the challenger. While the Temporal Rift Implosion was incredibly dangerous, it was also not necessary to take on. A cultivator of the Essence Evolution Path of Power that faced the Time Tribulation needed to surpass the first three phases and could ignore this last one if they so desired. Of course, avoiding the Temporal Rift Implosion would diminish the level of tempering the Time Tribulation would leave on you, but many would choose it over the high chance of perishing inside that rift. Cain glanced at the massive temporal rift for a second before the Collapsing Space-Time Eye glowed with red light, and he flashed to the sky with all his power. He did not just appear in front of the temporal rift but went inside it, intending to stabilize it from within! As soon as he stood inside that temporal rift, Cain felt every atom of his existence trying to deviate from the normal flow of time. If it were to happen, he would crumble into a cloud of dust and have a horrible death, not leaving a body behind. Immediately, all the strength of his Essence Evolution Path of Power exploded as he channeled all the energy inside his Essence Star into his Collapsing Space-Time Eye, focusing himself to regain control over his body and mind. It was hard, but Cain managed to stabilize his existence. He did not waste time and extended his hands, flooding the temporal rift with his Essence Wave, ready to take control of it. Chapter 886 886: Time Tribulation (IV) Cain''s Collapsing Space-Time Eye glowed with more and more power as his Essence Wave extended across the gargantuan rift in time that covered the sky of the Crystal Sector of the Kronos Continent. That was just the start since once he spread all his energy, he proceeded to infuse it into the rift in time. After an hour, the rift in time finally stabilized, no longer generating an explosive intent that seemed capable of shattering the sky above the Kronos Continent. Ishmael and the rest of the Ten Swords were left in awe, their jaws dropping as they witnessed the sheer magnitude of Cain''s power. The previous battle had hinted at his strength, but this was a display of control over the Laws of Aether that was nothing short of majestic, a testament to his dominion over the very fabric of existence. The Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Minxet were present during the Scarlet King''s Space Tribulation so they could retain their composure. However, seeing a man taking control over such a majestic and massive phenomenon was still impressive. Once the temporal rift was completely stabilized, Cain''s Collapsing Space-Time Eye began to glow. He compressed it slowly using the Essence Wave that had been impregnated into the gargantuan phenomenon. "Thump!" "Thump!" "Thump!" The massive rift in time began to tremble, generating beating sounds that echoed across the entire Crystal Sector. All the Atrox saw how it began to diminish in size, the energy and powers in compression growing purer and stronger. Every second that passed, the temporal rift diminished in size, and streams of its essence fused into Cain''s body, soul, and Essence Star. The process brought incredible benefits to his foundation and made him more and more powerful. Finally, after seven hours, pushing his mind, soul, and energy to the limit, Cain was able to seal the temporal rift, marking the end of the Time Tribulation! There was nothing left in the sky except for the young man, and his aura seemed otherworldly. The power of time and space seemed to dance around his body in gray and sky-blue streams of energy. Cain could feel the eyes of the people looking at him, but right now his focus was solely on his body and Essence Star, as he could not help but feel awe at the Law Runes, intricate symbols representing the Laws of Aether, that filled every cell of his body, with even clear marks appearing on his bones. ''I might be the only person to have reached the true limit of the Apotheosis Realm since the birth of Aether.'' A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as that thought crossed his mind. He knew there were those like the Crown Prince who had managed to go through the Mind Calamity, but he had yet to find anyone who had gone through the Space Tribulation or Time Tribulation. Those thoughts did not last long in Cain''s mind as he focused the next second and sent a command to the Absolute Life Form System. ''System, scan me.'' [Scanning Vessel. ... ... Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Mind Calamity) / Essence Evolution (Time Tribulation) Lineage: Sun Master Lineage Wave Talent: Low Emperor Neo-Demon --> Middle Emperor Neo-Demon ... Stats: Strength: 1.5 --> 1.7 (2.0) Agility: 0.5 --> 0.6 (0.7) Vitality: 1.5 --> 1.7 (1.9) Astral Wave: 1.1 --> 1.2 (1.5) Essence Wave: 1.0 --> 1.3 (1.6) Soul Force: 1.4 --> 1.5 Ego Wave: 1.0 --> 1.1 ... Astral Blood Saturation: 100% Completion Law Mastery: Law of Space (Extreme Law Integration) Law of Time (Middle Law Integration) Earth Law (Deep Law Integration) Water Law (Deep Law Integration) Fire Law (Extreme Law Integration) Wind Law (Deep Law Integration) Note: Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 14.1%. Note: Natural energy has enhanced every aspect of the Vessel''s physical body, including the Astral Wave and Essence Wave. The current value is marked between ().] Cain was ecstatic with the improvement in his body and energy pool. It had been less than three months since he last checked his stats, and they all increased by over twenty percent, not to mention that his Essence Wave grew much more potent. There were no massive changes in the foundation of his constitution, but his Law of Time jumped from the Law Fragmentation to the Middle Integration Realm. This massive improvement would normally take hundreds or even thousands of years for other cultivators to attain. Although his Law of Time was much weaker than his Law of Space, now Time Law Runes covered every inch of Cain''s body, so he would only need to focus on himself to improve his mastery. Once he fully exploited the power of the Law of Time, his Lineage might evolve again. After allowing himself a moment to relax and enjoy the feeling of strength and power running through his veins, Cain took a deep breath and pushed his mind back to its state of perpetual focus. Only then did he turn toward the Atrox Immortus Emperor and the rest of the empire''s upper echelon, teleporting and appearing the next second before them. Cain still radiated an immensely powerful aura, and Ishmael found it hard to look the young man straight in the eyes, especially the one in the forehead that seemed to glow with the power and mysteries of space and time. However, the Atrox Immortus Emperor was not an average person, and by pushing his willpower to the limit, he managed to stand straight in the young man''s presence. He remained silent for a moment before clapping his hands and performing a slow bow. "In the name of the entire Atrox Immortus Empire and the people of Kronos, I must express our profound gratitude for your swift action against this unknown threat that loomed over us." The Atrox Immortus Emperor''s voice was solemn, underscoring the gravity of the situation. The Atrox Immortus Emperor bowing to a human was a sight people might think could never happen, yet it did. Cain did not make it harder for Ishmael and simply nodded before speaking in a somber tone, "Internal battles are meaningless when facing threats from beyond the Crystal Wall." Ishmael and the Ten Swords'' eyes widened as they heard those words. Although they had seen the video, they had no idea where those monsters came from. Many even thought they were ancient races, but it seemed they were not even from Aether. There were all sorts of questions in the minds of Ishmael and the rest of the Atroxs, as they wanted to know what kind of enemy was scheming against their home, and it seemed that the Scarlet King had the answers. "We can talk, but not here," Cain said before turning around and making his energy explode, channeling all into the Collapsing Space-Time Eye and then waving his hand, generating a fissure in space. Ishmael and the Ten Swords were surprised to see the sky of Evernight, the Atrox Immortus Empire''s capital, on the other side of the fissure. The Scarlet King managed to make a portal from the northernmost Sector in Kronos to the center of this one. That feat was impressive and extremely challenging, as it took all of Cain''s mastery over space-time and consumed a large amount of his energy. Luckily, a constant flow of dark force came from the dark flame inside the [Grand Demonic Devouring Dimension]. The changes to the [Grand Sky Fiend Flame] aroused Cain''s interest, curiosity, and concerns. After all, it was part of his power and an essential tool of the [Gluttony Module], but there was no need to rush things, and he could wait until he finished this matter with the Atrox Immortus Emperor. "Let''s go." Cain stepped into the portal the next second, appearing in the sky of Evernight. The city was even more majestic than he remembered it, as now he did not have to hide his perception like the first time he arrived and could perceive its full glory. The gothic aesthetic style of the Atrox Immortus Race was something Cain liked very much, as it felt relaxing and imposing at the same time. As he gazed at the massive city, his eyes could not help but turn to a certain castle that held many memories for him. The Collapsing Space-Time Eye glowed, allowing Cain''s sight to pierce through all solid objects. As he watched that young woman going through countless formulas on a piece of paper, a small smile appeared on his face. Ishmael did not waste time back in the Crystal Sector and sent a myriad of commands before he, along with the Ten Swords, the Dark Emperor, and Prime Minister Razputin, went through the portal as well. There was still a lot to do in the Crystal Sector, as there was a massive hole in the middle, and the people were in disarray, but those were tasks that the Gods in charge of the Sector could handle and did not require the supervision of the emperor. Chapter 887 887: 90% Cain, Ishmael, the Ten Swords, the Dark Emperor, and Prime Minister Razputin were currently in the throne room of the Atrox Immortus Imperial Castle. Usually, when receiving people, the Atrox Immortus Emperor would sit on his majestic throne, but Ishmael did not dare to do so in front of the Scarlet King. It was not just that the man was mighty beyond their understanding, but he had also done extraordinary deeds in the name of the Atrox Immortus Empire. Without anything requesting it, the Scarlet King alone obliterated the Tier 0 Dark Factions and killed all the leaders of the Tier 1, essentially crippling the underworld. That feat was enough to crown him the Hero of the Atrox Immortus Race had he not been a human. And that was not all the Scarlet King did. He also halted the plans of an Alien Race that had already established a foothold in the Kronos Continent, having developed a massive underwater city. Of course, although a lot of evidence proved the validity of the video Cain shared, some of the Atroxs were still doubtful. But they did not dare to question the man out of fear of his power. Cain could see the doubts in some of the Ten Swords, and while he could simply suppress all dissent with his strength, that would not handle the problem; it would only push it to a later time when it could become even more complicated. ''Seeing is believing.'' A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as that thought crossed his mind, and he rose to the ceiling and waved his hand, making the massive body of the Depravita of Wrath appear. When the Depravita of Wrath appeared, an ominous, dark, cold aura flooded the throne room. It extended across the entire Imperial Castle, making everybody inside feel their instincts scream terror. That feeling was nowhere clearer than within the hearts of Ishmael and the Ten Swords. The Atrox Immortus Emperor''s upper echelon could see that the monster''s body and energy were completely sealed. Yet, he still released such a brutal and powerful aura, making it clear that his power was immense, more than enough to kill any of them in a one-on-one battle. And according to the video, four of these monsters had inhabited the underground of their continent! "ZNNNN!" The next second, Cain waved his hand forward and pierced the chest of the Depravita of Wrath, making a large hole right in the center, and as he took his hand away, the flesh began to regenerate slowly. That scene shocked Ishmael and the rest of the Atrox Immortus Empire Upper Echelon, but it generated a sharp light in the eyes of the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin. The duo from the Inferno Daemon Empire momentarily thought that this monster and the Humanoids of Dark Sky were connected as their dark and brutal aura were strikingly similar. However, the Humanoids of Dark Sky did not have insanely fast regeneration abilities. They did not have an energy pool and relied solely on their bodies. After allowing everyone to see the Depravita of Wrath and dispelling their confusion and questions, Cain sent the monster back into the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer. "That is a member of the Depravita Race. They are an extremely scheming and powerful race with a more advanced cultivation civilization than ours. That is how they created such majestic structures like the parallel dimension with the underwater city." Cain''s voice was somber, making it clear just how dangerous of a threat they posed. It was time to reveal the existence of the Depravita Race to the other Sacred Races, especially if his hypothesis regarding their connection with Dark Sky was correct. "I have already faced them two times before. Once, during the battle against the Inferno Daemon Invasion Army, when the Blood King was transformed into the Depravita of Blood. He killed a lot of people, and his last spell consumed the lives of all the low-ranking Inferno Daemons present. It was only with the combined effort of Gods and Titans that we were able to kill him." When Ishmael and the Ten Swords heard the tale about the Depravita of Blood, their eyes could not help but turn toward the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin, wondering what type of connection the duo could have with that monster. After all, even if the Depravita of Blood killed a lot of low-ranking Inferno Daemons, it was still fighting for their side. The Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin were at a loss, as this was the first time they had heard about this. They knew from the general''s reports that a powerful entity appeared but had no idea it was a Depravita. Before the duo of the Inferno Daemon Empire could utter a word about their innocence, Cain''s voice echoed again. "The Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin have no connection with the Depravita Race. The Depravita Race just manipulated them and their empire, and they were not alone since the Crown Prince''s soul of the Godslayer Humankind Empire was also taken over by them." All the people in the throne room were shocked by that information. They had heard of Michael Goldsoul''s incredible feats, and he was considered a shooting star. Who would have known he was actually a tool in the hands of an Alien Race? According to what the Scarlet King was sharing with them, the Depravita Race was the one behind the bloodiest encounter between the Godslayer Humankind Empire and Inferno Daemon Empire in the last thousand years. They were practically using two Sacred Races as puppets for their schemes! Suddenly, a solemn and sharp light appeared in the eyes of the Atrox Immortus Emperor as he glanced at the Ten Swords. The Depravita Race was good at infiltration, and who could say there would not be one of the present? He trusted all of the Atroxs with his life, but he was sure that the Golden Emperor also trusted his son. When it came to the safety of the Atrox Immortus Empire and the trillions of people in it, there was no room for sentiments, and one could only rely on pragmatism. Ishmael was not the only one with those thoughts as Prime Minister Razputin also began to gaze at the rest of the people in the room, even at the Dark Emperor, wondering if any of them could be a spy or worse. Cain noticed the air of paranoia rising. While it could be extremely dangerous and divisive, he was happy to see it, as a certain amount was needed when facing entities like the Depravita Race. Besides, he had a way to keep it under control. "None of the people here is a Depravita, or their souls are influenced in any way by them. It is very easy for me to notice the genetic and energy mapping of a Depravita. Anything related to the spirit is hard, but I used the soul of the Crown Prince to devise a tool capable of detecting any alteration." Although Cain was making it seem like he was in charge of everything, the truth was that the [A.I. Chip Moulde] was doing all the job. Of course, to the Atroxs and Inferno Daemons, it did not matter where the ability came from. All they cared about was knowing none of the present was a Depravita. "Although the Depravita Race is strong, as an Alien Race, it is nearly impossible for them to enter Aether. They were trying to create a ''key,'' but I have already frustrated their plans, so Kronos is safe, and you will not have to worry about anyone harming your people." There was a meaningful light in Cain''s eyes as he uttered those last words. Ishmael understood the meaning behind that, and a solemn expression appeared as he glanced at the rest of the Ten Swords. All the Atroxs glanced at the Atrox Immortus Emperor, and one by one, they nodded, signaling their approval. Once everybody was on the same page, the Atrox Immortus Emperor clasped his hands and performed a slight bow before rising to his full height. "We will not forget your incredible help. Since we no longer have to worry about the Dark Factions or any other hidden power, the Atrox Immortus Empire will send 90% of its forces through the Bridge of Hope." The Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin were excited as they heard those words. While the Atrox Immortus Empire had already committed to marching into Atlas and facing Dark Sky, they were initially only going to send 50% of its forces. 90% would not only mean more soldiers but also allow the Dark Races'' camp to grow massively, which could match that of the Light Races camp. Of course, this was not due to a clash between the two sides, but more numbers would mean easier access to Ouroboros Points. Cain did not care about things like Dark Races and Light Races anymore since his mentality had already advanced beyond that. He just smiled to see a new powerful force siding against Dark Sky. Chapter 888 888: Invitation Cain''s eyes glinted with a hidden purpose as he turned to Ishmael. "I have a proposition for your profession masters, one that might pique your interest." The Atrox Immortus Emperor turned toward the Scarlet King as he heard those words, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes. While masters were not the foundation of the Atrox Immortus Empire''s power, their contributions were significant, and their absence would be felt. "Could you please provide more details about this offer?" Ishmael''s words were measured, his caution palpable. He sensed goodwill in the offer but had to tread carefully to protect his people. Cain only smiled, as it was normal for the Atrox Immortus Emperor to show some carefulness around him, but he could see it was way less than when they first met. "I want to invite your best Wave Crafters, Alchemy Masters, Rune Masters, and Genetic Coders to a unique cultivation ground. They will have access to the most advanced cultivation techniques and knowledge regarding their professions, and I guarantee their safety." At this point, Cain paused, and a severe expression appeared as he explained the cons of the invitation. "The place where the profession masters will go is secret, and I cannot allow its location to be revealed, so anyone that accepts this invitation will have to remain there until the battle with Dark Sky is over." Ishmael''s eyes narrowed as he began to ponder. There was no doubt in his mind that the place the Scarlet King described would surely improve his people, but it would be a lie if he said that the decades or maybe even hundreds of years of seclusion did not bother him. He turned toward the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin, trying to get some insight about this invitation, but the Inferno Daemon duo remained silent. "They do not know of this training heaven, as currently, there are only humans in it," Cain said to Ishmael before turning toward the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin. "Of course, I am also extending this invitation to you, but I believe it will be more complicated to find the right people among the Inferno Daemons in Atlas." A complicated expression appeared in the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin. Cain was tactful, as the number of the Inferno Daemon Race had diminished immensely, and the first ones to die during the initial clash with the Dark Fog were those who did not specialize in fighting. There were still masters in the Inferno Daemon Race, but there were very few, and none had a mastery above the Saint Tier. "I will look for talented people once we return to Atlas." Prime Minister Razputin only said that before releasing a small sigh. Cain nodded to the old man of the Nether Clan, then returned his focus to the Atroxs. "I have already extended this offer to the Deus Behemoth Race and plan to do it with all the Sacred Races." A light full of battle spirit appeared in the eyes of the Atrox Immortus Emperor as he heard that the Deus Behemoth Empire would also send masters. All his hesitation vanished as he could not stand allowing his empire to lose, even if it were in terms of professions. "We will immediately send the words and connect our most talented and hardworking masters." "Great, great. I can accept up to three hundred masters of each profession." Cain smiled, as these profession masters would be of immense help, allowing the development of the Anti-Dark Fog Tower, a crucial defense mechanism against the Dark Sky, to improve exponentially. There should be nothing else stopping Cain in Kronos. However, he wanted to do something before returning to the Sea of End and leading the armies into Infinite Horizon. "I would like you to summon Duke William and his daughter Astrid here." A small smile appeared on Cain''s face as he made that request toward the Atrox Immortus Emperor. Nothing could stop Cain from barging into the Atrox Duke''s castle, but given how things had developed, he wanted to speak with them in a place where they would be more secure and where his aura would not be so imposing. Ishmael turned toward the Scarlet King, and a meaningful light appeared in his eyes. Duke William had shared the mission details that resulted in the capture of an upper-echelon member of Blood Path and how he worked with the Scarlet King, so the relationship between the two was not new to him. Initially, the Atrox Immortus Emperor believed they were just pawns and nothing more, but he seemed wrong. After a moment, he nodded and sent a message through his communicator ring. Although Evernight was massive, it was very easy for someone like William to reach the Imperial Castle, and in less than a minute, a man in oceanic armor crossed through the doors along with a gorgeous young woman in a white robe. William and Astrid showed flawless decorum as they walked through the throne room until they were twenty meters away from Ishmael, and they knelt and lowered their heads. "Duke William Tormentras humbly greets his Imperial Highness." "Astrid Tormentras humbly greets his Imperial Highness." Ishmael nodded to the duo before signaling for them to rise and turning his gaze to the Scarlet King, who took a step forward and drew the duo''s attention. Duke William and Astrid were shocked and awed when they saw a human standing in the throne room of the Atrox Immortus Empire. They did not understand what was happening, and their shock only increased as the human figure began to change, transforming into that of a member of the Hell Clan of the Inferno Daemon Race. "Kain!" Astrid could not help but shout in awe as she saw the face of the young man of the Hell Clan with whom she spoke for hours and hours related to Tribulation Enhancement and whose intervention allowed her to gain access to cultivation. It was not just his appearance but his aura, demeanor, and the red light in his eyes that were just as she remembered, making it clear it was not simply a disguise. "This appearance is a disguise I used when I arrived in Kronos for the first time using one of the Intercontinental Teleportation Formations of The Organization. The young man from whom I took it was an envoy from the Inferno Daemon Empire who perished in his journey to Evernight due to family problems." Cain wanted to clear everything up with the young woman, making her realize it was him whom she had interacted with all this time. As for the disguise, it was easy for him to make those aesthetic changes with his current control over his flesh and blood. Astrid was not the only one shocked by the Hell Clan''s disguise; The Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin were also a little disturbed. However, once they heard the part about family problems, they could figure out how the original Kain came to die, and they could only shake their heads at such senseless infighting among their people. The young woman was at a loss for words and did not know what to say. She had always yearned to meet with the young man again, but she just found out he was a member of an enemy race with whom her people had fought for thousands of years. However, someone was faster to react. Duke William stood before Astrid, his eyes sharp, and he stared at Cain coldly. There was nothing more important for the man than to protect his daughter. Cain showed a complicated smile as he saw William and Astrid''s reaction. He was not surprised; after all, he had lied to them from the moment they met. "I understand your apprehension and suspicion, but there is no need to worry, as right now, there is no animosity between our races, and we will soon fight against a common enemy." William and Astrid were surprised by those words, and they turned toward Ishmael, who softly nodded. While as a Duke, William was aware of the mobilization of the army, he had no idea they would be fighting a common enemy by the side of the Goldslayer Humankind. Ishmael and the Atrox Immortus Empire''s upper echelon thought it best to reveal the news in person to the battalion leaders so they could solve all their doubts and not generate mayhem. "I have no ill will against your people. Personally, race means very little to me. I only see those who stand with me and those who do not. I want you to understand all this since I want to take you to a place where Astrid''s Tribulation Enhancement skills can rise to the next tier." Cain''s smile widened as he focused on the young woman. She was by far the most talented person he had seen in Tribulation Enhancement, at least in the theoretical aspect, and with the Codex of Infinite Pathways, who knows how high she could rise. Chapter 889 889: Astrids talent Astrid''s eyes lit up with fervor as she heard those words. For her, the world of Tribulation Enhancement was not just a field of study, but a realm of endless fascination and thrill. She could spend days and nights immersed in its complexities, forgetting even the most basic needs like food. She was not only a beyond divine talent in Tribulation Enhancement, but was also obsessed with it. If you combine both, you will give birth to a monster. However, the focus soon returned to her eyes as she nervously turned toward the Atrox Immortus Emperor and the Ten Swords. And she was not alone since Duke William also glanced at Ishmael and the rest of the Atrox True Titans with a flash of trepidation. Cain was confused for a moment by the reaction of the duo, but things became a little clearer as he saw how Ishmael and the Ten Swords glanced at the father and daughter with sharp eyes. "Oh, I see. You keep Astrid''s ability as a Tribulation Enhancer as a secret." Duke William could not help but lower his head toward Ishmael as Cain uttered those words. He had seen his daughter''s talent and knew just how impressive Tribulation Enhancement was, so he did not dare to reveal it to the Atrox Immortus Empire, at least not until he was a God and could protect her from anyone with dark thoughts about her abilities. Ishmael did not say a word, but his eyes showed a flash of coldness. Tribulation Enhancement was not new for him, as he had heard rumors about its power from the great general of the Scarlet Inquisition. "Ahhh, you made a serious offense, but we are in a time of war against the Dark Sky, the enemy of the world, and all six Sacred Races. You can make up for your mistakes on the battlefield." In the end, the Atrox Immortus Emperor only shook his head. As an emperor, he was angry at William for hiding something so precious that could help the entire race, but as a father, he understood the reason why the man did it. Duke William''s eyes widened, and a broad smile appeared as he heard those words. He clasped his hands and performed a deep bow. "I thank you, Your Highness, for ignoring this mistake. I will not forget your mercy." Ishmael''s expression was complicated as he nodded. He did not have much room either, as he did not dare pass punishment on William, much less on Astrid, considering that they were clearly important to the Scarlet King. "Since that is settled, what do you think about my invitation? I believe that with your skills, you will be able to attain great power very fast and be of help in the war against Dark Sky." Cain smiled toward Astrid and spoke in a voice full of delight and thrill, eager to bring the young woman into the [Samsara Arsenal Module]. It would be a lie to say that Astrid was not interested, but as she looked at Cain, her mind and emotions were still in turmoil. She did not know what the right path would be. Luckily for the young woman, she had help. "Several Rune Masters, Genetic Coders, Wave Crafters, and Alchemy Masters will also march into that training heaven of the Scarlet King. Having a Tribulation Enhancer in our race will greatly help and save lives, so if the young Lady wants to go, she should do it." Ishmael saw the hesitation in Astrid''s eyes and chose to intervene. The man was wise, and promoting talent was always a good path, especially if he could gain goodwill from the Scarlet King in the process. The words of encouragement from the Atrox Immortus Emperor dispelled most of Astrid''s worries, and as she saw her father nod, approving of her choice, she turned toward Cain with resolution. "I am willing to accept your invitation." "Great!" Cain was thrilled to hear those words from the woman. He was delighted to have her in his group, and while he did not realize it or maybe just ignored it, a part of him was thrilled she was close and safe during this time of war. "I will be waiting above the Sea of End, in front of the Bridge of Hope. In three days, I want to see the troops start marching. You should bring the masters and the payment for eradication of the Tier 0 Dark Factions." Cain turned toward Ishmael for a second as he uttered those words before appearing in front of Astrid, touching the woman''s shoulder, and vanished before anyone could even perceive him. William was left dumbfounded as Cain and his daughter vanished into thin air. However, something else came to his mind as he remembered the young man''s last words. He turned to Ishmael, his voice trembling with uncertainty. "Your Highness, what did the Scarlet King mean with Tier 0 Dark Factions?" "What you heard. That man destroyed all Tier 0 Dark Factions in Kronos." Ishmael did not bother with fancy words and just revealed the truth before turning toward the Ten Swords. "We need to work." ... Astrid''s eyes widened in awe as she found herself in a vast dimension, the first breath of the pink mist propelling her cognitive abilities to new heights. As she took in the grandeur of her surroundings, her gaze was drawn to the majestic book at the center, and a profound sense of reverence washed over her. "Let''s go." Cain smiled as he saw the woman''s expression and calmly led her closer to the Codex of Infinite Pathways. Thousands of people were training with it, but there was no real limit as you just needed to send your Ego Wave in. Most of the masters and cultivators present were in deep meditation and did not even notice the Scarlet King. However, there were some awake and resting, who immediately focused on Cain''s figure and were surprised to see him approaching with a foreign woman. Chapter 890 890: Chaos Primers It would have been easy for Cain to hide Astrid''s identity as an Atrox, but he chose not to. Inclusion and coexistence were critical if they wanted to blend their powers and grow stronger. Although the Atrox race was supposed to be an enemy of the Godslayer Humankind, everyone here understood that there was no room for those feelings as there had to be a common goal in the fight against Dark Sky. That was why no one dared to show animosity toward Astrid, especially seeing how the Scarlet King guided her. "Just focus your Ego Wave, a manifestation of your inner strength and will, on the book. After some trials, you will gain access to everything you need to advance," Cain explained as he focused on the book. Astrid was still a little nervous by the presence of so many humans, but Cain''s voice relaxed her, and she nodded before sending her Ego Wave into the Codex of Infinite Pathways. Immediately, all sorts of puzzles and theoretical challenges assailed the young woman, and she completed every single one. ''It should be a few hours for her to finish and her scoreboard talent to appear,'' Cain chose to remain in the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer and used the time to rest and enter deep sleep. He fought against the four Depravitas and then against the Time Tribulation, and while he did not show it, he was beyond exhausted, so a few hours of sleep would do wonders. After four and a half hours, Cain opened his eyes, now full of peace and serenity, as he felt highly well-rested. He immediately focused on Astrid, as the system told him she had finished her challenge and was eager to see her talent. A screen appeared above her head as soon as Cain focused on the young woman. [Talent degree: Essence Evolution Path of Power: B Astral Evolution Path of Power: C+ Ego Eternal Path of Power: B+ Genetic Coding: C Tribulation Enhancement: SS+ Wave Crafting: C Runic Master: C Alchemy Master: C] Cain''s eyes widened, and a smile of thrill immediately appeared. While Astrid''s talent in cultivation was average, and that was being nice, none of that mattered to him, as the only thing his eyes could see was the SS+ in front of Tribulation Enhancement. ''Her talent is even higher than mine!'' Cain''s talent was already beyond divine thanks to his mastery over energy and the help of the [Enhancement Module], allowing his score to be S+, yet Astrid surpassed him. There were many ways to improve one''s talent cultivation, but skill in the professions was much more complicated, so seeing such a heavenly talent made Cain ecstatic. Not to mention that if Astrid were to take Tribulation Enhancement as the center of her path, she could train in cultivation techniques that would use her talent in the profession to improve her cultivation speed. Once she reached the Divine Ascension Rank, her Inner World would be unique, and she could enhance her talent even more! After conquering the tests and puzzles, Astrid was granted access to the vast sea of knowledge within the Codex of Infinite Pathways. A profound sense of awe and wonder washed over her as she beheld the limitless potential for Tribulation Enhancement that lay before her. The knowledge in the book would solve almost all her doubts and show her a path to fuse her profession and cultivation. It was all she wanted and could not even dream of! The young woman turned toward Cain, her face full of delight and happiness as she glanced at the man who had opened the world to her. Yet, as she opened her mouth, she was at a loss for words, as she did not know what to say. Cain''s gaze softened as he looked at Astrid. "You are important to me," he said, "but my focus is on this war right now. We can explore other aspects of our relationship once the battle ends." It would be a lie if Cain said the women were unimportant to him, especially now that his feelings had mysteriously regained their power, but everything else could wait. Astrid stared at Cain for a moment, smiled, and nodded her head, happy with the arrangement. She was not a child, and her childhood disease had trained her will, so she was able to push those chaotic emotions away and focus on the task at hand. The young human and Atrox nodded to each other. Astrid then adopted a meditative position and focused on the Codex of Infinite Pathways. Cain left Astrid alone, rising to the sky of the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer, and adopted a meditative position. It was finally time to focus on the dark flame inside the [Grand Demonic Devourer Dimension]. He closed his eyes and fully immersed himself in the dark flames, forgetting everything else and using his soul and perception to understand the changes in this one. An entire hour passed before a meaningful light appeared in his eyes. ''It is similar to the [Grand Sky Fiend Flame], but it feels much purer as if layers of wastefulness had been peeled away.'' As he attempted to figure out the nature of the new flames, Cain turned to the one who was supposed to act as the guide for the system. "Apex, can you help me with this?" The golden humanoid in the deepest part of Cain''s soul sea heard the question and had been expecting it, so he immediately answered. "Normally, the only way a module or tool would change would be through an evolution and the use of Destiny Force after an improvement of your soul force. However, there is another path, and that is finding the Chaos Primers." "Chaos Primers? What is that? Why have you never mentioned it before?" Cain was shocked and immediately threw a question. It was the first time he had heard about Chaos Primer, and if it could help him improve his modules, he needed to know it. Chapter 891 891: Darkmist Force "I have told you many times that the Absolute Life Form System cannot make something out of nothing. All your modules are based on a cosmic power or artifact already present in the universe that the system was able to mimic. The forces around these heavenly treasures are called Chaos Primers, and by using them, you can nurture the modules, making them stronger without the need to improve your soul force or spend any Destiny Force." There was a solemn tone in the golden humanoid''s voice as he uttered those words and paused before continuing. "While I can help you, there are limitations to the things I can do or share with you. I only tell you about this since you have already fulfilled the requirements to learn about Chaos Primers." A meaningful light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he heard those words. After having unlocked the last of the modules, he believed that the Absolute Life Form System no longer held any secrets for him. But now, faced with the revelation of Chaos Primers, it became clear that his understanding was still shallow. Cain knew that asking about the secrets of the Absolute Life Form System would be pointless, so instead, he focused on what he already knew. "So the heavenly treasure that the [Gluttony Module] mimics is related to the Depravita Race?" "Instead of the Depravita Race as a whole, I would say that the [Gluttony System] is connected to the pure energy they used to form the key. That was the reason it acted as a Chaos Primer." Apex gave the most accurate response he could to Cain. "I guess I should keep an eye out for Chaos Primers in the future." Cain made sure to remember them but was not too enthusiastic, as they were not easy to attain. He should have never made contact with a Chaos Primer in Aether in the first place, but the opportunity presented itself in the form of an alien race invasion. Since the changes to the [Grand Sky Fiend Flame] were already theorized by the Absolute Life Form System, Cain believed that maybe this one could give him a detailed description of this dark flame. "System, can you explain to me this new dark flame?" [Answering Vessel''s request... The tool evolved into the Empty Seven Deadly Flames due to the power of Chaos Primer fusing into the Grand Sky Fiend Flame. Empty Seven Deadly Flames: - Enhanced Consumption: The Empty Seven Deadly Flames can now devour any form of energy, matter, or spiritual force with even greater efficiency and scope than the Grand Sky Fiend Flame. This includes mystical energies, elemental forces, cosmic energies, and any spiritual or psychic emanations. - Adaptive Absorption: The flames adapt to the nature of the energy consumed, optimizing their devouring process to maximize intake and minimize waste or resistance. Unlike the Grand Sky Fiend Flame that granted the Vessels part of the vitality and energy of the consumed object, the Empty Seven Deadly Flames consume everything and generate Darkmist Force. Darkmist Force: A unique type of energy characterized by its versatility and potency born in a superior universe. It is dense with spiritual and elemental energies and overflowing with vitality, making it suitable for every aspect of the Vessels'' cultivation and existence. Uses of Darkmist Force: - Nurturing the Body: Thanks to its ability to replace vitality and, in a lesser form, life force, it can enhance physical strength, durability, and regenerative capabilities. -Boosting Energy Levels: Darkmist Force can instantly fuse and replenish energy pools containing lower-level energy. - Mental Enhancement: Sharpens cognitive functions and psychic abilities by fusing with the Vessels'' willpower and Ego Wave. - Soul Fortification: Strengthens the soul, enhancing spiritual awareness and resistance to soul-based attacks. Once the Vessel reaches the Soul Realm, it can nurture the soul force. ... To show the true power of the Empty Seven Deadly Flames, the Vessel must find the Chaos Primers related to each of the seven unique flames.] Cain''s eyes widened in awe as he read the description of the dark flames, the Empty Seven Deadly Flames. Its power was beyond his wildest imagination, several times more potent than the [Grand Sky Fiend Flame]. It no longer went through the process of devouring things and giving him part of their energy or vitality. Instead, this new [Empty Seven Deadly Flames] consumed everything, generating Darkmist Force, which flooded Cain''s body and soul sea. That was several times more efficient, as it would not force Cain to search for treasures with high vitality and could instead send anything he wanted to the [Grand Demonic Devourer Dimension]. Of course, since the Darkmist Force was a very high-level type of energy, Cain could also see that the [Empty Seven Deadly Flames] would require immense amounts of fuel to generate it. ''By my calculations, I think even Divine Beasts would barely produce a little bit of Darkmist Force. Luckily, the Blood God is a constant source of energy.'' Cain was pleased with the evolution of the [Grand Sky Fiend Flame] into this [Empty Seven Deadly Flames]. Although it would no longer be useful for detailed tasks such as devouring subtle energies, his mastery over the Gluttony Concept could take care of that, so it was no problem. After everything was handled, Cain left the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer, appearing in the Imperial Castle inside Evernight. Before anyone could detect his presence, he appeared in the sky and teleported to the Sea of End. It did not take long for Cain to appear above the dark sea, and his eyes narrowed as he saw how the Nine Void Suns were starting to dissipate. The fact that they lasted for nearly a month was impressive, but they would naturally disperse since there was no resupply of their energy. Since Cain was already present in the Sea of End, there was no need for the suns, so he waved his hands, dispersing them before adopting a meditative position in front of the Bridge of Hope and waiting for the arrival of the armies. Chapter 892 892: Back to Infinite Horizon (I) Massive armies with hundreds of millions of warriors marched into the Sea of End. Eon and the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines of the Deus Behemoth Empire led one side, and the other had Ishmael and the Ten Swords of the Atrox Immortus Race. As soon as the Deus Behemoth Emperor and Atrox Immortus Emperor glanced at each other, a massive fighting spirit arose from their hearts, and they could feel the fighting will in the heart of the other. Yet, they both recognized the threat of Dark Sky and the need to fight together against the force capable of covering Atlas in darkness, but that did not mean that the thousands of years of struggle would simply vanish from one day to the next. Even if the warriors of the Dues Behemoth Empire and Atrox Immortus Empire wanted to kill each other, neither side dared to make a move due to the young man''s presence in the sky. The eyes of all the Atroxs and Deus Behemoths turned toward Cain, and there was a sense of awe and admiration in their eyes as they felt the immensely powerful aura the young man unleashed, and that seemed to rise higher than the heavens itself. Although it was still shocking for the millions of Atroxs that they would be following a human, they respected strength, and no one was more powerful than the young man in front of them. Cain opened his eyes once both sides arrived, and a broad smile appeared on his face as he felt the aura of thirteen True Gods from the Atrox Immortus Race and sixteen True Titans from the Deus Behemoth Race. There was a flash of surprise to see such a high number in the Deus Behemoth Empire, and he saw that four of the True Titans were Scarlet Inquisitors, the most prominent being Duke Gigant. While a True God or True Titan could not face a single Humanoid of Dark Sky, a team of four equipped with World Treasures could survive and fight inside the Dark Fog. Of course, while the upper echelon was the most meaningful part of the battle power, numbers would also be needed as Cain and the other higher-ups could not distract themselves while fighting the Humanoids of Dark Sky by the drones of the Insect Army. Cain smiled at the soldiers on both sides as he spoke in a tone full of power and friendship, "I am glad to see so many soldiers have decided to put their differences aside and fight for the good of Aether. I don''t need you to be friends, but you will respect each other." At this point, his eyes grew cold. "Anyone incurring infighting or spreading chaos on the battlefield will be sentenced to death, regardless of your background!" Although it shocked some of the Atroxs and Deus Behemoths, most of the soldiers did not show a reaction. After all, that punishment was standard for any troops or soldiers who dared to threaten the stability of an army. A leader could not allow the slightest sign of mutiny among his troops, especially on a massive battlefield that split across an entire continent. Seeing that everyone understood the seriousness of his words, Cain carried on to the next topic, turning toward the Atrox Immortus Emperor with a meaningful light in his eyes. Ishmael immediately understood the reason behind those eyes and clasped his hand before making three space rings appear. "In the name of the Atrox Immortus Empire, please accept these gifts as gratitude for destroying Blood Path, Silent World, and God''s Doom." Although the news about the destruction of the Tier 0 Dark Faction was something the higher-ups of the Atrox Immortus Empire were already aware of, it came as a shock for most of the soldiers, and how they began to look at Cain carried a deep sense of gratitude. Like in the Deus Behemoth Empire, the Tier 0 Dark Faction had harmed many people in Kronos, so their destruction was great news and filled the soldiers'' hearts with happiness. Cain''s eyes glowed with red light as he saw how the Atroxs began to look at him, and a smile appeared on his face as he nodded toward Ishmael for that flawless performance. His smile grew wider as he saw the evil treasures in the space rings, and it was clear that the Atrox Immortus Emperor did not try to hide anything. "I appreciate this handsome reward. I will now access your computer ring and implant the Ouroboros System." Not wasting time, Cain''s eyes glowed as he turned toward the Atrox Immortus Empire''s army, and the power of the [A.I. Chip Module] flowed through every computer ring. Ishmael, the upper echelon of the Atrox Immortus Empire, and practically every soldier had already heard about the Ouroboros System as the Dark Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin made a great effort to publicize it. There was no small amount that doubted the tales of such a majestic system; after all, who would empower his enemies? Yet, as they saw the data, it was clear everything was real. There was a clear description of how to win Ouroboros Points, and you could track everybody''s points through the Ouroboros Ranking, making it clear there was no favoritism between the Dark Races and Light Races. The fighting will in the hearts of Ishmael, the Ten Swords, and all the Atroxs exploded as they saw the majestic rewards in the Ouroboros System. Honor made them march into Atlas and fight against Dark Sky, but if they could become strong and get rewards in the process, all the better! The anticipation for the battle was palpable, filling the air with a charged energy. "It is time to march." Cain''s voice was loud, drawing back the attention of all the Atrox, and he turned toward the old man from the Nether Clan. There was a meaningful light in his eyes as he analyzed all the moves of the Inferno Daemon Prime Minister. Chapter 893 893: Back to Infinite Horizon (II) "Prime Minister Razputin, you will be in charge of allocating the forces and guiding them into the battlefield. I must also rely on you to guide the profession masters to Minxet, who will show them the way into their cultivation heaven." The situation in Infinite Horizon, Atlas, and the Dark Fog''s battlefield was full of changes, but Cain was sure the old man from the Nether Clan could handle that. "I will ensure every detail is flawlessly executed," Prime Minister Razputin declared, his smile reflecting his determination, and a glint of purpose in his eyes as he clasped his hands and made a solemn vow. While the mission might appear straightforward, Cain had entrusted him with a crucial task, a testament to the trust the young man had placed in him, a trust that held immense value for the old man from the Nether Clan. Without a moment''s delay, Prime Minister Razputin took charge, guiding the Atrox Immortus Empire''s forces through the Bridge of Hope. The bridge could accommodate a thousand people per second, a significant number, but with millions of soldiers, the process would still take time. Cain did not just wait for the Atroxs to pass through the portal; he focused on the forces of the Deus Behemoth Empire. His eyes immediately went to Lord Kabuto and Lord Zagninis, and he could see how the Rebirth Mark in their hands had vanished. Yet, the duo''s auras and vitality were much higher, meaning they had redone their Flesh Calamity. After that, Cain turned to the rest of the soldiers and interacted with their computer rings. As the Ouroboros System appeared in the computer ring of every single Deus Behemoth, a light full of excitement and thrill sparked in their eyes. While the normal soldiers were awed and shocked by the Ouroboros System, Cain took the opportunity to focus on Eon and the rest of the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines. "Show me the treasures." As they heard Cain''s words, a sharp light appeared in Eon, and the rest of the Patriarchs, and each of them sent a space ring toward the young man. Of course, Lord Kabuto and Lord Zagninis did not since they had already used their evil treasures, and Cain performed a Tribulation Enhancement on them for free. Cain gazed at the space ring, and a large smile appeared. The evil treasures the eight Patriarchs were able to gather did not fall behind that of the Atrox Immortus Empire and would be enough for several new World Treasures. "Excellent, you all did a great job!" Although it felt odd being praised by a man thousands of years younger than them, all the Patriarchs showed great smiles at Cain''s words. "Deus Behemoth Emperor, step forward!" Cain did not make them wait and summoned Eon before making a flame with 22 colors appear. Tribulation Enhancement was already widespread among the Deus Behemoth Empire, as hundreds of thousands of soldiers had seen how the Scarlet King performed it on the Scarlet Inquisitors. Eon clenched his fists excitedly as he saw that flame and moved forward before a cocoon of red energy covered his figure. He already knew the process, so he adopted a meditative position as the multicolored flame was released inside the cocoon and covered his body inside and out. The entire Deus Behemoth army saw gargantuan waves of world energy begin to flow into the body of the Deus Behemoth Emperor. The man''s vitality, foundation, and constitution improved with every second that passed. As the Atrox Immortus soldiers witnessed the massive increase in power in Eon, their eyes flashed with anticipation. They clench their fists with battle intent, ready to seize that power for themselves through the Ouroboros System. It took roughly an hour before all the world energy was assimilated inside Eon''s body. Once the man opened his eyes, a burst of scorching energy and power rose from every cell of his body while a smile full of delight and thrill appeared on his face. "Hahaha. Yes!" The Deus Behemoth Emperor could not help but burst into laughter as he felt the immense power running through his veins, how every wound that he had taken over the last thousands of years vanished, and finally, how his current foundation would allow him to burst through beyond the Divine Ascension Realm without a problem. That display of raw emotion did not last long as Eon soon regained his focus and showed a solemn expression as he bowed toward the Scarlet King. Cain nodded at the Deus Behemoth Emperor and turned his focus to the Patriarch of the Fenrir Clan, who immediately stepped forward with a smile full of delight and desire. He made a new 22 Revolution Flame appear and started the process again. One by one, Cain performed the Tribulation Enhancement on each of the Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines of the Deus Behemoth Empire. It took him almost seven hours, and by the time he finished, the Atrox Immortus Army had already vanished through the Bridge of Hope. "It is your turn," Cain spoke to Eon and the rest of the Patriarchs, who immediately nodded and began to march with the Deus Behemoth army through the Bridge of Hope. Cain was the last to go through the Bridge of Hope, as he wanted to ensure there was no problem with the hundreds of millions of people marching through it. However, not only did everything go smoothly, but the speed at which they moved was even faster, surprising him. "The disturbance in space in the Endless Ocean diminished!" Cain immediately found the reason for such good news, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes. The calm in the Endless Ocean was great news, but there must be a reason for the sudden change. The only thing Cain could think had changed since he arrived in Kronos was the destruction of the underwater city of the Depravita Race. A meaningful light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he believed he was coming closer to the origin of The Great Cataclysm, and a flash of determination appeared as he got into the Bridge of Hope and marched back toward Infinite Horizon. Chapter 894 894: Three vs three (I) The war against Dark Sky and the fight with the relentless Insect Army did not cease, even with Cain on a distant continent across the Endless Ocean. If anything, it escalated dramatically as the drones from the Insect Army appeared to enter an override state, their numbers and ferocity surging as they marched out of the Dark Fog and crashed with the warriors of the Godslayer Humankind and Inferno Daemon Race. Luckily for the Godslayer Human camp and Inferno Daemon camp, the massive influx of treasures had boosted the army''s capabilities to a whole new level so they could keep the insect drones at bay. However, they were still slowly losing terrain as the Dark Fog kept advancing, slowly but surely. The combined force from the two armies had prevented the Insect Army from scavenging for fuel to the Dark Fog in the landmass, but it was clear the Humanoids of Dark Sky were still improving it, albeit at a very low speed. Fighting inside the Dark Fog was impossible for normal people, and even True Titans and True Gods did not dare to stay inside for more than a few seconds due to the presence of Humanoids of Dark Sky. As the border of the battlefield crept toward the Inferno Daemon Empire''s capital, the Dark Fog managed to shroud two-thirds of Atlas. Still, the soldiers from the Godslayer Human camp and Inferno Daemon Race remained resolute. They knew, with unwavering certainty, that reinforcements would soon grace the battlefield. Finally, a month after the Scarlet King activated the Bridge of Hope and marched toward Hyperion and Kronos, Atlas saw an influx of millions of soldiers. The Atrox Immortus Army arrived, fusing into the Inferno Daemon camp, and before the day even ended, an army of equal size gathered with the Godslayer Human camp. Godslayer Humans and Deus Behemoths had fought together countless times before, and the same could be said between Atroxs and Inferno Daemons. Hence, both camps achieved balance quickly despite the massive increase in their number and the logistic nightmare that such a situation provoked. Of course, there was still a clear mark that divided both camps and split the Dark Fog battlefield that covered all of Atlas. It was a line neither side was too comfortable to get near since battling the same enemy and mixing their troops were very different things. At the moment when all troops had found their place in the Dark Fog battlefield, three figures materialized on the line that divided the dark and light camps. The group immediately seized the attention of all, for they were not just powerful warriors, they were the most powerful warriors. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor, Angron Aegon, and Zero Mint! The two humans and Inferno Daemon looked at each other and nodded before walking side by side into the Dark Fog, their aura valiant and without a single shred of fear or hesitation in their eyes. Silence echoed across the battlefield as the warriors saw the trio marching together into the Dark Fog. That could only mean one thing: they were going to challenge the Humanoids of Dark Sky! "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Zero, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, and Angron had just gotten one thousand meters into the Dark Fog when three explosions echoed in the distance, and then they saw three Humanoids of Dark Sky walking toward them. The Humanoid of Strength, Humanoid of Speed, and Humanoid of Defense appeared on the battlefield! All the soldiers near the trio could not help but focus on them, and the news of the clash spread across the entire battlefield. Even the Atroxs and Deus Behemoths, who had only heard rumors about the Humanoids of Dark Sky, were drawn to that fight since those were entities that could face the Scarlet King, and yet an Inferno Daemon and two humans were going to clash with them head-on. Zero''s mind''s eyes glowed with killing intent as a torrent of cold white flames emerged from his sword, and his armor unleashed an aura of indestructibility. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor clenched his fists as the power of the Gravity Fall Armor exploded, twisting the fabric of space and the flow of time around him. Angron''s dark wings vibrated at supersonic speed while his arms glowed with red and deadly energy that seemed capable of severing the life of anything it touched. Coldness, killing intent, and caution appeared in the eyes of the Humanoids of Dark Sky as they felt the enemies'' power. It was clear that despite their immense strength, it would be extremely dangerous if they were careless, so they were ready to burst with everything they had from the start. "BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!" Two massive explosions echoed across the Dark Fog as the two sides blasted toward each other, ready to kill, breaking the ground beneath their feet! "BAAAAAOOOOO!" The Speed Humanoid was the first to send an attack, as the woman attempted to take Zero Mint by surprise. Nevertheless, Angron intercepted her, pushing her whip-like arm away with his right dagger before connecting a ferocious kick that sent her flying into the air. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" The second clash took place between the Strength Humanoid and the Collapsing Lightning Emperor. The Emperor of the Godslayer Humankind took the lead, tackling the Humanoid of Dark Sky and diving into the Dark Fog. Not even a second later, a new explosion of kinetic energy and cold white flames appeared inside the Dark Fog as Zero''s sword clashed with the left forearm of the Defense Humanoid. The Humanoid of Dark Sky''s eyes were cold as he saw the sword cutting into his flesh, but he resisted and used his free arm to connect a ferocious blow toward Zero Mint''s head. "BOOOOMMMMMM!" A powerful kinetic explosion echoed the next second, but that blow, which would have sent anyone else flying away, failed to push back the Inferno Daemon! Zero Mint felt a metallic taste, and his head buzzed, but a bloody smile appeared as he realized his armor was powerful enough to allow him to take point-blank strikes from the Defense Humanoid! Chapter 895 895: Three vs three (II) Pure ferocity appeared in the eyes of the Inferno Daemon as he twisted his body, leaving a deep cut in the Defense Humanoid''s forearm before slashing to the chest of the alien monster, leaving a deep trail of black blood! "YES!" General Casidius could not help but shout as excitement and thrill appeared in his eyes, and he was not alone since those feelings burst into the hearts of all the Inferno Daemons watching the battle. The Defense Humanoid was supposed to be the invincible monster whose defenses no one could surpass, yet Zero Mint left two deep cuts from the start of the fight! "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" Just as Zero Mint left a massive cut in the chest of the Defense Humanoid, powerful explosions echoed, and everybody saw how the Collapsing Lightning Emperor''s entire body glowed with burning life force as he blasted the Strength Humanoid into the air, each punch sending the monster higher and higher! "BAAAAAOOOOOO!" "ZNNNNN!" The human camp had yet to react to the might of the Collapsing Lightning Emperor as they saw how the Patriarch of the Aegon Family chased after the Speed Humanoid. Angar was weaker than Zero Mint and the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, but his abilities and World Treasures made him a perfect counter for the Speed Humanoid. The female Humanoid of Dark Sky unleashed all sorts of sonic strikes toward the man, but Angar deviated them with his dagger before immediately countering. Even the slightest cut he left caused a deep wound on the Speed Humanoid due to the power of his Deathbringer Rune! "Crush them!" The Diamond Saint Duke shouted with a broad smile as he and the soldiers saw the performance of the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and Angar. "Yes, kill them!" "Cut them to pieces!" "Shatter their heads!" "Take out their hearts!" Screams full of vigor and clamoring for blood echoed across the entire Dark Fog''s battlefield, shocking the Deus Behemoths and Atroxs. The two races had just joined the battlefield, so they could not understand just how meaningful this battle was for those who had fought for months against Dark Sky. A feeling of fervor and optimism began to rise in the hearts of the Inferno Daemons and Godslayer Humans as they saw the trio taking on, harming, and overwhelming the Humanoids of Dark Sky! It was not the first time that the Humanoids of Dark Sky took wounds, but the only one that was able to truly damage these monsters was the Scarlet King, and seeing the trio do the same had a much more significant meaning. The Scarlet King was too high, too aloof; he was a monster in his own league that no one even bothered to compare themselves to. If he did something, it was because he was the Scarlet King, but things were different with the trio. Inferno Daemons and Godslayer Humans had considered the Humanoids of Dark Sky as unbeatable entities, but seeing people like Zero Mint, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, and Angar harm them, an idea appeared in their minds and hearts. If they worked hard enough and obtained enough treasure, then maybe in the near future, they could also fight the Humanoids of Dark Sky head-on! If they could fight them, they could kill them, and if they could kill them, then why would they fear them!? The shouts from the Godslayer Humans and Inferno Daemons camps made the thirst for blood and determination in the eyes of the trio explode with even greater strength, and they showed fierce smiles as they attacked with more and more power. Zero''s sword slashed with more brutality, while the Collapsing Lightning Emperor''s fists unleashed more power, and Angar''s attacks were the definition of deadly. The trio''s power rose by the second as they attacked with pure killing intent. Surprise appeared in the eyes of the Humanoids of Dark Sky since they did not believe that other than the Scarlet King, there would be people so powerful and capable of harming them in this small world. However, soon, a sense of focus and determination appeared on their faces as they glanced at each other before pushing their enemies away and regrouping. Zero Mint, Angar, and the Collapsing Lightning Emperor''s hearts overflowed with killing intent and battle will. Still, they were also seasoned warriors and did not blindly rush toward the three Humanoids of Dark Sky. It was known that one of the key powers of the Humanoids of Dark Sky was their flawless teamwork, and when they fought together, their power was greater than the mere sum of their parts, making their battle formations extremely dangerous. Before the trio could figure out their next move, the Humanoids of Dark Sky flashed forward, all marching toward Zero Mint. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor and Angar did not stay put, immediately flashing toward the Humanoids of Dark Sky, trying to break their formation as they could not allow Zero Mint to take the full power of the trio. Unfortunately for the Godslayer Humans, they were easily countered, with the Speed Humanoid finding an opening in the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and sending the man flying away. At the same time, the Strength Humanoid delivered a palm strike that Angar could not block and was thrust away. Zero''s eyes narrowed as he saw the Speed and Strength Humanoids send the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and Angar flying away and how the Defense Humanoid flashed toward him. Pulling back was not an option as it would leave him open to attacks from three directions, so he stood his ground and lashed out with all his power toward the incoming Defense Humanoid. A massive arc of energy emerged from Zero Mint''s sword, but the Defense Humanoid could block it using both of his forearms. And before the Inferno Daemon could take his sword back, the Strength and Speed Humanoids of Dark Sky attacked him from the left and right. "BOOOOOOMMMMMM!" "BAAAAAOOOOOOOO!" A massive punch and kinetic blast landed straight into Zero Mint''s chest, and even with the overwhelming defenses of his armor, he was sent flying away while puking blood! Chapter 896 896: Three vs three (III) The battle between Zero Mint, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, and the Patriarch of the Aegon Family against the three Humanoids of Dark Sky took a sharp turn from the moment the aliens decided to deploy their teamwork. Unlike the humans and Inferno Daemons, who were fighting together but unleashing their own moves individually, the three Humanoids of Dark Sky acted like a single force. The Humanoids of Dark Sky were able to complement each other''s strengths while protecting their weaknesses. That flawless teamwork and skills slowly began to drive their opponents to the ground! The Collapsing Lightning Emperor, Zero, and Angar were doing all that they could, deploying with their most extraordinary skills and utilizing the unique abilities of their World Treasures. Still, moving independently was not working as they could not find a single opening in the Humanoids of Dark Sky that way. They were slowly but surely being defeated. The cries of fear and thrill coming from the Godslayer Humans and Inferno Daemons died down, and the soldiers could only look with downcast expressions as even their best warriors were being crushed by the power of the Humanoids of Dark Sky. No matter how much they hated it, the Humanoids of Dark Sky''s teamwork was simply too flawless. On the other hand, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and Angar could not truly adapt to Zero Mint''s battle style. It wasn''t just battle skill or talent but trust that was required for proper teamwork. How could humans and an Inferno Daemon fight as one since they had been enemies for thousands of years? It was simply impossible. Or at least that was what everybody came to accept and believe as an infallible truth. Yet, five minutes later, the two Godslayer Humans and the Inferno Daemon pushed back the Humanoids of Dark Sky and stood next to each other before glancing into their eyes. Zero, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, and Angar were riddled with wounds due to the last clashes, yet their battle spirit only burst as they showed bloody smiles and nodded to each other. The antisocial Inferno Daemon took the lead, while the Emperor of the Godslayer Humankind positioned himself one step behind to the left, and the master assassin was two steps in the back, right in the middle of the duo. The strongest warrior of the Inferno Daemon Race and the two masters of the Godslayer Humankind had just adopted a battle formation, and their killing intent exploded as they flashed as one toward the Humanoids of Dark Sky. The Strength Humanoid, Defense Humanoid, and Speed Humanoid could not help but frown before sneering as they saw the trio flashing toward them. A battle formation was not something you could just form in the heat of the battle, and the only thing the humans and Inferno Daemon would get with this charade was embarrassing themselves. Without fear or hesitation, the Humanoids of Dark Sky flashed forward, ready to prove to the insufferable warriors of the Sacred Race just how weak they were and crush their battle formation. Zero and the Defense Humanoid were the first to clash, once again the sword and forearms colliding. Still, this time, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor dived beneath the strike and tackled the alien monster, flashing into the distance. While the Collapsing Lightning Emperor took away the Defense Humanoid, the Strength Humanoid and Speed Humanoid lunged toward Zero with killing intent, but now it was time for Angar to act. The wings of the dark armor glowed, allowing the master assassin to appear before the Speed Humanoid and send the female flying into the sky with a ferocious kick. The Strength Humanoid''s eyes widened as he saw that kick, but killing intent appeared in his eyes. In that last attack, Angar left himself exposed to his strike, and the Humanoid would take advantage. The alien monster''s fists carried immense power as it sought to destroy the Godslayer Human. However, before the Strength Humanoid could connect his attack, Zero flashed forward and grabbed Angar, embracing and protecting the human with his own body. "BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" Zero Mint''s entire body trembled as the Strength Humanoid connected a direct blow on his back, but he endured. The alien monster was ready to trigger a barrage of strikes. Nevertheless, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor returned at the perfect moment, sending the alien flying away with a single tackle. Not even a second later, Zero Mint, who had just embraced Angar, threw the man like a missile into the sky. Had the human resisted in the slightest way or shown any hesitation, the thrust would have failed, but as Angar put his life in the hands of the Inferno Daemon, that thrust left him right in front of the Speed Humanoid. The Speed Humanoid had just regained control over her body when Angar appeared in front of her, and before she could do anything, the human used the dagger and cut her chest. The wound was not too deep, but the effect of the Deathbringer Rune activated the next second, making a jet of dark blood spurt from the female Humanoid of Dark Sky, who immediately flashed away. Angar smiled as he saw that wound but did not chase the woman. Instead, he dipped back into the ground and appeared next to Zero, along with the Collapsing Lightning Emperor. The two Godslayer Humans and the Inferno Daemon did not say a single word, yet they placed their backs against each other as they kept their eyes focused on the Humanoids of Dark Sky. A feeling of absolute awe and shock assaulted the hearts and souls of the Inferno Daemons and Godslayer Humans, and it extended to the Deus Behemoths and Atroxs Immortus. The trio was supposed to be part of two sides that could not possibly work together, yet they did flawlessly, putting their lives in the hands of the other. In doing so, they surpassed the teamwork of Dark Sky and sent the Humanoids flying away with deep bleeding wounds! Chapter 897 897: The end of the Defense Humanoid There was pure rage on the faces of the Humanoids of Dark Sky. It was one thing if the warriors of the Sacred Races could surpass them in individual power, but to think that even in terms of teamwork, they were being surpassed was simply unacceptable. Each of the Humanoids of Dark Sky clenched their fists as their killing intent exploded. After taking those wounds, the trio immediately regrouped before flashing toward the humans and Inferno Daemon. Zero, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, and Angar saw the charge full of killing intent from the Humanoids of Dark Sky, but they just smiled as they flashed toward their enemies. Their battle formation was still strong as they started the next round of their clash. The battlefield grew more and more fierce, with deep and severe wounds appearing on each side. Both sides were moving so fast and unleashed attacks with so much power that anyone beneath the Divine Ascension Realm could only see a blur. Angar and Zero unleashed fierce slashes without hesitation or fear of leaving an opening, as they knew that the Collapsing Lightning Emperor would protect them. Of course, that meant that the Emperor of the Godslayer Humankind received profound and severe injuries, but no matter how serious the wounds were, he would instantly heal from all the damage, just like the Scarlet King! Thanks to being in charge of the sacrifices to the Samsara Flame for the last months, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor obtained a Tier III Rebirth Mark, which granted him a Pseudo Immortal Body. The Humanoids of Dark Sky did not have that luxury, and every wound they took remained in their bodies, and the injuries worsened over time. The ones performed by Angar carried a toxic and noxious energy that latched into the open wounds, stopping their closure and corroding everything around, while the cuts left by Zero were covered in white embers that drained vitality, enhancing their damage. All the warriors in the Light Camp and Dark Camp near the fight focused solely on the amazing feats of power and skills of the Inferno Daemons and the two Godslayer Humans. Every move they made was extremely dangerous, and if one side were to make the slightest mistake or hesitate for even a second, showing any doubt, their formation would shatter, leaving all of them in immense danger. Yet, Zero, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, and Angar were flawless as they fought with everything they had, putting their lives in the hands of the other two without any form of hesitation. For over thirty minutes, a battle that defied the perception of all the warriors of the Sacred Races took place until, finally, it reached its peak as Zero sent the Defense Humanoid crashing down, embedding this one into the ground. "BOOOOMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion that made the earth tremble echoed as the Defense Humanoid crashed. Before this one could rise, he saw Zero dive toward him, his life force ablaze like a sun, and ready to perform one final sword strike. Zero''s eyes burned with killing intent as an ocean of cold white flames was contained around the edge of his sword, and his Ego Wave burned as he drew the Severing Concept to the limit, ready to unleash everything he had in the next attack. His speed was immense, as he attempted to push his momentum to the limit. Such a rash dive put Zero in extreme danger as he was full of openings, and it would be easy for the other two Humanoids to intercept him, but his eyes could only see the Defense Humanoid and nothing more. A massive figure lunged toward Zero as the Strength Humanoid intended to intercept that dive, connecting a ferocious blow. Still, just as he was about to succeed, two small daggers pierced his back. Angar''s eyes were bloodshot due to exhaustion, but an ember of energy was left in his body, and he used that to perform this final attack. It was not enough to cripple the massive Strength Humanoid, but it was capable of freezing his movement for an instant, more than enough for Zero to carry on his way. Zero was less than one hundred meters away from the Defense Humanoid, and the intent and determination in his eyes were as pure as they could get as he emptied his mind of everything else but the next attack. However, a massive whip-like arm came crashing toward Zero''s face, intending to use the man''s momentum against him. The Speed Humanoid''s body was riddled with deep wounds, but she still attacked with all her power. Just as the Speed Humanoid was about to land her strike, saving the Defense Humanoid and landing a devastating strike on Zero Mint, a monstrous gravitational force struck her body. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor had used his trump card, generating a gravitational pull that drew the woman toward him and away from Zero Mint. Finally, there was nothing more between Zero Mint and the Defense Humanoid of Dark Sky. The man''s eyes were clear and pure as they glowed with a red light, and there was a sense of purpose that seemed to evoke from the deepest corner of his soul as he waved his sword, unleashing all his energy, power, Concept, and momentum in the slash. "ZNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!" The sound of space sundering in half echoed across several sectors, and everybody watching the battle saw with awe how the ground split in half for thousands of kilometers. The cut in the earth was hundreds of kilometers deep, and the heat in the strike was so intense that it managed to crystallize the earth. It was by far the most powerful attack that Zero Mint had unleashed since he gained that majestic and demonic sword. However, what truly mattered and left the people from the Dark and Light camps in shock, disbelief, and utter pure delight was seeing how the body of the mighty Defense Humanoid of Dark Sky had been divided into two equal parts! Chapter 898 898: Dark Sky and the Depravita Race (I) From the top of the alient monster''s head to the neck, coursing through the chest, and reaching all the way to the groin, the Defense Humanoid of Dark Sky had a cut that split him into two equal parts! The Godslayer Humankind and Inferno Daemon Race soldiers, who had fought relentlessly in the Dark Fog battlefield, were struck with disbelief. A Humanoid of Dark Sky, an alien monster that seemed immortal, had been felled, and the culprit was Zero Mint! Hope. An immense and overwhelming hope rose in the hearts of all the soldiers as they saw how the invincible enemies could die! It was only after executing that devastating strike that Zero Mint''s eyes regained their focus. Even he was taken aback by the sheer power he had just unleashed. A smile crept onto his face, but it was short-lived as his instincts began to scream the next second. The two halves of the Defense Humanoid''s chest began to radiate with an ominous glow . In the blink of an eye, a cataclysmic explosion erupted, engulfing Zero Mint in its deadly embrace. "BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" The people were shocked by the immense explosion, and dread soon appeared in the hearts of those in the Light camp and Dark camp, fearful of what might have happened to Zero Mint. While the Inferno Daemon was immensely powerful, he was badly wounded, had used all his energy, and even burned his life force in that last strike, so they dreaded what might have occurred to him. Luckily, their fear faded the next second as they saw the Scarlet King rising from the explosion carrying the wounded Inferno Daemon. No one had detected Cain''s presence, but it seemed he had been watching the battle and acted at the exact right moment to save Zero Mint''s life. Zero''s eyes widened as he saw the Scarlet King, and before he could say a word, the young man thrust his body out of the Dark Fog. He did not resist; after all, his body had no more energy left, and it was better if he left. "Pull back as well," Cain immediately shouted toward the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and Angar. While the duo had the upper hand over the Humanoids of Dark Sky, they did not hesitate before leaving the alien monster and flashing out of the Dark Fog. Cain smiled at the duo as he saw them leaving, and he was beyond happy with their performance. They showed flawless teamwork between an Inferno Daemon and two Godslayer Humans was possible. In doing so, they also took the life of a Humanoid of Dark Sky, not just any of them but the alien known for his defensive abilities. That performance would definitely raise the morale of the Light and Dark camps and show them that they could rise beyond their racial differences and act as one force. Cain could have used his own power to try and kill a Humanoid of Dark Sky, but he was sure the effect would not have been nearly as intense in the mentality of the armies, which was why he limited himself to watching until his interference was truly needed. Of course, while the hearts of the soldiers in the Light and Dark camps were full of delight, the souls of the Humanoids of Dark Sky must be full of hatred and rage. The Speed Humanoid and Defense Humanoid were still trying to understand what had just happened. They had been on equal ground for most of the battle, and even when losing, there was no danger to their lives, which was why they did not ask for reinforcements. After all, just how embarrassing would it be if they ended up defeated in a three-vs-three battle? In hindsight, the Humanoids of Dark Sky knew they should have requested assistance, but now the Defense Humanoid was dead, and it was too late to regret it. "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Explosions echoed the next second as dozens of figures fell from the sky and landed on the ground closer to the Dark Fog border before a final gargantuan one also crashed. Each of the ones that appeared was a Humanoid of Dark Sky! The warriors of the Light camp and Dark camp were shocked to see there were over 30 Humanoids of Dark Sky. Each one of them could easily crush a True Titan or True God, and just facing three of them took the combined effort of their best warriors and put them in extreme danger. However, even if the military power of Dark Sky was overwhelming, the sight of the man in a red robe facing all of them managed to calm their hearts. They had the Scarlet King, the monster capable of making miracles come true. One of the Humanoids of Dark Sky with a similar build to the one Zero just killed took a few steps forward while the rest remained behind. The Humanoid stared at the massive crater left by the detonation of the Defense Humanoid and then turned his eyes toward Cain, which glowed with a murderous zeal. "We will scorch this world and erase its history. It will be as if you and your people had never existed." Those were chilling words, as the idea of their races and civilizations being destroyed to the point that even their histories faded was terrifying. Yet, the only thing Cain showed was boredom. "Are you done?" Cain had no interest in the words born of the enemy''s wounded pride, and he just sneered before showing a small smile and waving his hand, making a person appear. "Do you like my new toy?" The Humanoid of Dark Sky, which promised to burn everything, could not hide a flash of shock from rising in his eyes as he saw the humanoid. It lasted a fraction of a second, and the man hid it very well, but it was too late. Chapter 899 899: Dark Sky and the Depravita Race (II) "So I was right." Cain smiled as he uttered those words. What he had shown to the Humanoid of Dark Sky was not any person. He took out the mutated Blood God, the "key" that the Depravita priests were in the process of creating in that underwater city beneath the Atrox Immortus Empire. As he saw the smile on Cain, the Humanoid of Dark Sky knew that the young human had perceived his flash of shock, and the killing intent burst in his heart. That information was something that no one could learn and that they had worked very hard to conceal. He was ready to command all the alien monsters to lunge toward the young man and kill him, but Cain did not wait and immediately left the Dark Fog. Pure rage appeared in the Humanoid of Dark Sky as he glanced at Cain outside the Dark Fog but did not lose focus. He turned toward the Speed Humanoid and Strength Humanoid, who lowered their heads and headed toward him before leaving with the group of over thirty Humanoids. Cain could feel the rage in the Humanoids of Dark Sky and was sure they would try to retaliate for his ploy, but that could not sour his mood. The Humanoid of Dark Sky''s reaction confirmed his suspicions that the Depravitas and Dark Sky were connected. After understanding that, a plan began to form in Cain''s mind, one that would not only allow them to make proactive moves but maybe win the war. As the minute points of the plan were starting to arrange themselves in Cain''s mind, his eyes narrowed as he saw the march of the Insect Army''s drones coming toward the Dark Fog''s battlefield. Their numbers were over three times larger than usual, but Cain did not show any concern, as those drones had long ago become nothing more than food in his eyes. It would be easy for Cain to tackle the horde of drones until it returned to normal levels, but he chose not to, seeing the thrill and fighting spirit that burned in the hearts of the Light and Dark camp soldiers. After that fight and the death of a Humanoid of Dark Sky, they wanted nothing more than to fight, so why stop them? "Kill!" It was just one word, but its effect on the warriors was more than powerful enough as they all turned toward the hordes of drones from the Insect Army, eager to fight and kill. Cain nodded before turning to Zero Mint, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, and Angar Aegon. "Follow me." The trio did not say a word and just nodded as they followed Cain through the portal built in the sky, which led them into the Infinite Horizon. --- "Excellent job. Your performance was perfect and will greatly improve the coalition between the camps in the future, something that we must express in the upcoming clash if we want to win this war," Cain praised the trio''s work. The trio clasped their hands and performed a solemn bow. The battle''s first part was just a disguise as they were used to fighting together. They had done it for several years. After all, the one that went by the name of Zero Mint was actually the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. Cain''s Collapsing Space-Time Eye glowed as he analyzed the trio''s condition. He could see that they were severely wounded, especially Angar and Zero Mint. Unlike the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, the duo did not have access to a Pseudo-Immortal Body. ''The damage is not only limited to their flesh and blood, as they also overdraw their life force.'' A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he saw how much of their life force the trio had burned in the fight against the three Humanoids of Dark Sky. Although the Rebirth Marks allowed them to burn their life force without permanent repercussions and would slowly regenerate it, it would be several weeks, if not months, before they regained all they had consumed. Entering the Dark Fog before fully fixing their life force would be dangerous and could lead to severe consequences. "Since you three are not in a condition to fight for the next month, you will march through the Bridge of Hope and make arrangements to bring the Anima Mechanicus Race and Legio Eldritch Race to the Dark Fog battlefield." Instead of leaving them resting in Infinite Horizon without doing anything, Cain gave the trio a new task. Zero, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, and Angar were a little surprised by the mission, and their eyes immediately turned to the massive portal beneath them. Cain did not waste time, and once he returned to Infinite Horizon with the forces of the Deus Behemoth Empire, he immediately went into action, activating the portal of the Bridge of Hope that connected toward Oceanus and Typhon, the home continents of the Legio Eldritch Race and Anima Machinarium Race. Since it was the second time the Scarlet King activated the portal, it was much easier and faster, but that was not the only reason. The portion of the Endless Ocean that connected Infinite Horizon to those continents was much more tempered and calm, making the disturbance in space considerably weaker. Although that came as a surprise for Cain, he had an idea for that change, so immediately after activating the portal, he went through it. He appeared above the Endless Ocean, but it was not a mistake. Unlike Atlas and Gaia, which were connected by landmass, or Kronos and Hyperion, which were divided by a small and narrow sea, Oceanus and Typhon were millions of kilometers apart. Each of these continents resembled an island, completely surrounded by water, but they were still close enough not to need Intercontinental Teleportation Formation to go from one to the other. A Wave King would need around two months of flying at full speed to go from Oceanus to Typhon. Cain first moved through Typhon, the home continent of the Anima Machinarium Race. Chapter 900 900: Fourth Level Initially, Cain expected to see a completely industrialized continent, and their cities were indeed metallic monsters without a single shred of organic life. Yet the members of the Anima Machinarium Race were conscientious enough to allow the growth of vegetation and life, with giant forests surrounding each of their cities. Of course, Cain understood that the preservation of the flora and fauna of a place was an essential factor in the growth and sustainability of the Life Wave. Still, the way these forests were protected made it clear that the members of the Anima Machinarium Race cared about them, more than just from a transactional point of view. ''Maybe, since they are entities born of metal bodies, they can truly appreciate the beauty of the world.'' That thought crossed Cian''s mind, but he did not waste too much time on it and continued his work. After going through every Sector and using the [A.I. Chip Module]''s tools to ensure everything was in order, Cain headed to Oceanus, the home continent of the Legio Eldritch Race. For the children of the Godslayer Humankind Empire, the home of the Legio Eldritch Race was something they pictured as a living hell, but the only thing Cain saw was ordinary people going about their day-to-day lives. The one difference was that members of the Legio Eldritch Race tended to use drones for almost everything, from minor tasks such as cleaning their houses to more important ones like war and fighting. During military training, Cian was taught that the drones of the Legio Eldritch Race were beasts whose sole purpose was to kill, but that was obviously indoctrination that had existed throughout the ages. The truth was that the drones of the Legio Eldritch Race were nothing more than tools. Whether they were used for good or bad, all depended on the person wielding them. Cain was very careful, inspecting every part of Oceanus and the Legio Eldritch Empire, making sure to hide his aura so none of the powerhouses could detect him. Of course, no one in the Legio Eldritch Race could harm him, but he did not want to generate problems or start animosities. After four hours of flying through the sky of Oceanus and inspecting every single Sector with his [A.I. Chip Module], Cain found nothing odd. That was good news, and it confirmed his suspicion. Cain was now sure that responsible for the Great Cataclysm was the Depravita Race. The creation of their underwater cities and their keys must have affected the core Laws of Aether and triggered those devastating storms. The Great Cataclysm took the lives of trillions of people due to the earthquakes, lightning storms, and the hordes of Oceanic Wave Beasts it triggered. Of course, it was not as if Cain or the Sacred Races needed any more reasons to hate the Depravita Race. After all, those alien monsters wanted to kill them and take their world. After making sure there was nothing truly dangerous in Oceanus and Typhon, and that the Dark Sky and Depravita Race had not spread their influence here, Cain used the Bridge of Hope and returned to Infinite Horizon. Cain was not in the mood to spend weeks or entire months speaking and dialoguing with the leaders of the Anima Machinarium Race and Legio Eldritch Race, and his time could be better spent on other things. Since the trio could not fight, they were perfect for the diplomatic mission. "Zero, Prime Minister Razutin will accompany you to Oceanus. And Minxet will accompany you two into Typhoon. Don''t worry, this mission might be long, but it will be easy since the Anima Machinarium Race and Legio Eldritch Race will not dare to refuse now that the Atrox Immortus Race and Deus Behemoth Race have decided to join the battlefield. You will march at the first light of day tomorrow, so take advantage of this time and rest." Their mission was simple and clear, so Zero, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, and Angar bowed toward Cain and followed his advice. They used the next few hours to rest and try to recover as much as possible from their fight. Cain stood alone in the sky of Infinite Horizon and adopted a meditative position. There was a plan he could follow that would lead them to victory against Dark Sky, but it would not be easy, as it would require the forces of the six Sacred Races, and he would have to act as the head of the spear, so his power needed to rise even higher. The next second, he vanished and appeared in the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer. Taking a deep breath, he pushed his mind to its peak and went through the principles of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework''s Fourth Level. He had already figured out the principles and every step of the process back in Hyperion, but Cain made sure that everything was still clear in his mind before proceeding. After half an hour, with a wave of his right hand, Cain made hundreds of treasures containing the power of the four Elemental Laws appear in the sky. Just as Cain had expected, the treasury in the Ouroboros Headquarters was full of these Saintly Treasures, and he only needed to take less than half to fulfill his goal. Cain''s eyes remained closed as his Ego Wave flooded all those treasures. The power of the Gluttony Concept emerged the next second, slowly taking their essence. It did not take long before four halos of elemental essence appeared above his figure, containing the power of the Laws of Fire, Wind, Earth, and Water. Once everything was in order and he had the necessary elemental essence, Cain began to train the fourth level of the Cosmic Tyrant Framework. He started to rearrange his molecular structure using the power of the Law of Space, and as he carried on with that process, he began to integrate the essence of the Elemental Laws into his flesh and blood. Chapter 901 901: Dark meeting (I) In an unknown location and dimension, there was a massive dark temple constructed from dark, intricately carved stones. It was adorned with glowing runes that emitted an eerie light whose energy seemed to twist time and space. A dense, swirling dark radiation in the form of a mist surrounded the dark temple, making it hard to see anything, but those powerful enough could see the multiple dark moons orbiting around it. If Cain had been present, he could have felt the many connections between this dark temple and the one he had seen in Kronos'' underwater city. Of course, the energy, size, and radiation this dark temple unleashed dwarfed that of the Atrox Immortus Empire. It would be like comparing a large sea and a massive ocean. In the deepest and most sacred region of the dark temple, there was a majestic room that resembled a vast cathedral. Its towering walls seemed to stretch into the darkness, warping and contorting in ways that challenged the mind''s sense of reality. The walls and corners of the room featured grotesque, larger-than-life statues of otherworldly beings, their forms shadowy and subtly shifting as if alive. Floating at the center of the room was a man with every inch of his skin intricately etched with arcane symbols that emanated a corrupted and dark aura, flooding the entire temple and etching beyond its confines, evolving dimension as a whole. The mutations in the man floating in the ceiling were just as vile and monstrous as those in the rest of the dimension. Some of his bones had grown so massive that they pierced the skin, and his muscles and tendons bulged all around his body, making it seem as if he was full of tumors. The man''s eyes, transformed into a horrible abomination, were utterly dark. Yet, they showed a myriad of dark and negative emotions capable of twisting even the strongest will. Although the mutations broke half of his face, many people in Gaia would recognize this person as none other than the Leader of The Organization, the Void King. The man once considered among Aether''s top ten strongest entities was now nothing more than a deformed and twisted tool. Right beneath the mutated Void King was a table with seven chairs, each occupied by a monstrosity covered in a dark fog that obscured their actual appearance, only showing their eyes. The moving walls, the howls coming from the darkness, or the waves of dark radiation could not affect these entities; if anything, they made them feel at home. Right now, the eyes of the dark entities were full of hatred and rage as they gazed at the picture being projected above their table. They saw a young man with a red mask facing four massive entities in it. The four evil entities were incredibly powerful, with bodies stronger than Adamantium artifacts and capable of instantly regenerating even after their heads were shattered. Despite all that, the young man was able to dominate the battle. Not only was the young man capable of simply abominable physical might, but his control over the Laws was formidable, to say the least. And as if that was not incredible enough, he could also heal any wounds he received instantly. The video froze the moment the man summoned the power of the Time Tribulation, shattering the dimensional barrier and crippling the four evil entities before sealing them and making them disappear. "?BOOM!" A resounding blast echoed across the temple as one of the seven dark entities slammed the table with his monstrous hands. "How is that possible? How could a native from this tiny world be so powerful? There should be no dimension storage that could contain the Ancient Key, yet he did it, and his constitution equals that of our people!" The monster''s eyes were overwhelmed with rage, and it seemed he could barely restrain those dark emotions and the urge to go on a rampage. All the monsters shared the rage towards the Scarlet King''s immense power, but some were bothered by something else. Another of the dark entities gazed at the picture of the young man with a dark mask, and his eyes glowed with a cold light, "Even with all his gifts and abilities, there was nothing he could do to stop us if he was alone. He would have fought and hid, but eventually, we would have consumed him and this entire world. However, he has already rallied four native races against us, and I am sure the last two will soon appear. These monkeys were supposed to be eternal enemies that could never work together, yet it is happening." "Numbers matter very little when power is much greater, but I have seen hundreds of Saint Treasures appear among the soldiers. Those were weapons and artifacts that these natives would consider the most precious things born in their measly empire, yet they are now common." One of the dark entities shouted in rage, only for uncontrollable greed and envy to appear. "And there are even World Treasures, artifacts this measly world could never generate, but half a dozen have already appeared!" One of the dark entities glanced at the Scarlet King with rage, but his hatred channeled into someone else, "The strongest of his vassals are also the ones with the World Treasures and the ones that killed Azur. We should lure them into the miasma and kill them. That will teach those monkeys their place." A cold light appeared in the eyes of the dark entities as they heard that plan, and soon, bloodthirsty smiles appeared on their faces as they immediately began to ideate how to kill those who dared to take the life of one of their own. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor, Zero Mint, and Angar Aegon were powerful and had great survival skills, but the dark entities were sure that they could kill the trio, causing them to die a painful death in front of the armies that considered them heroes of war. "No, we will not do that." Chapter 902 902: Dark meeting (II) Just as the dark entities were ideating the most cruel and sadistic way to kill the trio, a voice interrupted them. It came from the one sitting at the head of the table, whose aura was the strongest of all. Although the idea that all seven were equal might have crossed someone''s mind due to them sitting together, that could not be further from the truth. None of the other six dark entities dared to speak as they heard the voice of their leader. That man was not only the strongest but also the one who reached this world thousands of years ago through a path that none of them would dare to tackle and who opened a portal for their race into this world. The leader''s eyes were golden, and his body was massive. He glanced at the picture of the young man with the red mask, and cold killing intent appeared in his soul. Just like his comrades, a sea of dark emotions rose in his heart, but he was able to keep them under flawless control. "I met this person once in the Atrox Immortus Empire. Back then, I felt something was wrong in his person, and I should have removed his heart from his chest, but my disguise was too important." As he uttered those words, a flash of regret appeared in the dark entity''s golden eyes before a flash of determination emerged on his face. "We can not wait for a chance anymore; merely taking down his pawns will not work. That man must die now." Of course, the rest of the dark entities agreed with their leader''s words, and it was imperative they killed the Scarlet King. After all, he was the source of all their troubles, and eradicating him would make everything easier, but saying it was easier than doing it. One of the dark entities glanced at the leader and spoke with a solemn yet firm voice, "That man is very powerful. It seems he has an immortal body like our kind and can wield a domain over the Law of Space that none of us can even comprehend. Outside this dimension, we must use our armor and restrict our powers, so how could we kill him?" After that dark entity uttered those words, all six turned to the leader, hoping the man would show them the way. The leader remained silent for several seconds, before his golden eyes glowed with utter brutality. "We will use the Mind Severing Ritual." All the dark entities felt shock and dread as they heard their leader''s words and understood his plan. It was merciless and brutal, and there was no doubt in their minds that the Scarlet King would fall beneath that power, but there was one big problem. "Using the ritual of our kind in this world will be extremely hard and require sacrifices." The leader only smiled as he heard those words coming from one of the dark entities. Then he looked to the side of the room, where two massive entities lay silent, hearing everything the seven spoke but too afraid to utter a single word. The monster on the left had a body that seemed designed for speed. She had a slender, elongated form, streamlined for swift movement. As for the one on the right, the monster had a massive, imposing body with a heavily muscled physique that exuded raw power. His body was rugged and textured like a rough stone, with thick, powerful limbs and a broad chest. Their forms and power would incite fear and terror in the hearts of any member of the Sacred Races. Yet these monsters were the ones terrified, looking down, hoping the seven dark entities would forget about them. Seeing their fear made the dark entity''s golden eyes glow with delight, as he spoke tenderly, "We already have the sacrifices covered." When the duo heard those words, the terror in their hearts exploded. The monsters knew they would be punished for their failure and the death of their comrades, but they, more than anyone, understood what it meant to be a sacrifice in a ritual of their kind, and they could not accept such a horrible fate. Unwillingness appeared in their eyes as the power of the Concept began to rise from their souls. Yet, before they could even make a move, the leader''s massive body appeared in front of them, grabbed each of their heads with his massive hands, and blasted the duo into the ground. "Don''t you even understand the type of mistake you made?" The dark entity with golden eyes shouted with rage as he kept pushing the duo''s heads into the ground. "I would not care if you ate Azur, but you let him die in front of those monkeys, and that gave them hope! How could you allow something like that to happen!?" The monsters that seemed to embody speed and strength could do nothing as the pressure and power of the hands crushing their heads into the ground were too strong, and they watched in horror as their bodies began to petrify from the inside out. "Rest for now. Soon, you will be of great use." The dark entity with golden eyes smiled and uttered those words before walking back to his seat, leaving behind two petrified figures with faces full of terror and dread. The rest of the dark entities in the room looked at the petrified duo. Although the duo had made a grave mistake and deserved punishment, being used as sacrifices for the ritual would be worse than death. Of course, none of them dared to utter a single word, as they did not want to follow the same fate as the duo. All the rage and pleasure from before vanished from the golden eyes of the dark entity, showing nothing but calmness and pragmatism. "We will start now. Everything must be ready for the moment that man enters the battlefield. If we do it right, this war will be over." Chapter 903 903: Improvement in all fronts (I) Cain stood in the sky of the Samsara Arsenal Module''s First Layer. His entire body was aglow with majestic light like an aurora rising inside him. The hundreds of Saint Treasures that had been orbiting around his body were now only dust in the air, as he had consumed every iota of their elemental essence through the Gluttony Concept. Silence echoed as Cain remained static in the sky, not moving a single muscle, until finally, he opened his eyes, and a burst of kinetic power emerged from him, spreading across the sky for hundreds of kilometers! A sense of thrill and awe appeared on Cain''s face as he felt the strength of his bones and the density of his muscles. Every fiber of his body had grown through a simply incredibly high tempering process, and he could feel himself connecting with the fabric of space and the elements at a shocking degree. "?BOOM!" A small explosion occurred the moment Cain clenched his fists. While the Cosmic Tyrant Framework focused on defense, it also managed to increase strength, and the upgrade to the Fourth Level had a simply incredible level, enhancing his physical abilities to a new height. ''System, scan me.'' [Scanning Vessel... ... Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Mind Calamity) / Essence Evolution (Time Tribulation) Lineage: Sun Master Lineage Wave Talent: Middle Emperor Neo-Demon ... Stats: Strength: 1.7 --> 2.1 (2.7) Agility: 0.6 --> 0.7 (0.8) Vitality: 1.7 --> 2.6 (3.4) Astral Wave: 1.2 --> 1.3 (1.7) Essence Wave: 1.3 --> 1.4 (1.8) Soul Force: 1.5 Ego Wave: 1.1 ... Astral Blood Saturation: 100% Completion Law Mastery: Law of Space (Extreme Law Integration) Law of Time (Middle Law Integration) Earth Law (Extreme Law Integration) Water Law (Extreme Law Integration) Fire Law (Extreme Law Integration) Wind Law (Extreme Law Integration) Note: Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 14.1%. Note: Natural energy has enhanced every aspect of the Vessel''s physical body, including the Astral Wave and Essence Wave. The current value is marked between ().] Cain was filled with a sense of triumph as he witnessed the significant increase in his strength and vitality. The Cosmic Tyrant Framework had worked its magic, enhancing his body to a level that rivaled a weak World Treasure. The only stat in which Cain did not excel was his agility, but he could mend that using his Law of Wind, Space, and Time. Using these Laws, he could enhance his speed, diminish the space between him and the target, and slow down the enemy. A pleasant surprise was the enhancement to his Law Mastery, as his Law of Wind, Earth, and Water made the final breakthrough and reached the Extreme Law Integration. That was most likely due to the massive amount of elemental essence poured into his body. "This strength should be enough to start the next phase of my plan." Cain felt the strength coursing through his flesh and blood and was sure he could act as the spearhead for the incoming clash. "Of course, the spearhead is just one part of the plan," Cain turned his focus to the Wave Crafters, Runic Masters, and Genetic Coders training beneath him. The number had increased immensely after the addition of the masters from the Deus Behemoth Race and Atrox Immortus Race. Initially, Cain thought he would have to intervene to ensure proper collaboration between the races, especially with the masters from the Atrox Immortus Race, but that was not necessary. Profession masters, especially those who decided to enter the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer to train, were people obsessed with their craft. They could focus on their work and leave everything else aside, even the animosity that was supposed to exist among their races. Of course, this was greatly helped by the Scarlet King''s intent, which made it clear that collaboration was needed. Cain waved his hand, and seven people appeared in the sky the next second before him. The masters were in the middle of heated arguments or going through several equations when they suddenly saw the Scarlet King. All of them immediately adopted respectful stances and bowed. "Your Majesty!!!" Cain nodded to the masters, and his eyes immediately turned to Grandmasters Aurelius and Artemides, the top masters of Runic Crafting and Wave Crafting. "How are the Anti-Dark Fog Towers going?" Grandmasters Aurelius and Artemides smiled as they turned their eyes to a distant location of the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer. It was a place far from the Codex of Infinite Pathways, chosen not to disturb the people training, and there were hundreds of Godslayer Humans, Atroxs, and Deus Behemoths working non-stop. Of course, Cain had noticed the group working, but his mastery over Wave Crafting and Runic Formations was too shallow. He only saw groups of metallic pieces and people engraving runes and magic formations in them. "We have already created the components for twenty-three Anti-Dark Fog Towers, my King, and the production speed is growing faster. They are extremely easy to assemble, and their durability is even greater than Adamantinum Artifacts." Grandmaster Aurelius spoke with a broad smile, incredibly proud of the work they had done. "The formation engraved in the Anti-Dark Fog Towers will not only push back that toxic phenomenon but can harmonize with other towers. Four towers put in the right places could clean an entire Sector!" It was Grandmaster Artemides'' time to speak, and the zeal in the man''s voice was just as powerful as that of his comrade. Cain''s eyes widened, and a giant smile appeared as he heard the duo''s words. According to the [A.I. Chip Module] blueprint, you would have needed seven or even nine Anti-Dark Fog Towers for a Sector. Yet, the duo had improved on the original blueprint, giving him something much better. "Hahaha, great, great." A sense of elation appeared in Cain''s heart as he could not help but burst into laughter. The Anti-Dark Fog Towers were a massive step forward in his plan. Chapter 904 904: Improvement in all fronts (II) After ensuring everything was in order with the Anti-Dark Fog Towers and their production would be ready for the next phase of his plan, Cain turned his attention to the Genetic Coders, expecting another piece of good news. There were five Genetic Coders, most of them men thousands of years old, yet there was also a middle-aged woman in the group. Based on her position and the way the rest looked at her, she seemed to be the leader. Cain recognized the woman. Her name was Curiek, and she was a Peak Apotheosis Master when she entered the [Samsara Arsenal Module]. However, she had risen to the Divine Ascension Realm, and it seemed she did so by following one of the cultivation techniques that guided her cultivation to enhance her profession, gaining a massive improvement in her talent. "My King!" Curiek bowed toward Cain before sending two space rings containing twenty million capsules. Cain immediately smiled as he saw the Dark Fog Immune Wave Viruses in these capsules. He was a Divine Genetic Coder, perhaps even the best one in all of Aether, so a simple glance was enough for him to understand that these viruses could work even in the genome of Divine Ascension Masters. "How long until we have enough for the entire force?" Although twenty million was a lot, Cain knew the entire military power fighting in the Dark Fog battlefield needed to be immunized. With the addition of forces from the Atrox Immortus Empire and Deus Behemoth Empire, the number of soldiers facing the Insect Army of the Dark Sky had reached over one hundred million! That was an impressive number of soldiers, but it was barely enough once you consider that the battlefield expanded from coast to coast, coursing through several sectors and dividing the Atlas Continent in half. "Thanks to the addition of Genetic Coders from the Atrox Immortus Empire and Deus Behemoth Empire, we will be able to ramp up production speed. By the end of this month, I am sure we will have another fifty million doses." Curiek''s voice was sharp and decisive, determined to fulfill her goal. Just as the woman finished those words, a meaningful light appeared in her eyes as she stared at the Scarlet King and spoke solemnly, "My King, permission to speak freely." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard those words coming from the woman, and his intrigue only grew as he saw how the other four Genetic Coder Grandmasters were looking at her with worry. "Go ahead, express your thoughts freely." Curiek took a deep breath, and her eyes glowed with resolution as she expressed the idea that had grown inside her over the past months. "Your Dark Fog Immunization Wave Virus is impressive, but I couldn''t help but wonder, why stop there? The Dark Fog is clearly a type of energy that is at an even higher echelon than the origin energy from Aether. Instead of immunizing ourselves, we should search for a way to harness that energy into our bodies and Sacred Organs, making us even stronger." When Grandmaster Artemides and Grandmaster Aurelius heard those words, a sharp light appeared in their eyes, and they glanced at the middle-aged woman with caution. The woman described a path that would make them genetically more familiar with the Dark Fog, which was the same thing as growing closer to the members of Dark Sky. The other four Grand Master Genetic Coders saw the reaction in Artemides and Aurelius, which was why they tried to dissuade the woman when she first expressed the idea. The war with Dark Sky was one of extermination, and there was no room for anything below that, so anyone who dared to express anything else could easily be considered a traitor. Curiek understood all that, but her eyes were firm, as she believed there were no taboos in searching for knowledge and expressing ideas. Of course, she would not dare take a step forward in this direction without first the authorization of the supreme leader of the forces fighting Dark Sky since there was clearly a line between thought and action. Cain stared at the middle-aged woman, and a wide smile appeared on his face. He was happy to see someone with such drive and ability to think outside the box among his people, but he immediately shook his head. "That train of thought is extremely dangerous, and you need to be careful." When Curiek and the rest of the Grand Master Genetic Coders heard those words, they immediately grew nervous, as they first understood that they could incite the Scarlet King''s wrath by thinking that way. Cain could see the flash of apprehension in their eyes, and he simply smiled, "You can think freely and express your thoughts without fear, but the origin energy of Dark Sky is something that members of the Sacred Races cannot process without having our minds and souls twisted, becoming monsters no different than the drones of the Insect Army." Curiek''s eyes widened as she heard that part and she now understood it was not Cain''s rage they needed to be wary of, but the effect of the Dark Fog''s origin energy. How foolish it would be if they managed to harness the power of that origin energy, only to become tools in the hands of Dark Sky, their enemy. "Thanks for your guidance, my King!" Curiek immediately expressed her gratitude, happy she was wary and did not act carelessly. "It was a good idea, but our capabilities are insufficient to pursue them without severe repercussions. Maybe in the future." Cain did not want to extinguish the thirst for knowledge in the middle-aged woman, so he gave a few words of inspiration before sending the Grand Masters back to their work. ''Now that the Anti-Dark Fog Towers are handled, and the Wave Virus is in process, it is time to handle that,'' Cain turned his focus to his [A.I. Chip Module], more specifically to the Ouroboros Ranking. Chapter 905 905: Diamond Saint Dukes World Treasure (I) Cain was slightly surprised by the one who gained this month''s Ouroboros Ranking. The person who secured the most Ouroboros Points this month and rose to the top was the Diamond Saint Duke. "He is pretty strong and was already used to the Ouroboros System, so I guess it makes sense." The man gaining the Ouroboros Ranking was no problem since the Diamond Saint Duke was a very fierce and brave warrior. He had fought in the Dark Fog battlefield since the start of the clash and showed extraordinary abilities as an individual and in leading the soldiers around him. However, things got slightly complicated when Cain considered that they would need to visit the [Samsara Arsenal Module] to give the Ouroboros Ranking Reward. Even if the man was trustworthy, that did not mean he would show this one the entire dimension, as there were simply too many secrets associated with the module. "I could just perform the sacrifice myself and give him the reward, but that will not be very efficient. The Samsara Flame can sense the needs of the person who performs the sacrifice, so if I do the sacrifices, it could lead to several World Treasures that will not fit the man. Not to mention that he would not receive his first-time bonus." Cain could not help but frown as he tried to decide the correct path until a sharp light appeared in his eyes, and he got an idea. The next second, Cain appeared once more in the sky of Infinite Horizon. He first went to the Ouroboros Headquarters where he left the twenty million Dark Fog Immunization Wave Viruses, a crucial resource that could protect soldiers from the deadly effects of the Dark Fog. Going through the Atlas Continent to hand over the capsules would not be feasible, but nearly all the soldiers were visiting the Ouroboros Headquarters. Of course, the number of points needed to redeem even Tier 3 Gifts was not something any soldier could amass, but all the treasures were on exhibition, and just looking was fine for many. Not to mention that, unlike the weapons and artifacts, the starry gems with cultivation knowledge taken from the Codex of Infinite Pathways were much cheaper, and it was easy for Wave King to obtain them. Prime Minister Minxet had left very competent people in it, so they would handle the task of distributing the Wave Virus as people came to Ouroboros Headquarters. Knowing that the immunization process had already started, Cain used the portal in the sky and appeared in the middle of the Dark Fog battlefield the next second. His eyes grew sharp as he looked to the left and teleported once more, appearing on the west flank of the massive battlefield. The Diamond Saint Duke was fighting with all his power at the front of the battlefield, barely a few meters from the Dark Fog, and using his body to take on several Divine Ascension drones from the Insect Army. Every attack he made carried a tremendous power, and he had flawless control over the surroundings, making sure there was not a single enemy that managed to pass him and reach the weaker soldiers. Suddenly, the Diamond Saint Duke''s eyes widened as he saw how a wave of glowing red fire came crashing down, flawlessly coursing through the battlefield, avoiding harming the Godslayer Humans but burning the drones of the Insect Army to crisps, and then advancing into the Dark Fog, continuing its massacre. "Diamond Saint Duke. Come here." Just as the Diamond Saint Duke was trying to assess the origin of this attack, he heard an imposing voice and turned around, only to see the Scarlet King in the sky. Immediately, a sense of thrill appeared in the man''s heart, and he was not alone since all the soldiers fighting by his side looked at the man with wide smiles. The Ouroboros Ranking was free for anyone to see, so they knew the Diamond Saint Duke had won this month''s reward. Of course, since the Scarlet King had been going to other continents to secure forces for the war and had to fulfill all other missions, they had to wait. Finally, the moment the Diamond Saint Duke had been eagerly awaiting had arrived. It was time for him to lay his hands on a World Treasure, an artifact that could rival the sword Zero Mint used to cleave the Defense Humanoid of Dark Sky in half! The Diamond Saint Duke could barely contain his excitement. After making sure that everything was in order on the battlefield and that his troops could handle the pressure of the Insect Army drones without him, he flew to the sky. "Scarlet King!" The Diamond Saint Duke''s voice was filled with respect and awe as he clasped his hands and performed a deep bow. His eyes, shining with reverence, were fixed on the young man who was undoubtedly the most powerful life form in Aether. Cain nodded to the man before grabbing his shoulder and teleporting high into the sky, away from everybody''s view. "Just like I did with Zero Mint, I will take you to a place where your destiny can be changed, and all sorts of gifts can be found." He paused at this point and looked straight into the Diamond Saint Duke''s eyes before speaking with a solemn tone. "However, just like I did with the Inferno Daemon, I will have to take control of your senses and decide what you see and hear. All those who enter that place and want to leave must accept these safety measures." While the idea of relinquishing control over his senses was not something the Diamond Saint Duke was comfortable with, he understood the necessity of these measures in times of war. Moreover, knowing that Zero Mint had undergone the same procedure and emerged stronger, he was willing to accept these conditions. After all, a rule that is fair to all is a rule that is easier to accept. With a nod, he lowered his spiritual defenses, signifying his willingness. Chapter 906 906: Diamond Saint Dukes World Treasure (II) Cain nodded to the Diamond Saint Duke with a broad smile, happy to see the man did not make a fuss about it. He then put his hand over the True Titan''s shoulder and began to use his domain over the soul to seal the senses of the Duke. It didn''t take long for the Diamond Saint Duke to lose all senses and be left in a dark prison. He had no idea what was happening, and the lack of his sense of touch affected his proprioception, making it nearly impossible to know whether he was moving. The True Titan felt the power of space coursing through him repeatedly and several teleportations taking place. It was genuinely disorienting, and just as a feeling of nausea began to assault him, he regained part of his sight. The first thing the Diamond Saint Duke saw was purple flames that filled his heart with the most pure and absolute sense of awe. "So majestic. How can something so beautiful exist in our world?" Like all the other masters who had come to the Samsara Sacrificial Ground, the Diamond Saint Duke was marveled by the power of the Samsara Flame. Everything else was still dark, making it clear that his sight was only partially restored, but the True Titan did not care as he could keep watching the purple flame for hours. "Send the contents of this space ring into the flame." The Scarlet King''s figure appeared next to the Diamond Saint Duke, waking the man from his trance and handing him a space ring. The Diamond Saint Duke was full of questions, as he wanted to know what this place was and from where such a majestic flame emerged, but it was evident by the fact that his senses were sealed that those were answers he had yet to gain the right to know. He performed a bow toward the Scarlet King and then began to send the contents of the ring into the majestic purple flame. Surprise appeared in the eyes of the Diamond Saint Duke as he saw the dozens of treasures inside this space ring, all very powerful and tainted with a dark and oppressive aura, making it clear that their origin was nothing short of monstrously evil. Suddenly, a flash of enlightenment appeared in the eyes of the Diamond Saint Duke as he remembered the rumors that the Collapsing Lightning Emperor had been using his power to trade or buy all the evil treasures in Gaia. ''So that is why he was doing it. This was the place where he obtained that majestic armor!'' As one could expect from someone who managed to maintain control over the south of Gaia for hundreds of years, the Diamond Saint Duke''s mind was extremely sharp. However, he did not waste too much time with those thoughts and kept sending the treasures into the purple flames. Immediately, all those evil treasures were consumed, making a pink mist flood the ground and extend in all directions. Yet, the Diamond Saint Duke barely noticed it as his eyes immediately went to the bright purple energy that began to fill the ceiling. It was so powerful and majestic that the Diamond Saint Duke felt it was full of possibilities and could achieve anything. In the next second, seventy percent of that majestic bright purple energy transformed into a massive golden sphere. The Diamond Saint Duke''s eyes widened, and a smile of thrill appeared on his face as he saw how the bright golden energy began to solidify, giving birth to a suit of armor with divine characteristics. The armor was intricately designed with a multitude of sharp, angular edges and spikes, suggesting a high level of offensive and defensive capabilities. It was sleek and heavily metallic, gleaming with a brilliant, star-like luminescence at the chest, which acts as the focal point. Just glancing at it made the Diamond Saint Duke feel he was going to be crushed by the weight of an entire world. However, before the True Titan could get too fascinated by the artifact, the rest of the bright purple energy flashed into the back of his right hand and began to fuse with it, giving birth to all sorts of runic lines. "Good damn!" The Diamond Saint Duke could not help but scream in pain as it felt like magma snakes were moving beneath his skin, causing him incredible agony. Just as he turned toward the Scarlet King for an explanation, he saw the young man showing his right hand where an intricate runic design could be seen. That sight was enough to calm the Diamond Saint Duke. After all, if these runes were in the body of the Scarlet King, then they must be very powerful, so he just clenched his teeth and endured the pain, focusing all his mind on resisting. Finally, after a few minutes that felt like an eternity, the pain ended, and the Diamond Saint Duke could see a majestic runic formation on the back of his hand. Just as he was about to inquire about its power, a voice emerged from the purple flame: "Congratulations. You have accumulated enough Merit to obtain the Tier I Rebirth Mark. You can now burn 25% of your life force without permanent repercussions. It will heal over time, or you can speed it up using treasures. Continue the hard work to unlock the complete Rebirth Knight Runic Set. The more precious the sacrifice, the better. I also like evil things, so make sure to bring me sinful entities." A sense of awe and wonder appeared in the Diamond Saint Duke as he focused again on the rune, realizing how special it was. "The Tier I Rebirth Mark has detected several flaws in your Path of Powers. You can consume the Tier I Rebirth Mark to redo any Physical Realm''s Calamity or Tribulation related to the body or essence aspect of your existence. To redo the tribulation or calamity related to the Physical Realm''s spirit, will, and soul aspect of your existence, you will need a Tier II Rebirth Mark. Good luck. Remember that treasures and skills are important, but nothing is more consequential than your foundation." If before the True Titan was shocked, now he was utterly thrilled. He understood this was the power the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and Angar used to fix their cultivation, and now he could embark on the same path. Chapter 907 907: Change to the Ouroboros Ranking "Send your Ego Wave into the armor in the sky if you want to engrave it as yours." The Diamond Saint Duke''s eyes regained focus as he heard Cain''s words. He did not hesitate before sending his Ego Wave, and immediately, a massive amount of energy was drained before the armor flashed toward him, fusing into his body. A feeling of utter power, as if he was carrying the weight of the world under his feet, coursed through the True Titan''s body. "Congratulations on obtaining the Tier I Gift, the White Dwarf Armor." A majestic voice emerged from the purple flames, drawing the attention of the Diamond Saint Duke, whose eyes glowed with delight and thrill. Just hearing the name made it clear it was beyond powerful. "It is a formidable Natural Inheritance imbued with extraordinary Star Power that mimics a white dwarf star, specifically focusing on the immense gravitational and weight attributes. This armor offers a unique blend of offensive capability through immense weight and respectable defensive properties, making it an extremely powerful weapon in the hands of a melee master." Upon hearing the full description of the White Dwarf Armor, the Diamond Saint Duke could not be happier. His battle style focused on an incredibly powerful body capable of enduring significant damage, something the World Treasure enhanced exponentially. As he focused on it, he saw a set of runes that guided him in using Star Power. "Let''s go. I have one final place for you to visit." Cain spoke with a calm smile. Seeing the man''s look of thrill and delight, he put his hand over the True Titan''s shoulder, sealing his senses once more. The Diamond Saint Duke was so grateful and devoted to the Scarlet King that he hesitated before shutting down his spiritual defenses as he felt the young man''s power. Once more, he was in pure darkness, and the power of space coursed through him several times. Luckily, this time, it only lasted less than a minute, and the next thing he saw was a majestic book. Everything but the book was covered in darkness, but the Diamond Saint Duke couldn''t care less as he did not want to take his eyes away from it. For a strange reason, he felt that the answers to the secrets and questions that bombarded his mind could be found in this strange book. "Send your Ego Wave into the Codex of Infinite Pathways. It will test your mind and skills, and then you will gain access to a great cultivation library, much greater than the one available through the Ouroboros System." Cain spoke in a solemn voice and, upon seeing the focus and thrill of the Diamond Saint Duke, nodded to the man and rose to the sky again. There was a wide smile on Cain''s face as he saw the Diamond Saint Duke''s hard work, and it only widened as he saw how few evil treasures he had to use to gather enough Fortune to obtain a World Treasure and Tier I Rebirth Mark. ''I guess I can push up the reward speed now, especially if the winners have the First Sacrifice Bonus,'' Cain showed a large smile before focusing on the [A.I. Chip Module]. The next second, a message appeared in the computer rings and chips of all those with the Ouroboros System. [The Ouroboros Ranking Reward has been changed. From now on, it will be not monthly but weekly. Those who already obtained a World Treasure cannot participate in it. Good luck to all.] That message had a cataclysmic effect on those fighting in the Dark Fog battlefield. Ishmael and Eon looked toward the camp of the other, and their eyes burst with fighting intent but also responsibility. The Ouroboros Ranking was a perfect way to describe the power of the races, and the Inferno Daemon and Godslayer Humankind had already won once each. How embarrassing it would be if their races were the last to access the reward. The Atrox and Deus Behemoth began to fight like madmen, determined to use every second of the coming week to kill as many drones as possible. Cain''s eyes immediately narrowed as he saw the sudden increase in killing speed from Eon and Ishmael. He only smiled and did not care where the increase in power came from, as there was no difference in race anymore as long as they were fighting against Dark Sky. ''Since strength is being handled on its own, I should focus on intelligence.'' There were two key components to winning a war: strength and intelligence, and it was already time for Cain to tackle the second one. He adopted a meditative position in the sky and focused on his soul sea, specifically on the golden sphere that contained the mutated soul of the Crown Prince. It had been several months since the soul of Michael Goldsoul had been sealed in his soul sea by the power of Apex. Cain had not dared to meddle with it before. Not because he was afraid of the man but because he did not want to let it go to waste. But he was more confident now that his soul force and Ego Wave had grown much more powerful, along with his mastery over the Concept of Gluttony. Calm and serenity appeared on Cain''s face as he emptied his mind of every worry, focusing solely on Michael Goldsoul''s soul. He stood like that for several hours before finally, his Collapsing Space-Time Eye morphed, transforming into Gluttony''s Eye! Michael Goldsoul''s soul had remained in a lethargic state since he was imprisoned, as the power of Apex was so immense that he could not even kill himself. Yet suddenly, the soul trembled as he felt a force charging into the golden sphere that kept him sealed. The Crown Prince''s first reaction was utter hatred and savagery as he detected Cain''s soul force and willpower. The man''s only intent was to kill the one who dared to trap him like a mouse! Chapter 908 908: Astral Supremacy Stars Cain''s entire body trembled, and blood began to leak from his eyes and ears due to the incredibly potent clash of willpower and soul force that the Gluttony''s Eye triggered between him and the Crown Prince. Despite being only a soul, Michael Goldsoul was a Late Divine Ascension Master who went through the True Flesh and Bone Calamities and tackled the Mind Calamity, so his willpower and spiritual defenses were formidable. The clash continued for several days, and luckily for Cain, time was on his side. The Darkmist Force constantly healed and reinforced his soul sea, while the Crown Prince''s soul was in a state of constant deterioration. Finally, after over three days of constant clashing and pushing himself beyond his limit, Cain showed a broad smile, and the power of Gluttony''s Eye exploded as it began to devour the soul of the Crown Prince. Due to his complete victory over the Crown Prince''s soul and mastery over the Gluttony Concept, Cain was able to access every single one of the man''s memories, including his experiences, emotions, and insights. Cain did not hesitate before immediately going through the sea of knowledge in the Crown Prince''s memories, as he was sure they would be important. After all, Michael Goldsoul was the puppet placed by the Depravita Race to destabilize the Godslayer Humankind Empire. A chilling realization dawned in Cain''s eyes upon seeing the memories, confirming his suspicions. From the moment of his birth, Michael Goldsoul had been a pawn, his soul tempered by an entity of immense power. Throughout Michael Goldsoul''s life, the entity guided him like a voice in the back of his head, pushing the young man to grow stronger and stronger, throwing him into all sorts of life-and-death trials to exploit his talent. Up to the Peak Apotheosis Realm, the control over Michael Goldsoul had been minor, but everything changed once the man began to interact with the Star Sovereign Divine System. Thanks to the Codex of Infinite Pathways, Cain had a very good grasp of the Star Sovereign Divine System, a complex network of celestial bodies that guide your cultivation through the Soul Realm. The essence of the Star Sovereign Divine System was allowing your mind and soul to interact with the Astral Supremacy Stars, the key to unlocking power beyond the Physical Realm. At their core, the Astral Supremacy Stars were Laws in the form of heavenly bodies that took place in a higher dimension of reality. Through one''s cultivation, you could harness their power, transforming your body beyond its limitations of flesh and into a weapon that could harness Star Power. The number of Astral Supremacy Stars was supposed to be endless, but the Codex of Infinite Pathways classified them into three thousand sets, each corresponding to a specific Star Power. There were powerful and weaker ones, and the goal was to start from the bottom and, as you improve your cultivation and foundation, harness the strength of the mightiest stars. As someone who was soon to traverse the path into the Star Sovereign System, Cain had already learned the style and energy fluctuation of all the Astral Supremacy Stars. However, the ones Michael Goldsoul absorbed energy from were completely foreign to him, and there was no notion of them in the Codex of Infinite Pathways. The power of those dark Astral Supremacy Stars was incredible, and they blended with Michael Goldsoul''s body and energy pool flawlessly. However, they also had another effect as they began to twist the Crown Prince''s mind, enhancing the control of the dark entity. It was clear that something was very wrong with the dark Astral Supremacy Stars, and when Cain attempted to understand their origin, a hypothesis made his blood grow cold. ''What if those are artificial Astral Supremacy Stars?'' Just thinking of it made Cain clench his fists. That would make sense and explain the changes in Michael Goldsoul, but the power needed for a feat like that was simply incredible. It would mean there were life forms that could create their own Laws, the fundamental principles that form reality, and their power affected not just Aether but the entire Astral Sea. That was even more challenging and amazing than creating a world! The most likely culprit behind that was no other than the Depravita Race, making Cain understand that their power was simply unfathomable and that what he had seen in Aether was nothing but a few drops from an ocean so massive he could not even imagine. Even with his willpower, that realization was a heavy blow to Cain. After all, no matter how talented he was, he was still a young man under thirty years old, and his full power could barely allow him to perceive the basic Laws of a tiny world. It was incomprehensible for him to affect the entire universe. "It is not like you are alone?" Just as Cain''s willpower was beginning to tremble upon realizing the enemy he faced, the voice of Apex echoed across his mind. Cain''s eyes suddenly widened, and a cold smile appeared on his face as he turned toward the Samsara Sacrificial Ground, focusing on the majestic flame inside it. The Depravita Race was clearly a behemoth that he could not even fathom. Still, they also had enemies, and one of them was a man capable of projecting his willpower through countless galaxies and who could give birth to a flame that seemed capable of giving birth to countless treasures. ''I will shatter their hold in Aether, sealing their portals to my home. Then, I will ascend to the Astral Sea, growing stronger, ready to face them again if they dare to obstruct my path!'' Cain''s body surged with a potent mix of resolve and determination. So what if the Depravita Race was strong? They also had strong enemies, and just like Cain rose from a mere orphan boy to practically the leader of Aether, he could rise in the Astral Sea to an even higher stage! Chapter 909 909: Heart of the Phoenix and Stellar Essence Orb With his mentality back in order, Cain continued cruising through the memories of the Crown Prince. Michael Godsoul never met the mastermind behind his commands, but the orders were clear. The Crown Prince, under the influence of the mastermind, was tasked with generating as much mayhem in Gaia as possible. His mission was to ensure the death of as many masters of the Godslayer Humankind as possible and to fan the flames of rage and hatred in the hearts of humans. "Division, chaos, and death. A world in that state is ready for the reaping," Cain''s eyes were cold as he figured out the end goal of the mastermind behind the Crown Prince. Unfortunately, that was all he could obtain, as the mastermind was careful not to leave any knowledge that could affect him in the Crown Prince''s mind. He compartmentalized the information, only giving what was needed to learn and nothing more, so even if they were brainwashed or captured, they could only do limited damage. "Smart bastards, but it''s not like the Crown Prince is the only one I have." Cain sneered as he thought of the counterintelligence measures of the Depravita Race, and his eyes turned to a secret location in the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer. It was a unique place away from any important location in the First Layer. Cain had made a time-space dome, hiding that place from everybody and forbidding people from getting near it. There were thousands of people inside, all criminals targeted as sacrifices, but Cain''s true focus was the four monsters sealed in soul, body, and energy. Cain appeared the next second in the space-time dome built inside the First Layer, and his eyes grew cold as he stared at the four Depravitas. There must be a much greater sea of knowledge and secrets in their minds, but they would be much harder to access. Initially, Cain had planned to bide his time, waiting until his Ego Wave and soul force were stronger so he could absorb the full range of their memories and experiences and gain access to their abilities. However, witnessing the devastating effect of the Depravita Race''s powers on Michael Goldsoul''s soul, he lost all interest. Of course, Cain would not start with the Depravitas right away. Not only were the spiritual defenses of these monsters impressive, but he had just gone through a very tough mental fight with the Crown Prince''s soul, and he needed to rest. That did not mean he was going to leave this place empty-handed. He focused on the hundreds of Deus Behemoths and Atroxs criminals he had captured, using his Ego Wave to cover them all and, the next second, transporting them to the Samsara Sacrificial Ground. Cain waved his hand without hesitation and sent everyone into the Samsara Flame. For some reason, the Power of Order had weakened, and his sense of empathy had grown stronger. Still, that did not mean he was any less cruel to those who defied his sense of justice. Just like Cain did not care about the race of those fighting by his side against Dark Sky, he also did not care about the background or history of those who took the path of the underworld and would have set their homes ablaze while the rest fought to protect it. The Samsara Flame consumed the bodies and souls of all those people, burning them in seconds, generating a wave of Soul Enlightenment Mist, and filling the ceiling with Fortune. While the flame cared much more about quality than quantity, it noticed the individuality in the sacrifices. Cain saw with a wide smile how there were only two massive golden spheres this time. More treasures did not mean better ones, as they would usually be weak Tier III Gifts, but seeing only two made Cain''s hope rise. The next second, the golden spheres materialized. One of them took the form of a majestic rune in the shape of a heart, while the other became a perfectly round, translucent orb containing swirling cosmic energies reminiscent of a miniature galaxy. Although they did not seem as majestic or powerful as the Gravity Fall Armor or Abyssal Frost Falchion, Cain was sure they were above Tier II Gifts. Unfortunately, before he could infuse his Ego Wave into them and understand their purpose, the rest of the Fortune flashed into his Rebirth Mark and began to expand the runic lines. Cain had already gone through the process dozens of times, but he could not get used to the pain of infusing a massive amount of Merit into his body and rapidly enhancing the Rebirth Mark. There was not much he could do, so he simply endured while silently cursing that this process had to be so excruciating. It took nearly ten minutes for all the Merit to fuse into his Rebirth Mark, but there was no message from the Samsara Flame, meaning he was still far from reaching the next Tier. After giving himself a moment to regain focus, Cain turned his attention to the two Gifts in the ceiling and sent his Ego Wave to them. The two treasures took his mental energy before flashing in front of him. "Congratulations on obtaining the Tier I Gifts, Heart of the Phoenix and Stellar Essence Orb. Fuse them with your Astral Origin and Essence Origin energy pools to enhance their storage capabilities. If done in the Physical Realm, they would enhance your foundation and provide a boost during the evolution to the Soul Realm." Cain''s eyes widened, and a broad smile appeared as joy filled his soul. While it was clear they were not on the same level as the World Treasures, they were perfect for him as they would help him fix one of the flaws in his battle style. Cain''s physical foundation and Laws were so powerful that they allowed him to unleash attacks and spells that were several Ranks above his cultivation base. His energy pool could barely endure the drain thanks to the natural energy and [Gluttony Module], but he was already starting to see problems. The drain on Cain''s energy pool was becoming a significant issue, threatening to leave him vulnerable in prolonged battles. Yet these two treasures, the Heart of the Phoenix and Stellar Essence Orb, would fix that, providing him with a much-needed boost to his energy storage capabilities. Chapter 910 910: Anima Mechanicus Emperor and Legio Eldritch Emperor (I) Of course, Cain understood that the best way to fix his energy pool shortage was to evolve into the Divine Ascension Realm, open his Inner World, and gain access to Star Power. Although the Nine Heaven Ego Destruction Tribulation was incredibly dangerous, Cain''s willpower and soul force had grown immensely, and he was confident in his chances of success. Cain''s Astral and Essence Paths of Power had already reached the Peak Apotheosis Realm. Nothing stopped him from undergoing the Nine Heaven Ego Destruction Tribulation, pushing his willpower to the Third Realm and gaining the power to sever his soul in two, allowing him to become a Soul Realm''s dual cultivator. However, Cain''s plans change after the fight in the underwater city of Kronos. He had decided to save the Nine Heaven Ego Destruction Tribulation for something special, so these two Gifts came at the perfect time. Cain took both Tier I Treasures, teleporting out of the Samsara Sacrificial Ground and appearing in the sky of the First Layer. After fusing his Ego Wave into the Heart of the Phoenix and Stellar Essence Orb, he understood how to use them, so there was no need to delay things. First, Cain focused on the Heart of the Phoenix. Making sure his body and vitality were at their peak, he began to fuse the Runic Formation into his Rebirth Heart. The process was extremely complicated and required absolute focus, but that was not a problem with the Soul Enlightenment Mist. It took Cain four days, and once he finished, his entire body burst with a massive surge of Astral Wave, and if that was not enough, his already impressive vitality improved. ''Amazing!'' Cain could barely contain his thrill, and he was eager to see the effect of the Stellar Essence Orb, but he had to do something before that. He vanished from the sky of the First Layer, appearing next to the Diamond Saint Duke, taking the man out of the [Samsara Arsenal Module], and sending him back into the battlefield before bringing the next Ouroboros Ranking Winner. The one who managed to take first place this week was Ishmael. The Atrox Immortus Emperor had fought like a madman and managed to win. Although he only surpassed Eon by a few dozen points, a victory was a victory, and Cain brought the man into the [Samsara Arsenal Module]. Like with the Diamond Saint Duke, Cain restricted the senses of the Atrox Immortus Emperor. They went to the Samsara Arsenal Ground, where the man performed the sacrifices, before leaving the Atrox before the Codex of Infinite Pathways. After handling that, Cain did not waste time and began integrating the Stellar Essence Orb. Unlike the Heart of the Phoenix, which fused with the Rebirth Heart, the orb encompassed the Essence Star, increasing the amount of energy the treasure could hold and nurturing it with flows of cosmic forces that would benefit its evolution into an Inner World. The integration of the Stellar Essence Orb with the Essence Star in the Evolution Core was a complex process, surpassing even the fusion of the Heart of the Phoenix with the Rebirth Heart. Yet, after seven days of intense effort, Cain emerged victorious. The result was a significant boost in his power and energy pools. Once more, Cain showed pure thrill as he felt the immense amount of energy running through his body and meridians. "System, scan me." He could not wait to see the quantified increase in his energy pools, so he immediately commanded the Absolute Life Form System to scan him. [Scanning Vessel... ... Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Mind Calamity) / Essence Evolution (Time Tribulation) Lineage: Sun Master Lineage Wave Talent: Middle Emperor Neo-Demon ... Stats: Strength: 2.1 --> 2.2 (2.7) Agility: 0.7 --> 0.8 (0.9) Vitality: 2.6 --> 2.9 (3.5) Astral Wave: 1.3 --> 2.0 (2.7) Essence Wave: 1.4 --> 2.3 (3.0) Soul Force: 1.5 Ego Wave: 1.1 ... Astral Blood Saturation: 100% Completion Law Mastery: Law of Space (Extreme Law Integration) Law of Time (Middle Law Integration) Earth Law (Extreme Law Integration) Water Law (Extreme Law Integration) Fire Law (Extreme Law Integration) Wind Law (Extreme Law Integration) ... Note: Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 14.0%. Note: Natural energy has enhanced every aspect of the Vessel''s physical body, including the Astral Wave and Essence Wave. The current value is marked between ().] Cain was delighted and thrilled to see the massive improvement to his Essence Wave and Astral Wave after the integration of the Tier I Gifts. The modification in the energy pools had a holistic improvement in his body, making it grow stronger. ''So what if my enemies are strong beyond measure? With the Absolute Life Form System by my side, I will be able to rise higher and higher and kill all those who dare to stand in my path!'' The surge in power made Cain''s will burst with a fighting spirit. He did not dare to underestimate the enemy but saw a path to endless growth through the Absolute Life Form System and was ready to take full advantage of it. After a moment to calm himself and stabilize the oceans of energy inside his body, Cain was ready to go and look for the next Ouroboros Ranking Winner. A week had gone by, and a new winner had arisen. It was not a surprise for him to see that the new number one in the ranking was Eon. Cain focused on Ishmael, who was fully immersed in the Codex of Infinite Pathways. He was ready to take the Atrox back to the battlefield when a message arrived through his [A.I. Chip Module]. [My king. We have returned and brought with us the Anima Mechanicus Emperor and Legio Eldritch Emperor.] A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he heard that message and turned again to the Atrox Immortus Emperor. Things had aligned perfectly, and he was ready to meet the emperors of the last two Sacred Races. Chapter 911 911: Anima Mechanicus Emperor and Legio Eldritch Emperor (II) A massive portal in Infinite Horizon connected to the Endless Ocean area between the Oceanic Continent and Typhoon Continent, homes of the Legio Eldritch Race and Anima Mechanicus Race. The portal was under strict surveillance, and no one could get near it without the permission of the Scarlet King. This area last became active three weeks ago when the envoys from the Godslayer Humankind Empire and Inferno Daemon Empire marched toward the Anima Mechanicus Empire and Legio Eldritch Empire in search of reinforcements. Finally, the runes in the portal glowed once more as several figures, each radiating immense power, marched through it. Prime Minister Minxet, Angar, and the Collapsing Lightning Emperor appeared, accompanied by a three-meter-tall man. This man, unlike any other life form in Gaia or Atlas, had a metallic body, a unique characteristic of the Anima Mechanicus Race. The man accompanying the trio was none other than the Anima Mechanicus Race''s Emperor, David Soulstrong. He had an imposing figure, his eyes glowing with a sky-blue light. Members of the Anima Mechanicus Race had metallic bodies. Still, their composition was similar to humans'', with diverse alloys forming various tissues like muscles and bones and nanomachines acting as cells capable of performing all the processes that blood and white cells could perform. A member of the Anima Mechanicus Race was born through a unique process. Two members of their race would meditate together, harmonizing their energy and soul force, which would give birth to a Life Spark, essentially their soul. This Life Spark would then be placed in one of those metallic humanoid bodies that had a synthetic Evolution Core, a crucial component of their existence. The Mechanicus would then cultivate, evolving their Evolution Core and using the energy of that origin to enhance their bodies and make them stronger, just like humans and other biological life forms did. Not far from the group, Zero Mint, and Prime Minister Razputin were accompanying a massive man with a muscular, humanoid figure and a striking red body. He had four arms, each ending in sharp, claw-like fingers. The man accompanying the duo had no facial features, which was unsurprising as it was normal for a male member of the Legio Eldritch Race. He was none other than the Legio Eldritch Emperor, Goliath Zarun. Upon their arrival in Infinite Horizon, the first thing David and Goliath did was exchange a glance. They had been the first to arrive, not out of trust, but out of a mutual desire to ensure the safety of their people and a wariness of each other. However, while the Legio Eldritch Emperor and Anima Mechanicus Emperor were clearly not friends, the animosity between them could be considered the weakest among the Sacred Races of the Light and Dark Alliances. The reason for that was simple: unlike the border between the Goldsayer Humankind Empire and Inferno Daemon Empire and the Atrox Immortus Empire and Deus Behemoth Empire, there was a massive distance between their homes. And even when they clashed, the Anima Mechanicus Race sent automaton puppets, and the Legio Eldritch Race used drones. In the end, while they were not friends by any measure, they were neither xenophobic toward the other side nor allowed their prejudice to affect their rational thought. This was why it was so easy for David and Goliath to bring their forces toward Infinite Horizon, as they recognized the danger of Dark Sky and saw the potential benefits of the Ouroboros System. After seeing that the other side was not planning anything odd and there were no traps, the Legio Eldritch Emperor and Anima Mechanicus Emperor began to look at the surroundings, trying to assess the space. Both men could see the majesty of the dimension, especially David, as he could feel just how wondrous and extraordinary the Law of Space was in this area. "You say we will meet the Scarlet King upon arriving. I would like to share a few words with the man before sending the signal for my troops to march here." The one who spoke was Goliath, his voice filled with a mix of anticipation and caution, as he turned toward Prime Minister Razputin. "I am also very interested in that person, Prime Minister Minxet," David also expressed his intent toward the Prime Minister of the Godslayer Humankind Empire. The Emperors had accepted to participate in the battlefield, but they still had many questions, especially regarding the young man who managed to keep order in a battlefield where the Atrox Immortus Race, Godslayer Humankind, Inferno Daemon Race, and Deus Behemoth Race were fighting together. The voice of the Anima Mechanicus Emperor had just vanished when two figures appeared in front of the group. Immediately, David and Goliath turned toward the young man with a red robe, and a feeling of awe and dread assaulted their hearts and souls. The man was not even thirty years old, but the aura he exuded was like gazing upon a sun. His physical power and energy were simply colossal, and to make things even more shocking, he seemed to resonate with the fabric of space, taking control of power that permeated the earth and sky, making them his strength. "Welcome to Infinite Horizon. I am Cain Laurifer, the Scarlet King. I am glad you chose to ally with us against the world''s enemy." Cain spoke calmly and serenely, but he made sure his aura was as clear as possible for the duo. He wanted them to feel the power he controlled, as personal power was a determining factor when it came to following someone in Aether. David and Goliath had seen videos and heard vivid descriptions of the young man''s power, but they found it hard to believe if they were honest. However, as they stood before him, there was no doubt that the Scarlet King''s power was beyond their wildest imaginations. Despite being the strongest warriors from the Anima Mechanicus Race and Legio Eldritch Race, their instincts told them that fighting this young man would be a death sentence. Chapter 912 912: Anima Mechanicus Emperor and Legio Eldritch Emperor (III) The arrival of the imposing and suffocating Scarlet King sent a shiver down the spines of the Anima Mechanicus Emperor and Legio Eldritch Emperor. Yet, that only made them happy. If Dark Sky were truly as formidable as Prime Minister Minxet and Prime Minister Razputin had warned, they would need a force of equal magnitude to stand against them. After overcoming the Scarlet King''s shocking aura, the duo was able to gaze at the man by his side. The person accompanying the Scarlet King was an armored figure with a menacing appearance. The man was enveloped in intricate, spiky armor characteristic of the Atrox Immortus Race. It was easy for David and Goliath to recognize the aura of the Atrox Immortus Emperor. Their eyes immediately turned to the large halo, resembling a glowing full moon radiating with light and crackling lightning, framing his figure and enhancing his aura to a whole new level. The giant halo was a World Treasure known as the Moon of Lightning. It was a conduit to the Law of Lightning, amplifying all lightning spells and abilities, reducing their costs and casting time. It also served as a cultivation tool, guiding the user towards mastery of the Law of Lightning. A sharp light appeared in the eyes of the Atrox Immortus Emperor as he glanced at the duo and then turned toward the Scarlet King. It was no coincidence that they arrived here right after emerging from that strange dimension, nor that he did not have time to regulate its aura, making it easy for the duo to understand the power of his Moon of Lightning. The Scarlet King glanced back at the Atrox Immortus Emperor with a smile, not hiding his intention of showing the man to the duo. "Ahhhh," the Atrox Immortus Emperor only sighed at the plots and schemes of the Scarlet King before focusing on the Legio Eldritch Emperor and speaking in a solemn voice. "This man doesn''t care about your race. As long as you are useful in the war against the enemy of Aether, he will make you stronger." Ishmael''s message was short but precise. He made it clear to Goliath that they were facing an enemy of all the Sacred Races and Aether and that the Scarlet King would not discriminate based on race, only caring whether they were useful in the war. Although the last part made Cain resemble a cold-blooded and calculating man who only cared about those who followed him, that was not entirely wrong. Hence, he just smiled and shrugged his shoulders before speaking to the Atrox Immortus Emperor. "You can return to the battlefield. There will soon be a large skirmish involving the strongest warriors, so you should focus on mastering your World Treasure to improve your survival abilities." A solemn light appeared in the eyes of the Atrox Immortus Emperor as he heard those words. He knew that anything the Scarlet King considered a large skirmish was bound to be significant, and he did not dare to take it lightly. Ishmael clasped his hand and performed a small bow toward the man before nodding to Goliath and flashing to the portal that led him back to the Dark Fog battlefield. Those words of support were enough to surprise the Legio Eldritch Emperor and Anima Mechanicus Emperor, but that last small bow was even more significant. While Ishmael''s behavior was somewhat apathetic, everybody knew he was incredibly proud, so his willingness to bow toward the Scarlet King showed just how much the Atrox Immortus Emperor respected the young man. A sharp light appeared in the eyes of David and Goliath as both acted simultaneously, clasping their hands and uttering in a voice full of determination and conviction. "The Anima Mechanicus Empire is ready to face Dark Sky." "The Legio Eldritch Empire is ready to face Dark Sky." Cain showed a large smile as he heard the words from the duo and saw their determination. The process was much easier than with the Atrox Immortus Race and Deus Behemoth Race, but of course, that had to do with the fact he had already shown that members of the dark and light races could work together. "Great. The Ouroboros System will now access your A.I. Chip and computer rings." Cain waved his hand, sending the module to David and Goliath. He gave the duo a moment to marvel at the system before continuing. "The Ouroboros System will immediately appear in all the members of the Legio Eldritch Race and Anima Mechanicus Race that will reach Infinite Horizon." The Anima Mechanicus Emperor and Legio Eldritch Emperor, their hearts pounding with anticipation, acknowledged the Scarlet King and issued the command for their armies to advance through the Bridge of Hope. Cain was sure that millions of soldiers would arrive soon, but he did not have the time to handle them. Luckily, there were people he could rely on. "Prime Minister Razputin and Collapsing Lightning Emperor, you two will guide the troops of the Anima Mechanicus Race and Legio Eldritch Race into the battlefield." "Yes, my King." "As you wish, Scarlet King." The Collapsing Lightning Emperor and Prime Minister Razputin immediately bowed toward the Scarlet King before turning their eyes toward David and Goliath. They would have to work with the duo in this logistic nightmare. Cain knew the two could handle the task, and then his eyes turned toward Prime Minister Minxet. "Make sure all the professional masters from the Legio Eldritch Race and Anima Mechanicus Race find their path to the training ground. After that, take control of the Ouroboros Headquarters and be ready to deploy any material that we might require." "Yes, my King," Prime Minister Minxet clasped his hand and bowed toward the Scarlet King. Finally, Cain''s eyes turned toward Zero Mint and Angar Aegon. "We need to discuss some matters in private." The duo did not say a word and just nodded, approaching the Scarlet King before he put a hand on each of their shoulders and vanished from Infinite Horizon. Chapter 913 913: Breaking the Depravita of Wraths soul Cain appeared in the sky of the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer with Angar and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar the next second. The master assassin and swordsman stared at Cain with inquisitive gazes, wondering what the young man had planned for them. They did not have to wait long as Cain handed them several space rings, each holding millions of corpses from drones of the Insect Army. These were the corpses that had accumulated from the battlefield over the past months. Cain had been saving them for the duo, as he needed them to amass Merit as fast as possible. "From today on, you two will focus on the sacrifices from the Ouroboros System. Use it and focus on developing your Rebirth Mark. You must reach Tier III to obtain a Pseudo-Immortal Body like mine and Gabriel''s." Cain spoke in a solemn voice as he glanced at the duo with a sharp gaze. "The incoming skirmishes into the Dark Fog will be extremely dangerous, especially for us, as we must dive deeper than the others." Grave expressions appeared on Angar and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar as they nodded to the Scarlet King, the light in their eyes making it clear they understood the danger they would face. "?Yes, my King!" The duo shouted in unison as they bowed to Cain, and then the trio flashed into the Samsara Sacrificial Ground. The sacrifice went as usual, and the massive amount of drones gave birth to hundreds of Tier II and Tier III Gifts. Although none of those artifacts and treasures caught Cain''s attention, they would replenish the Ouroboros System''s treasury, which had been running low lately. However, the part that mattered to Cain was the Merit, and the amount the duo obtained was immensely high. It allowed them to reforge their Tier II Rebirth Mark, and each made significant advances toward Tier III. With the rising killing speed from having the six Sacred Races on the battlefield, it would only be a matter of time before Angar and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar obtained enough Merit. Cain took the duo back to the battlefield and did not lose time as he picked up Eon, the Deus Behemoth Emperor. The Deus Behemoth had won the weekly Ouroboros Ranking, and it was time to grant him the reward. Just like Cain did with the Diamond Saint Duke and Ishmael, he sealed the senses of the Deus Behemoth Emperor, disorienting him for a few minutes before bringing the man to the Samsara Flame and helping perform the sacrifice. Eon sacrificed dozens of mighty evil treasures, and thanks to his First Sacrifice Bonus, the man obtained a very powerful World Treasure and managed to gain a Tier I Rebirth Mark. After that, Cain left the man in the Codex of Infinite Pathways before rising into the sky. A sharp light was in his eyes before he closed them and began to empty his mind, heightening his focus to a higher and higher degree. Cain stood like that, preparing for nearly ten hours, before finally teleporting to the space-time dome, standing above the four Depravita priests. He transformed the Collapsing Space-Time Eye into Gluttony''s Eye, and pure killing intent, determination, and a murderous devouring desire rose from the young man''s soul. With a wave of Cain''s hand, the massive body of the Depravita of Wrath appeared before him. Although the mind and energy of the monster were sealed, the young man could still feel the savagery inside the Depravita''s soul. A mental clash with a member of the Depravita Race, life forces born of negative emotions and chaotic psychic energy, would not be easy, but Cain was ready. ''Let''s see how strong a member of a so-called higher race is.'' Cain''s eyes were full of brutality and coldness as the Gluttony''s Eye triggered a clash of willpower between him and the Depravita of Wrath. "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" The mental clash between Cain and the Depravita of Wrath triggered a psychic explosion. Luckily, its power was contained by the space-time dome, so no one else in the [Samsara Arsenal Module] detected it. Right from the start, Cain''s eyes grew bloodshot, and a trail of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth, proving just how harsh this clash was. It would be a long fight, and even with the Darkmist Force healing his soul, he would have a hard time breaking the will and mind of the Depravita of Wrath, but there was pure determination on his face. Hours became days as the mental clash between Cain and the Depravita of Wrath carried on. By the second day, blood leaked from every orifice in both of their heads, but none of them showed the slightest sign of weakness, and the clash carried on with more and more power. It was becoming hard for Cain to think, and his senses were starting to waver under the mental clash, making everything go dark. Still, his eyes did not move from the Depravita of Wrath for a single second, pushing himself harder and harder in order to break the monster''s mind and will. After seven days of a non-stop mental fight, Cain and the Depravita of Wrath both trembled, and a severe drop in their vitality occurred as they underwent a last decisive mental clash. The young man and the alien monster fell to the ground the next second. Cain felt his mind buzzing, and a massive headache assaulted him, making him think his head had split in two. Yet, despite all that, there was a bloody smile on his face since he had won. The Gluttony''s Eye began to glow, and a massive devouring force emerged. It started to consume the broken soul and willpower of the Depravita of Wrath! Cain forced himself to remain conscious as the Gluttony''s Eye devoured the memories of the Depravita of Wrath. It took several minutes, but finally, all of those experiences were in his mind. Although he would have wanted to go over them, he was simply too exhausted and lost consciousness the next second. Chapter 914 914: Lovecraft City and the Ancient Key It took several hours for Cain to regain consciousness. As he rose from the ground, a painful expression appeared on his face; even after all this resting, he was still suffering from a severe headache. Luckily, the Darkmist Force flooding his soul had already fixed most of the damage, and it was just a matter of hours before the pain completely faded. Cain adopted a meditating stance and waited for the pain to fade completely before finally continuing his work. ''Let''s see what we have,'' a smile appeared on Cain''s face as he went through the memories of the Depravita of Wrath, eager to see what he could learn from the Depravita Race. Cain started from the beginning, and just as he suspected, the Depravita of Wrath he faced in the underwater city was not a pure member of the Depravita Race but an Atrox. The Depravita of Wrath''s original name was Amon, a member of the Sacred Races and native of Aether. From a very young age, he was guided by a mysterious entity that always remained in the shadows. Under the guidance of this mysterious entity, he became one of the strongest masters of the underworld, reaching the zenith of the True Titan Tier and becoming as powerful as the Atrox Immortus Emperor. Just as Amon was ready to rise beyond Aether and march into the Astral Sea, the mysterious entity that guided him from his childhood became present. The mysterious master was a young man, not even twenty years old, and resembled a hybrid of the Abyssal Clan and Hell Clan. ''Horus!'' Cain''s killing intent exploded as he saw the Inferno Daemon in the memories of the Depravita of Wrath. Amon was shocked that the mysterious master was a young man since that person had been teaching and guiding him for thousands of years. However, Horus dispelled all those doubts, displaying his seemingly endless knowledge and blasting Amon into the ground, proving his superior strength. Horus told Amon he was part of a race whose power spread across the entire Astral Sea and offered the Atrox the chance to become one of them so he could join his brothers after marching past the Crystal Wall. Although changing his race was a big decision, Amon''s desire for power was immense. Besides, while Horus made it sound like an offer, the Atrox was smart enough to notice the menacing tone in the young man''s voice. Ultimately, Amon accepted Horus'' offer and continued the ritual. The process was blurry, as the Atrox''s mind and soul were in a state of utter change and mutation at the time, so Cain learned very little about it. Horus did keep his word, transforming Amon into a member of the Depravita Race. However, the process literally shattered the man''s mind, ego, and will before reforging them. Amon''s hopes, dreams, personality, and other essential characteristics and qualities were destroyed and used to create the Depravita of Wrath. Essentially, the Atrox perished during the process, and something else was born. Things did not end there since the process was not without problems. The Depravita that emerged had wisdom, but he was also in a constant state of emotional turmoil. His mind and soul sought to fall into his Concept, allowing his wrath to explode at every second. It was like a drug to him, one that he could not live without, and that drove his every move. As if that was not horrible enough, the Depravita of Wrath became a puppet under Horus'' control. He lost his free will, and it did not matter what he wanted or the pain that proved not to follow his nature. Horus assigned Amon the tasks of guarding the Lovecraft City and forging the Ancient Key, which he said he would do. At this point, Cain''s focus heightened even more, as these were important pieces of information he needed to understand if he wanted to perfect his plan to defeat Dark Sky and the Depravita Race. According to what Amon learned, Lovecraft City was a unique dimension that could hide from the world''s Laws and will. The Depravita of Wrath never knew the principles and creation of this dimension, but one thing was clear: it was incredibly hard to make them. Once the Lovecraft City was in place, the Depravitas would use a strong body to create an Ancient Key. The process was simple in essence, as it involved drawing the negative emotions and chaotic psychic energy of the world and funneling it into the person, generating pure Depravita Essence. As the Ancient Key grew stronger, it nurtured Lovecraft City, making it more stable and larger. Theoretically, if enough energy was supplied, the Lovecraft City could become as large as the world. However, that was just a side effect of the Ancient Key. Its true purpose was to act as a beacon, a signal for an incredibly powerful entity in the Astral Sea. That entity would use his power to connect with the place where the Ancient Key was located, allowing the passage of members of the Depravita Race. Other than that, Amon''s memories did not contain much more useful information. The man and the other three Depravita priests were left in Kronos'' Lovecraft City. They continued their missions, strengthening the Ancient Key and the dimension while waiting for further instructions. Although Cain would have liked to know more, that was enough. His eyes glowed with a monstrous red light as a clear path to victory appeared in his mind for the first time since the clash with Dark Sky started. "Invade the Lovecraft City, and take the Ancient Key. Once I do that, even if the members of the Depravita Race are still alive, they would be severed from their home, and their only path left will be death." All the emotions in Cain''s eyes began to fade as a sense of utter brutality emerged from his soul. His only goal was to erase the Depravita Race from Aether, leaving not even a trace of their existence. Chapter 915 915: Fallen Archangel Battle Set (I) The key to defeating the Depravita Race was the Ancient Key. However, Cain still needed to formulate and put into motion a plan to achieve that goal. After all, as of right now, Cain had no idea in which part of Atlas the Lovecraft City was hidden. "The Lovecraft City is definitely hidden inside the Dark Fog, and most likely, it is the phenomenon''s origin. However, while the inside of the dimension could match a continent, it is very small from the outside. Even my [Multidimensional Scan Force Field], whose scanning power surpasses a Third Realm Ego Wave, can only perceive it once it is close." An annoyed expression appeared on Cain''s face as it became clear that taking the Ancient Key would not be easy. Cain considered plan after plan, trying to search for a fast route, but eventually, it became clear that the path forward would be a harsh one. "I guess I will have to stick to the original project. I need to reduce the reach of the Dark Fog. That way, I will have a much easier time locating Atlas'' Lovecraft City." A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he turned to two locations in the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer. He saw hundreds of Wave Crafters and Runic Masters generating the components for the Anti-Dark Fog Tower and the Genetic Coders using Bio-Genetic Chambers to make batch after batch of Dark Fog Immunization Wave Viruses. A wide smile appeared on Cain''s face as he saw how well the masters were working, not allowing things like race to get in the way. Their minds had a single goal, and that was to improve their craft and generate the tools needed to face Dark Sky. The Dark Fog Immunization Wave Viruses would make it easier to fight inside that toxic miasma and plant the Anti-Dark Fog Tower. Still, someone would have to act as the spearhead, drawing the attention of most of the Humanoids of Dark Sky. Cain had grown much more powerful since the last time he fought the Humanoids of Dark Sky. However, he was far from being able to take dozens of them simultaneously. "My Astral Rebirth and Essence Evolution Paths of Power are currently at their limit. I cannot afford to use the Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulation, so I can neither push my Ego Eternal Path of Power forward. The Flow is stuck at the Second Level, and I have no idea how to move past that. It will be years or maybe even decades before I can evolve my Primordial Path to the Ascension Rank." Cain''s arsenal was massive, but he had already pushed every aspect of his power to the limit. No matter how hard it was, Cain had to admit that the improvement to his strength would not come from within, so he would have to rely on external help, meaning World Treasures. Cain was not so arrogant as to think he was above World Treasures, but after the Cosmic Tyrant Framework''s Fourth Level, his flesh and blood had become as strong as the Gravity Fall Armor, and he controlled Laws and energy that also matched weapons'' abilities such as the Abyssal Frost Falchion. It was clear to him that normal Tier I Gifts would not give him the weapons and artifacts he needed to improve, but he did not have to settle with normal, at least not anymore. A cold smile appeared on Cain''s face as he turned to the soulless Depravita of Wrath and the other three Depravita priests. He covered all of them with his Ego Wave and teleported, appearing inside the Samsara Sacrificial Ground. A flash of anticipation and excitement appeared on Cain''s face as he stared at the Samsara Flame. He knew the creator of the flame hated the Depravita Race, so he was sure that whatever he would obtain from the four priests would be of immense help. Cain first sent the soulless Depravita of Wrath into the Samsara Flame. As soon as the massive body touched the purple flame, it burst with power and consumed the Depravita with a monstrous ferocity, generating vast amounts of Fortune. Cain smiled and did not waste time before sending the Depravita of Decay. This one was still alive and had his soul intact, making him a much more sumptuous feast for the Samsara Flame, and the amount of Fortune in the ceiling grew by nearly 300%! Soon, the Depravita of Fear and Depravita of Disease were thrown into the Samsara Flame and devoured up to the last drop of their existence. Shock and awe appeared on Cain''s face as he saw the amount of Fortune that filled the ceiling of the Samsara Sacrificial Ground. It was nearly three times more than what he could generate by a weekly batch of Insect Army''s drones corpses, and it was much more pure. The Fortune remained in the ceiling for several minutes, vibrating with energy and power as Cain waited silently, wondering what kind of Gift he would gain. Finally, after five minutes of waiting, the Fortune transformed, and all of it became the golden energy of creation, leaving nothing for Merit. Cain did not have a problem with that, as Merit was much easier to gain, and his eyes glowed with thrill as he saw how the golden bright energy generated five massive spheres. Slowly, the spheres of golden energy began to solidify, and once the process was completed, four armor pieces and a spear appeared in Cain''s sight. The armor pieces were a helmet, breastplate, gauntlets, and greaves. Each seemed to be made of a dark and mysterious material that exuded resilience and power that Cain could not even quantify. That was far from everything, as every single piece had incredibly complex runes whose power and strength seemed to match his Rebirth Mark! The spear material was just as impressive as the armor, with a long, sleek shaft culminating in a complex, ornamental head. The spearhead was multi-layered, with sharp, blade-like extensions resembling wings. Chapter 916 916: Fallen Archangel Battle Set (II) Cain saw the armor and spear floating in the ceiling and could barely contain his excitement and thrill. Their aura was terrific, each part unleashing a wave of energy that could match the Gravity Fall Armor or Abyssal Frost Falchion, and something told him that he was only gazing at the surface of their true power. With a fierce smile full of greed, Cain sent his Ego Wave into the armor pieces and spear, allowing them to consume his mental energy and engrave each one as his. His face grew pale as the energy they consumed was immense, but thanks to the massive size and energy contained in his Ego Wave, he was able to endure. In the next second, the majestic voice emerged from the Samsara Flame, describing each armor piece and the majestic spear in detail. "Congratulations on obtaining the Tier I Gift, Archangel''s Helm of Insight. This helm enhances mental acuity and perception, allowing the wearer to anticipate attacks and strategize with supernatural clarity. It amplifies the wearer''s cognitive processes, enabling faster reaction times and heightened sensory perception." "Congratulations on obtaining the Tier I Gift, Archangel''s Breastplate of Might. This breastplate, forged with celestial alloys, massively boosts the wearer''s physical strength and resilience. It increases physical strength and defense by an entire Rank and offers nearly impregnable defense in the Soul Realm." "Congratulations on obtaining the Tier I Gift, Archangel''s Gauntlets of Speed. These gauntlets are crafted to enhance agility and speed, allowing for movements that blur the line between teleportation and high-speed travel. They grant extraordinary speed and reflexes, enhancing hand-to-hand combat and weapon handling." "Congratulations on obtaining the Tier I Gift, Archangel''s Greaves of Endurance. These greaves boost the wearer''s stamina and durability, allowing them to endure prolonged combat without fatigue. They provide immense stamina and enhance the wearer''s ability to sustain peak performance in battle to those in the Soul Realm." "Congratulations on obtaining the Tier I Gift, Archangel''s Spear of Doom. A spear imbued with cosmic destructive power, capable of piercing through the toughest defenses and delivering explosive energy bursts. It acts as a conduit for the wearer''s energy, amplifying any form of energy pool at the Soul Realm." Cain heard the description of every Gift, and he could see they were beyond majestic. But things were far from over. Once all the pieces were described, the voice emerged from the Samsara Flame once more. "Impressive. Congratulations, you have unlocked all the pieces of the Archangel Battle Set stored in the First Layer." It was still a preprogrammed message, but there was even a tone of approval. There were very few people whose approval meant something to Cain, but he would be lying if he said that the support of the person who created the Samsara Flame was not incredibly significant for him, and it filled his heart with pride. "The five Archangel''s World Treasures together allow their true power to rise. Congratulations on obtaining the Tier Zero Gift, the Fallen Archangel Battle Set: Lucifer Morningstar!" The voice coming from the Samsara Flame echoed one final time, full of support, before vanishing. "Lucifer Morningstar!" Cain could not help but utter the name of the battle set. Each part was immensely powerful, but it was clear that he would only see their true power when the whole battle set was in operation. Cain''s Ego Wave had already been engraved into the World Treasures, so with a single intent, the helmet, breastplate, gauntlets, greaves, and the spear came toward him and fused with his body. A feeling of immense power coursed through his flesh and blood as the armor channeled his energy. However, things rose to a whole new level once all the pieces were on his body as the runes in each of them glowed. Immediately, Cain felt a sharp drain in his energy reserves as the runes in the armor and spear consumed a gargantuan amount of energy, one that his Sacred Organs could not really satisfy. Luckily, as if sensing the weakness of his internal energy pools, the runes searched for a new source of fuel, and soon they detected the Darkmist Force coming from the [Grand Demonic Devourer Dimension]. The Darkmist Force that the [Empty Seven Deadly Flames] generated using the radiation from the Ancient Key was massive, to say the least, able to flood Cain''s body and Sacred Organs completely. Yet, it was only by taking up to the last drop of Darkmist Force coming from the [Empty Seven Deadly Flames] that the Fallen Archangel Battle Set''s runes were able to activate fully. The next second, a sense of pure and absolute awe assaulted Cain''s soul as he felt how the armor merged with his body. It was no longer an artifact protecting his body as it evolved into something much greater. The Fallen Archangel Battle Set became one with Cain''s flesh and muscles, allowing a flawless synergy. His body was already strong thanks to the Cosmic Tyrant Framework, but now it rose to a whole new level. That was not all, as the Spear of Doom connected with his Rebirth Heart and Evolution Core, taking the Astral Wave and Essence Wave and giving birth to what the inheritance in the armor described as Fallen Aura. That was a unique energy source that could work for both physical skills and spells that draw the power of the Laws, similar to his Solar Tempest Essence, but much more powerful and cost-efficient. It was also the key energy needed to trigger the three signature skills from the Fallen Archangel Battle Set. "Hahahaha!" Cain burst into laughter as he felt how incredibly high his power had risen. The armor improved every aspect of his existence, and right now, he felt capable of severing the sky and shattering the earth. "Yes! With this power, I can take everything they throw at me. I will crush their bodies and shatter their souls!" Pure killing intent and desire to battle burned in Cain''s eyes as he felt ready for the incoming clash. Chapter 917 917: The four towers (I) Cain was in the sky of Infinite Horizon in a meditative position, his aura growing more and more potent by the day as he enhanced his mastery over the Law of Time. It had been four weeks already since he obtained his Tier Zero Gift, the Archangel Fallen Battle Set. However, while the feeling of power was intoxicating and made him want to rush onto the battlefield like a madman, he was not rash. His individual power had already reached the peak of what he could achieve, a level that filled him with confidence. But that did not mean the rest of his troops were ready. Angar and Zero Mint needed to evolve their Rebirth Mark and obtain their Pseudo-Immortal Bodies, and the strongest warriors of the army needed to be immunized against the toxic power of the Dark Fog. Luckily, those two tasks advanced extremely fast. The number of Insect Army''s corpses the duo sacrificed every week reached the dozens of millions, and Prime Minister Minxet did a great job spreading the Dark Fog Immunization Wave Viruses among the Divine Ascension Masters, a crucial step in their preparation for the upcoming incursion. Of course, Cain did not simply wait as that happened. He took care of all the people who had acquired Tribulation Enhancement through the Ouroboros System. The people who bought it had to wait as Cain was going from one place to the other, but now he was finally free, and hundreds gained the extremely powerful Revolution Refinements. During that time, another five Ouroboros Ranking Winners arose, each of them gaining a powerful World Treasure and Rebirth Mark. After Eon, the subsequent winners were the Dark Emperor, Legio Eldritch Emperor, and Anima Machinarium Emperor, which made sense considering the trio were extremely powerful Divine Ascension Masters. However, the other two came as a surprise for many. After David, the Anima Machinarium Emperor, the one who secured the first place in the Ouroboros Ranking was none other than General Casidius, the first Inferno Daemon to have ever sided with the Scarlet King. Cain was not really surprised as the man had grown immensely powerful by training in the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer. However, even he had to admit he was shocked to see the one who won the Ouroboros Ranking after General Casidius. The fifth winner of the Ouroboros Ranking was none other than Bloodless #1, the current Leader of Blood Sea and one of Cain''s old friends. The man had shown immense power and skill over the last three years, growing from a Middle Divine Ascension to the True Titan Tier. A few days after helping Bloodless #1 obtain his reward, Cain''s aura reached its zenith as he opened his eyes. Through the [A.I. Chip Module], he was able to see the state of the army. They all had grown immensely and were currently able to butcher the drones from the Insect Army as soon as they stepped out of the Dark Fog. "It is time for the next step. To break this blockade and push forward. Move toward victory." A monstrous red light burst in Cain''s eyes as he decided it was time to start the next phase of his plan and communicated with the strongest warriors in Atlas. --- Deep within the Dark Fog, a Sector in Atlas was teeming with Insect Army drones. They marched relentlessly towards the border, their numbers reaching the hundreds of millions. Yet, in the grand scheme of Dark Sky, they were insignificant. The true power of the alien force lay in the thirty-two individuals in the sky. The Humanoids of Dark Sky were all in a meditative position, a sharp light in their eyes, ready to march at any second. The first time they set foot in this world, everybody had a clear thought: They would rule everything and butcher the natives. When the Humanoids of Dark Sky first set foot in this world, they harbored dreams of conquest. They would rule everything and butcher the natives as great heroes before returning to their homes. However, those dreams were shattered by a single individual, a young man with unparalleled power and leadership skills. He rallied the world against them, and the strongest warrior under his guidance managed to kill one of them. When they first crossed into this world, none of them thought they could die, yet three of them were gone by now. Their leaders killed the last two for their failure, and they made it clear that all of them could suffer the same fate. Dying in this foreign world terrified the Humanoids of Dark Sky, so they were ready to use everything they had in order not to lose again. Suddenly, a sharp light appeared in the Humanoids of Dark Sky. They were connected to the Dark Fog and could detect any intrusion in it, which was exactly what they had just noticed. As they focused on the intrusion, solemn expressions appeared in the Humanoids of Dark Sky since it was the Scarlet King and the trio that took the life of Azur, the Defense Humanoid. The group was marching very deep into the Dark Fog. Normally, the Humanoids of Dark Sky would send one warrior for each of the intruders, but no matter how arrogant they were, the aliens understood that would be the same as suicide. "Irion, Arem, Kirin, Lortun, Sartur, Pilion, Karnar. You will follow me. We will face them with all our strength." A Humanoid of Dark Sky spoke in a solemn voice before turning to the gargantuan member of his group. "Ortan, you must be ready to interfere if we find ourselves in danger." "Yes, Mika." The gargantuan Humanoid of Dark Sky nodded, ready to rise into the sky so he could fall into the battlefield at any second. However, before any of the Humanoids of Dark Sky could make a move, their eyes widened. They detected more intruders and were not just a few more but over two hundred! Chapter 918 918: The four towers (II) Mika, the Humanoid of Dark Sky leading the group in the sky, could not help but show confusion on his face. Among the hundreds of warriors of the Sacred Races, eight had extremely powerful auras that could put up a fight for some time, and two more whose strength was even higher, putting them at the level of the Humanoids. As for the rest, nearly 25% were Peak Divinity Ascension Masters, but the others were at the Late Stage. Those at the True Titan Tier might be able to put up a fight against the Humanoids of Dark Sky if they were willing to give their lives in battle, but normal Titans were simply not powerful enough for a battle of this level. The Humanoids did not even need to attack this last group to win since the Dark Fog would corrode their bodies and souls in less than an hour. No matter how Mika looked at it, sending those hundreds of warriors into the Dark Fog did not make sense and was nothing short of a massive tactical blunder. Yet, the Humanoid of Dark Sky knew that the Scarlet King was a master tactician and would not make such an obvious mistake, so there must be something he was not seeing. ''What am I missing?'' A deep frown appeared on the Humanoid of Dark Sky''s face as he tried to understand the enemy''s goal before marching onto the battlefield. The death of Azur, the Defense Humanoid, had taught Mika that the enemy was powerful enough to kill them, so they should not march blindly into the battlefield anymore. Unfortunately, Mika and the rest of the Humanoids of Dark Sky did not have the luxury of time and caution as a ferocious voice echoed inside each of their souls the next second. "No matter what, ensure the Scarlet King remains inside the Dark Fog for the next hour. As for the rest of the ants, kill all of them!" A flash of terror appeared in the eyes of the Humanoids of Dark Sky as they heard that voice and understood that there was no time to think. They had to march into the battlefield and fight; it did not matter if they could be walking into a trap. Mika took a deep breath and focused his mind once again. He felt the intruders'' aura and saw how they divided into four groups, all positioned at different points in one of the Sectors close to the border of the Dark Fog. "Yar, Aras, and Mortir. You three will join me. The rest, divide yourselves into three groups, and attack the rest of the warriors that entered the Dark Fog. The Late Divine Ascension Masters will not endure much inside the Dark Fog, so time is our ally. Make sure to use it and bring battalions of insect drones, as they can be of use to drain the energy of the Titans." Mika''s voice was sharp and full of determination, making the rest of the Humanoids of Dark Sky nod. Once everybody had their orders, the Humanoids of Dark Sky marched toward the intruders, each group bringing countless drones of the Insect Army. It didn''t take long for Mika and the other eleven Humanoids of Dark Sky to reach their destination. As they approached, a dozen Divine Ascension Masters came into view, and they seemed to be working on a tower. Those Divine Ascension Masters were working extremely fast, and surrounding them were over forty powerful warriors in a defensive battle formation. They all unleashed an aura at least at the Late Divine Ascension Realm, and they held all sorts of Saint Treasures. ''A Titan Tower?'' Mika was aware of the constructs that the people of this world used to enhance their energy pool and power, but building one inside the Dark Fog made no sense as the humans would eventually have to run away. After that, it would be easy for the Humanoids of Dark Sky to destroy the tower, making all their hard work pointless. ''What are they after? What is their goal?'' Mika''s mind was a whirlwind of questions, each adding to the mounting tension and uncertainty as he attempted to decipher the enemy''s strategy. No matter how hard he tried, the Humanoid of Dark Sky could not find the answer. Yet, a deep sense of danger and urgency gripped him as his instincts warned him of the towers'' potential threat. The True Titans would be no match for his group, but the four that stood before them were a different story. Cain, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, Angar, and Zero gazed at the Humanoids of Dark Sky with coldness and killing intent, yet none of them moved a single muscle. They only gazed at their enemies silently as they waited for the tower construction to be completed. "Do not focus on them. We must destroy that tower. No matter what, do not allow it to be completed!" Mika was full of doubt and uncertainty, so he followed his instincts and gave the command to the Humanoids of Dark Sky by his side. Although the Humanoids of Dark Sky were confused by the command as that tower had no tactical value, they nodded to their commander, and the strength of their bodies exploded as they prepared to march forward. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw the intent in the eyes of the Humanoids of Dark Sky. He expected them to take more time to make their move, but the group leader was full of determination. "Hmph. Let''s see how far you can go!" The killing intent in Cain''s eyes burst, and the next second, the Fallen Archangel Battle Set emerged from inside his body, merging into his flesh and muscles. Dread appeared in the eyes of the Humanoids of Dark Sky as they saw the armor covering Cain''s figure and the spear he held in his hand. They felt how the young man''s aura exploded to a simply outrageous level the moment they appeared. Chapter 919 919: The four towers (III) Cain''s eyes burned with red light as the Fallen Archangel Battle Set elevated his power to a new level. Without wasting a second, he began to infuse his Astral Wave and Essence Wave into the runes, causing a pillar of dark aura to explode from his body and rise into the sky. Mika and the other Humanoids of Dark Sky could not hide their shock as they felt the powerful dark aura. A sense of utter disbelief assaulted their hearts as they realized that the energy was of such a high level that it began to push back the Dark Fog. What people saw as a poisonous dark mist was, in fact, just a visual manifestation. The Dark Fog spread through the fabric of space. Normal energies like Astral Wave or Essence Wave could not interact with the Dark Fog as they occupied different dimensions of reality, yet the dark aura was capable of such a feat. Cain''s Fallen Aura left the Humanoids of Dark Sky speechless, but that was just the beginning. The next second, the aura spread in the form of a force field, covering thousands of kilometers. Members of the Sacred Races felt nothing, but the effect it had on the aliens was terrifying. "?AHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Screams of agony emerged from the ground as millions of weak drones from the Insect Army fell. The souls of all the drones beneath the Divine Ascension Realm shattered, while the others could hardly move. The dark force field also struck the souls of the Humanoids of Dark Sky, generating immense pain and hindering their senses, drastically diminishing their battle power. Cain smiled as he saw the power of one of the three primary skills of the Lucifer Morningstar Fallen Archangel Battle Set, the Aura of Dominion. Not giving the Humanoids even a second to adapt to the soul pressure, his eyes turned to the highest sky. His enhanced perception allowed him to gaze at the gargantuan enemy waiting there, ready to lunge toward the battlefield at any second. The last time he saw that gargantuan Humanoid of Dark Sky, he was forced to run, but things were different this time. "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" "CRAAAAACCCKKKKKK!" As space shattered, a massive explosion echoed across the battlefield, leaving a human-sized silhouette just where Cain used to be. "?AHHHHHHH!" Mika''s eyes widened as he saw the speed the Scarlet King managed to achieve. The next second, he turned to the highest sky and saw the gargantuan body of the largest Humanoid of the Dark Sky falling while screaming in pain. "Ortan!" The Humanoid of Dark Sky shouted in horror as he saw his comrade falling from the sky with a massive cut on his chest. However, the man did not have time to worry about others, as Cain appeared in front of him the next second, attacking with an imposing spear charged with an explosive dark aura. "Fight as one!" Mika''s mind acted extremely fast, shouting to draw the rest of the Humanoids back to reality as he raised his arm and tightened his muscles to defend himself from the incoming spear. "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" A cold light appeared in Cain''s eyes as his attack triggered a kinetic explosion that sent the Humanoid of Dark Sky flying away while puking blood. The man was not only fast enough to react to his attack but managed to wake his comrades from their stupor, drawing their attention back to the battle. ''I need to kill him.'' The battle power and leadership skill of the Humanoid of Dark Sky only awakened Cain''s killing intent, but it was not going to be easy. Just as Cain sent the leader flying away, the other ten Humanoids of Dark Sky lunged toward him like a pack of killing machines, attacking from different angles and covering all escape routes. The Humanoids of Dark Sky were masters at teamwork, and as their number increased, so did their overall power. So, taking on ten of them at the same time was a titanic task that could push even someone as powerful as Cain to the limit. ''I can take eight, maybe nine, but that would be my limit. Fighting all twelve aliens together alone would be extremely dangerous.'' Cain did not dare to underestimate the Humanoids of Dark Sky and could feel the power of the onslaught. However, there was no fear on his face, and in fact, a smile arose as he was not alone. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor, Angar, and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar flashed into the fray, each taking on one of the Humanoids of Dark Sky, focusing on the fastest of the group. "BOOOM!" "ZNNNNNN!" "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" "BAAAOOOOOOOO!" "CRRRRAAAAACCCKKK!" Explosions, space shattering, swords severing the sky, the earth trembling, and sonic blasts¡ªall of them echoed across the battlefield as a ferocious battle took place. Cain took on the Humanoids of Dark Sky with the greatest strength and defense, while the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, Angar, and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar neutralized the fastest of the group. The Humanoids of Dark Sky showed incredible might and battle skills, along with superb teamwork, but they were losing. The aliens'' opponents had all sorts of powerful artifacts that enhanced their abilities. And if that was not enough, each and every one of them seemed to have an immortal body, as no matter what type of wounds they endured, they would heal immediately. Mika rose from a massive crater shortly after the explosions filled the sky, and as he saw the fight taking place, he could not help but curse. "Dammit, how are natives from a Seed World so powerful!?" Despite all the rage and frustration in the Humanoid''s soul, he did not lose focus and turned toward the tower under construction. His instincts told him that he should destroy it, but more than thirty Titans and True Titans were in his path. Despite their number, the Humanoid of Dark Sky was not afraid. However, it would take time to overcome that defensive formation, which his forces did not have. "AHHHHH!" The Humanoid of Dark Sky released a roar of rage and killing intent as he headed into the highest battleground, ready to kill. Chapter 920 920: The four towers (IV) The cataclysmic battle unfolded between Cain, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, Angar, and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, each possessing unique and devastating powers, against the twelve Humanoids of Dark Sky. The intensity of their clash shattered the sky and earth, leaving cracks in the fabric of space that extended for hundreds of kilometers and could cut deeper than any Adamantium artifact. However, despite the explosive might of this battle nearing the limit of Aether, it was not the only cataclysmic fight taking place inside the Dark Fog. Similar scenes unfolded at the locations where the other three towers were being constructed. Another fierce clash near the Scarlet King''s battlefield saw seven Humanoids of Dark Sky battling four incredibly powerful entities accompanied by dozens of Peak Divine Ascension Masters. "AHHHH!" A roar of rage and killing intent erupted from the Patriarch of the Zanguinis Family as he attacked, unleashing a devouring force that absorbed all the surrounding energy. The Humanoid of Dark Sky''s eyes widened as she saw the blood fist resembling a shooting star. She barely raised her arms in time to protect herself before the punch landed, sending her flying away. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" Lord Zanguinis grinned as he felt the power he could express after undergoing his True Flesh Calamity and mastering the Continent Devourer Snake Armor. However, just as Lord Zanguinis sent that Humanoid of Dark Sky flying, another appeared behind him, ready to land a devastating strike on his skull. While Cain could take on several of them head-on, and those like the Collapsing Lightning Emperor could fight more than one simultaneously, it did not mean the Humanoids were weak in the slightest. Luckily for Lord Zanguinis, just as the fast Humanoid of Dark Sky was about to crack his skull, an arrow of burning golden energy sent the alien flying away, saving him. The one who rescued Lord Zanguinis was none other than the Patriarch of the Solis Clan, Kabuto. The Deus Behemoth had just saved his old friend when his eyes narrowed. Without hesitation, he fired another golden arrow, aiming down. The golden arrow did not aim at an enemy. After advancing a few thousand meters, the bow activated its power, transforming Kabuto''s body into energy and flashing into the arrow. Just as he vanished, a Humanoid of Dark Sky appeared at his previous location, sending a ferocious kick that could have cut the old man''s neck. A flash of surprise appeared in the eyes of the Humanoid of Dark Sky as he saw the old Deus Behemoth manage to escape. He had ensured to hide his aura and knew he made no mistake, so he did not understand how the old man did it. Lord Kabuto saw the confusion in the Humanoid''s eyes and just smiled. The Celestial Qilin Bow enhanced every aspect of his bloodline power and ability, including his precognition. Before, it only worked in dreams, but thanks to the World Treasure, he learned to harness it in battle. "Sunflare Arrow!" The Deus Behemoth shouted with killing intent as he tensed the bowstring, sending a massive power arrow in the form of a sun flare toward the Humanoid of Dark Sky that nearly broke his neck. "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" The arrow''s explosion not only unleashed immense power but also created a massively powerful flash of light that hindered everyone''s vision on the battlefield. One of the Humanoids of Dark Sky could not help but close his eyes due to the blinding flash of light. Just as he was about to regain his vision, he noticed a humanoid covered in magma flashing toward him. The alien could not react in time before the magma man''s shoulder clashed with his chest, burning his flesh and generating a seismic shockwave that made his internal organs tremble. The one in the mantle of flowing magma was the Deus Behemoth Emperor. A ferocious smile appeared on Eon''s face as he felt the power of his tackle and the damage it did to the body of the Humanoid of Dark Sky. The World Treasure that Eon obtained from the Samsara Flame, known as the Living Magma Armor, took the form of glowing lava, constantly shifting and flowing to adapt to his movements. It granted him striking offensive and defensive might and allowed him to fully harness the power of his Soul Bloodline. Unfortunately for Eon, while the World Treasure greatly enhanced his power, it was still short of the level needed to send a Humanoid of Dark Sky flying away. The alien regained control over his body immediately. "Die, ant!" The Humanoid of Dark Sky shouted with rage as he flashed forward, ready to blast the chest of the Deus Behemoth Emperor open. However, just as the alien was about to reach Eon, a giant arc of white lightning came crashing with so much power that it disrupted his path and sent him hurtling away. Eon turned to the origin of the lightning strike that had just saved his life and saw the Atrox Immortus Emperor. A sharp light appeared in the eyes of the Deus Behemoth Emperor as he saw how Ishmael had unleashed a massive amount of energy and life force in that attack, and the backlash hindered his movements. Immediately, Eon''s energy exploded as he also burned a part of his life force, sending a ferocious kick toward the Atrox Immortus Emperor, generating a massive wave of burning lava. Ishmael saw the massive wave of lava coming his way, and his eyes turned cold as he lowered his head, allowing the magma to pass by him and crash right into the body of the Humanoid of Dark Sky that intended to strike his spine. The notion of the leaders of the Deus Behemoth Empire and Atrox Immortus Empire, forces that had been locked in a perpetual war for thousands of years, fighting side by side was unfathomable. Yet, they did, demonstrating a unity and collaboration that was as unexpected as it was powerful, putting their lives in each other''s hands. And the reason they did it was simple. It was an order from the Scarlet King. Chapter 921 921: The four towers (V) Cain had not only enhanced the power of all the warriors taking part in the Four Towers mission but also used the [A.I. Chip Module] to run countless simulations, figuring out the best possible combination of their abilities. The person who best supplemented the battle style and skills of Eon, an explosive warrior capable of using scorching heat; Kabuto, a powerful and fast archer who could foresee the enemy''s movement; and Zuko, someone with immense resilience and stamina, was none other than the Atrox Immortus Emperor, Ishmael. Of course, the idea of fighting together did not fascinate the group, but that did not matter. The Scarlet King allowed them a lot of freedom in the Dark Fog battlefield, ensuring they chose their squads according to affinity and friendship. However, this mission was different. It did not matter whether they liked it or not; they were the best possible combination, strategically chosen to maximize their strengths and cover each other''s weaknesses, and would fight together. When it came to the Four Towers mission, a crucial step that would lead them a step closer to defeating Dark Sky, the Scarlet King was brutal and absolute. They might not like it, but they would fight side by side and do their best to protect each other, knowing that the success of this mission was paramount to their ultimate goal. The Deus Behemoths and Atrox knew that the Scarlet King monitored every move they made. If they showed anything less than their best, the consequences would be dire. The Scarlet King was magnanimous and provided the best guidance and armament. However, if they jeopardized the mission, there was no doubt in their minds that his wrath would bury them all. Eon and Ishmael glanced at each other and nodded. No matter how much they disliked it, they could not deny they worked well together in battle. Immediately, their energy exploded as they flashed back into the fray, full of killing intent. Lord Zanguinis, Lord Kabuto, the Deus Behemoth Emperor, and the Atrox Immortus Emperor displayed extraordinary power as they fought the Humanoids of Dark Sky. However, they faced seven of those alien monsters, while they were only four. Luckily, they were not fighting alone. The Patriarchs of the Ten Great Bloodlines of the Deus Behemoth Empire and the Ten Swords of the Atrox Immortus Empire, along with dozens of other Titans and Gods, fought by their side. These warriors could not directly clash with the Humanoids of Dark Sky, as that would be the same as suicide, but their attacks could hinder the aliens, allowing the four main warriors to push the enemies back. They also had the critical task of killing the Insect Army drones that neared the tower. It was a vital mission that pushed all of them to their limits, demanding sacrifices beyond measure. Yet, driven by their unwavering determination, they were succeeding, each step forward a testament to their courage. ... Further to the south, another massive battle took place. The Diamond Saint Duke, the Anima Mechanicus Emperor, and the Inferno Demon Emperor faced seven Humanoids of Dark Sky. Each of them had powerful World Treasures and a Rebirth Mark, but their power was much weaker than the forces from the Deus Behemoth Empire and Atrox Immortus Empire. After all, Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanguinis had undergone True Flesh Calamities. Luckily, the trio made up for the lack of powerful top-tier warriors with the help of twenty-five True Titans and fifty Titans. Those numbers were impressive, but they made sense considering that this battlefield held the bulk of the Divine Ascension Masters of the Goldsayer Humankind. Although the civil war against the Crown Prince killed many Divine Ascension Masters, it also marked the rise of many new powerhouses. After taking control of Gaia, Cain handsomely rewarded all the people who fought by his side, so the numbers of True Titans and Titans skyrocketed. Among these people were many new faces. It was not that they had been hiding, but these masters had been training in the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer. It was an arduous battle, one that tested their mettle to the extreme. But their unity, their unwavering teamwork, was a beacon of hope amidst the darkness. Together, they managed to hold the Humanoids of Dark Sky at bay, eliminate the drones of the Insect Army, and pave the way for the tower''s construction. ... Thousands of kilometers to the west and further south was the last battlefield. The leaders of the Sacred Races in this place were General Casidus, Bloodless #1, and the Legio Eldritch Emperor. The trio was powerful and had excellent skills, but their combined battle power was the weakest. And to make things even more somber, the number of Late and Peak Divine Ascension Masters fighting by their side was also lower than in the rest of the battlefields. Luckily, they were only facing six Humanoids of Dark Sky, and these did not seem to be the most powerful. It was still an uphill battle for the warriors of the Sacred Races, but there was one final card in their favor. The battlefield was close enough to the border of the Dark Fog that the Early and Middle Divine Ascension Masters could unleash a barrage of spells from outside. Those attacks filled the sky and earth, killing all the drones from the Insect Army and providing a layer of protection for General Casidus, Bloodless #1, the Legio Eldritch Emperor, and the Peak Divine Ascension Masters fighting by their side. Despite being the weakest of the battlefields, the danger the Sacred Races warriors faced was just as great as their comrades, and they were pushing themselves to the limit to succeed in this crucial task. ... The warriors of the Sacred Races on all the battlefields were acutely aware of the perils they faced, understanding that some would not survive. Yet, their resolve to achieve victory was unwavering. They knew that the success of their mission, the potential of the towers, held the fate of Aether in its balance. Chapter 922 922: A fleeting victory "BOOOM!" "ZNNNNNN!" "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" "BAAAOOOOOOOO!" "CRRRRAAAAACCCKKK!" The intensity of the battle within the Dark Fog kept escalating as Cain, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, Angar, and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar unleashed their full power against the twelve Humanoids of Dark Sky. The fight was so fierce that it shattered the sky and earth, leaving cracks in the fabric of space that extended for hundreds of kilometers. Cain fought like a force of nature, clashing with seven Humanoids of Dark Sky. These seven were the most powerful of the aliens, yet Cain still managed to hold the upper hand, his skills at a terrifying level. The Spear of Doom flashed to the side, striking one of the Humanoids attempting to attack Cain from his blind spot. He swung his weapon backward without losing momentum, sending another alien flying away. Just as Cain countered the attacks of two Humanoids in less than a fraction of a second, a massive fist came crashing down on him. It belonged to the gargantuan Humanoid of Dark Sky, resembling a meteorite falling from the sky with the power to level an entire Sector. All the other Humanoids moved away, not wanting to be caught in the blast, while simultaneously blocking every escape route, forcing Cain to confront the massive fist. Although the Humanoids of Dark Sky guarded every path, Cain could still escape if he put everything into it, but he chose not to. The young man''s eyes showed a sharp light as his Fallen Aura concentrated into the Spear of Doom. "Wrath of the Nine Hells!" Cain roared with killing intent as the Fallen Aura in the Spear of Doom transformed into nine different flames, each incredibly destructive. The air crackled with energy as he thrust the spear at the incoming gargantuan fist, generating a beam of destructive energy that filled the battlefield with blinding light and deafening sound. "BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!" A cataclysmic explosion occurred as the beam of burning flames clashed with the fist of the gargantuan Humanoid of Dark Sky. The next second, a scream of agony echoed across the battlefield. "AHHHHHHH!" The one screaming in pain was the gargantuan Humanoid of Dark Sky, as Cain''s attack had left his right arm a bloody mess. The offensive skill of the Fallen Archangel Battle Set left the Humanoids of Dark Sky in shock and awe. Ortan, known for his defensive abilities, had his right arm decimated. If any other Humanoid had received that attack point-blank, they would have been obliterated. ''It consumed nearly fifteen percent of my total energy, but the power of the attack was immense!'' Cain thought, a fierce expression on his face as he saw the effect of his offensive strike. He felt a mix of satisfaction and exhaustion, knowing that he had given his all in that attack, but also realizing the toll it had taken on him. Normally, Cain would have immediately followed that attack with a brutal barrage, but he chose not to. They had been fighting for nearly an hour, and the truth was that he was nearing his exhaustion point. That last attack left his energy reserves dangerously low. Mika, the leader of the Humanoids of Dark Sky group, was just as shocked as his comrades. The Scarlet King''s attack had destroyed Ortan''s right arm. If that wasn''t bad enough, all those Divine Ascension Masters, who should have perished due to the toxicity of the Dark Fog, were perfectly fine. Never in his life had Mika felt so lost, but his willpower pushed him to continue. The Humanoids of Dark Sky were tired and wounded, just like their comrades, but they needed to keep fighting. Mika was about to command a new barrage when he noticed that the Scarlet King was no longer paying them any attention. ''Is he smiling?'' Usually, Mika wouldn''t miss a chance to exploit the enemy''s lack of focus. However, as he saw the Scarlet King smiling and looking south, a bad feeling arose in his heart. In the next second, all four towers began to glow with radiant light full of majesty. The light was beyond beautiful, filling the warriors of the Sacred Races with a sense of utter delight, yet the Humanoids of Dark Sky felt only terror. The aliens watched in horror as the radiant light from the towers began to burn the Dark Fog. As if that wasn''t enough, the energy of the four towers began to resonate, extending the radiant light in all directions. The relationship between the Humanoids of Dark Sky and the Dark Fog was akin to that of fish and the ocean. They could not exist outside its range, so the radiant light filled them with terror. "Pull back now!" Mika shouted with terror in his voice, his message reaching every one of the Humanoids of Dark Sky in the four battlefields. He knew what would happen if they remained in a place outside of the Dark Fog; they had to retreat. Cain saw the Humanoids of Dark Sky retreating but did not chase them. Instead, he focused on the towers with a wide smile. Through the A.I. Chips and computer rings, the Scarlet King could see the entire Sector filling with a radiant light that burned the Dark Fog. More importantly, he saw the delight and thrill of his people at this sight. It might be just a Sector, but it was the first time since this war started that they had managed to regain territory, signifying a path toward true victory. If they did it once, they could do it again, meaning it was only a matter of time before they took back Atlas. Some of the Inferno Daemons, the original owners of these lands, shed tears of joy upon seeing a piece of their lost land return to the light. Cain''s smile widened as he felt the thrill and happiness of his people, remembering all the hard work that led to this moment. He had to gather the full power of the Sacred Races, make them overcome their differences, and give them the tools to rise to new heights. ''It was hard and exhausting, but it was worth it!'' Cain''s eyes glowed with satisfaction as the radiant light was about to reach him. However, just as he was about to step outside the reach of the Dark Fog, a figure appeared next to him. Cain''s eyes widened as he saw the entity. It resembled a Humanoid of Dark Sky, yet the light in its eyes made his heart tremble. Before he could react, the enemy landed a ferocious palm strike on his chest, pushing him back into the depths of the Dark Fog. Chapter 923 923: Mind Severing Ritual (I) The Collapsing Lightning Emperor, Angar, and the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar were displaying broad smiles full of thrill as they felt the radiant light from the towers washing over their bodies when they saw a figure appear out of nowhere and blast the Scarlet King. The entity materialized without warning, and none of them perceived him until after he struck and sent the Scarlet King flying away into the Dark Fog. The attacker was clearly a Humanoid of Dark Sky, with an imposing metallic body nearly five meters tall, golden eyes burning with powerful intent, and a complete lack of detectable energy. The Humanoid of Dark Sky exuded an aura that was on a completely different level, instilling a sense of terror in the trio. His presence was akin to death itself, a threat they couldn''t ignore. No matter how powerful and terrifying the enemy was, the trio were not cowards. Their eyes burned with red light as they prepared to flash into the Dark Fog and attack the alien who dared to strike the Scarlet King. The Humanoid of Dark Sky saw their intent to fight and readiness to march out of the radiant light and attack him, but he only smiled. He looked at the three top warriors of the Sacred Races as if they were mere children, posing no threat to him at all. "Stay inside!" Just as the trio prepared to engage, a voice full of will and power echoed across the battlefield. It was the Scarlet King, rising from a crater, a small trail of blood marking the damage from the last attack. Yet, his eyes burned with defiant red light, a testament to his unwavering power. Cain''s eyes were cold as he rose to the sky and gazed at this new Humanoid of Dark Sky. He had faced seven other aliens simultaneously for over an hour, and due to the defensive power of his body and the Fallen Archangel Battle Set, none of them had managed to wound him. Yet, this new alien came out of nowhere and, with a single blow, made his internal organs tremble. Of course, his Pseudo Immortal Body healed all the damage immediately, but that did not erase the fact that this new Humanoid of Dark Sky''s power was in a completely different league. That was why he shouted for the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the others to remain inside the radiant light. "Although I had to hide my aura and power until the last second, that attack still carried most of the power this body could unleash, yet I only gave you a slight wound. I guess killing you while confined to this armor was impossible." The Humanoid of Dark Sky stared at Cain''s rising figure, and his eyes showed killing intent yet also a flash of interest. "I wonder just what kind of secret you held to have reached this level in a Seed World." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard the words of the Humanoid of Dark Sky, but he focused more on how he said it rather than what he said. "Finally, you show up. Should I call you Horus, or do you prefer something else?" Murderous intent, so horribly powerful and pure that it nearly froze the air, emerged from the Humanoid of Dark Sky as he heard those words from Cain''s mouth, but it immediately faded as he began to smile. "A talent of one in a quadrillion, a mind as sharp as a space storm, and a destiny that keeps rising. Had you broken through the Crystal World and reached the Nine Empyrean Suns, who knows how high you would have risen?" The Humanoid of Dark Sky did not answer Cain''s question; he only used his words to praise and simultaneously taunt the young man. ''Nine Empyrean Suns? The universe that contains the Astral Sea?'' Cain could not help but dwell on those thoughts. He felt he was in danger, but while very few things could affect his focus, his curiosity about the world beyond the Crystal Wall was one of them. However, the next second, Cain''s eyes immediately grew sharp, and all unnecessary thoughts vanished from his mind as he detected six other figures appearing around him. They did an excellent job hiding their presence, but after Horus'' sneak attack, he focused all the power of the Absolute Life Form System into the [Multidimensional Scan Force Field]. ''Assassination? It doesn''t seem like it. They are more powerful than the normal Humanoids, but they are far from being able to take my life, especially since they will not be able to chase me if I leave the Dark Fog.'' Cain was trying to find the end goal of Horus and these six other aliens showing themselves at this moment but could not find it. Just as Cain was trying to figure out their moves and decide his next step, he noticed over one hundred warriors appearing next to the Anti-Dark Fog Tower. All the powerhouses like the Emperors, Lord Kabuto, Lord Zanginis, and the others had come here, most likely summoned by the Collapsing Lightning Emperor. However, just as the greatest forces of the Sacred Races had gathered around the Anti-Dark Fog Tower, the other thirty-two Humanoids of Dark Sky had also assembled in the Dark Fog. Each side glanced at each other, keeping the other at bay, as they focused on their leaders. Cain''s instincts began to warn him of even greater danger, and while he was still curious, it was not wise to fight these new enemies in his current condition, so he flashed toward the radiant light coming from the tower. The Dark Fog hindered his teleportation due to its effect on the Laws, but it did not stop him from twisting space, reducing the distance he had to travel. As soon as Cain acted, trying to flee, Horus and the other six Great Humanoids of Dark Sky flashed toward him. Something shocking happened, as energy suddenly coated their hands in white flames. Chapter 924 924: Mind Severing Ritual (II) Cain''s eyes widened as he saw the white flames. He could not decipher their power or any other characteristic, but his instincts screamed, warning him of the immense danger they posed. Immediately, he made his energy explode, enhancing his strength but, most importantly, twisting space around himself. Spatial distortion twisted the fabric of space and increased the distance between Cain and the Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky while simultaneously diminishing the distance he needed to cover to reach the radiant light. Despite the distortions in space, the Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky managed to reach Cain very quickly, attacking with immense ferocity from every direction. The golden light of The Flow exploded in Cain''s eyes as he moved with supernatural skill, dodging several attacks and using the Spear of Doom to send two Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky flying away with cuts in their bodies. Despite Cain''s superb skills and The Flow helping him predicate the enemies'' movements, Horus still managed to reach him and land a single palm strike on his chest. The strike pushed Cain a few thousand meters back into the Dark Fog, making his ribs tremble due to its power. However, the physical damage did not even compute in Cain''s mind since something much more important happened. Cain''s eyes trembled, and a feeling of utter shock and dread appeared on his face. The moment the white flames touched him, he lost something incredibly valuable. ''My memories!'' Cain''s mind had grown extremely powerful thanks to his cultivation, and he had long ago developed a super form of eidetic memory, able to remember the most minute detail of every moment of his life. The moment that palm strike bathed in white flames touched his body, years of his life suddenly vanished! It wasn''t just events that disappeared; all the experiences and emotions connected to them were also gone! The core of an individual''s personality, the things that make them who they are, are the events of their lives and the experiences and emotions associated with them. Through these, they grow, and their personality and ego emerge. While the Scarlet King was the most significant and powerful entity of the Sacred Races of Aether and held a divine status, he was still a young man, less than thirty. Losing just a couple of years was dire enough. If every single one of them were gone, wouldn''t that be the same as dying? ''I need to escape. Now!'' Fear appeared in Cain''s eyes for the first time in a very long time. He didn''t even understand how this power worked, but somehow, it reached the core of his mind, and he couldn''t defend against it. "Aegis of the Fallen!" Cain''s energy exploded as he began to burn his life force, allowing his strength to return to its peak and beyond. This enabled him to use the final unique skill of the Fallen Archangel Battle Set. A shield composed of the Fallen Aura manifested around Cain, creating an impenetrable barrier of dark energy, which he used to protect himself before flashing at full speed toward the radiant light. Horus and the Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky also unleashed their full strength, attacking the young man with all their power. The sacrifice they had to make to obtain these white flames was much more than the lives of two Humanoids of Dark Sky, and if they failed to complete the Mind Severing Ritual, they would have no second chance. A fierce battle occurred between Cain and the seven Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky. The young man attacked with his spear like a demonic god, using everything he had to push away the aliens and reach the radiant light. The Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky fought with all their might, using all their power to break the dark energy barrier. They received deep wounds, yet their determination was paying off as their flames began to reach the young man. Every time the white flames touched Cain''s body, the Sun Seed, the metaphysical embodiment of his ego and personality, trembled. The light of the yin-yang sun faded with every strike, along with years of Cain''s memories. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the rest of the masters from the Sacred Races could see from Cain''s frenzied state that something was wrong with him, but no matter how much they wanted to help their leader, they could not move. If they entered the battlefield, the thirty-two Humanoids of Dark Sky would also make their move. At best, they could equal those thirty-two; at worst, they might become a burden instead of help. No matter how much they hated it, they could only wait in the radiant light, hoping the Scarlet King would return safely. The battle between Cain and the seven Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky started less than a minute ago, yet in that short amount of time, the white flames had consumed nearly all of his memories. "Wrath of the Nine Hells!" With every year that Cain lost, his attacks and ferocity grew as he burned his life force without restraint to unleash his most powerful attacks, leaving several of the Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky wounded. Those seven aliens were incredibly powerful, and their defense abilities were off the shards, but the power of the Spear of Doom left deep cuts on their bodies. By this point, Cain barely remembered some key moments of his life. He did not know who the people attacking him were or why he was even fighting, but something told him he needed to reach the radiant light, and that was what he would do. One of the Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky attacked from the side, but he dodged at the last moment before making the energy in his spear explode as he burned his life force, sending the alien flying away before diving forward at full speed. Cain''s eyes glowed with resolve, and a smile appeared. He was less than one hundred meters from the radiant light when suddenly, Horus appeared in front of him and sent one final attack. Chapter 925 925: Eternal sleep Cain''s eyes widened as he saw the massive metallic entity appear before him, sending a palm strike full of white flames. The strike clashed with the dark energy shield protecting his body, but within seconds, it would break through and land on him. The young didn''t know where he was or why this strange entity was attacking him. Everything was blurry, and his mind was filled with confusion, as he did not even know why he was fighting. Even his own name had faded. Luckily for Cain, his instincts had yet to vanish, and they allowed him to react, urging him to kill the entity in front of him and not let those white flames touch him. "DIE!" With a primordial shout of hatred and rage, Cain charged all his Fallen Aura into the Spear of Doom, instinctively triggering the Wrath of the Nine Hells! Horus'' golden eyes narrowed as awe and dread appeared in them. He could feel that the young man''s mind should be on the brink of collapse by now, unable to form coherent thoughts. Yet Cain managed to trigger that killing strike, showing willpower and battle instincts that were nothing short of monstrous. The Spear of Doom flashed toward Horus with a concentrated energy beam of seven powerful flames capable of leaving deadly wounds. The armor restricted his body''s true power immensely, and severe damage could end his life. Despite the danger, there wasn''t a shred of hesitation in Horus'' eyes as he carried on with his attack since Cain''s resolution, willpower, and determination only awakened a monstrous killing intent in the true leader of Dark Sky. Horus'' right palm shatters the Aegis of the Fallen protecting Cain, while the left one deviated the spear so that it would land on his abdomen instead of his heart. "ZNNNNN!" "?BOOM!" The Spear of Doom, enhanced by the Wrath of the Nine Hells, pierced into Horus'' stomach, leaving a large hole in the body of the Grand Humanoid of Dark Sky. At the same time, a palm strike landed point-blank on Cain''s forehead, allowing the power of the white flames to reach his memories. The palm strike pushed Cain back a few thousand meters, making him rip the spear from inside Horus'' body, worsening the wounds in the Grand Humanoid of Dark Sky to the point that he could barely stand in the air. However, while that exchange essentially crippled Horus, the effect on Cain was even worse. The red light in the young man''s eyes, trembling non-stop since the start of this clash, vanished. Inside his soul sea, his Alter-Ego, the Sun Seed, had lost radiance, leaving it as nothing more than an empty vessel void of will and ego! Cain''s body trembled, and a sense of utter and absolute terror appeared as his mind shut down. Nothing was left of his memories and will. Everything was erased under the white flames'' power. His figure remained in the sky, not out of will but due to the inertia of his energy. He lost all control over his muscles and strength to the point that the Spear of Doom fell from his grip, falling to the ground. Silence echoed across the battlefield as neither side could believe what had happened. The Scarlet King had fought like a madman to leave the Dark Fog, but it seemed that, in the end, the scheme of the Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky had succeeded. Horus could not even speak due to the wounds on his body. Yet, there was a bloody smile on his face as he saw how the Mind Severing Ritual had been completed, shattering the mind of Cain Laurifer, erasing every shred of his ego and personality, leaving the man in a eternal sleep. ''Kill.'' That thought appeared in Horus'' mind as a monstrous coldness emerged from his soul. Before, killing Cain would have been impossible due to the young man''s immortal body and power. But now, he was nothing more than an empty shell, and they could make sure not even that remained. However, before Horus could give the order, dozens of figures burst with immense energy behind him. "Protect our King!" The Collapsing Lightning Emperor roared with every ounce of killing intent and rage in his soul as he proceeded to burn his life force without restraint. He was not alone, as all the other warriors of the Sacred Races by his side did the same. The warriors of the Sacred Races had not moved since they feared they would only become a burden if they entered the battlefield and triggered the Humanoids of Dark Sky. But it was clear that something horrible had happened to the Scarlet King, so they needed to act no matter what. Horus'' eyes narrowed as he saw those warriors'' battle will and killing intent. They lunged toward the Scarlet King, intending to go through him if he stood in their way. Although he saw every one of them as ants, he could barely fight right now, so he immediately moved away from the group. Of course, the fact that Horus moved out of the way did not mean his killing intent weakened in the slightest. With a single gaze from him, the thirty-two Humanoids of Dark Sky and six Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky understood what they had to do. "Kill the Scarlet King!" Mika shouted with all his power as he guided the Humanoids of Dark Sky toward the Scarlet King, his eyes burning with determination as his soul screamed to butcher that person. Pure killing intent also exploded in the heart of every one of the thirty-two Humanoids of Dark Sky, especially those that had faced the Scarlet King before, as they could not lose this once-in-a-lifetime chance to take that monster''s life. The Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky also flashed toward Cain. All of them had been wounded by Cain''s savage and explosive strikes, especially during the last stretch of their clash, but they still had more than enough power to fight. Chapter 926 926: What have we awakened? The Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the warriors of the Sacred Races were the first to move, so they were also the first to reach the side of the Scarlet King. None of them knew what was happening, but they needed to take Cain out of the Dark Fog before anything. Then, they would have time to consider their next move and how to help the young man. A monstrous resolution and determination appeared in the eyes of the Collapsing Lightning Emperor as he lunged toward the Scarlet King, reaching out for the young man. Sadly for the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, just as he was about to take Cain''s body, a Humanoid of Dark Sky intercepted his path, attacking with immense speed and killing intent. "Get out!" The Collapsing Lightning Emperor roared in hatred and rage as he struck the Humanoid of Dark Sky''s chest, sending the alien flying while puking blood. It was clear who was stronger, the Godslayer Human or the alien. However, that slight delay allowed the rest of the Humanoids of Dark Sky to reach the area around the Scarlet King. "BOOM!" "ZNNNNN!" "BAOOOOOOO!" Immediately, explosions and waves of utter destruction spread in all directions as the warriors of the Sacred Races began to clash against the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky in a battle of epic proportions and utter bloodshed. Space shattered and broke apart as the Sacred Races and Dark Sky began to clash. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the rest of the warriors of Aether were using every ounce of their power and life force to prevent the aliens from reaching Cain while trying to take him out of the Dark Fog. On the other hand, the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky were fighting like bloodthirsty demons, their souls burning with killing intent as they did all in their power to reach Cain and shatter his skull and soul sea, ending his life once and for all. Both sides showed determination and commitment that seemed to rise from the bottom of their souls. They were willing to give everything they had for that single goal. It was not surprising to see that unity in the aliens of Dark Sky; after all, they were a single force with a single goal from the beginning. However, no matter if they were members of the dark camp or light camp, whether they were Gods or Titans, if they belonged to the upper echelon of the Atrox Immortus Empire or the soldiers from the Godslayer Humankind, every single warrior of the Sacred Races was willing to give everything they had to save the life of the Scarlet King. They would not fail the man who had led them for years against the enemy and opened their eyes to a realm of power they believed could only be found in the stars. With both sides displaying such resolve, it was no wonder that the battleground reached a cataclysmic level, becoming by far the most extraordinary clash Aether had ever seen since its inception. At the center of this apocalyptic battleground was the young man responsible for the devotion and hatred on both sides. His face was down, and he did not make a single move while destruction spread around him. The clash between the warriors of the Sacred Races and the aliens of Dark Sky was incredibly fierce and extremely fast. Less than a minute after it started, a golden arrow appeared next to Cain, only for an old man to teleport to it the next second. Lord Kabuto''s eyes were full of worry and dread as he feared what might have happened to Cain. He immediately extended his right hand to grab the young man he saw as his son and take him out of this place. Unfortunately for the Patriarch of the Solis Clan, before his hand could grab Cain''s body, a Humanoid of Dark Sky tackled him and pushed him away. Rage and unwillingness appeared in Lord Kabuto''s eyes as the Humanoid of Dark Sky separated him from Cain. The next instant, utter terror assaulted his heart since the next one to reach his son was an alien! "DON''T DO IT!" "STOP!" "I WILL KILL YOU!" The Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the rest of the warriors of the Sacred Races noticed the Humanoid of Dark Sky reaching Cain and shouted with rage and killing intent, expressing a bloodlust that froze the air. Mika could feel their killing intent, but he only smiled. He did not care about the hatred and threats of the enemy. His hand adopted a blade stance as it pierced toward the neck of the Scarlet King. Utter thrill appeared in his eyes as he imagined separating the head of the young man from his body. It would take less than a second for Mika''s hand to reach the neck of the Scarlet King. Yet before his hand could reach its target, Cain raised his head. Cain''s eyes, empty a second ago, now burst with a dark red light as they focused on the alien aimed at his neck. The light and intent in those eyes made Mika feel as if he were in the presence of a supernova, a force capable of incredible destruction without a shred of emotion. ''What have we awakened?'' Every instinct in Mika''s soul screamed for him to run back to his home, as the man before him was a monster that could destroy everything. To the shock of all the warriors of the Sacred Races and the aliens of Dark Sky, Cain dodged the strike from the Humanoid of Dark Sky. Not even a second later, he collected a monstrous amount of energy in his right hand. Without hesitation and displaying a skill that went beyond the realm of reason, Cain''s hand moved like lightning, piercing into the chest of the Humanoid of Dark Sky and grabbing his heart. Cain stared at Mika, who still could not believe what was happening, and without showing even the slightest emotion, he crushed the heart before unleashing a blast of energy that destroyed everything else. The light in Mika''s eyes faded, marking the end of his life but also triggering the self-destruction of his entire body. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Chapter 927 927: The Red Kings Power of Order "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" The explosion of Mika was so immensely powerful that it forced the warriors of the Sacred Races and the aliens of Dark Sky to pull back, their faces etched with utter and absolute confusion. They were left in a state of awe and shock, unable to comprehend what had just occurred. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor, Lord Kabuto, and all the other warriors of the Sacred Races glanced at each other, their expressions a mix of disbelief and confusion. They had witnessed the Scarlet King''s incapacitation, his mental waves vanished, and yet, without warning, he seemed to have regained control and, with a single move, killed one of the strongest members of Dark Sky. It was a turn of events that defied all logic and left them utterly perplexed. The shock and confusion among the Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky were even greater. They knew perfectly well how powerful the Mind Severing Ritual was, a ritual that should have completely erased Cain''s memory and ego, leaving him as nothing more than an empty shell. So it made absolutely no sense that the young man could awaken in less than a minute. Horus''s shock was the greatest of all, as he had been paying close attention to the fight. Even if surprised, Mika was a very powerful Humanoid of Dark Sky. For the Scarlet King to kill him with a single strike was too much. ''The Sundering Concept.'' It was but an instant, but Horus felt a display of the Sundering Concept at a level that left even a Depravita like him in utter awe. No side made a move, as all eyes focused on the explosion''s epicenter where Cain should be. The flaming energy flooded the sky for nearly half a minute before dissipating, revealing the figure of a young man with burning wounds all over his body, the most severe on his right hand, which was now a bloody mess. Although Cain''s defenses reached an incredibly high-level thanks to the Cosmic Tyrant Framework and the Fallen Archangel Battle Set, Mika''s explosion was gargantuan, to say the least. The fact he only received these injuries was already impressive and a testament to his monstrous endurance. The most powerful entities of the Sacred Races of Aether and Dark Sky were gazing at him, but Cain showed not even the slightest interest, instead staring at his bloody hand. The wound was already healing thanks to the power of the Pseudo Immortal Body, but the process was extremely slow and deficient due to the low amount of energy left in his body. A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes the next second as a monstrously powerful red force field emerged from his mind. Awe flooded the eyes of the warriors of the Sacred Races. At the same time, a deep sense of dread and fear appeared in those of Dark Sky as they saw that massively powerful willpower, one so immense that it rose for hundreds of thousands of kilometers, clashing into the Crystal Wall. "A Perfect Mind Over Matter Willpower!" Horus could not help but shout in shock. Just that willpower would be enough for Cain to break the mind of Peak Divine Ascension Masters, and by harnessing the power of the Concepts through it, he could unleash abominable battle power. "It doesn''t make sense. His willpower was special, but it was at the peak of the Second Realm. How could he have suddenly risen to the Perfect Third Realm? That is impossible!" The shock and dread from the sudden event had managed to break Horus''s focus, leaving his mind in utter turmoil. The next second, a force emerged from that monstrous red force field. It was a power that granted absolute and unwavering control over one''s own mind and emotions, severing distractions, doubts, and external influences to achieve a state of perfect discipline and focus. Lord Kabuto and Lord Zanginis glanced at each other as they felt that power. They recognized it from their first encounter with Cain. However, it was at a completely different level right now, and things were just starting as the next second, the red force field flew back into Cain''s body. "Order!" Cain shouted that single word as four red plasma tentacles emerged from his back and seemingly fused into the fabric of space. "RUMBLE!!!" The warriors of the Sacred Races and the Humanoids of Dark Sky could not believe what they saw. The entire world began to tremble, and billions of rainbow threads in the form of a spider web began to materialize around the Scarlet King. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the rest of the warriors of the Sacred Race were in absolute awe and wonder at the majestic rainbow spiderweb. Still, none of them understood what this phenomenon was. However, the aliens of Dark Sky did know it, and their hearts froze as they saw it. They could not believe that a young man from a Seed World could summon this power that even the powerhouses of their world sought and craved. "Order of Life: Seven Virtue Flame!" Cain still showed no interest in the reaction of either party as he shouted those words, summoning a power that made the world tremble with even more strength. Although they were just words, the way they echoed and the intent behind them was clear to everyone who heard them. They felt a force that imposed order on the world, taking control of the power in that rainbow-colored spider web. Hundreds of rainbow threads began to glow, and the next second, a seven-colored flame covered Cain''s body. The flame''s power was like nothing the warriors of the Sacred Races had seen before, as it began to heal Cain''s wounds and even recharge his lost life force! In less than ten seconds, all the damage that Cain had received faded, his body and armor fully regenerated, and his life force completely healed. Only then did he begin to look around the battlefield, his eyes gazing at the warriors of the Sacred Races and the aliens of Dark Sky with the same indifference and aloofness. "Who among you has awakened me?" It was clear by now that the one that was in control of the body in the sky was not Cain Laurifer, but the ancient Red King! Chapter 928 928: Order of Gluttony: Lord of the Flies "Who among you has awakened me?" The Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the rest of the warriors of the Sacred Races couldn''t help but feel apprehensive as they heard those words and saw the young man''s eyes. Although they were still baffled by what was happening, it was clear that the person speaking was someone else, not the Scarlet King. The warriors of the Sacred Races glanced at each other, trying to decide what to do. They knew too little about this new entity, but it was clear his power was monstrous. The problem was that they didn''t know what type of relationship he had with the original Cain or if he was an ally or foe. This new, unfathomable entity left Horus and the rest of the Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky equally perplexed. Although they had technically awakened him, they were also trying to destroy his body. Seeing no one dared to answer him, the Red King''s eyes grew sharp as the plasma tentacles emerging from his back buried themselves even deeper into the fabric of space. "Order of Karma: True Heart!" "RUMBLE!" The world trembled once more as a new set of rainbow threads began to glow. The Red King channeled their energy, and a wave expanded from his body, instantly reaching every warrior of the Sacred Races and the aliens of Dark Sky. The next second, both sides saw purple karmic threads, representing their innermost emotions and intentions, emerge from their bodies, all connecting to the young man''s body in the sky. The threads emerging from the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the warriors of the Sacred Races were charged with a white light that evoked devotion, respect, and reverence. On the other hand, the threads rising from the aliens of Dark Sky carried a dark light, evoking disdain, greed, and a cold, disgusting killing intent. "I see. So you are an enemy." The Red King turned toward the aliens of Dark Sky. He showed no reaction upon discerning the emotions and intent in the hearts of the aliens, as if he didn''t care in the slightest that they hated him to the care and wanted to take his life. However, when Horus and the rest of the aliens of Dark Sky saw the Red King grabbing the dark karmic threads connected to their bodies, a sense of impending doom, a feeling that their lives were literally hanging by a thread, assaulted their hearts as if the reaper''s scythe loomed over their necks. "Wait! We are the ones who awakened you! We are part of the Depravita Race!" Horus shouted with all his strength, fear evident in his eyes as he felt closer to death than ever before in his entire life. The six Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky turned to their leader as he revealed their greatest secret, which should never be uttered. The punishment for disclosing that knowledge was more than they could bear. However, they couldn''t really blame him; after all, their enemy was monstrous and held power they couldn''t even comprehend. "You are part of the Depravita Race?" A flash of light and emotion appeared in the Red King''s eyes for the first time since he awakened. Although it did not reach the level of fear, there was definitely caution in his eyes upon learning the origin of Horus and Dark Sky. Horus''s eyes narrowed as he saw the young man''s reaction, and a newfound sense of courage began to rise in his heart as it seemed this entity was aware of the Depravita Race and was cautious of them. "That''s right. We are a World Domination Force under the command of High Lord Xeno, a Third Realm Life Form." Taking advantage of his newfound courage, Horus continued speaking, trying to use his background to pressure the entity. Unfortunately for Horus, when the Red King heard him speak again, the flash of caution in his eyes faded, replaced by suspicion and coldness. "A Depravita''s World Domination Force? That doesn''t make sense." Horus was surprised by this response, and before he could speak again, the Red King grabbed one of the karmic threads connecting to a Humanoid of Dark Sky, and the eye on his forehead transformed monstrously. The Humanoid of Dark Sky, whose karmic thread was grabbed, felt utter terror invade his soul as the Red King''s Gluttony Eye focused on him, but he couldn''t move a single muscle and was completely at the monster''s mercy. The Red King focused on the Humanoid of Dark Sky as his plasma tentacles once more harnessed the power of the rainbow spiderweb. "Order of Gluttony: Lord of the Flies." "RUMBLE!!!" The world quaked with a force that surpassed all previous tremors as an unfathomable amount of energy coalesced above the Red King''s form. In the next instant, a sight that struck terror and awe into the hearts of all unfolded-billions upon billions of flies emerged from the Gluttony''s Eye. Each fly evoked a sense of horror and devouring power, but their true might manifested as they gathered together, forming a massive demonic head with massive maws. It was hundreds of kilometers wide, with countless rows of sharp teeth secreting dark, disgusting black acid, a substance that could dissolve even the fabric of space. Pure terror appeared in the hearts of anyone who gazed at the horror. Just looking at it made them feel their souls would leave their bodies. They immediately looked away, but the Humanoid of Dark Sky on whom the Red King had focused did not have that luxury. The alien watched in horror as the demonic maw began to inhale, drawing his entire body into it. It was like an ant being drawn to a gargantuan, ancient monster born out of nightmares. "SAVE ME!" The Humanoid of Dark Sky shouted in utter terror, but there was nothing anyone could do as the maw closed the next second. No one saw what happened to the alien, but it was clear that the fate he endured was countless times worse than death! Chapter 929 929: You are challenging my authority? The Red King showed no sign of worry or concern for the emotions of the aliens of Dark Sky or the warriors of the Sacred Races. Waves of light crossed his eyes as he absorbed everything from the Humanoid of Dark Sky consumed by the Lord of the Flies. The light coursing through the Red King''s eyes lasted for a few seconds before finally stopping, allowing focus to return to his gaze. He then looked at Horus and the rest of the aliens of Dark Sky for a moment before doing something that left everyone dumbfounded. "Hahahahahaha!" A burst of laughter emerged from the Red King, causing his imposing and otherworldly aura to fade. However, it lasted only a few seconds before his emotionless eyes returned. "Ahhh, I must thank you. It is complicated for me to experience this sort of amusement." The Red King showed a faint smile as he stared at Horus and the rest of the Humanoids of Dark Sky before simply shaking his head. "A group of mutated Sky Demons calling themselves Depravita. That''s like a maggot calling itself a butterfly. It has been eons since I heard such stupidity." The Humanoids of Dark Sky glanced at each other in confusion, not understanding what the young man meant by mutated Sky Demon. Even the Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky were perplexed. However, Horus''s reaction was different. He knew very well what those words meant, and despite the utter terror the entity in the sky provoked, the fanatic zeal in his heart pushed him to rage. "How dare you call us Sky Demons! Our origin is connected to the Embodiment of Samsara and the Night of the Seven Sins!" The Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky turned toward Horus with inquisitive gazes. It was clear that he was aware of secrets from their race that went beyond their knowledge. The Red King''s reaction was much different. The amusement on his face faded, replaced by utter apathy and boredom, as if he were looking at a child throwing a tantrum. "Embodiment of Samsara and the Night of the Seven Sins. You throw around those titles as if they were anything more than fables for your kind." "Impossible. You know..." Horus''s eyes widened as he heard those words, and a shocking train of thought arose as he stared at the monster in the sky. He did not dare to finish his words, as the implications behind them were too outrageous. The Red King could see how Horus'' psyche trembled and sneered. "Hmph, if those two were to know you call yourselves Depravitas, they would puke blood. The utopian idiot would just burn all of you, but the vengeful prick would make sure none of you could experience the release of death." Horus''s entire body began to tremble, and a sense of utter and absolute loss appeared in his eyes as he began to question one of his soul''s deepest beliefs. The Red King lost all interest in Horus after uttering those words, his eyes instead turning toward the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the rest of the warriors of the Sacred Races. Immediately, the members of the six races grew tense, and fear struck their hearts. The Red King''s eyes projected a sense of apathy that was hard to describe, not to mention the gargantuan entity made of billions of flies still hovering above his head. There was not a single shred of doubt in their minds that if he were to channel the power of that horror on them, none would be able to resist. The Red King stared at the group for a few seconds as a meaningful light appeared in his eyes. It lasted a second, yet they had a trail of powerful emotions. "Remain inside the light and heal there. If I see any of you step into the fog, I will consider you challenging my authority, and I will end your lives." The warriors of the Sacred Races felt relief upon hearing those words, as if a demonic god was giving them mercy. However, while most retreated silently, a few remained in the Dark Fog. "You are challenging my authority?" The Red King''s voice was eerily cold, and his eyes began to lose their light, causing the world around him to freeze. He recognized those who remained in the Dark Fog from the memories of the devoured Humanoid of Dark Sky. While they were some of the most powerful warriors of the Sacred Races and influential figures in Aether, that meant absolutely nothing to him. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor, Lord Kabuto, the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, and many others who stood in the Dark Fog couldn''t help but tremble as a sense of terror flooded their souls, yet they stood firm. "What has happened to our King!?" It took every ounce of will and determination in the Collapsing Lightning Emperor''s soul to utter those words as he stared at the entity in the sky. The Red King''s eyes narrowed as, once again, a flood of emotions coursed through his eyes. He stared at the warriors who were hell-bent on their devotion to the Scarlet King. An annoyed expression soon appeared on his face as he focused on this group, and the flashes of emotional light coursing through his eyes grew stronger and more numerous. In the end, the Red King just sighed before shaking his head. "Ahhhh. You will get your answer once I am finished. If you still dare to defy me, there will be no more mercy." The Collapsing Lightning Emperor stared at the entity in the sky for a moment before nodding and signaling for the others to return to the radiance of the Anti-Dark Fog Tower. There was no reason to be stubborn and die a pointless death, so they would wait to see what had truly happened to the Scarlet King. After all the warriors of the Sacred Races left the Dark Fog, the Red King turned his eyes once more to the aliens of Dark Sky and spoke in a chilling voice void of all emotions. "You are a good tempering tool, but you have annoyed me. This arc has extended too long, and all of you should fade from this world." The Red King''s voice echoed across the sky as the power of the demonic horror made of billions of flies burst, seemingly ready to devour all the aliens from Dark Sky. Chapter 930 930: The stars are my birthright! Horus and the rest of the Humanoids of Dark Sky watched in horror as the horror made of billions of flues in the sky began to widen its demonic maws, seemingly ready to swallow them whole. No matter how much their instincts screamed for them to act, they could not run as karmic threads connecting their bodies to the Red King kept them immobilized. The truth was that even if they could move, none of them felt capable of resisting the devouring force of that ocean of flies. It was a feeling of utter impotence, something their victims know very well. Just as Horus and all the aliens were about to become food for the gargantuan horror in the sky, the rainbow spiderweb shook, breaking the connection of the plasma tentacles emerging from the Red King''s back. The Red King''s eyes widened as he felt his connection with the rainbow spider web break, causing the red light in his eyes to weaken dramatically. Immediately, the billions of flies in the sky began to explode, and his entire body trembled fiercely. Not even a second later, the threads connecting to the aliens of Dark Sky shattered, making the Red King''s body tremble even more violently, and blood emerged from his mouth and eyes. "Backlash!" Horus''s eyes widened as he saw the chain reaction assaulting the Red King''s body and soul. He did not understand the power the man was using, but it was clearly not easy to manifest, and it seemed he had overexerted himself. "Attack now. It is our only chance!" A flash of determination and killing intent emerged from Horus''s eyes as he shouted those words, awakening the rest of the aliens from their stupor and making them understand the critical nature of their situation. "AHHHHHH!" The aliens of Dark Sky exploded with killing intent and determination as they roared, all aware of what would happen if the monster in the sky summoned those powers again. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the rest of the warriors of the Sacred Races were taken aback by the sudden turn of events. The entity in the sky, who had seemed invincible, had suddenly endured a severe backlash, and the aliens were lunging at him from every direction with utter killing intent. Immediately, the warriors of the Sacred Races thought of marching into the Dark Fog and fighting, but before they could take a single step forward, the Red King turned toward them. His eyes were bloody, yet the intent was clear. They were to stay outside the Dark Fog no matter what. Although they were conflicted and did not want anything to happen to Cain, the warriors of the Sacred Races stood their ground. They were worried, but it was clear that the entity in the sky had power beyond their comprehension and should be able to handle this danger. After seeing that the warriors of the Sacred Races stood their ground, the Red King turned his focus toward the dozens of aliens marching toward him, full of killing intent. The only thing that emerged in his eyes was disdain before a monstrous golden light burst from them as he straightened his body. The Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky were masters of teamwork. Even with over thirty of them attacking simultaneously, they managed not to hinder each other, attacking from different angles and covering every escape route. Such a flawless and precise barrage of attacks should have been impossible to dodge, yet the Red King did it. His body moved like a shadow, as if no bones were inside him, and his eyes glowed with a ferocious golden light that predicted every move the enemies made. The aliens were attacking with all their power, and frustration appeared on their faces as they could not land a single blow on the Red King. Of course, while the Red King made it seem easy, he would receive a barrage of powerful strikes if he moved his body in the wrong direction by even half a millimeter, so his moves needed to be extremely fast and precise. It took immense focus just to dodge the strikes, and the Red King currently lacked the power to counterattack as his most powerful card, his willpower, had been temporarily wounded by the backlash. His eyes glowed with the power of The Flow as he avoided all attacks, and at the same time, he went through every wisp of power and strength in his existence, trying to find a way to turn the tables. Suddenly, a flash of surprise appeared in the Red King''s eyes as he discovered one of the key powers in his body. ''The power of the Primordial Race is inside this body?'' A burst of excitement appeared for a second in the Red King''s eyes, but immediately, focus returned to his mind as he went through every aspect of the Primordial Path. Even while dodging the strikes of all the Humanoids of Dark Sky, the Red King was able to analyze the development he had achieved, noticing how Cain had already reached the Peak of the Foundation Stage and had been making strides into the Ascension Stage but was still far from achieving success. "Using Stellar Meditation to align your spiritual energy with the pulsations of stars and the flow of celestial currents and Orbital Alignment to synchronize your internal energy cycles with those of celestial bodies." The aliens were confused as they heard the Red King utter those words while dodging all the attacks, but he did not care as he was speaking to himself. The Red King shook his head as he sighed, displaying supernatural skills to free himself from the aliens'' entrapment and rise higher into the sky. "Why align and harmonize with them, asking for their power?" Only once he reached right beneath the Crystal Wall did the Red King gaze into the firmament, a flash of resolution appearing in his eyes as he shouted with absolute conviction, "The stars are my birthright!" Chapter 931 931: The Red King vs Dark Sky (I) "The stars are my birthright!" Those words carried a sense of dominion and power that seemed to defy the universe. Shouting them was akin to demanding that the stars and the heavens submit to his will. The notion was startling and honestly kind of crazy, yet none of that mattered because it worked. "RUMBLE!!!!" Shock and dread appeared in the eyes of the aliens of Dark Sky as they saw the entire sky begin to tremble with such immense power that it seemed it would shatter at any second. Horus stared at the sky in terror, unable to comprehend what was happening. His horror only grew as he saw a flash of light in the sky. "A shooting star?" It was a beautiful cosmic phenomenon, yet Horus''s instincts screamed for him to run and never look back. That sense of terror exploded as thousands of shooting stars appeared in the sky. A meteor shower! The Red King triggered a meteor shower and not just any meteor shower. Every single one of those trails of starlight emanated power and force so pure and intense that it left both the aliens of Dark Sky and the warriors of the Sacred Races speechless. The warriors of the Sacred Races could not take their eyes off the beautiful and majestic phenomenon in the sky, but the aliens of Dark Sky immediately turned their focus to the young man in the highest sky. They felt the incredible and transcendent change happening in his body, soul, and energy. The Red King''s existence began to pulsate in harmony with cosmic frequencies as billions of threads of nebulous forces emerged from the Astral Sea beyond Aether''s Crystal Wall and charged into his body, energy pools, and soul! "BOOOMMMM!" A pillar of nebulous energy burst out of the Red King''s body. He closed his eyes as he felt his existence resonate and integrate with the fundamental energies of the universe. It was just the beginning, and there was a long road ahead, but he had already taken the first step beyond his mortal shell, transforming into something akin to a true Primordial life form. Horus, the Grand Humanoids, and the Humanoids of Dark Sky knew they needed to attack the Red King, but they were paralyzed by fear and shock. No matter how powerful they were or how high the realm from which they came, they were facing an entity that went beyond their wildest imagination, and there was nothing more terrifying than the unknown. Unfortunately for them, the Red King showed no hesitation. As the nebulous force covered every inch of his body, soul, and energy pool, he extended his right hand. The Spear of Doom rose from the ground and flashed toward the Red King. As soon as the weapon appeared in his grip, he channeled all his strength into it before attacking. "Wrath of the Nine Hells!" The Red King''s voice echoed across the Dark Fog as an arc of flaming dark energy the size of a Sector emerged from the spear and came crashing down on the aliens. For the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky, it felt like the sky had turned into fire and was falling toward them with a power that seemed ready to mark the end of all life. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" A cataclysmic explosion made the entire Atlas Continent tremble as the arc of dark energy fell from the sky and crashed into the ground, sending waves of fire in all directions and burning everything around them. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the rest of the warriors of the Sacred Races saw the destruction take place inside the Dark Fog and could not help but be thankful that no one from their side ended up wounded. Of course, billions of drones from the Insect Army that inhabited those areas were burned to ashes, but they did not matter as the eyes of the warriors focused on the Humanoids of Dark Sky. The nebula-infused Wrath of the Nine Hells was incredibly powerful, but since it was spread so widely, it was not powerful enough to kill the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky. As those aliens rose from the flames, it was clear how badly injured they were. There was not a single one whose body was not riddled with deep burning wounds. Ortan, the gargantuan Humanoid of Dark Sky, rose from the ground. His eyes were full of shock and awe as he saw the sea of flames extending over the entire Sector. The alien felt fear in his heart, but a flash of determination appeared in his eyes, and he knew they needed to do something. However, all that determination and valor froze as a small figure appeared right in front of his head the next second. Ortan''s eyes widened as crippling terror assaulted his soul, seeing the Red King staring directly into his eyes. The Red King''s eyes were emotionless as the spear flashed forward toward the head of the gargantuan Humanoid of Dark Sky. The spear seemed like a toothpick compared to the alien''s massive skull, yet the moment it touched Ortan''s forehead, his entire head burst to pieces like a balloon full of blood! Absolute silence reigned across the Dark Fog as the aliens of Dark Sky saw that seemingly impossible strike. The fact that the Red King could kill a Humanoid with a physical attack was not surprising, as he had done it before with Mika, but this was different. There was no monstrous power of the Concepts in the spear; it did not even carry powerful momentum. It simply touched Ortan''s head, and it burst to pieces. It was simply impossible, yet it happened before their eyes, so they could not deny it, no matter how much they wanted to. The Red King''s eyes remained apathetic after that performance of immense and invincible power. Even as Ortan''s gargantuan body began to glow, ready to self-destruct, he did not show any reaction or move a muscle. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" Chapter 932 932: The Red King vs Dark Sky (II) Another massive explosion shook the entire sector as Ortan''s gargantuan body self-destructed, sending the Humanoids of Dark Sky nearby flying away. An alien resembling a Defensive Humanoid of Dark Sky managed to regain control after being flung by the explosion. However, not even a second later, his eyes widened in horror as he saw the Red King emerge from the flames and appear before him. "HEL..." The Defensive Humanoid of Dark Sky couldn''t even finish his word before the tip of the spear touched his chest, making him immediately burst into pieces, leaving a massive hole where his internal organs should be. The alien''s eyes were full of disbelief as his life ended before he could even process it, and just as his body began to glow ready to self-destruct, the Red King kicked him, sending him flying away. "BOOOOOOMMMMMM!" Once more, a massive explosion occurred inside the Dark Fog, and the aliens of Dark Sky witnessed that impossible display of power. The tip of the spear simply touched the chest of the Defensive Humanoid of Dark Sky, and everything burst to pieces. The terror in their souls paralyzed them as they couldn''t comprehend what was happening, much less how to fight back. The Red King turned his apathetic eyes to the rest of the aliens, like a wolf watching a pack of sheep. Without the will to fight, what would ensue was not a battle but a slaughter. However, just as he was about to lunge toward the aliens and butcher them, a voice echoed. "He''s charging all his energy into the tip of the spear and making it detonate as a kinetic blast!" Horus shouted with all his strength, his eyes burning with hatred and rage as he stared at the Red King. The man was still holding his entrails due to the hole in his stomach, but his soul and life were burning with power. When faced with information that could shatter their most deep-seated beliefs and a power that seemed to defy the rules of the world, most people would break, but some would draw power from despair and rise above it. Horus was clearly the latter. He had pushed his focus to the limit as he analyzed the Red King''s moves and deciphered the key behind them, helping his kind. The Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky focused on the tip of the Spear of Doom, the terror in their hearts waning. Of course, its power and the principle behind it were shocking, but now that they understood it, fear no longer paralyzed them. The Red King saw the fighting spirit rising in the hearts of the aliens of Dark Sky, but his eyes showed nothing as if it didn''t matter whether the enemy fought back or not. However, the Red King did turn to Horus, impressed that the alien had figured out his silent strike so fast. "Good talent. I will kill you now." Those words resembled a divine decree, an order from a higher entity that the world could not negate. As soon as the Red King''s voice faded, he flashed toward Horus while a gargantuan ocean of energy gathered at the tip of his spear. Horus''s eyes widened as the speed of the Red King was even more impressive once he was the target. Before he could make a move, the entity was already in front of him, the spear piercing toward his chest. The wound from his last clash with Cain still hindered his movement, but he managed to move just in time to avoid the tip of the spear touching his chest. However, it still grazed his left arm, making it explode! Immense pain assaulted Horus as he lost his left arm, but he didn''t have the luxury of losing focus. The Red King charged the Spear of Doom again, preparing to strike, and this time he wouldn''t miss. Luckily for Horus, before the Red King could charge his spear again, the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky lunged forward, full of killing intent and battle will, now that they had overcome their crippling fear. The Red King''s eyes narrowed as he saw the dozens of aliens lunging toward him from every direction, forcing him to stop the charge of his Spear of Doom. The kinetic blast strike was immensely powerful, but it also required precise and overwhelming focus, something extremely hard to achieve while dodging several attacks coming from different directions. Horus couldn''t help but smile as he saw all the aliens marching forward, full of battle will, but it didn''t last long as a powerful kick landed on his lower jaw the next second, shattering it and sending him flying away. After sending Horus flying away with a kick, the Red King''s eyes burst with golden light, and in his mind, the attack pattern of every single alien appeared. His body twisted at strange angles, dodging three attacks before waving his spear to the side with all his strength, sending four Humanoids of Dark Sky flying away with deep and bloody wounds. The martial skill of the Red King was nothing short of transcendent, with a single motion taking care of the attacks from seven Humanoids of Dark Sky. However, his spear strike still left him open, and two aliens took advantage of that, each connecting a ferocious blow. One Humanoid of Dark Sky connected a kick to the neck, while a Grand Humanoid of Dark Sky landed a ferocious punch to the chest, and smiles appeared on their faces. Yet, their satisfaction was short-lived as their eyes widened, feeling their arms and legs tremble as if they had just struck the heaviest metal in the world. After achieving the Primordial Path''s Ascension Stage, the physical endurance of the Red King was nothing less than that of an entire continent! It would take much more than a few blows to really wound him. And even if that were to happen, his Pseudo-Immortal Body would immediately heal everything. Chapter 933 933: The Red King vs Dark Sky (III) The Red King moved with deadly grace, the Spear of Doom flashing at such an inhuman speed that it became nothing but a blur in the eyes of the aliens. His eyes focused on the Humanoid of Dark Sky, who had kicked his neck before bringing his spear down in a mighty arc. The blade bit deep into the alien''s chest, sending her sprawling to the ground with a gaping wound. Without pausing for a moment, the Red King swung his free arm in a brutal backhand, connecting with the chest of the Grand Humanoid of Dark Sky that had punched him. "BOOOMMMM!" The impact of the Red King''s backhand was tremendous. It caved in the alien''s chest and launched him backward, tumbling through the air before crashing into the ground with a thunderous impact. That display of power would have made any other force run away, but this battle was far from over. The aliens of Dark Sky surged forward, their eyes burning with primal fury as they lunged toward the Red King. The four he had initially struck down were already back on their air, ready to rejoin the assault. The Red King''s eyes narrowed as he tapped into The Flow. Time seemed to slow around him as he read the movements of his foes. He ducked under a wild swing from one alien, his spear slicing through the air to sever the arm of a Grand Humanoid of Dark Sky! "AHHHH!" The alien roared in agony, black blood spraying through the air, only for a ferocious kick to land on his jaw the next second, sending him flying away. Not even a second later, the Red King spun on his heel, delivering a devastating roundhouse kick to another Humanoid of Dark Sky that had tried to sneak up behind him. His feet connected with the alien''s head, and he felt the crunch of bones shattering under the force of his blow. The Humanoid of Dark Sky''s eyes trembled under the ferocious power of that kick, and several bones in his head shattered before he hurtled through the air without control. While that attack was not fatal, the damage was undoubtedly severe. More and more attacks came from the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky, but the Red King responded to everything with flawless technique and pure brutality. Every movement the Red King made was a blend of precision and power. He twisted and turned, dodging strikes that would have killed anyone else in Aether and countering with lethal efficiency. The Spear of Doom became an extension of his will, striking with pinpoint accuracy to exploit any weakness in his opponents. One Humanoid of Dark Sky leaped at him, claws extended, but he caught it mid-air with a thrust of his spear, impaling the alien''s right elbow. With a swift motion, he twisted the spear, shattering all the flesh and bones around it, before sending the alien flying away with a ferocious kick, blood spraying everywhere. Even as he fought, the Red King was constantly aware of his surroundings, keeping part of his focus on every single one of the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky. He even used the aliens as shields, moving around the battlefield in perfect control, occasionally disrupting their teamwork, allowing his attacks to carry even more brutality and produce even more damage. The Red King was a whirlwind of destruction. Despite the incredible numerical disadvantage, he dominated the battlefield, every attack leaving deep and severe wounds on the aliens. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the warriors of the Sacred Races observed the clash from a distance, encased in the radiant light of the Anti-Dark Fog Tower, not daring to take a single step into the battlefield as the warning of the Red King was still clear in their minds. The warriors of the Sacred Races'' expressions of awe and shock were unmistakable as they watched the extraordinary spectacle unfold before them. It was unlike anything Aether had ever seen before, and nothing remotely similar had ever occurred in the history of any of their empires. Even when confronted by more than thirty formidable aliens, the Red King dominated the battlefield with unwavering power. His every movement was a masterclass in martial skill, each spear strike delivering immense strength and utter brutality, all aimed at vital points. The battlefield was his domain, and he was filling it with the blood of the aliens of Dark Sky. Yet, no matter how much the warriors of the Sacred Races hated to admit it, the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky fought with a battle power and ferocity that shocked them to the core. At the beginning of their clash, the fear and dread that the Red King instilled in their hearts paralyzed them. But after overcoming it with Horus''s help, they were showing their true might. Despite the lethal precision of the Red King''s attacks, these aliens showed no hesitation. They launched their assaults from every conceivable angle, using every ounce of strength in their flesh and blood. Their coordinated efforts and unshakable courage created a palpable pressure on the battlefield. Though the aliens of Dark Sky couldn''t land a decisive blow on the Red King, their relentless attacks disrupted his rhythm, preventing him from unleashing his most devastating techniques. The warriors of the Sacred Races watched in amazement as the Red King, despite his overwhelming power, was held at bay by the sheer tenacity of his opponents, incapable of delivering a lethal blow. For ten grueling minutes, the battle raged on without another casualty among the aliens of Dark Sky. The warriors of the Sacred Races could hardly believe it, as even they would not be able to endure so well against the monster that was the Red King. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor''s eyes narrowed as he took in the scene. The Red King was a monster whose power was immeasurable. Still, it was clear that the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky were a formidable force, and their prowess on the battlefield showed that the title World Domination Force was not mere words. Chapter 934 934: The Red King vs Dark Sky (IV) The Red King''s eyes remained cold and emotionless as he faced the aliens of Dark Sky. Their combined efforts, teamwork, and battle tactics created pressure that hindered him from landing fatal blows and taking more lives, but that did not alter the inevitable outcome. His relentless attacks with the Spear of Doom inflicted increasing damage on the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky. No matter how ferocious their resistance was, it was only a matter of time before their wounds reached a critical point, crippling their battle strength, breaking their formations, and allowing him to start reaping their lives. The Red King was unconcerned about how long this would take. Having evolved to the Ascension Stage, his stamina, energy pool, and endurance had reached unprecedented levels. He could maintain this intensity for several hours without tiring. Considering that in just ten minutes, he had already severely wounded more than five of the aliens, they would all fall before he was exhausted. What did impact the Red King was the aliens'' mental resilience and endurance. ''They must know they will die if the battle continues like this, yet they remain firm and steady, not relenting in their attack or running away. I have to admit, that is impressive.'' The Red King had to recognize that a force willing to fight to the death in a losing battle out of pure determination and will was impressive. However, a sharp and meaningful light crossed his eyes the next second as he analyzed the battlefield. ''We are moving!'' Each of them was a life form capable of flying at a frightening speed, so it was not so shocking that they would be moving as they battled. However, the Red King noticed how they were not blindly moving, but there was a clear direction in their trajectory. The next second, the Red King''s eyes scanned the battlefield, for the first time not focusing on the aliens attacking him. He immediately noticed the presence of a Grand Humanoid of Dark Sky without an arm and a gaping hole in his stomach. Horus was several hundred kilometers ahead, high in the sky, watching the fight with immense focus. He was far enough to be out of the immediate reach of the Red King but able to observe every single inch of the battlefield. Realization dawned upon the Red King as he accessed the memories of the devoured Humanoid of Dark Sky. ''So, they are running back to Lovecraft City,'' he thought, his eyes sharpening as he grasped the aliens'' plan. They fought with immense ferocity not to leave behind a glorious tale but because they were desperate to survive. Simply fleeing would have been suicidal; the Red King was faster than any of them and would have hunted them down one by one, killing them all before they reached their headquarters. By working together and fighting with all their might, they could push the battlefield back to their domain. It was their only true path to return to Lovecraft City, and once they were there, the situation would shift in their favor. By this point, it was clear that all the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky were Depravitas. Once back in Lovecraft City, they could discard their concealing armor and reveal their true forms. At that point, they would be able to deploy physical bodies even stronger than the ones they currently had and, more importantly, unleash the power of the Concept, exponentially increasing their battle power and survival skills. The mastermind behind this plan was undoubtedly Horus, guiding the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky. ''Using the fight to retreat,'' the Red King mused, a small smile briefly touching his lips at the aliens'' ingenuity. But in the next instant, his apathy returned, and he unleashed a renewed surge of strength and brutality in his attacks. The Red King didn''t really have a way to stop them from moving the battlefield, but he could burst with killing intent and supercharge his attacks, making sure to kill as many of them as possible before they could reach Lovecraft City in Atlas. Horus saw how the Red King''s rampage went into overload and clenched his teeth with rage. He had done his best to hide their goal, but it was clear by now that the monster had managed to figure out what was happening. "Dammit, how could he do it so fast!?" The alien shouted with hatred and wrath, but no matter what, he could not lose control as his guidance was the only thing keeping the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky alive. He pushed all those dark emotions down as his eyes glowed, restoring the mental communication with the aliens and guiding the move of every one of them, driving their teamwork to the next level. "BOOOOOMMMMM!" "BAAOOOOOO!!" "ZNNNNNN!" Explosions, sonic blasts, and space sundering echoed across the Dark Fog as the battle moved deeper into Atlas. The Red King attacked with absolute ferocity, and his energy burst higher and higher. His spear left deep and ghastly wounds on the aliens, cutting pieces of the enemies'' bodies. The aliens'' blood spread everywhere as more and more wounds appeared on them, yet they continued fighting with everything they had. They had moved for less than fifteen minutes when the Red King''s eyes glowed sharply. He moved his body to the side while driving the Spear of Doom forward with immense power and momentum, piercing the chest of a Humanoid of Dark Sky that had attempted to strike him. Shock appeared in the Humanoid of Dark Sky''s eyes as it saw the spear inside his chest, only for the Red King to twist the weapon, destroying all his internal organs. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" The Humanoid''s body exploded from within, the force of the blast sending shockwaves across the battlefield. The Red King didn''t pause; he spun around, using the momentum to decapitate another alien with a swift, precise slash. The headless body fell to the ground, black blood pooling around it before it exploded. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" The death of two Humanoids of Dark Sky in a row marked the beginning of the carnage. Chapter 935 935: The Red King vs Dark Sky (V) ''How!? How can a monster like this exist in a Seed World? We are part of the Depravita Race, yet he is playing with us as if we were mere toys!'' Horus clenched his teeth, the rage and hatred that defined his existence bursting with even greater intensity as he watched two more Humanoids of Dark Sky fall, knowing they would not be the last. The Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky had suffered too many severe and crippling wounds, with the Spear of Doom claiming many of their limbs, diminishing their battle power with each exchange. In stark contrast, the Red King showed not even the slightest wound on his body. His energy pool burned with the intensity of a small star. As the battle raged on, it was no surprise that casualties continued to mount for the Dark Sky forces. If Horus was honest, he did not really care about the lives of the Humanoids of Dark Sky, and even most of the Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky were nothing more than powerful pawns he could use and discard as he saw fit. What truly wrecked his ego and mind, torturing him from the inside, was the agony of loss that fueled his fury and deepened his sense of impotence. Despite his seething anger and mounting despair, Horus knew they needed to keep fighting and retreating, heading back to Lovecraft City. It was their only hope for at least some of them to survive against this monstrous foe. Horus''s eyes glowed with fierce determination and deep-seated fury as he continued to command the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky, desperately trying to forge them into a cohesive force against the Red King, increasing their chances of survival. The Red King made sure to keep a fragment of his focus on Horus at all times. The man was the leader of the aliens and the one commanding them in this clash, so it was essential to keep an eye on him. If possible, the Red King would have liked to kill Horus immediately, as that would make the fight much easier, but it was not so simple. The onslaught from the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky restricted his movements, and Horus always kept a safe distance. ''How bothersome,'' a flash of anger at the alien in the sky appeared in the Red King''s eyes, but even that primal and basic emotion immediately turned off, replaced by a sense of utter apathy as he continued fighting and killing. A towering and imposing Grand Humanoid of Dark Sky charged at him with a roar, the alien''s massive fists aiming to crush his skull. The Red King met its assault head-on, his spear a blur as it parried the giant fists. The Red King was ready to deliver a final blow, but a wisp-like arm from a Humanoid of Dark Sky flashed at the back of his head, forcing him to duck to avoid the attack and drive his spear into the Grand Humanoid''s abdomen instead of the head. The Grand Humanoid staggered as the Red King twisted the spear inside his body, his face contorted in agony before the Red King yanked the spear free and brought it crashing down on the creature''s skull, blasting him to the ground. Even the Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky, considerably more powerful than the Humanoids, could not endure the power of the Red King. Still, the aliens of Dark Sky fought with unwavering determination, knowing there was no other choice unless they all wanted to die. Horus coordinated the aliens'' attacks to keep the pressure on and give the wounded time to recover. The Red King responded with a whirlwind of lethal strikes, his spear cutting through the air with deadly precision. He spun and twirled, his movements fluid and seamless. Each strike found its mark, and black blood splattered all over the sky. A Humanoid of Dark Sky lunged at him from the side, her claws extended, sharper than a Saint Treasure. The Red King did not even turn to the woman, as The Flow told him everything he needed to know. He sidestepped and delivered a brutal kick to the Humanoid''s midsection, sending her flying and breaking several of her bones. Another alien tried to take advantage of the momentary distraction, aiming a kick at his spine, but the Red King was faster. He thrust his spear backward without looking, impaling the attacker through the throat before twisting it. "BOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!" The revolving force of the Spear of Doom separated the head from the rest of the Humanoid''s body. Like all other aliens, his entire body burst into a massive fiery explosion after his fall. The explosion was so powerful that it disrupted the aliens'' battle formation. The Red King emerged from the fiery energy before lunging toward one of them, bisecting the enemy in two with his spear. "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" Horus clenched his fist so tightly that it bled as he saw the death of two more Humanoids of Dark Sky. He immediately communicated with the aliens, forcing them to regroup and coordinate as they kept moving deeper into Atlas faster. The battle raged on, the Red King''s energy never waning. He was always one step ahead, anticipating their moves and countering with devastating efficiency. He fought with a blend of martial prowess and raw power, each move calculated to inflict maximum damage, using The Flow to predict the moves of the dozens of aliens. His dominion over the Spear of Doom was beyond superb, as it resembled an extension of his arm, striking with unerring accuracy. Although the Red King''s powers during this carnage seemed mystical and obscure, seemingly coming from his previous life, the truth was that other than his willpower, he could not bring anything else from his previous existence into the fight. The Red King used his powerful body, energy, and Laws at such a pure and advanced level that they manifested as nothing more than martial strikes, a state of granular control that Cain was not even close to attaining. Chapter 936 936: The Red King vs Dark Sky (VI) As the battle raged on, the Red King noticed a particularly ferocious Grand Humanoid of Dark Sky. The alien had made his best effort to hide his presence and diminish the attention brought, but the Red King could see he was the strongest of the group and the one that generated the most significant pressure during the battle. This Grand Humanoid of Dark Sky constantly attacked at the right moment and with immense speed and overwhelming strength, preventing the Red King from taking lives. A sharp light appeared in the Red King''s eyes as his energy began to rise. Taking down the strongest aliens would be crucial to butchering them all. With a powerful detonation of movement and speed, the Red King burst forward, pushing away all the aliens in his path and closing the distance between him and the powerful Grand Humanoid of Dark Sky. His energy flowed through the Spear of Doom, ready to kill. "Dammit!" Horus shouted in rage and frustration as he saw the Red King targeting that Grand Humanoid of Dark Sky. He had done his best to keep the man from standing out while using the alien''s power to suppress the Red King, but now the cat was out of the bag. Immediately, Horus realigned the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky to block the Red King''s path, but it was too late. The monster simply sent all the aliens flying away and appeared right before his prey, his emotionless eyes full of brutality. The Grand Humanoid''s eyes widened as he saw the Red King before him, and his physical power rose to a new level. It didn''t matter if the enemy was an entity beyond measure; he would not simply lay down and accept his fate. He swung his hands in a deadly arc. The hands of the Grand Humanoid of Dark Sky resembled two blades, each aiming at the Red King''s neck, intending to separate his head from his body. The physical might behind them was so immense that space was sundered. The Red King''s eyes glowed with the golden light of The Flow as he analyzed every movement and pattern of the attack, knowing the perfect way to counter it. He dodged to the side, his spear slicing through the air to sever the creature''s hands! "AHHHHHHH!" The alien bellowed in pain, black blood spurting from the wound. The scream didn''t last long as the Red King drove his spear into the alien''s head, blasting the back of his skull and killing him. "BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" "Zaruman!" Horus roared as he saw the explosion of the strongest of the Grand Humanoids. That man was his most powerful and trusted general in this invasion, and now he was gone. His eyes barely regained focus when he saw how the Red King emerged from the blast with another Humanoid of Dark Sky impaled on the Spear of Doom. The Humanoid''s eyes widened in shock, her body trembling as she lost all her strength due to the lethal wounds. The Red King''s emotionless eyes gazed into those of the alien as he twisted the spear and pulled it free, the lifeless body collapsing before bursting. "BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" "Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!" Horus roared in overwhelming rage as he saw another explosion. His mind barely contained his wrath as he continued guiding the aliens back to Lovecraft City in Atlas. As they marched deeper into the Dark Fog, the casualties among the Dark Sky forces continued to mount due to Zaruman''s critical loss. Each step closer to their stronghold was paid for in blood, with more and more aliens falling to the relentless onslaught of the Red King. Horus'' eyes were bloodshot, the hatred and impotence he felt driving him to the brink of madness. But he pressed on, knowing that reaching Lovecraft City was their only hope for survival. ''I will kill you! I will kill you! I will kill you! I will kill you!'' Horus repeated in his mind over and over, swearing to obtain retribution as he continued guiding the aliens. The Red King could sense the hatred and loathing of the aliens but couldn''t care less. He continued attacking as a whirlwind of destruction, his spear a blur as it cleaved through the bodies of his enemies. He moved with deadly precision, each strike a calculated blow to cripple and kill. The Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky fought with desperate ferocity. Still, they were no match for the Red King''s overwhelming power, especially with their numerical advantage constantly decreasing. Limbs were severed, torsos impaled, and heads decapitated as he carved a path of devastation through their ranks. The air was thick with the stench of blood and death, the screams of the dying echoing across the dark landscape along with the massive explosions from the self-destruction of their corpses. The Red King moved incredibly fast, his spear flashing in the dim light as he struck down another Humanoid of Dark Sky, shattering his skull. Black blood sprayed from the wound as the alien fell, his body twitching in its final moments before triggering a massive explosion. "BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!" The Red King spun through the flaming energy, catching another alien off guard and cleaving this one in two. The Humanoid of Dark Sky''s eyes were full of shock before his entire body exploded. Despite their desperate efforts, the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky were being systematically slaughtered. The Red King no longer resembled a humanoid but a cosmic force, his relentless assault leaving no room for mercy or reprieve. Horus felt he was going mad as he saw how the massive force he brought into this world after thousands of years of preparation was reduced to but a mere third of their original number, all due to a single person. The only thing that saved his mind and will from breaking was that they had finally reached their goal. The alien''s eyes glowed as he focused on the underground of their current location. Chapter 937 937: The Red King vs Dark Sky (VII) ''Now or never!'' Horus''s eyes blazed with an unyielding determination, his every muscle straining with the power of his vitality as he fought to contain the horrific wounds on his stomach. With a flash of movement, he hurled himself into the heart of the battle. The Red King''s eyes narrowed with calculated anticipation as he observed Horus''s movement. He welcomed the alien''s entry into the fight, knowing it would provide an opportunity to eliminate him. But he was not fooled by Horus''s seemingly desperate attack. They were, after all, above the terrain where Lovecraft City lay concealed. ''Let''s eliminate him first.'' If there was one alien that needed to be eradicated, it was Horus. But just as that thought crossed the Red King''s mind, he saw all the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky that were still alive regroup and march directly toward him with a determination that bordered on the suicidal. The aliens'' march left them full of openings, but it also carried such devastating pressure that the Red King would have a hard time enduring it. Immediately, the Red King''s eyes burst with brutality as his energy exploded, gathering in his spear as he clashed directly with over a dozen aliens marching toward him. "Wrath of the Nine Hells!" A powerful flaming energy beam emerged from the Spear of Doom as the Red King drove the weapon forward. The Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky immediately executed evasive maneuvers, doing their best to dodge the energy beams. Still, two of them were too slow and were struck point-blank. The power of the Wrath of the Nine Hells was so immense that their entire bodies were incinerated to ash, leaving nothing behind to trigger an explosion. Undeterred by the horrific deaths of their comrades, the remaining Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky surged forward. Their attacks were a synchronized onslaught, relentless and unyielding. Blades, claws, and sonic blasts filled the air, each aimed to overwhelm the Red King. They resembled a pack of hungry wolves as they lunged toward the Red King, yet he showed not the slightest sense of worry. The golden light of The Flow coursed through his eyes as he tightened his grip on the Spear of Doom, his movements fluid and precise, effortlessly weaving through the onslaught. "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!" A massive explosion rocked the sky as the Red King dodged several blows and struck with his spear, dispatching three of the aliens with a level of martial skill and power that defied logic. He was ready to take care of the others when a figure that had managed to hide from his sight appeared before him. The Red King''s eyes narrowed as he saw Horus. The alien had done an excellent job using the bodies of the rest of the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky to hide his presence. It was the only way to face someone who had mastered The Flow. Horus''s eyes burned with rage as he unleashed a ferocious punch to the Red King''s chest, carrying all his strength. "BOOOOMMMM!" The punch landed with a bone-crushing impact, echoing through the battlefield and sending the Red King flying away for thousands of meters. "NOW!" After connecting his attack and momentarily hindering the Red King''s movement, Horus immediately shouted, making all the remaining aliens burn with determination as they flashed down with every ounce of power they had left in their bodies. "BOOOOOOMMMMMM!" The Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky dived into the ground with such power and momentum that they pulverized the earth on their path, generating a massive hole around them as they marched to their destination. The Red King''s eyes glowed as he saw Horus and the rest marching into the underground, heading to Lovecraft City. "CRACK!" He twisted in mid-air, using the momentum to launch himself toward the aliens with blinding speed, shattering the fabric of space on his path, the energy coursing through the Spear of Doom bulging and rising higher and higher. Although the Red King would have preferred to kill all of them, now that they were so close to Lovecraft City, that was impossible. His eyes focused on a single target, the brutality in them freezing the air. Horus was pulverizing the ground on his path when his eyes widened. He felt his instincts screaming, warning him of immense danger approaching. It wasn''t hard for the alien to notice the Red King flashing down, aiming at him. ''Faster! Faster! Faster!'' Horus repeated in his mind as he dived with even greater strength and speed. His eyes glowed as he finally perceived the small dimensional sphere. ''Lovecraft City!'' Pure thrill filled Horus''s heart as he saw the dimension less than a thousand meters away. That distance was less than a blink of an eye for him, even with his power sealed by the armor. Yet, just as Horus thought he would make it, he noticed the Red King''s energy explode, and the monster dived with even greater speed, the Spear of Doom flashing like a shooting star, and the target was none other than him. ''I will not make it.'' It would take him a fraction of a second to enter the dimension, but Horus knew the spear would pierce his head before that. In that heartbeat of despair, a brutal and cold light ignited in Horus''s eyes. He grabbed a nearby Grand Humanoid of Dark Sky, who had been smiling, thinking that salvation was finally at his reach. The alien''s expression turned to confusion and horror as Horus thrust him into the Red King''s path. The Red King didn''t flinch. He knew maneuvering around the Grand Humanoid would give Horus the time to escape. So, he drove forward, the Spear of Doom obliterating the alien in a fiery explosion. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!" The blast rocked the air, but the Red King was undeterred. He bore down on Horus, the Spear of Doom inches from its target. The world seemed to slow, the point of the spear a hair''s breadth from piercing Horus''s skull. And then, in a blink, Horus vanished. Chapter 938 938: The Red King and the old man The Red King''s eyes widened as he saw Horus vanish, and a flash of rage appeared on his face. Fury erupted as he realized the aliens had escaped his hunt. In the next second, he twisted his body to the side and, without losing momentum, hurled the Spear of Doom, piercing the head of a Humanoid of Dark Sky about to enter the dimension. The alien had been thrilled, thinking she would survive, but the spear blasted her head like a balloon full of blood, triggering a massive explosion. "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" By the time the flaming energy vanished, only the Red King remained. While he couldn''t see anything with the naked eye, he used The Flow to detect the disturbances in the natural course of the world, identifying the dimensional sphere that held Lovecraft City. The Red King''s eyes returned to their apathetic state, devoid of any emotion, as he stared at the dimensional sphere containing Lovecraft City. He extended his hand, summoning the Spear of Doom back to his grip, and charged it with all his energy and nebulous force. "Wrath of the Nine Hells!" A torrent of flaming energy emerged from the Spear of Doom, and under the Red King''s control, it all gathered at the tip in the next second as he drove the spear forward. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" The moment the Spear of Doom struck the dimensional sphere, a massive explosion took place, sending the Red King flying with such force that he was almost thrust back into the sky. The Red King regained control over his body within seconds, yet a mouthful of blood emerged just as he stabilized. A sharp light appeared in the eyes of the Red King as he saw the blood and perceived the internal damage that the clash had generated in his body. Of course, all the wounds faded the next second, thanks to his Pseudo Immortal Body, but he now understood that destroying Lovecraft City from the outside required much more strength than he currently had. ''What an interesting invention. I guess that even if these aliens are only a poor copy of the Prima Depravita Race, they are still very advanced.'' A meaningful light appeared in the eyes of the Red King as he gazed once more at the dimensional sphere, analyzing it more thoroughly. In a few moments, the Red King came to a conclusion. He could not break it from the outside, but nothing could stop him from entering inside and continuing the fight. However, inside Lovecraft City, he would face the Depravitas in their true form, enhanced by the power of the dark dimension and the Ancient Key. Despite the incredibly harsh battle that would take place if he entered Lovecraft City, there was no fear in the eyes of the Red King. However, neither was there interest, as whether or not the aliens were still alive was meaningless to him. "You could end this now, free the world from their darkness." A voice echoed behind the Red King. There had been no presence beside him in this place, yet he showed not even the slightest surprise as he turned around to see an old man with white hair, a long beard, and a large belly. If Cain were to see the old man, he would immediately recognize him as the one who gave him the starry gem with the secret to dual cultivation in Kronos and drew a portrait of him when he reached the Hyperion Continent. The old man''s figure was blurry, like an unstable virtual image that could fade at any second. Still, one could see the expression on his face, which was full of tiredness and weakness, as if a severe and crippling illness assailed him. The Red King stared at the old man, his eyes void of emotions as he spoke, his voice full of apathy. "Why would I do that?" The old man was at a loss for words for a moment as he heard that response, and he could not help but utter the first thought that came to his mind. "You will be the hero of the world and save trillions of lives." "You overestimate your importance. I am a Master of Order and do not care about this world and its people." The Red King paused as a flash of melancholy appeared in his eyes. "I do not care about anything." The Red King''s sadness lasted a fraction of a second, his eyes returning to apathy as he turned to the dimensional sphere. "I planned to butcher them since this play has taken too long, but now only the final clash is left. The boy should lead the people of this world and take care of this. After all, he is your Singularity." The old man stared at the Red King for a few seconds, and it seemed he wanted to say something else, but in the end, he shook his head and sighed. "You are right. Aether''s problems should be handled by the people of Aether." The Red King noticed how the old man''s figure vanished after those words, leaving him alone, but showed no concern. His apathy seemed impenetrable, a fortress of indifference that no plea or argument could breach. The old man''s frail figure and words did not affect the soul of the Master of Order. His eyes glanced at the dimensional sphere that contained Lovecraft City one last time before rising into the sky and flashing to the south, leaving the north of Atlas. It did not take long for the Red King to reach the Anti-Dark Fog Tower, which was full of Sacred Races warriors waiting for him, but to the shock of the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the rest, he did not stop and continued marching south. Only after reaching Infinite Horizon did the Red King stop his march, standing silent as he closed his eyes. The next second, a red humanoid appeared inside his soul sea, his eyes immediately turning to a distant location. Chapter 939 939: The Red King and Apex The psychic embodiment of the Red King began to move through the soul sea, advancing through different layers of space-time. Cain''s soul sea was unique in many ways, but its most distinctive characteristic was its enormous size. Even a Third Realm life form would find it nearly impossible to explore every inch, much less reach the deepest corner of it, unless they knew the way. After nearly fifteen minutes of flying through a sea of soul force, the Red King reached an empty area devoid of any trace of energy or spirit wave. In this place, space itself seemed to twist, pushing away anyone who approached without their notice, but that could not affect the Red King''s psychic embodiment. The Red King looked around the area, and at first sight, there was nothing in this place, only emptiness, but he knew that was not true. His physical embodiment remained steady for a few seconds before trembling, only to fall into a bottomless abyss the next second. As he transitioned from one layer of space to another, the dimension began to change, and the barren terrain was replaced by the sight of a majestic gate larger than a world covered in chains of purple fire and black-white lightning. A complicated expression appeared on the Red King''s face as he saw the gargantuan gate, and he could not help but sigh as he stared at the cracks in it. However, he did not waste much time and turned his eyes toward the golden humanoid guarding it. Apex stared at the Red King''s physical embodiment for a few seconds before finally sighing. "Ahhh, how much do you remember?" "I remember enough. This isn''t like the first time I awoke with fragmented memories and no understanding of what''s happening," the Red King spoke in an apathetic tone before brutality and coldness emerged from his eyes. "You guided the boy into the Power of Order." Apex trembled as he heard those words and felt the Red King''s gaze. Despite the physical manifestation being extremely weak, he knew very well what kind of entity he was dealing with and the consequences of drawing his ire. The golden humanoid took a deep breath, enduring the crushing pressure before focusing on the Red King, his voice solemn and decisive. "Cain''s mind and psyche suffered a terrible blow that he was too young to face. I needed to help him survive that tribulation." Apex paused, his face growing resolute as he continued, "He is important." The Red King''s coldness and brutality intensified upon hearing Apex''s words, making the pressure on the golden humanoid much worse. However, those emotions soon faded, once again replaced by apathy. "I know the boy''s importance. That''s why I implanted a piece of my will and mental force during the creation of his Alter-Ego," the Red King paused before continuing with a voice full of indifference. "But the only reason I truly acted was because I sensed he had already taken a step into the Power of Chaos." Eventually, the Red King sighed, an expression of boredom appearing on his face. "The boy is important and on the right path toward his ultimate goal. But if he fails, then he should simply fade. We will start over. Time is the one thing I have." Apex clenched his fists upon hearing those words, a complicated expression appearing on his face, but in the end, he nodded, not daring to utter a word. The Red King''s eyes narrowed at the reaction of the golden humanoid but soon lost interest and continued. "I will now heal his mind and reverse the damage caused by the Mind Severing Ritual." A smile appeared on Apex''s face as he heard that, and he felt relief. He could crush any soul incursion into Cain''s soul sea, but the power the Depravita Race used was much more obscure. The System Spirit could not stop or reverse it, so he was glad the Red King would do it. The Red King showed no reaction to Apex''s relief as he continued in a cold voice. "When he wakes up, he will come looking for answers. You can handle that as you see fit; I do not care. However, I made it clear that this would be the last time I intervened. If he fails to endure and overcome the tribulations that will arise in the future, I will let him die." Apex''s relief turned to a grim determination as he nodded, understanding the weight of the Red King''s words. He was already feeling exhaustion coming over him, knowing that Cain would want to know what was happening with his mind and soul. There was no way to hide things this time, as the warriors of the Sacred Races all saw the Red King''s actions, and they would definitely share that with the young man. The physical embodiment of the Red King glanced at the gate one more time, focusing on the cracks in it before sighing and allowing his mind to leave the soul sea. When he opened his eyes in Infinite Horizon, he immediately noticed the hundreds of warriors of the Sacred Races gazing at him. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the rest of the powerhouses of the Sacred Races had returned to Infinite Horizon when they heard that the entity was in the sky with his eyes closed. They were at a loss on how to proceed, wanting to help Cain but not wanting to fight the entity. The entity was immensely powerful, capable of crushing the aliens of Dark Sky, and even if they somehow managed to overcome him, harming the entity would not help Cain. Luckily for the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the others, the Red King did not leave them in suspense. "The boy''s mind will heal and wake up soon. I have crippled the power of Dark Sky, killing two-thirds of them and pushing them back to their headquarters. They will heal fast, but it will be at least a month before they make a move. Do with that information as you see fit." Chapter 940 940: The Scarlet Kings Power of Chaos After sharing his knowledge with the powerhouses of the Sacred Races, the Red King lost all interest in them. Whether they chose to seize this opportunity to expand their dominion over Atlas, intensify the pressure on Dark Sky, or retreat into cowardice was of no consequence to him. His indifference stemmed not only from apathy but also from a deeper understanding that their actions would influence Cain''s journey as a master of the Power of Chaos. Without another thought for the Sacred Races, the Red King assumed a meditative position in the sky. He began to harmonize with the Laws and forces permeating Infinite Horizon, immersing himself in the profound energies that flowed through the world. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the rest of the powerhouses of the Sacred Races glanced at each other as they looked at the entity in the sky, waiting in silence. They did not believe the man was lying, but they would not simply trust his word and disperse. The warriors wanted to keep an eye on him until they saw a sign that the Scarlet King was fine. The Red King had chosen this place because the Laws here were much more developed and pure than any other place on Gaia, which would help his task. His eyes began to glow with the golden light of The Flow, and the next second, that light transformed into waves of cosmic energy. The power of The Flow had always intrigued Cain. It granted him the ability to deploy incredible martial skills, read his enemies'' moves, counter physical attacks, and redirect spells. Yet, he knew he had barely scratched the surface of its true potential. On the other hand, the Red King had already developed and mastered The Flow to a level that could defy the Laws of the universe. Of course, understanding something and being able to use it were very different things, and the amount of energy he had at his disposal was very limited, forcing him to be ingenious. The Red King enhanced the power of the cosmic force emerging from his eyes over and over again, and it did not take long for the golden energy to extend to the rest of his body. Under his control, that cosmic force revolved around him, generating a cocoon. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the powerhouses of the Sacred Races were struck with awe as the majestic cosmic force formed a cocoon, enveloping every inch of Cain''s body. This was just the beginning, as tendrils emerged from the cocoon, seemingly fusing into the fabric of space and beginning to crystallize. After connecting the cosmic force cocoon into the enhanced Law of Space that flooded Infinite Horizon, the Red King closed his eyes, and his psychic embodiment appeared once more in the soul sea, this time in front of the hollow Sun Seed. The Mind Severing Ritual completely erased the memories and will inside the Sun Seed and dissipated all the Ego Wave that emerged from it. The massive red force field that Cain could extend for hundreds of kilometers was gone, the Depravita''s spell destroying all its power and energy. All the lucky chances Cain had encountered, allowing his Ego Wave to reach a level comparable to those at the Mind Over Matter stage, did not matter anymore. The Red King''s eyes grew sharp and solemn as he analyzed the Sun Seed. "The Flow''s cocoon will connect with the memories of the world, allowing the boy to reforge his memories and experiences, allowing his ego to be reborn. However, I still need to reignite and restore his alter ego. If I do not do it, restoring it to its peak condition would take him years." There were many ways in which the Red King could restore the Alter-Ego, but most of them would take too long. A sharp light appeared in the psychic embodiment''s eyes as he came up with the best way, one that would not only restore the Sun Seed to its peak but allow it to grow even stronger. However, it came with a high price. A flash of resolution appeared in the eyes of the Red King as his psychic embodiment was set ablaze, all its power burning like a majestic flame. He was burning the will and mental force that forged his existence, and once it was gone, this manifestation of the Red King would cease to exist. Despite all that, not even a sliver of hesitation appeared in the Red King''s eyes as he flashed forward, transforming into red flames that drove into the Sun Seed, reaching the deepest part of the Alter-Ego. Silence reigned as the Red King''s flaming existence faded inside the Alter-Ego. Still, it did not last long since the next second, the entire soul sea began to tremble as the Sun Seed, drained of its energy and light, began to glow like a supernova ready to explode! The Collapsing Lightning Emperor, Lord Kabuto, Zero Mint, Angar, Ishmael, and all the top-tier figures of the Sacred Races were gazing at the golden crystalized cocoon in the sky, wondering what was happening inside. Suddenly, their eyes widened, and smiles of thrill emerged on their faces as they saw a red force field emerge from the crystalized cocoon. It was small and weak, yet it was growing more potent, and most importantly, it was the willpower of the Scarlet King! The entity that had been occupying Cain''s body was beyond powerful, capable of feats that defied logic. However, he was also apathetic and devoid of emotions. In contrast, the Scarlet King, while not matching the power of that entity, was a beacon of hope. He was someone who could elevate those around him to greater heights, instilling a sense of purpose and conviction. The warriors, their hearts pounding with anticipation, felt a surge of purpose and conviction as they sensed the power of the Scarlet King''s will. It filled them with a profound sense of hope, a belief that everything would be alright. Chapter 941 941: Cleansing Atlas The Collapsing Lightning Emperor''s eyes were ablaze with a mix of awe and wonder as he beheld the red force field. His gaze mirrored the same intensity, and his aura erupted in a dazzling display of power. Everybody turned to the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, both members of the light and dark camps. Curiosity arose in the eyes of the powerhouses of the Deus Behemoth Empire and Anima Machinarium Empire. The Dark Emperor, Ishmael, and Goliath were not only confused at the sudden surge in power of the Collapsing Lightning Emperor. A palpable sense of wariness began to creep into their expressions, hinting at the potential threat they perceived. While the Scarlet King''s Ouroboros System was an absolutely impartial and flawless meritocracy, allowing both the light and dark camps to rise at almost equal speed, the overall power of those who held the title of Titan was much higher. That was because Cain had personally helped the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, Angar, and the Patriarchs of the Solis Family and Zanguinis Family grow stronger, fixing their cultivation and granting them World Treasures. The powerhouses of the dark camp were all aware of that, but none of them had worried as they were under the protection of the Scarlet King, and anyone who dared to display any sort of infighting would be crushed. However, the Scarlet King was in a coma, and it was the perfect time for those who could not see beyond race to make a move. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor ascended into the sky, positioning himself directly in front of the golden crystallized sphere emitting the red force field. His gaze swept over the warriors of both the light and dark camps, and a chilling sense of absolute brutality filled his eyes as he clenched his fists and bellowed, "Death!" There were just two simple words, yet they carried an intent so pure and clear that they flooded the warriors'' minds and souls, immediately dispersing the doubts of the light camp and the worries of the dark camp. "Death!" Angar shouted, his entire body and aura glowing with murderous intent. "Death!" Ishmael, the Atrox Immortus Emperor, burst with lightning as his eyes glowed with killing intent. "Death" Lord Kabuto''s entire body glowed with the sun''s might, and his soul was full of murderous wrath. "Death!" "Death!" "Death!" "Death!" "Death!" "Death!" "Death!" "Death!" "Death!" "Death!" It didn''t take long for all the warriors of the light and dark camps to begin chanting, their killing and murderous wrath flooding the terrain and freezing the air. They were all tired, having burned their life force in the last fight, but the exhaustion faded as it was replaced by the desire to kill and burn everything that Dark Sky had done to their world. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor''s willpower seemed to blend with the red force field coming from the crystallized cocoon as if he were the Scarlet King''s embodiment. His eyes then turned to Prime Minister Minxet and Prime Minister Razputin. The logistics masters and leaders of the light and dark camps understood the intent behind those eyes and immediately nodded, signaling they were ready to face their responsibilities. "MARCH!" With everything ready, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor shouted, making the drive and willpower in all the warriors burst as they marched back into the Dark Fog. The combined aura of all those warriors resembled a storm capable of engulfing an entire continent. The moment they stepped into the Dark Fog, they were like a cleansing fire, massacring every single life form of the Dark Sky that they could find in their path. It took them less than an hour to thoroughly cleanse an entire sector inside the Dark Fog, and what came next was the Anti-Dark Fog Towers. While the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the others were eager to butcher the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky, they did not know where their headquarters were located. And even if they were to gain access to it, the aliens inside would be much more powerful. Instead of performing an assault on a location they knew nothing about, they decided to clean the Atlas Continent from the Dark Fog and besiege Dark Sky''s headquarters, taking advantage of the fact that the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids would not come out and fight due to their wounds. That way, the moment the Scarlet King woke up, they would be ready for the final assault. The Ouroboros System kept working. Even though the Scarlet King was in a coma, the system that tracked their points was still in place. The one in charge of that was the Absolute Life Form System, and even if Cain was in a coma, it was still connected to the A.I. Chips and computer rings, tracking everybody''s moves. Although the Ouroboros Ranking Reward was not possible due to the absence of the Scarlet King, who was in possession of all those evil treasures, they were still sending the drones from the Insect Army into the Samsara Flame. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor took control of the operations, refilling the supply of treasures for the Ouroboros System, but that was not all. Although tempting, he did not keep the Merit for himself and helped the other high-ranking masters of the light and dark camps enhance their Rebirth Marks. Since even average Divine Ascension Masters could not enter the Dark Fog due to the absence of the Humanoids, the number of drones being butchered every week was counted in the billions! They were killing so fast that by the third week, the unthinkable happened. From the start of the war against Dark Sky, the density of the waves of drones of the Insect Army never diminished, making it seem that no matter how many they killed, their numbers were infinite. Yet now, that finally changed. Even if the drones from the Insect Army were just cannon fodder, seeing them weaken filled the warriors with thrill as they felt they were advancing, their goal of weakening Dark Sky moving in the right direction. While all that happened, the crystallized cocoon in the sky began to pulse with increasing power, and the red force field emerging from it covered all of Infinite Horizon''s sky and extended even further. Chapter 942 942: Cains awakens All the warriors who crossed through Infinite Horizon gazed at the crystalline cocoon in the sky with awe and respect. The red force field emerging from it was like the sun''s radiance, warming their bodies and pushing them back into the battlefield with even greater power. Inside the cocoon made of the cosmic energy of the Flow was Cain, his eyes closed and his willpower on full display. The red force field grew stronger each day, and finally, on the twenty-sixth day, Cain opened his eyes! "CRACK!" It was as if the entire sky was cracking, but the thunderous sound came from no other place than the golden cocoon, which filled with cracks before shattering into billions of small fragments that fused with the fabric of space. All the people currently in Infinite Horizon immediately turned to the sky and watched in awe and shock as the figure of a young man stood there, at the center of that majestic red force field, like a primordial god. None dared to utter a single word, simply watching the young man, their hearts filled with reverence and curiosity. Cain''s eyes were full of confusion as he stood in the sky, gazing around him, not understanding what was happening. His last memories were of a clash with Horus and the Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky, but after that, everything went dark. ''What happened?'' The young man frowned, unable to answer, and his frown only deepened as he noticed a nebulous energy coming from the stars beyond the Crystal Wall and felt the changes in his body, soul, and willpower. ''Celestial force. How?'' He could recognize the nebulous energy flowing into his body from the description of the Primordial Path''s Ascension Stage. Still, it did not make sense as he did not recall breaking into that level. "System, scan me!" Cain''s mind desperately sought a sense of order amid the confusion and chaos that were his memories, so he turned to the one constant. Luckily for him, the robotic voice of the Absolute Life Form System echoed in his mind, and all the information appeared. [Scanning Vessel... ... Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind / Primordial Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Mind Calamity) / Essence Evolution (Time Tribulation) Lineage: Sun Master Lineage Wave Talent: Pseudo Fourth Order Neo-Demon ... Stats: Strength: 2.2 --> 4.0 (6.8) Agility: 0.8 --> 1.5 (2.5) Vitality: 2.9 --> 5.4 (8.3) Astral Wave: 2.0 --> 2.2 (3.6) Essence Wave: 2.3 --> 2.5 (4.1) Soul Force: 1.5 --> 1.9 Ego Wave: 1.1 --> 3.5 ... Astral Blood Saturation: 100% Completion Law Mastery: Law of Space (Extreme Law Integration) Law of Time (Middle Law Integration) Earth Law (Extreme Law Integration) Water Law (Extreme Law Integration) Fire Law (Extreme Law Integration) Wind Law (Extreme Law Integration) ... Note: Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 2.2%. Note: Natural energy and celestial force have enhanced every aspect of the Vessel''s physical body, including the Astral Wave and Essence Wave. The current value is marked between ().] Cain''s eyes widened, pure shock arising in them as he saw his stats and energy. Each of his physical stats had risen immensely, nearly doubled, and the enhancement by the natural energy and cosmic force improved them by over 75%! The sudden surge of power was almost too much to comprehend, leaving him in a state of disbelief and awe. Even the Absolute Life Form System''s racial classification had changed, marking him as a hybrid between human and Primordial. He was already halfway into becoming one of those cosmic entities. If that was not shocking enough, Cain saw how his Ego Wave had nearly tripled in power, with the energy held inside now mightier than any Mind Over Matter powerhouses, and he was still at the Second Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power! ''What is happening!?'' Seeing those stats brought even more chaos to Cain''s mind, filling him with questions he could not answer. However, his willpower soon came into effect, forcing his emotions under control before a sharp light appeared in his eyes as he focused once more on the Absolute Life Form System. Cain had been monitoring the A.I. Chips and computer rings to track everyone''s movements. He clearly remembered that the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the others were in their proximity when he clashed with Horus and the Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky, so their devices must have recorded what happened later. It did not take long for the Absolute Life Form System to display images in his mind. He saw how Horus and his Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky were able to break his mind and memories and how the warriors of the Sacred Races marched onto the battlefield to protect him. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the others fought bravely, with nearly suicidal determination, but were overcome by the aliens. Just as one of the Humanoids of Dark Sky was about to sever his head from the rest of his body, it happened. Cain saw how his body moved, but he was not the one in control. With a single move, the entity that took over his body killed the Humanoids of Dark Sky. The video showed how the entity displaying god-like powers used arcane arts that seemed related to the Power of Order to dominate the battlefield completely. Those powers were like nothing Cain had seen before, but they seemed to carry a significant cost since the entity suffered a severe backlash just as he was ready to use them to kill Horus and the others. After that, a fierce clash continued, and the entity rose to the sky before shouting five words with power and will that seemed to defy the universe. "The stars are my birthright!" Next came the massacre of the Grand Humanoids and Humanoids of Dark Sky as the entity began to kill, relying no longer on that mystic arcane art but on Cain''s body, energy, and Laws. Chapter 943 943: Time to end this war Cain was left in a state of shock and speechlessness, his eyes fixed on the unfolding events. The climax came when the entity, in hot pursuit of Horus and the aliens, vanished into the depths of the Atlas Continent, only to reappear moments later, bearing news of Dark Sky''s weakened state. It then cocooned itself in a shimmering golden shell, leaving the warriors in a state of uncertainty. Although the entity never revealed his name or identity, it was easy for Cain to recognize him. That sense of apathy and overbearing attitude born of a deep-rooted belief in absolute superiority was not new to him. He had seen it during the awakening of his Alter-Ego and believed it to be his former self, the one before the reincarnation that brought him to Aether. The news of the cocoon shattering immediately spread among the warriors of the Sacred Races. It did not take long for the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and all the powerhouses ravaging the Dark Fog to return to the Infinite Horizon. At first, they were filled with thrill and delight upon seeing their leader return, but it was evident that something was wrong with Cain as he stood silently in the sky. Although they were worried, all the warriors remained silent and watched from a distance, not wanting to disturb him. Cain did not even register the presence of the powerhouses. The shock and confusion in his eyes was intense, and his Ego Wave was trembling, a manifestation of the turmoil coursing through his soul and mind. Even with his monstrous willpower and the ability to control his emotions and maintain focus, he was at a loss, silent in the sky. His identity as a reincarnator was not something he had considered or even thought about for several years, yet this changed everything. After all, his previous incarnation had manifested during his current lifetime and took control over his body and soul! It was a heavy psychological blow to the young man. Cain could not help but wonder about that entity''s goal and who his body''s true ruler was. The weight of the revelation pressed down on him, causing his mind to swirl with questions and doubts. He felt a profound disconnect from his own identity, a sense of being an intruder in his own life. The presence of this overpowering, ancient self now overshadowed the certainty he once had about his purpose and path. Cain''s hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white as he struggled to process the implications. The entity''s actions, cold detachment, and overwhelming power he wielded felt like a dark cloud overshadowing his existence. ''Who am I? What am I?'' A myriad of questions arose in Cain''s mind, but those were the most important ones. The fear that his current self was merely a vessel for this ancient being gnawed at him, affecting him to the core, making him question every action and move he had made since he opened his eyes in this world. More and more warriors began to amass on the ground of Infinite Horizon, all filled with hope and thrill to see their leader but surprised by his state. They could sense the intense inner battle by the state of his willpower and the shocking tremors of the red force field, though they could not fully grasp its magnitude. Cain''s thoughts spiraled further as he tried to reconcile his current identity with the undeniable presence of his former self. The realization that this divine entity had taken control in moments of crisis shocked him, and it grew even worse as he considered that it might have influenced his actions and decisions, generating a profound sense of vulnerability and uncertainty. Who was he really? Was he merely a fragment of a greater whole, destined to be overshadowed by a more powerful past self? Was he truly the master of his life, or had his actions been influenced by someone else without him even realizing it? His mind raced, seeking answers in the chaos. He needed to understand this entity''s intentions and uncover the truth about his goals and how they aligned with his own desires. Unfortunately, Cain did not even know where to start to look for signs of this entity or in which silent part of his soul he hid. The shock and confusion began to give way to a resolve forged in the crucible of his inner turmoil, and he communicated with the one he knew had answers. "Apex!" Cain''s voice carried powerful intent, a will that began to rise higher and higher, fighting against the existential doubt that attempted to erode his ego and spirit. The golden humanoid in the deepest part of Cain''s soul sea gazed toward the Sun Seed, and he could feel the furious will within. A sad expression appeared as he also felt the distrust, making it clear how little faith Cain had in him. "Ahhh. He will not appear again, not to take your body nor to help you." Apex''s voice sounded tired, and he turned to the massive gate behind him, his eyes focused on the cracks. "At least for ten thousand years, you will not have to worry about his influence." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard those words. Apex did not try to hide anything or play tricks, but that did not mean he would trust him, as it was not the first time he had been deceived. He stood silent, closing his eyes as he began to assimilate everything that had happened these past few days. "I will not be a mere puppet to his past!" A sense of order and conviction began to arise through Cain''s willpower, and as he opened his eyes, all doubts faded. Although he could not yet understand the nature and control of the entity, that did not mean the future would remain the same. The massive red force field extending beyond Infinite Horizon flowed back into his mind, and his eyes burned like three red suns as he turned toward the north of the Atlas Continent, a sense of brutality and bloodlust emerging. "Time to end this war." Chapter 944 944: Burn their city to the ground Cain''s eyes were sharp and focused as he stared at the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, Angar, and all the other top-tier warriors from the Sacred Race. A smile appeared on his face as he felt their power and how all had developed their Pseudo-Immortal Bodies. "A little more!" Cain was delighted with the improvement the top-tier warriors of the Sacred Races had gained during this short month, but there was always room for improvement. He raised his hand and drew the natural energy and cosmic force into his palm before setting it ablaze. The warriors of the Sacred Races could not help but focus their eyes on that flaming energy in the palm of the Scarlet King, only to see how a flame with 24 colors emerged the next second! Awe and desire appeared in the eyes of all those who saw those flames as they understood it was a 24 Revolution Flame, capable of triggering a 24 Revolution Refinement, improving their foundation and talent to an incommensurable level! Cain''s eyes were sharp as he glanced at the 24 Revolution Flame. Now that his body and spirit had been enhanced by the Primordial Path''s Ascension Stage and his Ego Wave had grown three times more powerful, summoning this sort of flame was not a challenge at all. Besides the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, there was no knowledge of anyone receiving such a powerful Tribulation Enhancement, so everybody wondered who would be lucky. The most likely candidates were Angar Aegon or the Patriarch of the Solis Clan due to their close relationship with the Scarlet King. However, the flames with twenty-four colors left the hand of the Scarlet King and appeared above none other than the top-tier master of the Inferno Daemon Race and strongest warrior of the dark camp, Zero Mint! Smiles full of thrill and excitement immediately appeared on those of the dark camp, as they were happy to see that the Scarlet King would choose Zero Mint, enhancing their status and proving the goodwill of the young man toward them. As for those of the light camp, none of them showed the slightest sign of dissatisfaction. After all, Zero Mint matched that of the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, so it made sense he would be chosen. Of course, other than the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and Angar, no one knew that Zero Mint was actually the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar. Cain did not say a word as his Ego Wave cocooned Zero Mint, and the 24 Revolution Flame flooded his body inside and out, allowing it to trigger the Tribulation Enhancement. Soon, waves upon waves of world energy began to flood the man. The warriors of the Sacred Races all turned to the red cocoon, their eyes full of awe and wonder as they saw the ocean of world energy flooding into Zero Mint''s body. Soon, their focus turned back to the Scarlet King as they saw the young man generate a second 24 Revolution Refinement flame in the midst of performing the Tribulation Enhancement! Cain''s eyes burned with red light, making them seem like three red suns. He covered Angar with his Ego Wave and sent the flame toward the man, triggering a second Tribulation Enhancement. That was not even the end, as he created a third 24 Revolution Flame that he used with the Patriarch of the Solis Clan. An Ego Wave of over three points allowed Cain''s cognitive abilities to reach an unprecedented level, and he could carry out three 24 Revolution Refinements simultaneously! Of course, this was also possible due to the trio''s massive willpower, which prevented world energy stagnation and explosion. It took Cain nearly six hours to finish with the trio, and once he was done, he turned his focus toward Ishmael, Eon, and the Dark Emperor, generating a new set of 24 Revolution Flames. He carried on like that until all the warriors that deployed a battle power above the True Titan and True God Tier obtained the Tribulation Enhancement. They would be the head of the spear and face the greatest danger in the final battle, so they deserved to obtain the highest enhancement. Cain felt exhausted after finishing all those Tribulation Enhancements, but the torrent of natural energy and cosmic force flooding his body and spirit began to wash away the exhaustion. It did not take long for Cain to return to his peak, and his energy exploded as he pointed his spear toward the Atlas Continent and shouted with a voice that reverberated through the sky, "Let''s butcher them all and burn their city to the ground!" Cain''s eyes burned with brutality and bloodlust as the Lucifer Morningstar Battle Set emerged, covering his entire body and boosting his strength and defense to an even higher level. A pillar of Fallen Aura emerged from his body with such force that it made the entire Infinite Horizon tremble, rising so high that it clashed with the Crystal Wall, generating cracks in it. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!" The eyes of the warriors of the Sacred Races began to glow with awe and thrill as they saw that torrent of energy emerging from the Scarlet King. Smiles full of bloodlust and ferocity appeared on their faces. They chose the Scarlet King as their leader because of the sense of purpose that the young man instilled in their hearts, but they also needed his strength in a time of war like this. After a crippling injury, many warriors would have their strength diminished even if they managed to recover, but that was clearly not the case with the Scarlet King, as his power was exponentially stronger than the last time he led them into battle during the Anti-Dark Fog Tower missions. "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" "BOOM!" Explosions of energy began to arise across Infinite Horizon as the most powerful warriors of the Sacred Races mimicked the Scarlet King''s state. Each unleashed a power that surpassed the Peak Divine Ascension Realm before marching with the young man into Atlas. Chapter 945 945: Marching into the Lovecraft City There was a nightmarish gargantuan dimension, a terrifying abyss hidden deep within the Atlas Continent that cradled a massive underwater city. This place was none other than Lovecraft City, a construct of unfathomable horror and grandeur, far surpassing the one Cain had vanquished and destroyed in Kronos. The size of this dimension was gargantuan, nearly a tenth of Atlas'' landmass, with billions of insect drones flooding the waters along with all sorts of twisted and nightmarish aquatic monsters. At the heart of Lovecraft City stood a dark temple. From this temple, waves of dark radiation spread in all directions, flooding the dimension with the energy it needed to exist and grow. Surrounding the temple were eleven monstrous figures, each embodying a different Concept that permeated every inch of their flesh, blood, and soul. Four extremely powerful entities were in the deepest chamber of a massive temple resembling a twisted demonic cathedral. These monsters, with bodies and souls made of negative emotions and chaotic psychic energy, would usually hide their appearance, embracing a sense of mystery and power. But there was no room for such fanciness and parlor, as they used every second they had to heal their bodies and souls. The four entities in the chamber were none other than the Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky, the only ones still alive after the onslaught and massacre perpetrated by the Red King. It was extremely easy for Depravitas to heal from their injuries, as they only needed energy to regenerate their flesh and blood, and Lovecraft City was overflowing with it. However, things were more complicated this time. The humanoid bodies they used outside Lovecraft City were known as Sky Shields and were indispensable in a world invasion. The will of Aether would attack any alien life form that dared to invade it, but it could not attack what it could not see. The Dark Fog provided a layer of protection, obscuring their auras, but that was still not enough. So, the Depravitas adopted their spiritual form and fused it into the Sky Shields, essentially turning their souls and energy into fleshy bodies. That made it impossible for the World Will to detect them inside the Dark Fog. Unfortunately for the Depravitas, that amazing disguise had one big drawback: they could not use any form of energy or spiritual power inside the Sky Shields, severely limiting their powers. If that was not bad enough, the physical damage done to the humanoid metallic bodies was translated into soul damage. When the Red King severed their arms and legs, he was severing pieces of their souls! Without the endless supply of Depravita Essence flooding Lovecraft City, it would have taken hundreds of years for the Depravitas to heal instead of just a few weeks. The strongest of the group and the one who managed to heal the fastest was a massive Depravita exuding an intense power and dread. His massive, muscular red body was adorned with intricate, ancient armor decorated with spikes and skulls that seemed fused into his flesh and muscles. The Depravita''s golden eyes glowed fiercely, radiating malevolence and pure, absolute, overwhelming wrath and rage¡ªthe core of his soul and existence. Dark energy swirled around his figure as he gazed at the other monsters in the hall, his wrath growing more potent as he saw the pitiful condition in which a single man had left them. Of course, this massive Depravita that seemed to embody the Concept of Rage was none other than Horus, the leader of the World Domination Force sent by the Depravita Race''s High Lord Xeno. "Only fifteen of us are left!" Horus clenched his fists with such strength that his massive claws pierced his skin, making him bleed. But the rage was so intense that he barely noticed the pain. Not just their low number infuriated the Depravita Wrath; he had surveyed the terrain over Atlas and saw how the Sacred Races'' forces had built Anti-Dark Fog Towers in every corner. The only place not under the radiance of those towers was the massive hole that led to Lovecraft City. In essence, they were trapped, besieged on all sides, and trying to turn the tables seemed like an impossible, fruitless mission. If they were to march out of Lovecraft City, their movements would be extremely limited as they could not move outside the Dark Fog, and the combined power of the top-tier warriors of the Sacred Races might cause the death of many. Horus could not help but turn to the Ancient Key, previously known as the Void King. He understood reinforcements were needed if he wanted any chance to control Aether, but he knew very well the consequences of doing that. The price that High Lord Xeno paid to send the forty-one Depravitas along with his original body into Aether was incredibly high, even for a Third Realm Life Form, and that should have been more than enough to dominate a Seed World in less than a year. If Horus were to communicate with High Lord Xeno to inform the Third Realm Depravita that not only had he failed to control Aether but that he needed help as the natives had pushed them into a corner, his life would be over. Just like Horus did not care about the rest of the Depravitas in Aether, seeing them only as tools, High Lord Xeno also saw Horus as a mere pawn in his games. Horus could feel his mind burning as he used every ounce of his strength and intellect to try and find a way out of this seemingly impossible predicament. No matter how dire the situation was, he refused to accept defeat. They would be overwhelmed if they marched out of Lovecraft City in Sky Shields with their current number, so he needed to find another way. Suddenly, Horus'' eyes widened as he looked into the distance, focusing his perception on the dimensional barrier that covered Lovecraft City. He felt hundreds of figures marching inside! Chapter 946 946: The Final Battle / Flames through Atlas sky While Horus was the first to detect them, it did not take long for the rest of the Depravitas in the hall and around the temple to feel the aura of the hundreds of warriors of the Sacred Races entering Lovecraft City. Horus''s shock was mirrored in their eyes as they could not believe what they were witnessing. It was not the fact that the warriors of the Sacred Races could enter that shocked them. After all, while the dimensional sphere that contained Lovecraft City was essentially impervious to outside attacks, it was connected to the main plane of reality, so entering it was simple for someone with a high mastery of the Law of Space, such as the Scarlet King. What truly astounded them was that the Scarlet King and Sacred Races would dare to invade Lovecraft City. This was the domain of the Depravita Race in Aether, a fortress full of billions of drones at their disposal, and flooded with Depravita Essence, a resource they could use to constantly regenerate. The Sacred Races had the home advantage outside, practically besieging the entire dimension and restricting the movement of the Depravitas. Yet they gave up all that and marched into a battlefield they were doomed to lose. No matter how you looked at it, it did not make sense. Horus knew all too well that the Scarlet King was not to be underestimated; if anything, he was one of the most cunning adversaries he had ever encountered. So, it was a chilling thought that he might enter the headquarters, where the Depravita Race would have the absolute advantage since it meant there was something he was not seeing. ''Wait! Could he?'' A sense of panic began to rise in Horus''s eyes as he remembered the destruction of Lovecraft City in Kronos. He had seen how the Scarlet King summoned the Time Tribulation to shatter the dimensional barrier but was not worried about such an event happening to his Lovecraft City. After all, Atlas'' Lovecraft City had undergone countless evolutions over the years, and the power of Law Tribulations could do nothing to it, even if hundreds of warriors would trigger it simultaneously. The tribulation''s power would simply spread across the entire dimension barrier and lack the strength to do real damage. However, Horus knew there was one type of tribulation that might be powerful enough to break the dimension barrier, and if someone could do that, it would be the Scarlet King. "YOU DARE!" Horus roared in hatred and anger as he marched out of the dark temple like a bloodthirsty meteorite, and the rest of the Depravitas soon followed him. It did not take long for the fifteen Depravitas to gaze at the hundreds of Sacred Races warriors with their own eyes. At the head of them was a young man, his entire body radiating power and vitality. Cain saw Horus and the rest of the Depravitas marching toward him, and a cold smile appeared on his face as his three eyes began to glow with a red glow, each emanating a radiance that shed a crimson light across the entire dimension! "Noooo!" Horus''s voice, filled with a mix of fear and desperation, echoed through the air as he saw those red eyes burning with willpower, ready to explode. He knew perfectly well what they would trigger, and the realization only deepened his fear. Unfortunately, no matter how much he wanted to stop it, he could not. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" A thunderous explosion echoed across Lovecraft City so powerful that it made the ears of all inside ring. Its origin came from the sky above the dimensional sphere, where a gargantuan, swirling, tempestuous storm of fire, with flames that shifted through a spectrum of colors, each hue representing a different facet of psychic energy, spread for 9 kilometers. However, that was just the first layer. The next second, a second layer of multicolored flames 81 kilometers wide emerged, followed by a third layer 729 kilometers wide! Horus''s march froze as he heard that explosion. He gazed at the ceiling of the dimension, his vision piercing through the dimensional barrier and focusing on the sky with a sense of shock and disbelief. "Impossible! How can the third layer be so massive?" The more powerful your willpower, the more potent the Ego Destruction Tribulation would become. For those with a soul force at the Divine Ascension Realm, it could trigger a Nine Heaven Ego Destruction Tribulation. However, that tribulation would generate nine layers, with the first being 9 kilometers, the second 18 kilometers, the third 27 kilometers, and so on, until a final 81-kilometer layer appeared. Horus had never heard of an Ego Destruction Tribulation like the one unfolding above Atlas right now. Instead of doubling in size, it was growing exponentially, and he could not help but freeze in sheer terror as he saw how the fourth layer was six thousand five hundred and sixty-one kilometers wide! The Depravita feared that the Scarlet King would trigger a Nine Heaven Ego Destruction Tribulation, but what was happening was so much worse. Finally, the ninth and last layer appeared, extending for three hundred eighty-seven million, four hundred twenty thousand, four hundred eighty-nine kilometers! The multicolored storm of fire, composed of nine layers of pure psychic energy, was so majestic and immense that it practically covered the entire sky of the Atlas Continent! All the Depravitas gazed at the sky of the Atlas Continent, not only Horus, and the terror and dread in their souls were unimaginable. They were entities born of emotions and psychic energy, so a tribulation meant to destroy those aspects of existence was terrifying beyond belief. The warriors of the Sacred Races also detected that tribulation, but unlike the Depravitas, their eyes were full of awe and wonder. As they turned to the young man in front of them, smiles full of thrill appeared on their faces. Determination and devotion rose in their hearts as they knew he would lead them to victory! Chapter 947 947: The Final Battle / Stars of Doomsday Cain''s eyes glowed with more and more power as if responding to the storm in the sky. To tell the truth, he was just as surprised as Horus to see that the type of Ego Destruction Tribulation he would trigger would be of such magnitude to cover the entire continent and whose power seemed to evoke the highest level of Aether. He had been suppressing the Nine Ego Destruction Tribulation for over a year now, and he knew that it would rise to the next level after the enhancement to his Ego Wave, but this was simply too much, making him think something else was involved. Of course, Cain did not show any of that on his face, as there was no room for doubt at a moment like this. His eyes were full of resolution and confidence, increasing the fear in the Depravitas while filling the souls of his warriors with courage and determination. ''The more powerful, the better!'' Cain''s killing intent exploded, throwing everything else to the back of his mind as he raised his right palm before clenching his fist. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!" As if responding to Cain''s fists, the massive storm of fire that covered the sky of Atlas exploded with power again, the force of all nine layers fusing into a flaming tornado that dived down from the sky, coursing through the massive hole in the ground, and crashing into the dimension sphere! "RUMBLE!" "CRACK!" The entire Lovecraft City began to tremble, and cracks began to form as waves of fire covered every inch of the dimensional barrier, trying to get in and kill everything inside! "THUUUMMMMMM!" Immediately, the power of the tribulation affected the interior of the dimension as a psychic wave managed to pierce through the cracks. It did nothing to the warriors of the Sacred Races, but it made the minds of the Depravitas tremble. Although painful, the psychic wave was far from enough to harm the Depravitas. Still, they were not the only aliens inside the dimension, and the next second, billions of drones from the Insect Army that flooded the underwater city perished. All the drones beneath the Divine Ascension Realm died in a second due to the psychic wave. Their hearts and internal organs, and even life force, were intact, but their minds and spirits were destroyed. Panic and horror appeared in Horus''s eyes as he saw the death of thousands of drones, drastically reducing their battle power. However, he did not have time to worry about that as the cracks began to expand at a shocking speed in the dimensional barrier, and it was only a matter of minutes before it shattered. Just as the terror in his heart was about to break him, Horus''s rage exploded, allowing his mind to regain focus as he roared with all his power. "We are the World Domination Force. We are the ones that dominate these ants. We are the ones barging into their homes, not the other way around!" Horus''s words seemed to awaken the rest of the Depravitas from their stupor, injecting them with the same hatred and rage that overflowed from the soul of the red Depravita. A fierce and bloodthirsty smile appeared on Horus''s face, and a bloody sword appeared in his hand, which he pointed toward the Scarlet King. "Killing that insect will stop the tribulation. After that, these ants will be nothing more than fishes in a bucket, ready for us to catch and devour!" The rage in the hearts of the Depravitas grew even stronger as Horus''s words gave them a purpose and path to victory. If they killed Cain, the fiery storm that engulfed the dimensional barrier would fade, and then they would have no problem killing the rest of the warriors of the Sacred Races. Immediately, their bodies began to burn as they consumed their vitality to increase their power and enhance the strength of their Concepts. Cain could feel the bloodlust in the Depravitas, along with their burning determination, all directed at him, but the only thing that arose in him was a cold smile as the Fallen Archangel Battle Set emerged. His hand tightened around the Spear of Doom as Fallen Aura burst through his body. "This is the last fight. We will dominate Aether''s soul and rise to the stars as the masters of our destinies!" Cain''s voice echoed across the dimension as he pointed his spear at Horus. "Stars of Doomsday, burn your life and souls!" The eyes of the six emperors of the Sacred Races, along with Angar, Zero Mint, General Casidius, Diamond Saint Duke, Bloodless #1, Lord Kabuto, and Lord Zanguinis, all glowed with a red light as they ignited their life force and souls, allowing their power to rise to an incredible level! Cain smiled radiantly toward Horus as he demonstrated that his most powerful warriors were willing to burn their souls in his name, something the Depravitas did not dare to embark on, even as death loomed over them. Neither the Scarlet King nor Horus had made a move, yet the first battle had already happened. It displayed the determination and willpower of their armies, and it was clear that the winner was the master of Aether. "Kill all of them!" Horus shouted, his rage already overcoming his reason, guiding the Depravitas and thousands of drones into the final battle. His aura burst as the Concept of Rage granted him immense power. "Let them burn!" Cain''s voice was cold. His mind showed a state of pure focus as he marched forward, followed by hundreds of the strongest masters of Aether. All of them showed fanatic determination, ready to fight to the death. The warriors of Aether and the entities of the Depravita Race marched toward each other, both sides with a single and absolute goal: to kill and burn everything that their enemy represented and embodied. There was no room for mercy, doubt, or hesitation, as only one side would remain when this battle was over. Chapter 948 948: The Final Battle / All-Out Showdown All the warriors from the Sacred Races and the aliens from the Depravita Race marched forward with maniacal bloodlust and killing intent. The leaders of both sides unleashed the greatest power and, being the first to clash. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Cain''s life force burned as the Spear of Doom clashed with Horus'' sword, unleashing a massive explosion of Fallen Aura and Depravita Aura in all directions! The Scarlet King''s eyes widened at the immense power behind the Depravita of Rage''s sword. His own physical might was enough to shatter meteors, yet Horus not only matched him but, in some moments, seemed to surpass his strength. However, Cain was not the only one taken aback. Horus was equally astonished by the young man''s strength, able to clash directly with him. As a Depravita of Rage, Horus'' physical might increase the angrier he became, and right now, his rage practically consumed his soul, pushing him to the pinnacle of his power. While Cain''s battle style and power could not compare with that of the entity that had massacred them, he was impressively close, further fueling Horus''s hatred. The more powerful and exceptional Cain revealed himself to be, the more intense Horus''s rage burned. The clash between spear and sword ended in a stalemate, the immense power in their weapons forcing both combatants back hundreds of meters. But within a fraction of a second, the Scarlet King and Horus''s energies exploded again, their auras flaring with renewed ferocity as they prepared for the next strike. "Inferno of Wrath!" Horus channeled his rage into a fiery aura that engulfed his body and sword, and he raised his sword to hack down with near-cataclysmic power! "Wrath of the Nine Hells!" Cain did not falter or move back as he saw that sword. His spear glowed with the might of nine fires that burned with the intensity of the sun''s surface as he struck forward with the Spear of Doom! "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" An explosion that could have set ablaze the surface of Atlas triggered the moment the spear and sword clashed. The Scarlet King and the Depravita of Rage unleashed their most potent attacks, creating a dark red tornado of energy around them. Just the shockwaves of the blast managed to send warriors of the Sacred Races and aliens of the Depravita Race flying away! "BOOOOOOMMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOMMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOMMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOMMMMMM!" Explosion after explosion echoed inside the dark red tornado of energy as the Scarlet King''s spear and the Depravita of Rage''s sword clashed repeatedly. Not even the 13 Stars of Doom or the Depravitas dared cross into the dark red tornado, as the shock waves and energy blasts unleashed by the Scarlet King and Horus were too monstrous. Although they could resist it if they gave it their all, the warriors and aliens knew the only thing they would add to their leader would be a burden, making it easier for the other side to attack from behind. Instead, the 13 Stars of Doom turned their eyes to the fourteen Depravitas. Although the warriors of the Sacred Races had fought the Depravitas before during the Anti-Dark Tower mission and defeated them, that was when the Sky Shield limited their power. Now, the Depravitas were displaying their true bodies and could use their Concepts, raising their power to the next level and granting access to all sorts of terrifying and majestic abilities. If the 13 Stars of Doom of the Sacred Races were to clash with the Depravitas head-on, they would be defeated even as they burned their life force and souls. Luckily they were not alone, and each was accompanied by twenty True Titans and True Gods armed to the teeth with Sacred Treasures! The Collapsing Lightning Emperor, Zero Mint, and Angar Aegon stood together, the trio facing the Depravitas with the most powerful auras. Such auras had manifested outside Lovecraft City as Grand Humanoids of Dark Sky! The three grand Depravitas exuded a power that seemed to suffocate everything around them, and their Concepts were so clear that just watching them revealed it. One of them resembled a pestilent corpse, full of rotten skin and blood, everything around him decomposing, even the fabric of space. The other resembled a mutated and oversized demonic pig, his belly so massive that it occupied over half of his body, a perpetual sense of hunger emanating from every cell. The last one''s aura was the strongest of all. His massive, towering dark figure resembled an archaic demon. His face was ancient, and his eyes glowed with lightning arcs that gave the feeling that everything should succumb to them, an arrogance of immense power. Angar had performed his True Bone Calamity when Cain was in a coma, and now all three had performed two of their True Calamities. Still, the trio felt their instincts screaming in danger and knew they might die in this fight. However, their eyes burned with red light as they were ready to make the ultimate sacrifice if that was what it took to kill the monsters. Zero Mint focused on the Depravita of Pride, Angar on the Depravita of Pestilence, and the Collapsing Lightning Emperor on the Depravita of Gluttony. Neither side showed the slightest hesitation as they marched forward, full of killing intent. Zero Mint''s sword clashed with the lightning force field emanating from the Depravita of Pride; Angar and the Depravita of Pestilence moved like streams of lethal darkness and poisonous mist, and the Collapsing Lightning Emperor''s gravitational punch clashed with the devouring palm of the Depravita of Gluttony. The Depravitas almost immediately overpowered the three warriors of the Sacred Race. At that point, the sixty True Titans and True Gods came into play, attacking from the sidelines and bombarding the aliens with a barrage of attacks. It was not just their fight that started as the other nine Stars of Doom clashed with the rest of the Depravitas, each accompanied by a squad of True Titans and True Gods. As for the other hundreds of Late and Peak Divine Ascension Masters, they battled like madmen against the tens of thousands of drones of the Insect Army, constructing a formation around the battlefield to ensure those things would not affect the Stars of Doom. Chapter 949 949: The Final Battle / Decisive move In less than thirty seconds, the entire Lovecraft City, which matched nearly one-tenth of the Atlas Continent''s landmass, was flooded with destructive and raging energy. The radiation within would melt the body of anyone beneath the Divine Ascension Realm! The Stars of Doom burned their soul force and life force without restraint; each passing second consumed a small percentage of it. In the half-minute they had been battling, they had already burned around fifteen percent. Fortunately, their Pseudo-Immortal Bodies allowed them to fight without weakness, but this would not last long. However, even with that sense of doom over their heads, the eyes of all those warriors burned with a majestic red light, the same one that courses through the eyes of the Scarlet King. They displayed a sense of unity that went beyond race, a sole purpose that flooded their souls. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor, Zero Mint, and Angar underwent the most critical battle of their lives. Their eyes burned with a mix of determination and zeal. They were ready to lay down their lives to protect their homes, and their unwavering willpower was reflected in their fierce gazes. Meanwhile, the Depravitas were also enduring severe wounds from the relentless barrage of strikes from the Sacred Races. Most of them had yet to fully heal from their battle against the Red King, and every new wound forced them to consume their energy reserves. Usually, Lovecraft City would supply them with all the Depravita Aura they needed to regenerate endlessly. However, the dimension was now using every ounce of energy to reinforce its walls, stopping the sea of fire from flooding inside and killing everything that was not part of Aether. The clash between the Stars of Doom and the Depravitas and the clash of the warriors of the Sacred Races against the drones of the Insect Army created a chaotic tableau. Blood and spells painted the air, forming a vivid and intense scene of mythical proportions. However, no matter how majestic and powerful it was, the mightiest of all, the true core of this final clash, was inside the tornado of red-dark energy where the mightiest life forms of both sides clashed with maniacal killing intent. "ZNNNNNN!" The sound of a sword severing space-time echoed inside the dark red tornado as Horus slashed Cain''s chest, leaving a deep and bloody wound in the young man''s body. Cain clenched his teeth as he used his energy to regenerate his flesh and armor before slashing with his spear, cutting a piece of Horus'' face. But just like him, the Depravita healed the next second using his energy. Cain''s Laws and The Flow enhanced every move he made, countering the abilities of the Concept of Rage from the Depravita. Their clash seemed like a simple martial contest when in reality supernatural powers of the highest caliber were displayed every second. The Depravita of Rage and the Scarlet King abandoned all pretense of defense, launching relentless attacks with a ferocity that bordered on madness. Their energy and regeneration abilities were being pushed to the limit. The clash was a display of raw power and determination, each blow resonating with the desire to kill in their hearts. However, even as they were butchering each other, away from the rest of the battlefield by the vacuum generated by their formidable power, the Scarlet King and Horus still kept a small part of their consciousness on the state of the dimensional barrier. More and more cracks were forming around it, and it was only a matter of time before they shattered, marking the end of the Lovecraft City. Yet, it was also only a matter of time before the Stars of Doomsday consumed their soul force, and the Depravitas killed the army of the Sacred Races that entered the dimension. Horus and the Scarlet King knew their victory''s impact on the battlefield, essentially turning the table to their side''s victory, which was why they were so eager to land the perfect blow. It seemed that the one who found it first was the Depravita of Rage. Horus managed to dodge the Spear of Doom, moving his body to the side at the perfect angle before setting his sword ablaze and waving it down with all his power. "Inferno of Wrath!" Cain''s eyes widened, seemingly stunned by the attack and incapable of responding to it. He only managed to gather his Fallen Aura around his body in the last second, triggering his defensive ability. "Aegis of the Fallen!" The barrier of dark energy weakened the blow, but the sword still nearly bisected the Scarlet King''s body, sending him flying away from the red-dark tornado of energy. All the life forms on the battlefield couldn''t help but glance at the tornado as they saw the figure of the Scarlet King being blasted away, a large cut emerging from his right elbow to his waist, shocking the warriors of the Sacred Races and making the Depravitas smile. Horus'' smile was the widest as he felt the strength of that blow and knew that even if Cain could heal, his energy pool would be drained. However, just as he thought victory was on his side, his face froze as he realized the direction in which Cain had been thrown away. "You bastard!" The Depravita of Rage roared, his soul burning in hatred and wrath as he flashed after Cain like a maniacal beast, confusing everybody. On the other hand, Cain only smiled, his face pale due to the injury, but it was inconsequential as the attack had sent him to the dark temple in the center of the dimension. Immediately, he gathered the little amount of energy he had left before aiming at the weapon at the weakest point of the temple, its peak. "Wrath of the Nine Hells!" The Scarlet King roared as he dived down with the spear, shattering the ceiling and reaching the main hall before Horus could reach him. His eyes immediately went to the Ancient Key! Chapter 950 950: The Final Battle / Broodmother "DON''T DO IT!" Horus shouted in rage and hatred as he flashed toward the dark temple, terror emerging in his heart as he contemplated Cain''s next move. The Scarlet King only smiled as he glanced at the mutated body of the Void King, now an artifact of the Depravita Race. He couldn''t care less about the suffering of the Dark King, and his eyes glowed with desire and killing intent as he flashed forward and stretched his hand toward the Ancient Key. As soon as Cain got near the Ancient Key, it emanated a monstrous psychic force and energy barrier, but he burned what little was left of his life force and pierced all of them, finally placing his hand over the mutated body. No dimensional storage in Aether could hold an Ancient Key for more than a few seconds, but Cain had one in his soul that had already proved worthy of the challenge. The next second, the Void King vanished, appearing inside the [Grand Demonic Devourer Dimension], next to the Blood God. Cain''s eyes widened the next second as the amount of corrupted energy emanating from the Void King was gargantuan, so powerful that it made the [Grand Demonic Devourer Dimension] tremble, shaking his mind and soul despite the enhancements these two had obtained over the last year. Luckily, the [Empty Seven Deadly Flames] immediately began to consume the dark radiation, flooding every corner of Cain''s body, energy pool, and soul with Darkmist Force, making his strength and life force explode with power! It was only a matter of seconds before the [Empty Seven Deadly Flames] took care of the initial outburst of corrupting energy from the Void King, allowing the [Grand Demonic Devourer Dimension] to stabilize. In the meantime, Cain couldn''t help but smile as every wound on his body faded, and his life force was restored. Horus'' entire body froze, his heart trembling with terror as he saw how Cain had taken the Ancient Key. The next second, his body and life force burst with power as if all the damage he had taken during their fight was insignificant. The despair rising in Horus''s soul only heightened his rage, and he focused on the base of the dark temple before shouting like a madman, "Broodmother, devour him!" Cain''s soul and mind were still trembling from the rumbling of his [Grand Demonic Devourer Dimension] when he heard Horus'' enraged shout, only to feel how the entire dark temple began to tremble. "BOOOMMMMM!" Shock appeared in Cain''s eyes as he saw a massive demonic maw shattering the ground beneath his feet. His mind and soul were still trembling, so he could not dodge it, and the only thing his limited focus could do was channel his Fallen Aura. "Aegis of the Fallen!" Cain shouted as he used all the energy he could muster to trigger the ability, generating a dark energy barrier around his body just as the maw closed on him! The warriors of the Sacred Races had been ecstatic just a second ago when they saw how Horus frantically chased after the Scarlet King, only for this one to take the energy core of Lovecraft City. However, their faces froze the next second as they saw that gargantuan beast break through the dark temple and devour Cain! The Broodmother was massive and grotesque. Its dark, segmented body was covered in chitinous armor plates, and multiple clawed legs emerged from its abdomen. The creature had leathery wings and dragon-like horns on its head, making it a draconic-insect hybrid. It was more than ten thousand meters long, its body lined with rows of pulsating egg sacs that gave the same aura as the drones from the Insect Army. Clearly, this gargantuan monster was the origin of the drones that had spread across Atlas for years as a never-ending wave. After devouring Cain, the Broodmother turned toward the warriors of the Sacred Races, its maw exuding a disgusting liquid as if it was ready for a feast. Yet before it could even take a step forward, terror appeared on its face. Horus''s eyes glowed with a flash of hope for a second after seeing the Broodmother consume Cain. Nevertheless, as he saw the fear and terror emerging in the eyes of the insect-dragon hybrid, he knew something terrible would happen. "BOOOOMMMMM!" As if proving Horus''s dread right, an explosion echoed from inside the Broodmother, causing the monster to puke a sea of green blood, and it was just the start! "BOOOOMMMMM!" "BOOOOMMMMM!" "BOOOOMMMMM!" "BOOOOMMMMM!" Explosion after explosion echoed from inside the Broodmother''s body, making the creature twist in pain while more and more blood emerged from its maw. "WRATH OF THE NINE HELLS!" Cain''s voice emerged from inside the Broodmother, only for the head of the insect monster to explode the next second as a flaming figure destroyed it from within! The Scarlet King stood in the sky of Lovecraft City with a smile on his face. His multicolored flames incinerated the blood and guts of the Broodmother, and his aura and life force were as radiant as the sun, getting stronger by the second! While the leader of the Sacred Races stood there like a sun god, the broken body of the Broodmother fell to the ground, the gargantuan ten thousand meters long beast dead. That death had a cataclysmic effect on the battlefield since the next second the thousands of drones trembled, and any sense of rationality in their mind faded as they began to attack everything in their sight, including themselves! Horus glanced at the madness among the drones, the terror and panic in his eyes growing more and more powerful, only for this to reach its peak as he heard the sound of glass breaking. "CRACK!!!" Due to Lovecraft City losing its energy core, the Ancient Key, it could no longer enhance the dimension barrier, making the cracks in it grow so massive that waves of tribulation fire flooded through them, incinerating everything in their path! Chapter 951 951: The Final Fight / 4 billions of Destiny Force Horus and the rest of the Depravitas could only watch in horror as the power of the Ego Destruction Tribulation pierced the dimensional barrier and began to incinerate Lovecraft City. It was only a matter of time before their headquarters were completely burned to ashes, and their drones butchered each other like maddened creatures after the death of the Broodmother, making them useless. There was nowhere to escape, as the Ancient Key had been taken by Cain. Now, their most precious artifact was fueling the young man''s body and life force, pushing his power to an unprecedented level. All their paths were severed, and the only thing that awaited the Depravitas was a cruel and painful death under the fire of Aether''s Ego Destruction Tribulation. "KILL THEM ALL!" Amid the aura of despair that flooded the aliens'' souls and hearts, Horus'' raging voice echoed. The Depravita of Rage turned to the others, his eyes lacking any form of rationality, consumed by wrath. "If we are going to die, then let''s take them with us!" Horus'' rage once again flooded through the Depravitas'' souls and minds as they turned to the warriors of the Sacred Races, especially the 13 Stars of Doomsday. No matter how good they fight, they would die under the tribulation flames in minutes, so why not take the geniuses with shining destinies with them? The Collapsing Lightning Emperor, Angar, Zero, and the rest of the Stars of Doomsday adopted solemn expressions as they felt the gazes of the Depravitas. Now that they had nothing to lose, those aliens would attack with suicidal madness, generating crushing pressure on them. To make things worse, they had already consumed more than fifty percent of their soul force and life force, making it hard to keep fighting. The fact that they had not fallen into a deep coma due to their soul wounds was surprising enough, and their chances of surviving the next encounter were small. "Hahahahaha!" Just as a solemn aura flooded the warriors of the Sacred Races, a burst of laughter echoed across the underwater city, coming from none other than the Scarlet King. Cain''s laughter lasted a few seconds before turning toward Horus with a cold smile. "And why would I allow you to kill my people?" "You think you can save them!?" Horus'' eyes burned as he shouted at Cain. He did not give himself the illusion that he could kill the young man, especially now that this one managed to restore his life force. Still, he was sure he could stop the Scarlet King from interfering with their fight. Cain''s cold smile widened as he stared at Horus and raised his hands before speaking in a voice full of absolute confidence. "I know I can!" As soon as Cain''s voice faded, a flame with 25 colors emerged from his right hand, shining over the entire underwater city with might and power that seemed to reach the limits of Aether. Horus'' eyes widened as he saw that. As a member of a higher realm, he knew the wonders of Tribulation Enhancement and recognized that flame as a 25 Revolution Flame! Before the Depravita could even utter a word, the flames flashed on their own toward the Collapsing Lightning Emperor, flooding the man''s body inside and out, triggering the infusion of a gargantuan ocean of world energy! The Depravitas watched in shock as the world energy flawlessly coursed through the Collapsing Lightning Emperor''s body and soul, acting on its own, without the need of any guidance, healing the man''s fleshly body and spirit while making him even stronger! That sight was already shocking enough, but what happened next froze the minds of the Depravitas. A second 25 Revolution Refinement Flame emerged from the Scarlet King''s hand, flashing to the highest master of the dark camp, Zero Mint. Next came a third, then a fourth, and it was not long before every single one of the 13 Stars of Doomsday was covered in a flame with 25 colors, and an ocean of world energy flooded into their bodies and souls, repairing all the damage they had taken during this clash! Cain focused on the 13 Stars of Doomsday, his smile growing kind as he saw how all those warriors who had burned their souls in his name were now healing and growing stronger. It cost the Scarlet King over 4 billions of Destiny Force to perform those thirteen 25 Revolution Refinements. While he had gained a massive amount after uniting all races, it still consumed over 90% of what he had amassed these past few years, but it was worth it! Cain''s kind smile did not last long as he turned toward Horus, and his energy exploded as he raised his spear. "Time to end you." Horus could not control his body, his heart racing faster and faster as he found himself on a path of absolute defeat. There was nothing he could do to change things. Everything he had fought and schemed for thousands of years would be destroyed, all due to a single person. "Ahhh, you think you have won! You think you have saved this world! You might have defeated us, but your own kind will hunt you down!" The Depravita of Rage turned toward Cain as he shouted like a maddened beast. "When the Nine Empyrean Suns see what you have done, see the abomination this world has become, they will burn everything, including you and everybody you have ever loved. You will die like a dog, begging for mercy!" Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard the maddened shout from Horus. The Nine Empyrean Suns were supposed to be the universe beyond the Crystal Walls, and according to the Depravita of Rage, they would loathe Aether. It was clear to the Scarlet King that the Depravita of Rage had information he did not. However, his eyes glowed with resolve the next second. "There is no point in listening to you. Now, be a good alien and die!" Chapter 952 952: The Final Fight / Horus fall Cain, fueled by the Darkmist Force, surged with power. His body''s strength elevated to new heights. His vitality, pushed to the brink just a few minutes ago, regenerated instantly. Like a meteor, he streaked forward, the Spear of Doom radiating like a dark sun, its nine flames scorching the air. "Wrath of the Nine Hells!" Cain''s voice echoed across the underwater city as he drove the spear toward the Depravita of Rage, his body transforming into a fiery typhoon. "All this is your fault!" Horus roared in hatred and rage as his entire body began to rotate, creating a tornado of rage-fueled energy around his body that dove toward the fiery typhoon. "Enraged Cyclone!" "BOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" A colossal explosion erupted as the fiery typhoon and the enraged cyclone collided, the Scarlet King and Depravita of Rage transforming into natural disasters as they battled. Their forms streaked through Lovecraft City, obliterating all the buildings in their path. Even in that rageful clash, the duo made sure to keep their distance from the tribulation fire that had already consumed the underwater city''s periphery and was reading in. "?BOOOOMMMM!" "?BOOOOMMMM!" "?BOOOOMMMM!" "?BOOOOMMMM!" Fiery explosions echoed as the duo clashed, but it was not long before one emerged victorious. The fiery tornado broke through the enraged cyclone, the Spear of Doom piercing the chest of the Depravita of Rage and sending him hurtling away. Cain had managed to overpower Horus during this clash. At the beginning of the fight, they had been equals, but now the Depravita of Rage was riddled with wounds, while the Darkmist Force was constantly improving the Scarlet King''s body and life force. A cold light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he saw Horus hurtling through the underwater city, shattering one building after another in his path. It was a perfect time to chase after the Depravita of Rage and unleash an onslaught, but his focus could not help but deviate to the flames breaking into Lovecraft City and consuming everything in their path. "If I don''t act now, they will be incinerated by the tribulation fire." Cain''s willpower emerged the next second, the red force field spreading through every inch of the underwater city. Of course, he was careful not to come into contact with the tribulation fire. Horus regained control just in time to see the red force field spreading in all directions, confusion appearing on his face as he turned toward Cain. The size of the Ego Wave was monstrous, but its power was far from enough to influence this type of battlefield, so he did not understand what the Scarlet King was after. The Scarlet King''s eyes glowed, and the next second, the corpse of the Broodmother, along with the billions of drones of the Insect Army in the underwater city, vanished. He transformed all of them into the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer. Horus could not help but frown as he did not understand why Cain wanted those corpses. However, his entire body began to tremble the next second as he realized something. The fact that the Scarlet King would deviate from the battle and focus on this task meant that he already saw this fight as over! "An ant that is not even one hundred years old dares to look down on me!" Horus shouted as rage turned into flames, a fiery aura engulfing his body as he charged toward the Scarlet King with blinding speed and immense force. Cain saw Horus''s rageful charge but showed nothing on his face. He simply raised his spear as the glow of The Flow coursed through his eyes. Horus, consumed by rage, charged at Cain with blinding speed and immense force. His attacks, a relentless barrage of punches, kicks, and weapon strikes, were fueled by his fury and Depravita Aura. The Concept of Rage amplified the power of each consecutive attack, making the furious flurry more and more potent. Yet, despite the Depravita of Rage unleashing a flurry that could overwhelm even the most resilient defenses, Cain remained impervious, dodging or blocking every single strike. The golden light of The Flow glowed with increasing power in Cain''s eyes as he faced that barrage. Suddenly, their power peaked as he saw Horus'' sword coming for his neck. The Spear of Doom''s power and energy exploded as it slashed with all its power in a single arc. Shock appeared on Horus'' face as he saw how the Spear of Doom severed his right arm just as the flaming sword was ready to reach Cain''s neck. However, even in that shock and surprise, the rage in the Depravita allowed him to carry on, immediately grabbing the sword with his left hand and continuing the attack. Cain''s eyes glowed like radiant suns as the Spear of Doom continued moving, not losing momentum and generating a full circle that severed Horus'' left arm! The Depravita of Rage''s right and left arms were severed with a single motion of the spear, but his hatred did not rest, and he grabbed the sword with his mouth like a beast before swinging toward the top of the Scarlet King''s skull. Cain saw the sword coming at him and took a single step forward, dodging the blow before the Spear of Doom flashed up, piercing through the base of Horus'' jaw, rising all the way to the brain, and emerging on the top of the skull! "Die!" The eyes of the Scarlet King burst with killing intent at that moment, allowing his rage to exert itself freely before the Spear of Doom burst with fire, blasting the head of the Depravita of Rage to pieces! Horus'' headless body quivered, his soul futilely attempting to use his energy to reforge his head, but there was not enough Depravita Aura. The Depravita''s soul began to disperse without a suitable dimension, and his body, devoid of life force, lay still. The Depravita of Rage, the monster that had schemed for thousands of years and sought to enslave all of Aether, was dead! Chapter 953 953: The Final Fight / The end of the grand Depravitas Silence reigned across the battlefield as the warriors of both sides paused their fight and turned to witness the majestic spectacle of the final clash between Horus and the Scarlet King. A sense of awe and absolute thrill appeared in the eyes of the warriors of the Sacred Races, and they couldn''t help but smile as they saw Cain''s spear pierce Horus'' head and burst it into pieces. On the other hand, the Depravitas were filled with shock, horror, and despair. The aliens intended to fight to the death and take the people of this cursed world with them, but now their strongest had perished, leaving no one to restrain the monster that was the Scarlet King! Cain could feel all those eyes focused on him, but he did not distract himself from Horus'' corpse, thoroughly scanning it with his Ego Wave and [Multidimensional Scan Force Field] to ensure there was no trace of Horus'' soul. Once the Scarlet King ensured that, he used his energy to seal the soulless corpse. Even if there was no spirit left, the body of the Depravita was dangerous, so Cain made sure to form a flawless cocoon around it before sending it to the [Samsara Arsenal Module] ''s First Layer. ''It is over.'' Cain couldn''t help but smile and breathe a sigh of relief as he knew victory was already his. He had killed the only Depravita that could face him in a fight and taken the Ancient Key, severing the connection between Aether and the Depravita Race''s home realm. Of course, Cain knew the war was not really over, at least not entirely. His smile faded, replaced by coldness, as he turned his eyes to the rest of the Depravitas that were still alive. Thanks to the Tribulation Enhancement, the 13 Stars of Doom completely suppressed the Depravitas during this last clash, leaving them with deep and severe wounds, but they had yet to kill any of them. The Depravita of Pride''s eyes widened as he saw how the Scarlet King vanished, only for the man to appear behind him the next second. A sense of utter and absolute terror invaded the alien''s heart, but before he could turn to face the monster, he noticed a flaming sword hacking toward him with immense power. Zero Mint''s battle awareness was as sharp as it could get, and the moment he saw the Depravita of Pride losing focus, he attacked with all his power, channeling every ounce of energy he had into his sword. "Dammit!" The archaic ancient alien shouted in rage, breaking any fac?ade of might and sovereignty, as he generated an electric force field that froze the path of the flaming sword. The electric force field managed to freeze the sword''s path, but the Depravita of Pride''s arm trembled as the power behind the weapon was formidable. He did not have time to even breathe as the Scarlet King''s Spear of Doom flashed toward him. The Depravita of Pride immediately used his left hand to form another force field in the Spear of Doom''s path, freezing this one''s drive. A flash of surprise appeared on the Scarlet King''s face as he saw that the Depravita of Pride was capable of stopping his attack. However, his eyes glowed the next second, and nine flames covered the Spear of Doom, exponentially increasing its penetrative power. "CRACK!" The sound of glass breaking echoed as the electric force field shattered under the power of the Spear of Doom, this one driving forward and piercing the chest of the Depravita of Pride, destroying the heart and internal organs. The Depravita of Pride''s eyes trembled as he felt the destruction of his internal organs was so massive his energy would not be enough to regenerate them. Things only grew worse as the wound made it impossible to keep resisting the flaming sword. Zero showed a vicious smile as he drove his sword forward, cutting the neck of the Depravita of Pride, severing the head from the rest of the body. Cain took out the Spear of Doom from the Depravita''s chest and pierced the head the next second, destroying it and forcing the soul to dissipate. Although trapping them alive would have been the best scenario, Cain lacked the ability to fully seal life forms like this true Depravita that were made purely out of psychic energy and negative emotion. Not to mention that Aether loathed them and would trigger a response if they left the dimension, so it was better to just kill them. Cain did not waste time, immediately sealing the soulless body of the Depravita of Pride and sending this one into the [Samsara Arsenal Module] ''s First Layer along with that of Horus. He then turned his eyes to the Depravita, which seemed like a small mountain of meat. Terror flooded the Depravita of Gluttony''s heart as he felt the cold eyes of the Scarlet King. That lack of focus was all the Collapsing Lightning Emperor needed to appear in front of the alien and release a punch that carried all his strength and gravitational force. "BOOOOMMMM!" The Depravita of Gluttony was hurtled through the underwater city by that punch, but not for long, as the Scarlet King appeared in his path the next second and hacked with the Spear of Doom. The alien that resembled a mountain of meat was split into two pieces before wisps of multicolored fire destroyed both pieces of his head. After sealing the soulless corpse of the Depravita of Gluttony, Cain turned his eyes to the last of the grand Depravitas still alive. The Depravita of Pestilence froze under that gaze, a grave mistake since the following second, two daggers pierced his head. Angar showed a fierce and cold smile as his Deathbringer Runes glowed, shattering the interior of the Depravita of Pestilence''s skull, only for the Spear of Doom to pierce the heart the next second, destroying the life force and dissipating the soul of the alien. Chapter 954 954: The Final Fight / The End After destroying the head of the Depravita of Pestilence, ensuring the dissipation of his soul, and sealing his body, Cain turned his eyes to the rest of the Depravitas in the underwater city. His eyes were cold and merciless as he flashed forward, the Spear of Doom dashing like a shooting star, claiming one life after another. The warriors of the Sacred Races watched in awe and wonder as the Scarlet King attacked, his power like nothing they had ever seen, easily destroying any form of defense that the Depravitas put in place, showcasing just how high his power was. None of those Depravitas were able to offer any form of resistance. One by one, the Spear of Doom destroyed the aliens'' soul dimensions, and their souls dissipated, only for their bodies to be sent away by the Scarlet King. As for the drones of the Insect Army, after the death of the Broodmother and the ensuing mayhem, they were not even a threat. Each of them perished as well, vanishing under the power of the Scarlet King. Once the last drone faded from the underwater city, silence echoed as the warriors of the Sacred Races looked at each other with shock and disbelief. This was it¡ªall their enemies, all the aliens that had invaded Aether and threatened to engulf the world, were gone, erased under their might. They had won! "We did it!" The one who shouted at the top of his lungs, emanating an aura of pure bliss and jubilation, was the Dark King, the leader of the Inferno Daemon Race. Along with his bliss, the man could not help but shed tears full of pain and sadness. All the warriors could see that, but none judged the man. If anything, they could also feel the pain in those tears. While the Depravita Race had threatened the entire world, it was Atlas, the home of the Inferno Daemon Race, that they decimated, killing over two-thirds of the population. While the Inferno Daemon Race had bounced back with the rise of extreme masters like Zero Mint and the growth of over a hundred Divine Ascension Masters, at the beginning of the war against Dark Sky, they were a race in danger of extinction, so the reaction of the man was more than understandable. All the warriors were brimming with happiness and joy. They had defeated the alien race and become the true masters of the world, and soon their eyes turned to the one who made it all possible. The Scarlet King stood silent with his armor and spear. Not only was the power of the young man higher than the heavens, but he was able to make everyone around him grow stronger, breaking the barrier that had limited Aether''s cultivation and allowing the growth of powerhouses beyond their theoretical limits. The most magnificent of all were the 13 Stars of Doomsday. They were the most powerful warriors of Aether, each of them armed with World Treasures, and their power could crush those with titles like True Titans and True Gods with a single strike. "RUMBLE!!!" However, just as the thrill of victory was flooding their souls, a shocking sight struck when they saw how the cracks in the dimensional barrier opened even bigger, allowing an ocean of tribulation flames to flood the underwater city, burning everything in it. The problem was that they were also inside, and the flames were quickly closing in. Those flames carried the power of a fiery storm that extended over the entire Atlas Continent, and its destructive power was terrifying. While they were more than glad to see the flames suppress the Depravita Race, now it seemed they would have to face them, and none had even the slightest chance of survival against such power. "There is no need to worry." Just as panic was beginning to rise, the voice of the Scarlet King echoed inside the underwater city, drawing the attention of all. Cain could see their inquisitive eyes, wondering what would happen next, and he did not leave them hanging, immediately dissipating their fear. "Something similar happened in Kronos when I used the Time Tribulation to destroy its Lovecraft City. The tribulation fire will destroy the city, but will not harm us." A wave of relief washed over the warriors of the Sacred Race when they heard those words. Everybody stood together in the center of the underwater city as the flames consumed everything around them. It did not take long before all the buildings vanished under the might of the tribulation fire, not even ash remained. The fire then reached the area where the warriors of the Sacred Races stood, its destructive power still vivid, yet it did not move forward. Once the fire tribulation consumed the entire underwater city, leaving absolutely nothing behind, it burst outward, channeling all its power into the dimensional barrier and attacking it from the inside and outside at the same time. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw that, and immediately the full strength of his Ego Wave covered the hundreds of warriors of the Sacred Races as he set his life force ablaze and channeled all his power into the Collapsing Space-Time Eye. The warriors of the Sacred Races were confused for a moment as they saw the red force field covering them as the tribulation did not intend to attack them. The next second, the warriors understood the reason for the Scarlet King''s protection as the dimensional barrier was ready to explode. Without the dimensional barrier in place, this massive dimension that was one-tenth of Atlas'' landmass would be forced into the main plane of existence, generating a clash with what was already there, and the devastation it would cause would be cataclysmic. "Everybody, focus your energy on me and do not resist my power!" Cain shouted with a solemn voice as his focus reached its zenith, waiting for the right moment. The warriors of the Sacred Races did not hesitate as they followed the guidance of the Scarlet King, their eyes sharp as they prepared for what would come next. Finally, after an onslaught of apocalyptic power from the tribulation fire, the dimensional barrier succumbed, pushing the dimension into the main plane of reality. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Chapter 955 955: Facing the Ego Destruction Tribulation "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" An explosion of overwhelming proportions took place as the dimension that held Lovecraft City came crashing down into the main plane of existence. The two fabrics of space collided with such might that it blasted up the entire Sector''s landmass to pieces! Just as that explosion occurred, the sky trembled, and a red force field with hundreds of people appeared. Cain''s face was pale as he was forced to consume nearly every ounce of his energy to perform that massive group teleportation. He had to wait for the explosion to begin, when both space fabrics collided, as that would push the tribulation flames away, allowing him to teleport into the sky. Luckily, that exhaustion soon faded as he was still enjoying the outburst of energy emanating from the Void King. In a few minutes, his energy and life force would be restored. The faces of the rest of the warriors of the Sacred Races were also pale. However, it was not the exhaustion that left them like that, but the destruction that had just happened beneath them. Had they remained inside that blast, the only ones left alive would have been those with Pseudo Immortal Bodies. Things did not just end with that explosion that took out the entire Sector since the blast triggered a massive seismic event that created massive craters, severed some of the northern Sectors in half, and left enormous crevasses from which tons upon tons of lava emerged. It was truly a destruction without precedent that could have killed anyone incapable of flying. The destruction affected the members of the Inferno Daemon Race more than anyone else. They had defeated the invaders, but the toll of the war in their home was heavy, scarring it for who knows how many decades or even centuries. Luckily, that destruction took place in the north, which was devoid of civilians, and no one beneath the Apotheosis Realm was even allowed in that area, even after the rise of the Anti-Dark Fog Towers. The warriors of the Sacred Races were at least able to take comfort in that. "You all should put some distance now." The warriors of the Sacred Races were still recovering from the shock of the cataclysmic destruction that assaulted the north of Atlas when they heard the words of the Scarlet King. All turned to the young man with doubts, but that immediately dissipated as they looked at the higher sky and saw the raging fiery storm that had begun to concentrate its power around his figure. The eyes of all the warriors widened as they understood that the unique Ego Destruction Tribulation that the Scarlet King had summoned and that helped them destroy the headquarters of the Depravita Race would now begin its true purpose. A solemn expression appeared on all the warriors as they looked at that fiery storm covering the sky of the entire continent. The Sacred Race warriors knew that the Scarlet King was a unique life form, capable of the impossible, and with a body more resilient than a Sector, but this was a phenomenon that could take out an entire continent! However, no matter how much they wanted it, none of them could help Cain, and they all began to move away, flying to the perimeter of the destroyed Sector, far enough so they would not be caught in the crossfire of the Ego Destruction Tribulation. Something peculiar happened as the warriors of the Sacred Races flew away, and two groups began to form. One consisted of those from the light camp and another from the dark camp, and they put distance between each other. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw that division between the warriors, but he was not surprised. The war against Dark Sky had given them a common enemy they could all rally against, allowing them to push away their past problems, as they were meaningless in the face of a force that could consume all of Aether. However, Dark Sky and the Depravita Race no longer existed in Aether. While the years of fighting side by side had diminished the racial tension between the Sacred Races, it was not enough to wash away all the animosity that had lasted for thousands of years. The first step into a unified world had begun since all races now saw the Scarlet King as the higher life form and supreme authority, but there was still a lot to do for the true and absolute unification of Aether. ''Luckily, I already have an important piece in place.'' Cain focused on the figures that seemed to be the heads of both sides. In the light camp was the Collapsing Lightning Emperor. The man was not only the leader of the Godslayer Humankind Race, the strongest of the races with four of the Stars of Doomsday in it, but he was known as an extremely honorable man, the right hand of the Scarlet King, and a warrior of immense power. As for the figurehead of the dark camp, that was none other than Zero Mint. Although it was true that he had an antisocial personality, it had grown less intense over the years of war, and he was recognized as the strongest warrior of the dark camp and someone whom the Scarlet King trusted greatly, so they took him as a leader. What none of them knew was that Zero Mint was the First Collapsing Lightning Pillar, so using the man as a key for unification and to avoid any future fights was the perfect move. The best part was that no one suspected it, since no one in Aether believed there could be someone so scheming as to prepare for the end of the war before it even began. ''Anyway, I will handle that later. First, I need to survive this.'' Cain''s eyes grew focused as he gazed at the flaming storm that covered the continent''s sky, his eyes calm and firm, no longer bothered by anything else but the incoming tribulation. Chapter 956 956: Surpassing the Ego Destruction Tribulation (I) Cain''s eyes began to glow with more and more power as he gazed at the layers of fire whose intent focused on him, ready to test his willpower and Ego with abominable force. If he survived, he was sure his willpower would rise to a whole new level, allowing his mind to become one of the core aspects of his battle power again, raising his strength beyond his body and Laws. ''The intent of each layer seems the same as what the Codex of Infinite Pathways describes as the Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulation. It is their overall power that has risen exponentially,'' Cain was able to decipher the intent behind the layers, giving him some confidence. While this new tribulation''s power was shocking, it still seemed to fulfill a similar function. The nine layers of fire that covered the Atlas Continent remained peaceful and steady, waiting for Cain to be ready as if some sort of reward for him taking care of the aliens that threatened to engulf the world. However, now that he was ready, its full power came into action, generating pressure that expanded throughout the entire continent. It was clear to the Scarlet King that even if he was the savior of the world, the Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulation would unleash its full power, and if he were too weak, he would die. Cain adopted a meditative formation in the air, his eyes cold and focused as he gazed at the flickering, ethereal flames of various colors beginning to fall from the sky, resembling a gentle, celestial rain of fire. First Layer: The Flickering Flame. The warriors of the Sacred Races saw how the 9-kilometer-wide storm of fire began to descend. It was beautiful but also extremely dangerous, as proved by the fact it caused space-time to suffer severe distortions, and the energy to burst in and out of reality. Just the effect on the environment was enough to cause dread in the hearts of the warriors of the Sacred Races, but it''s true power came in the effect it had on their minds and souls. The moment they focused on the flames, waves of horrible doubts and fear began to arise from the deepest corners of their psyches. It was so intense that most of the warriors were forced to immediately look away, out of fear those doubts would break their minds. However, there were still some who managed to keep focus, their eyes sharp as they took in the power, using it to sharpen their minds. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor''s eyes burst with more and more willpower as he gazed at the flickering layers of flames. It was very hard, but he was able to keep his eyes on it, using it to enhance his mind. Of course, the man knew he was only receiving a collateral burst of power, and the true might of the flames were dozens of times more terrifying. Cain''s eyes never left the layer of flickering flames that descended with immense might. This was a mental tribulation; he did not need to fight it with spells or punches, only endure and overcome it. Finally, the layer of nine kilometers of flickering flames fell onto Cain''s body, surrounding him from all directions as it flooded into his mind. Immediately, the eyes of the Scarlet King showed minor doubts and fears, and distractions began to arise. Even though they were minor insecurities and distractions, that did not mean by any measure that the danger of the First Layer was low. All those small things might not break you. Yet, they would deviate you from the right path, pushing you to stagnation or procrastination, allowing days to pass by focusing on the unimportant as your life force and vitality faded. Cain''s face contorted as that wave of voices echoed inside his mind and soul. It was as if millions of people were shouting in his ear all at the same time, each forcing him to pay attention, but his focus was unwavering as he remained alert. The red light in the Scarlet King''s eyes grew stronger as he confronted and extinguished these minor doubts, solidifying the foundation of his willpower. More and more flames flooded inside his brain, but his eyes were sharp, recognizing and dismissing minor distractions and insecurities, not allowing even the smallest one to remain. After ten minutes, every flicker of flames had vanished inside Cain''s brain. Since he had overcome the power in the First Layer, its power was now part of him. Cain was able to rest for a few moments, allowing his mind to stabilize before the next layer of flames descended. The second layer resembled eerie shadows as if the darkness of the world had been set ablaze and were going to be used to challenge his mind. Second Layer: The Lingering Shadows. If it were a normal Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulation, it would have been 18 kilometers wide, but this was no normal tribulation, and the size of the layers of shadowy flames descending upon Cain was 81 kilometers wide! As the layer of shadowy flames fell, the environment was shrouded in a twilight haze, filled with haunting whispers and echoes of past regrets and unresolved issues. The power was so immense that most of the warriors of the Sacred Races were forced to pull back, and even most of those enduring the power of the Flickering Flames could not help but avert their eyes. The only warriors of the Sacred Races that were able to keep their eyes firm in the face of that onslaught of regret were the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and Zero Mint. The duo clenched their fists and teeth as they faced the strength of the flames, but resisted, using everything they had to endure. The reason why those two were pushing themselves so hard was because they understood the role they would play in the future. Their minds and souls needed to be strong enough to endure that agonizing burden and crushing responsibilities. Chapter 957 957: Surpassing the Ego Destruction Tribulation (II) Cain stood firm as the true and terrific power of that torrent of shadowy flames descended upon him. It did not take long for the massive storm of dark fire, 81 kilometers wide, to envelop him completely, obscuring his figure entirely. Cain''s eyes remained sharp as the torrent of dark flames began to flood into his body, heading into his brain and ego. The full power soon came into action, as haunting whispers and echoes of past regrets echoed with such strength in his mind that they resembled explosions. However, that was just the beginning. As more and more of the shadowy storm of flames invaded his mind, Cain began to see images. They manifested as people¡ªsoldiers who had fought under his guidance and perished, and even friends he had lost in battle. These sights made Cain clench his fists, but his eyes were resolute. It was hard to lose them, especially when they were following him, but that was the brutality of the world. He was able to remain strong, knowing he never truly failed them, always staying steady as he kept moving forward. More and more faces appeared as the whispers grew stronger, but Cain managed to remain steady. Yet, his heart trembled as he saw the face of a young and beautiful woman among the shadows. Cain''s eyes widened as he saw a shadowy figure resembling the first woman who had gained his heart and then perished. Yet, soon his willpower burst forth, and she vanished. He knew she was not truly gone, and his soul burned with the determination to find her, a wish he could finally follow now that the threat to the world was gone. He continued facing the shadows, acknowledging the regrets and unresolved issues, finding closure and peace within, as he improved his emotional resilience and ability to move forward without being hindered by the past. After dealing with that manifestation, Cain calmed down, thinking the worst part was over. Yet, just as the last of the shadowy streams of fire flooded into his body, he saw the figure of a small child. If the sight of the woman shocked him, the sight of the child rocked him to the core, making Cain''s entire body tremble and the red light in his eyes quiver. There was no heavier blow for Cain''s mind and soul than the event in the Azure State when he had been forced to make an impossible decision, only for everything to go to waste due to the actions of the Azure King and the Blood King. That was a catalyzing moment in his life, shredding away even the slightest sense of naivety in his heart, and giving birth to the persona of the Scarlet King, the Master of Order. The tremor in Cain''s willpower grew more and more powerful as he saw the sight of that small child, but soon determination returned, and a sense of fulfillment emerged as he looked the boy directly in his eyes. It was true that he failed him and the people of the Azure State, but he made sure that all those involved suffered a horrible and painful death, forcing them to pay for their crimes. Knowing that he had set things on the right course and did not allow anyone who was part of that disgusting experiment to live was enough for Cain to shatter that shadowy regret, and fully integrate the torrent of flames into his mind and soul, surpassing the second layer. The red light in Cain''s eyes burst with immense strength and determination as all those lingering regrets and past issues were taken care of, his mind and soul ready to move forward without hesitation or fear. His face was steady and fearless as he gazed at the third storm of flames descending from the sky. The 729 kilometers of flames transformed into a tornado, resembling a fiery whirlpool. Its power soon spread, twisting everything in its range, challenging their reality. Third Layer: The Whispering Winds. It did not take long for the fiery wind tornado to clash into Cain''s body, its power flooding into his mind, assaulting him with doubt and criticism. While the size of the storm was nine times larger than the previous one, Cain was able to face this power with much more ease. Cain was not impervious to doubt and was not so narcissistic as to believe himself flawless, but he did not sell himself short either. His talent was immense, and he had just managed to lead the entire world out of the darkness. Cain was confident in his capabilities, so the power of the massive fiery wind tornado was something that did not make his heart falter. Of course, he took in all its power, allowing his mental focus and ability to maintain clarity under pressure to enhance to an even higher level. It took two hours, but finally, the last stream of fiery wind faded inside Cain''s brain, acting as fuel for his growing willpower and Ego Wave. His eyes were sharp and bursting with might as he gazed at the next layers of fiery tribulation power. Fourth Layer: The Burning Echoes. Unlike the first three layers that descended with immense power and directly flooded his mind, this fourth layer of fire began to take the form of all sorts of objects, each of them representing some form of failure in Cain''s path, mistakes he had committed that sought to overwhelm him, trying to challenge his self-esteem and belief. Cain''s eyes focused as the fiery projections of past failures and mistakes fell like meteors, impacting his body and creating echoes in his mind, sowing all sorts of images amplified by fiery projections that tried to overwhelm him. If Cain were someone who negated his mistakes, always finding fault in others, or blaming the situation, that tribulation would have shattered his mind. However, he had never taken such a cowardly path, always accepting his mistakes, and striving to improve, never letting them define him, learning from them, and making sure not to make the same error twice. Chapter 958 958: Surpassing the Ego Destruction Tribulation (III) Cain continued facing The Burning Echoes, learning from every failure in his life and improving his wisdom. With each incarnation born of the fourth layer fading inside his mind, the power of his Ego Wave rose to the next level. The red light emerging from Cain''s eyes was like a radiant burst, with a core ember of fire visible. The masters of the Sacred Races noticed that dot of fire, and their eyes widened in awe and shock. The transformation of the Ego Wave from a force field into flames was a massive step forward in the evolution of willpower. It meant that your willpower no longer manifested as an energy field but gained a true physical form, allowing you to manipulate matter with your mind. Most of the warriors of the Sacred Races who had surpassed the 9x9 Ego Destruction Tribulation developed the initial transformation of willpower from energy to physical, but that was after completing the full tribulation, not in the middle of it. While the challenge of the Ego Tribulation that Cain faced was much greater than theirs, the rewards were also of a much higher level. There was pure awe and shock in Cain''s eyes as that first ember of fire emerged, as he felt his mind and willpower grow immensely, his vision changing for a moment as he saw not the earth and sky, but countless atoms all connected by bonds that he could break if he so wished. "This strength, I feel the power to crush a Late Divine Ascension Master with nothing more than a thought." A sense of awe and thrill emerged on Cain''s face, but he did not lose himself as he focused on the next layer of fire that covered the sky. Fifth Layer: The Searing Illusions. The layer of fire that expanded for nearly sixty thousand kilometers transformed into blinding flashes of light that descended on Cain''s body, marching into his mind where they formed vivid, searing illusions. The world around Cain vanished, replaced by manifestations of the greatest challenges he would face. That was far from all, as those illusions soon twisted into the worst possible scenes, where everything he had worked for so far shattered into nothing, trying to break his will and force him into despair. Cain''s eyes did not waver, his willpower growing larger as he took in all the power of the tribulation. His mind and ego worked harder and harder to discern reality from illusion and overcame these fearsome projections. This allowed his Ego Wave to grow stronger while simultaneously improving the evolution from energy to flame. There was no doubt in his mind that the challenges awaiting him would be epic, even worse than the Depravita Race''s Dark Sky, but he was not afraid. Cain was ready to move one step forward at a time, and as long as he kept moving forward, he would triumph over all the challenges the universe threw at him. Finally, after nearly fifteen hours, the last wisp of the fifth layer vanished, all now becoming part of Cain''s power. Cain did not allow his focus to waver. A few minutes after the fifth layer vanished inside his mind and soul, the power of the next tribulation emerged, making its intent clear as it transformed into a tempest of multicolored flames, swirling around his body in a chaotic storm. Sixth Layer: The Raging Tempest. There was pure focus in Cain''s eyes as he saw the swirling vortex of flames around him, each color representing different emotional and mental trials, creating a chaotic and turbulent environment. Immediately, the power of the tribulation flooded his mind, trying to break him, and filling him with pure chaos. Cain''s eyes were serene as he maintained inner calm and control amidst the chaotic storm. He had faced all sorts of chaotic tribulations in the past, so no matter how strong and horrific the power of the Raging Tempest was, it could not break him. It took several hours, but finally, the last wisps of the vortex of flames faded, improving his willpower once more. Cain''s eyes burned with even greater might as he gazed at the sky, his face full of determination as he looked at the layer of metallic gray fire that covered half a million kilometers. Seventh Layer: The Crushing Weight. "RUMBLE!" As soon as this layer of fire that expanded for several Sectors began to descend, the entire Atlas Continent trembled! A solemn expression appeared on Cain''s face as he saw that layer of fire falling on him like a cascade. The previous layers had tested every aspect of his mind, trying to carve out his emotional flaws, but he was nearly impervious to that. He had rallied the entire world behind his banner, vanquishing an enemy race from a higher dimensional realm. There was no way those achievements would not have fortified his own belief in himself and self-esteem, which were key in defeating the first six tribulations. However, the seventh, eighth, and ninth were different. They were not going to seek to break him through his emotional flaws but simply subject his willpower and mind to such terrific pressure that they would simply not be able to endure and shatter. It was at this point that the true danger of the tribulation would begin for Cain. While the seventh layer''s fire was a metaphysical manifestation meant to challenge the mind, its power was so immense that it could alter the physical world, and all that force was focused on a single person. Cain clenched his teeth and fists as the layer of metallic gray fire crashed down on him like a waterfall. It carried a monstrously crushing pressure that targeted his mind and spirit. Although the target was psychological, the pressure Cain felt was no different than if the weight of the world was upon him. His physical and mental state began to deteriorate extremely fast as he felt a burning strain that sought to drain his vitality and suck dry his soul. Cain''s eyes burned as he channeled all the power of his willpower to face that horrible pressure that sought to break him from the inside out. There was nothing he could hit or use to defend against this power, and the only thing he could rely on was his mental fortitude. Chapter 959 959: Surpassing the Ego Destruction Tribulation (IV) The crushing pressure kept smashing Cain''s mind and spirit, urging him to rest, but he knew that if he did that for even a second, his mind would turn off and he would never wake up, so no matter what, he kept resisting. Hours went by, and Cain''s body trembled more and more, his entire body soaked in cold sweat as blood leaked from his ears, eyes, nose, and mouth. No matter how painful and exhausting it was, he kept enduring, every second his willpower growing larger and the evolution advancing. After thirty hours, the last wisp of that metallic gray fire vanished inside Cain, only for a willpower that burned like a sun to emerge from his eyes the next second, and inside the power to hold an entire world could be felt. Cain''s eyes glowed with such intensity that it felt as if they could replace the light of the sun in the sky. He raised his hand and gently clenched his fist, immediately causing cracks to appear in the fabric of space around him. It was easy for Cain to shatter space if he used the full strength of his body, but now he was relying solely on his willpower, showing just how powerful his Ego Wave had become after surviving those seven layers of tribulation fire. "BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" Cain did not dare relax as the next layer of fire exploded with power after The Crushing Pressure vanished inside his mind. Eighth Layer: The Fiery Crucible. The power in the eighth layer was so immense that it spread over ten percent of the entire Atlas Continent, and as its power rose, it began to generate an abominable heat. The warriors of the Sacred Races felt that power and immediately flew away, putting as much distance as they could from Cain. That layer of tribulation fire transformed the environment into a hellish crucible, and none of them would be able to endure it. They needed to move away unless they wanted their egos and wills burned to ashes. Cain''s eyes could see nothing but the fiery layers as they descended, generating a crucible of intense heat and pressure, creating an environment of pure, relentless trial as it surrounded him from all directions. It was as if he was thrown into an inferno of fire that could melt worlds, and immediately the tribulation began. The fiery inferno flew into Cain''s body, rushing into his mind, targeting his mind and soul! It was like an intense, all-consuming psychic flame aiming to burn away his ego and sense of self. Pure pain and agony appeared on Cain''s face as he clenched his teeth, his expression twisted like that of a demon due to the simply inhumane pain that assaulted him. The fires of the eighth layer flooded his soul sea and coursed through his soul force and Alter-Ego! The flames of The Fiery Crucible were meant to temper and purify the Ego Wave and soul force. However, the power with which they did it was so immense that if they were not powerful enough, they would be burned to ash. Cain''s Ego Wave was abnormal to say the least, thanks to the resurrection of the Alter-Ego at the hands of the Red King. But the power of The Fiery Crucible was meant to target an existence as unique as him, so the slightest weakness and flaws, and he would perish, his body intact but his soul force and willpower burn. Second after second of a fiery torment went by, each moment a trial to Cain''s mind and willpower. He could not even blink as that simple lapse of focus would mean his end. This single trial felt no less crushing than facing the Dark Sky. The hours went by, and even as Cain felt his eyes tremble, his mind trying to blink out of existence, he remained firm thanks to his willpower. The power of The Fiery Crucible fused into his soul force and willpower. By the time the twentieth hour went by, Cain had lost the ability to think as the pain and exhaustion were simply too much. But even in that horrible situation, he remained firm, not losing to the tribulation power. Thirty-three hours¡ªthat was the time that The Fiery Crucible''s force flooded Cain''s soul sea before finally, the last ember vanished, leaving nothing but a pristine soul sea and an Alter-Ego that brimmed with the strength of the world. Cain''s eyes were blank, but slowly they began to regain their focus. Once the full strength of his mind returned to the young man, it happened. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" The warriors of the Sacred Races were thousands of kilometers away, yet they all saw with shock and absolute awe how a torrent of red flames emerged from Cain''s mind, spreading in all directions and immediately reaching them, marching like an unstoppable tsunami! Pure and absolute awe and devotion appeared in the warriors of the Sacred Races as they saw that majestic ocean of red fire that emerged from Cain''s mind. It was willpower like nothing they had ever seen in their lives, and as it washed over them, they could feel a power and determination that seemed capable of eclipsing the entire sun in the highest sky! Cain''s willpower continued expanding until it covered nearly 15 percent of the Atlas Continent! That was more than fifty million kilometers! In the Old World, such willpower would have been enough to cover the entire planet and reach the next one! However, that was not the only thing that was beyond amazing, as every single inch of this willpower was a flame, meaning that Cain had achieved a complete conversion of his Ego Wave from an energy wave to physical power! Cain''s eyes were full of wonder and awe as he could see and feel everything within the range of his Ego Wave. No matter how small and minuscule, he could see it, and if he focused on a person, he could even feel their heart and the core emotions of their soul! Chapter 960 960: Surpassing the Ego Destruction Tribulation (V) ''My willpower, it has been refined and purified to the highest level,'' Cain thought, thrilled by the strength of his willpower. But there was also confusion in his mind as he gazed at the sky and saw the ninth layer of the Ego Destruction Tribulation. Ninth Layer: The Phoenix Rebirth. This layer was the strongest of all, covering every inch of Atlas'' sky and emanating a power that seemed to reach the peak of Aether, capable of crushing the dimensions of the Depravita Race as if it were nothing. Unlike all other layers, which fell on Cain with overwhelming power and the intent to refine his mind, this one remained in the sky, covering Atlas. It did not move or act and simply waited. According to what he learned from the Codex of Infinite Pathways and the mysterious old man''s starry gem, a cultivator must send their willpower into The Phoenix Rebirth, allowing the total disintegration of their Ego Wave and subsequent rebirth within a maelstrom of multicolored flames. While it was a fierce trial, and death could happen at any sign of weakness or lapse in focus, it was not complicated. However, Cain could feel that there was something different in this layer. It was not just a greater strength due to its size; there was something else, an immense power, one so formidable and terrifying that it made him feel like a small fish in an endless ocean. Cain could stop now, having refined his willpower to the limit of the Third Realm, his Ego Wave capable of enhancing his battle power as much as his Primordial Racial Heritage. Due to the uniqueness of his tribulation, these eight layers had already given him more power than a normal Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulation could ever offer. More importantly, his instincts told him that if he carried on, his chances of success would be small, to say the least. ''Hmph, if I back down now, what will happen when I face other monsters and trials in the future? Will I also run away from them!?'' Cain''s soul burned with determination as he retracted his fiery Ego Wave into his brain. The power of that ocean of flames that could cover millions of kilometers being held inside Cain''s brain felt odd, but he did not dwell on that for long. He closed his eyes and prepared himself for the next clash. The warrior of the Sacred Race saw how the Scarlet King did not move a single muscle for over thirty minutes, and when he finally did, it was as if the world had frozen! "AHHHHHH!" Cain''s eyes burst with willpower as he roared and sent all his flaming Ego Wave crashing into the ninth layer of the Ego Tribulation, fusing with it. The warriors of the Sacred Races saw how the torrent of Cain''s flaming Ego Wave began to fuse into the ocean of multicolored flames that covered the entire Atlas Continent. It was a shocking scene that left everyone watching in awe and wonder. While Cain''s Ego Wave was massive, capable of spreading through several Sectors, the ninth layer was nearly ten times larger, accommodating every single iota of that flaming red willpower. Cain sent everything he had into The Phoenix Rebirth, just as the Codex of Infinite Pathways and the starry gem of the mysterious old man suggested, and that was supposed to be it. However, as the last stream of the Ego Wave marched into the ninth layer, The Phoenix Rebirth exploded with monstrous devouring power. Cain''s eyes widened as he felt his soul sea tremble, and before he could do anything, his Alter-Ego, the Sun Seed, left his body and flashed into The Phoenix Rebirth! There was pure shock on Cain''s face as he felt his Alter-Ego, the metaphysical manifestation of his willpower, leave his soul sea. The next second, the light faded from his eyes as he lost the ability to think and react now that his ego had exited his body. "Rumble!!!" Once Cain''s Alter-Ego and Ego Wave had fully integrated into the ninth layer, it began to tremble with overwhelming power, making the entire world quake as if a monumental clash had begun. The warriors of the Sacred Races looked at the flaming sky of the Atlas Continent and could not help but grow stunned with awe as they saw how the multicolored flames and the red fire began to clash! "What is happening?" The Collapsing Lightning Emperor exclaimed in confusion after overcoming his shock. He had read the Codex of Infinite Pathways and was aware of the power of the ninth layer of the Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulation. The Phoenix Rebirth was supposed to disintegrate your Ego Wave, and then you must rely on your willpower to reconstruct it even stronger than before. However, what was happening now was not a rebirth but a ferocious and terrific clash between the power of the ninth layer and the Scarlet King''s willpower. The Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulation was the power of the world, essentially Aether''s will, so right now, Cain''s ego was fighting the ego of the world! None of the warriors of the Sacred Races could take their eyes away as the clash between the Scarlet King''s red fiery will and the multicolored flames of the ninth layer of the Ego Destruction Tribulation was a sight to behold. The sky over Atlas was alight with a dazzling, violent display of power, the sheer intensity of which made the ground tremble and the air crackle with energy. The clash was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. The red fire that embodied the Scarlet King''s willpower burst with defiance, each flare carrying his indomitable spirit and unbreakable ego. Yet, the multicolored flames of the ninth layer were relentless, their combined might pressing down on the red fire. The multicore flames of the ninth layer were Aether''s psychic power metaphysical manifestation, its power beyond mere emotions as it carried the weight of ages that only a world could unleash. Chapter 961 961: Surpassing the Ego Destruction Tribulation (VI) Cain''s willpower was immense, at a level that no other life form in Aether had ever got near, but the power of the world was on another level entirely. The multicolored flames surged forward, pushing back the red fire with a force that seemed insurmountable. The powerhouses of the Sacred Races could see pressure mounting over the Scarlet King''s willpower, his will straining under the onslaught. Yet, even facing that power, the red fire stood firm. It was such a shocking event that it seemed unreal, and the Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the rest of the powerhouses made sure to engrave every second in their minds. Immediately, a solemn expression appeared on the faces of all those in Atlas since no matter how incredibly monstrous the willpower of the Scarlet King was, how could a single man clash against the world!? Their fears soon proved themselves correct as they could see how the multicolored flames of the ninth layer began to overwhelm the Scarlet King''s red fire. One was ten times larger and contained the will of Aether, a world capable of holding trillions of lives and with a lifespan that could be measured in billions of years. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the rest of the warriors of the Sacred Races could not help but think it was impossible for a single person to win that sort of clash, and they were right. Luckily, Cain was not alone against the ninth layer, and just as it seemed he would be destroyed by the ninth layer, it happened. "RUMBLE!" Another wave of shock shuddered the world. However, this time it was not the sky or the earth that shook, but the people. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor, Zero Mint, Angar, Eon, Kabuto, Ishmael, and every single powerhouse in Atlas saw with shock how their bodies began to glow. Without them doing anything, streams of their willpower began to flow into Atlas'' sky. Shock and confusion appeared on their faces as the powerhouses looked at each other, not understanding what was happening. An invisible force was acting over their willpower, and while they were not controlling it, they knew they had given permission. Not with words but with the intent of their souls and minds, from the moment they chose to follow that man into war and beyond. The willpower emerging from those powerhouses in Atlas soon fused into the Scarlet King''s red fire, making it explode with power. However, while it increased in strength, the enhancement granted by a few hundred powerhouses was not enough. Luckily, it was not just the willpower of the masters in Atlas that was affected, as streams of will from every man, woman, and child who saw the Scarlet King''s figure as the leader of the world also rose to the sky. While the amount of willpower of the powerhouses was greater than a normal person by a factor of a million, they were dwarfed by the trillions of streams that emerged from all over Aether. It was a scene beyond mythical as all the people who felt their streams of willpower leaving their bodies looked toward the sky of Atlas, their eyes glowing with red light. "BOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" The red fire of the Scarlet King exploded with power as the willpower of trillions of life forms in Aether began to fuse with it, allowing it to grow more and more powerful as it clashed with renewed strength against the might of the ninth layer. Hours went by, and the Scarlet King''s red fire grew more and more powerful, gaining ground over the ninth layer until finally, both sides were left in a stalemate, each taking control over half of the Atlas Continent. The powerhouses of the Sacred Races could not help but look at the sky and wonder what would happen next. The ego of the Scarlet King grew immense after taking on the willpower of the trillions of people in the world, but it could only allow him to equal Aether''s will and could not surpass it. At this point, the multicolored flames of the ninth layer and the red fire of the Scarlet King began to merge, seemingly harmonizing and erasing the barrier between each side. None of the powerhouses of the Sacred Races uttered a word and remained in silence, simply watching the incredible phenomenon taking place in the sky. The clash had seemingly ended, but things were far from over as the harmonization between the Scarlet King''s willpower and the ninth layer of Aether''s Ego Destruction Tribulation was beginning. And just like the trial carried, so did the danger, as the powerhouses in Atlas could feel moments when Cain''s ego seemed to lose itself in that massive storm of multicolored fire. The harmonization would bring the Scarlet King immense benefits, but if his ego could not remain firm, he would lose the core of his existence. Unfortunately for the warriors of the Sacred Races, there was nothing they could do to help Cain. Their willpower had already granted the red fire the chance to equal the ninth layer and start the harmonization process, but now it would depend on the Scarlet King''s ego whether it would triumph over the ego of the world. The harmonization carried on, the fusion between the red fire of the Scarlet King and the multicolored flames of the ninth layer advancing faster and faster. There were times when the Scarlet King''s ego seemed to fade, losing itself in the might of The Phoenix Rebirth''s power, but it always bounced back, remaining firm and steady. It took days, but none of the powerhouses of the Sacred Races took their eyes from the sky as they saw how the Scarlet King''s red fire and the multicolored flames of the ninth layer finally completed their fusion, erasing the barrier between the two. Right at that moment, in a white dimension that seemed to extend infinitely, Cain opened his eyes. There was confusion and alertness as he did not know what was happening or where he was. "Relax, young man, you have won." Chapter 962 962: Ao "YOU!" Cain turned to the voice''s origin, surprise appearing as he saw the old man who had granted him the starry gems back in Kronos. He knew this person was special, but he had expected him to be some sort of ancient and obscure powerhouse. The fact that he would appear in this place meant otherwise. Although his memories were foggy, Cain knew he had been in a cataclysmic clash with the ninth layer of the Ego Destruction Tribulation, so for the old man to be here left only one possible answer. "Are you Aether''s will?" The old man froze for a second before suddenly bursting into laughter. "Hahaha, as expected from the Singularity. Your wisdom and insight are nothing short of monstrous." Cain couldn''t help but frown since the old man''s words only increased his questions and confusion, especially since he used the term "Singularity," which the Depravitas from Dark Sky had used when they first clashed. Luckily, the old man didn''t keep him waiting for long. "Answering your question, yes and no. I am the metaphysical manifestation of Aether''s will, but I am not the full might of its ego. I am the sentient part of Aether''s will, and you can call me Ao." The old man paused at this moment, his face growing solemn and full of respect as he clasped his hands and performed a deep bow. "I would like to thank you for eradicating the alien invasion of the Depravita Race. While I have a massive amount of power and energy at my disposal, Laws limit my actions. Even if I know there is an alien, unless the Laws of the world detect them as one, I cannot act. Your use of tribulation to circumvent that restriction was very ingenious." Ao''s voice was full of sincerity, and it was clear how thankful the man was for Cain''s help. He remained like that for a few seconds before straightening his position. Cain felt that the entire situation was truly surreal, as he was talking to the world, but he simply remained silent and continued listening to Ao. "As for Singularity, that is your title as the entity with the highest destiny of a confined realm." Ao could see the confusion in Cain''s eyes and paused before giving a simpler explanation. "You have improved your destiny to the point that every important event that happens inside the world revolves around you, like a black hole." A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he finally understood what Singularity meant. It was a title not born but earned by performing feats so immense that your name spread across the entire world as the highest there is. Cain nodded to Ao, glad to finally get some answers, before speaking to the old man. "Why am I here?" Ao smiled as he waved his hands, making a small table and a set of tea appear in the empty dimension, before sitting and gesturing for Cain to do the same. Cain was not rude, and he sat along with the old man, taking a cup of tea and drinking a sip. His eyes immediately widened as he felt a sense of peace and relaxation so profound and pure that he couldn''t believe it. It lasted an entire minute, and once the feeling finally faded, a smile appeared on Cain''s face as he nodded to the old man. The feeling of relaxation was something he truly needed after all this time of war and bloodshed. Ao waited until Cain regained his focus before continuing to answer the young man''s question. "As you know, someone with a soul force at the Divine Ascension Rank can trigger a Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulation, but there is an even higher level, one that can only be attained by a world''s Singularity. That is the Royal Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulation, and upon surpassing it, you can become the absolute master of Aether, the World King." A powerful light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he heard the term "World King." He had no idea what it truly meant, but it made him feel it was extremely important. Of course, Ao would not reveal such a majestic title just to leave Cain full of doubt, so he continued. "A World King is someone capable of harmonizing their willpower with the ego of the world. Of course, a single mind can''t become strong enough to harmonize with an entire world, but you managed to do it by drawing the will of the trillions of citizens of the Sacred Races." There was admiration in Ao''s eyes as he was truly amazed by the feat Cain was able to perform, but he did not lose focus as he saw how the young man''s eyes were eager to know what kind of benefits he would obtain. "As a World King, your talent in Concepts will rise immensely, and you will be able to command a fragment of the world''s power. Although it is only a fraction, it would be enough for you to spread your consciousness throughout an entire continent and kill anyone at the Soul Realm." Cain''s eyes widened, and he couldn''t help but smile as he heard those words. He would be practically a god inside Aether, and he would be able to develop much higher strength through the Concepts, something very important given the current power and importance of his Ego Wave. However, he could see that was not all, so he remained silent and focused. The smile on the old man''s face began to widen as he carried on. "Of course, those gains are impressive, but they will be of little help when you leave this world. However, that is where the true powers of a World King come into play. To understand that, you first must know the nature of the world you live in." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard those words, and a term that Horus used came to his mind. "A Seed World?" Chapter 963 963: Everything was a dream "A Seed World?" Ao nodded as he continued. "Aether is currently located in a unique dimension known as the World Forge. It is vast beyond measure, with countless worlds, each housing trillions of life forms. These worlds are in a gestation process, growing stronger until they are powerful enough to evolve and rise beyond this dimension, to a higher one." "What happens to all the people who leave through the Crystal Wall?" That was the first question that came to Cain''s mind as he heard that the dimension in which Aether was found was called the World Forge. "All those who ascend beyond the Divine Ascension Realm or forcefully make their way through the Crystal Wall were immediately expelled from the World Forge, being pulled into the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe." Ao paused at this point, a flash of envy in his eyes as he mentioned those people marching into that higher dimension beyond the World Forge. Although Cain was surprised, everything made sense as he analyzed it. After all, there were supposed to be all kinds of majestic life forms in the Astral Sea, yet there had never been a recorded event of one of them even glancing around Aether. As for the ones that made it here, they were either left with dead bodies like Anark or transformed into an ocean like the Blood Astral Beast, so the World Forge was not a place suitable for organic life. "It is the goal of all life born in the World Forge to evolve beyond its confines, to leave the cradle and rise to the higher dimension that is the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe. However, unlike humans who only need to reach beyond the Divine Ascension Rank, a world requires much more soul-tempering, which could take hundreds of millions of years or maybe even billions." Ao glanced at Cain at this point, his eyes glowing as if the young man was the highest treasure in the universe. "This is where the true purpose of a World King comes in. You can fuse your willpower with Aether''s will, allowing its spirit and ego to be stable enough to rise to the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe!" Cain''s eyes widened, and he couldn''t help but smile. The Nine Empyrean Suns Universe was bound to be massive and full of dangers, but if he carried with him a fortress that was a world, he would have a haven to retreat to in case of problems. However, while rising to the higher realm was one of Cain''s ultimate goals and something he had wished for a long time, he could not forget the words Horus said during their last clash about how the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe would loathe his world and destroy him. "Can you tell me more about the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe? Do you have any information about the people of Aether who have reached it?" Cain would not blindly believe the words of an enemy, but he wanted to learn as much as possible before taking the next step. When Ao heard that question, a complicated expression appeared on his face before glancing at the young man and shaking his head. "I am sorry to say I do not know about the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe, as the realm is beyond my reach. There are not many people who made it since the true civilization of Aether is only 8000 years old." Cain could not help but frown as he heard that. "You mean Aether''s human civilization. The rest are hundreds of thousands of years old." According to his knowledge, Adam led humanity to Aether ten thousand years ago from the Old World. Yet, the Inferno Daemon Race, Lego Eldritch Race, Deus Behemoth Race, and Atrox Immortus Race had existed for hundreds of thousands of years, maybe even millions. Ao saw the confusion in Cain''s eyes and shook his head. "Eight thousand years ago, the first true life form was born in Aether. Everything that happened before that, all the events surrounding your race''s arrival in Aether and the clash with the Inferno Daemon Race that led to the division between the dark camp and light camp, was nothing more than an illusion." Cain''s eyes widened, and his entire body trembled as he heard that shocking revelation. Immediately confusion and doubt appeared in his mind as he couldn''t believe what he was hearing. His willpower allowed him to remain focused, and he immediately found a problem with Ao''s words. "How is that possible!? Some people are thousands of years old and whose elders, whom they have met, were alive before the eight thousand years you mentioned." Ao did not get angry at the shock and shouts of the young man. After all, that revelation was shocking beyond measure, and he adopted a solemn stance before carrying on. "Those people were simply physical dreams, sentient illusions without true souls. They acted and advanced as normal people would, some giving birth to the first batch of true life forms of the world, whom they raised as their children, but everything they did was programmed, every move and action designed beforehand. People before the current eight thousand years were never real, no different than a non-playable character from a game. Even those that surpassed the Divine Ascension Realm and seemingly marched beyond the Crystal Wall simply vanished from existence. They might have been real in another world, hundreds of millions of years ago, or maybe even billions, but I do not know." Cain felt the tremors of shock hitting with ever greater strength. It was a heavy blow to realize that the history of the world was a complete fabrication and that the animosity that had lasted for thousands of years due to the initial clash between humans and the Inferno Daemon Race was actually all an illusion, a dream that never really happened, at least not in Aether. "Why? Why would there be something like that in the world?" No matter how Cain looked at it, that realization confused him since the only purpose he could see from the dream illusion was to raise hatred between the Sacred Races and nothing else. Chapter 964 964: World King Avatar Although Cain asked the question, he did not expect an answer from Ao, as he knew the World Will had no idea why that dream illusion was put in place and seemed to have no control over it. Thanks to his willpower, he was able to focus, and soon Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he remembered Horus''s words. "If the dream illusion was spread across all worlds in the World Forge, then everybody who rose from them would bring a sense of animosity and racial hatred in their souls as they march into the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe." Cain could not help but clench his fists, thinking how a xenophobic universe would think of a world like Aether, where all Sacred Races were in harmony. ''They will loathe us; everybody will hate our guts and see us as an aberration that must be eliminated.'' It was not hard to come to an idea of what might happen, and Cain''s eyes turned eerily cold. The easiest and least bloody path was to eliminate the light or dark camp, making sure Aether would align with the psychology that would surely reign in the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe. Cain had the power to carry out that genocide, but that would itself betray every effort and promise he had made. Ao remained silent as he knew that Cain faced an extremely complicated decision right now. Yet, it did not take long before a sense of utter and absolute brutality began to emerge in the young man''s eyes. Sharpness appeared in the eyes of the World Will as he saw that monstrous slaughter intent, and he could see it was not directed at the Sacred Races in Aether, but at what lay ahead. ''As expected, a World King would never succumb to the pressure and desire of others. Instead of killing his people not to be attacked, he would set the universe ablaze, making sure that all those who challenge him either submit to his will or die.'' As Ao realized the intent in Cain''s soul, his eyes started to burn with the same slaughter and butchering intent. Every life in Aether was a piece of him, and he would kill anyone who dared to enforce their will on his people. The World King and the World Will stared at each other and silently nodded. There were no words, but a decision was made, one that would determine the path Aether would take, regardless of the forces and monsters they would encounter in the future. "Okay, since all those matters are handled, you must also carry on with the last part of the tribulation, your Ego''s Disintegration and Rebirth." Ao''s aura and temperament returned to that of the amicable old man as he spoke to Cain. "Return to the tribulation? I thought I had already succeeded?" Cain asked with some confusion. "You have indeed succeeded in becoming a World King, having integrated those streams of will from the trillions of life forms in Aether, but it is now time for your willpower and Alter-Ego to return to your body," Ao spoke to the young man, giving Cain a few seconds to analyze his words. Cain''s eyes narrowed, and he immediately understood the problem with his willpower returning to his Ego Eternal Matrix. Right now, his Ego Wave was the size of a continent, and there was no way his brain could hold so much power. It would be like asking a balloon to contain a gallon of water; it would explode! Ao smiled and immediately reassured the young man. "Please don''t worry. While it is true that if your full willpower were to return to your Ego Matrix, this one would shatter, that is where The Phoenix Rebirth comes into play. Your willpower will disintegrate before attaining a rebirth, just like anyone who endured the Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulation. Of course, your case is special since during your rebirth, your Ego Wave will split in two: one piece will return to your body alongside your Alter Ego, while the other, larger side will become the World King Avatar. The World King Avatar will fuse with the will of the world, and you can harmonize with it to gain control over a piece of the world''s energy, to train your Concept, and to improve your perception." Cain nodded, and everything became clear to him. There was no fear in his eyes when it came to facing the destruction and rebirth of his Ego Wave as he was sure that it would be simpler than becoming the World King. However, he still had two matters to attend to before leaving this place. "I have something to ask you. I have a friend who is currently in Hyperion Continent''s capital, Anark. He helped me greatly and gave me access to the physical strength I used in taking down the Depravita Race. He is currently in soul form as his body is dead. Is there a way to help him?" There was no way Cain would have forgotten the one who saved him in the Sacred Bloodline Realm and gave him access to the Primordial Path. The reason Cain had yet to put in place a plan to help Anark was because he understood just how titanic a task it would be to help the soul of the Primordial to attain rebirth. Even with his current power and understanding of the soul, he was far from that level, but Ao was the World Will and might be capable of doing it. Unfortunately for Cain, Ao immediately shook his head. "I am sorry to say I cannot help him. I am aware of your friend''s condition, and even though he is a life form that came from beyond the Crystal Wall, the Laws no longer consider him an alien. However, his soul is too massive for me to help it perform a proper rebirth. After all, by what I can see, in its highest form, Anark was just as strong as the entire world." Chapter 965 965: The Dream World and the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe Cain was a little disappointed but not all that surprised, as he did not expect it to be so easy. "Thanks anyway. I guess I will have to look for an answer in higher realms. The final thing I would like to ask is, do you have any information about the Dream World?" One of the great mysteries that still haunted Cain was the Dream World, the place he could access with his willpower. It was a truly strange place and was at a higher energy cap than Aether, as there were life forms that could sunder entire continents with a single attack. Cain had no idea if it was a unique dimension of the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe, or something else, but needed to learn more about it since that was the place where he would find Beelze''s soul. Ao stared at Cain for a few seconds before answering. "I have no knowledge about that Dream World you refer to, but I can feel a unique dimensional layer that is everywhere while nowhere to be seen. I can detect its power permeating the world, but I cannot access it in any way. The one thing I can say is that this place doesn''t seem to be in the same plane of existence as the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe." Cain''s eyes widened as he heard that. The Dream World and the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe are not the same or even connected. "Mmmm, I guess it makes sense since in that oneiric place the Laws and universal forces seem to be different from the Laws of this world that would soon rise to the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe." Although the realization baffled Cain, it also made his eyes glow with a sharp light. The Dream World did not seem to be beneath the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe, so who knew what type of miracles and power he could find that would improve his strength? Of course, all that were plans for the future and Cain nodded to Ao, indicating he was ready. The World Will did not waste time, waving his hand, and sending Cain''s ego back into the layer of fire that covered all of Atlas. The powerhouses of the Sacred Races had not taken their eyes off the multicolored flaming sky for a second. Their eyes glowed with renewed focus as they felt how the layer of multicolored fire burst with scorching power and began to disintegrate the red fire that had fused into it. None of the powerhouses were alarmed by the sight as it was exactly what was supposed to happen during The Phoenix Rebirth. Not to mention that they could feel how the process was extremely tempered and calm as if the world itself was making sure Cain''s willpower and ego were not harmed and successfully surpassed this trial. Hours passed as the massive red fire that was Cain''s willpower and ego underwent a total disintegration before all of it was reborn into flames that were even more pure and powerful, capable of supreme harmonization with the Concepts of the universe. A torrent of that red supreme fire fell from the sky and began to fuse into Cain''s body, all marching into his brain. Slowly, Cain''s eyes began to regain their light as his Ego Eternal Matrix regained its energy and the Sun Seed materialized once more inside the soul sea. It took a few minutes, but ten percent of that torrent of red supreme and pristine flames fused into Cain''s body, his eyes regaining their full might and glowing like supernovas. As for the other ninety percent of the willpower that remained in the sky, it began to coalesce slowly but surely, and soon every powerhouse in Atlas saw how the willpower transformed into a massive ocean of fire. There was confusion in Cain''s eyes as he adapted to the overwhelming sense of power that his Ego Wave sent flowing through his soul and body, and how his Sun Seed glowed as if it was ready to explode and evolve into something much mightier and more powerful. Yet, soon Cain''s focus turned to the ocean of fire in the sky, and his eyes grew sharp as he felt an absolute connection to it. "So that is my World King''s Avatar. My mark as Aether''s World King." Cain could not help but stare at the ocean of fire for several minutes. He knew he could connect with it and harness its power with a single thought and eventually, he nodded. As if recognizing his signal, the World King Avatar vanished, fusing into the willpower of Aether, leaving behind the layer of multicolored flames that was The Phoenix Rebirth. Most of the power of the ninth layer was used during the rebirth of Cain''s willpower and the formation of the World King Avatar, but there was still a lot of strength in it, which would soon disperse back into the world. The layer of fire that covered Atlas'' sky was already dispersing when suddenly Cain raised his right hand, making it freeze! Awe, wonder, and shock assaulted the eyes of all the warriors of the Sacred Race who saw how Cain managed to freeze that massive layer of fire with his right hand! The truth was that even Cain was shocked by the power he could wield and the control he had over Aether''s energy and forces. If it was the full might of the Royal Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulation, it would have been too much, but this single layer that had already completed its purpose, that he could control! There were a lot of things that Cain could do with that ocean of fire, the most basic transforming it into a raging spell capable of leveling a considerable portion of the continent. Of course, he would not do that, and it did not take long for his mind to figure out the perfect use. Cain''s ego burned with red flames as he focused, expanding his perception across the Atlas Continent with the help of the World King''s Avatar, and the next second, he split it into dozens of streams of energy that flashed across the continent. The powerhouses of the Sacred Races followed the streams with their eyes and saw how they fused with the Anti-Dark Fog Towers that had endured the last cataclysm of Atlas, setting them ablaze with dozens of different types of flames. Chapter 966 966: Reaching the Soul Realm (I) The Anti-Dark Fog Towers were no longer useful as they had completely and utterly destroyed Lovecraft City, erasing the origin of such malign force. There was no sense in enhancing the power of the towers, which was why the warriors of the Sacred Races were so confused. However, it soon became clear what their purpose would be as radiant energy full of vitality and power began to spread from the Anti-Dark Fog Towers, nurturing the environment around them and flooding it with rejuvenating power. The Dark Emperor and the rest of the powerhouses of the Inferno Daemon Realm saw this and a sense of awe appeared in their eyes as they felt just how immensely powerful that healing force was. With it flooding the terrain of Atlas, in less than a year, the landmass would be back to its full splendor, and things would not end there as the energy would keep nurturing the continent, allowing the growth of the Inferno Daemon Race! Immediately, the members of the Inferno Daemon Race turned toward the Scarlet King with a sense of adoration and devotion that made it seem they would march into death if the man commanded it. Their home, which would have needed centuries to recover, would heal in a year and grow even stronger! Of course, such vast and beautiful terrain was bound to attract greed from others, but the Inferno Daemon Race was not afraid. While their numbers were low, they had three of the 13 Stars of Doomsday, and they believed from the bottom of their souls that as long as they followed the Scarlet King, he would protect them. Cain smiled as he saw that everything went well with the Anti-Dark Fog Towers. The structures were designed to emit radiation, and if the fuel infused in them was part of the world''s energy and essence, it would naturally heal any damage to the landmass. He did that to reward the Inferno Daemon Race. They had fought bravely during every second of the war, and also because he could not allow a continent to be lost for centuries, as that would diminish the number of people and geniuses that could rise in the future. ''Now it is time for my own power!'' A sharp and determined light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he saw how the world was healing, and the next second he took a deep breath. The warriors of the Sacred Races saw how the Scarlet King''s aura was rising higher and higher, before suddenly a torrent of red flames emerged from his brain. Awe appeared in the eyes of all the powerhouses as they saw that massive amount of Ego Wave gathered above Cain''s head, emanating a power that suffocated all those with a battle power beneath the Peak Divine Ascension Realm. Cain unleashed more and more of his Ego Wave, coalescing everything above his head, before his determination and focus burst as he shouted with all his strength, "Soul Severing Will!" Those three words echoed across the sky and earth as the massive flaming sea of Ego Wave coalesced in the form of an infinitesimally thin blade. The Collapsing Lightning Emperor and the rest of the powerhouses could not help but take a step back. Just gazing at the blade made them feel their minds would split in half. It had a severing power that could defy even the sharpest swords in the world, and its nature was beyond the physical realm. "ZNNNNNN!" The infinitesimally thin blade flashed down at an impossible speed, descending through Cain''s body. It did not damage the flesh in any sense, but a sense of utter and absolute agony assaulted Cain as he felt how his soul was split in two! Cain''s focus and willpower exploded as it took everything he had not to lose himself in the agony and pain. Immediately using all his power, he took control over both pieces of his soul, sending one into the Rebirth Heart and the other into the Evolution Core. It was finally time to evolve into the Divine Ascension Realm, going beyond the Physical Realm of Cultivation and reaching the Soul Realm! The moment the two pieces of his soul merged into his Sacred Organs, Cain felt the unbearable agony start to fade away. While the pieces of the soul were still separated, they were held by a single vessel, his body, allowing them to resonate and avoid dissonance or further damage. Of course, the pieces of Cain''s soul were still damaged but that would be taken care of the next second since now that the Rebirth Heart and the Evolution Core had obtained the core component that was the soul, they started their evolution. Cain adopted a meditative position in the air, using his power to temporarily stop the evolution of the Rebirth Heart so he could fully focus on the Evolution Core. He took control of the soul force and made sure it would flawlessly channel its energy into the Essence Star. Slowly the tremendous power of his soul merged with the energy core tempered by the Laws of Wind, Water, Earth, Fire, Space, and Time. A massive amount of energy began to radiate from Cain''s body, spreading everywhere and generating all sorts of majestic phenomena and mythical beasts. That was a manifestation of the purity of Cain''s Essence Wave and the might of his Laws. While it was a majestic scene, he did not let it distract him as he continued fusing his soul with the Essence Star that glowed with even more intensity, emanating a radiant and blinding light. Finally, after several hours of immense focus and granular control, every iota of that piece of Cain''s soul fused into the Essence Star, creating a unified and powerful core. All the energy and light it was emitting began to suck into that new core, and that was not all as every single dot of Essence Wave that flowed through Cain''s body also began to march into the new structure. Chapter 967 967: Reaching the Soul Realm (II) A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he felt the unique construct born out of the Essence Star and his soul consuming every dot of Essence Wave he had. That was a critical process, and usually, cultivators would ensure they had all sorts of wave crystals at hand, but he had something even better. "AHHHH!" Cain roared as he triggered the full power of his Primordial Path, drawing the world''s natural energy and cosmic force with as much power as he could, fusing it into the Essence Wave that the construct was devouring. Natural energy and cosmic force were forces of an even higher tier than normal Essence Wave one could find in supreme wave crystal, and there was practically a never-ending supply of it, so Cain could give the construct as much as it could take. Oceans of energy flowed through Cain''s body into the construct, which took everything with a ravenous force until finally, after five hours, it could no longer hold anything more. "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!" A thunderous explosion echoed inside Cain''s body the next second as the unique construct born out of the Essence Star and soul exploded upon successful fusion, radiating its energies outward. Luckily, thanks to his solid foundation and body, Cain''s Evolution Core was able to contain all that energy, even improving, gaining a crystalline form similar to what one would see from a Crystal Wall. Cain knew his Evolution Core would be the hardest part of his body. However, what truly drew his full attention was the event that happened inside it. The explosion created a primordial space within his Sacred Organ, full of chaotic and raging energy. While the amount of energy inside the Evolution Core was exponentially higher than the one held inside his Essence Star, it was too chaotic and lacked any form of order, making it impossible to use in battle. At this point, the Laws that Cain had trained and infused into the Sacred Organ came into effect as they started to create a matrix that would reign over the chaotic energy. Cain watched with awe and wonder how under the power of the Inner Universe Divine System, the Laws began to form a glowing spider web that extended across the entire dimension. In the next second, a proper space began to form, starting as a small, embryonic dimension. It was the size of a small city but gradually expanded and stabilized, using the energy that Cain supplied and the Laws that had been engraved. The more energy and higher mastery of the Laws, the more it could grow. Cain''s Essence Wave had been purified to the extreme by his Laws and tribulations, and he had supplied a literal ocean of extra energy through the use of natural energy and cosmic force. As for his mastery over the cosmic forces, the density of his Laws reached a level that was similar to that of Aether, the utter peak a cultivator could theoretically reach. The inner dimension continued to grow, and Cain saw the formation of elemental landscapes, energy flows, massive mountains, and majestic rivers. It was growing larger and larger until it finally matched the size of a continent! Cain was shocked as he saw the size his Inner World managed to reach. Normally, most cultivators would be lucky to have an Inner World the size of a Sector, and those with talent could reach around three to five times that size. However, an entire continent was incredible, and it would continue to grow as he advanced from the Early Divine Ascension Stage to the Peak, maybe even reaching the size of all Aether''s landmass! Of course, the amount of energy held would not be equal after all a world like Aether has been growing for millions or billions of years, but it would still give Cain a massive amount of energy he could use to unleash cataclysmic attacks. Although the power was shocking, Cain did not dare to lose focus as he took a deep breath and stabilized the inner dimension, ensuring that the energy flows were balanced and harmonious before allowing them to flow through his meridians and flesh. Immediately, Cain felt his power grow massively as his understanding and control over the Laws rose to a new level. The feeling of power was ecstatic and made a radiant smile appear on his face. "?BOOM!" Suddenly Cain''s body trembled as a massive wave of energy emerged from his body, spreading in all directions, flooding the earth and sky with the forces of his Inner World, making all sorts of majestic phenomena appear. Cain allowed his mind and spirit to relish in the sense of growing power. However, that was just for a few minutes, as he still needed to focus on his other Sacred Organs. A sense of sharpness and focus emerged in his eyes as he focused on the Rebirth Heart and renewed the flow of his soul into the heart. Under Cain''s guidance, the Rebirth Heart and the soul force resonated at a deep, fundamental level, aligning their energy patterns. This step was crucial for creating a stable fusion between the Sacred Organ and his soul. The Rebirth Heart soon started to glow with a radiant light, symbolizing the successful integration of the two forces, and from Cain''s body, a crushing pressure and life force began to emanate. Space-time began to twist due to the physical might his body was starting to unleash, while the earth beneath him was flooded with a powerful vitality that made all sorts of flora emerge. As the fusion between Cain''s Rebirth Heart and his soul advanced, he could not help but glance at the sky. It was a sunny day, and there was nothing but a clear blue sky, yet his eyes began to widen as a sense of utter and absolute shock appeared in them. "I see, I finally see it." Cain''s eyes glowed with millions of dots of light, each carrying a formidable and incredible power that seemed capable of burning oceans and piercing entire worlds! Chapter 968 968: Radiant Solaris The reason for the awe and shock in Cain''s eyes was that he was finally gazing at the Astral Supremacy Stars¡ªthe key to transforming his body and attaining a true rebirth, transitioning from a being of flesh and blood to a cosmic entity whose body is composed of Star Power. The core of the Star Sovereign Divine System revolves around the interaction of the cultivator''s soul with the Astral Supremacy Stars, embodiments of Laws in the form of heavenly bodies existing in a higher dimension of reality. A cultivator harnessing Star Power has a body hundreds of times stronger than someone using mere Astral Wave. Beyond that, with Astral Supremacy Stars coursing through their flesh and blood, cultivators gain unpredictable and unbelievable special abilities. A single move could release a power akin to the Laws themselves. Once his soul fully merged with his Rebirth Heart, Cain could harness the power of those massive heavenly bodies. The mere thought made his fists clench and excitement surge through his mind. "RUMBLE!" Cain''s body trembled with such might that the earth and sky around him shook in response. The soul force and the Rebirth Heart fully merged, creating a new, unified organ. Now, his heart was ready to unleash a soul force capable of interacting with the Astral Supremacy Stars. A sense of utter and absolute focus appeared in Cain''s eyes, burning with resolve and willpower. This next part was essential, as it would complete the evolution of his Astral Rebirth Path of Power from the Physical Realm of Cultivation to the Soul Realm. The Astral Supremacy Stars are divided into three thousand sets, each corresponding to a specific Star Power. These sets range from weaker stars that are easier to harness to the mightiest stars that offer immense power, but whose Star Power is immensely complex to draw. Typically, cultivators would begin drawing Star Force from the weaker stars, using this power to temper and enhance their bodies. As their cultivation base and foundation strengthen, they progress to harnessing the powers of more potent Astral Supremacy Stars, gradually integrating these into their being. However, those with an extremely powerful foundation and talent could draw the strength of higher-ranked Astral Supremacy Stars from the beginning, accelerating their cultivation speed and enhancing their potential and talent. Cain gathered all the power he could muster inside his Rebirth Heart before gazing at the heavens, focusing his mind and soul on the Astral Supremacy Stars. His strength rose higher and higher until it finally reached its zenith. "AHHHHHH!" With a resonating roar, all the soul force from Cain''s Rebirth Heart burst into the highest heavens, and through the Star Sovereign System Laws, it began to interact with the Astral Supremacy Stars. In just a second, Cain saw a small, glowing ember star, representing the initial spark of solar energy. "Ember Radiance." Immediately, the name of the Astral Supremacy Star appeared in Cain''s mind. It was a Rank 1 Astral Supremacy Star, and its power was unimpressive, suitable only for those with little talent. Without hesitation, Cain''s soul force continued to rise, reaching the next tier. It was a slightly more potent star that offered stronger heat and light than the Ember Radiance. "Spark of Dawn." It was a Rank 2 Astral Supremacy Star and a very powerful one among its kind, but still too weak for Cain, so his soul force rose higher. A few seconds later, Cain''s soul was drawn to a star that flickers with growing solar energy. It seemed to improve heat and light manipulation, granting the ability to create solar flares at higher stages of cultivation and significantly enhancing bodily resilience. The solar flares that this Astral Supremacy Star would grant were not like those a cultivator could create through spells or abilities, but true solar flares like those from a sun, capable of incredible destructive power. "Flickering Sol." The name of the Rank 3 Astral Supremacy Star echoed in Cain''s mind. It was powerful and one most talented Astral Cultivators would dream to attain, but it was still not enough for him, so his soul force pushed forward, rising even higher. Pushing his soul force to the next tier was much harder this time, but Cain''s soul force broke the barrier, and he saw a star that glimmered with consistent solar power. There was a sense of stability in this one as if it could provide the cultivation power to grow without end. It released continuous heat and light emission, with solar shields spontaneously appearing around it. "Glimmering Starfire." Cain focused on the Astral Supremacy Star for a moment and knew it would not only increase his power but also enhance energy absorption and recovery. However, while this was the type of Astral Sovereign Star that could allow the density of his cultivation base to equal a Divine Transformation Astral Cultivation, it was still not enough. With renewed force, Cain pushed his soul force even higher, rising among the majestic Astral Sovereign Stars, reaching toward a higher tier. His eyes grew bloodshot, and streams of blood began to rise from his nose, but soon he saw a massive radiant body. It was a star that radiated powerful solar energy, its heat so intense that it could easily set ablaze the atmosphere in a weak world, killing trillions of life forms in a single move. Harnessing the full might of this Astral Supremacy Star would allow monstrous heat and light projection, solar flares that could burn continents, and the ability to enhance and heal wounds using solar energy. "Radiant Solaris." Cain could not help but take a moment to gaze at the impressive Rank 5 Astral Supremacy Star. Its power was even higher than the Dark Astral Supremacy Stars that Michael Goldsoul used to temper his body. Every cell in Cain''s body urged him to take on the power of that majestic Astral Supremacy Star, as it would give him benefits beyond imagination. However, his eyes burned with resolve as he aimed even higher! Chapter 969 969: Blazing Celestial "AHHHHH!" Cain roared one final time, giving his soul force one last push, using everything he had to rise to the next Astral Supremacy Star''s tier. It felt as if a mountain was pushing him down, urging him to either take the power of Radiant Solaris or be crushed and left with nothing. Yet, Cain kept pushing forward, blood leaking from every orifice in his face as he aimed to break the barrier limiting his growth. Cain clenched his bloody teeth as he felt the power of his Rebirth Heart would not be enough to reach higher. Determination appeared in his eyes as he began to fuel it with his vitality, using his life force as a battering ram against the barrier stopping his body''s growth. As more and more of his vitality fueled the soul force emitted from his Rebirth Heart, Cain''s bulging body grew thin. His blood and strength were fading, but he kept pushing forward without hesitation. "CRACK!" The sound of breaking echoed inside Cain''s mind, and the next second, in front of his eyes, appeared layers of intense, swirling flames that ranged in color from deep red to brilliant gold. These flames moved in a constant, dynamic dance, symbolizing a volatile and powerful nature. A flash of confusion appeared on Cain''s face as he saw that sight in his mind since it was a sea of flames and not a star. However, everything became clear the next second as he pulled his mind back. The Astral Supremacy Star was so massive he could not fully appreciate it being so close. The layered flames emitted intense heat and light, capable of incinerating anything that came too close, dwarfing the power of the previous Astral Supremacy Stars. As Cain focused on it, he saw a radiant core pulsating with immense energy. The core was a brilliant, blinding white, surrounded by layers of deep, fiery hues. Its pulsation signified the star''s immense power and energy, radiating light and heat across vast distances. "Blazing Celestial," Cain uttered the name of the Rank 6 Astral Supremacy Star in awe and wonder. It was such a powerful heavenly body that it could do more than just destroy, its radiance being able to provide warmth and heat for a small world. A radiant smile appeared on Cain''s face as he used the power of his soul and drew the Star Power of the Blazing Celestial into his body. The powerhouses of the Sacred Races had watched in silence this entire time, everybody in awe as they felt how Cain''s soul force rose higher and higher through the Astral Supremacy Stars tiers. Even the best of them had only managed to draw the power of a Rank 3 Astral Supremacy Star when rising to the Divine Ascension Realm, and it took a lot of training and effort to rise to the tier. Yet, the Scarlet King pushed beyond that before properly stepping into the Divine Ascension Realm. Their shock grew stronger as a stream of scorching Star Power descended from the heavens and charged into Cain''s body, making his power burst! Cain showed a ferocious smile as the Star Power from the Blazing Celestial began to charge into his Rebirth Heart, carrying on the transformation of his Astral Wave into a higher form of energy. Unlike the Inner Universe Divine System, where the changes were contained inside the Sacred Organs, the Star Sovereign Divine System sought to transform every atom of the body. Immediately, Cain''s body, which resembled a mummy after using his vitality to push his soul forward, was flooded with life force, his muscles and veins filling with power as his bones grew stronger. The power of the Blazing Celestial''s Star Power was immense, but he could endure it thanks to his extremely deep foundation. The process carried on for hours, and every minute Cain''s body grew stronger. Finally, his Astral Wave had completely evolved, and his evolution to the Divine Ascension Realm in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power was completed. "BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" A blazing wave of energy emanated from Cain''s body, spreading in all directions and setting the air ablaze. While extremely destructive, those flames were able to nurture the earth and sky as well, destroying the old but giving room for something even stronger to rise. The feeling of physical power running through Cain''s body made him feel like nothing short of a monster. Right now, he felt that even if a meteorite were to strike him, he would face no damage at all! "System, scan me!" Cain could not contain his thrill and excitement and wanted to see just how powerful he had truly become after this rebirth. [Scanning Vessel... ... Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godslayer Humankind / Primordial Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Early Divine Ascension) / Essence Evolution (Early Divine Ascension) / Ego Eternal (Third Realm) Lineage: Sun Lord Lineage Wave Talent: Fourth Order Neo-Demon ... Stats: Strength: 4.0 ¡ú 6.0 (8.1) Agility: 1.5 ¡ú 3.1 (4.3) Vitality: 5.4 ¡ú 6.9 (9.4) Astral Origin: 2.2 ¡ú 4.9 (6.2) Essence Origin: 2.5 ¡ú 6.0 (8.3) Soul Force: 1.9 ¡ú 4.1 Ego Wave: 3.5 ¡ú 7.2 ... Astral Supremacy Star: Blazing Celestial (Rank 6) Law Mastery: Law of Space (Extreme Law Integration) Law of Time (Extreme Law Integration) Earth Law (Extreme Law Integration) Water Law (Extreme Law Integration) Fire Law (Extreme Law Integration) Wind Law (Extreme Law Integration) ... Note: Astral Wave and Essence Wave have evolved into Astral Origin and Essence Origin. Their energy density and quality are of a much higher realm, capable of providing stronger spell power and body refinement. Note: The Blazing Celestial''s Star Power and the Laws emanating from the Inner World have evolved the Vessel''s Lineage from Sun Master to Sun Lord. New Lineage improves physical might and regeneration and boosts the power of heat and light abilities. Note: Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 0%. The Wave Virus is incapable of affecting Vessel''s genome. Note: Natural energy and celestial force have enhanced every aspect of the Vessel''s physical body, including the Astral Wave and Essence Wave. The current value is marked between ().] Chapter 970 970: Sun Seeds evolution (I) Cain''s eyes widened as he saw his stats. The last time he checked them was just a few days ago, after awakening from his coma, and they had risen immensely, especially his Ego Wave, which was now the highest. His physical might and energy pool were not the only improvements since the enhancement from the Blazing Celestial Astral Supremacy Star and the Laws emanating from his Inner World had evolved his Lineage and improved his talent. The feeling of power was shocking, and he felt strong enough to level the entire Sector with a single strike, the power to kill billions with a wave of his hand. Soon, focus returned to his eyes, and he took a deep breath as he glanced around, watching the warriors of the Sacred Races gazing at him with awe. A small frown rose on Cain''s face as he saw the division between the light camp and the dark camp. Unfortunately, his massive rise in brute power could not solve this problem. Sharpness and severity appeared in Cain''s expression as he rose to the sky, his willpower harmonizing with the World King Avatar that had fused with the World Will. Immediately, the connection was formed, and under the terrified gaze of the warriors of the Sacred Races, a massive golden face identical to Cain''s covered the sky of Atlas. "RETURN TO YOUR HOMES AND WAIT FOR MY SUMMON!" A thunderous voice emerged from the golden face, echoing across the Atlas Continent with such might that it seemed the sky would shatter the next second. It was a power the warriors of the Sacred Races could not even quantify. Suddenly, Cain frowned as his eyes, along with the golden face in the sky, turned to a Sector in the south of Atlas. The place was a coastal sector, away from everyone, and there was no sign of people or even Wave Beasts in it. That zone was hundreds of millions of kilometers away. Still, Cain''s willpower and perception could expand through an entire continent when channeling the power of the World Will through his World King Avatar. His focus soon turned to a small and inconspicuous mountain that seemed void of any form of life. Coldness emerged in Cain''s eyes as his willpower burned with strength, and the next second, a golden hand descended from the sky. It was massive and so fast that in less than a second, it shattered the mountain. The warriors of the Sacred Races could not perceive that far away, but through their reports from soldiers in the vicinity, they heard of the massive golden hand descending from the sky, and their sense of shock and awe toward the Scarlet King only rose higher. The young man was no different than a supreme divine entity capable of immense destruction hundreds of millions of kilometers away without moving a finger. That display increased the sense of shock in the warriors of the Sacred Races, which was good, but that was not the reason why Cain did it. As his willpower and perception expanded through Atlas, he detected a person he had been hunting for several years hiding in that small mountain. ''Mirage King, the last of the Dark Kings. Atlas would have been the last place I would have looked for you, but I guess that is why you hid here.'' Cain''s eyes were cold as his energy trapped the Mirage King. With a single thought, he could destroy her, but instead, he sealed her energy and teleported her into the [Samsara Arsenal Module]. A small smile appeared on Cain''s face after that. While The Organization had stopped being a concern for him a long time ago, it was nice to finally erase the last shred of that force from Aether. After taking care of the Mirage King, Cain''s attention returned to the powerhouses of the Sacred Races, and all of them clasped their hands and performed a deep bow before shouting in unison. "We obey the Scarlet King!" Cain nodded, and the next second he waved his hand, creating a portal that led them back to Infinite Horizon. From there, the warriors could use the Bridge of Hope to return to their continents. The powerhouses of the Sacred Races bowed once more toward the Scarlet King before marching into the portal to Infinite Horizon. All the warriors went through the portal, even those of the Inferno Daemon Race since it would make the trip to the populated areas of Atlas faster. It did not take long for Cain to be the only one left. His eyes wandered in all directions as he allowed his mind to truly immerse in the might of the World Will''s power. In this state, his strength was several times higher, and he could sunder the continent, but he did not allow himself to get lost in it. "Ultimately, it is only borrowed power. I will lose access to it once I leave the world." Cain took a deep breath as he broke the connection with his World King Avatar. He had a lot of things to do, but before starting with the long diplomatic schemes, there was one final aspect of his power that he needed to take care of. Cain glanced into the distance and began to teleport. His speed and ability to twist space were incredibly high now that he was using his Inner World and Essence Origin as fuel. It did not take him long to reach deep within the Endless Ocean. Once there, Cain rose to the highest sky and adopted a meditative stance as he focused on the Sun Seed and began revolving the power of the Empyrean Sun Visualization Technique. The first three realms of the Ego Eternal Path of Power were Mind Over Body, Mind Over Wave, and Mind Over Matter. Each marked a massive breakthrough, not only in the size of the Ego Wave but in the power of your willpower to interact with the world and yourself. Chapter 971 971: Sun Seeds evolution (II) While during Mind Over Body and Mind Over Wave, it was all about the size and strength of your willpower, things changed from the Third Realm forward. From Mind Over Matter, you not only had to focus on the size of your Ego Wave but also its quality, which first manifested as its evolution from an energy field to a fiery physical body of psychic energy. Normally, the evolution of your Ego Wave from energy to physical would take decades if not centuries, but thanks to the power of the Royal Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulation, Cain''s willpower was able to finish its evolution to a psychic flame the moment it evolved to the Third Realm. By all measures of quantity and quality, Cain''s willpower had reached the peak of the Third Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power. However, to advance further, there were several things he needed to take care of first. First of all, his Ego Eternal Matrix, which was held inside his brain, was no longer able to hold the full might of his Ego Wave and willpower, so he needed a new dimension. Luckily, he had one empty, a dimension designed to hold psychic and mental power, and its main occupant no longer needed it. A solemn light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he focused on his soul sea. The dimension no longer had that imposing body of water that extended as far as the eye could see, as up to the last iota of soul force had been fused into the Sacred Organs. However, there was still one thing inside the dimension, and that was his Sun Seed. The Alter-Ego was bursting with power and energy, ready to explode at any moment, as it had already obtained all the nurturing and power needed for it to evolve. The next evolution would not be just in size and energy but much more. Now that Cain''s Ego Wave had evolved from an energy field to physical form, it was time for the Alter-Ego to do the same, becoming the core and master of the dimension. Cain took a deep breath as he took control over his Alter-Ego, placing it in the center of his soul sea. Once the Sun Seed took its place at the core of the dimension, he allowed its power to explode with all its might. The first thing the Sun Seed did was extend its power to Cain''s brain, where it took control of the Ego Eternal Matrix and devoured it, marking its advantage as the absolute core of Cain''s willpower and ego. With this new force, it was able to flood the soul sea with psychic energy, transforming it into something even greater: a Soul Dimension! The difference was only one word, but the Soul Dimension was immensely more powerful than the soul sea. It was a place of psychic nature capable of a true physical body, just like the Ego Wave. A massive landmass of volcanic rock and fiery celestial bodies soon materialized. Those were physical bodies made of the Alter-Ego''s psychic energy, marking the evolution of the soul sea into the Soul Dimension. The process took several hours, but by the time it ended, inside Cain''s brain there was a massive dimension that did not feel second to his Inner World. However, while the world inside the Evolution Core was based on Laws and Essence Origin, the one built in the brain took its core in psychic energy and was not meant to evolve. While Cain felt how his mental defenses rose immensely thanks to the evolution of his soul sea to the Soul Dimension, this dimension was just a container and would not be the key to his power like the Inner World. The true core of the power of his Ego Wave would be his Alter-Ego, now ready to finally evolve. The radiance with which the Sun Seed glowed was higher and higher to the point it illuminated the entire Soul Dimension. Finally, cracks formed around its surface. "ROOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRR!" Cain''s eyes widened as the next second, a massive roar emerged from inside his Alter-Ego, and as the Sun Seed shattered, a massive creature emerged. A fantastical scene emerged inside Cain''s Soul Dimension as a colossal serpentine creature appeared. The creature, with its dark, scaly body, was coiled and exuded an aura of immense power that seemed to suppress the entire world. Its eyes glowed a fiery red, matching the intense, burning aura emanating from its body. The serpentine creature''s mouth was open, revealing sharp teeth capable of ripping souls to pieces, and it roared with a fire that could burn the mind and soul of weak life forms. Its claws were outstretched, adding to its menacing appearance. Intricate, glowing symbols and patterns on the serpentine creature''s body gave it a mystical and ancient appearance. As it extended through the Soul Dimension, its eyes seemed to gaze beyond. In the next second, Cain''s eyes burned with red fire as his Ego Wave emerged from his Soul Sea and took the form of the massive serpentine creature, extending for five thousand meters! The Alter-Ego was no longer just an energy body or metaphysical manifestation; now that Cain''s Ego Wave had completed its evolution from energy to physical, the colossal serpentine creature was a true avatar of flesh and blood! "RRROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRR!" The Alter-Ego roared once more, unleashing waves of fire and destruction in all directions as it proclaimed its power. It did not contain its force in the slightest, sending a heat that set the air ablaze and began to burn the ocean beneath it. That was why Cain chose to leave Atlas. During the evolution of his Alter-Ego, it would be chaotic and raging. It was not wise to contain it as it would be like suppressing your feelings and emotions, so he chose a place where he would harm no one. It was nothing short of an amazing, cataclysmic, and mythical scene as the sight of the colossal serpentine creature waved around Cain''s figure, its massive body capable of incredible destruction and vibrating with immense power. Chapter 972 972: Alter Egos weaponization Cain felt the power of the Alter-Ego, the gargantuan beast the size of a city capable of setting the sky ablaze. The massive serpentine creature could fight on its own, and its power would be nothing short of extraordinary, matching half of the strength he could unleash with his body and Laws. Of course, it took nearly every iota of Ego Wave to materialize such a gargantuan creature in the real world. The most practical use of the Alter-Ego''s power would be to keep it inside the Soul Dimension, the realm within Cain''s brain, where it would increase his mental and spiritual defenses even more. When inside the Soul Dimension, the Alter-Ego''s power could run through Cain''s body and energy. It was better to have an extremely powerful entity than two average ones. Cain stared at the Alter-Ego with a smile. It carried a sense of immense purity and warmth that could help people rise and grow stronger. The five-thousand-meter-tall serpentine creature carried the sun''s warmth, its power capable of healing the soul and mind of those who bask in its might. That perfectly represented the most basic state of Cain''s personality and ego. However, that majestic warmth and sense of empathy would not last for long. A cold and sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he adopted a meditative position in the sky. According to the Codex of Infinite Pathways, the Fourth Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power was known as Mind Over Soul. This stage represented the ultimate mastery of the soul, integrating it seamlessly with the mind, body, and energy. It was extremely important as it would not only allow your willpower to fuse into your soul force, increasing the strength of your Inner World and Rebirth Heart. If that was not enough, it would also improve your cultivation speed as it would enhance the development of the Sacred Organs. The key to advancing past the Third Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power was through the weaponization of the Alter-Ego. You needed to evolve its power, channeling the power of the Concepts into the psychic energy that formed its flesh and blood. Once you do that, your Alter-Ego will not be just a metaphysical manifestation of your ego and willpower but will evolve into what you seek to become. This was a very important decision in the cultivation path of power. It would reveal what the powerhouse sought to achieve and what their journey through the first three Realms of the Ego Eternal Path of Power had taught them. They needed to be true to themselves and no longer rely on insight and instincts. A cultivator who sought to reach Mind Over Soul was someone who had seen beyond the threads of fate and who was no longer bound by the world''s naivety. It was a master who would carve a unique path according to his desire and the way he sought to shape the world around him. Cain was the supreme leader of Aether, a figure of worship by this point, and considered the ultimate existence capable of raising everybody that got near him. However, the truth was Cain did not feel like that. It was true that people around him got stronger, but the sources of most of that power were not him but the Absolute Life Form System. It was through the modules and tools of the system that he could help the warriors of the Sacred Races to rise. Of course, the Absolute Life Form System was part of his soul, so it was his power. Yet, the one module that Cain had harmonized more purely was not the [Genetic Coder Module] that sought to improve and enhance bloodlines and growth, nor the [Enhancement Module] that sought to fix the flaws in people and help them rise. When it came to the Absolute Life Form System, he harmonized in the purest form with the [Gluttony Module] to the point he was able to learn and strengthen a Concept through it, having developed the Gluttony Concept the most of all his Concepts. It was true that Cain was a leader, but he was a leader of war. Whenever he got in control of a large force, he led them into massacres. Of course, he only killed the evil and wicked who sought to bully the frail and old. Yet that did not change the fact that the first time he got in control of a powerful force, the Scarlet Inquisition, he used it to butcher and consume the underworld of the Hyperion Continent, devouring the lives and souls of billions. Cain was not blind to his own transformation. His initial drive, to spread life and seek power, had evolved into something more. He no longer sought indiscriminate growth, but rather, whenever a problem arose in his path, he sought to destroy it and then consume it, using the corpses of his enemies to fuel his power. This was a stark realization, a testament to his evolution. As Cain accepted that side of him and knew his goals and path would not be one of kindness and indiscriminate growth, a sharp light appeared in his eyes as he began to summon the power of the Concepts he had mastered through his life. Under the power of Cain''s will and soul force, streams of psychic force began to emerge from the sky and earth and flooded into the body of the Alter-Ego. Four Concepts were channeled into the serpentine creature: one full of life, another full of power, one carrying a sundering aura, and the last and most potent carrying an insatiable devouring nature. Cain observed the streams of psychic force channeling into the Alter-Ego, and changes began to stir within it. However, these changes were painstakingly slow, a process that would span decades before the full evolution took place. Luckily, Cain was special and the next second, his eyes glowed as he connected with the World King Avatar. Immediately after that, the small streams of psychic energy burst, transforming into massive currents that flooded every inch of the Alter-Ego. Chapter 973 973: Rise, Leviathan! "ROOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRR!" A thunderous roar erupted from the Alter-Ego, shaking the very fabric of reality as the power of the Concepts surged through its being, catalyzing a profound transformation. The golden light in its eyes deepened to a menacing crimson, embodying an insatiable hunger that began to radiate from within as the power of gluttony coursed through its body. Its scales darkened, becoming as hard as enchanted obsidian, adorned with intricate, shimmering runes that pulsed with arcane energy. The fangs elongated, becoming razor-sharp instruments of destruction. This was no mere change; it was a grand and awe-inspiring metamorphosis. The Alter-Ego evolved from a pure entity into an unparalleled weapon of devastation. Every fiber of its being was infused with the essence of the Concepts, propelling it beyond the confines of the Third Realm, ascending to new heights of power and menace. As more and more psychic energy flooded into the body of the Alter-Ego, a solemn light appeared on Cain''s face. He had been funneling psychic energy into the serpentine creature for hours, and its power had been rising immensely. Still, he felt it had yet to thoroughly obtain a quality evolution. An idea appeared in Cain''s mind, and he knew it could be extremely dangerous, but if it worked, the power of his Alter-Ego would grow massively. He focused and vanished from the sky over the Endless Ocean. Luckily, that was not a problem for the evolution of the Alter-Ego as the World King Avatar kept fueling the serpentine creature with the psychic power of the Concepts. It did not take long for Cain to return, carrying two pieces of a headless corpse the size of a mountain. Even though there was no soul, a pungent psychic energy emanated from the corpse, as its entire body was made of that substance. The corpse Cain had brought was none other than that of the grand Depravita of Gluttony. His eyes were sharp as he threw the massive corpse to the Alter-Ego. As soon as the serpentine creature gazed at the corpse of the Depravita of Gluttony, an insatiable hunger assaulted it. It felt that the core component of its body was also contained in that corpse. It did not hesitate before lunging forward, grabbing the pieces with its massive claws, and ravenously consuming them. A solemn light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he saw his Alter-Ego consuming the corpse of the Depravita of Gluttony. He understood that even if the soul was gone, the aura and energy of the Depravita Race were capable of immense corruption. Of course, he had not done this without thinking. His body, soul, and willpower had been enduring the power and radiation of the Ancient Key, which held some of the purest essence of the forces of the Depravita Race, and he had been able to adapt without any damage, so he was confident his Alter-Ego could handle this. The size of the corpse of the Depravita of Gluttony was nearly three thousand meters, but the Alter-Ego did not take more than five minutes to consume every inch of it. "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!" Once the entire corpse of the Depravita of Gluttony was inside the belly of the Alter-Ego, a burst of devouring power emerged, consuming the psychic energy that the World King Avatar sent much faster. Its power was rising higher and higher when suddenly the Alter-Ego began to tremble. Under Cain''s surprised gaze, its body started to petrify. The petrification process was incredibly fast, and in less than three seconds, the gargantuan body, more than five thousand meters long, was nothing but rock. Such a sight should have terrified Cain, as the loss of his Alter-Ego was essentially the loss of his mind, but there was no fear in his eyes. A cold and brutal smile appeared on his face as he took a deep breath and closed his eyes, attuning with the power held inside the petrified body, ready to burst. The name of his new Alter-Ego was important as it would correlate to the name and powers it would express in the future, which would signify his own identity. "Rise, Leviathan!" Cain opened his eyes and shouted with all his strength, his body radiating in all directions with the might of a cataclysmic explosion. Immediately, along with those thunderous words, a massive creature blasted through the petrified head, emerging at a shocking speed, its serpentine body so massive that it seemed to take over the entire sky. The Alter-Ego was ten thousand meters tall now, adopting a much more sentient nature. Having lost its claws, it had a much more sinister appearance and darker and menacing features. Its scales appeared darker and more ominous, and the psychic energy gave off an eerie, malevolent glow. Its eyes carried a powerful intent, burning with a hellish fire that conveyed its insatiable gluttony. The runes along its body appeared more chaotic and destructive, emitting a darker energy. Its fangs were sharper and more deadly, with a hint of darkness as the power of the Sundering Concept ran through them. The symbols of life interwoven with its body had evolved into a darker version, seemingly stealing life from others and making it its own. Runes carrying the Concept of Power were held deep inside the gargantuan creature, enhancing its devouring speed and power. "ROOOOOOAAAAARRRRRR!" Leviathan unleashed a thunderous roar. It started as a high-pitched screech that evolved into a deep, resonant bellow lasting several seconds and cracking the fabric of space. Not even a second later, the Alter-Ego turned toward the petrifying corpse of its previous incarnation falling into the ocean. Immediately, it opened its massive jaws and began devouring, bringing in the broken pieces and creating a water typhoon! Cain was in awe of the power that his Alter-Ego could unleash. Its destructive might was nothing short of amazing, and through the use of the Concepts contained inside its flesh and blood, the battle power it might unleash would not fall behind the full might of his body and Laws! Chapter 974 974: The Tower Cain was transfixed by the sight of the majestic beast, its power so immense that it commanded the sky and the ocean, unstoppable in its path. A brilliant light ignited in his eyes as he sent a command. Leviathan immediately turned its focus toward Cain and, without delay, flashed toward him at a shocking speed, capable of blasting through entire mountain ranges. It reached Cain in less than a second, and the gargantuan creature transformed into a flow of psychic energy as it pierced into his brain. Cain saw how, in the next second, Leviathan materialized inside his Soul Dimension, and the demonic serpent roared once more, flooding the area with its psychic energy. A flaming Ego Wave emerged from his brain, extending for millions of kilometers, nearly two times larger than before! "So much power!" A feeling of utter awe assaulted Cain as he felt the strength of his Ego Wave. He had barely taken the first step into Mind Over Soul, yet the enhancement to the Astral Rebirth and Essence Evolution Paths of Power was immense. And that was not all, as Cain felt his enhanced Ego Wave allowed him to harness even more of the World Will''s power! A smile full of thrill appeared in Cain''s mind as a winged figure came to mind. The sight of that man harnessing the power of the sun and sundering a dark army in half with a single strike in the oniric realm had not faded. The first time Cain saw it, he was baffled and could not even understand it, but a sharp light appeared in his eyes as he was sure that if he managed to harness the full power of the World Will, he could fight that person head-on! Of course, Cain did not lose himself too much in those thoughts, as this was borrowed power. Focus returned to his eyes as he retracted his Ego Wave. A solemn light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he turned toward Infinite Horizon. He needed to return and put in place his plans and schemes to reach a true unification of Aether. ''Ahhh, there are so many moving pieces, and I need to do it before the rise of Aether from the World Forge into the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe.'' Cain could not help but sigh at the titanic task he needed to complete before the ascension. Right now, Aether was a single world encapsulated and isolated from the rest of the universe, away from any ideology or organization that could interfere with Cain''s plan and control. However, things would drastically change once they reached the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe. Although Cain had no idea just how sharp and intense the xenophobia and racial division would be in that massive universe, he did not think it would be slow due to the dream memories. One thing he was sure of was that the people in it would be monstrously powerful, and he could not keep absolute control over the world''s people if they decided to intervene. All the memories of the World Ascension and how to trigger it were already engraved in Cain''s mind by the Royal Nine Heavens Ego Destruction Tribulation, and he was eager to do it, but first, there had to be plans in motion. Cain''s eyes blazed with determination and focus as he declared, ''There is no time to waste!'' In the next instant, he began to teleport, bending space-time to his will as he propelled himself at an astonishing speed toward Infinite Horizon. It did not take long for Cain to appear above Infinite Horizon. The place had been full of life since its inception during the entire war, as it was where warriors would come to rest and exchange their Ouroboros Points, but now it was empty. Cain had commanded everybody to return to their homes, so they did. As for Infinite Horizon, the place that was once the dividing line between Gaia and Atlas, it was now no one''s domain but the Scarlet King''s. Cain took a deep breath as he harmonized with the World King Avatar, harnessing the power of the World Will. He flashed down like a meteorite and buried himself into the ground before unleashing every single iota of power inside his body, energy, and soul. "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" A torrent of energy emerged from Cain''s body, carrying not just his power but also that of the World Will. Its power was so strong that only a place like Infinite Horizon, whose Laws had been refined, could endure it. The torrent of energy grew larger and larger until it took the core of Infinite Horizon, with a range of several hundreds of kilometers. As it rose to the sky, the power of the Laws began to react, with red, green, brown, blue, gray, and sky-blue energies charging from the world into this beam. These were the Elemental Laws and the Laws of Space-Time, purified into the beam of energy, reacting to Cain''s superb mastery and the power of his Inner World. The Laws stand supreme in any world, so the moment they were summoned, the elements responded to his call. Streams of energy, in the form of shimmering light and vibrant colors, converged in Infinite Horizon. Earth, water, fire, and air united, creating a powerful vortex around the pillar of energy, enhancing its power even more. Cain felt how the energy beam reached its peak, and a red fire burned in his eyes as he channeled the world''s power with even greater strength. He then extended his hands, directing the energy flow back into the ground. "RUMBLE!!!" Once that massive pillar of energy, surrounded by the elemental vortex, fused into the earth, a massive earthquake took place, so powerful that it seemed it would sunder the landmass. However, something completely different happened as the foundation of a tower began to take shape. Massive stones and crystalline structures emerged, infused with Cain''s raw energy and life force. Cain''s Laws, vitality, and Ego Wave, enhanced by the power of the World Will, generated ancient runes into the foundation, each glowing with arcane energy. These runes provided stability and strength, ensuring the tower could withstand any force. The foundation rose higher and higher from the earth for nearly two weeks before suddenly separating from the ground and rising to the sky, floating above the clouds! The foundation alone consumed more energy than Cain could have provided in one hundred years, and this was only possible thanks to the power of the World Will. However, such might was needed if he wanted this structure to be the core of the new unified world. After the foundation was solidified and every inch of it was stable enough that he could not break it, Cain focused his energy upwards, and the tower began to rise. The structure spiraled skyward, layer by layer. Each level was constructed from ethereal stone, glowing with an inner light and reinforced by the power of the World Will. Cain used his knowledge to shape the walls and corridors as the tower grew. The stones fit together seamlessly, forming a harmonious blend of beauty and function, completely opposite to the dark towers of the Depravita Race. At various intervals, Cain channeled the power of his Laws to create floating gardens. He summoned seeds and plants from the raw matter of his Inner World, each imbued with magical properties and enhanced with the power of the World Will. These gardens floated effortlessly, sustained by the tower''s energy, and filled the air with a majestic energy that could heal the body and mind. At the higher level, chairs filled with arcane artifacts and unique techniques emerged. Cain infused these rooms with protective spells and wards, ensuring they remained secure and accessible only to those with the right to attain the knowledge. The tower''s peak was already starting to take shape after three months of work, as it seemed it would reach beyond the Crystal Wall. At this point, Cain used Primordial Inherence to attune the tower to the natural energy and cosmic forces beyond the Crystal Wall. The tower began to draw energy from the world, and a majestic aura appeared at its peak as the cosmic forces revolved around it! The power would not only nurture it but also allow anyone inside it to reap immense benefits. It was by all measures a majestic construct that could only rise for a legendary power capable of twisting the fabric of reality. It was one in a lifetime for a world, as the amount of energy and force it consumed put a strain on Aether. The next second, Cain''s figure materialized outside the tower, and he was exhausted. Even though he had relied on the World Will, he had to use his life force and blood to make some of the components, as it was the only way to arouse the power of the Laws and cosmic forces. With a satisfied smile, he vanished inside the tower''s peak, only for the next second, Leviathan to emerge, curling its gargantuan body around the top levels. "Listen to my voice. Come to the Babel Tower!" Chapter 975 975: Babel Towers throne room "Listen to my voice. Come to the Babel Tower!" Those words did not just echo across Infinite Horizon; through the power of the Babel Tower, they reached the minds of nineteen people across Aether. All who heard it were confused, but none dared to hesitate. Although none of those nineteen had any idea what the Babel Tower was, they felt the voice coming from Infinite Horizon, and without a second thought, they marched toward it. Those from the Hyperion, Kronos, Oceanic, and Typhoon Continents used the Bridge of Hope to cross the Endless Ocean. Now that the Lovecraft Cities were completely uprooted from Aether, no spatial disturbance hindered intercontinental teleportation. However, such formations required a gargantuan amount of energy, so using the Bridge of Hope was faster and more efficient. As for those coming from Atlas and Gaia, they simply flew, and with their power, it did not take long to reach Infinite Horizon. In less than fifteen minutes, the nineteen individuals appeared in Infinite Horizon. Thirteen of them were the Stars of Doomsday, the strongest warriors of the Sacred Races, each holding at least one World Treasure and having undergone a 25 Revolution Refinement. They were the most formidable warriors that rose during the wars against Dark Sky, so it was no wonder the Scarlet King would summon them. The other six were not figures of immense raw power but held influence and respect even higher than normal True Titans and True Gods. Prime Minister Minxet glanced around and saw the Prime Ministers of all other five Sacred Races. A sharp light appeared in his eyes as a title came to his mind: ''Six Chief Counselors of the Scarlet Alliance.'' Minxet''s mind was not the only one racing as they saw this formation. However, no one had time to think as the clouds covering the sky of Infinite Horizon split apart, revealing a gargantuan tower floating in the sky. Pure and absolute awe appeared in the eyes of all the powerful warriors of the Sacred Races. It was such a majestic structure that seemed to defy logic. Even more shocking was that their Ego Waves and perception had detected nothing. Even now, only their eyes could see it, showing just how high-level the construct was. "ROOOOOOAAAAARRRRRR!" A high-pitched screech that evolved into a deep, resonant bellow descended from the highest levels of the tower, buzzing the ears of the warriors of the Sacred Races. Immediately, all of them turned to the zenith of the tower and saw a demonic snake, its scales glistening with a dark, otherworldly light, ten thousand meters wide, gazing at them with red, cold eyes. Even the 13 Stars of Doomsday could not help but freeze beneath the sight of such a majestic and powerful creature, as it made them feel that even if they worked together, it would crush them to pieces and devour their souls. However, despite the gargantuan biblical creature''s imposing and terrifying presence, no real terror rose in their hearts, as they felt the will of the Scarlet King in those fiery demonic eyes. All of the Stars of Doomsday had gone through the Codex of Infinite Pathways, and they understood that this entity was no other than the weaponized Alter-Ego of the Scarlet King. Of course, such a realization came with another blow, as it meant that the supreme leader of Aether had raised his Ego Wave to the Fourth Realm. ?Come!" Just as the masters of the Sacred Races were starting to overcome the shock, the voice of the Scarlet King manifested once more, and the next second, they all felt a strong spatial force surrounding their bodies. Of course, none of the 13 Stars of Doomsday or Prime Ministers resisted the force. The next second, they found themselves at the very pinnacle of the tower, just beneath the swirling mists that veiled the summit, their hearts pounding with anticipation. The masters of the Sacred Races could not help but look up to the ceiling and saw a vast dome made of transparent crystal, offering an unobstructed view of the heavens and the vortex of cosmic force emerging from it. As they looked around, they saw walls and floors crafted from ethereal stones that glowed softly with an inner light. The stones were seamlessly fitted together, their surfaces inscribed with ancient runes and celestial motifs that pulsed gently with arcane power, filling their bodies and minds with energy and vitality. Massive columns of luminescent crystal lined the room, each one intricately carved with images of mythical creatures, legendary battles, and cosmic events that seemed to echo the last thirty years of Aether. In those columns, one could see the feats of the Scarlet King, from his first step in the Imperial Lightning Fort to the defeat of the Depravita Race. However, those were more than just images; the warriors following the Essence Evolution Path of Power could feel the power of the Elemental Laws and Space-Time Laws engraved in them. The entire place was a divine treasure, and just by being there, the warriors felt their physical power and mastery over their Laws increase. It did not take long for the eyes of all the masters of the Sacred Races to turn to the center of the room. It was an imposing and regal seat crafted from a single piece of starlight-infused crystal. Of course, that was a throne adorned with shimmering gemstones and inscribed with runes that the warriors of the Sacred Races could not even understand. Sitting on the throne was the Scarlet King, his three eyes glowing like supernovas and his power so immense that it flooded the entire place. While the young man was just two meters tall, the way the warriors of the Sacred Races saw him was as if they were gazing at a gargantuan giant larger than a mountain and whose hands could rip continents in half. Cain''s eyes were sharp and carried a monstrously powerful aura that seemed to freeze time. "Welcome to the Babel Tower." Chapter 976 976: Six Chief Counselors of the Scarlet Alliance "Welcome to the Babel Tower." As soon as the masters of the Sacred Races heard those words, all of them immediately knelt and lowered their heads, shouting in unison. "Hail the Scarlet King!" Their voices, filled with awe, respect, admiration, and devotion, echoed through the hall as they gazed at the young man. The Scarlet King''s ability to seemingly control the world with his mind, coupled with his ever-growing aura of mystery and power, was a captivating sight. Cain nodded before waving his hand, indicating they should rise. His eyes moved through each of their faces, paying particular attention to the Prime Ministers of the Sacred Races. These six had been present during the last stages of the wars, taking control over the logistical matters and planning, and their abilities were especially helpful while Cain was in a coma healing his Ego Wave. If not for the work of these six, there was no way the Sacred Races would have placed the Anti-Dark Fog Tower at such incredible speed. "Prime Minister of the Godslayer Humankind Empire, Minxet. Step forward," Cain''s voice echoed across the room, and the middle-aged man immediately moved forward and bowed. "Prime Minister of the Inferno Daemon Race, Razputin, step forward." Immediately after that, the old man from the Nether Clan, who had worked as the main logistic center for the dark camp, stepped forward and bowed. "Prime Minister of the Deus Behemoth Race, Wanton, step forward!" A fat Deus Behemoth with sloth-like characteristics also advanced, positioning himself with the other two. "Prime Minister of the Atrox Immortus Race, Sebastian, step forward!" A thin man covered in Atrox-blade armor moved ahead, bowing to the Scarlet King as he took his position. "Prime Minister from the Anima Mechanicus Race, Kamila, step forward!" A member of the Anima Machinarium Race with feminine features advanced, adopting a solemn stance as she bowed. "Prime Minister from the Legio Eldritch Race, Zarona, step forward!" A woman with tentacles on her face and oily skin covered in a dark robe advanced, adopting a solemn stance as she bowed. All six of them were their races'' main tactical and logistic minds. They were known for their incredible governmental abilities and insight into the needs of trillions across a vast continent, ensuring proper order and laws and avoiding anarchy. Cain stared at the group and nodded before sending five emblems made of Adamantium Metal, each of them holding his Ego Mark. The Prime Ministers of the Sacred Races were shocked by the sight of the emblems. They had learned a lot about the Godslayer Humankind and knew this was the Scarlet Emblem, a symbol of the Scarlet King''s favor and trust. It was granted for the first time to Prime Minister Minxet when bestowing the title of one of the Six Chief Counselors of the Scarlet Alliance. A sharp and potent intent emerged from Cain''s eyes as he gazed at the six and spoke in a solemn voice full of power, "From now on, you are the Six Chief Counselors of the Scarlet Alliance." The shock and awe in the souls of the Prime Ministers only grew stronger as they heard those words. Everyone had been waiting for the Scarlet King to name the other five Chief Counselors of the Scarlet Alliance, and they wondered who among the members of the Godslayer Humankind Empire would gain that honor. However, the other five seats were never meant to go to humans but to the other five races! These people were all wise, yet they could barely believe there would be someone as scheming as the Scarlet King. If their hypothesis was correct, the young man had just conquered the continent of Gaia when his mind had already begun to plan the complete unification of the entire world. The Prime Ministers could not help but feel a sense of dread in their hearts as they gazed at the young man as if looking at a monster whose mind was always ten steps ahead of everyone else. Of course, that shock and dread did not cloud their minds for long, as all the Prime Ministers of the Sacred Races immediately adopted a solemn attitude and performed a deep bow. Their voices, filled with a mix of fear and respect, echoed through the room, "We thank the Scarlet King for this immense honor!" Cain''s smile grew wider as he felt the determination and conviction in the voices of these men and women. He was sure that with their help, his next plans would run much more smoothly, saving him a lot of time and trouble. With a wave of his hand, Cain made a table with six chairs appear, followed by a second row with thirteen. It was clear what they were for, and the Chief Counselors and Stars of Doomsday took their places, all of them waiting in silence to hear the words of the Scarlet King. "There are two main missions that will shape the future of Aether. The first one is a tournament that will test both the Martial Path and the Craftsmanship Path, a challenge of utmost importance." Cain''s voice was sharp, underlining the gravity of the tasks and ensuring all understood the weight of their responsibilities. "Every empire will initiate its own selection process, choosing the top one million craft masters and the best nine million warriors from their territories. There will be no age limits or rank barriers for the craft masters. The selection will focus solely on talent and ingenuity, measured by a special program I have implemented. Your primary task is to gather your finest craftsmen. For the Martial Path, the nine million selected warriors will be categorized as follows: nine hundred spots are reserved for Divine Ascension Masters, nine thousand for Apotheosis Masters, and nine hundred thousand for Wave Kings. Wave Warriors and Wave Champions will fight in the same category and fill the remaining eight million and one thousand slots. Make sure to adhere to these criteria when selecting your candidates." Chapter 977 977: Scarlet Tournament The powerhouses of the Sacred Races were not just shocked, but their very beings were filled with a profound sense of awe. The Scarlet King''s proposal was not just a tournament but a grand spectacle of unprecedented magnitude that would send waves through the entire world. While tournaments were common among martial civilizations like the Sacred Races Empire, they were usually limited to Wave Warriors and Wave Champions, with the most extraordinary having room for the clash among Wave Kings. However, the tournament the Scarlet King proposed would not just include a ranking for Apotheosis Master, but also Divine Ascension Masters! Those were the highest echelons of martial prowess, whose participation would significantly raise the stakes and intensity of the tournament. Before the war against Dark Sky, the death of a Divine Ascension Master was shocking news that would resonate across the entire continent. But now, as the martial civilization had advanced so much, they were becoming common enough for them to participate in a tournament. Cain allowed everybody a moment to analyze and digest his words before continuing with an even sharper intent. "Once the best Martial Path and the Craftsmanship Path of every empire arise, they will march into the Babel Tower. At that moment, the Scarlet Tournament will begin, and the best of the best of all the empires will all fight and challenge each other." A new wave of shock assaulted the masters. The Scarlet King would not only ensure every kingdom cultivated the best of their warriors and craftsmen, but he would then place them all against each other, distilling the best of all Aether! "The tournament will take place in the Foundation Level of the Babel Tower. It is massive enough to hold at least 100 million people and durable enough to endure strikes at my level, so there will be no problem even if Divine Ascension Masters go all out." A sharp and scheming light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he continued, "The best one million crafters and the best nine million warriors from Aether will gain the honor to move into the Babel Tower, access to my unique training ground, and the ability to gaze directly into the Codex of Infinite Pathways. They will also be able to scale its floors, each advance carrying great benefits and rewards." The Six Chief Councilors exchanged worried glances as they absorbed the entirety of the Scarlet King''s plans. While a tournament could enhance the power of Aether, the potential for discord and division was a grave concern. "My King, I wonder about the viability of this tournament. While it will indeed allow us to nurture the best of the best, it might not be wise to put the Sacred Races against each other, especially when the sense of stability is so high and animosity so low." The one who spoke was Prime Minister Minxet, his face, and eyes firm as he uttered those words. "I must agree with the old man, my King. I don''t think a tournament is the best idea at this moment," Prime Minister Razputin spoke solemnly, supporting Minxet''s idea. Cain smiled and softly nodded as he saw the group discussing his plan. He needed people who would see and express problems with his plan, not cowards who would only nod to his ideas. "I appreciate your feedback and understand your points of view. It is something I have already taken into consideration. However, the Scarlet Tournament will carry on." There was decisiveness in Cain''s voice, and no one said another word about it. While the councilors were meant to give their opinions, when the King declared his decision, there was nothing more to say. Of course, if they had a strong disagreement, they would find a way to speak in private, showing no sign of rebellion against the royal authority. "The rules of the tournament and the programs that will monitor the Craft Path of the tournament will be sent to your A.I. Chip and computer rings shortly through the Ouroboros System." Cain ensured there were no more questions and nodded before carrying on to the next part. "The second mission for the future of Aether is related to bloodlines. I need samples of all bloodlines with potential at the Divine Ascension Realm and higher to be delivered to me." Complex expressions of hesitation and disturbance marred the faces of the people in the room. For some, bloodlines were mere commodities, easily changed and handed over. But for others, they were the very essence of their identity and something beyond sacred. The idea of surrendering them was unthinkable, even when asked by the Scarlet King. Cain saw the hesitation and disturbance in the faces of everyone in the room, especially Eon, Wanton, Kabuto, and Zuko. No race had bloodlines in higher esteem than the Deus Behemoth Race, so handing it over was not easy. "I understand your hesitation and concerns. First of all, let me assure you I will not just replicate your bloodlines but will use something called the Chimera Path to make new ones. Also, these new bloodlines will be handed over to the winner of each empire''s tournament to improve these people before they enter the true Scarlet Tournament. It will benefit the entire world and give us a step forward in the right direction," Cain did not pressure the group, instead talking with a calm and serene voice, making sure they all understood the goal of these bloodlines was to improve all Aether. Those words allowed the people to ease their disturbance and finally accept. The one who asked was the supreme leader of Aether, and they would be used as rewards for the best warriors of their races, so it would help all of them grow stronger. "Excellent. Those two missions are of utmost importance for the growth and unity of Aether as a whole. Now we must discuss another two topics, with the first being the masters of the Thirteen Floors of the Babel Tower." Chapter 978 978: Revealing the truth Those words made the eyes of the 13 Stars of Doomsday glow, and immense sharpness emanated from all of their bodies. Although the Scarlet King had not said anything else, it was clear that the Thirteen Floors of the Babel Tower were related to them. "At the climactic end of the Scarlet Tournament, you will face each other in a battle, each determined to secure your ranking. Thanks to your Pseudo Immortal Bodies, you can go all out. The victor will be the first to land a blow on a vital organ. Forbidden are attacks on the Sacred Organs and the burning of your life force." Cain''s voice carried a hint of a smile as he addressed the group, their eyes ablaze with fierce determination. Competition was an excellent tool for enhancing people, constantly driving them to higher stages. Of course, it had dangers, but Cain was sure he could maintain order and prevent any mishap. The 13 Stars of Doomsday glanced at each other in silence, all driven by a desire to defeat the others and take the higher floors. It would not only mean immense honor but also put them closer to the Scarlet King. Cain allowed the focus to remain on the fight among the thirteen for a moment before an extremely solemn and sharp expression appeared on his face. This expression of absolute focus and gravity drew the attention of the Six Chief Councilors and the 13 Stars of Doomsday. The gravity in that expression reminded them of when the Scarlet King led them into the war against Dark Sky, so it was clear that the next topic would be the most important of all. "Right now, Aether finds itself in a dimension known as the World Forge. It is a unique dimension that seems to hold growing Seed Worlds until they are mature and strong enough to rise into the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe." Cain''s voice was sharp as he proceeded to reveal this knowledge. The terms Seed World and Nine Empyrean Suns Universe were not foreign to the people present as they had heard them when Horus shouted at the Scarlet King during their multiple clashes. However, it was the first time they heard about the World Forge, and it was a shocking realization to learn they were in some sort of world womb. Cain allowed the group a moment to analyze his words before continuing. "Normally, it would take Aether hundreds of millions of years to rise to the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe, but things have changed now that I became the World King. With my mind as a catalyst, Aether will rise to the higher dimension and bring all of us with it." Smiles appeared on the faces of all the warriors present as there was no greater goal for a life form than to explore what lay in the Astral Sea. Many of those present already had the cultivation base needed to perform that feat, and now that the war was over, nothing bound them to the world anymore. However, they chose not to since it would mean losing their connection to Aether and all the wonders the Scarlet King offered them. Now that they knew Aether would rise on its own, they could not help but be excited. That meant they would explore this new universe and still be able to keep their connection with their home. Soon, their excitement died down as they saw the somber expression on the Scarlet King''s face, and they all had a bad feeling about it. Cain took a deep breath as he gazed into the group''s eyes. The information he would give them would shatter the minds of weak people, but it was necessary for them to understand so they could prepare. "I know you all think Aether''s civilization is hundreds of thousands of years old. However, the World Will of Aether revealed to me that all that is a lie." The eyes and souls of all the people present shook as they heard those words. They felt their minds tremble as something extremely harsh was going to be revealed to them, but they all clenched their fists and kept their focus on the Scarlet King. "The truth is," Cain continued, "that the first true life form emerged in Aether eight thousand years ago. Before that, everything, including humanity''s arrival in Aether and the conflict with the Inferno Daemon Race that led to the division into dark and light camps, was nothing more than an illusion." The revelation hung in the air, and the faces of the powerful masters in the room instantly turned pale. Some nearly lost control of their bodies, almost collapsing to the ground as the shocking news hit them to their core. Silence reigned for several minutes, and no one spoke a word as they absorbed the information. Cain''s expression grew somber and complex as he revealed this information to the group, but he did not stop. "All of it is part of the dream memories inscribed in the Laws of the world within the World Forge." If Aether''s true civilization had been hundreds of thousands or millions of years old, this information would not have affected them much. The first two thousand years of its existence would have long passed into ancient and forgotten history. However, the Six Sacred Races of Aether were only 8,000 years old, and the events before that were still fresh in their empire''s history, considered foundational and a source of inspiration for many. Realizing it was all an illusion shook them to their foundations. As the shocking truth settled in, a wave of uncertainty washed over the room. The Six Chief Councilors and the 13 Stars of Doomsday exchanged somber glances, their minds echoing Horus''s words during the last clash with the Scarlet King. Immediately, all of them turned to Cain, and he nodded. "If the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe''s foundation is based on xenophobia and division, then they will hate a world like Aether." Chapter 979 979: Kill and devour Those words, like a thunderclap, shattered the silence in the room, leaving behind an unsettling tension. How could a mere world dare to challenge a universe? The audacity of their unity was a direct challenge to other powers of the Nine Empyrean Sun Universe, who would surely not idly watch them rise. Yet, they were trapped in a perilous stalemate. Aligning with the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe''s ideology would mean annihilating one of the camps, sparking a cataclysmic world war. The forces on both sides were evenly matched, their destructive potential so immense that a full-scale battle would reduce the world to ashes, with the victor ruling over a desolate wasteland. Of course, all that would change if the Scarlet King supported one side as his strength as the World King was absolute, but it was clear by all his plans and schemes that was not the path he was searching for. "What can we do?" Finally, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor could not help but utter those words, and everybody turned to the Scarlet King. Cain''s eyes, devoid of mercy, glinted with a chilling resolve. A hunger and savagery emanated from him, so palpable that it seemed to freeze the very air in the room. "Anyone who dares to question my rule or our ideology, we will not just kill them, but devour them, using their essence to fuel our ascent." Those words made the Six Chief Councilors and 13 Stars of Doomsday tremble as they saw the image of the Scarlet King change into that of a gargantuan serpentine monster that could swallow entire worlds. It was evident that the Scarlet King''s vision for Aether''s unification diverged from his plans for the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe. Those forces in the higher dimension would be left with a choice: align with him or face annihilation. Such ruthlessness was not without merit, but it posed a problem. "But my King, how can a mere world fight an entire universe?" Prime Minister Minxet''s blank eyes showed he did not have the slightest clue about handling the upcoming saga. Luckily for the man, the Scarlet King did not keep him waiting. "A direct clash will mean our end, but who says we must enforce a direct clash? I have the means to grow without end while hiding our true nature and protecting our people. We will bide our time, and when the right moment comes, we will show our full might and crush anyone that dares to stand in our path." The brutality and bloodlust in Cain''s eyes only grew stronger as red flames emerged, showing his determination to carry on that bloody path. In reaction to the red flames in the eyes of the Scarlet King, the eyes of the Six Chief Councilors and 13 Stars of Doomsday also burned, washing away fear and doubt and filling them with decisiveness and brutality. Cain nodded as he saw those emotions in the warriors'' eyes. He could not allow hesitation and doubts about his schemes and plans for the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe. Seeing that everything was in order, he allowed his aura to grow calm and continued. "Go on and organize the Continent Tournaments. Only the best of the best can reach the Scarlet Tournament as they will be the people that will become my spear for my plans in the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe." Cain''s voice echoed across the room, reaching the soul and will of everyone present. "I will also need all the bloodlines to reach the Babel Tower next month. No delay is acceptable." The Six Chief Councilors and the 13 Stars of Doomsday performed a deep bow as they left the Babel Tower. Those masters did not waste a single second before flashing back to their respective homes and preparing to fulfill the commands of the Scarlet King. After Cain was left alone in the throne room of the Babel Tower, an expression of tiredness appeared. There were so many plans and schemes in his mind right now that he felt his brain might explode at any moment. That expression was something people could never see as they needed an absolute leader who was in total control, someone who could make them feel they could clash with an entire universe. Cain''s willpower soon raced forward, filling him with strength and focus. He did not waste time and, the next second, vanished from the throne room, only to appear in the sky of the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer the next second. The thousands of warriors that once filled the layer were gone. After emerging from the First Layer to join the war effort, they remained outside, and if they wanted to return, they would have to do it through the Scarlet Tournament. Cain did not doubt those people would be able to return, as their training was much more intense, and the benefits they obtained over the last few years of training inside the First Layer were superb. The lack of warriors did not mean the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer was empty, as thousands of people were inside. They were not warriors but cultivators who had chosen to align their cultivation base with professions like Rune Crafting, Genetic Coding, Alchemy, Wave Crafting, or Enhancement Tribulation. While choosing that path limited their destructive potential, it allowed their cultivation speed to soar and immensely boosted their talent in their professions. These people were allowed to remain inside the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer because they were carving the treasures for the future champions of the Babel Tower. Although Cain had the Samsara Sacrificial Ground at his disposal, he wanted to diminish the reliance on it. They could feed an entire army because they were sacrificing hundreds of millions of drones every week, but that was no longer possible. Of course, the Samsara Flames were still a core of his power, but it would remain for the elites. The masters around the Codex of Infinite Pathways would forge the weapons, armor, and potions for the bulk of the troops. Chapter 980 980: Descendants Cain''s eyes soon focused on a beautiful woman with red hair and green eyes. Her entire body carried potent vitality and immense force. She was with a group of hundreds of old masters, all working on complex runes. A small smile appeared on Cain''s face as he saw Shura''s focus and dedication. The young woman had decided to turn her attention from the battlefield to rune crafting after the Codex of Infinite Pathways assessment, which marked her as talented in that field. Although Shura had never had much interest in professions, a sense of determination and purpose had arisen as she pursued this path. She knew she could never follow Cain on the battlefield but did not want to be just a mere decoration next to the mighty Scarlet King. So she immersed herself in runes, and her hard work paid off. After a few months of hard work, her skills rose significantly, and she could discuss with the most advanced runemasters of Aether. Cain''s eyes sharpened as he gazed inside Shura''s body and saw how her Essence Star had different runic marks and was constantly emitting runic energy. Clearly, the young woman had channeled her cultivation base to Rune Crafting, showing the absolute resolution in her soul to follow that path. Cain''s smile widened as he nodded. After their saga together, the young woman had already obtained a piece of his heart when she risked her life for him more than once. She did not need to be a great warrior for him to love her. However, everybody needed a purpose, a path they could follow, and he was delighted she found hers. After that, Cain turned his eyes toward another woman. Her gorgeous face, white skin, and pointy ears gave her an elfish charm. That young woman was none other than Astrid, the Atrox with whom he spent months during his time in the Kronos Continent. Unlike Shura, whose relationship burst due to intense moments, his connection with the young Atrox started slow. Back then, Cain''s Power of Order was at its peak, and calling him an emotionless psychopath would not have been wrong, yet slowly, she was able to reach him. Unlike all the other masters, Astrid was alone. The reason was that she was the only Tribulation Enhancement master present. That profession was still very new and had yet to spread across Aether, and Cain had not had time to look for more with the war against Dark Sky going on. Astrid did not seem to care about solitude. Her eyes focused solely on the magic formulations before her and the 21 Revolution Flames growing above her hand. Cain could not help but be surprised by the young woman''s abilities. Her talent in Tribulation Enhancement had already been superb the first time she stepped foot in the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer. Yet, with the help of the Codex of Infinite Pathways, she had reached a whole new level. ''The Peak of the Wave King Rank, and she can already create Revolution Flame at the peak of the Saint Tier. Once she opens her Inner World using the power of Tribulation Enhancement, her talent could surpass mine.'' A wide smile appeared on Cain''s face, and he was happy to see Astrid had also found her path. The next second, Cain extended his hand, and the power of space emerged, causing Shura and Astrid to appear in front of him. The young women were shocked as they had just been in the midst of their training when they were teleported, but soon, their eyes focused on the imposing young man in front of them. Shura was confused, but that did not stop a lovely smile from appearing on her face as she jumped forward and hugged her lover. Cain only smiled as he caressed her head with tenderness. Astrid saw that scene and was about to move forward, but she did not dare. A complicated expression appeared on her face as she prepared to bow in the presence of the Scarlet King. Surprise appeared on her gorgeous face as she felt immense power preventing her from kneeling. "You don''t need to do that in front of me," Cain smiled at the young woman, his eyes showing deep affection. Shura noticed that but just continued smiling. She did not care who was in Cain''s heart as long as there was space for her. Cain smiled as he saw Shura''s reaction and extended his hand, signaling the Atrox woman to come to him. Astrid''s face was nervous, but she felt she would regret it forever if she did not seize this opportunity. The young Atrox immediately went forward, hugging Cain as well. Cain smiled as a sense of peace flooded his mind when he held the two women. These moments allowed his mind to relax, and even if it was just for a few seconds, it gave him the strength to carry on with his plans. Finally, after a few minutes, Shura and Astrid emerged from Cain''s embrace and gazed at him with curiosity. They understood the nature of the man they loved, and he was someone whose every second was calculated. Cain almost laughed as he saw how well the two women understood him, so he shrugged his shoulders. "Soon, I will enter a deep seclusion that might last decades or maybe more." As the two women heard Cain''s words, a sense of shock struck their souls, and a flash of sadness appeared in their eyes. They had already accepted that they would see him little, but his absence for decades was not something easy to bear. Cain felt sad but did not plan to leave them alone. "Before that, I will marry you two and leave you my descendants." Shura and Astrid were stunned as they heard those words. Slowly, their eyes began to glow with utter excitement as they touched their abdomens. Nothing would make them happier than bearing the child of the man they love. Chapter 981 981: Wedding The Scarlet King would marry Shura of the Godslayer Humankind and Astrid of the Immortus Atrox Race! That news spread across Aether like wildfire, making the eyes of all powerhouses in the light and dark camps immediately burst with excitement and thrill. Those who were wiser deployed an ingenious insight into the news. The relationship between the Scarlet King and the two young women was not a secret and the fact that he would take them as wives made sense. However, the fact that the Scarlet King''s wives were from the light and dark camps had significant connotations, sending seismic waves through the world''s political landscape. Those ripples were evident when, as soon as the news spread, the Collapsing Lightning Emperor canonized the Blood Sea as a Sacred Land in the Godslayer Humankind Empire. As for Duke William, Astrid''s father, he was ascended to Archduke of the Immortus Atrox Race. This was a command of the Atrox Emperor and a reward for the man''s incredible feats during the war against Dark Sky. His descendants were bestowed the title of Holy Sons and Daughters. Even a fool could see the causality behind these events. The ultimate goal behind the tactics of both camps was to enhance the connection between the Godslayer Humankind and the Blood Sea, as well as the relationship between the Atrox Immortus Empire and Astrid''s family. Cain could see all the plans that both sides were making, but he did not waste time with them. If it were up to him, he would have declared that he was married to Shura and Astrid, and that was it. However, he knew that would be unfair to his wives, so he made sure it was an event that echoed across the pages of Aether''s history. The grand wedding took place on the peak of the most majestic construct of Aether, the Babel Tower. It was a glorious event, and while there were few who attended, they were the most influential individuals in the world. Such a majestic event would usually carry some sort of drama, but no one dared to disturb the Scarlet King, so it was uneventful, with everything going according to plan. Under the cosmic energy''s vortex surrounding the Babel Tower''s peak and a sky full of majestic phenomena, the Scarlet King married the Sacred Daughter of the Blood Sea and the Holy Daughter of the Atrox Immortus Race. ----- A week after his marriage, Cain appeared in the sky of the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer. His face was pale as if he had not slept for days, and the truth was that he had indeed rested very little. However, the memories of those days brought a strange smile to his face. "It took a lot of effort, but I made it." A thrilled light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he remembered the soul force he detected inside Shura and Astrid''s abdomens. After an entire week of lovemaking and countless attempts, Cain had managed to plant his seed in both women. The truth was that the process was incredibly complicated due to his power. The stronger and more unique the life form, the harder it is for them to breed. Cain might be a Divine Ascension Master, but his lineage was already reaching the limits of the Soul Cultivation Realm, and the Laws had permeated his reproductive cells. If that was not enough, he had already reached the Ascension Stage of the Primordial Path, marking him a hybrid, which would definitely influence his descendants. Luckily for Cain, his mastery over the Concept of Life had helped him, but it was not easy. He wanted children for many reasons, but the main reason he wanted them now was that it might be his last chance to have one. If his lineage, Laws, or Primordial Path advanced more, his chances of procreating would be close to zero unless he found some heavenly treasures. "System, how long will it take for my children to be born?" Although that might sound odd, as the reproductive cycles of humans and Atroxs were similar, Cain knew things would not be so simple with his descendants. [Analyzing... ... The Vessel''s offspring will take several years or even decades to be born. Due to the Vessel''s genetic influence, the vitality and talent of the offspring will take a lot of time to mature, along with a massive amount of energy over a long period of time.] Cain''s eyes narrowed as he expected something like that, but a solemn expression appeared on his face the next second. "Is there any danger to the mothers?" [Both mothers will need a massive amount of resources to replenish their energy, but the offspring will also help them, as the fetus'' bloodline and Primordial Inheritance will reforge their bodies from the inside out.] Cain relaxed, and a smile appeared on his face. He had an entire world full of resources at his disposal, so he was not worried, and he was happy to see that pregnancy would help Shura and Astrid grow stronger. Now that was taken care of, Cain could focus on his next project. With a wave of his hand, the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber appeared, along with thousands of bloodlines. All those were bloodlines with potential at the Divine Ascension Realm and higher. Some were born out of people who painstakingly advanced through their cultivation and raised their lineage with them, while others were the core of ancient families. Cain''s eyes were sharp as the power of the Absolute Life Form System covered every drop of the bloodlines. [Analyzing bloodlines .... .... Analyzing completed .... Analyzing bloodline synergy for the Chimera Path. .... ....] A meaningful light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he waited for the system to continue the process. He needed bloodlines that could complement each other to make a stronger one through the Chimera Path. However, that was just the first step of Cain''s plans since the final goal of these bloodlines would be revealed during the Scarlet Tournament. Chapter 982 982: Fusing the Ten Great Bloodlines (I) For the next couple of months, Cain empty his mind of everything and devoted himself entirely to the bloodlines, tirelessly fusing them and giving birth to even stronger ones. Each success resulted from immense hard work, absolute focus, and his ever-growing mastery over the Chimera Path. Cain knew more than anyone just how important this project was. It would not only increase the strength of Aether but also purify their sense of unity, something that was needed if they wanted a chance to thrive in the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe. In a feat that showcased his exceptional skill and dedication, Cain managed to create over seven thousand new bloodlines in less than six months! These bloodlines, born from the fusion of multiple Divine Ascension Bloodlines, held a power that was nothing short of paramount. Once they spread across Aether, they would herald a massive cultivation jump for its people, promising growth and improvement for generations to come. Of course, nine thousand bloodlines would be far from enough to reward the sixty million warriors and craftsmen who would participate in the Scarlet Tournament, but Cain had already taken care of that. The bloodlines he made that were pure and strongest would go to the Divine Ascension Masters of the Six Sacred Races. As for the Apotheosis Masters, Wave Kings, Wave Champions, and Wave Warriors participating in the Scarlet Tournament, those masters would receive a Wave Virus to implant the bloodline in their bodies. Cain had already sent the Genetic Formulas to the thousands of Genetic Coders inside the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer, and they had been working day and night on them. While the bloodlines that the Wave Virus would grant would require improvement to their purity and constant training, they would still grant a massive boost to all those members of the Sacred Races. Now that he had taken care of the bloodlines for the rest of Aether, it was finally time for Cain to focus on his own. While his lineage had significantly advanced over the last few years due to his Laws and Primordial Path enhancing his blood and body, his Solis Bloodline remained the same. Cain had been searching for a way to enhance it for a long time, and he had found an answer shortly after understanding the true nature of Aether. He waved his hand, and in front of him, ten bloodlines appeared, each unleashing a radiation much more potent than any other bloodline he had manipulated. These were the Ten Great Bloodlines of the Deus Behemoth Race, most likely the most potent bloodlines in all of Aether. Finding three bloodlines that could harmonize through the Chimera Path and give birth to a new one was excellent, but doing it with ten should be impossible. The more bloodlines were mixed, the lower the chance of compatibility, making it increasingly difficult for them to harmonize. The idea of fusing all Ten Great Bloodlines into one seemed not just challenging, but bordering on the impossible. Yet, Cain''s eyes were sharp as he commanded the Absolute Life Form System to analyze all ten bloodlines and see the outcome. [Analyzing bloodline compatibility... .... .... All Ten Great Bloodlines of the Deus Behemoth Race are compatible and can fuse into a new one.] "I knew it!" Cain clenched his fist, and a fierce smile appeared as he uttered those words. The reason Cain was so confident that the bloodlines could fuse was their origin. According to the history of the Deus Behemoth Empire, the Ten Great Bloodlines were not ancient and had existed only for eight thousand years. No one knew exactly where they came from, but due to their power, they rose during the last eight thousand years, becoming the core of the Deus Behemoth Empire. Cain had analyzed the information and realized the bloodlines began to appear when the first true life form of the Deus Behemoth Empire emerged. As for their origin, he traced it back to the Amazon, which was, in fact, the portal to the corpse of Anark. He hypothesized that the Primordial''s energy and radiation had flooded through the souls of some of the first Deus Behemoths born in Aether, each obtaining a fragment of his power and giving birth to the Ten Great Bloodlines. Of course, that was just a hypothesis, but the fact that they could all fuse meant their origin was the same, and Cain was right. ''If I can fuse all ten, then I will have a bloodline with the potential and power of the blood running through Anark''s body.'' The idea made Cain''s blood burn with excitement, but he could not be rash. The Patriarch of the Deus Behemoth Race took a lot of effort to collect these bloodlines, and he will not have a second chance. "Analyze them and make simulations of the possible problems that might arise during the fusion," Cain gave that command to the Absolute Life Form System before closing his eyes and resting his mind. He needed to be in peak condition if he wanted to succeed in this gargantuan project. While Cain rested, the Absolute Life Form System carried on with the assigned task, making virtual copies using the data of each bloodline and performing simulation after simulation. As Cain delved into the simulations, a solemn expression etched on his face. In 98% of the scenarios, the fusion was a failure. Even the remaining 2% posed nearly insurmountable challenges, requiring supernatural dexterity and abilities. The difficulty of the task did not discourage Cain. He went through every one of the failures, analyzing them in minute detail, understanding the problem in them, and ensuring he had a solution. Cain spent several days analyzing every simulation, memorizing every step before finally turning his eyes to the Ten Great Bloodlines and placing them in the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber. A burning red flame appeared in his eyes along with the golden light of The Flow, and the power of the Collapsing Space-Time Eye burst forth. Chapter 983 983: Fusing the Ten Great Bloodlines (II) The focus in Cain''s eyes was absolute as his Ego Wave and [A.I. Chip Module] fused into his modified Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber. The chamber responded with a series of beeps and clicks, adjusting its internal environment. The temperature, energy flow, and atmospheric conditions inside the chamber shifted to the precise settings needed for the fusion process. Once the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber was in perfect condition and ready, Cain methodically collected the Solis, Zanguinis, Aeolus, Fenrir, Kraken, Umbra, Vulcanus, Gravitas, Ursa, and Artik bloodlines. Each of the Ten Great Bloodlines, vibrant and shimmering with raw power, was stored in sterile containers, each emitting a unique aura. Cain placed these containers in designated infusion ports around the chamber. The chamber drew the bloodlines into its core, where a sea of energy and materials meant to stabilize them was already in place. Holographic projections displayed the intricate genetic maps of the bloodlines. Cain''s eyes were sharp as he analyzed and created a blueprint for the fusion with the help of the Absolute Life Form System. The genetic codes intertwined, forming a complex and beautiful tapestry of potential inside his mind, making Cain''s excitement grow. However, he did not allow his emotions to get out of control, maintaining focus at all times as he activated the energy synchronizers. "Huuummmm." A soft hum emerged from the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber as it aligned the bloodlines'' energy frequencies. The patterns on the chamber''s surface shifted and changed, reflecting the harmonization process. Under the control and guidance of Cain''s Ego Wave, the bloodlines'' energies pulsed and resonated in perfect unison. ''Initial integration complete. Now the tough part begins.'' Cain''s focus heightened as he took a deep breath, and his Ego Wave burst with even more power. ''Time to start the fusion!'' The Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber vibrated slightly as the fusion of the Ten Great Bloodlines of the Deus Behemoth Race began. A brilliant light emanated from the chamber, illuminating the sky of the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer with a warm, radiant glow. The bloodlines started to merge as the genetic weavers inside the chamber activated. Cain meticulously intertwined the genetic material of each bloodline, blending their essences into a cohesive whole. His eyes burned with red fire as he pushed his cognitive abilities to the limit, every move delicate and precise. After five hours of non-stop genetic weaving, Cain sent stabilizing energy into the chamber, binding the genetic material together. The Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber''s glow intensified, and the energy within it became more vibrant and dynamic. A powerful bloodline radiation began to flood the sky with such intensity that it filled the air, creating a palpable sense of power being forged. Cain had not hidden his figure, so all the professional masters in the [Samsara Arsenal Module]''s First Layer could see it in the sky. Their eyes were pure awe and shock as they felt the bloodline power emanating from the construct, and some nearly prostrated themselves on the ground as if they were witnessing a divine entity at work. Cain noticed nothing as his eyes focused solely on the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber. His focus only increased as he activated the harmonization protocols, burning out any inconsistencies in the hybrid genetic structure. "?Hummmmmmmm!" The Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber hummed with a steady, calming rhythm as it balanced the newly formed bloodline. Cain''s Ego Wave controlled every step of the stabilization, ensuring everything proceeded as planned. Cain''s eyes were bloodshot as the hours passed, and he kept pushing himself harder. The energy balancers came to life, aligning the energy flows within the hybrid bloodline. The chamber''s interior pulsed with controlled energy, creating a harmonious balance. The hybrid bloodline''s energy stabilized, becoming more potent and cohesive. The radiation that flooded the sky began generating all sorts of wondrous mythical creatures, creating a majestic and awe-inspiring scene for all who witnessed it. Cain was too engrossed in the bloodline growing inside the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber to watch the phenomenon that covered the sky. As he activated the integration protocols, the chamber''s systems embedded each bloodline''s unique traits and abilities into the hybrid structure. A sense of utter focus and tension arose in Cain''s eyes as he saw the integration of the genetic traits, and a smile full of thrill appeared as he saw the holographic display showing the successful integration, with each trait highlighted in vibrant colors. "Success!" Cain could not help but shout in thrill and excitement as he managed to fuse all Ten Great Bloodlines into a new bloodline, one that seemed to carry the best parts of all ten! As Cain focused on the drop of blood the size of a fist, a sense of utter awe assaulted his heart, and he felt within it powers that defied the limits of Aether. "With this, not only will my body grow, but I will also need only to look into my bloodline to improve my mastery over the Laws!" Cain took a deep breath as he performed a final calibration, fine-tuning the genetic and energy structures. The Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber''s glow dimmed slightly as the final adjustments were made, ensuring the hybrid bloodline was stable and ready for use. ''System, scan it!'' As soon as the bloodline was ready to be used, Cain commanded the Absolute Life Form System to scan it so he could have an objective analysis of its power. [Analyzing the biological structure. ... ... Analyzing completed. ... The hybrid bloodline is the result of an intricate fusion of the Ten Great Bloodlines of the Deus Behemoth Race: Solis, Zanguinis, Aeolus, Fenrir, Kraken, Umbra, Vulcanus, Gravitas, Ursa, and Artik. This hybrid bloodline harmonizes its parent bloodlines'' diverse elemental and physical attributes, granting a cultivator immense versatility, physical power, and elemental control. ... Does the Vessel desire a detailed description of the core attributes and benefits?] "Yes!" Cain immediately shouted in his mind, eager to see what type of power this creation would grant him. Chapter 984 984: Fusing the Ten Great Bloodlines (III) [Displaying core attributes and benefits of hybrid bloodline.] --- Core attributes and abilities of hybrid bloodline: - Radiant Vitality (Solis and Zanguinis): Combines the life-giving energy of sunlight with the regenerative properties of blood. It enhances healing capabilities, energy absorption from sunlight, and the ability to manipulate blood for both offense and defense. - Tempestuous Sovereignty (Aeolus and Kraken): Grants control over storms and aquatic environments by uniting wind and water. Provides mastery over the Laws of Wind and Water and the ability to create high-pressure zones for offensive and defensive purposes. - Shadow Forged (Umbra and Fenrir): Harnesses the power of shadows and spatial manipulation through the Fenrir bloodline. It enhances mastery over shadows, creates and controls shadow constructs, and manipulates space for teleportation and spatial attacks. - Infernal Gravitas (Vulcanus and Gravitas): Combines magma and gravity to create devastating and stable attacks. Allows control over magma and heat, manipulation of gravity to increase attack power or defense, and creation of magma-based gravitational fields. -Titanic Fortitude (Ursa and Artik): Integrates the strength of the earth and the chilling power of cold to enhance physical might and resilience. It grants immense physical strength and endurance, control over the Laws of Earth and Cold, and the ability to create ice and stone barriers or weapons. Benefits for the Vessel: - Unparalleled Versatility: The fusion of diverse elemental and physical powers makes the hybrid bloodline incredibly versatile in combat and cultivation. - Enhanced Healing and Regeneration: The combined powers of sunlight and blood grant superior healing and regenerative abilities to the Vessel, allowing for rapid recovery from injuries. - Control Over Elements: Mastery over wind, water, magma, shadows, gravity, earth, and cold provides the Vessel immense control over the environment and superior offensive and defensive capabilities. -Superb Physical Strength and Resilience: The integration of the Ursa and Artik bloodlines grants unmatched physical strength and resilience, enhancing the Vessel''s endurance. - Advanced Spatial Manipulation: The Vessel gains the ability to manipulate space and shadows at an even higher level, providing strategic advantages in movement and combat, including teleportation and spatial distortions. --- Please select a name for the new hybrid bloodline.] Cain was so lost and amazed by the power of the hybrid bloodline that it took him a few seconds to recover his focus and hear the request of the Absolute Life Form System. His eyes grew sharp as he considered a name for the bloodline, but none came to mind. Eventually, a smile appeared on Cain''s face as he jumped into the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber. "I will decide its name after fully integrating it into my body." Without further delay, Cain took control of the hybrid bloodline and sent it carefully into his Rebirth Heart. Under his control and focus, the bloodline soon reached the heart and began to resonate with it. The hybrid bloodline did not take long to reach deep inside the Rebirth Heart. As a new bloodline appeared, the Solis Bloodline should have passed into a dormant state, but the hybrid bloodline immediately devoured it, improving its purity. Cain was surprised by the sudden devouring power displayed by the hybrid bloodline. His Solis Bloodline had been tempered repeatedly by the Law Tribulation and Body Calamities, becoming even more powerful than the one inside the Solis Patriarch, yet it was instantly devoured. That was not one of the hybrid bloodline''s abilities; it was just part of its overbearing nature and something it could do to the Solis Bloodline inside Cain''s body since it was a lower version of it. Cain only smiled as it did not matter if the hybrid bloodline devoured his Solis Bloodline, as this one would grant him all the benefits of the previous one and much more. The integration carried on without flaw until the hybrid bloodline fully integrated into his Rebirth Heart and began to emit powerful radiation across his entire body. "RUMBLE!" The next second, Cain''s body trembled as his energy rose extremely fast and with an overbearing force. Without delay, he sent the Tier Zero Bio Genetic Chamber back into his space ring just before a burst of bloodline energy emanated from his body, spreading across the sky of the [Samsara Arsenal Module] ''s First Layer. Cain''s eyes widened as he felt the immense bloodline power running through his veins and threatening to shatter his blood vessels. His face went pale as a trail of blood emerged from his mouth. Immediately, his Ego Wave burst into power, containing the power of the hybrid bloodline and suppressing its radiation. "Amazing! My body is stronger than a Saint Treasure, yet it nearly broke!" Although it threatened to break his body from the inside out, Cain showed a fierce and bloody smile. The overbearing power of the bloodline did not bother him as he was a Divine Genetic Coder and could suppress it with his willpower without a problem, slowing down the transition so it would not shatter him. Thanks to his Fourth Realm Ego Wave, Cain could control his new hybrid bloodline subconsciously without needing to focus on it. "System, at this rate, how long will it take for the bloodline to fully integrate with my body?" [Analyzing bloodline integration rate. ... ... Estimated time: 4 years, two months, and 18 hours] Four years was a lot of time. Normally, Cain would have searched for ways to improve that speed, but he had no problem with that right now. "I guess I will name you once you are fully integrated into my body." Cain nodded and threw the matter of the name to the back of his mind. After that, his eyes turned to a distant point in the [Samsara Arsenal Module] ''s First Layer. The professional masters were still gazing at the sky as they saw the Scarlet King vanish. Their eyes were overflowing with awe and devotion, making an intense desire burst through their hearts and souls as they wanted to achieve at least a fraction of that power. Immediately, all of the masters returned to their work with a renewed spirit.